Succor

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the King of Swords and A Drop of Succor:

We must always consider the consequences of our actions. Or inaction. It won’t necessarily change what we do, but we need to be aware of the effect. ―Louise Penny

The King of Swords is an intelligent and logical person, known for being a strategist. But what slips by many people when they describe him is that he is also concerned with cause and effect. He might have the ability to conquer a city, but will his resources spread far enough to add thousands more to his realm? He's not just thinking about what he might do or get, but also the cost or the repercussions of his actions. Succor suggests relief or assistance; it derives from the Latin word succurrere - literally translated "run to support." The quote for this card comes from Wayne E. Brickey: "The best time and most eloquent way to succor is to do so when need arises. After all, service is seldom convenient." While rearranging our plans is rarely convenient, it may be a small price to pay rather than abandon a friend who could use some support.

Stick of Shame

This week I'll be using the Brady Tarot, created and self-published by Emi Brady with a companion booklet by Rachel Pollack. I'll also be using the Citadel, an oracle created by Fez Inkwright and published by Liminal 11/Sterling. Today's draws are the Father of Arrows (King of Swords) and Warrior:

Perfectionism in its true sense implies a crippling rigidity. 

—Dr. Sherry Walling

The Father of Arrows (King of Swords) is illustrated with a black vulture. This bird is smaller than the turkey vulture but doesn't have its keen sense of smell to detect decaying flesh. To find food, they soar high in the sky and keep an eye on the lower-soaring turkey vultures. Since they travel in groups, they can easily overpower the more solitary turkey vultures when a carcass is located. Likewise, the Father of Arrows prefers brain over brawn. He is hyper-intelligent - able to rapidly process information, see patterns, understand complex concepts, and skillfully solve problems. Yet the Warrior warns that his hyper-intelligence can lead to the dangerous trait of perfectionism. Constantly competitive, he may expect himself and others to be flawless. There's no wiggle room for the perfectionist, it's all or nothing. With this oppressive mindset, there is no peace or freedom; it rules with the stick of shame.

Not Just an Opinion

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, Sea of Glass:

If you want to assert a truth, first make sure it’s not just an opinion that you desperately want to be true.

― Neil deGrasse Tyson

The King of Swords is an intellectual authority, an advocate of truth, and a promoter for logic and reason. He knows truth can change as investigation uncovers more information, but he is very much aware of how personal beliefs, emotions, and desires can muddy the waters. As Tyson stated, "If your personal beliefs deny what's objectively true about the world, then they're more accurately called personal delusions." The Sea of Glass was a portion of the journey when the ocean's bottom could be seen clearly by the sailors. It asks us to be willing to discern fact from fiction, regardless of how we want or think things should be.

Our Versions of Reality

From the Swietlistej Drogi, the King of Swords; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Healthfulness:

It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.

―Rick Riordan

This King leans on his downward-pointed sword, underscoring his belief that the real world is grounded in logic, evidence and facts. Yet many of us imagine a different reality - either one full of specific desires we crave or one full of fears we attempt to push away. But these hopes and fears are not in the present, thus they are not concrete realities. He asks, "Is it not enough just to deal with what is actually happening this day?" Healthfulness is impacted by our thoughts and the mental stories that we create. As Susan Bauer-Wu points out, "Stories are automatic, and they can carry you away. They can agitate the mind, which in turn agitates the body and shakes up your world in general. "For the sake of your mental and physical health, be mindful of what you mind is up to.

Oops, Virginia

From the Rider Marseille, the King of Swords; from the Ostinato Oracle, the Bar:

You take wisdom and you take compassion, and with these two wings, each of us can learn to fly and make a difference in the world. ―Tencho Gyatso

This stony-faced King seems to be saying, "Yes, Virginia, things ARE always black and white when you use logic. Yet even the Stoics - lovers of logic - would disagree with this approach. Marcus Aurelius wrote that we should think of the universe as a single living being, and as parts of that whole, understand that we were formed by nature to benefit others. However, the musical Bar, a symbol of boundaries, lets us know that neither the discernment of wisdom nor the kindness of compassion should be taken to extremes. That is why we need both when we consider any situation, making use of our heads as well as our hearts.

One cannot pursue one’s own highest good without at the same time necessarily promoting the good of others.  A life based on narrow self-interest cannot be esteemed by any honorable measurement.  Seeking the very best in ourselves means actively caring for the welfare of other human beings.  Our human contract is not with the few people with whom our affairs are most immediately intertwined, nor to the prominent, rich, or well educated, but to all our human brethren.

—Epictetus

The Greatest Weapon

From the Classic Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Constellations Deck, Monoceros:

If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled — have you no shame in that? —Epictetus

The King of Swords would make a good Stoic, with his emphasis on logic and reason. Whether protecting or guiding, he knows his mind is his greatest weapon and tool. Control over one's own judgments and emotions, through the practice of this philosophy, is the way to wisdom and peace. Monoceros is a northern constellation representing a unicorn and suggests fantasy and imagination. While living in a dream world may sound blissful, imagination is a two-sided coin. Even though we may conjure up idyllic scenes, the mind can just as easily create hellish ones. Seneca would advocate training the mind to live in the real world: "We suffer more in imagination than reality."

Finding It Again

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert. I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are Elder of Air (King of Swords) and Minerva:

Discernment: the ability to tell truth from fiction, to know when we have lost our center and how to find it again. ―Anne Hill

Kings offer guidance, but as the Elder of Air knows, guidance without clarity is worthless. To slow down his mind, which sniffs every bush constantly to see what needs to be worried about, he plays his flute. Focus allows his thoughts to slow down, giving him a chance to see clearly what is true and what is genuinely important. Minerva knows one major problem that fogs up our glasses is unfounded, unquestioned beliefs. She tells us: "I am what I think; my life is shaped and formed by what I tell myself. I make sure what I carry is of my own careful choosing and serves me well."

Are You Crying?!

From the Dark Mansion Tarot, the King of Swords; from Miss Mai's Victorian Oracle, Clover:

Are you crying?! There's no crying in baseball!

―Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own

This King has no patience for histrionics, whether that is sobbing or stomping and ranting. He believes such an exaggerated display of emotions distracts from the real issue and prevents factual details from being known. He'd probably tell us to go for a long walk and come back when we're calmer and more lucid. What would the King of Swords say about the Clover, a symbol of comfort and good luck? Likely, he would quote Thomas Hardy, "Some folk want their luck buttered." Though many events and circumstances are beyond our control (some lucky, some not), we can develop a more useful response to them if we've cultivated flexibility, knowledge, perseverance, and a healthy work ethic. Histrionics might feel good, but they won't get us around the bases.

Fuzzy Concept

From the Mary-El Tarot, the King of Swords; from the OH Cards, Turn Around:

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.

―Ansel Adams

Marie White gives this fellow with a dragon tattooed on his back the name Reason. His name implies his gift: the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic. He has the ability to cut to the chase, undistracted by side issues, and get to the core of things. His impressive skill at abstract thought brings a caution, however, as the emergency personnel in the Turn Around card suggests. It can be easy to get caught up in concepts instead of simply paying attention to what’s going on around us. Ideas and labels can't encompass living beings, no matter how much we like to categorize them. 

A Wish for All

 From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Handl Rune Oracle, Tyr/Tiwaz:

This is what I wish for all of us: that we live and act and love with a fierce and tender clarity.

―Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

The King of Swords does not make decisions based on his passions - he knows allowing our emotions, desires and opinions can color and cloud reality. What is actually true gets twisted out of shape, so not only are we unable to see clearly, we can't respond to it appropriately either. The King tells us to peel away those outer layers and see the core of the situation for what it is. Tiwaz represents the Norse god Tyr, known for sacrificing his hand for the greater good. Such sacrifice comes from the heart; it requires making an unselfish choice that will ultimately benefit the whole. This type of reasoning and offering are what create Goddard's "fierce and tender clarity."

Two Modes

From the New Liminal Tarot, the King of Swords; from the State by State Playing Cards, West Virginia (Ten of Hearts):

The moment you turn away from your thoughts and allow them to settle, the intelligence that exists beyond the intellect will be waiting for you, right there where you left it.

—Michael Neill

The King of Swords is known for his high ideals and intelligent, rational thinking. However, this fellow is so high up in the clouds, I wonder how any idea he has or decision he makes will ever be manifested physically. Yet Neill suggests our mind has an active mode - when it sifts through information in support of a specific result - and a receptive mode. The latter mode allows our thinking to settle down and gain access to an intelligence that comes from somewhere beyond our personal database.  It moves us beyond applying the same Band-Aids to our problems. West Virginia is known for is lovely, handmade quilts. Originally used for protection and insulation (and made with worn out scraps of clothing), quilts have now become works of art. To receive one is a gift of love. These two cards suggest the logic of the mind combined with the receptiveness of the heart can help us find the most beneficial solution.

Overrun by Nettles

From the Ferret Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Pumpkin:

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

― Horace Walpole

With his searing stare and crossed arms, this King seems to be telling us to get our mind out of the clouds. "Cut the choke collar and leash of your emotions and blind beliefs. Use your mind rather than letting it wind you up." Abundance (Pumpkin) sounds like a nice cozy word, but Americans seem to see it as a holy grail. It's no wonder that lottery tickets, prosperity gospel preachers and books like The Secret have been such a hit here. We haven't figured out yet - the King's clarity - that material possessions aren't going to fill a deep well of emptiness or free us from a scarcity mindset. If anything, they only add to our problems, because once we have them, we have to guard them. We might be better off to consider the thoughts of Epicurus: "Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." It's joy that we're desperately seeking, not things. 

All the Right Words

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the King of Swords; from the Insectorum Divinorum, Butterfly:

You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. 

― Nicholas Sparks

The King of Swords has an analytical mind and is known for being an impartial judge when there are disagreements. With his hand extended, he offers to hear each side's story, but he expects them to back up their words with evidence. He knows eloquent, persuasive speech can hide a heap of wrongdoing. Butterfly represents fragility and susceptibility. While charismatic folks might ping our alert meter, sometimes those who look and sound pitiful might fly under our radar. The King would remind us that questioning doubt that leads to investigation is a useful tool in either case.

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

From the Touchstone Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Waterhouse Oracle, St. Eulalia:

If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members... One goes to the unprotected - those, precisely, who need the laws' protection most! - and listens to their testimony.

—James Baldwin

The solemn King of Swords is a judge, deciding what is right and wrong and who is innocent or guilty. The black and white chess board is a hint that he sees no gray areas and does not bend to emotional pleas. Though he is extremely intelligent, compassion is not a trait he cultivates. St. Eulalia shows the death of a 13-year-old girl at the hands of the Roman government because she dared to speak out about the persecution of Christians. Yes, society needs consequences when laws are broken, but as Cicero stated, "the increase of punishment should be in proportion to the increase of crime." Liking or not liking someone or their beliefs should not influence the judgment.

Outside Fixed Patterns

This week I'll be using the Morgan Greer Tarot, created by Bill Greer and Lloyd Morgan and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using the Celtic Book of the Dead, published by Grange Books, created by Caitlin Matthews and illustrated by Danuta Mayer. Today's draws are the King of Swords and the Island of Singing Birds:

The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.

―Bruce Lee 

The handful of wheat and the acorn-bearing oak branch make me think one of this King's favorite sayings is, "Nothing can grow strong or well without truth and without some semblance of order." He knows that where there is no honesty, there is no trust, and nothing to hold the community together. Structure and rules help people remember what is important, set priorities, and get things done. His Achilles heel is that he sometimes forgets that change and new information might require adjusting the current system in place. The Island of Singing Birds brought a chorus of harmonic sounds to the Celtic travelers, "as though a choir were singing the Psalms." The beautiful blending of bird song was an advisement from the Otherworld to listen to their inner guide rather than their ego. When reality shifts because of new evidence or great change, our perceptions and actions must follow suit rather than cling to our old ideas.  

Seeing the Truth

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Knight (King) of Swords; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, the Prophet:

We give our time away all day long, to emotions that gain us no advantages, to people who do not value our time, to inefficient habits. 

― Stuart R. Levine

The conversations my mother and I have - prone to wind from here to there and back again - would drive this Knight/King batty. He's a keen observer, intelligent and clever, but those who ramble will be quickly silenced. He has no time for side exits, exciting tidbits or anything that sounds like an excuse. His likely response to such would be,"Cut to the chase, I don't have time to listen to irrelevant chatter!" While he may be a little intimidating, this is the guy you want to speak with when you need to see the heart of the matter. His perceptiveness cuts through all the distractions, finding the root of the issue with sharp clarity. The Prophet is based on John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of Man but also as a great spiritual teacher. This card encourages us to find people who can see through our self-assigned labels and our past baggage to the diamond underneath. Those with 'swords' can be useful for cutting through what prevents us from seeing the truth.

It Needs No Defense

From the Tarot of Caro, the King of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

Ego takes everything personally. Emotion arises, defensiveness, perhaps even aggression. Are you defending the truth? No, the truth, in any case, needs no defense.

—Eckhart Tolle

The King of Swords is known to be unbiased, intelligent and logical. Yet all the butterflies that surround this man reminds me of another trait - he takes things lightly rather than personally. Like a scientist, he's listening and observing without getting affected by emotional outbursts or drama. He seeks facts and solutions, and he knows that getting entangled in feelings can be distracting and taint his objectivity. Hexagram 1 - known as the Creative or the Dynamic - suggests that the air is ripe with inspiration and energy, which bodes well for creative movement. However, it is meant to be an interplay of the universe and humans; right timing, focus and a lack of arrogance will be required for success. A shift from self-centeredness to wider awareness can show us a beneficial path. 

Humble Service

From the Sacred India Tarot, the King of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Remember (Mala):

Power is given only to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Garuda was an eagle-like god, king of the birds and known for his independent thinking, martial prowess and courage. He was extremely powerful and strong; it was said he could hold up a planet with his feathers. Yet he used his power for good - rescuing his mother from the serpent king, making allies rather than enemies of the devas, and becoming a vehicle for Vishnu. Garuda's life was dedicated to the service of others, a humble but noble choice. The Remember card shows a set of mala beads used to count mantras during meditation. It is a spiritual tool that helps one keep track and stay on track. Both of these cards imply remembering what is important - from a other-centered viewpoint rather than just a self-centered perspective. While individual goals are valuable and healthy, they should not override the needs of our fellow travelers.

Free of Hindrances

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Mahjongg Oracle, Carp:

Amoha is the alignment with that which is as it is without any spin, without any corruption of integrity. It’s this bold gaze at the truth, and the truth can be hard to accept if we’re emotionally invested in the truth being different than it is—and so often we are.

—Joshua Bee Alafia

The King of Swords is the king of clarity, yet he knows it requires him to first polish his own mirror. Otherwise, ignorance (not having enough knowledge about a situation), strong emotions, wishful thinking and rigid opinions can cloud his perception. Any judgments he makes must be free of these hindrances if he wants them to be balanced and objective. Carp symbolizes tranquility and inner calm, allowing thoughts and emotions to flow through and past us without reacting to them. As Willa Miller put it, "If you stop biting at the bait you won't get hooked." The King of Swords is likely adept as this meditative practice.

Wider Than What Hurts

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Hag of Air (King of Swords); from the Tattwa Cards, Water/Seed of Fire:

Dhumavati ("the smoky one") is a widowed Hindu goddess associated with all things considered inauspicious. Though she personifies the dark side of life, Dhumavati is included as one of the ten wisdom goddesses. When life is full of sorrow, frustration and pain, she tells us to embrace life rather than curse it, to maintain a wide perspective. As Mark Nepo reminds us, "When we narrow our focus, the problem seems everything." Water/Seed of Fire is a combination of opposites, thus its key phrase 'creative tension.' Is it possible for two things to be true, that life is full of joy as well as suffering? Nepo's advice is helpful: "In actuality, misery is a moment of suffering allowed to become everything. So, when feeling miserable, we must look wider than what hurts. When feeling a splinter, we must, while trying to remove it, remember there is a body that is not splinter, and a spirit that is not splinter, and a world that is not splinter."