Queen of Swords

Weekly Card The Queen of Swords is Not Amused

April 21, 2015
150416 Queen of Swords Golden Dawn Wang
Robert Wang’s Golden Dawn Tarot

EeeYIKES!

Who is this chick and how do we stay as far away from her as possible??!

Actually, we’ve met her before. Our last visit was much less severe than this image, from The Golden Dawn Tarot.

Look back at that visit for a moment (don’t worry, the link will open in a new tab/window).

So what the hell happened between then and now? How did we get from “brilliant mind” to “off with his head” and full body armour?

Here we’re dealing with the bias and symbolism that are elements as we move from deck to deck. Remember that each card has energy that runs on a spectrum from weak (and unbalanced) through balanced to over-used (and unbalanced). Some artists view the strong point of a particular card more toward one end of the spectrum than the centre.

Remember that the Queen is emotional, even though she’s Queen of Swords, dealing with the mind and rationality. So one end of the spectrum (actually two spectra working together) is going to be highly emotional with limited rationality. You can probably relate to times when you’d like to have taken someone’s head off.

At another unbalanced point, there’s severely limited ability to connect with others along with cold rationality. We’ve got lots of examples of the total lack of compassion with a logic that says, “we need to kill you to – fill in agenda here –“. Many of them fit into the headings of Crime or War.

Since we know this deck is based on the symbolism of the Golden Dawn, we can come up with another explanation if we do a little research. Here’s where study of the history and traditions of Tarot can be very useful. In this case, that severed head symbolizes our own egos (in the arrogant, ignorant, negative sense). The Queen of Swords uses her clear mind to cut through self-deception, “killing” the delusions that cloud our perception.

So which one is the “right” interpretation? All of them can be true in various circumstances. On a single card draw, I suggest going with your gut response to the image on the card. In a multiple card spread, note the influences of the other cards. Is the “Swordness” strengthened or weakened by the cards around the Queen of Swords? How about the emotionality and connectedness of the Queen (read her energy as Cups or water)?

At face value this week . . .

Watch your temper!

Weekly Card XII The Hanged Man

January 29, 2014
Builders of the Adytum Tarot

Welcome to upside down world, where all seems to be topsy-turvy and no one seems to be upset about it.

Except . . . when has your world been turned upside down and you kept calm and unruffled?

We’ve even got expressions for some of what’s going on when we meet XII The Hanged Man:  “I’m hung up at . . .”   “I’m all tied up and can’t get away. . .”

140213 RWS Hanged Man
Rider Waite Smith Tarot

XII The Hanged Man indicates those times when nothing seems to move forward.  You might as well pull out your big store of patience, because you ain’t goin’ nowhere.  What?  You’re out of patience?  Well, you can count on developing some.

There’s actually a purpose to the down time of XII The Hanged Man.  He shows up when we’ve got lots of integrating to do.  He’s giving us a chance to develop some perspective, to gain some insight, to find meaning in what we’ve already lived through.

This odd character gives us a picture of acceptance and enlightenment.  He’s the guy who can live through having his world turned upside down with a sense that everything is just fine, thank you.  In fact, he uses his reversal to be in touch with his ideals and guiding values.  He outgrows materialism, sees his true self beneath the surface of experience and dwells in the divine consciousness of pure being.

Let’s bring it back down to earthly tarot.   What if you’ve got XIX The Sun followed by XII The Hanged Man?   What might you be integrating?

How about Queen of Swords followed by XII The Hanged Man?  Or 8 of Swords  with 3 of Pentacles and XII The Hanged Man?

Find some ways to create pauses in your life this week to process your experiences.  And . . .

Learn to enjoy the hang!

Weekly Card Queen of Swords

December 1, 2014
130627 Cat's Eye QS
Cats Eye Tarot
130627 RWS QS
Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

 

 

We’re back in Court!

Take a look at the Knight of Pentacles post for reminders of the general “rules” that will make your stay in the Court much easier.

Queens are the Water element of the Courts.  Think of all the descriptives for water: flowing, constant, nourishing, able to move around obstacles, able to wear away the densest of stones, given enough time.  Water in the tarot world is also associated with relationships, emotions, and creativity.  So Queens may ebb and flow like the tides, but they are constant and reliable.  They know who they are and have the maturity to use their gifts.

Swords, remember, are associated with Air, with communication, education, ideas, wit, the mental world.  So our Queen of Swords is going to be one smart cookie, talkative, quick witted, able to run the show and get things done with her mind.  Others around her will look to the Queen of Swords for wisdom, clarity and decisive direction.  Because she’s a Queen, concerned with Water as well as Air, she’ll use her ability to assess and analyze any situation to nurture others.  She knows how to think outside the box to serve those in her “kingdom”.

So, who in your life is that ambitious, brilliant mind that nurtures those around her?  Traditionally, Queens are mature women, but they really stand for the feminine principle, rather than for the female.  If an articulate young man with exceptional maturity and abilities to care for others came to your mind, don’t dismiss him!  He could very well be the best example of Queen of Swords energy in your life.

If the Queen of Swords is the only Court card in your spread, you may be looking at a situation which will be revolving around a person who meets her description.  Or, she may indicate an aspect of yourself that will be important in your circumstances.

Or, remember, she can also stand for the general energies of a situation.  So, if you’ve asked about a romantic relationship, there may very well be an emotional connection (Queens being all Watery), but there will be an important element of mental connections and a good chance that those in the relationship will be vying for control (those Airy Swords with the Queen’s mission to rule).

It can be fun to invite some Court cards in for tea or supper.  Since you’ve met the Knight of Pentacles and the Queen of Swords, why not have a casual get together and see what it’s like to interact with the Airy Knight of Earthy Pentacles and the Watery Queen of Airy Swords together.  See what kind of clever changes a chat with them will instigate in your life.   Between the Knight’s persistence and the Queen’s abilities to overcome obstacles, you can let your best ideas come forth.

Just keep an eye on that Queen if she shows up as a clever and chatty Siamese, especially around your best china.

Enjoy the mind-blowing possibilities this week!

 

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