THE WORLD (XXI)

TODAY'S CARD IS The World (XXI). The version above is not a Tarot card, nor even an acknowledged art photo representing The World card. It's from an ad in this weekend's "Montecito Journal" (a California newspaper).

This ad leapt out at me from the page as an unusual World card, a fabulous one. I immediately cut it out to file it away, but realized I really wanted to post it now. It occurred to me also that I've not shared the various, less common meanings I've been collecting over the years for the cards, as I'd initially started doing when I began this blog, in a very long time. Almost simultaneously I realized that I was being offered a reading via The World popping out at me in the above ad. So before sharing the various less common meanings I've seen for The World over the years, I'll share what I hear XXI saying to me today.

I took a real risk today and sang a bit for the man who organizes musical shows in the senior community I live in. This may not sound like much. However, I suffer from terrible stage fright (even if that "stage" has only one person in the audience), and especially when it comes to singing. Yet I also love to sing. My father was a successful singer and his parents sang in Vaudeville. It's quite literally in my blood. So even as I shook and got vaguely nauseous, I felt great joy. Recalling this on looking at this "found" XXI card above I remembered how She can be seen as what begins to happen when we follow our true selves toward creative freedom. Yes, my spirit has been dancing all day long, ever since I took that risk. Something true, something essential in me is celebrating freely for the first time in way too long. Yes, I've taken a lot of risks recently. (Moving here to California was certainly the biggest.) However, none involved a central, deep aspect of my spirit in quite the way that singing does.

For comparison with the above non-Tarot image in which I see The World card, here are two others:

The World, from The Circle of Life Tarot

The World, from The Rider/Waite/Smith Tarot

DIFFERENT OR LESS COMMON, EVEN QUIRKY MEANINGS FOR THE WORLD (i.e. the below is not intended to be an exhaustive exploration of this card; a quick google will produce a wider variety of takes should you not be familiar with this card):

Exhibitionism.

Inertia.

Refusal to try new, necessary things out of fear.

The world of your life may be hemming you in. The best action may be to dance along as creatively as possible with its requirements and demands until the encirclement eases or opens.

A need for physical exercise (often advises dancing).

Shelter, protection, sanctuary is available.

Conversely, a need to leave this shelter for the new or unknown, to go back out into the world.

Somewhat like The Fool in terms of taking risks, only you know pretty much where you have been and where you are, just not where you're going ... and you are going to go ahead anyway, joyfully.

The World, generally speaking, is an extremely positive card.

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‘til next time, keep dancing and enjoying The Tarot,

**** [aka: Patricia Kelly] *** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; Roswila’s Taiga Tarot for taiga (illustrated tanka); and Yahoo DREAMJIN: Group for Dreamku – Haiku-Like Dream Poems.****