Truth
And The World
Recently I encountered the following quote from Walt Whitman:1
“Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.”
To explore the quote through the symbolism of the Tarot, I shuffled my deck and drew The World:
We are all here for a reason. And that reason is completely unique to each of us. If we can discover that reason, and live our lives striving towards it, we will be complete. This is the truth that satisfies. Not an external, material truth, rather an internal, spiritual truth.
Why are we here? What are we meant to do? These are the questions that can show us our reason for living, our truth. They can point us towards our purpose, that purpose which, if pursued, will bring us fulfilment.
When describing The World, Waite included the words: “…the rapture of the universe when it understands itself…”
The World reminds us that our true search for meaning must be within ourselves, not without. Mr. Whitman reminds us that when we find that meaning, it will be our fundamental truth. We can live conflicted lives in which we never discover why we are here, or we can live in alignment with our true purpose.
That choice is ours alone to make.
Tarot is a great tool for inner exploration. For finding our own unique truth. If you would like to explore this with me, I am available:
The quote was published on Substack by Poetic Outlaws.
Having spent a number of years chasing and finding material success, I discovered it failed to fill the void.
It’s a big part of what led me to pursue the alchemical journey. I wish I had known more people vocally advocating to pursue a life of purpose than the endless pursuit of empty challenges. I wonder where I might be today.
Thanks for sharing some counter points in a world of ladder climbing.
I love that A.E. Waite quote. I've been grappling a little, of late, with the whole question of understanding, and purpose, and definitive answers. Is understanding our purpose always the same as knowing, beyond all doubt, our purpose? Even as I write that, the question feels dumb 😂 I'm lost in High Priestess territory...