Sunday 28 July 2013

Shadow of the moon

Wild Unknown Tarot, 2013
The Two of Swords from Wild Unknown Tarot features a total eclipse of the sun. I believe this points to an aspect of the Two of Swords that is sometimes overlooked: an equilibrium or a stalemate, a reprieve, that cannot last.

Quite often, particularly with RWS decks, we tend to see Two of Swords as fooling oneself or blindfolding oneself to the truth, or refusing to take sides on an issue or to take a stand. We can even see the card as a truce of sorts, in decks like Osho Zen and some others. But many times we forget to think about how even if things are in a holding pattern right now, this situation absolutely cannot continue. The tipping point will be reached.

The Wild Unknown Tarot points out just how soon that is likely to happen. A total eclipse of the sun, is total, that's for sure. But it doesn't last long. An actual solar eclipse can last anywhere from a few seconds to around 7 minutes. That's it. Even in comparison to the short human lifespan, that's pretty darn quick. From the point of view of eternity, well, it's nothing at all.

The card reminds us that things are always changing--always, always. Things cannot stay the same forever. The question is, are you going to stand by and let them change and then just react to what happens, or are you going to be an active participant in the process? The blindfold has to come off at some point -- you can't hide in the shadow of the moon forever.

2 comments:

  1. Personally, I feel many Two of Swords do imply the temporary nature of the stalemate - no way can you hold up two whacking great swords for a long period of time! Still,I like what you say about the eclipse, and how very ephemeral it is.

    So, yes to becoming an active participant, making a choice for good or ill!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, many do. I myself often overlook the temporary nature, and focus more on the blindfold aspect. This card helps me see other aspects of the Two of Swords, so that's good!

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