The Archetype and The Tarot: The Liberator and The Moon
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The Liberator Archetype
Freedom means having the power to live as we want without hindrance, and the specifics of that will look different for each us. I want to acknowledge that I am writing this from a place of privilege, having never been held in literal captivity. My experiences with liberation have had more to do with liberation from my own patterns, as well as external situations in which I have had some control. For many among us, oppression is a lived reality and tapping into the internal pattern of The Liberator might be an impossible ask. As always, practice kindness with yourself here.
The Liberator possesses great powers of discernment, able to determine if liberation is possible and, if it is, the path to get there. Through these powers of discernment, they can also accurately identify who or what is the oppressor, which may not always be clear. Oftentimes we are oppressed by our own thoughts and behaviors, but we can be too close to see them for what they are. The Liberator is known to be resolute, decisive and determined to end all forms of oppression. They possess the strength and perseverance to carry out their plans.
In the light, The Liberator has a healthy relationship with free will and truly understands what that means for themselves and others. They can shine a light on whatever is keeping us stuck, helping us to see it—at last—for the oppressor that it is. They gently remind us that we won’t feel free until we’re out of the pattern, and then they take us by the hand and show us the way out. The Liberator in the light also knows that the way out does not involve revenge, vindictiveness, or otherwise feeling free through dominating another.
On the shadow side, The Liberator might impose their own version of freedom onto others. This can be a sort of Liberator-in-excess and a tendency towards extremism. In the pursuit of freedom, The Liberator may become so focused on their goal that they are willing to use any means necessary to achieve it. They might have a lack of empathy for those who do not share their views and may become so convinced of their own righteousness that they are unable to see the perspectives of others. They might force others (or themselves) to leave their situations of oppression before they’re ready. Even if well-intentioned, this act stands in the way of another’s free will. More commonly, however, the shadow Liberator, for various reasons, simply does not answer the call to liberate.
Some questions to consider this week:
What are we feeling oppressed by? (a thought pattern, another person, an institution, historical convention, illness, self-loathing, addiction, narrow mindedness, etc.)
If we don’t answer the call to liberate ourselves from a repeating pattern, what is holding us back?
What are our preferred tactics/methods for liberation?
How do I really feel about others’ relationship with freedom?
The Moon
The traditional version of this card is rich in deep symbolism. From the water and crustacean, to the path between two canines, and the two watchtowers leading into the unknown. All of it is partially illuminated by the reflected light of the moon itself.
The Moon is guiding us into the deep, dark, enchanted forest of our inner selves. When we follow the path here, we encounter our wildest selves, those places within us that are most at-home in primeval forests. When we allow ourselves to continue on the path between the watchtowers, we cross the threshold from the known into the unknown. But it is only there that we can find the forgotten treasures of our wild souls that have been lying dormant within us.
Because of The Moon’s placement in the tarot deck, we don’t have to be scared of our inner wildness. When this card comes up, we have already faced our own blocks and temptations with The Devil, and been through the trials of The Tower. It is now time to experience self-trust and know that we can give in to instinct without causing harm (to ourselves or others).
How do these two work together?
The Moon card and The Liberator come together and ask us: What would it take for us to break our chains of obligation and give in, fully, to the call of our wild selves? With this pair, we free ourselves of shame.
It is through our wildness that we connect to deeper purpose and do the most good in the world. In essence, what we’re being tasked with this week is to shamelessly be our authentic selves.
What comes up for you when you think of stepping into your wild self? Does it feel liberating or frightening? Do you have any specific ideas of what wildness looks like for you? Let me know in the comments below. I can’t wait to discuss it all!
At night the desert cools, forms darken and recede, stars sweep the sky, and an opposite world to land appears. I unzip my tent and walk naked in a starlit nexus, grateful and serene on this dark face. I am zipped into intimacy. The full moon rises golden against streaks of dark clouds and streams light across fields of brush and dirt. Magical moonlight causes spontaneous singing and movement. I'm someone I don't know, scary to myself. Who am I? Outside prevailing culture, between birth and death, I am someone who loves moon and stars and the night which a house would hide from my skin and spirit. (Sedona, Arizona)
I resonate with the freeing of the wild. Being embedded in a culture that attempts to dominate nature inwardly and outwardly, letting the wild run unrestrained and untethered, feels so "liberating"! Releasing my own "wild soul" is a conscious movement, a focus I attend to. Which on one level sounds counter intuitive. But for me to set loose the inner wolf, the fire breathing dragon and the quiet doe, I need to bring myself back to what many of our ancestors just knew. I do that with intentional practice. The Moon card is so wonderful for that! I actually got that card in my reading this morning.
This is what I wrote in my tarot journal. "Luna shows me the power within the cycles. Change is the truth of life as impermanence. Listen deeply to the call of the wild, to my intuition. Be aware of how my subconscious affects my choices. Move with awareness. Let my fears inform rather than take over."