Taking the Dispassionate View ~ Tarot for Aug 24, 2016

I love it when my three favorite cards show up in a reading! The 2 of Swords, The High Priestess, and the Queen of Swords appear in a three-card spread showing influences for today. I’m using the Robin Wood Tarot for today’s reading. It has a Celtic or Druidic feel to it that I like.

Today is special because it happens to be my oldest son’s thirty-sixth birthday. 36 reduces to 9. An ending in preparation for a new beginning or a fulfillment of some kind. He just celebrated his first wedding anniversary and recently purchased a home, so lots of new beginnings there for the two of them.

There’s a preponderance of Swords in the reading dealing with our intellectual presence in the world. Sometimes swords also indicates mental or intellectual challenges or conflict that we might face and with the 2 of Swords present, it may mean that a decision must be made.

What’s interesting, however, are the colors used in all three cards. Blues dominate all three cards, with the balance between what’s known and what’s hidden depicted with The High Priestess. The full moon is visible in front of dissipating clouds; white and black trees stand to either side of the Priestess. Her dark hair flowing, reflecting the moon’s light, a moon adorning her headdress. She holds her grimoire in her left hand indicating wisdom and knowing, and a crystal ball in her right suggesting awareness through divination. The second card of the Major Arcana, the numerology of The High Priestess represents duality and balance.

Returning to the 2 of Swords and the Queen of Swords which surround our High Priestess, a woman resembling The High Priestess sits blindfolded, water churning around her, holding two swords in balance, the light of the moon glistening off both blades. The clouds are clearing with the Moon behind her in Libra suggesting peace after conflict. She sits in balance, taking the dispassionate view, remaining in alignment. Again the two represents balance and duality.

The Queen of Swords stands looking out over the land, her sword in her right hand, her blue robe flowing, adorned by butterflies, birds, and clouds. Her sword is held in an upward position, indicating new thought or new ideas forming. The rays of the sun peek out from the dissipating clouds providing the Queen with clarity of thought and purpose. The Queen is well-prepared for the future. Roses grow at her feet, suggesting her future is filled with beauty and grace.

I love the 2 of Swords in any deck, but in the Robin Wood tarot deck it has so much going on and the colors used help depict the woman’s inner focus and strength. She remains in control despite the chaos which surrounds her. Through wisdom and grace, The High Priestess moves past the chaos and blending intellect with intuition, she both researches and intuits her way forward. The Queen of Swords takes what she’s learned from both 2 cards (they reduce to 4) with the structure necessary to greet whatever comes. If the Court cards were numbered, the Queen would be a 13, or 4 when reduced, the same as the other two when reduced. Together they add to 8, indicating strength and progress.

Although more than one card from the suit of Swords can indicate conflict or aggression, it can also indicate an intensity of motion. And with the churning waters from the 2 of Swords, it feels like much is happening. But as anyone can see, the woman’s aligned focus keeps her centered enough that she can discern what’s important and leave the rest, a positive outcome seen in the Queen of Swords assured, particularly when looking at the numerology of the reading.

So allow your new ideas and projects to gel a bit and then move forward with them. Embrace the newness of it all and know that you’re ready for anything.

Blessed Be