Six of Swords

The Six of Swords
by Heather Blakey

The Six of Swords keeps leaping out of my deck, telling me what I know to be true. I have endured much, yet there is a stillness and serenity which has come after the crisis of my mother's decline and death.

I sit looking, rather wistfully at all the swords. There is no mistaking that it has been a difficult time. But, somehow, I now understand the pattern of life, have seen and come to understand, know how I have been the architect of my own fate

The Six of Swords does not provide options or influence my choices. Drawing the Six does not change any of the external situations that have impacted on my life. Rather, it helps me to see why I am on this particular road at this particular time. All the Six of Swords does is shows me what is and has been.

I look at the Swords, sip my drink and contemplate the fact that the swords are not piercing my body or weighing me down.

All things remain possible. I could, perhaps pick up one sword as protection and head off, armed with  a trusty copy of Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization.

Perhaps I will make a treasure map which depicts me not surrounded by swords but filling cups instead.

Essential Death and Dismemberment

The Death Card in the Major Arcana, does not mean physical death. Rather, the Death card portrays symbolic death-a change or transformation. Often, it heralds the end of a familiar or more comfortable mode. It conveys a release which is necessary for growth and expansion. Perhaps it even brings a whole new set of principles which will guide you spiritually, emotionally, psychologically or financially. Joseph Campbell, author of A Hero with A Thousand Faces, describes times of personal change as periods when "The familiar life horizon has been outgrown; the old concepts, ideals, and emotional patterns no longer fit; the time for the passing of a threshold is at hand." The sunrise depicted in the background of the Death card holds the promise of the transformation which is about to take place: the death of the old self, but also the dawning of a new day. The Death card is a cue that you are at a "threshold"-a crossing into a new phase, unbounded by the past.

Death - Symbol for Change and Transformation
In This Life
by Heather Blakey

Jewish Gnostics declared that "When Eve was still in Adam death did not exist. When she was separated from him death came into being."

My life has been changing since my separation from loved ones, important others who were like pillars. Comfortable habits and routines have been irrevocably altered. With each day has come a full appreciation of what their death means.

Pulling the Death Card reminds me that life, transformation and change are synonymous.  I see it as a reminder that I am confronting a period of transformation as I come to terms with changing circumstances. It is amazingly painful, hard to shed old ways and adjust.

My personal experience colors the drawing I have done. It is not a traditional 'Death Card', although the obligatory skeletons are present. Memories rose as I sat drawing myself felled, like a big tree, by the presence of actual death. I am in a period of mourning, coming to terms with what now is and, the loss of what was. The path of readjustment is a slow, winding one.

After spending so many years as the primary carer for my husband and then my mother I am at a loose end.  In both the case of my mother and husband death appeared, not as some fata morgana, nor macabre skeleton priest. Death was not some hostile or revenge seeking tyrant, but rather came, simply, as a servant of life with a job to do.

Jung said that "to accept death like birth, as a part of life, is to become truly alive".

I have witnessed death up close and personal and sense that with it comes rebirth. For now it feels like I am still within the womb, biding my time. "Not wanting to live" said Jung "is synonymous with not wanting to die. Becoming and passing away are the same curve."

It is the becoming which is still a work in progress. Rather than awaiting the Great Transformation it appears that each day offers another door.

The 'Death' card reminds me to go on opening doorways! May I find portals in unusual places. May I go on in the spirit of our school anthem, 'Life is Adventuring."

References

The Fool Again

Seek and you shall find, that is the message. Here The Fool stands poised to take that step into the unknown. The dog at her feet is in fact a fox, a wild but wise creature. His is the small voice of reason. The birds though are ready to take flight, to accompany her as she steps off the precipice and into new ventures. Below her are other wild things. They beckon her as all wild things beckon to me. I am too old now, I know, to step off into the unknown, but the woods, fields, and all the wild creatures of my youth beckon still. So, maybe I can take the leap, albeit in my dreams and in my imagination. So, I, too, plunge into the blue, into the yet unknown depths of my art, writing, and poetry. The wild ones sharpen my minds eye so that I can capture the elusive images with my camera, my pencils, and my pens. So I can see again with clarity. This is The Fool's message to me. Stephanie Pui-Mun Law states it so well. Unheeding she steps forward and........

Vi

The Lover

The Lover

by Heather Blakey

The group who are exploring the symbolism of the Tarot are currently examining the card of the Lovers. The Rider Waite card adopts the Garden of Eden perspective while other decks present the issue of making a choice in other ways. The Marseilles Deck, for example, dramatizes a specific and human problem. It reveals one young man involved with two women and no figure is depicted as being godlike. Rather they are appear to be ordinary human beings.

In the drawing depicted here I am raising the whole question of choice and, if indeed, we do have to choose between the various selves that reside within. Given the Judgment of Paris it is perhaps advisable to become innovative when dealing with our internal archetypes.

To expand your exploration and explore the union of the female and male consider reading On The Way To The Wedding. Linda Leonard writes about the longing for a true wedding, one that unites two beings in a sacred search for meaning in life. Exploring dreams, personal experiences, myths and fairy tales, and themes from films and literature, the author uncovers the inner obstacles to love and creativity as experienced by both men and women.

Moonstruck

Moonstruck
by Heather Blakey

"Psst! The Mistress of the Moon shone her light into the dark corners and revealed the 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' side of me. No wonder she is needing a Nana Nap now. Or is she turning a blind eye so she will not have to feel all responsible for the outcome?"

Hymn to the Moon

The Queen of Heaven
Moon Goddess
by Heather Blakey

"The Moon is usually represented as the feminine power, the Moon Goddess, Queen of Heaven, with the sun as the masculine. The Moon is universally symbolic of the rhythm of cyclic time: universal beginning. The birth, death and resurrection phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity, perpetual renewal; enlightenment."

J. C. Cooper An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols.

My rational mind is not enough to sustain me, especially as I come to grips with the recent passing of my mother. Like the computer my rational mind processes the input it receives and calculates logical conclusions. Given that there is much that cannot be explained the rational mind has obvious limitations.

By contrast, the Moon is the portal to intuition. As a conduit, The Moon provides access to an infinite supply of information, enabling me to tap into an incredible storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. I sense that if I trust intuition I will gain entrance to an Aladdin's Cave of treasure.

So, tonight I stand before the Moon, keeper of the keys of fertility and the gates of birth, death and rebirth. I stand before 'she' who is the perpetual renewal, the bringer of the seasons, the controller of life giving waters.

Tonight I acknowledge her to be the measurer of time, to be the weaver of fate.

I put my trust in her clear light, even if it exposes aspects that have remained hidden within dark shadows. For it is this light which equally highlights a creative power that knows no bounds.

Inner Lunar State

Luna - Goddess of The Moon
by Heather Blakey

Carl Jung did not enter the realm of the unconscious after being moonstruck. The collective unconscious called to him through his dreams. It is possible that his richest dreaming times coincided with the lunar cycle.

According to Rachel Pollock, "in divinatory readings The Moon indicates an excitement of the unconscious." She says we "begin to experience strange emotions, dreams, fears, even hallucinations. We find ourselves more intuitive, more psychic."

When the Moon appears it is normal to be introspective. Because of its different phases the moon is thought of as being fickle and producing transitory effects. It is also perceived to be a benevolent, feminine planet, influencing emotions, impacting on all life on earth.

No one escapes the silvery touch of the moon!

Every month the moon is 'reborn', is resurrected. Here, within the safety of a group, we can pay attention to our inner lunar state, stop to consider our own phases, our inevitable waxing and waning of creative energy.

Maybe you will rummage through the shelves of old projects, gathering dust, laying silently, quietly hoping you will resurrect them; breathe life back into their limp bodies; make then luminous like the moon in all her fullness and glory.

On the other hand it may be enough to sit watching the moon this month, examining all its phases, singing hymns to this mysterious planet, the receptor of the sun's light.

Then again you might be content to examine woman's connection to the moon. Begin by going to Barbara Walker's Encyclopedia of Symbolism and check the index. There are rich entries under Moon and Moon Goddess

So many possibilities!

Offering Guidance and Solace

It is the 25th of July, just one month since my mother's passing. Now with two pillars removed from my life, my husband and mother, a feeling of emptiness and loneliness engulfs me. I long for the day when I will wake feeling whole again.

I turn to the cards and consider the dull pain that has been with me for so long. The Queen of Wands appears and I am reminded of a drawing I did some time ago that captures her essence and my grief.

Wrapped in my soul coat, the wand in my hand, I walk on alone.

The Queen of wands is industrious, creative, versatile, strong willed and talented. She is self contained and stable, holding her great strength and energy within, devoting herself to those things to which she has given her heart

The Queen of Wands has the strength and ingenuity to rule her domain creatively.

At this time I open the door to the Queen of Wands, willing to take her guidance and solace.

A Collection

As the journey begins I have taken the plunge and begun to put together a collection of magnets representing important stages of the journey.

Some of my magnets are currently available at The Sumptuous Villager in Daylesford and when my order is filled a collection of these Tarot based magnets will be featured there.

This really is the beginning of a new creative endeavor that will lead to many new and exciting projects.

Imagine

The Journey Always Begins
With The Fool
by Heather Blakey

"Imagine yourself entering a strange landscape. A world of magicians, of people hanging upside down and of dancers in the bright air. You can enter through a leap from a height, through a dark cave, a labyrinth or even by climbing down a rabbit hole chasing a Victorian rabbit with a pocket watch" Rachel Pollack - Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom.

Imagine you are stepping through a portal! A fool's errand? A journey for the fool hardy? A fool's paradise? Certainly a fool's license to wax lyrical!

Those who have spontaneously stepped through the portal and entered the landscape of archetypes know what riches they can return with.

The World in Our Hands

The appearance of the World in a spread speaks of renewal and suggests that it is time to get out into the world and take opportunities that present themselves. It is a time when we feel good about the world and experience some sense of harmony.

The Mythic Tarot (top left ) shows the serpent biting, devouring, eating its own tail, symbolizes the cyclic Nature of the Universe: creation out of destruction, Life out of Death. The ouroboros eats its own tail to sustain its life, in an eternal cycle of renewal.

The World represents an ending to a cycle of life, a pause in life and prepares us for the next big cycle beginning with the fool.
The narrative of the Tarot portrays our psychological condition, our story, with indelible accuracy, with more precision than any scientific method. It tells us the truth, not just of a single individuals life, but of the lives of entire cultures spread over centuries. The Tarot provides a universal thread, portrays a collective image, tells about things that are true for all people.
When we encounter the motif of the World we see what we know to be true. The life we have led is legitimized, but, perhaps more importantly, we come to understand that, in the next cycle, we can reach a new level.

The World offers us the opportunity to begin all over again; presents a way to participate in an age-old, ancient, mythic pattern. Knowingly engaging in this mythic pattern deepens our self understanding and enriches our knowing.

Take the World cards and examine them closely. Research using books of symbolism and readings provided by others and meditate upon endings and creative new beginnings. Consider ways to articulate yourself. For example, my drawings, in response to cards that guide me, guide this journey, will be appearing on magnets and hopefully become collectible items.

Cards: From Top Left to Bottom Right
 
Mythic Tarot
Tarot of the Witches
Cosmic Tarot
The Tarot of Durer

The World

The World
An Ending or A Beginning
Beginning where we End
The Circle of Life

by Heather Blakey

In the Moment

Guiding Star
by Heather Blakey

Once upon a time, all of five minutes ago, the Star of Hope popped out of my Tarot Deck. Even those who know nothing about Tarot find the Star a source of comfort. Having the Star appear after undergoing such a storm of upheaval helps to explain the sense of calm, the emptiness that I have been feeling since Mum's death. As Rachel Pollock says, everything about the star 'speaks of wholeness, openness and healing."

The Star is not a card of action. It is enough that it mirrors the way I feel at this moment, a moment which is to become a 'once upon a time' moment. The Star speaks of inner calm and for now it is enough to sit with my calm.

Sit quietly, meditate upon how you are feeling. Draw a card and see if the card or the interpretations provided by your favorite book, mirror that feeling or guide you. Listen to the quiet whispers and just be in the moment.

Please feel free to use the comment tool to add to my brief reading and provide further insight on the meaning of the Star.

New Directions

The Page of Wands
by Heather Blakey

The Page represents my youthful, maiden self who is freed from many external pressures and is willing to experience new aspects of life. She is saying yes to life and is prepared to say yes to any opportunities that present themselves.

The Page here symbolizes a new beginning, the start of a new project and a new phase of life. She is a part of me that has been marginalized, who I do not know well enough, whose hopes and dreams have long been relegated, left to gather dust on shelves.

Pose a question about your new directions, shuffle your deck mindfully, take ONE card and work with the card that emerges. To aid your work read the interpretations of others and check out the meaning of symbols that are present. I use, amongst other reference books, Barbara Walkers Encyclopedia of Symbols.

Here is one response from a fellow traveller.

All thoughts on this card will be welcomed.

An Invitation

You are invited to join me on a
Tarot Journey
with a twist.

To engage you need a Tarot Deck. The Rider Waite Tarot Deck is a good one for beginners and a common deck for us to work with.

It is also recommended that, in the first instance, you purchase a copy of Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachael Pollock. I also suggest that you acquire a good book on symbolism. Barbara Walker is a reliable authority on such subjects. In addition I have also ordered Walker's book entitled The Secrets of Tarot.

Very briefly the course will look at using cards to come to really know yourself and your potential as a creative. It is a platform, a vehicle for self exploration and a portal to the collective unconscious. The course will roughly cover

* the history of the tarot
* one card readings
* understanding symbolism and archetypes
* using intuition when reading
* the Major and the Minor Arcana
* using Tarot as a vehicle to promote writing, art and other
creative activities
* framing daily questions to guide writing, art and creative projects
* using symbolism and tarot to break creative blocks.

As we progress through various activities other books will be recommended.

Any purchases made through the Book Depository attract a small commission and help keep Soul Food running.

Please let me know if you plan to engage and journey with me as I apprentice myself and learn the craft myself.