2 of Cups Archives - Transformation3

Weekly Card Healing the Knight of Swords

February 12, 2015 February 12, 2015

150212 Knight of Swords Healing — The Healing Tarot

Our last straightforward look at the Knight of Swords covered the concepts of adventurous, forceful energy in the realm of ideas, concerns and communication, from Tarot . . . It’s Easier Than You Think. So let’s delve into the specifics of the Healing Tarot image.

Before we start, though, I want to addresse the issue of medical treatment versus healing. Medical diagnosis, treatment or cure is not within the scope of tarot. However, healing – the idea of making oneself whole – is. So, as we talk about this Knight of Swords, stay within bounds of healing and don’t mistake it for the medical world. For that you need a medical professional; I am most definitely not that.

That said, we’ve got a young man with his back to us here. He’s still looking at his sword, symbol of the ideas that concern him. He’s being treated by a massage therapist, specifically around his upper back and shoulders.

So, how does that relate to our TIETYT concepts? Think about the concerns portion first. Where do we carry our problems? And how do your shoulders feel when you’re worried? How about when you’ve been dashing off this way and that to act on this idea or communicate that one? You can see how softening the knots from unceasing activity could help this Knight.

In Tarot 2: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore you learned that Swords are connected with Air. Our front-line physical interaction with air is in our respiratory system. Breathing exercises can help restore wholeness in the world of Swords. And since communication is in the mix, meditation or other tonics to the nervous system – our internal communication system – can also help us to heal when we see Swords in a spread.

Let’s combine the Knight of Swords with the two cards from January that we added to the mix last week. What story comes out when an adventurous, dashing and witty Knight of Swords is connected to the relationship of the 2 of Cups? And how is he likely to respond to the patient maintenance required by the 7 of Pentacles? What if all 3 cards are part of the story; is this a relationship that will last?

T2WNIKA students can look at how assertive and active Air (Swords) interacts with passive and receptive Water and Earth (our Cups and Pentacles). Both Cups and Swords are strengthened (for better or worse) by their interaction with each other. Swords and Pentacles, not so much: they’re weaker in their exchanges. The Knight of Swords is Air of Air, so the most quick-moving and active of the Knights. That level of activity could be enough to stir the passive Cups and Pentacles into movement. But this Knight isn’t known for staying power, so what do you think? Remember to figure in how much Cups energy and how much Pentacle energy is involved, from the numbers in each suit.

Flash your fine mind and wit this week!

If you’re having problems with the Knights of Swords in your life, you know where to find me. You can also get in touch for individual and group lessons.
The next Berkeley County Adult Ed classes are on 20th March and 1st May. Call 304-267-3585 for info and to sign up.

Weekly Card Growing the 9 of Pentacles

February 5, 2015 January 22, 2015

150205 9 of Pentacles Crystal — Crystal Tarot

Last time we looked at 9 of Pentacles, we looked at the sense of wealth and luxury that go with this card.

This time, let’s go to course basics and examine the specific elements of the vivid Crystal Tarot image.

Tarot . . . It’s Easier Than You Think has 9 as integration and security in the realm of Pentacles: the material world, your health, and your finances. From Tarot 2, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore, you see that 9 is a whole lot of the Earth element. If we’ve got a specific project going, we’re just a step away from completion.

So what do we see here? We’ve got our 9 discs. These are arranged as a growing plant, a wonderful connection to the natural world of the Pentacles. The discs are golden, with various petal and star images on each. Am I the only one who sees the sun up there in the top disc, keeping the whole plant warm and growing? Did you notice that the central stalk is a thick, solid brown, not a slender green? This is a plant with some age and solidity, reflecting the qualities of 9.

The horizon line is halfway up (or down) the card. We’ve got a lot of earth showing, again, appropriate for Pentacles. We’ve also got blue sky with the bright green of the plant creating patterns across the sky. We have various elements working together, a wonderful expression of the 9’s integration.

What do you make of all the colours? Remember, you can use chakra associations. You can use the traditional tarot associations of mental yellow for Swords, growing green for Pentacles, flowing blue for Cups, and fiery red for Wands. Don’t forget your own personal associations.

Let’s look back to a couple of cards from earlier this month to build story-telling skills. What happens if you’ve got 2 of Cups next to 9 of Pentacles? What story would you tell if 7 of Pentacles led into 9 of Pentacles? What if you’ve got 2 of Cups to 7 of Pentacles to 9 of Pentacles? Remember, just start the story with a few elements and see where it goes.

From T2WNIKA, you have associations to deepen the story. Earthy Pentacles and Watery Cups have a neutral relationship, so neither will strengthen or weaken the other. But what about those quantities? 7s and 9s indicate a lot of the earth element. Will that dam up the small amount of water or provide a solid bed for it to start a trickling river? Is there enough emotional Cup energy to move the practical Pentacles? Our 2 and 9 “get along”, both being concerned with community. But the 2 wants to get personal, while the 9 demands big picture thinking for the greater good. How about the 7 and the 9 or the 7 and the 2? Not always an easy relationship. If we stay connected to the sacred, using our skills in service to the community, the 7 and 9 combination smooths out. How about the solitary-minded 7 with the relationship-minded 2? How can you use the 9 to help them get along?

Coming back to your own life, what are your figurative blooming plants? Unlike the transient blossoms, expect these elements to last. Make them a part of your very self.

Luxuriate in the wealth that surrounds you!

If you’d like to use the beautiful images of the tarot to help you find and make use of the wealth in your life, you know where to find me. You can also get in touch for individual and group lessons.

The next Berkeley County Adult Ed classes are on 20th March and 1st May. Call 304-267-3585 for info and to sign up.

Weekly Card 2 of Cups Makes a Mess

January 1, 2015 January 19, 2015

150101 2 of Cups Alice — The Alice Tarot

Oh, this tea party is so wonderfully 2 of Cups!

We’ve got two individuals who aren’t necessarily an immediate match sharing a portion of their individual journeys. The table between them is loaded with all sorts of good stuff as well as the mess from used up good stuff. And it’s all happening out in the open.

We’ve seen the 2 of Cups before. You’ll remember from Tarot . . . It’s Easier Than You Think that we’re in the land of choice and balance as applied to emotions, relationships and creativity. It’s the intimate connection card.

And intimate connections are messy. Sometimes we get so caught up in the creative flow that we can’t possibly stop to clean up the mess without sacrificing flow. Sometimes we find out that we’ve become intimate with a total crazy person (okay, so not everybody with straw in their hair wearing tie dye is crazy – hello, from days in the garden).

We don’t always know what we’re choosing until we get into the relationship. Look at the outside of the house. Beautiful and impressive, isn’t it? Worth the exploration.

Some relationships are there to share and enjoy the good stuff. Some last a little longer. And if we find that the madness and mess outweigh the good stuff we can make the same choice Alice did when she was fed up with the tea party: walk away.

But while we’re in the adventure . . . .

Enjoy the gifts of creative connection!

If you’d like to use the beautiful images of the tarot to help you make the next connection in your life, you know where to find me. You can also get in touch for individual and group lessons.

The next Berkeley County Adult Ed classes are on 20th March and 1st May. Call 304-267-3585 for info and to sign up.

Weekly Card 2 of Cups

September 26, 2013 December 17, 2014

Well, would you look at that!

Earlier this month we had the seed card — Ace of Cups — for this week’s 2 of Cups.

130926 RWS 2 of Cups — Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Twos are when we make choices about our seeds: do they need more water, more warmth? Do they need protection or just to be left alone?

We need to be responsive and cooperative at the stage of 2. We’re being in sync with someone or something else. We’re blending and sharing what each brings to the relationship.

And since we’re in the world of Cups, relationships are literal. You have a chance to get intimate with someone else and start making the choices that will impact the direction of your relationship.

The world of emotions is all bound up in 2 of Cups, so we’re not necessarily being rational here. Past wounds can impact us, so that we’re operating from old feelings. If we’ll keep our heads — our awareness — we can heal some of the old wounds under 2 of Cups.

Our creativity has an outlet under 2 of Cups. The relationship is metaphorical, but we still need to be responsive to the media with which we’re working. Our creations have lives of their own and we’re already discovering that.

This week, you can connect the dots between what’s going on now and what feelings and creative ideas were awakened earlier in the month. Are any of the elements from earlier in the month still attractive enough to continue the relationship?

If so . . . .

Let the shared sparks fly!

If you’re looking for personal help with your tarot learning or for phone, email, or in-person tarot counseling, here‘s where to find me.