9 of Wands

Weekly Card 7 of Swords Revisited

January 23, 2014
140130 Herbal 7 of Swords
The Herbal Tarot

We’ve come full cycle: we’re back to the new moon.

Today, western Tropical astrology has the moon in Aquarius, which corresponds to 7 of Swords.

(Just to add to your connection to the moon, there are three other tarot cards with moon correspondences:  6 of Pentacles, which corresponds to moon in Taurus; 4 of Cups, corresponding to moon in Cancer; and 9 of Wands, corresponding to moon in Sagittarius.)

We’ve looked at 7 of Swords before, so let’s deepen with a look at the connection between tarot and astrology.

Very briefly – and very superficially — remember that each suit is connected with an element: Pentacles with earth, Cups with water, Swords with air, and Wands with fire.  And remember that the 12 signs of the zodiac all have elemental correspondences:  Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are the fire signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are the earth signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are the air signs, and Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are the water signs.  So, Pentacles will have cards associated with Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, Cups will have cards associated with the 3 water signs, and likewise for Swords and the air signs, and Wands and the fire signs.

Let’s check:  Swords are associated with air signs.  Yup, Aquarius is an air sign.

Air and Aquarius have a cool, impersonal, um, air about them.  And you can think of the quality of freedom associated with them both.  Imagine air getting into pretty much anywhere it likes.  If you’ve ever tried to close up all the drafts in your home, you’ve been up against the difficulties of containing air.  Just as difficult as containing your thoughts: the monkey mind that spiritual disciplines talk about.  Oops, more air: spirit, speech.

The moon is an old friend by now.  We know about the changes in appearance from night to night.  And we know that, as a symbol for our intuition, it leads us into breakthroughs.

Play with the concepts of Air/Aquarius and the moon and see what kinds of combinations you come up with.  See how they fit with what you’ve learned about 7 of Swords to deepen your understanding of the image.

Then consider the side of you that you keep hidden from the public, and let your mind wander.  See if you can discover your hidden intentions this week.

To step it up a notch, choose one to build on.  How can you make that intention into something your public can see  by the next full moon?

I double dog dare you to show your hidden face!

Weekly Card 9 of Wands

April 11, 2013
9 of Fire, Tarot of the Spirit
Tarot of the Spirit
RWS 9 of Wands
Rider-Waite-Smith 9 of Wands

 

The Tarot of the Spirit offers our first example of a deck that uses elements rather than the usual suits.  Here, Fire is the equivalent to Wands, Wind (Air) corresponds to Swords, Water is the same as Cups, and Earth matches Pentacles.  So 9 of Fire in this deck holds the position of 9 of Wands.

9 of Wands guards the status quo.  All the details are in order, all the hard-won battles have been fought (notice the bandages?), and now it’s time to protect what’s been gained.  9 of Wands is dedicated to a world view.

9 of Fire from Tarot of the Spirit illustrates the connection between Wands and spirituality.  The Eye of Fire protected by the wands (rods and cones of vision, anyone?) bears the 6-pointed star of earthly experience meeting the divine, and looks over mountain peaks.  There’s been a peak experience — or will be one coming up — that offers a new approach to daily life.  Allow your enthusiasm to scale mountains, bringing you to a new vision.  Integrate the peak experiences, the spiritual passions, into the mundane.  Allow the Vision (think “Vision Quest”) to be your inspiration, regardless of the opposition.

Of course, there can be a down side to all that standing ground in 9 of Wands.  The danger is in becoming someone who is looking for the next fight instead of enjoying the passions of his or her life.  He or she — but certainly not you or I :-} — can become so argumentatively stuck in his or her beliefs that all opposition is shut out.  Passion without compassion can lead to the strong arm approach.  The call of the 9 of Wands is for understanding of the connection to all that is.

So, questions to ask when 9 of Wands shows up include, “Is it necessary to fight in order to follow the Vision?”  “What are ways to meet opposition with enthusiasm?”  “How do your passions colour your world view?”

Would you prefer the experiences of 9 of Wands guarding an 8 of Swords status quo or a XIX Sun status quo?  And what story might you tell if you follow XI or VIII Justice with 9 of Wands?

Enjoy your dedication to your deepest enthusiasm (en-theos or the divine within) this week!

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