Sovereign's Orb

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Emperor; from the Tao Oracle, "Decrease:"

          Emperors make rules to keep their realms running smoothly and safe from harm. But what happens if the Emperor makes rules for everyone else but refuses to have any for himself? Then you wind up with Henry VIII, King of England (1491-1547). He had six marriages and treated his wives like breeding cattle, having two executed. Henry made himself Supreme Head of the Church of England after separating from the Roman Catholic Church (because the Pope wouldn't annul his marriage). He was constantly on the verge of financial collapse due to his personal extravagances and costly wars. Becoming severely obese as he aged, his lifestyle was a key component in his death. Henry VIII as Emperor is like the self-centered father who prefers to let his children starve rather than provide support, protection and guidance. It's no surprise then that Decrease showed up from the Tao Oracle, with the image of a deciduous tree in front of an evergreen. It encourages a period of frugality; a time to watch one's resources carefully and use them wisely. All the power and resources in the world won't bring security or joy if they're not used rightly.  

Being Mindful, Keeping Things Simple

From the Fairytale Tarot, the Knight of Swords:

This card is based on the story of Bluebeard, a wealthy man who sported a blue-colored beard.  He finally manages to woo a woman who is able to look past his oddity and marries him.  Unfortunately when he goes away on a trip, she discovers the bodies of his former wives in the basement.  He arrives home angry about her unlocking his secret.  Before he can lop off her head too, her brothers come to her rescue.  This tale emphasizes the impulsive nature of this knight.  He's intelligent and quite a wordsmith, but he often uses his talents to slice and dice those who disagree with him or offend him in some way.  Like his collection of dead bodies, I can end up with plenty of "dead" relationships using freedom of speech without mindfulness.

From the Tao Oracle comes the card "Decrease:"

 Tall evergreen pines stand behind a deciduous tree that is fast losing its leaves.  This time of year, its almost impossible not to notice the color change of many of the trees in the area.  The bald cypress trees have now turned a bright rust color, and unlike most cypresses, they will soon drop their feathery needles.  The shorter hours of daylight, colder weather, and lack of rain all combine to bring about this change.  The trees cut off the sap and fluids to the leaves, creating the autumn colors before the tree sheds its leaves.  It is a protective feature that allows the trees to survive the winter until they leaf out again in the spring.  This card teaches me to simplify my life, not in any ascetic sort of way, but to help me stay in balance during a stressful period.  I'll get a chance to show my colors again when the season changes...