How Can TABI Be A Better Candle?

This is part of the Tarot Blog Hop for Imbolc, proposed by Arwen of Tarot By Arwen.  Welcome to those who have clicked through from Sylvia's Musings of the Quest site!

The title for this post had me a bit flummoxed - what does it mean to be a good candle, and, if we equate the candle's flame to the human spirit, what does it mean for TABI, an organisation, to be a good candle?  I guess it's also about lighting the way, for ourselves and for others...  So, I decided to use the spread I devised on the Inner Whispers blog, to do a reading for TABI.  The deck used is the Watcher Angel Tarot:

Body of the candle - what fuels TABI/gives TABI strength? - Queen of Cups

In this deck, all the cards have a keyword.  I find this is especially interesting in the case of the Court cards.  Here, the keyword is the Seer.  What better energy to fuel an association of tarot readers!

TABI is made strong by its members, so many people with emotional sensitivity and generosity, with an ability and desire to see beyond the everyday. 

I notice the cup in her hands from which steam seems to rise, and above which a star glows.  We are made strong by the hope which arises from emotional sharing and the willingness to look into the well of the unconscious.  One of the things I love about TABI is that people share their readings and interpretations, their support and insights, with generosity of spirit.  This strengthens us all.

Wick of the candle - what lights TABI/inspires TABI? - Seven of Cups

Okay, this is one of the tarot's little jokes - the same card came up in my personal reading in this position!

Let's see: TABI is inspired by the wealth of possibilities out there, though obviously not all of them can become realities.  I notice the white of her dress, and of the mist around the cups.  There is a purity of vision here, as well as a unity - the cups do not each have a little mist, but rather their light joins together and fuses.

We are inspired by each other's visions, and are willing to help try to make these become a reality when possible.  This reminds me of TABI's bursary - £1,000 that is being offered to someone in the tarot community (you don't have to be a TABI member) who has some kind of project that could do with an injection of funds.  If you have a deck, a book, or anything else tarot-related in mind, perhaps TABI will be inspired to help you manifest that vision.

Flame - how can TABI shine its light/how can TABI best serve? - XVI - The Tower

In this deck, the Tower is represented by Mount Hermon.  It is said, in the Book of Enoch around which this deck is based, that the Watcher Angels went to Mount Hermon to swear an oath to descend to earth and walk among humans.  Giving up Heaven for Earth certainly counts as a huge, life-changing event.  However, I notice the aspect of taking an oath, too, which affects everything that follows - a choiceful aspect to this card which is often associated with a bolt from the blue.

Relating this to how TABI can shine its light and serve the tarot community I see two suggestions.  Firstly, like angels choosing to become human, there is a suggestion that TABI needs to stay down-to-earth, compassionate and real.  I connect this with the first card, which talked about how much of TABI's strength comes from its membership, and from sharing openly.  TABI is a volunteer-led organisation, and that is something which neither the membership nor the elected officials should forget - we're all in this together, and I think that's a great example to set for others.

Secondly, there's the aspect of the oath.  This says to me that TABI must make sure to stand by its word.  How can an organisation be valued if it doesn't do so?  I don't think this is an issue - TABI is very transparent these days, with decisions discussed in a roundhouse format that any member can take part in.  However, we shouldn't get complacent, and must remember to live by this: no organisation can be taken seriously if it doesn't live up to its own standards and promises.

I'd be interested to hear what others make of this reading.  It's sometimes a little difficult to "read" for an organisation, as opposed to an individual.  Still, some interesting thoughts came up here, and I hope others enjoyed these musings on what it means to be a better candle.

Please do carry on following the Tarot Blog Hop.  Next stop is Tarot Politico...

*By the way, if you like what you see, check out this link for a video review of the entire deck.