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Archive for the ‘Card of the Week’ Category
On Monday, Miss Michele drew the Queen of Pentacles as our card of the week. It is interesting to reflect each day on how the Queen of Pentacles influences our lives. Each of the Court Cards have distinct representation within our lives and, as family-oriented women, the Queens often resonate with Miss Michele and I more closely than other cards.
In Tarot, there are four Queens -one for each of the suits- and each Queen is unique. The Queens collectively, however, share many traits. They represent a degree of evolution and growth, a level of mastery and talent.
Queens are self-assured, confident, able, and committed. They are aware of their place in the wider world and understand their power, their command, over themselves and their environment. They are the matriarch of their family and the leaders in their field. Queens know that their role is vital to the health and happiness of those around them.
Queens as Family Women
- A Queen of Pentacles builds a warm home and welcoming hearth. She is committed to providing the best for her family. She focuses her time on making sure every member of her family has what they need to be happy and successful. She is also concerned with self-worth, personal identity, and social standing. Many child-stars have Queen of Pentacles mothers, those women who encourage their children to be the best, stand out, perform, be great.
- A Queen of Cups makes herself emotionally available to her children. You’ll often find a Queen of Cups choosing to stay home rather than work. She’s often the school mom, spending her days in the school canteen or helping to manage the school fundraisers. She’ll also spend time in the home creating an environment where every member of her family feels her love, from the careful folding of sheets to home-cooked meals.
- A Queen of Wands is inspired and passionate. She’s the advocate of charity and causes. She loves adventure and can be enthusastic and excitable. The Queen of Wands might organize camping trips and vacations for the holidays. She gets her children invoved in craft activities and after school sports. She’s the story-teller who wants her family to dream and imagine, she wants her children to grow up confident and filled with a fire for life.
- A Queen of Swords is motivated and organized. This Queen keeps an orderly home and maintains and manages the structure and routine of her family. It is often a Queen of Swords who will work outside of the home, providing for her family financially as the bread-winner and setting an example of hard working loyalty. The Queen of Swords encourages talking, family dinners, and one-on-one time with each member of her family. She might not show outward affection as easily as other suits but wants her family to do well and to achieve.
Queens as Career Women
- In the workplace, the Queen of Pentacles often works in very textile ways. She’s hands on and wants to be actively involved through each stage of the process. These women tend to lean toward hand or machine crafting with woods and fibers. They often make excellent chefs or gardeners with an eye for preciseness and the hands for fine-skilled, light-touch work. These women see trade and commerce as balance and often find themselves trapped trading hours for dollars, they risk under-valuing their craft but are also in the position to create work wherever they choose to as their business is their talent.
- The Queen of Cups is a healer and carer. You’ll often find these queens gravitate to jobs where they can be of service to others. Because of the emotional intensity of their careers, these Queens are at risk of stress related illnesses. They are prone to depression and are often very sensitive to the moods of those around them. This makes them excellent doctors, nurses, carers, counselors, therapists, even teachers. When a Queen of Cups chooses a career it is usually one where she feels deeply and can be involved on a personal level, she needs to feel like she makes a difference in the lives of others.
- A Queen of Wands will flourish in a career where she users her creativity and inner fire. She’s a risk taker and may choose to be involved in active roles that take her outside, traveling, or into adventure. These queens often become writers, landscapers, designers, and artists. These queens may also be those outstanding women who join the military as pilots or in other intense and traditionally male positions.
- The business world is often the frenzy in which a Queen of Swords will find greatest satisfaction. These strong-minded women handle numbers, routines, and people. They make excellent public speakers and politicians, accountants, lawyers, and architects. The Queen of Swords will enjoy putting her intelligence and communication skills to use in her career and is results focused and action empowered.
No matter which path a Queen of any suit may take, their inner sense of worth and confidence helps them excel and achieve. These women are capable and talented.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that just because we consider these Queens a ‘she’, these traits are not gender biased. There are elements of these Queens in all of us and in all of those around us to varied degrees. Queens represent a feminine energy. Warmth, emotional availability, caring, and gentleness, being generally considered feminine aspects, are not exclusive to women or to any particular age.
Can you see yourself in any of these Queens? Can you begin to imagine how the roles these Queens play come together with the other court cards? In what other ways do you think the Queens might influence our lives?
The Queen of Pentacles emphasizes material possessions, “nesting” – that is, getting your home ready for guests or to host a party – as well as the acquisition of material goods. This Queen, though, does not seek material goods merely to own them. She appreciates the finer things in life and wants to make her home more comfortable for herself and her family.
This card resonates with me personally, as I plan to take the first half of next week to emphasize cleaning house and also to organize my home-based office. What could be more “Queen of Pentacles” than to make my office – devoted to the acquisition of wealth through doing what I love – comfortable, beautiful and functional? That’s a true Queen of Pentacles moment!
Universal Message
On a global level … the “start” of the holiday season, with prompting from retailers, seems to begin the day after Halloween rather than the day after Thanksgiving, as it used to! People everywhere are getting their homes ready for the holidays, checking their bank accounts to create their holiday budgets, and perhaps deciding on new ways to make money for the holidays.
It’s sad that the Queen of Pentacles can be interpreted to represent the holidays, with her emphasis on material goods, but let’s not forget the maternal aspects of this card. After all, the Pentacles also signify “getting back to earth.”
The Queen of Pentacles is the family manager, perhaps the breadwinner. But she’s also a caregiver and the perfect party host. She is Martha Stewart without the scandal, Rachael Ray without the bubbly-ness, Mrs. Claus without Santa overshadowing her! She wants to build a safe, friendly and comfortable home for her loved ones, and knows that money isn’t the only way to do it! On the other hand, the Queen never focuses on lack, and, because of that, the money is always there when she needs it!
Tarot’s Advice
The lesson we can take away from the Queen of Pentacles for the week of November 1? Seek to build a safe, comfortable and joyous haven for your family this coming holiday season, but remember it’s about more than who has the biggest blow-up Santa in their front yard!
“The stars signal comfort… By their very design they instill wonder in the deepest parts of our hearts, and allow hope to spring forth.”*
In Tarot, the word Hope encompasses the true depth of Major Arcana card, The Star.
In The Mythic Tarot Deck, The Star represents the story of Pandora’s box. In Greek Myth, the Titan Prometheus once stole the sacred fire of the gods and gave it to mankind. This angered the Gods who vowed to punish the human race for the crime. It was told that the King of the Gods, Zeus, ordered a exceptionally beautiful woman to be made of clay and water into whom the Gods put idleness, lies, and a selfish temperament. Zeus sent this woman to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother, along with a very special chest.
Before he was captured, Prometheus’ warned his brother to never touch the chest. Epimetheus in turn, told Pandora of the dangers the chest might contain but she cast aside his concerns. When she lifted the lid of the chest she released terrible Spites – Old Age, Labor, Sickness, Insanity, Vice, and Passion – which escaped into the world and infected mankind. All that remained in the box was Hope, which had somehow been locked inside with the Spites.
“Stars have long been seen as symbols of hope, regeneration, vision and new life. When this card appears, you know somehow that life is just about to become easier and brighter. Life’s forces combine to assist rather than hinder.” says Jan Shepherd at Angel Paths
Like Pandora, the Star often represents the release of conflict, anger, depression, and pain. It reflects an emotional struggle and a need to rebuild confidence and find balance. But, in the end you are left with this shining ray of HOPE, you have the strength to face whatever life is going to throw at you and yes, it might be hard, but you’re given an opportunity to discover something new and wonderful.
“The Star means ‘knowing’ that you will achieve what you want. – Amenti Anuket on Twitter
Joan Bunning of Learn Tarot says, “The Star is most welcome when grief and despair have overwhelmed us. In our darkest moments, we need to know that there is hope,that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Star is the opposite of the Devil who strips us of our faith in the future. Card 17 holds out the promise that we can eventually find peace of mind.”
“The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future.” ~
The Star often comes as a message to the querent that things will get better very soon. Despair is a crushing force which can sometimes overwhelm the shafts of light that burn from The Star. It is at times when despair is about to pull us into the darkness The Star will appear to remind us that change is just around the corner.
It may also be warning against depending too much on blind faith. It is one thing to trust that things will improve but another to do nothing, waiting for The Star. Hope is just the beginning, action is needed to bring about the change and ultimately, hopes purpose is to encourage action as despair begets inaction. If The Star appears in your reading it may be telling you not to give up. The hardest part is almost behind you but you have to keep moving forward to reach the new horizon.
“To me,” Serenity Healing on Twitter says, “The Star means a light at the end of the tunnel. A glimmer of hope and guidance.”
How does The Star affect you this week? Have you found emotional release that leaves you feeling free of burdens and has renewed your hope and faith? Have you learned to trust yourself to fate and push forward into a brighter future with your dreams?
“The Seven of Wands is all about taking a stand.”*
In the Rider-Waite Deck, The Seven of Wands depicts a young man taking stance against six unseen others. When I see this card, it reminds me of the training involved in martial arts. The six wands are practice targets with whom we build our skills. By this time, we know what it is we are fighting for and are honing the craft, mastering the grip required, the balance needed, and the various techniques involved, for a battle of wits and determination that may be on the horizon. In this way we become prepared.
It also involves repeating an activity out of necessity. Just as one must continue to practice martial arts every day to maintain the body and mind in peak condition, so do we commit to routine tasks that strengthen and maintain our external world. We take a stand, commit to action, and carry out the steps involved on a regular basis.
The Seven of Wands can also indicate strong convictions. In order to take a firm stand, you must believe in your position and yourself. You’ll need integrity and strength of character to see you through. If your cause is just, use the energy of the Seven of Wands to make a difference. ~
Just as you train against invisible opponents so too might you be fighting against a foe that is not there. In this case, the Seven of Wands reminds us to acknowledge the true battle, evaluate its worth, and consider the sacrifices involved. The Seven of Wands asks, “Is this true? Is this just?” Learn to put aside those things that are not for the greater good or for which you fail to find passion. Your time is better spent accomplishing the goals that inspire you.
Jan Shepherd of Angel Paths says, “Life is full of challenges. And sometimes we find it difficult to seize the moment, grasp our opportunities and live life to the full. The Seven of Wands comes up to indicate that you are facing one of those momentous happenings in life, and advises you to believe in yourself, grab your courage in both hands and go forward.”
Generally, Wands focus on intellectual aspects; the power of the mind and the creativity of the spirit. The Seven of Wands asks us to stand up for what we believe in. With these wands we embrace our fears and discover our courage. With this Seven of Wands we have all we need to face what is ahead of us, others may be jealous of our accomplishments, or talents, but we are able to walk our own path despite any petty attempts they make to undermine us.
The Mythic Tarot describes the Seven of Wands as “a struggle with other people’s creative ideas – stiff competition. The individual is challenged to improve upon and develop his or her project in the face of an envious and competitive world and needs to learn to value his or her ambition and competitive instinct.”
“Objectives must be defined – it is time to know exactly what they are. And then go for it. In fact, if you’ve already reached the seven (a sacred number), then you already know what they are -so the time is ripe to develop them. What is the point of having a strategy and then not following it up?” says Diana in a discussion about the Seven of wands on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum
At this time of year, the Seven of Wands reminds us that we must remain determined. We’ve set new goals for the year ahead and with commitment and dedication we will accomplish those goals. Your path is laid out ahead of you but only you can take each step along it to your destination. You are self-empowered and ready.
What does the Seven of Wands mean to you?
“The Ten of Swords is the Dark before the Dawn.” *
Any hardship culminates in an apex of fatigue and horror. One is surrounded by the sense of the insurmountable, faced with what feels like an inevitable failure and crushing defeat. The Ten of Swords embodies this darkness. When all the odds seem turned against you and you cannot see beyond this moment to the brightness beyond.
When I see the Ten of Swords in a reading it reminds me of a great battle. Surrounded by the enemy, the remaining troops are torn between throwing down their swords and ultimately feel that their fight is one that ends in their death and has been for naught. From this perspective, we are the men, gazing into the maniacal faces of our enemy, our muscles heavy, blood seeping, swords an half-height, weary with fatigue and awash in hopelessness.
What we fail to see, hidden from us by the shadows of the army on every flank is the golden gleam of fresh armor, bronzed horses, glimmering swords, and the banners of long awaited reinforcements just cresting the horizon. Here, in the darkness of what seems like imminent defeat we fail to see our salvation.
That, is the Ten of Swords.
Kimberlee Ferrell describes the Ten of Swords as, “hitting rock bottom, being a martyr, or having a “woe is me” attitude. Things couldn’t be worse, but the bright side is that the only way left to go is up.”
This card shares similar qualities to the Major Arcana, Death. The card itself shows that in it’s most literal sense and offers a dark image of hopelessness and defeat. Yet on the horizon is a bright new day and we are reminded that every ending is a new beginning as the circle turns.
In a reading, the Ten of Swords might indicate a need to find acceptance within yourself and to allow change to occur. Often, the greatest pain is caused by attempting to hold back the winds of change. One must create room for new life by letting go of that which no longer aids.
The Ten of Swords portends a difficult experience of loss or release, but a new awareness and a positive sense of relief that the difficulty is finally finished will eventually follow the pain of this experience. Though this card may seem negative at first glance, it is a card of hope and an indication that our troubles will not be permanent. ~
This card might also be telling us that things are not as bad as they seem. The Ten of Swords often appears as melodrama or even hypochondria. It is the making of a mountain out of a molehill. When the card appears in a spread it may be advising us to reevaluate our position and to look at the bare facts without emotional excess.
The Ten of Swords appears to be a card of terrible misfortune, but surprisingly, it often represents troubles that are more melodramatic than real. The man on this card has quite a few swords in his back. Wouldn’t one be enough? Isn’t ten a little excessive? Perhaps this gentleman’s suffering – though sincere – is exaggerated as well. *
On the other hand, it may mean “you need to convince someone that it IS that bad while they are insisting that you are exaggerating.”
What are you letting go of this week? Have you felt hopeless and fatigued by your situation? Perhaps you can see the light of a new dawn on the horizon. What insights do you feel the Ten of Swords brings?
