Monthly Archives: February 2011

Message in a Bottle 8

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This weeks cards are the Three of Cups, the King of Swords and the Seven of Wands.

The Message in the bottle reads:-
“Your friends are your reflection”
Three of Cups, King of Swords, Seven of Wands

Elementally speaking, the Three of Cups and the King of Swords are on neutral terms, the King of Swords and the Seven of Wands are on friendly terms. The Seven of Wands then is the strongest card in the set

This is an interesting set of cards and it immediately made me think about the concept of friendship.

The Three of Cups shows three characters raising their chalices to the sky in a toast. They wear rich flowing cloaks, there is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables surrounding them on the ground. The character on the right of the card seems to be holding a basket of freshly picked fruits. The sky is blue. There is a feeling of joy and togetherness. We don’t know what they are celebrating. Maybe it’s a birth, May day, a birthday, a good harvest. Whatever the reason, these people are rejoicing in being together and sharing a special, happy moment.

Mercury in Cancer takes the meaning of the card deeper. In a natal chart, this would suggest someone who expresses themselves emotionally but who chooses their words carefully in order to protect the feelings of others. They are the listeners of the zodiac who will remember the special things you tell them – and won’t repeat them. Their words will make you feel loved and protected.

Your friends are the family you choose.

As the King of Swords says, we must therefore choose our friends wisely. Ruled by Aquarius, the King represents the sign that presides over the 11th house of friendship.

The King sits squarely facing us, eyes steady, body slightly tense. The upraised sword in his right hand shows he is ruled by his intellect (an Air sign) yet on his throne we can see carvings of a butterfly, crescent moons and an ephemeral (perhaps angelic?) character that sits above his left shoulder seemingly whispering in his ear. There is a sense that although the King is ruled by logic, he knows the fragility and beauty of love. He is aware of his anima. He is not heartless or emotionless, simply able to put his emotions behind him if necessary in order to deal with the issue at hand.

As the 11th house in astrology rules friendships, so it also rules our goals and wishes. The best friendships accept us for who we are but also positively encourage us to move to a higher place and fulfil our potential. True friends are the ones who support your dream, treasure your vision of the future and love the uniqueness of YOU. A true friend will stand aside when necessary and yet will be there to catch you when you fall. Because they see you from the outside, they help to offer you a different perspective. The strength and stillness of the trees despite the billowing clouds shows how true friendship endures, even when the winds of change blow or a storm breaks.

The Seven of Wands is a card that talks of testing and courage. In the card we can see our character has reached the top of a mountain. It looks as though he is defending his position from others indicated by the wands at the front of the scene. He carries his staff in a position of defence, prepared and at the ready to do battle if he must. All the wands contain buds showing that this card is one of creativity. He’s fired up and ready for anything. Some people call the Seven of Wands the writer’s card.

Astrologically this is Mars in Leo which could be read as fierce pride. This card shows the part of us that will fight to retain our position. It shows how we must stand up to the final test, push on through the last hurdle, strive to stay at the top of our game.

Within friendships, sometimes it can help to have a little friendly competition. A buddy who checks in to see how you’ve done, a mate who supports your new endeavour and who will pull you up if you haven’t played your part. Mars in Leo is big hearted, slaps you on the back to encourage you and will make you feel powerful enough to achieve anything. A friend like this will also have no qualms about letting you know if you have got too big for your boots!

But then there are other friends who somehow always seem to pull you down, who don’t want you to have the limelight even if they don’t want it themselves. These are the kinds of people who find it difficult to celebrate your good fortune, to congratulate you on a job well done.

Looking at the three cards, there is a strong sense that it may be important to maintain boundaries in friendships, to be aware of what is and what isn’t acceptable. If you are constantly on the defence with someone, what does this say about the quality of friendship?

They say that our personalities are a mix of the five people we spend the most time with. Take a look at your friendships. What do you think they say about who you are as a person? Rejoice in the loving connections you have made. Make time to appreciate the friends you have. They are central players in your autobiography. But don’t be afraid to cut ties if someone is not willing to celebrate your victories as well as commiserate your losses

Message in a Bottle 7

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This week’s cards are the Seven of Cups, the Six of Swords and the Nine of Cups.

The message in the bottle reads:-
“There is always more to learn”
Seven of Cups, Six of Swords, Nine of Cups

The Seven of Cups last appeared in Tuesday Tarot Number 3. As I laid the cards down, my attention was caught by the female face rising from the top left cup. She seems to call to the shadowy character in the foreground yet without a body she is without form or shape. The huddled characters in the Six of Swords are also without shape, the last character in the Nine of Cups is a bit out of shape! Perhaps there is a message here suggesting that we must allow things to manifest slowly, that we cannot always see the shape of things to come. Maybe it’s about allowing things to take shape in their own good time but also ensuring we visualise how we would like things to manifest.

I am struck by two cards in which the characters show their backs to us. I am reminded that the back is like the trunk of a tree providing support for the fruit above. In yoga it is believed that a strong supple spine promotes good health. The cards remind me that I need to stretch my back, move gently, lift carefully. Often stress is carried in the back – bend over backwards, break your break, backed up, back against the wall, get off my back! Notice the final character in the Nine of Cups sits perfectly poised with a straight back and feet firmly planted on the floor.

The back also represents what is behind or in the past symbolically. There is a feeling that for the time being, the Seven of Cups is being laid to rest. It is still there to remind is that it is easy to drift, easy to let ourselves be seduced into daydreams. However this bountiful imagination has set us on a journey one way or another.

The Six of Swords often comes up to represent a literal journey but often the journey is more figurative. It speaks of a point in time where we are coasting for a while, moving on to a new destination we cannot exactly define.

From being overwhelmed with options in the Seven of Cups, the character in the Six of swords has made his decision and is now open to where this might take him. He guides the boat gently with his pole, pushing through the shallow waters towards a distant shore. The colours of the cards are subdued. This may not be an exciting time but there is a sense of growing calm. You can almost hear the waves gently sloshing at the side of the boat. The woman and child are wrapped in cloaks, perhaps feeling like they have little control over where they are going. This can represent two aspects of the self – part of you that has decided to push forward and the other part which is carried along for the ride, not really knowing if things will get better but sensing some difficulties have been left behind. However the undefined islands ahead have trees growing on them, the land is fertile, the future promising. Both the Nine and Seven of Cups are quite dreamy cards. In order to fulfil our dreams we also need to use logic, mental agility and strength. Sometimes the landscape isn’t pretty but we need to keep our eyes on the goal ahead.

The Nine of Cups at the end is typically called the wish card. Symbolised by Jupiter in Pisces astrologically, this card stands for reaching a point of emotional contentment. It’s there to say, “I have what I need and I’m happy with that”.

But wait, this is a nine not a ten, there is further to go. There is the old saying ‘be careful what you wish for…’. Within the Nine there is a sense that whilst he has what he wished for, maybe he is also settling for this and not entertaining the idea that things could get even better. The character is a little overweight showing that he is enjoying the good life but perhaps isn’t moving forward anymore. Certainly he has learned a lot (Jupiter) but I cannot ignore a sense of muscle turning to fat, hard work turned to complacency.

Can things become so easy we become undefined, devoid of imagination for more? Do we stop at satisfaction and contentment or do we strive to be happier, to achieve more?

Sometimes I daydream about winning the lottery, the magical sum that would fix all problems, releasing me from certain obligations so that I could live the life I want. But then when I think harder, I realise that after buying my apartment in Lisbon and a whole new wardrobe of clothes (!), I would be back to learning and loving astrology, writing, playing music, maybe painting. I would do all the things I am already doing. The prize would be time rather than money.

Sometimes we build a dream, sail towards it and land at our destination. Each of us has an essential truth we are working towards, internal values that must be upheld, potential to fulfil. But we are never really ‘done’. There is always more to learn. It is an inner and outer spellbinding journey

Message in a Bottle 6

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This weeks cards are the Four of Swords, the Queen of Wands and the Five of Wands.

The Message in the bottle reads:-
“In stillness, you find your fire.”
Four of Swords, Queen of Wands, Five of Wands

For the first time in this series, a card has reappeared. Last week, the Queen of Wands was present in the reading looking a little like someone had poured cold water over her fabulous ideas. This week she seems to have a rather different challenge. She is caught between fight or flight, rest and action.

Essentially these cards are on friendly terms being a mix of air and fire. The energy together seems to echo the strong Mars energies that we have this month. The problem is that if you add too much air to fire, the fire either blows out or blazes uncontrollably. The Queen is in a position where she must temper her energies, channel them in ways that bring the desired result instead of burning herself out.

The Four of Swords often comes out in a reading when there are health concerns. It can indicate that a period of rest is necessary in order to regroup. In extreme circumstances, the body forces the querant to slow down through sickness. Working with the Four of Swords means that there is a need to step back and find a place of stillness within. It can mean staying home for a night instead of going out or booking a place at a silent meditation retreat.

The stained glass window shows that the scene is set in a church which represents a need for sanctuary.

Notice that in the Four of Swords the conflicts, thoughts, mind games and decisions represented by the swords haven’t gone away. The Four isn’t about escaping problems, it is about accepting things as they are and being still despite them. The three swords seem dangerously positioned over the central character but he lays quietly in repose, hands in prayer to indicate surrender to the moment and perhaps to a higher order. In meditation the trick is to notice thoughts but not engage with them, to return to centre each time, to regain balance. Astrologically this card is Jupiter in Libra – ‘opportunities come through inner equilibrium’ is just one way of interpreting this.

The difference between this card and the Five of Wands is striking. Where there was stillness, now there is movement. Where there was surrender, now there is fight. Where there was quietness, now there is noise. The Five of Wands has an aggressive, combative edge. The men appear to be fighting, striking at each other with their big sticks. The sticks (wands) seem tangled, like there are getting caught up in the fray and it’s difficult even to manoeuvre in order to make a strike.

The Queen sits with her hand at the ready on her own wand. Will she use it as a weapon? Will she engage in the fight or will she decide to pick some more sunflowers, spent some time meditating on their beauty and gain some inspiration? With her face turned towards the fighting five, she seems strongly aware of the battle. It pushes her Aries buttons, stirs her competitive nature. The two creatures etched into the throne above her seem to pull her in two different directions but the one on the right is bigger and more defined. Yet the flower is closer to the fight than the wand. This to me shows that by entering into stillness, she gives herself a better chance in the fight. She comes to it rested and ready, clear of her intentions and goals.

The challenge this week seems to centre around how to handle frustration. Sometimes the Five of Wands shows that we are irritated by obstacles and feel like we have to simply battle our way through. Sometimes the ‘fight’ is more internal as too many ideas, projects and commitments jostle for our attention leaving us with a headache! It may be useful to set smaller targets, resolve to do just one thing, back off or back out until we are clear on what needs to be done.

Saturn in Leo (Five of Wands) is about disciplined self expression and having the courage to carry on despite the blocks. Don’t be afraid to rest and recuperate so that you can fight another day!

“Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.” ~ Louis L’Amour

Message in a Bottle 5

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This weeks cards are the Queen of Wands, the Hanged Man, and the King of Pentacles.

The message in the bottle reads:-
“Surrender to what you already know is true”
Queen of Wands, Hanged Man, King of Pentacles

It’s funny, most of the time when I draw the Queen of Wands I really like her. I relate to her creative spark, her unruly nature, her fiery enthusiasm and energetic impatience. But something about her today seems off.

As a Cardinal Fire card she represents Aries but a part of her sits in Pisces, as if remembering that her inspiration comes from the collective unconscious. She fights to be a leader in her generation, to make a name for herself, to be whole within herself. She bursts from the depths of the ocean, moving towards heat and light. Her role is to initiate and create, to challenge and to inspire. She is passionate and lively. He arty temperament may irritate some but she exudes warmth to those she loves and is like a flickering flame in the dark for those who need a helping hand. She is the need for action.

With her head turned slightly she seems however to be in a challenging mood. She is keeping part of herself hidden, as if she doesn’t want me to see the water beneath the fire. She seems to be wearing the kind of expression we make when someone says something that we don’t quite believe, something that is a little close to the bone or has a ring of truth that we have been dancing around.

The black cat stares and stares from the base of the card. It reminds me of how my cat used to stare at my dog as she was sleeping. He would sit close to her face and fiercely stare into her closed eyes. After a few minutes of this, she would wake with a start, growl at him with comical irritation and then grumpily move herself to another location in the room to sleep.

The black cat represents what we might miss in the Queen. Beneath all that arty blasé is a profound connection to the soul. Today it seems as though she’s a little scared to get her feet wet, or that she doesn’t want to connect to her feelings. Something in me says she’s struggling. Flanked by the elemental trump of water, part of her spark has been dowsed. Someone has thrown cold water on her ideas.

The Hanged Man is the strongest card in the reading. Astrologically related to Neptune he experiences a sense of kinship with the Queen and is on friendly terms with the earthy King. Today he looks very serious and focused, as though the Neptunian waters have become a slow moving deep river. Often this card represents confusion, waiting, sacrifice. His presence in the reading suggests something must be given up in order to continue.

Looking at the Queen and the Hanged Man together I hear the questions:-
What are you not seeing?
What ideas are you holding onto just because they are your ideas?
Are you holding onto your truth, even though deep down you know better?

The Hanged Man suggests that you may need to look from a different viewpoint, step into someone else’s shoes, turn your life metaphorically upside down in order to get a different perspective. The Hanged Man certainly doesn’t look very comfortable but he has relaxed in the position he’s in, making the most of what he can in order to learn something he couldn’t have learned any other way. Even in a position of ultimate surrender (with his hands behind his back) he chooses to open his mind to all that is possible.

The King of Pentacles sits calmly beside the Hanged Man. Whilst the King is mostly Taurus, part of him sits in Aries *see note below*. It’s like he is the cousin of the Queen of Wands. They are related but coming from different parts of the family, they act very differently. The King has taken his fiery nature and tamed it, like a farmer who carefully tends his fields, he understands the wild nature within but seeks to make it work for him. He will not let the wild overtake him yet he respects Nature in all her forms. He likes security and assurances and will diligently work towards creating that and of course he likes to make a little money as well. Pragmatic and loyal to the core, he shows us what is possible with the application of desire and when we keep our promises to ourselves as well as others.

The cards suggest that this week it is important to let our feet dangle in the waters of intuition. Instead of fiercely holding on to a bright idea or point of view, maybe we need to listen to what the universe is telling us. When we hold on to something we know isn’t quite right, it eventually extinguishes the inner flame. Let others in and be open to their suggestions. The King of Pentacles often represents an advisory figure in a reading. It may be useful to consult with someone who has ‘been there and done that’ or listen to the advice of an older relative. You have the seed but let others help you decide where best to plant it in order for it to flourish.

*Note* I work with the Kings as Fixed signs and the Knights as Mutable signs. You may sometimes see this reversed depending on your source. Arguments can be presented to uphold either method so choose what feels right for you.
If you see the King of Pentacles as Leo/VIRGO – how do you think the message of this reading would change?