This week I'll be using the Victoria Regina Tarot, a deck and book set created by Sarah Ovenall with text assistance from Georg Patterson. This tarot set was published by Llewellyn. I'll be pairing the VR with the Universe Cards, created by Kay Stopforth and published by Thorsons. Today's draws are the Seven of Swords and "Active Galaxy:"
Ovenall and Patterson describe several types of criminals active during the Victorian era in their companion book. There were those who considered their livelihood an art, such as the safe crackers. Then there were the well-dressed con men often preyed on the rich. And finally there were the poor, those who had fallen through the society's cracks, who turned to crime to survive. The authors suggest that the Seven of Swords is a card of ambiguity; actions as well as intentions need to be carefully examined. Does a good motive outweigh an action that will cause harm to another?
In normal galaxies, most of the light comes from the stars and is evenly distributed. But an active galaxy emits up to thousands of times more energy. Most of this energy is released not in visible light but in other wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays. This activity is driven by a massive black hole in the galaxy’s nucleus. Stopforth explains this card as "turbulence," an unsettled time due to changes occurring. She advises to take the long view, which would tie in with the dubious actions of the Seven of Swords. Is this an emotional reaction, or a rational response? Who will benefit and who will be harmed? Will any lasting change be a result?
