May 6, 2008
· Filed under Beginner Level, Theory, Two · Tagged 2 of swords, card meaning, Crone deck, maori warrior, RWS, tarot
I like this card ! Most people don’t. Now, when I read about it I get explanations such as : she turns her back on emotions, emotions symbolized here by the ocean behind her. As she is blindfolded, she refuses to see clearly. And she is passive. The woman is delaying the moment when she’ll be facing the truth and emotional facts are ignored. Well … I don’t see it that way … At all !
Let me break this down : the ocean being her emotions , and Swords in tarot representing “Thinking” , I see this as high concentration. Sometimes we don’t see well with our eyes, we get used to what we see and we don’t pay attention to details anymore; she is seeking another “point of view”.
She is listening to the sound of the ocean, and elaborating a strategy. The blindfold forces her to reflect upon things differently. Just like when you put a blindfold on your eyes and try to cross the room : in a way, you are a lot more careful than usual. I don’t remember what the movie is, but it was a sort of Kung-fu story. Or maybe Tae-Kwan-do …. Whatever. The apprentice had to learn to fight his opponent with a blindfold, so he became very good at hearing things, and of course, became a very good fighter. This is how I see the woman in the 2 of swords card, someone who is making a bold decision in life, who knows how to defend her opinion, and stand her ground. She is ready !
I mean, I’ve read before that in order to see clearly the problem she should take off the blindfold. Well, I’m not too sure about that. Let me explain once again. If your enemy is very scary looking, it makes an impact. Have you ever seen Maori Warrior ? Well, she doesn’t let the vision of the opponent scare her, because she is not fighting the same way as most people. The moon in the sky represent that : a creative solution (moon=creativity) to solve problems. She is not judging with a vision that might be tricked to scare her.
Her emotions are backing her up but she doesn’t let it get in the way, she is not over-emotional.
She spends no time being sappy. The Crone deck (man do I love this deck !) is also representing that sort of thing to me as well. A women standing in front of a miror; the mirror is crossed by a ribbon or some piece of mosaic. Remember Alice ? The other side of the miror ? Well, this is it to me : she stands in front of the miror, reflecting upon her life ( or a job, a relationship ….) and decides where she fits in that story . it is about what your belief are and where you fit in this world, and whether you want to go on the other side of the mirror … what is real huh ? I love to play around with that question.
Last night, doing a reading, I pulled this card to represent me and I was like “Whoah, I know Kung-Fu !” 
May 6, 2008
· Filed under Beginner Level, The Tower, Theory · Tagged babel, destruction, ego, RWS, tarot, Tarot de marseille
This card always get some interesting reaction whenever it comes up.
In some decks, it actually looks a lot scarier than in others. Significations may slightly vary according to the question being asked, but it usually refers to a sudden change. One should always keep in mind that attachment may bring disappointment. When you get this card, you know the change is going to come very fast, the shock may be brutal and you won’t be able to avoid it. It’s something you were not expecting at all, but sometimes it’s all for good, even though at first you are not aware of the benefit that this sudden change is bringing into your life. Trying to hold on too much and resisting the change may be very painful.
Unlike the death card which means progressive change, the tower is like a struck of lightning. You may indeed feel blinded at first and not ready, but then see things clearly. I also see it as the destruction of ego. The crone deck illustrates this really good, a face that is broken like a shattered glass. 
Indeed some people’s pride inflate and then, being reminded that we are only human, one falls from the fragile pedestal and has to rebuilt himself again. This is a card which represents the truth and the honesty concept, in all its brutality.
In the readings I’ve done, I have sometimes seen it being very positive, like a love at first sight; or a sudden revelation that helps to move forward with a process that was in the mud. One thing that remains whether it is positive or negative in the reading, is that things will be altered. Your sense of security will be shaken, threatened. One may feel at loss because the break up of a relationship, or a sudden job unemployment, but everytime a door closes another opens. Only changes is permanent. But the cards being graphically pretty dramatic in most decks, it’s always getting a reaction. Remind yourself the state of impermance. Every construction need solid foundations, castles in the sand never last forever. Remember the tower of Babel ? Now, comfortable illusions wil be shattered but it doesn’t mean the sky is going to fall on your head.
May 6, 2008
· Filed under Beginner Level, Theory · Tagged death, fear, joshua hoffine, photography, RWS, tarot, the devil, the emperor, the hanged man, tower
Some time ago, doing a reading for a dear friend of mine she pulled the Death card. I still remember her shrieking “Oh no, why, what is going to happen now ? This is bad, why does this card show up ?What doesn it mean ? Is someone going to die ? Those people on the ground are dead, they are chopped into bits, oh my, oh my ! Don’t lie to me, don’t pretend it can be any good, this is bad I know, tell me , tell me !!! ” As I tried to calm her down, and that wasn’t easy, I still remember my own feeling when I did a reading for myself, (the first one actually) and I flipped the card that represented me at that time : the Hanged Man. Even though my reaction to the card was less emotional that hers, I wasn’t too happy with it. At that time, it as my least favorite card of the Major Arcana. And I was totally amazed at the fact that it was supposed to represent me ! I didn’t like it and I surely wasn’t feeling connected to it. I was using the Tarot de Marseille at that time and only using the Major Arcana, now I use the RWS and use the whole deck.I see the Hanged man under a different light now, and my least favorite card changes every now and then. At the time being, I have to say the Emperor is not my favorite. But in order to avoid that kind of emotional upheaval when I do a reading, I ask the person to pull the cards for the layout while concentrating and I only flip them afterwards. That way, the person may concentrate on the question and not let his/her fears and dislikes of some cards get in the way.
Here is a website I found on nightmares, it’s not related to tarot but I found it very “beautiful” in its own way. The graphic work is by Joshua Hoffine and while not related to tarot, It reminded me of her reaction with the death card. I like the question his masterpieces are raising such as “What is real ? Is it really there or is it just my imagination ? Am I being paranoid or is there something there ?”
I’ll have to come up with posts about these cards, and my own take on them.
I like this card ! Most people don’t. Now, when I read about it I get explanations such as : she turns her back on emotions, emotions symbolized here by the ocean behind her. As she is blindfolded, she refuses to see clearly. And she is passive. The woman is delaying the moment when she’ll be facing the truth and emotional facts are ignored. Well … I don’t see it that way … At all !
She spends no time being sappy. The Crone deck (man do I love this deck !) is also representing that sort of thing to me as well. A women standing in front of a miror; the mirror is crossed by a ribbon or some piece of mosaic. Remember Alice ? The other side of the miror ? Well, this is it to me : she stands in front of the miror, reflecting upon her life ( or a job, a relationship ….) and decides where she fits in that story . it is about what your belief are and where you fit in this world, and whether you want to go on the other side of the mirror … what is real huh ? I love to play around with that question.
