All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

SIX OF WANDS

Meet the Lord of Victory.

Decan: Jupiter in 11 - 20 degrees of LeoTree of Life Association: Sun in Tiphareth (Sixth Emanation)

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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Victory

   You continue with Mr. Mellifluous through the realm of Wands and suddenly encounter what appears to be a victory celebration. One man on a white horse wears a victory wreath on his head. Another victory wreath hangs from his wand. As you observe the crowd, you do not notice any signs of a battle, nor does it appear that anyone is paying attention to the person with the wreaths. What you assumed at first to be a victory celebration might simply be a random crowd.
   The person with the wreaths does not seem more unusual than anyone else. You begin to wonder what sort of victory he has actually experienced.

Strength: Leo

   Suddenly the woman in the white dress, still caressing the lion’s head, appears before you. “Victory in this realm is achieved slowly over time through the exultation of consciousness and mystic vision. At first, the mystic is like a babe in a humble manger. Every time the mystic exalts consciousness, an expansion of the mind occurs that never totally retracts, and he experiences greater illumination and a greater capacity for life. Slowly the mystic builds an inner temple, symbol by symbol, through higher psychism: He envisions symbols of spiritual principle formed by Higher Potencies that reveal the harmony, magnificence and abundance of spirit.

The Sun: The Sun

   “Eventually the mystic experiences the Vision of Harmony in the sphere of the Sun, realizing that he is a filament within a vast, harmonious tapestry containing field upon field of inter connected energies. His growth requires a shift of focus, a form of sacrifice, so that he can maintain inner harmony and remain on the path.

Wheel of Fortune: Jupiter

   “His victory occurs through the illuminations of The Sun and the transformative energies of Jupiter. In the process, he recognizes that every soul is magnificent, with the potential for great harmony and abundance.”

The King of Wands

   Claire notices the King of Wands down below and feels the need to talk to him. The King seems lost in a reverie as he gazes into the distance, so she waves her hands to get his attention. "Hello, your Highness," she exclaims.

   "Why hello, little one. Good to see you!" he responds.

   "Forgive me for asking, your majesty, but isn't being the King of Wands a really hard job?"

   "People have all sorts of reasons for wanting to be king. Some want power. Some want wealth. I choose to be king so that I can serve my kingdom for the highest possible good."

   "I greatly respect your noble choice, my King," Claire responds politely.

   "Thank you, my child. My nobility stems not from my position in society but from my service to the Divine Will. I strive to maintain balance and harmony in my kingdom. I work to benefit all but the unbalanced."

   "Who are the unbalanced, your majesty? If you don't mind me asking," Claire asks.

   "The greedy, who want far more than their share at the expense of all others. The indifferent, who refuse to participate in the necessary work to maintain balance within the community. The liars, who deceive others for their own benefit. The prideful, who resort to harming others to maintain their erroneous belief in their superiority. The cruel and destructive. The tyrannical and prejudiced, the gluttonous and hypocritical. In short, whoever destroys or undermines the harmony and balance in the sacred community of all life."

   "Thank you for your wisdom, your majesty," Claire responds.

   "Look carefully at this wand, child. It represents the element of Fire, a cleansing force that burns away the negative, that burns away whatever does not serve the highest good. It is the fire of the spiritual will, the compassion that feeds those who hunger and that illuminates the path of those in darkness. It is the passion of sacrifice that brings harmony to all the unbalanced conditions of our lives, the fire that burns away the veils and opens our hearts to the divinity within us all."

   "Thank you, your highness. I think I understand why you have chosen to rule the element of Fire."

   "You are welcome, my child," the King replies as he again gazes off into the distance.

   

   

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

 All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

SEVEN OF WANDS

Meet the Lord of Valor.

Decan: Mars in 21 - 30 degrees of LeoTree of Life Association: Venus in Netzach (Seventh Emanation)
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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Valor

   In the realm of Wands, a brave warrior on a ridge is about to enter into battle against a larger force. For a moment, you fear that his valor is doomed because he is so outnumbered. Nevertheless, he has the spirit of a lion, and you can’t help but admire him, no matter the outcome of the battle.

Strength: Leo

   Suddenly you are in a different place and a woman in white appears. With a horizontal figure eight above her head, she walks calmly over to a lion and gently caresses its head.
   “Beauty and the beast?” you wonder out loud.
   

The Tower: Mars

   The woman in white speaks, “The power of Mars is the concentration of force through limitation and restriction and discipline. On the Tree of Life, Mars resides on The Pillar of Severity, a pillar associated with form. He is passionately in love with Venus, the Goddess of love and beauty on the Pillar of Mercy, which is a pillar of force. At a basic level, their love combines the powerful instincts of sex and combat. Those instincts, sublimated to a higher purpose, can manifest as valor through the spiritual will of the higher self.

The Empress: Venus

   “You must exercise a strong spiritual will to tame the beast. You can move by degrees from base animal instincts to higher, more harmonious energies, and the resulting focus and discipline can lead to unexpected, heroic outcomes. Sometimes the higher self can unexpectedly, in the darkest moments of an individual or a nation, turn ruin into victory.”

The Hanged Man: the Element of Water

    Claire notices a man hanging upside down by his foot and decides to find out why this is happening to him. Claire hovers in front of him and asks, "I am very sorry, sir. This is very disturbing to me, and I am sure very horrible for you. I don't understand why this is happening."

   "The people consider me a traitor," the hanged man replies.

   "But why?"

   "Because I am different. I am sorry to tell you this, child, but people often harm others who are different from them. They are afraid and want to feel powerful and in control."

   "How are you different? You don't seem that different."

   "I am not different in appearance. I have different values. I believe in the divinity of all life, but many people want to feel superior to others for one reason or another. Anyone who doesn't conform with their values can become their target."

   "That is terrible, but is there something else that they don't like?" Claire sighs.

   "People hate me because I follow a different spiritual path, and they fear me because of it. I suspend my mind so that I can fathom the depths and experience the subtle spiritual realms. That scares them."

   "Okay, I do see a difference now. I didn't notice it at first. Your head is glowing with light."

   "Yes, child, people can sense this light even if they can't see it. This light is perhaps what scares them most of all."

   "This is not right! Please, can I help you in some way?"

   "You would be doing so at your own peril. They will seriously harm you if you try to help me. Just talking to me could be stirring up fear and hatred in their hearts. You need to leave now before something bad happens. Don't fret, child. I forgive them. When the veils of fear and hatred fall away, we know the divinity within all people. We know that we are all brothers and sisters."

   "This is just too horrible!"

   "Sacrifice can make people open their hearts. Go now, child, before it's too late...."

   Claire flies away, tears streaming down her face.

   

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

 All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

EIGHT OF WANDS

Meet the Lord of Swiftness. 

Decan: Mercury in 1 - 10 degrees of SagittariusTree of Life Association: Mercury in Hod (Eighth Emanation)
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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Swiftness

   As you proceed through the realm of Wands, you suddenly see eight wands flying across the sky. Where they came from, you have no idea, but you have to conclude that it took a highly coordinated effort on the part of several individuals to get the wands to fly together at nearly the same height and rate. You are suddenly glad that you are not their target.

Temperance: Sagittarius

   Once again, the Archangel Michael appears before you. “The intellect, combined with the spiritual will, can accomplish amazing feats. Mercury, God of the intellect, is also a messenger of the Gods who communicates intuitions from the spiritual depths. He is a God of deep knowing, who rules reason and makes sudden insights and astonishing achievements possible.

The Magician: Mercury

   “We are now on the path of Temperance, where the archer Sagittarius aims his arrow heavenward, from Yesod, The Foundation, toward the Sun. With the aid of Mercury, through the insights of the intellect and the soul, you live in the Higher Self.”

Judgement: The Element of Fire

   Claire hears stunningly beautiful music in the distance and flies toward it. She soon notices that a great angel is blowing a golden horn and ghost-like people seem to be rising from the dead. 

   "Hello, child," the angel seems to say to Claire while at the same time blowing the horn.

   "Hello!" Claire exclaims. "Are you an angel?"

   "I am the Archangel Gabriel."

   "How can you make such lovely music and talk to me at the same time?"

   "I am speaking to you with my mind. It's called telepathy. Sometimes, child, you might hear the wise voice of an angel or a spirit guide or even a person even though it seems like no one is nearby. Also, as an Archangel, I can multi-task."

   "Are you also raising people from the dead," Claire inquired.

   "What are you feeling, right now, child?"

   Claire paused for a moment and slowly responded, "I feel deeply cleansed and inspired by your music. I feel like all negativity is gone. Even though I have wings, in a way, I feel like I am leaving a box that has trapped me for a long time. I feel brand new. The music is touching my soul. I feel like I can attain much greater heights in my life."

   "Yes, what else?"

   "I feel compassion. I feel compassion for the people below and compassion for all life. I feel love for all life, and I feel a sense of unity underlying it all."

   "You are ready to fly higher," the Archangel responds, and Claire suddenly zooms high into the sky.

   

   

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

 All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

NINE OF WANDS

Meet the Lord of Great Strength.

Decan: Moon in 11 - 20 degrees of SagittariusTree of Life Association: Moon in Yesod (Ninth Emanation)
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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Great Strength

   As you proceed through the realm of Fire, you encounter a man with a bandage on his head. Though he appears a little dazed, he also has an air of great strength. Eight other wands behind him give the impression that he has strong support in his endeavor or great inner power.
   As you open your mind to impressions, you get the sense that he has a strong spiritual will, but you are also sensing something else that you can't put your finger on.

Temperance: Sagittarius

   Suddenly the Archangel Michael appears. “Behind the material realm is The Foundation, which contains two qualities: Strength and flux. Though seemingly contradictory in nature, the vast force is like the ocean influenced by the Moon.

The High Priestess: The Moon

   “Like the gravitational force of the Moon, the subtle force of The Foundation can be extremely powerful. The power of Yesod is a great force behind nature known by some as the Holy Ghost, the power that brings the higher energies of abstract spiritual principle as symbols into the visionary imagination.
   “Each person who exalts consciousness and contacts the force of The Moon slowly builds an inner temple with symbols that embody these spiritual principles. Each new symbol creates higher awareness. These spiritual principles, combined with the powerful Fire of spiritual will, can make a person nearly unstoppable in the pursuit of truth and justice and harmony, despite the odds.”
   The man with the bandaged head continues to stand his ground despite whatever pain he is feeling.

Knight of Swords

   Claire notices the Knight of Swords on his white horse galloping toward some destination, and she wonders if she might have a better conversation with him this time if she attempted to talk to him again.

   She flies next to him and waves her hands. He raises his sword again to show that he is charging some adversary.

   "Mr. Knight, can you please slow down a little so that I can talk to you? Please, sir!" she pleads.

   The Knight sheaths his sword and slows down his horse to a saunter. "Why, yes, child. I don't mean to be rude."

   "Do you remember me?" Claire inquires.

   "Why, yes, I believe so. I am often in a hurry, you know."

   "My name is Claire. May I ask why you are in such a hurry?"

   "Oh, yes. I am serving the Divine Will, fighting injustice and greed and exploitation. I wear black to remind myself that I can't stop fighting until the dark forces have been overcome and there is harmony and balance in the world."

   "My!" Claire exclaims, "I didn't realize that your aims are so high."

   "I fight for truth and justice, and I fight to create balance in the world, but above all, I want others to see what I am doing and awaken to the divinity of all life and the underlying unity of all consciousness." The Knight lifts his sword again and spurs his horse.

   "Goodbye, sir Knight, good luck!" Claire shouts as the Knight gallops away again.

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

   

   

All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

TEN OF WANDS

Meet the Lord of Oppression.

Decan: Saturn in 21 - 30 degrees of SagittariusTree of Life Association: The Four Elements in Malkuth (Tenth Emanation)

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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Oppression

   “We are now in the realm of Wands, the realm of Fire and spiritual will. You cannot reach the spiritual heights without this Fire,” Mr. Mellifluous points out.
   You nod as you gaze upon a man with a strange burden. He plods forward, carrying ten wands in a fan-like formation. He appears to have a destination and a single-minded purpose, but he obviously cannot see very far ahead as he struggles to hold the wands together.
   “This man, in his own way, is striving to accomplish a Herculean task,” you think out loud.
   “With the spark of the element of Fire he will succeed,” Mr. Mellifluous replies.

Temperance: Sagittarius

   An Archangel suddenly appears before you. Startled, you turn to Mr. M. “Angels do that sometimes,” he notes thoughtfully. “This is the great Archangel Michael, Ruler of the element of Fire.”
   Michael is pouring liquid from one cup into another as he stands with one foot in the water and one foot on land. Behind him a path leads to the sun, which hovers like a golden crown over the mountains. For a moment you think he is using the cups to balance some kind of energy.

The World: Saturn

   Michael speaks, “To achieve a goal, you must balance your inner spark with the restrictive forces of The World. These forces might oppress your body and mind until you feel like you're going to collapse, but you gain much from Saturn, even in the worst circumstances, through the development of discipline and focus. No man or woman can become a hero without those qualities.”
   The man with the ten wands, who for a moment seems to be carrying his own prison bars, continues to plod toward a house in the distance. This struggle is not for himself alone, you conclude, as he slowly places one foot in front of the other.

Page of Wands

    Claire sees the Page of Wands below, still staring at the wand. Claire glides down and hovers nearby and soon discovers that she needs to wave her hands again to get the Page's attention.

   "Hello again!" Claire exclaims. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember your name."

   "Oh, hello again. You can call me Rose of the Palace of Fire, or just Rose."

   "Oh, yeah, sorry. Have you learned anything new from your wand, Rose?"

   "I feel powerful impulses, but I've learned that the desert can be harsh. We sometimes must channel our strongest impulses to survive and attain the highest good for ourselves and others."

   "I have to admit, Rose, that your ability to focus truly amazes me!"

   "Thank you. I'm still learning. But I understand now that it's the kind of focus that you need to raise a family or hold down a job or heal others or create a work of beauty. This kind of focus is a kind of heroism that lifts everyone up. I think sometimes we only experience this heroism when we face the greatest harshness and learn to live with limitations to survive, and sometimes in the process we learn to transform even the most terrible negativity and adversity into harmony."

   "Thank you, Rose. I hope I can learn to focus like you!" Claire waves once more and flies high into the sky.

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

 All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

Ace of Cups

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THE ELEMENT OF WATER

   A white hand extending from a cloud is holding a golden cup that spouts streams of water like a fountain. A white dove is descending into the cup with a wafer in its beak. On the wafer is a black, equal-armed cross, symbol of the four elements in harmony within physical manifestation. Below the cup is a pool covered by lotus flowers, roots in the mud, stems in the water, flowers blooming in the air and sunshine. Water drops shaped like the Hebrew letter Yod fall all around the cup.
   On one level, the cup symbolizes spirit manifesting in matter, but the dove descending into the cup suggests another meaning as well. If the conscious mind is receptive enough, archetypal symbols appear from a level of the mind associated with the element of Water, an element that is receptive to spiritual impulses and embodies them with archetypal form. Archetypal symbols from this dimension ripple out through the astral realm into the physical realm of action and take on great emotional significance, revealing the interconnectedness of the different planes, which are simply different levels of being.
   The element of Water, a receptive, feminine element, is associated with emotion and the unfathomable depths of the subconscious mind, but Water is also an energy with a high “vibration.” One must dive deep into the subconscious in order to ascend to the level of archetypes, where the abstract spiritual impulses of a higher realm first take form. Those symbols awaken energies and potentials within individuals that correspond to cosmic forces. A person meditating on archetypal symbols can sometimes feel that he or she has slipped from the individual mind into the collective mind, from the personal to the transpersonal, as though channeled from a stream into the ocean. At those moments, the symbols begin to take on both a unique personal meaning as well as the collective archetypal significance of spiritual principle.
   Spiritual traditions provide these symbols as signposts. As in everyday reality, certain symbols and events stand out more than others for each individual. For example, one individual on the path of “The Emperor,” Trump IV, during meditation might experience falling into magma and being cleansed by fire, only to rise as an ankh or scepter, while another might encounter royal figures against a backdrop of springtime or the creation of the world. What one experiences are archetypal figures and events that represent spiritual principles--the individual must examine the symbols for their personal and collective significance as one might examine a dream for its archetypal and psychological significance.
   The "mental plane" is actually the "archetypal world," and a symbol from the mental plane is not a representation of personal desires or emotions--it is a representation of spiritual principle and a channel for transpersonal cosmic forces. When its spiritual significance is revealed in astral consciousness and in the world of action--the physical plane--its emotional significance then begins to ripple out into manifestation, hence the association of this plane with the Holy Spirit. For instance, a person who envisions a golden equal-armed cross during meditation might find out that gold symbolizes the incorruptibility of spirit, and then that the cross itself corresponds to the four Elements of the Wise in harmony with each other. The person might then discover that the equilateral cross is the basis for key rituals where the magician creates a three dimensional space in order to launch the mind into the higher dimension of spirit. Then the individual might actually begin practicing rituals as a way to progress in the Great Work of self-transformation. The meaning of a symbol from the mental plane often takes weeks or months or even years to unfold, but a symbol can have a life-changing impact on anyone who is open and enthusiastic. And one such experience can lead to a lifetime of adventure in the “forest of symbols.”

CORRESPONDING COLOR: Pure white brilliance.

Reversed: lack of intuition or emotion or insight, blocked creativity, empty heart

Page of Pentacles

   Claire decides to head outside of the city after her experience with the Raven, to a place in the country where no one would bug her. As she glides over a tilled field, she notices a young person down below who is staring at a large, golden coin.

   "Hello, my name is Claire. What's your name?"

   "Rose of the Palace of the Earth or Princess of the Echoing Hills. You can call me Rose or Princess or Princess Rose."

   "Why are you staring so intently at the golden coin? If you don't mind me asking...."

   "I can feel powerful energies in this coin that I also feel in the Earth, but there is something more. I feel like this coin contains subtle energies from other dimensions. I feel golden sunlight, of course, but also starlight."

   "Yes, I touched a coin like this not long ago. I felt the music of life. The sun is the source of all life on the planet, as you probably know."

   "Yes, I feel that too, but I also feel other energies, cosmic energies, I think."

   "I think I felt something like that as well when I touched the coin, but I couldn't put it into words. Does if have something to do with the star?" Claire asks.

   "Yes, I think that's it! I'm still a student, you know. I think you might have actually just helped me figure it out. The Queen told me that the star represents the five Elements of the Wise, Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Ether, but I remember now that the King once explained to me that four of the Elements, Fire, Water, Air, and Earth represent triplicities of the zodiac."

   "What are triplicities?"

   "They represent the basic energies of the zodiac. Let me see. The Earth triplicity consists of the energies of Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo. For some reason, I can't seem to remember the others right now."

   "Oh, yeah, I think I remember some of this. If I'm remembering this correctly, the element of Air contains the zodiac signs of Libra, Aquarius, and, hmmm, I'm not sure...."

   "Gemini. Oh, yeah, and the Water triplicity consists of Cancer, Scorpio, and, and...."

   "Pisces! And the Fire triplicity contains Aries, Leo, and, ummmm. I think it begins with S...."

   "Sagittarius!" They both blurt out at the same time.

   "Wow, the pentacle channels a lot of energies. I sense all of these energies in myself as well. Thanks for helping me, Claire!"

   "We helped each other. Enjoy your wealth, Princess!" Claire laughs as she soars high into the sky.

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.

   

   

 All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.

TWO OF CUPS

Meet the Lord of Love

Decan: Venus in 1 - 10 degrees of CancerTree of Life Association: Zodiac in Chockmah (Second Sphere)

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Mr. Mellifluous and the Lord of Love

   In the realm of Cups, two lovers face each other as a red lion's head with wings rises above them. Below the lion's head, two snakes intertwine to form a caduceus wand.

The Empress: Venus

   Mr. Mellifluous nods at you. As you open your mind to impressions, you sense that the man and woman are connected on every level of their being due to the deep influence of Venus.
   The lion's head with wings reminds you of the sphinxes in front of the strange chariot you have recently encountered. Suddenly you are standing before the woman in the chariot, who speaks, “Lovers feel a magnetic pull toward each other on a basic level. Ideally, lovers are mated on every level, the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. The snakes reveal this inner equilibrium, and the red lion's head shows the expansion of consciousness they experience through their connection with each other. They grow together as they experience the expansion of their psyches and then the return to equilibrium in their lives.

The Chariot: Cancer

   “The quest for greater psychic and spiritual awareness is crucial in forming and maintaining relationships. Developing the psychic senses can enable you to see if you are truly mated with your partner. If you are not connected on every level, you will eventually find something lacking, which can soon lead to the demise of the relationship.
   “Because they are aware of all levels of their being, they remain grounded as their consciousness expands. And they honor the physical aspect of their being as much as any other.”

Raven of Dispersion

   Claire flies down to a city street to rest for awhile. Suddenly a strange-looking creature lands next to her. 

   "Oh, my, you startled me!" Claire exclaims.

   "So sorry, my child!"

   "Have you been following me?"

   "I just thought I'd have a little fun!" it squeaks.

   "I don't want to be rude, but has anyone ever told you that you look a little like a fly?"

   "Oh, yes, often. And proud of it. My kind manifests the energies of Venus."

   "Venus? Sorry, I'm not seeing it," Claire responds, grinning. "What do you call yourself, my friend?"

   "We are known far and wide as the Ravens of Dispersion even though we don't look much like ravens," it peeps. "We are good at scattering, decreasing and depleting. We love destruction and decay. We live to disperse, devastate, dissipate and ruin!" it chants. "We break down whatever is dead and clean up disgusting waste everywhere. We are extremely useful, like flies. And proud of it!"

   "But the Venus I know is the Goddess of love and abundance and the splendor in nature! How are you a minion of Venus?" Claire inquires.

   "You wouldn't see the splendor of nature if we didn't clean up the rubbish. I didn't say we were on the ideal end of the spectrum!" it squawks.

   "I respect what you do, Raven, but I have to go now!" Claire tries to fly away, but it follows her. Claire zooms down to a pile of trash in the street below. The Raven dives straight into the pile and begins feasting ravenously. 

   "Goodbye," Claire shouts. "I suppose I should thank you!" She laughs as she darts away.

   

   

   

Go on a different adventure with Mr. Mellifluous.