Full Moon in Aries Emperor Reading

                               1. How am I an Emperor?
                               2. How am I not an Emperor?
                               3. Where do I need to take charge?
                               4. What will help me do that?
                               5. How am I weak?
                               6. How am I strong?

I really don't think I like this reading at all--and it is those uncomfortable readings that we need to pay most attention to. This one has brought up some of my shadow aspects, things about myself I don't like to look at.

Greenwood Tarot - Knight of Arrows

Greenwood Tarot, Ryan and Potter, 1996

I'm so happy to say I have now got a copy of the Greenwood Tarot by Mark Ryan and Chesca Potter, Thorsons 1996. I don't really know why the deck has reached cult, almost mythic, status. But I can't deny the images are powerful, much more so to me than the deck's offshoot, Wildwood Tarot (Ryan, Matthews and Worthington, 2011). I will draw from Greenwood this week.

The card seen today is Knight of Arrows, or Knight of Swords, represented by the Hawk. Each court card in Greenwood Tarot is represented by an animal instead of a human being. I would say that the companion book is of little use to interpreting the cards, particularly courts and minors. Clearly we are meant to find our own meaning in these images. The book merely says, ''Quick, graceful and master of the element of air, the hawk is a symbol of vision and power. The ability to fly and nest at high altitude and see prey and hunt from a great height brings a special reverence to this majestic and fearless and creature.' Actually, that bit of information is enough to set you off on all sorts of free association.

It is a beautiful image of the bird in flight against a spangle of sun, with the shape of an arrow and some accompanying spirals to remind us of the air aspect of the suit of arrows.

Wildwood Tarot

The Knight of Swords is air of air, 'Lord of the Winds and Breezes'. The hawk is such an apt choice for this Golden Dawn title. The hawk, like all birds of prey, has the enviable ability to spread its wings and ride the air, hovering and wheeling for long periods with barely a flap of its wings. It soars and wheels with great agility and speed. Certainly to our eyes, anchored to the surface of the earth as we are, it looks fearless! We also admire the hawk's amazing visual acuity, ability to spot tiny objects from long distances. The hawk's perspective on things is brought out more sharply in the Wildwood Tarot, while its freewheeling flight in the sun is emphasized in Greenwood. I like both images (I am a fan of Worthington's style, though some have commented and I tend to agree, that the art in Wildwood is a bit more 'cartoony' or 'comic bookish' than some of his other work.) Still, we can see the hawk's intense focus in Potter's Greenwood card, and I think overall, it speaks to me more of air and flight than does the Wildwood, which hints only at potential flight. As I meditate upon the Greenwood Knight of Arrows, I begin to visualise for myself the landscape below the hawk, and its wheeling, turning angles as the hawk soars over it.

The Knight of Arrows today, then, tells me to take the long perspective on things. Today is a day to view things both dispassionately and intensely --  from a distance, but with keen attention to detail. More than that, the image reminds me to spread my wings and enjoy the feel of the sun.

Whoa, mule

Faerie Tarot, Hertz

I've been seeing these TV ads for years, featuring glamorous models whose eyes bleed when they apply eyeliner, and a voiceover saying something like, 'If your eyes were bleeding you wouldn't ignore it. Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth is not normal.' It's an ad for a product called Corsodyl. After my tooth breaking on Saturday, I found myself paying attention to this ad, and made a note to buy this stuff on Sunday, which I did.

I followed the directions on the back of the bottle. Swill in the mouth for 1 minute and spit out. While I was swilling, I was a bit alarmed to read on the bottle that it said to avoid contact with bleached clothing. What the what?? And the stuff was burning like fire, too. I dutifully waited one minute to spit it out.

Ten minutes later my tongue felt like I'd scalded it in boiling water, so I started googling this product. I went to the NHS website and other reputable-looking sources of information. Turns out the active ingredient can cause allergic reactions, such as swelling of the salivary glands. It can cause intense burning sensations. If you get it on bleached fabrics, it can stain them brown (the bottle of course never mentioned brown). It can also STAIN THE TEETH BROWN, and after a course of treatment you may have to go to the dentist to have them cleaned. You what?? No way. I went and poured the rubbish down the sink and continued to read. I felt like an idiot for buying something based on an advertisement. I never do that.

I'll call the dentist today from work (since he's finally OPEN) and when I go to see him to get this pesky tooth fixed, I will ask him about spitting blood when brushing teeth as well. I've had a bit of blood in my spit for years...I mean YEARS. But it's just a bit and some days there isn't any, so you know, you just ignore it. Until something happens.

The Knight of Swords can throw himself rather headlong into things, particularly things which he considers a righteous cause. However, his impulsiveness can cause him to commit errors, create more problems for himself, if he's not careful. Which is exactly what I did. I'm just glad I didn't remain Knight of Swordsy about it and carry on valiantly in the face of burning sensations, charging forward in the face of pain and instincts of retreat. The Knight of Swords on this card seems more to be picking his way through the snow on a decidedly reluctant-looking steed (giving his rider a backward glance that is full of 'what the heck are we doing out here' attitude) than charging off the side of a cliff. Good good.

Wow, there's daylight up here

Gaian Tarot, Joanna Powell Colbert

Today's card is from the Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert. It's the Explorer of Air, or Knight of Swords. The figure in the card has climbed up from the forest floor right up to the top of the canopy, and is peering around, checking out the scene. A variety of birds fly and perch all around him.

I certainly have been peering at the forest from above the trees for the last few days, working on my 2012 year in review, and planning some goals for 2013. Lots of thinking, planning and writing! And quite a lot of squinting into the distance, as well, pondering what to write.

May I use this current time of planning and thinking in a balanced way, and lay plans that will not pressure or stress, but nurture and uplift me through 2013.

Affirmation: I can do anything -- I have no limits -- it's a simple matter of taking things one moment at a time.

User of Weapons

Servants of the Light, Aquarian 1991

Another one of the amazing court cards from Servants of the Light Tarot, Aquarian Press 1991. Here is the Knight of Swords, or User of Weapons. You'll notice the sword is flaming, and that's because the Swords suit is elemental fire rather than air. So this is the Knight of Wands to me. It would appear that the User of Weapons is battling to rescue the maiden in white who is chained to the rock (it turns out she's the Keeper of Weapons from the next court card, or Page of Swords, ie Wands). If my constant transposing of suits confuses you, just ignore it. And don't let my swip-swaping to deal with elemental switches put you off this magical deck. It really has something special going for it.

Is Joey in your tarot?

'In your own favourite deck, does the Knight's horse reflect the Knight's personality? Does the horse's livery reflect the suit's qualities?  Not all Knights are on horses - other creatures are used - do the other animals chosen reflect the Knight's suit, or has it been chosen arbitrarily?'

Alison at This Game of Thrones asks this question, so let's listen to the Knights in Courtney Davis's Celtic Tarot:

Knight of Cups