Ace of
Swords/Death reversed. The
Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning,
Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) tells
of the birth of ideas and concepts.
The Ace of Swords tells of consciousness and the beginning of the
awareness of “self,” and also the beginning of an uprising of a potent mental
force or ability The Death card of the Major Arcana corresponds with Water (cold/binds and
wet/adapts, and sensitive, imaginative energy that strives to stay the same or
take the same course), Scorpio, Nun (fish head; liberation), and the Path
between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and
focus to illuminate and clarify) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of
emotion and inspiration), and tells of natural change that cannot be stopped,
and that usually involves the potential to step upward on the evolutionary
ladder. Many people fear this card, but Death can be seen as representing
natural change through alchemic putrefaction. The LWB that comes with the
Llewellyn Welsh Tarot says this about Death reversed: “Being held back by the
dead atmosphere of a place, or the attitude of its people.” I love this!! Evolution and transformation are nothing to fear. Perhaps that is why my Death card is
reversed; I know this already.
My
Thoth cards are the Eight of Swords (“Interference”) reversed and the Four of
Cups (“Luxury”). The Eight of
Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I
think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) tells of a confused and restrictive
response to obstacles, or maybe perceived obstacles. This card in an upright position tells me that I am attempting
to be good-natured and understanding, or accepting a sense of powerlessness,
when I should be taking control.
Because the card is reversed, I will be free from these blockages today,
and the sailing should be smooth. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion,
imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) reminds
me of that too much pleasure, or maybe too much nurturing or
overprotectiveness, deadens the senses. This is a card that describes what can
happen when nothing goes wrong in our lives, and perhaps I am being reminded
that while it is okay to enjoy the smooth sailing of that reversed Eight of
Swords today, tomorrow is another day.
No need to become complacent.
My
Legacy card is the Eight of Wands reversed (another reversed Eight!), flavored
by the Five of Wands reversed. The Eight of Wands (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill,
communication, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous,
blundering) in an upright position is a card of action, of quick developments,
and of pulling it all together so things can be completed. The energies of this card when upright
are fast and strong, but they do tend to attempt to bring some stability,
albeit in a roundabout and sudden way.
The end result will be balance . . . once the dust settles; kind of
similar in many ways to The Wheel of Fortune, but in a Minor Arcana kind of
way. Because my card is reversed,
this kind of energy eruption will be blocked or challenged. My reversed Eight of Wands is being
flavored by another reversed Wands card, the Five of Wands reversed. The Five of
Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and
order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical) indicates a struggle
caused by annoying cross-purposes.
Often this card tells of a clash of multiple ideas, or it tells of
inconsistent efforts, both of which could be lessened by a re-evaluation of
some kind. Because my Five of
Wands is reversed, and flavoring my reversed Eight of Wands, perhaps that
eruption of energy that cleanses is being held back by unnecessary aggression,
or even a bit of cruelty. Not
something anyone would want to admit, but being warned of the possibility of
this happening will hopefully prevent it.
My
6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that occurs when
growth slows and degeneration approaches, usually involving a choice of some
kind.
My
horoscopes: “Whatever you want, Sagittarius, you need only ask for it
and there is a good chance you will get it. And it's about time, too. It seems
you have been working exceptionally hard lately. You are certainly due for a
raise, if not a promotion. Gather your thoughts, collect your supporting
evidence, and ask for what you deserve. If your yen for more public recognition
is nagging at you, then take steps today to ensure that you get more time in
the spotlight.”
And: “Things
may seem a little cloudy from your vantage point today, but this is no reason
to be blue. It could be that adjustments need to be made before you are able to
relate to others on a smooth basis. Take this opportunity to attend to things
that you normally wouldn't think of dealing with. See things from another walk
of life. Realize the fun of just staying close to home and falling asleep on the
couch while watching a good movie.”
Back to
the Wild Unknown Tarot! Today’s card: Death. I adore the image on this card; it
absolutely captures the idea of transformation without bringing in the
fear. Here is the duckling of The
Fool and the swan of the Cups Court Cards, or at least what is left of them
after their life forces have departed and their bodies have mostly decayed and
gone back to where they began so new life can spring from their ingredients. There are still some feathers left, and
a beak on the skull, like the fading memories left in our minds of someone who
was once alive. Most of what was
here once has gone on to another plane of existence, the life force back to the
Divine and the body back to the Earth.
We don’t know what it is like to die, but there is a rightness to this
image that reassures. Life may not
be forever, but neither is Death.
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