Six of Cups

"Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect!" - Owens Lee Pomeroy.

Ok, haven't posted in a bit... Holy Week was very busy. I'm in the choir so it was rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal, practice and practice... and then three nights in a row of looong masses and lots and lots of singing! Then all again on Easter morning (it was a Two of Pentacles kind of week) phweeew. it's all good.

My card today was the Six of Cups. One of my favorite cards from any deck. It always makes me feel OK... although I know this card goes a lot deeper than what I will post below here is my little interpretation for now...

It symbolizes the warm, secure, happy feelings of childhood. It reminds us of the innocent, playful spirit and trusting open hearts of children. This is where we are inspired by the sweet memories and experiences of the past. It represents nostalgia, peace and joy. The card shows the process of sharing, the acts of giving and receiving. It's a card of goodwill and friendships, gestures of affection and exchanges of love and pleasure. This is a joyful card and can also be associated with fertility and childbirth.

In a way,  it's kind of fitting that today's card was the Six of Cups. I'm still feeling the joy from this past week. Easter was always a really happy time for me as a kid and is still my favorite holiday. So I've been feeling nostalgic about what made all that so important to me as a child...and trying to make it just as important and special for my own child. Plus here I am alll these years later in the choir and I love it! (As an adult, I do have many issues with the doctrine - but all and all, I forgot how much I really didn't and still don't hate church!) anyway...

I really like Morgan Greer's version. The backdrop is completely gone and the focus is on the faces of the two young children looking at each other behind all those flower filled cups. I find it interesting that in this version there is total equal sharing.  Most other Rider Waite versions - it's the boy or dwarf giving a cup of flowers to the girl.  Here they are both just looking, communicating with each other.  sooo sweet. The bright earthy colors really give it a warm feel. And these flowers? I'm thinking they are lilies (but I'm not a gardener at all, so I looked it up here just to make sure: The Book of Tarot by Susan Gerulskis-Estes - Thank you Emily!) Yes. Lilies! Wow. It clicks. Easter Lilies. Those flowers that symbolize innocence, purity, hope and life. (yeah, I looked that up) well, isn't that something? plus... I did meet up with a friend from the past today. I feel good. 
(from my recent http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/forum/ post)

The Ace of Wands

“Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping.. waiting..and though unwanted.. unbidden.. it will stir.. open its jaws and howl.  It speaks to us.. guides us.. passion rules us all, and we obey.  What other choice do we have?  Passion is the source of our finest moments.” – Joss Whedon

Aces for the most part indicate positive new beginnings. The hand that emerges from the clouds suggests help from above, an offering of what the suit has to offer.  Now is a time to take the initiative, act on your inspirational ideas.  It’s a card about being passionate about life, having confidence in your abilities, and being self expressive.  The Ace of Wands embodies the dynamic energy of vitality, passion, originality and creativity. This bold card indicates fresh starts and ideas, exciting opportunities and experiences.  This could be the start of a new venture, enterprise or relationship.  Wands also symbolize the thrusting phallus, male potency and sexual passion.  This card can indicate the start of something major.

Nine of Pentacles

"You must have control of the authorship of your own destiny.  The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand." - Irene C. Kassoria

This card is about self reliance, restraint and refinement.  The woman depicted here enjoys the fine things in life.  She is dignified and high minded.  Art, music and all other forms of beauty are very much indicated in this card.  She is accomplished and possesses an inner sense of security.  Material security can also be indicated here as it is in the suit of pentacles.  She is able to rein in her impulses and acts with grace and dignity.  She trusts her own ability to handle any situation and follows through with determination and courage.  She emanates independence and discipline.  In order to achieve her best she knows she is to be self confident and self controlled.  She has always fallen back on her own resources and knows that she is truly in control of her circumstances.

The Star

"Trust the Universe.  Trust and believe and have faith.  I truly had no idea how I was going to bring the knowledge of The Secret onot the movie screen.  I just held to the outcome of the vision, I saw the outcome clearly in my mind, I flelt it with all my might, and everything that we needed to create The Secret came to us." - Rhonda Byrne

The Star is about optimism, hope and faith in the future.  The Star sends us light and makes us feel blessed.  It reveals that now is the time to trust ourselves and the powers we believe control the universe to get us through and aid us on our journeys.  We are inspired to give something of ourselves and let love flow.  It's about feeling free and finding peace.  The pool of water represents the collective unconscious and the stars represent the universe with all its mystery, wisdom and power.  The woman pouring the water connects the two.  In the same way that we "imprint" our reflection in water, the unconscious is fixed to the universe.  As we tap into the cosmos, the cosmos taps us back.  it is a returning of what has been given us and what we give ourselves.  Racheal Pollack explains, "The universal life eneregy has been stirred up buy the act of pouring the persons own life waters into it."  This card is about being the instrument of universal wisdom and guidance.  The Star is regenerative and energizing.  According to Mary K. Greer this card can also indicate "Using systems of self insight such as astrology, Tarot, numerology, etc."

Seven of Swords

" Cunning leads to knavery.  It is but a step from one to the other, and that very slippery.  Only lying makes the difference; add that to cunning, and it is knavery" - Ovid

The hallmarks of this card are cunning, confidence, forethought and preparation.  It indicates a time where you or another are engaged in observatons, investigations and calculations.  Now, sometimes this involves decption, trickery or guile.  This card can indicate that you youself are engaging in this behavior or that you could be the victim of duplicity.  The man in this card could either be sneaking off after stealing something that doesn't belong to him or "stealing" something back.  Although he is quite pleased with himself, it is an unstable effort.  He's aloof, secretive, working alone.  Could be that you are running away from something and letting things go because you do not want to deal with them directly (commitment, responsibility or relationship).

Death

"What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning.  The end is where we start from." - T.S. Elliot

Death is about major transitions, sharp endings, and sweeping changes. Death is a natural part of the karmic cycle.  We die to be reborn.  With conclusions and endings come new beginnings and fresh starts.  Often these adjustments are just what we need in order to progress.  Although this time can feel like our lowest point ever, Death reveals that from here we will be raised to a higher, better place.  Death dramatically reminds us that without the darkness there can be no light.  Without the sorrow, we can not appreciate joy, and without death there is no new growth.  Death symbolizes a time to let go of what we've clung to and bring something to a close.  Death invites us to face and accept the inevitable transformations that will set us out on new paths.  Death clears the road for us to begin anew.  Whether it is to a person or situation, sometimes it is time to just say good bye..

"Death can also mean you will experience an inexorable force.  Death is inevitable, and sometimes there are events that are inescapable as well.  When these moments occur, the best approach is to ride your fate and see where it takes you." - Joan Bunning



Three of Wands

"It was the man's dream, and his inspiring attempt to make them come true that remain important" - Francis Ford Coppola

The man in this card patiently goes through a time of waiting or longing for something.  He's anticipating the reciept of something important.  He watches and waits for his "ships to come in".  It is a card of forethought, progress and visualization.  He dreams beyond his current limitations and considers the bigger picture.  This is the first indication that the dream can be made real.  Being encouraged to move in a new direction, he has spent his energies and now detaches himself from the current circumstance to see what will come to pass.  This card can suggest premonitions or other intuitions about what is to be.





The Queen of Wands

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone." - Coco Chanel

This queen is enthusiastic, upbeat, and outgoing.  She leads an active life, can be restless and has lots of vibrant energy.  She is naturally attractive, takes pride in her appearance and commands attention.  She has great sex appeal, is passionate and sensual.  She makes friends easily and is open and sincere.  She approaches life with humor, an optimistic attitude and is ruled by the heart.  She is creative, self assured and determined.  She is encouraging and generous with others and has a warm and inviting way.  This fiery, independent woman is the most masculine of the queens in her personal power, self confidence and demeanor.  She can also have a quick temper, be intimidating, stubborn, domineering and overwhelming.                                    

Seven of Wands

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, 'Ilived through this horror.  I can take the next thing that comes along." - Eleanor Roosevelt

This card is about experiencing and accepting our fears and then confronting them with everything we've got.  It's about facing uncertainties and reservations with all the courage we can muster.  When we face our fears, we use them for our benefit instead of letting them keep us on the defense, motionless and petrified.  When we face what scares and disturbs us, we grow more and more resilient, more able to tackle any barriers in our way.  This card indicates that this is a time in our lives when we need to cast doubt aside, believe in ourselves, be brave and go for what we want.  This card advises that when we see opportunities we should seize them without hesitation no matter how frightening it may be.  Only in this way will we stand a chance of getting our hearts desire.

The World

"The Human soul, as a part of the movement of life, is endowed with the ability to participate in the uplift, elevation, perfection, and completion." - Alfred Adler

The World represets wholeness, completion, fulfillment and happiness.  This is a very positive card and indiates that a cycle has come full circle and at long last everything that we have been working towards now comes to fruition.  There is the sense that everything is wholly balanced and integrated in harmony.  This card is the epitome of the peace, love and grace of life.  Here we count our blessings.  It is about true self awareness and real connection to spirit.  According to Sylvia Abraham, "The elliptical shape of the wreath alludes to superconsciousness" and "shows balance and support from unseen forces".  This card is a reminder of the perfection of life and the cosmos.