Oracles are not only for personal divination – they can also be used for look at events past, present and future. Today I am going to look at the situation in Haiti through the lens of the Tarot. The deck that I am using is the “Alchemical Tarot: Renewed”, by Robert M. Place.

While the direct source of the devastation in Haiti was due to the earthquake (7.1 on the Richter scale), Haiti was prime for the chaos that ensued. Buildings fell (those that were not well constructed, as well as those that were), hospitals and schools were among the casualties, and there was no organized relief effort locally, and all communications were down. Haiti has an extremely poor economy, with a large percentage of its people going without food, water or other necessities on a regular basis.

Relief efforts began immediately from around the world – country after country readied to send supplies, equipment, food and water, and rescue teams. The difficulty began with the airport – the tower was down, and there was no way to get relief planes in. Quickly the US set up – literally set up! – a card table on the tarmac, and airmen were guiding planes in “by hand”. Once landed, there was a problem with where to park the planes, as this is a small airport, and where to unload them. Then there were issues getting the supplies through to the people.

What do we need to know about this disaster? What can we as individuals take away and apply to our lives, to our way of living? I asked the Tarot the following questions:

• What do we need to know about why this earthquake occurred? (Note – this does not reference the physical reasons for the earthquake, but the spiritual ones.)

Five of Coins – This is a card that indicates poverty and chaos, which is what Haiti was experiencing. There was a missing component to life.

• How can we best help the people of Haiti?

The Hermit – We can best help the people of Haiti by looking with ourselves for guidance. We need to follow our hearts.

• How can we apply the lesson of Haiti to our daily lives?

Eight of Coins – We can put in the work that makes the foundation of our lives a solid one.

• What have we learned on an international basis about working with other countries?

The Lovers – We must learn to come together, to be able to work together, and to appreciate each other.

• What insight does this experience give us into how to prepare for disaster in our own country?

Five of Swords – We need to be able to communicate, to share ideas, to fix what is wrong.