I first read the Ra Material in 2003. I was already doing tarot readings at parties at the time (https://www.quora.com/How-does-a-tarot-card-reading-actually-work-How-are-the-readings-true/answer/Rick-Dawson-9 ), and I found Ra’s explanation of the Major Arcana to be fascinating and unusual. I was disappointed that the sessions ended when they did because only the Mind Row of cards received an in-depth examination by Don.
Since that time, I have tried to apply my understanding of Ra’s teachings to the rest of the cards. I share some of this here, but mostly I went to Quora to spread the philosophy to other tarot readers.
I’ve marveled at the information in the Ra Material; it has seemingly guided me to the River of Enlightenment…but then I just sat down on the riverbank and ate a sandwich. And that’s where I’ve been for the last 23 years.
I know about the veil, the need to choose a polarity, the fact of reincarnation, and the existence of another “Me”, aka my Higher Self.
I also know that I am living in the last years of a 75,000-year reincarnational cycle, and that, when I die, it is very likely that I will walk the “steps of light” to determine where my next lives will be.
That’s a whole bunch of heavy information to assimilate.
Besides being kind to others, what is a reasonably intelligent person supposed to do with the knowledge that I am living in the end times and that this is the last and only lifetime where I can make a difference?
What am I supposed to do?!
Fortunately, I’ve had a kind of epiphany. So I’m sharing.
I believe that the tarot offers practical advice for us, and that advice is in the last column (“The Great Way”) of the 3x7 grid: The Chariot, Temperance, and The World.
And what is that advice?
· The Chariot is the transformed Hierophant (or what I call the “Player Character. You and me, basically). The figure is in an improved “booth” now. The figure has arisen (standing now, rather than sitting) with more Earthly wisdom (the two lamps in the upper corners evoke the Hermit’s lamp in Card 9) and more light (glowing orb). The veil is partly lifted.
· The Higher Self, shown as a winged orb above the Player Character in Card 5, is now below the Player Character in Card 7. Indeed, there has been a reversal of sorts, and the Player Character can be seen steering or guiding the Higher Self.
What transformation has this Player Character undergone between his arrival at the Earth Life School in Card 5 and his now-exalted state in Card 7? This change is discussed in the sessions and reflects the decision to look within the Mind for answers instead of using the Mind only for daily living. (The “choice” in the Lovers Card.)
And what answers does one seek within the Mind? Or rather, which entity holds the answers for the seeking Player Character? The Higher Self.
The Higher Self has been repeatedly sending its Player Character Self into the Earth Life School, much like a yo-yo, for up to 75,000 years. In later cycles, the Higher Self and the Player Character collaborate to plan their shared evolutionary journeys. However, the ultimate goal—considered the holy grail of any lifetime—is for the Player Character to finally realize that he or she is actually Two Entities. The greatest gift and act of service would be to contact one’s Higher Self while still incarnate. The goal would be to accelerate spiritual growth during one’s lifetime.(10.11) (“[A]lthough many entities are not aware of this, what they really desire is to accelerate their growth, and it is their job to discover this while incarnate.” (10.12)
The Higher Self has all the information on how to accelerate growth. (“[The Higher Self has] a very firm grasp of the lessons to be learned in this density.” (36.2))
You, the Player Character Self, have all the means. (I hear echoes of Melanie’s “Brand New Key” in my head now.) More than just "means” actually. When you connect with your Higher Self to accelerate spiritual growth, the law of squares applies, and the growth you attain is exponentially greater. (10.12) (71.7)
If “the proper pathways or channels through the roots of mind are opened,” the Player Character can communicate with its Higher Self (36.10). And this will give the Higher Self “its only opportunity to gain rapidly from the experience of the catalytic action available to the third-density space/time mind/body/spirit.” (73.10)
Asking your Higher Self to contact you in dreams is one way to connect with it. (86.7)
Meditation is another. (50.8)
Work on the indigo ray is a third. (74.8)
You may think differently. (“Each perceives that which is needful and helpful to the self.” (88.24)) But for me, and for the first time, I finally see something I can do. An actionable item. Contact my Higher Self. Invoke the Chariot archetype.
I started this process a week ago by using the winged orb symbol of the Higher Self in the tarot as my point of focus. I did this before bed and when I woke up in the night.
On the second day, I had a vivid dream about my Higher Self.
On my fifth day, I was seeing visions behind my closed eyes. Instead of the weird floaty/glowy stuff, those globs would form detailed images of the inner eye.
Last night, I was overwhelmed with so many images behind my eyes that it looked like a movie. I had to laugh. The language is all symbolic. And my Higher Self is “visioning” me as quickly as I talk. So there will be some work to slow down those images and to develop a “vocabulary” we can use.
It isn’t particularly hard work, this focusing within. But it gives me a buzzy head, and it feels like it interrupts sound sleep. But the ROI is so great, the work so important, I have to keep going.
I’m not trying to do magic. I’m not looking to be an Adept.
My goal is short and sweet, contact and communicate with my Higher Self. The next step after that will be informed by what those communications reveal.
This Higher Self fella sure is trying to talk to me, and I think I need to see what he’s saying. (If every image turns out to be a big heart on infinite repeat, I will jump in with both feet for sure.) TY!