Bearded mystic -- 4 of Swords in Fountain Tarot

We have another curious take on an RWS image in today's draw from Fountain Tarot (2014). I can't quite make out what's happening in this image. At first glance, I see a yogi of some sort wearing a very large turban, sitting in half lotus position, and it seems as if he might have his hand behind his head with his elbows out, but if that's what he's doing, he's got some really long arms. Or rather, his right arm is super long and his left arm would be quite small and in comparison. So when I peer at it longer, he doesn't seem to have his arms up at all, but rather in his lap in a more traditional pose, with perhaps a meditation blanket tucked over his arms and around him. That would make the elbow-like shapes seem more like shrouded figures looming behind him peering over his shoulders. So actually, I'm not sure what the hell is going on in this image! Maybe it's not shrouded figures, but just artsy shading and reflections or a shadow on the wall or some such. The swords are the typical ghostly transparent ones we have seen before in this deck, and they must be made of light, because that lense flare effect is happening here, shooting rays upward and outward. Perched atop the sword in the foreground is a little black bird. It doesn't look much like a crow to me; if it is, it's a tiny one.

Traditionally, the 4 of Swords brings to mind the need for a rest, a break, a hiatus, and some readers look upon it as the need for mediation and instrospection, a retreat. For me, this interpretation comes out stronger with the Fountain Tarot image than it does in the RWS image, which depicts the tomb of a knight in a cathedral. A tomb represents a pretty darn long break! But I can see how lingering around such a monument could be considered respite from the bustle outdoors of the big city surrounding the cathedral -- it's the space itself that's comtemplative, not the knight.

In this image, the bearded mystic looks off to his right, toward the floor. Maybe he's going through the traditional motions just prior to a session of sitting meditation, where you shift back and forth from one butt cheek to the other, lift your back up straight by imagining your head is a helium balloon and your spine is a string lifted up by the balloon (or some such business). Then if you're like me, you start straight and sloooowly slump forward and things go blurry and several minutes later you realize you're not meditating but humming the theme tune to 'Game of Thrones' in your head and thinking about what to make for dinner, so you get up because your feet have gone to sleep anyway.

Today the entire service I work for is convening in one room for a staff development day, which we are not allowed to call a conference, and which the big wigs have dubbed 'Creating Customer Connections.' So I am thinking a lot of vague staring off into space will be done before the day is through.

A happy Tuesday to all!

Juicy and she knows it - Queen of Coins - Fountain Tarot

Fountain Tarot (2014) 

It's the Queen of Coins (or Pentacles) today from the Fountain Tarot (2014). Once again, the depiction of a court card brings out aspects that are not so apparent in traditional RWS imagery.

For myself, I tend to think of Queen of Coins as a sort of mini-Empress. In the RWS image, her Earth Mother qualities are right out there -- she sits on a throne amidst flora and fauna, looking sweet and demure, and not particularly sensual, materialistic, or concerned with things like fashion and appearances. However, the Queen of Pentacles (or Coins) can in fact be very concerned about these things, and that aspect of her turns up here quite strongly.

On this card we see a beautiful woman wearing a flamboyant dark gown -- to me it looks like bottle green velvet. She stands in a self-conscious but undeniably alluring pose, one knee crooked, hip stuck out, one hand on hip, the other lightly making contact with her decolletage. Her surroundings are natural, but they are anything but wild. There is a pair of topiary trees -- a trained tree like this to me is the very symbol of man's dominion over the natural. The tree in the background fades into a shower of gold, and of course at her feet is a giant gold coin. This Queen of Coins certainly enjoys the finer things in life. She enjoys her flesh, she enjoys the outdoors (in her highly cultivated garden), she enjoys sensuous fabrics and having her hair and nails done and sipping fine wine and standing around looking gorgeous.

In my mind I know these qualities are 100% true of the Queen of Pentacles, but without particular context and surrounding cards, they simply are not the first thing to come to mind when reading this card. And that's a shame, because they really are strong qualities present in the Queen of Pentacles. They may manifest in various ways in 'real life', but concerns about money, physicality, the experience of the senses, and so on are her realm, for sure.

I like this luscious Queen of Coins. She is juicy and she knows it.

She would write this poem:

Journaling with the Five of Swords - Fountain Tarot

Fountain Tarot, 2014

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

                                 ~Proverbs 16:18 KJV

That's the first thing that came to mind when I drew this card today from Fountain Tarot (2014). It's the Five of Swords. 

This is an unusual interpretation of the RWS image. Instead of a victor smirking in the foreground holding his five swords as the vanquished slink off in defeat, here we have obscure 'shapes' in the background and this weird, lanky guy who looks like he's had some sort of nervous breakdown after spending a sleepless week working out string theory. And do those shoes have velcro? I think they do! So, buddy, you got nothing to feel smug about! 

Now, what does the companion book have to say about this unpleasant-looking dude balancing on handles of translucent ice blades? 

'Two glum figures stand in the background while the victor balances tenuously on his spoils,' it reads. 'Victories get polluted when your personal integrity is compromised. Nobody wins in this situation, and the backlash can be horrible.' 

What I want to know is, how did he get up there in the first place? And why did those two blobs in the back give up their swords to such a weedy-looking character? 

On a more serious note, I find an interesting take on this card in Benebell Wen's 'Holistic Tarot', and I think it is particularly applicable to the Fountain Tarot version of this card:

'Deep down this is a seeker who feels he or she was born with unfair disadvantages, that others are more privileged. There is a subconscious, unacknowledged resentment because of that. This is not a card about entitlement. Rather, it is a card about being resentful for not having what others have, and thus doing everything in one's power to get what others have. The Seeker thinks he has won, but the storm is just coming' (pages 190-191). 

If we look at the card again, we can see how the main figure of the card has alienated himself from the so-called 'defeated', and the spoils of his 'victory' are almost 'not there' -- it's like they're imaginary. His victory is something that clearly he thought was virtually impossible -- like balancing on the points of swords. Now he's reveling in it.

'The Five of Swords shows a cunning character who profits off others or misappropriates. [It] also gives a sense that the Seeker is using a proverbial sledgehammer to crack a nut, using more force than is required, and in that disproportion will suffer undesirable consequences,' continues Wen (page 191). 

There certainly seems to be only one outcome for the figure in this card. He cannot stay balanced on those swords forever, or even for more than a split second. When he comes down in a crash, he will have five sharp, two-edged blades above, below and all around him. Bad deal! 

We can use this card as the trigger for some deep self-exploration:

In what ways do I feel that I have unfair disadvantages? 

What do I perceive in others as privilege, and how do I harbor resentment for that? How does that resentment manifest in my attitude? In my thoughts? In my responses? 

What are my motivations for my current goals? Am I working toward something because I perceive it as something I need in order to keep up with the Joneses? Do I even really want this thing? 

In what way am I 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut'? What could be the consequences if I continue in this vein? 

Wait - Do I hear Ravel's 'Bolero'? Two of Cups in Fountain Tarot

Fountain Tarot, 2014

This card from Fountain Tarot reminds me of the Sirian Starseed Tarot. The thing is, I'm not sure I like it.

It's the Two of Cups, and we see here two robed figures standing in formation and making gestures toward the night sky, rather like synchronized swimmers. Two cups float above them. The bottom of the card has an oval shape, for no reason that becomes immediately apparent.

'The Two of Cups is crystal clear,' crows the companion book. 'It represents a deep, powerful connection between two energies.'

Does it?

'The recognition of synergy is unmistakable. When two spirits of this magnitude unite, the universe feels personal, and there is no telling what magic might be created.'

You think?

I don't really see a connection here. I see moving together in sync, sure, and reaching toward something higher than the two of them, but for me the Two of Cups never really meant that. These two seem more overwhelmed by what they perceive 'out there' than they do with each other, and that's not Two of Cups for me.

Maybe they're going for the 'two hearts beat as one' thing. As I contemplate the card, for some reason I just keep picturing synchronized sports -- swimming, pairs figure skating, that sort of thing. So maybe they're Torville and Dean, but Torville and Dean spent a lot of their famous routine locking eyes, that's part of its appeal. Meh.

At the very least, this card shows me moving in harmony with others (or at least one other) and that's a pretty good draw for the day. :) 

Must be court week - Knight of Coins - Fountain Tarot

Fountain Tarot, 2014 

You gotta love a tarot card that incorporates lense flare. Well, you don't have to, but I do. (JJ Abrams would probably get excited by it, too. If you don't get that, don't worry about it, it's a movie geek reference.)

I'm accustomed to seeing the Knight of Pentacles with his big sturdy horse and heavy armour, and that helps promote the image of him as slow and plodding. But he's not just those things, and this card helps bring out other qualities. The Knight of Pentacles is Air of Earth. He contemplates the physical realm. We can get a strong feel for that aspect in this card from the Fountain Tarot (2014).

Stargate glyph

Here we see the Knight of Pentacles wearing green robes. It appears to me that he stands in the arched doorway of an atrium. Outside, there is more greenery, and a mountain or pyramid. If it is a pyramid, then the circle of the sun is directly above it. It is from this sun that the fantastic rays beam down upon our knight. This reminds me of the glyph from the movie 'Stargate'. In the movie, this glyph represents 'point of origin' and symbolises earth. That works for me. If it's a more ancient symbol, I don't know about it. As far as I know, this particular glyph is from a film. So we have the Knight of Pentacles, dressed in green, surrounded by green plants and trees, contemplating a symbol of the earth element, and basking in the light from the source of life, under the Stargate glyph symbolising the planet earth. That's pretty cool, and certainly moves us away from the plodding, rather 'thick' and slow image associated with the RWS card. This knight takes his time, but it's because he's thoughtful and meditative (Air).

I like him.

The King of Cups - Fountain Tarot

Fountain Tarot, 2014

My card of the day is the King of Cups from the Fountain Tarot by Jonathan Saiz, Jason Gruhl and Andi Todaro.

This card depicts a man in a business suit, ankle across knee, a cup balanced on his knee. His hands are folded across his lap, and he smiles and looks to his left, as though another person were there with whom he is enjoying a conversation. He seems very personable. His bald head and glasses give him an elder, fatherly air. He seems to be a very powerful man, but one who is approachable. He is giving his full attention to the person he's speaking to; he is one whose 'open door policy' is genuine. His fine suit and casual posture, show us that he is confident, self-assured, diplomatic, and emotionally available. His demeanor is welcoming, but his body posture shows that he also knows how to engage in psychological self defense -- the crossed legs, the folded hands. He's open, but he's the one who is in control of the conversation. He's more of an empathetic listener than a sharer, just as he should be in his capacity as a professional man.

Traditionally, the King of Cups is seen as the father figure of the court cards. He is a loving and gentle male presence in the lives of his children and family.

Surprisingly, in its reversed position, the King of Cups can be reactive and veangeful, rather than, as one might expect, being depressed or self-condemning. This is explained by using a traditional way of determining the reversed meaning of  court cards, which is to look at their opposite elemental dignities -- The King of Cups is Fire of Water the opposite of Fire is Water. The opposite of Water is Fire. So that would be Water of Fire, or Queen of Wands, and she can be an absolute terror when crossed!

The companion book to Fountain Tarot doesn't give us any guidance on the geometric shapes that occur throughout the deck. I can't help but think there's some significance to the shapes. Here we have a circle on a triangle. The triangle inside a circle is a symbol that is more familiar to me, being used on US currency, a Masonic symbol, a symbol of creation, a symbol referenced in kabbalah, and in decorations in Catholic cathedrals (usually with an eye in the triangle). But what about a circle inside a triangle? In this card, the circle is slightly bigger than the triangle, but still. What is it? It is known as Solomon's Circle, or Solomon's Seal, which some occultists claim was on King Solomon's signet ring and contributed to magical powers.

Without going into it too much, you may notice that the inner circle spells out 'Mi-cha-el', or archangel Michael, and the lines represent Primeumaton, Anaphaxeton, and Tetragrammaton (AHYH, ADNI, YHVH). If you know the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, these will be familiar. If you don't and are curious, seek and ye shall find. (In other words, google it.)

But an even more salient meaning for the King of Cups, to me, is this one:

This is the Al-Anon symbol. King of Cups, for many readers, is associated with alcohol and substance abuse. The circle-within-the-triangle symbol represents Al-Anon, the support group for those affected by another person's alcoholism. It is the reverse image of the AA symbol: 

In both logos, the three arms of the triangle represent unity, recovery and service. The circle represents serenity, perfection and the source of unlimited potential. 

The stable shape of the triangle envelopes the symbol of potential and serenity in the Al-Anon symbol -- stability, fortitude, those are the things that foster an environment that will allow perfect peace to grow. Whereas the peace and serenity bring the stability for the substance abusers. It's a great representation of the interlocking needs of all involved. 

The King of Cups in Fountain Tarot sits upon a throne made of these symbols -- stability, unity, support, service, peace, recovery, serenity. What a great guy. Great dad. Great friend. Great boss. He knows how you feel. He can help. 

Tarot and Lennie as a daily draw

Fountain Tarot, 2014 

My card for the day is Page of Coins from the Fountain Tarot (2014). A youth plays in a field holding a glowing coin. This suggests there will be an energy of starting from scratch on something practical and hands-on, or if not starting from scratch, being receptive to guidance, being a learner.

I was pretty sure what that pointed to because today I am getting feedback about two things: 1) a project for work -- a set of display boards with a theme of 'Local Sporting History'. The manager of that sort of thing is coming for a bi-annual branch visit and will take a look at the display and either okay it or make suggestions for improvement, and 2) I will be getting feedback today about my unsuccessful interview from a few weeks back. Come to think of it, there may be another thing, because 3) I also recently submitted some papers for a qualification I'm going for and I might receive some feedback on those in email today.

I decided to draw from Lenormand to get more details on what this Page of Coins energy is about, and I drew:

Fox + Storks + Mountain 

Blue Owl Lenormand 

Wrong + Changes + Blockage/Isolation

Queen of Hearts = woman who acts as sister, godmother or confidante

I can see that these cards might point to the first and second scenarios above, but there's nothing here about a message, so the email is unlikely.

Woman reveals what was wrong that caused the blockage.

Clever woman suggests changes regarding blockage.

ETA: This is what happened today.

I had a really useful and productive talk today with my manager about some of the troubles I'm facing at work. This is a group that is not used to being managed and are not dealing at all well with the fact that now they have two assertive managers who are not backing down from enforcing changes that have already taken place in other parts of the service, except this last bastion of redundant practice. It is a difficult time. The Fox and the Mountain are perfect for the situation, and Storks takes on the meaning of change and female confidante very well. We also had a useful talk about my interview, what went well and not so well.

Overall, I believe the cards played out as I'd thought.

What sort of work involves balancing a cup on your head?

People have been telling me that 'things happen for a reason' to comfort me about not getting the job yesterday. I appreciate the comfort, but I was wondering...what is the reason, then? I used my new Fountain Tarot to answer the question: 'What has the universe in mind for me, then, since I didn't get this post?'

Fountain Tarot by Saiz, Grubl and Todaro, 2015 

The card in the middle dominates, and is Ace of Coins, traditionally read in these situations as a 'new job', or new direction, or potential energy in the material/physical plane. On the left is Knight of Cups and on the right is Three of Wands.

The Knight of Wands sits on the edge of a waterfall, it appears to me, with a cup balanced on his head. He's not particularly practical! His oblivious nature here puts me in mind of the Fool, but with more of a theme of emotions and intuition. He is turned toward the big coin, but not looking at it. (He always has his gaze on something indistinct in the distance, doesn't he!)

We have a really interesting Three of Wands here. Instead of looking out across a wide vista of possibility, as in the RWS tradition, this Three of Wands is pulling the Wands in with great determination. He is reeling in the possibility instead of contemplating it. And he reels in toward the Ace of Coins.

Whatever the reason is, it has something to do with making the most of the 'yearning but immature' side of my personality, paired with determination to bring my vision into corporeal reality.

Hmm. The cup on the head reminds me of this from Flight of the Conchords:

I Told You I Was Freaky

(relevant bit ends at 50 seconds)