That's about the size of it - 10 of Swords

Francois Chosson 1736, Yves Reynaud

Camelia Elias calls the 10 of Swords the 'Oh dear, I'm done' card.

Fed up.
Can't take anymore.
Tired of thinking of about it.
Tired of worrying about it.
Tired of plots, schemes and machinations.
Tired of complications.
Tired of conflicting information.
Tired of arguments, rhetoric, 'alternating viewpoints'.
Tired of other people's crap.
Tired of your own crap.
Just plain old tired.
Worn out, had enough, that's it, that's all.

(A ray of hope -- the two swords with tips crossed suggest an ally to help get you through this. Find the ally!

-- Or you might even BE the ally. Did you ever think of that? No, of course not. You only ever think about yourself! LOL)

Hats off to the Page of Cups

Jean Dodal Tarot, Flornoy 2009

Does that look to you like what it looks like to me? Whatever it is, it has the Page of Cups' full attention in this card from Jean Dodal Tarot (Flornoy, 2009).

The Page holds the tallest cup in the Cups court. The Queen's cup has greater capacity, but the Page's cup stands taller even than the King's. It is completely golden, with no red. It's also covered over by folds of his golden cape. The Page of Cups is also one of only two court figures not wearing a head covering. The other is the Knight of Cups. In this card, the Page holds his hat in his left hand, by his side. Around his carefully styled golden curls, he wears a garland of alternating red and flesh-tone circles, probably flowers. His right hand presumably holds the cup, but it's very difficult to tell where it is. Is it the red sleeve that leads to the bottom of the cup? Or is it the flesh-coloured bit that grasps the cup just below the cloak? Could be either/or.

The Page of Cups is mostly clad in green, with touches of red on his arms and feet. He is motivated by his nature, and his movement and actions are driven by emotion. His thought processes (signified in the cap) are an even balance of natural drives and the passions of the moment.

His head being uncovered suggests vulnerability, earnestness, purity. And yet, the Page of Cups has only begun his relationship with his own inner being. The cup and its contents are of intense interest to him in this image, yet still covered from his view at this stage. They dominate his existence, but he only dimly understands them. He walks on a surface that is flesh-coloured -- his foundation is based on his responses to things, triggered by the physical reaction. He's driven by his experience of this world and his responses to it, though he doesn't quite understand either of these things.

In what ways are you naive? In what ways are you reactionary? How are you vulnerable, yet earnest and pure? What very important aspect of your life remains just out of focus for you? How do you plan to deal with this?

Even the Emperor can get cold feet

Jean Noblet Tarot, Flornoy 2009

Two sayings sum up today's emotions: A man's home is his castle. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

The Emperor is back. He turned up in my recent reading about home buying and he's back again on a day when I've been struck by a case of the predictable but very real home buyer's remorse, also known as 'cold feet'. This happens in the period between the offer being accepted and the exchange of contracts, when you have the time to suddenly think, 'What have I done?' Now, buyer's remorse can happen over any purchase -- I have been known to have it over a pair of shoes, or, yes, a tarot deck, so to think I wouldn't get a big whanging case of it over the biggest purchase of my life would be to think foolishly. What if I paid too much? What if something goes wrong? What if I regret it down the line? And so on and so forth.

Now, what is the image of the Emperor telling me about how to deal with this case of cold feet?

He retains the easy, leaning posture of the Dodal image from my other reading, but this time he's facing to the right side of the card, the future. And he's facing it with the same confidence and assurance. He holds his sceptre out in the direction of the future. His eyes are toward the future. He leans back to ponder a bit, but it certainly doesn't appear that he's given to turning back unless convinced by truly compelling circumstances. Now is the pause before going forward.

How would the Emperor approach the question of whether he should proceed?

The Emperor has one red leg and one blue leg -- he balances things out. Most likely, he would examine the reasons why he began heading in this direction. What factors led him to make the decision? If he has conquered new lands for example, what qualities of the land made it an attractive prospect for conquering? Are those qualities still there? Has anything about the land changed since he decided he wanted to conquer it?

He would probably methodically lay out his concerns and address them one by one. He is, after all, a strategist.  An Emperor would no doubt gather a council to do this, but mere mortals such as ourselves can employ the same technique on our own by laying out two columns in our journal, 'Fear' and 'Reality'. Then we can list all the fears we have about the situation in the first column, and state the facts in the second. For example:

Fear - We might not be able to afford this.
Reality - You can afford it, because you have been pre-approved for a mortgage, advised by a financial adviser, and you have gone through your budget multiple times.

Fear - We might lose our jobs.
Reality - You are no more likely to lose your job as a home owner than you were as a renter. Buying a home does not increase the likelihood of job loss. Also, you can take out insurance to cover costs during any periods of unemployment.

And so on.

Having reviewed his motivations for his initial decision, and worked one by one through his subsequent worries, the Emperor would stay the course, unless very compelling reasons led him to turn back. He can always pick up his shield to defend himself in case the tide truly turns. In fact, if you look closely at the card, the shield appears to be all he's leaning on. There doesn't seem to be a throne there. That either means he can be easily knocked over backward, or he's so committed to forward momentum that he's hardly putting any weight on his backside at all. I'm guessing it's probably the latter.

He most certainly would not allow a case of 'cold feet' -- fears that exist mostly in his imagination -- to hold him back.

Growing plans -- 3 of Batons

Jean Noblet Tarot, Flornoy 2014

Three of Batons. Growing plans.

This card turned up as the focus of my reading on whether we should proceed with our house purchase. Is it becoming a stalker card?

In Dawn R Jackson's mnemonic poem, Playing Card Meanings for the Wytch of Poor Memory, Clubs (or in this case Batons, or Wands) are 'works, callings and plans'. Three 'shows things growing'. Camelia Elias in Marseille Tarot: Towards the Art of Reading uses Dawn R Jackson's interpretations of playing cards for the pips quite consistently throughout. I find the meanings quite useful, as well, when reading TdM.

Funnily enough, Yoav Ben-Dov gives the following interpretation of 3 of Wands in The Open Reading: 'Finding a way after a period of hesitation. Time to go forward.' And this is the interpretation that I gave to Knight of Wands in the home purchase reading. I've just had a look in the book this morning. Now that's kinda neat.

I notice the batons here are made up of the colours red and pale blue: passion and detachment. They are joined together by bits of yellow or gold, signifying optimism, material success, or plenty. Having good feelings for the situation while being able to remain somewhat objective about it...does not necessarily lead to success, but is held together or facilitated by a positive attitude. Not to mention the 'material blessings' to justify said optimism!

Affirmations for 3 of Wands: 

I live out my beliefs in all my acts. (Angel Paths)

Life supports my dreams and ambitions with great love and abundance. (Tarot Quest)

I am ready to expand my world. My potential is unlimited. (Tarot Lady)

My foundations support my progress. (Emma Sunerton-Burl)

Knight of Cups - he's not such a drip after all

Jean Dodal Tarot, JC Flornoy 2009

Knight of Cups: Development of Love

A feeling, emotion, relationship or aspect of spirituality is growing.

The knight holds a very large cup aloft, balanced on his outstretched palm. The cup shows lots of red, denoting passions and emotions. The knight's mantle is also red, in the garment worn over his torso, nearest his heart.

The cup is gold, the knight has golden locks cascading over the hat or shield on his back, his horse is trimmed in gold, and the vegetation underfoot is gold.

If that shape on his back is his shield, then he is certainly showing willingness to be vulnerable, by wearing his protection on his back and holding out his treasure so precariously.

In his left hand, he clutches the reins of the horse, which are tied off in a knot. The effect is rather phallic, though. Make of it what you will.

The knight -- and his horse! -- cut their eyes toward something in a rather coy and flirtatious manner, chin down and looking out of the corner of their eyes. Very flirty indeed. One expects a flutter of eyelashes any minute. The knight has very wide eyes in his face, and a pleasant expression. The chin-down posture and hunching-forward shoulders give him an 'aw-shucks' bashful feel. It's the 'Here, I picked you some flowers, Mommy,' posture he's got there. It just asks for the 'Aww, thank you, sweety,' response.

I have often seen the Knight of Cups as a mewling little drip. But he's kinda cute here. He can't help how he feels. :)

What love is developing in you today? Are you hesitant to express it? How might you offer your love to the world today, however bashfully and possibly at the risk of making yourself vulnerable? Are you willing to do that today?

Ace of Cups - Home of Love

Jean Noblet Tarot, JC Flornoy 2014 

We are accustomed to associating the suit of Cups with emotions and relationships, which is a figurative leap based on the role real cups play in our lives.

The cup is the vessel we use to hold water or wine. Without liquid, we would die within a week, as opposed to going without food, which will kill after about 45-60 days. (According to sources found online). The vessel that delivers liquid, then, becomes symbolic of life-giving properties.

The cup represents the essence of nourishment -- physical, spiritual, emotional, and nowadays we would add psychological.

The cup represents fulfilment in all those areas, and the people and circumstances that deliver that fulfilment to us.

It's not the cup so much as what's in the cup. An empty cup is useless. The emblems of the other suits are tools in and of themselves. You can cut things with a sword, hit things with a stick, and buy things with a coin, but you can't do anything with a cup, if there's nothing to put in it. It can only fulfil its role if it has something to contain. Though I suppose you could rightly say, you can't cut if there's nothing to cut, hit if there's nothing to hit, or buy if there's nothing to buy. However, there's one other point about the cups suit. With the other emblems, you use them as a tool to act upon something outside yourself, but with the cup, you use it as a tool to deliver something inTO yourself. It is thus instantly more intimate. And that's another reason to associate it with internal things, like love, emotion, spirituality and psychology.

Havdala receptacle 

The Ace of Cups in the Tarot de Marseille, though, doesn't look much like a cup. It certainly doesn't resemble the cups found in the pip cards. What is that thing?

Containers of holy relics

It's something called a 'reliquary', or a container of holy relics, in the Catholic tradition. Similar looking vessels are also used to contain spices in the Jewish Havdala ceremony to mark the end of the Sabbath. Here the cup is elevated to its most spiritual level of meaning.

We can see, then, how other emblems are mostly concerned with conflicting with others, while the cup is concerned with communing with others, both in the earthly and the heavenly realms. The cup is nourishment to the body, nourishment to relationships, and nourishment to the spirit as we use it to connect to others and to our gods.

Like reliquaries and havdala receptacles, the Ace of Cups has an architectural quality. It looks like a building! It resembles a castle with turrets. On a mundane level, the Ace of Cups can represent a house, for this reason. It can also be seen as a connection between the earthly and the divine, just as the receptacles serve as earthly homes for divine objects in the Catholic and Jewish traditions.

The question that springs to mind in response to this card as a daily draw is this: How is your home a source of comfort and love to you? How can you make your home a more loving place?

A personal reading using TdM

Jean Dodal Tarot, JC Flornoy 2009

How should we proceed with the house buy given the outcome of the EU Referendum? 

The images of the cards:

A lad on a horse changes direction from the left of the card to the right. As he turns to the right, all his energy is focused in the new direction. His gaze, his horse's head and his outstretched arm holding the wand all strive toward the right of the card.

In the middle of the card, 3 crossed batons.

On the right side of the spread, a man is seated easily on the edge of a chair. His legs crossed at the knee, hand resting on his belt, and elbow leaning on the arm of the chair all denote confidence and self-assurance. He holds up a sceptre and at his side is a shield.

The story of the cards:

After a hesitation, energy reasserts itself in the direction of the future. Plans are proceeding after briefly heading in a backward direction. Now all the energy is focused to proceeding with plans. (Batons are 'work, callings and plans'). The Knight of Wands (progression of plans) moves toward 3 of Batons -- 3 is the number of growth, 3 of Batons is growth of plans. So the original energy is focused toward growth of the plans. And finally, the Emperor faces 3 of Batons and focuses all his energy in that direction as well. He maintains the status quo, keeps a stiff upper lip, and is a man of action - as long as the action is to keep things as they are, firmly under his control. He's very much an 'I've started so I'll finish' type. His easy confidence suggests that the plans are the right thing to do.

In other words, you may have hesitated for a moment, but all your energies should be poured into maintaining that original plan and carrying on with it.

How will the mortgage perform over its full life? 

The images of the cards:

A huge angel blows a trumpet down toward the ground and three figures seem to be emerging from boxes. On the next card, there are a lot of coins, and the final card shows four interlocked batons.

The story of the cards:

The image in Judgement is the Biblical 'judgement day', when the dead rise in response to a heavenly call. It is an image associated with rebirth and renewal. In the next card, nine is 'a lot', so 9 of Coins could be seen as 'a lot of money' (and this card has come up in other house readings)-- a mortgage is a big thing. That's twice 9 of Coins has represented a mortgage loan in my TdM draws.  In the next card, four batons interlock. Four 'does not change'. 4 of Batons is ofen seen as a stability card or home and hearth card.

In other words, over the course of its life, the amount will be continuously remortgaged, but it will be stable.

That's that, then.

5 of Swords in Tarot de Marseille

CBD Tarot, Ben-Dov

An RWS reader sees the 5 of Swords and says, 'Defeat. Loss. Betrayal.' I even used to call it the 'nanner nanner boo boo' card, because the victors look so smug and the defeated look so... defeated. But what's in the Tarot de Marseille image?

Look at the card. Think literally to start with. What do swords do? They cut. We use them to defend and to attack. Sometimes they are ceremonial, where they are used to display power and authority. For any sword card, we would do well to remember what a sword literally is and what it represents. Defend, attack, power, authority. Cut, stab, slice, penetrate.

Think about the colours. Forget 'colour symbolism' and be literal. Red is heat, blood. Pale blue is cold and icy. Yellow is the colour of the sun and of gold.

In this image we see four curved scimitars which might be viewed as a ceremonial array, or it might be a defensive formation, or an offensive 'trap'. (Anyone see 'Game of Thrones' recently?!)  In the centre is a red sword with a gold cross guard, blue grip, red pommel and white peen block, or 'pommel button' (these four parts combine to form the 'hilt'). The blade of this sword is red and it is shorter and wider than any other sword in the suit. It appears to be a substantial weapon, created not for aesthetics but for use. (As opposed to some of the longer, slender blades seen in the swords suit.)

In all of the odd sword cards, we see a single red-bladed sword involved in some way with the pale blue cross-hatching at the top of the card. However, in every other card, we see the sword's blade below, its tip above, but only red diamond shapes in the blue area.  (such as the one seen below the sword). It is only in the 5 of Swords that the actual red blade itself is clearly depicted penetrating the blue at the top of the card. And here is where we get the key word for 5 of Swords: 'Breakthrough'.

Five of Swords is the only card that shows a red blade with a red pommel. All of the swords have red blades with pale blue grips, showing the swords consist of strong feelings wielded with detachment -- sans merci? But this is the only one with a red pommel. The pommel of a sword is not there for decoration. It is essential to the construction of the sword. Its purpose is to fasten the blade into the hilt, act as a counterbalance to the weight of the blade, and support the hand. This one is red, and is somewhat larger than other pommels in the sword suit. This blade of passions or strongly held beliefs or determination or bloody-mindedness, or whatever you wish to read into the colour red, is anchored in more of the same. Wielded with a detachment that suggests lack of mercy. And unlike other sword cards, the 5 of Swords clearly shows the main blade penetrating blockages created by the other swords in the card.

The interpretation given in The Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov:

'An initiative to push forward and go beyond present limitations. Perseverance in a tight situation brings success. Going your own way regardless of disturbance by others. Imposing your will on adversaries who are weaker.'

We've put an offer on that second house that turned up in a recent reading. Perhaps today will be the 'breakthrough'. We're still waiting to hear from the vendor with a response to our offer.

What breakthroughs are you hoping to make today?

A look at Force (Strength)

Jean Noblet Tarot by JC Flornoy

What's the most effective thing I can do to make today a successful day? 

Subdue the beast and keep my gaze to the future.

What else is here? Her hat reminds me of the tail of a beaver. The beaver is industrious and persistent. Beavers build dams. We have the saying, 'beavering away' when we mean to work on something, to exert oneself, to continue with the work at hand until the goal is reached. There's an answer in that. Don't quit before you're through.

The top of her head reminds me of the teeth in the beast's mouth. She has more teeth in her crown than he has in his mouth. She has the fiercer determination. She can overcome him. Another answer -- remember I have the upper hand. I have more tools at my disposal, I have more options.

Eva Green as Vanessa

Her face reminds me of Vanessa Ives (from 'Penny Dreadful') when she is beset by something. The beauty with the intense expression. The figure in the Noblet Tarot does not have the demure expression often seen on the face of Strength in some tarot decks. This struggle is not serene. It can't be pleasant to have your hands plunged into the mouth of a beast -- it's slick, smelly, the teeth are sharp and it's no doubt struggling against you and trying to bite. Still, the task does not require her to look down into the mouth of the beast, and it's probably best if she doesn't. Instead she keeps her eyes focused on the progress she wishes to make. 'When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you,' as the saying goes. The beast is already looking up directly at the figure. If she were to lock eyes with it, what might happen? No, best to keep eyes forward. Answer three: don't make it personal. It isn't.

There's a job to be done, I'm in a good position to do it, and I should keep my emotions out of it and just get on with it.

What job do you have to do today? How do you need to keep your eyes forward? Have you identified the teeth in your crown? How can you wrangle the beast today?  In what ways do you need to draw back from the situation and keep it impersonal?

Update on recent readings...

On Saturday I did a 'dumb reading' about the negotiations for a house we were trying to buy:

CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov

I interpreted this reading thus: A woman offers a coin to a situation that involves a lot of money. A youth rides past the offered coin toward an older man holding a cup. A collaboration ensues, and an agreement is reached that is mutually beneficial. It didn't turn out 'quite' that way...

A friend told me that the Ace of Cups in this type of reading almost always means a 'house' -- which makes sense if you look at the shape -- and the 2 following it could be read literally to make 'a second house'.

The negotiation happened today. The woman made the offer. The vendor did walk right past it. We are very grateful for that, because we had no intention of offering any more for that house than we did; we went and looked at a house this afternoon that just came on the market today and we liked it so much we are going to make an offer on it first thing tomorrow morning. So -- we loved a second house.

What actually happened was this: our negotiator put an offer to the estate agent. The estate agent phoned me and I said exactly the same thing. The vendor didn't like the offer (even though it was for what the house appraises for) and rejected it.

The King of Cups may be us, older and wiser, following the counsel of our hearts (by accepting the rejecting without counter offer), turning our heads toward a 'harbinger of good news about a second house' (6 of Wands + Ace of Cups + 2 of Coins), because after we got the news they weren't interested in our offer, we saw the house listed and phoned to make an appointment to see it. We just saw it this afternoon and liked it enough that we are going to put an offer in on it tomorrow morning.

It did turn out to be a second house. Now who knows if we end up buying the house, but the negotiations turned out just as depicted in the cards.

I have learned a new lesson -- look at the picture in the card, be literal The Ace of Cups does look like a house. And remember to keep the reading focused on self. Someone in this reading had to be me. Turns out I was the King of Cups -- the one in the middle, of course!

Valuable reading experience gained. I won't forget it.

Success in 6 of Coins

Source

Today we are going to meet with the person who will be negotiating with the estate agent for our house this week. We want to go over all the details with her and make sure she knows what our bottom line is when it comes to negotiating. We only have one deal breaker, and if the vendors are at all sensible, they will see that it is perfectly fair to expect them to carry out that work or reduce the asking price to cover that work, because with it not done, the house is not valued by the surveyor at the asking price.

The card of the day is hopeful in that respect. We have the 6 of Coins. It is a card that looks exactly the same upright or inverted. It has perfect symmetry and balance. Yoav Ben-Dov says in The Open Reading that it denotes 'plenty of resources and possibilities.' The interpretation sounds so hopeful I just have to quote it:

'Optimism, a positive outlook, especially in material and practical issues. A good balance between stability and flexibility. Advancement of a project without encountering a real challenge. Expansion in different directions without losing focus. Success.'

That makes me feel really positive about the meeting and the work this person is going to do for us.

After the meeting, we intend to do some domestic chores -- for one, we're going to take some items that are hard to dry without a tumble dryer or a back garden and wash and dry them at the laundrette. I haven't been in a laundrette in 20 years. That should be interesting.

Beyond that I don't know what we're doing. We booked this week off as we do every year at this time, but this year we decided we'd best not spend any money on a holiday so we're just hanging around. Plus I've got some stuff I've got to get done for the IRS this week. Joy.

Have a great day!

9 of Cups

Jean Noblet Tarot by JC Flornoy

'As for the pips? To cite a 1650 text of rules for the game: 

"...from the ten to the ace, these cards bear no small resemblance to the dregs of society, people who are much more a burden than a pleasure." 

In other words, they aren't of much use in the tarot.' 

 These words are all the guidance we get about the pips in Jean-Claude Flornoy's LWB to the Jean Noblet Tarot. One wonders why he bothered including them in the deck at all, if that's his take on it.

There are many TdM readers who use only the trump cards (or majors) for reading, and who tend to stick to a basic 3-card line made up of these. Many TdM readers use only lines for their readings, and most seldom use pre-set designations for card positions.

In The Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov, the 'row spread' is discussed. Ben-Dov suggests that a 3-card line drawn from a complete deck might not give enough information, because the pip cards do not offer 'much detail'. 'The obvious solution is to lay a larger number of cards in a horizontal row, so that their combination is interesting and complex enough.' He recommends seven cards, or two sets of three to examine two options, or just laying out a row until we 'feel we have enough,' though there is a danger in this of stopping the spread when we get to an outcome we like.

Despite all this,  I still think a one-card draw can be useful, even from a TdM, and even with plain pips, particularly as a Card of the Day. However, you won't get much joy from the Noblet LWB about it!

A literal reading of 9 of Cups might be a 'big social gathering', because nine is 'a lot' and we see cups of wine here. Because the rows are very symmetrical, you might see it as some sort of orderly hierarchy, or everyone knowing their place. It isn't really a 'pecking order' because no one's on top and no one's picked on. You might also notice the bars and leaves create tidy little compartments, so the card might mean separate-but-equal, or it could be respecting one another's personal space and boundaries. It might be pointing to 'a lot' of enjoyment of food and drink - but not to insensibility, because of the order seen in the card.

A more figurative reading might include the concept of 3 times 3, and the fact that the cups can represent the emotions, and you get the traditional association of the 9 of Cups as the 'wish fulfilment' card.

However you look at it, 9 of Cups is most likely going to get a positive spin. Well, unless you turn it upside down. Inverted, the orderliness of the image disappears. It doesn't make sense to see upside down cups. Now the image speaks of confusion. For some reason, I suddenly see the decorative elements as red arrows pointing toward the middle of the card. It makes me think of conflict. So the card reminds me of a large group of emotional, disorderly people scuffling about. They might be drunk. A party or social gathering gone wrong. People unable to control their tempers or cope with their high level of emotion. The group is breaking up. It will fall apart as the cups drop and crash to the ground. That's how I see it, upside down, and having no question to put the card into context.

Fortunately for me, I drew the cup right side up this morning. And now I'm going to have another cup of coffee.

Have a great Sunday!

7 Card 'Dumb Reading' with CBD Tarot

CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov

Yesterday my negotiations on the house were handed over to a woman who works in my mortgage broker's office. He told me she was 'very good at these sort of conversations', and I spoke to her on the phone for about 30 minutes. I like her. She is firm and resolute. We are going to meet with her on Monday for further discussion. For today, I thought there's no harm in just flat-out asking, 'What will be the outcome of this negotiation?' and trying a 'dumb reading' (as described by Enrique Enriquez) using 7 cards to string together a story from the images.

This, then is the story of this line: 

A financial situation exists involving a lot of money. A woman holds up a coin toward the situation. Her sceptre and demeanour display an easy and regal confidence. A youth rides up and stops to look at the coin. He's facing away from the woman; she is not part of his experience of this coin, just the coin. It appears much smaller to him than it did to the woman who held it out. It's so light it floats, to him, whereas in her hand it looks more hefty and substantial.  The youth eyes the coin and seems inclined to hit it with his bat. He's certainly not reaching out for it. He is moving toward an older man holding a cup. His gaze now also appears to be passing the coin and moving toward the man in the next card. The older man has a posture of easy confidence, and appears to be guiding the youth toward the 6 of Wands. The youth most likely rides past the floating coin and with the help of the wiser man, a collaboration is created. A good feeling emerges. A financial balance results.

To break it down a little more:

The story begins with 9 of Coins, a lot of money. ('One is a little. Ten is a lot,' as Camelia Elias says in her book The Marseille Tarot: Towards the Art of Reading.) Buying a house is the biggest purchase most people ever make. So, yes, a lot of money. The coin in the middle is me, and the other coins are people trying to get money out of me. It's the cost of the house and also the situation I'm in, doing my best to protect myself from a costly mistake. 

The Queen of Coins faces me. She is on my side. She also faces the financial situation and not the the subsequent cards. For her, the financial aspect is the only important thing. She holds a coin out to the 9 of Coins. She makes an offer to those who want my money.  She is probably our negotiator. 

The Knight of Coins examines the offer. He holds a club and looks as if he intends to bat the coin away. He is moving away from the offer. Perhaps the offer is rejected by the vendor. But perhaps the vendor will be guided a bit in this...

The King of Cups looks away from the Knight of Coins toward 6 of Wands. The King of Cups has experience in dealing with emotional situations, and his eyes are on collaboration. Perhaps he is the estate agent or other advisor of the Knight of Coins who might counsel for cooperation. It is after all in the interest of the estate agent to make a sale, and a few thousand here or there is not going to affect his commission that much. His gaze is to the right of the spread, the future. He will want progress to be made. 

6 of Wands. An alliance. We may find a way to meet our goals. 

Ace of Cups. The agreement apparently is quite acceptable to both parties. 

2 of Coins. Both parties have their financial goals reached by working together. A balance is found.

The Queen of Coins keeps her back to the proceedings after her initial offer. This suggests that any compromises to her offer will probably not be considered by her to be the best case scenario.Her back to proceedings suggests her initial offer is not the one that happens in the end. However, the Ace of Cups suggests good feeling, and coupled with the 2 of Coins, suggests good feeling between financial collaborators.

(On the other hand, the 6 of Wands may indicate that both of us have found an ally that makes us feel protected, and we have a good feeling about the outcomes, which is that we both have protected our own financial interest by keeping barriers up between us (see how the two coins are kept apart), ie, we don't complete the sale, but we feel good about it. However, the two coins are linked together, though also kept separate, so chances are this points to a collaboration of two sides of the coin. Either we amicably agree to disagree, or we manage to reach a mutually satisfactory contract, but either way, it would appear that this will not be an all-out war full of ugliness!)

ETA: A reader friend of mine suggested that the King of Cups could be another potential buyer! So it could be that collaboration and agreement happen with a different buyer, not us. I didn't even see that. So that is an alternative outcome. :)

Waiting game

Today's card is the 8 of Swords. (I did the draw with Jean Noblet Tarot, but I found this unidentified card image on Google search because I couldn't be asked to use the scanner this morning.)

The card depicts a central symmetrical flower, surrounded by many layers of arched shapes. It is either protected or imprisoned, depending on how you want to look at it. Either way, movement for the central flower is not a possibility.

I am similarly at an impasse in my house buy. Until we make our case to the estate agent and find out if the vendor is willing to negotiate price, we cannot  move forward with purchase of the property. In typical fashion, my mortgage broker is going on holiday for the next three weeks, so it may be either wait for him to come back, or put wheels in motion ourselves with the estate agent. I hope to speak to him today about this, as he goes on holiday after today.

One of my favourite websites to refer to for further insights to a card is Angel Paths, where this affirmation is offered for the 8 of Swords:

'I skilfully direct my energies into the things that will make the most difference.' 

Angel Paths advises: 'Don't waste your energy hacking away at something that may be better cleared up tomorrow. Rely on the idea that things will ease off, and that you will deal better with them for not having wasted hours on them today.'

So it looks like there's nothing more I can do here, and my energies today would be better focused elsewhere...

Page of Swords copes with anxiety...

CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov

'The future is perceived as a menace, but this can be put right with a change of approach.'
                                                                     - Yoav Ben-Dov

That card hits the nail on the head. Today we are meeting with our independent surveyor to discuss the condition of the house we are in the process of buying (or not), with particular attention to works that were carried out on it some four years ago. His advice will largely determine whether we proceed or walk away, and quite rightly as that is the purpose of a building survey.

This Page of Swords holds his weapon ineffectively on his shoulder, blocking his view of the future and turning his face away from it. I myself have been feeling quite anxious, my mind whirling with the 'what-ifs' of the future -- what if we pay too much, what if something goes wrong with the house that we should have seen or known about, what if we lose our jobs and can't make the payments, and all that sort of thing.

'The weapon may symbolise not a weapon, but a barrier or hindrance, such as negative thoughts,' Ben-Dov writes in The Open Reading. 'The feet pointing both directions indicate indecision.' Do they ever! But hopefully today, they will be set on the right path for our greatest good.

'Hindering factors can be used as useful tools or weapons.' Well, the survey itself has been a trigger for a lot of my anxiety -- and this is apparently quite a common response to a building survey, which makes your little dream home look like a house of horrors! But I can see how it can be used as a tool to point out where improvements need to be made so there are no nasty surprises (or fewer at least) after we move in, and can be used perhaps not as a 'weapon', but let's say 'leverage' in renegotiating price to reflect true value of the structure and property.

I'll be so glad when this stage of the game is done.

'Dream Big, Plan Small' Spread

Let's try out this spread from Chloe at Inner Whispers, 'Dream Big, Plan Small'.  Chloe suggests we think of a 'big goal' and select a card, perhaps a tarot major, and then draw from the small cards to see what teeny tiny steps we can take toward the goal. This way, we don't get overwhelmed, intimidated or resentful.

But first  I have to share this fabulous insight from The Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov about the tarot majors:

'In the major suit, there are many mythological and symbolic figures and as the suit develops, these figures gradually lose their social function as well as their clothes.'

This is so true! It's right there in front of your eyes, but you might not notice it. The Magician, the High Priestess, the Empress, etc, are all fully clothed and have occupations and social positions that we understand. But as the major suit progresses, things get, as Ben-Dov says, 'extreme and bizarre,' as the figures 'look up to the sky or down to the abyss'.  The figures 'have no status marks, their actions seem mysterious or supernatural, and some of them are nude. It is now unclear what exactly the figures are doing and why they are doing it.'

I just read that yesterday and thought it was too cool not to share.

Okay, on to the reading.

Jean Noblet Tarot by JC Flornoy 

I want to feel balanced in my life, so I selected Temperance as my Big Dream.

The small cards that I have randomly selected are Chevalier d'espee (Knight of Swords), 6 of Cups, and 2 of Coins. Now, what is the absolute smallest, tiniest change I could make based on these cards? 

Knight of Swords tells me to cut off the past. He stands guard against memories of past events. It doesn't matter any more, don't waste time thinking about it. What is the smallest step I can do toward that? Just popped into my head. If thoughts creep in, drown them out with a mental fart noise. If there's no one around, go ahead and make a nice loud raspberry. That'll show 'em! 

6 of Cups reminds me of the stable relationships in my life. A small step I can take to acknowledge this might be to thank my husband more often when he does little things around the house. I can smile at people at work and in public. :)

2 of Coins reminds me of balance, which reminds me of yoga. A small step I can take toward balance is to do some yoga including plenty of tree poses and balance postures. 

Right, the drawing has suggested I blow raspberries at thoughts of the past, smile at people and say thank you to my husband, and do some tree poses today.

I can do that! 

Rip it up and start again: A Foolish ritual

"Let go of big questions and sophisticated plans, stop worrying about the past and the future and issues far removed from your reach, and just live." 
                                -- Yoav Ben-Dov, The Open Reading

Here's your homework for today:

Sit down and make a list of the big questions you've had on your mind lately, and the things from the past and future that have been worrying you. Put a big messy star by each one that is 'far removed from your reach'. Then write down a few of the irons that you've had in the fire lately that have become 'sophisticated plans' -- ie, overcomplicated goals, self-imposed to-dos that feel like drudgery for its own sake, rods you have created to beat your own back with.

Take a good look at the list. What would the Fool say to it?

Now get a tin or a plastic container or a jar and a Fool card. (If you don't have one, sketch one.) Rip the list up into tiny pieces and put them in the jar. Drop the Fool card in there with them. Put the lid on the jar and shake them all up together. Imagine how the Fool would respond to seeing you do this. Laugh with him. Make a song of it? 'Shake shake shake shake, shake it up! Shake shake shake shake, shake it up! Shake shake shake shake, shake it up! Shaaaaaaaaaaake it -- UP!'

Then, open the jar, take the Fool out and prop him up so he can watch, and throw the bits up in the air like confetti. Dance around in the bits like 'Footloose' until you're good and sweaty. Sweep the bits up and flush them down the toilet. (Or burn them, or fling them triumphantly in the bin.)

There. You're done with them. Toddle off to your day. If anything off that list tries to sneak back in, laugh at it. 'You're confetti, you are. Ha!'

A Reading with TdM Chosson 1736

Tarot de Marseille Francois Chosson 1736, Yves Renaud 

Where should my energy be focused right now? 

Queen of Swords + Chariot + 9 of Coins 

From The Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov:

Queen of Swords = a secure and protected but static situation. Entrenching oneself in an existing position. Extreme caution, defensiveness, and avoidance of risk. Protecting oneself with sharp and rigid rationality. 

The Queen of Swords has always been my significator and the reading shows this is where my energy should be right now. There is a reason I should be closed down to anything that might shake up the status quo at the moment. I am holding the line.

Chariot = victory or achievement putting the querent in a secure and protected position (yes, the interpretations have the exact same phrase). Ambition, energy, motivation to more forward

So, the Queen of Swords plays defense in order to 'cover' the Chariot, as it makes progress toward the next card. See how they echo each other? They wear the same crown, their gaze is turned in the same direction, the red sword and the red staff 'rhyme', as do the positions of their left arm. (Though her sword leans toward what she's defending against, and his staff leans a bit toward the next card, where he's presumably headed). They are in tandem, they're on the same page!

9 of Coins = ambition, motivation and desire to carve a niche for oneself in an existing system. Courage, endurance and readiness to carry on in spite of difficulties.

The eight coins on the card represent the 'existing system', and the middle coin is me, 'carving a niche for myself'. When I consider what system I may be trying to carve my way into, particularly given the suit of this card, it's surely the housing ladder. The pips are even arranged like a ladder.

Thus it would seem I really should be focusing most of my energy to being very careful and rational as I make my way toward the buying of a house, the biggest expenditure of my life. I am not the type of person who can happily spread my energies around to many different things. That is not how I function; it stresses me out.  I do best when I have one main focus, and allow other things to blur into the background for a time.

I do wonder what the Queen of Swords and Charioteer have their gaze turned toward. What is the Queen of Swords holding the line against?

The Queen of Swords holds up her sword to defend the Chariot from Ace of Cups. Now is not the time for emotions. It is not a time for mystical aspirations or pursuing 'higher goals' (like the Holy Grail). It's not the time for seeking that sort of thing. It's now the time to protect my focus from peripheral concerns, and allow the biggest part of my force and drive to keep working toward that 9 of Coins outcome. And so have I done, and so will I continue.

How about you? What niche are you carving out, that requires some single-minded focus and rational thinking, with no room at the moment for emotion or 'Holy Grail' chasing? In what area might you need to be resolute and reasonable instead of romantic or idealistic?

Colours in Le Diable: Cheeky Freaky and the Grinning Imps

CBD Tarot 

Well this is an interesting chap to pop up on a regular old Friday. This isn't your Christian Devil as depicted in some RWS decks, looking menacing and tormenting his victims. This figure looks like Cheeky Freaky and the Grinning Imps.

This is the only card in the deck that shows 'full frontal nudity', and it is directly in the center of the card. The two imps' line of sight is aimed straight at the red tip of the penis.

Let's look at the colour symbolism in this card. The basic colour meanings are listed on pages 63-64 of Ben-Dov's book, The Open Reading. I'm going to try to apply them to Le Diable...

Starting from the bottom, a layer of black. The foundation of the Devil card is dark depths, dark layers of the soul. The Devil either stands on or hovers slightly above (I see him as standing on) a platform made of red then green -- passions plus nature -- so he emerges from our dark subconscious passions and natural desires. The Devil's body of legs and torso is pale blue, which Ben-Dov says symbolises 'clarity, transparency, a combination of matter and spirituality, coldness or detachment.' The body is somewhat neutral, then, with the exception of the red around the breasts and pelvis and tip of the penis, the 'passion zones'. Then notice that the face, arms and hands, and the pubis, testicles and penis are the beige 'flesh colour' used in the deck. The face, hands and genitals are the way we make connections with other human beings and interact with our environment. Communication and the work we do for survival comes from the head, face, arms, and hands, and a profound and intimate means of interaction and bonding as well as getting of more human beings to join in this social congress comes from the genitals. Ben-Dov adds that the flesh tone symbolises 'something which is part of the querent's identity or personality'. It is surely the case that much of our identity lies the work of our hands, the way we interact with others (faces), and our gender identity/sexuality. The imps are also flesh coloured, and their tethers are flesh coloured -- are they are our natural children? Our habits? The products of our 'natural' activities? They don't look miserable...so the ties that bind them are not trapping them, and they're not being tormented. They're just attached. Why do they have their hands behind their backs? That's an interesting question!

The red continues as the inner cap beneath the Devil's crown, and the tip of the flaming torch. Notice the torch is green and red -- nature and passion. The 'temptations' of the Devil and the foundation he stands on are our very natures and drives. Notice he's got a green collar, so his face is framed by red and green -- and if his face is the centre of communication, then all his communications are framed in the context of nature and passion. Yep. (Wow, I'm on a roll).

The colour yellow is said to represent material success and plenty, the element earth, 'intelligence applied to practical needs' and 'a warm and optimistic feeling'! The Devil and his imps are crowned with yellow, the Devil's platform has a halo of yellow, and his wings are yellow. Of course, the Devil's playground is material things and earthly pleasures. Why do you think his wings are yellow? What's it saying about wealth, material things, the pleasures of this world, and the Devil?

The Devil card contains a paradox: 'This is the inherent paradox of desire: acting on it can be perceived as liberation from inhibiting norms, but also as a bondage-like addiction to pleasure and satisfaction.' We can get addicted to and become enslaved to fulfilling all these natural passions and drives.

The Devil card is not about Satan. It's about us.

Tarot rebel finally hits my radar -- and what a blip he is making!

"Anything you stop ignoring becomes fascinating."

                                       -- Enrique Enriquez

CBD Tarot 

Nine of Cups today, and I do have a lot of emotion -- excitement.

Yesterday was a big day for me because I watched a film that I feel is a game changer for my tarot techniques, Tarology: The Poetics of Tarot, featuring Enrique Enriquez. The film amazed and excited me, and I will be watching it over and over. I will also be buying Enriquez's book of the same name as soon as possible.

Enriquez has strong opinions about tarot and doesn't mince words and though he sticks to the most traditional of decks, the TdM, I think he is considered in the tarot world to be radical, though clearly admired by at least some! I have loved everything he said in the film, and took three pages of notes during my viewing of it!

I haven't had time, obviously to process this guy yet, and I will write more about my response to him later, but for now, I'll share with you some of the resources I'm investigating.

Here's Lefanu's opinion of the film:

Tarology: The Poetics of Tarot


And here Sparrow Tarot describes Enriquez as her 'strange tarot crush':

Enrique Enriquez & Tarology


Check out this article written by Enriquez:

Peeking Through the Bars of Tarot's Occult Prison 


Take a look at this conversation between Enriquez and the creator of the CBD Tarot,  Yoav Ben-Dov:

Interview with Enrique Enriquez


And here, Enriquez interviews master card maker, JC Flornoy:

Enrique Enriquez Interviews JC Flornoy


Here he speaks to Mary K Greer:

Enrique Enriquez Interviews Mary K Greer



There's your crowded room, signified by the 9 of Cups. Enjoy!

Mettre de l'eau dans son vin -- Temperance in Tarot de Marseille

CBD Tarot 

As the French say, 'Mettre de l'eau dans son vin,' which means something like 'put some water in the wine'. This is the essence of Temperance.

We see the figure in the card literally mixing two liquids; they could well be water and wine. To 'temper' is to act as a neutralising or counterbalancing force. Obviously if we put water into wine, this will dilute it, neutralising or counterbalancing its strength.

When the French say 'put some water in your wine,' they mean something like 'chill out' or 'take it down a notch'.  This could be in a positive way, like being more tolerant or being willing to compromise, or in a not so good way, like lowering one's standards or 'selling out'. Usually, though, it's considered the best thing to have done in the situation. Going to extremes is almost never the best course of action.

If you put some water in the wine (or Scotch or bourbon), you make it milder and easier to drink. If you put some water in your wine metaphorically, you make yourself milder and more palatable. :)

In fact, being able to 'put water in one's wine' is clearly a blessed ability, resulting in seeming miracles, because the figure in this card appears to be some sort of angel, having wings and a flower on her forehead (third eye? crown chakra?), and performing the impossible by pouring liquid horizontally. That's a pretty neat trick!

The neat trick of 'putting water in one's wine' is a completely internal process, as seen in the card. The lone figure stands completely enrobed, her garments are heavy and cover her completely. The liquid she pours goes from one vessel to the other, all her own; it is not poured out onto the ground or into a stream or bowl that others might access. As Yoav Ben-Dov points out in The Open Reading, she is 'rooted to the ground, and the raised elbows may be fending off other people from invading [her] personal space.' He goes on to say, 'This can indicate excessive preoccupation with oneself and with one's own inner processes, which leaves no place for practical advancement or close contact with others.' Which is kind of interesting -- can Temperance itself be intemperate?? I guess that's its shadow side! 'Going back and forth without making real progress,' as Ben-Dov puts it. I never thought of that as in interpretation of the pouring back and forth action of Temperance!

How could you be more temperate today? Do you need to put some water in your wine somewhere in your life? How might you be going back and forth without making real progress?

A standoff between Page of Wands and Knight of Swords

CBD Tarot 

I wrote about this card a couple of years ago, and made much of the strange configuration of arms in the TdM image. I couldn't figure out what they could mean, but Yoav Ben-Dov suggests in The Open Reading that 'it seems as if the wand absorbs the page's hands, meaning that the querent's actions are not driven by his desires and not by his conscious control.' Well now that is genius, and leads straight to the quick interpretation at the bottom of the entry: 'Desires and drives which the querent doesn't yet know how to control and direct. Creative potential and real intentions to move forward, but more maturity and self-discipline are needed for things to happen.'

Again, completely different interpretation to RWS meanings. But it still makes sense in the context of a page's lack of maturity and the nature of the Wands suit.

This draw is quite apt, considering yesterday I wanted to do some yoga but had to quit after only two sun salutes, and wanted to eat well, but ended up eating quite a lot of rubbish. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I wonder what is in the Page of Wand's line of sight? I've drawn Knight of Swords.  They are certainly looking straight into one another's eyes. 'The querent has energy, motivation and resources needed to advance, but he should control his impulse to charge ahead and instead check whether the direction in which he is advancing is a good one. It is advisable to pay attention to hesitation and doubts.' (The Opening Reading.)

Now that's interesting.

Ben-Dov points out that the Knight of Swords' horse's hooves are detached from 'the practical ground'.  Whereas he notes that the Page of Wands has 'feet touching the bottom line of the card in a way which suggests a stable base'.

Why are they in a standoff?

How has an unfocused and unskilled sense of drive met with hesitation and doubt in your life? They seem to be at a stalemate here, squaring up and glaring into each other's eyes.

How do you break out of such a situation?

Why don't you draw a card from a TdM and tell me what answer you get?

Keeping my head above the TdM

CBD Tarot 

Lately I've felt like I ought to finally dive into the Tarot de Marseille and see if I sink or swim.  I'm taking the plunge with the CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov, guided by his book The Open Reading. I've dabbled a bit with TdM, but I've never made a deep study of it. Looking forward to it.

You'll notice the meanings are a departure from RWS. Just roll with it.

Today's card is 7 of Coins, which is given this interpretation in Ben-Dov's book:

'A new or exceptional element is well-received in an existing framework. Help and support. Nourishment and protection. Balance between individualism and conformity.'

Where does he get that, you might ask? It's from the meaning of the number 7, and from the arrangement of the coins on the card. There is one coin situated between three pairs of coins, and enclosed by vines 'in a way that expresses protection and support'. So I assume that the querent is that single coin in the middle, getting support and protection from the rest of the crowd on the card.

The quick meanings at the back of the book offer this: 'Acceptance. Something new is well-received. Integrating into a system without losing one's individuality.'

Maybe this has to do with diving into the TdM this week! Maybe I will be able to integrate into this system without losing my individuality. Would you expect any less of me? :)

6 of Wands - You again??

Morgan Greer Tarot 

Look who's back. 6 of Wands is stalking me, so I'm using Pearl Annie's stalker technique this morning.

I've shuffled 6 of Wands back into the deck and divided the pack into five piles: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit. I found the 6 of Wands the 5th card down in the Earth pile. So the area of my life where the 6 of Wands has concern is Earth, the material, physical plane.

But what is his message in the material, physical plane? Could he be telling me there's nothing victorious about blogging at 5.30 AM on four hour's sleep and the best thing I could do is go back to bed? Maybe...

I'll ask him to write me a letter, which I learned at Over the Moon Oracle Cards:



Dear Seeker,

When I show up in your readings, I'm giving you a message about THIS (Card 1). I'm showing you THIS (Card 2) is what's happening and I want you to be/feel THIS (Card 3) about it. When I appear, I'm asking you to release THIS (Card 4) and embrace THIS (Card 5). When you see me, it's time to take THIS (Card 6) action.

Sincerely,

Tarot Card Stalker

Dear Carla

When I show up in your readings, I'm giving you a message about how your thought life traps you. I'm showing you that are focusing on the negative. You're so gloomy about stuff! I want you to be more grounded and optimistic -- explore aspects of your physical existence and world. Approach your life with the spirit of an explorer. Get back to basics. Make some new discovery. Make some mud pies, or whatever the grown up equivalent of that is. Whatever happened to those colouring books for grown-ups you bought?

When I appear, I'm asking you to release the need to be the one holding the reins and making things happen, and embrace taking a break from your whirling thoughts. Get some rest! When you see me, it's time to take quick action--move yourself from your thought life to quiet self-care, and don't waste any time about it! If you follow my advice, you'll feel more triumphant in your life. 

Sincerely

The 6 of Wands

So on that note, I'm going back to bed. 

See ya. 

Page of Cups - Unabashed delight

Morgan Greer Tarot 

This was my Card of the Day on 26th May, though it turns out I didn't blog that day. I do have a note of it in my new bullet journal ('bujo' for short).

Here are some previous blogs about him:

Page of Cups, 26 June 2015 

Lesbian Vampire Killer of 1871, 1 Oct 2014 

When Aniruddha met Usha, 8 July 2014 

Peace like a river, 14 June 2014 

What would Butters do?,  29 March 2014 

Wonder and delight, 17 Feb 2014 

Love bubbles -- have you sent any lately?,  7 June 2013

Looks like 2014 (pre-October) was a big year for Page of Cups. His happy naivete was shattered that month, and I disappeared from this blog for a time. He disappeared from my draws. Perhaps his reappearance heralds the return of delight in my daily life.

'This card typically expresses the theme of being enchanted by the mysteries of life, and we may see it as urging us to embrace that which is mysterious, unknown, or even unknowable,' writes James Ricklef in The Soul's Journey: Finding Spiritual Messages in the Tarot. I don't quite agree with that. I think the Page of Cups lacks depth where mysteries are concerned. What he has is the ability to greet each inexplicable thing with complete acceptance and delight. He doesn't bother with why or how -- how could a fish pop out of my cup? -- but just laughs with joy when it happens. Like a baby who is surprised and delighted during a game of peek-a-boo, or who thinks the sound of ripping paper is the most hilarious thing on earth.

He also represents innocent love, an openness to the joy of interaction. Again, we can learn from very young children who look at us with wide eyes and inspire us to making funny faces just to see their hearty laughter and unabashed delight.

We could use more of this.

Morgan Greer Judgment

Morgan Greer Tarot 

Awakenings. Rebirth. Realisations. Fresh starts. Renewal. Heeding a call.

The Judgment card from Morgan Greer Tarot intrigues me with its depiction of the nuclear family, facing us rather than away from us. The man and woman seem to have revisited us from Lovers and Devil, and the kid reminds me of the Sun card. They arise in shadow from a box which appears to be afloat on a yellow sea, and there's no angel in sight. Instead, the man appears to be holding a fiery trumpet in his upraised arms, or maybe it's descending from the cloud of fire in the yellow sky.

The woman has her arms across her chest. This is a traditional posture for being laid to rest, and the X has been associated in medieval and renaissance art with the coming of the Messiah. It is also a symbol of Osiris, an Egyptian god of regeneration or resurrection.

How are you feeling refreshed today? In what way is today a new start for you? If it isn't yet, how could it be? What are you awakening to today? In your life in general? What are you realising? What is calling you? Are you willing to heed that call?

2 of Wands -- Who knew he was about boundaries, too?

Morgan Greer Tarot 

I drew Chariot yesterday and found that there was a quite literal interpretation for it -- my train home was cancelled! So I had to walk to the bus station and pay AGAIN and take the bus, which took 45 minutes to cover the ground the train covers in 6 minutes, and cost me twice as much. There were only two people on that bus, me and one old man. I often forget to consider the most literal interpretations of the cards.

Today I've drawn 2 of Wands from Morgan Greer Tarot. It's an interesting one because there is a second person depicted in it. In the traditional RWS, the figure has one of his wands bolted to a wall so that he can hold the globe, but here there is clearly a second person, wearing ornate yellow gloves, accompanying the main figure. They do not appear to be atop a tower, nor is any water in sight. They seem to be moving through green hills, and the wands are like walking staffs. The main figure carries the rose and lily emblems on a shield, but they do not seem dressed like warriors. Maybe they are some sort of pilgrims. The figure has a feather in his cap, which is an English idiom for having earned some sort of success or achievement that may help you along in the future. His apparent wealth and his well-dressed companion could both be feathers in his cap. Maybe he owns that green land, and that could be a feather in his cap. And the glowing orb might represent the bright future that is also a feather in his cap.

I have to admit that both the 2 of Wands and the 3 of Wands are difficult for me to interpret on their own. It's important to have a context and surrounding cards in order to pick up on what it's getting at. Do you find that?

James Ricklef, in The Soul's Journey: Finding Spiritual Wisdom in Tarot, says that it represents domination over others, conflicts about personal power, and decisions about where we should direct our passion. I don't really see that in this card, as there seems to be a real spirit of cooperation here, and certainly no discernible signs of domination.

On the other hand, the Thoth tarot gives this card key word 'Dominion', a different kettle of fish entirely, in my mind. Dominion is your power or right in governing or controlling, and to govern is not necessarily to dominate by force. Ricklef points out, your dominion could be as vast as an army or as small as a schoolyard. I don't agree with him, however, that dominion is an illusion. Surely there are times when assessing those things over which we do exert some influence and control is a healthy and good thing to do. It is useful to assess where your sphere of influence lies. And sometimes it is good to survey your 'demesne,' as this chap appears to be doing. Maybe he is walking the borders of his patch, contemplating what is his. This is not a bad thing to do, as long as we realise that borders are abstractions and maintained only by agreement with one another. In that sense, perhaps it is illusion, but observing these sorts of illusions is what creates a civil world. Without them, there would be anarchy, queue jumping and all sorts of madness! :)

Today, may I take care to observe my own sphere of influence, and be careful not to overstep the boundaries laid out by decency and expectation, so that I may cooperate fully with those on this journey with me.