Beyond the Threshold

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Spiritual Companions:

When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own. —John O’Donohue

Anna suggests her Knight of Swords represents a spirit of discord. He doesn't mean to be a stubborn, biting, kicking mule. It's just that he's found a small piece of truth and now defends it like it is the only Truth. But seeing the house he's just burned down (metaphorically), might have just put a big crack in his immovable mindset. Spiritual Companions represent those few people who know us intimately and care about us deeply. They are also our truest mirror, showing us ourselves - even the parts we don't want to see.  In this case (in the words of Yonaton Hambourger), the Knight is shown how "Familiarity itself begins to feel morally binding." Our anamchara ("soul friend") can be our guide in moving our attitudes and actions beyond the threshold we've been stuck behind. 

Fair Exchange

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Son/Knight of Swords; from the Pictish Oracle, Snake:

When I am angry, what I want becomes holy. What the other person wants becomes irrelevant.

—friend of Susan Heitler

The eye is drawn to the lines in this card; they seem to funnel downward, like a gutter directing rainwater. The Son of Swords has both a sharp intellect and tongue. He likes to debate rather than discuss, often confusing what is true or right with his personal information and opinions. He can grind folks down, exhausting them with his arguments. They may pretend to agree simply to get away from the onslaught. The Snake was a complex symbol for the Celtic world: its ability to coil and strike caused fear, but its habit of shedding its skin connected it with healing. Words have the same power with their ability to hurt or heal. In a heated debate or argument, we are usually more concerned with being heard than listening, which holds no hope of reconciliation. On the other hand, Esther Perel reminds us, "Dialogue, in contrast, is an exchange with no winner, where the speaker listens and responds based on what they heard."

First, Listen

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Swords; from the Art Round Oracle, Snake Rattle:

A respectful dialogue with one's opponent almost invariably goes further than a harangue outside his or her window. If you want to change someone's mind, you must understand what need shapes his or her opinion. To prevail, you must first listen. ―Sonia Sotomayor

This Prince is known for his intellectual agility, capable of swiftly navigating through complex ideas and concepts. Fond of arguing for the sake of argument, he may morph into an idealist or a crusader when he thinks he has uncovered a truth. The attempt of his eagle to scrabble onto a rocky ledge implies his airy ideas can at times be disconnected from reality. The Snake Rattle warns us to be prudent and cautious. A rattlesnake doesn't want to bite anything unless it is threatened or there is a meal involved (it takes a lot of energy to make venom). Likewise, an exchange of heated words goes nowhere and only exhausts us. As Sotomayor states, first it might be wise to ask questions and listen to what has shaped the other person's ideas. We might find there are some holes in both arguments when it comes to applying them in real life.

Getting to Know You

From the Gaian Tarot, the Explorer of Air (Knight of Swords); from the Goddess Oracle, Lady of the Beasts:

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything. ―Laurence Sterne

I quite like the name 'Explorer' give to the Knight of Swords; I much prefer someone who has an insatiable curiosity to someone who goes around poking others with his or her opinions. He is on a quest to learn more, but he attempts to do so from an open perspective, one that is different from his own. His life will never be boring unless he begins to think he knows everything as he gets older. The Lady of the Beasts, Poluknalai, is an ancient goddess of India. She represents cultivating bonds with those who nurture and support us. What does curiosity have to do with relationships? Todd Kashdan explains: "“When you show curiosity and you ask questions, and find out something interesting about another person, people disclose more, share more, and they return the favor, asking questions of you,” says Kashdan. “It sets up a spiral of give and take, which fosters intimacy.”

Make It Happen

This week I'll be using the Rosetta Tarot along with its companion book The Book of Seshet. This set was created by M.M. Meleen and published by Atu House. The oracle deck I'll be using is the Day of the Dead Lenormand, created and self-published by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Swords and Mice:

Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.

—John F. Kennedy

The Prince of Swords is Air of Air, a combination that makes him an inexhaustible fount of ideas and solutions. A lover of research, he is also comfortable with abstract ideas. However, he'll spend time spinning out a complex plan or concept and then just abandon everything because he's lost interest. The Mice card suggests something is gnawing away at our well-being, resources, or relationships. It doesn't matter how many creative ideas or interesting strategies we come up with to mitigate this problem if we don't apply them. As JFK explained, "There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction."

Don't Spill the Beans

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from Rory's Story Cubes, Beans:

Today's gossip is tomorrow's headline. 

—Walter Winchell

Blocking the road, this Knight of Swords forces us to pause before we go running off to call, text or post some tantalizing or inflammatory information that we've heard or read. He's a lover of truth and a hater of gossips, liars and hypocrites. His big book is like consulting Snopes or FactCheck to see if what we're about to let loose is fact, fiction or a mixture of both. Beans bring to mind a quote by Rudyard Kipling: “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Spreading unchecked information might give us a thrill, but those words are like unknown seeds that we plant that could boomerang on us. It might be wise not to "spill the beans."

Because It is Holy

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Swords and Caution:

When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix, I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve, I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

The Prince/Knight of Swords acts on what he sees as a miscarriage of justice or a perversion of truth. His ideas of how things should be (the yellow light of his sword) are made manifest (the yellow light from his hand). Yet the Caution card suggests a pause before acting. Are we trying to help when we don't really understand the circumstances and situation? Homeless people living in a car don't need us to buy them a new TV. To truly serve others, we must see them as equals, not as people who need to be fixed. As Remen wrote, "We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy."

Without Aggression or Condescension

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Waterhouse Oracle, musical angels from St. Cecilia:

When we tell people the truth, we tell them an edited version that almost invariably is constructed to our advantage. At best, we know what we see, and what we may infer, but we can never know the truth of another’s heart. ―Andrew Budek-Schmeisser

This Knight, with his sword unsheathed and hand on his helmet, wears an impatient expression. Kat Black describes him as having a warrior mindset, being the first to jump into an argument or rush into a skirmish. He believes that he is righter of wrongs and the champion of truth. He hasn't learned that the definitions of what he thinks is right and what is true can be subject to change, and they are often influenced by our own likes and dislikes. The kneeling angels in the St. Cecelia painting play soothing music for Cecilia. People are more likely to listen when we speak the truth as we see it without aggression or condescension. Anger and intimidation rarely open any ears or minds.

A Real Seeker

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Knight of Swords; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Journeyman:

If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things. ― René Descartes

It is ironic that the Knight of Swords doubts nearly every other person's ideas but not his own. Why is it that we're so willing to slash and burn what others say and think, but we never question our own opinions? Rainer Maria Rilke wrote that helpful doubt isn't simply a cynic; it questions and looks for proof. And having such an accessory in our saddlebag can turn our to be a very intelligent and useful tool for building a life. The Journeyman goes into the world with a childlike trust and a beginner's mind. Testing himself and his knowledge, he willingly lets go of that which he finds useless or false. He would tell this Knight that any concept that is not tested against reality is not worth holding in a tight grip.

Benefiting the Whole

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, Robin Redbreast:

I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.

— Malcolm X

Intelligent and single-minded, you can almost hear this Knight exclaim, "I ride for truth and justice!" His way of righting wrong can be disruptive and his sharp tongue can cause pain, but he always leaves change of some kind in his wake. Robin Redbreast has many legends about how he got his red chest - almost all involve courage rooted in compassion for others. The Robin suggests we consider our motives for our actions - are they simply to make us look good or grant us gain? Or are they truly altruistic? To benefit the whole, we must remember the Navy maxim: "a rising tide lifts all boats."

Speaking Truth

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Earthquake:

I'm a faceless man, I'm a trickster

Speaking truth like I'm reading from a scripture

~w1tchlxrd

The traditional Knight of Swords is seen as a daring, impulsive fellow, always ready to save the world from injustice. The fool/jester was a more humbly dressed servant, though he was just as fearless. As Jake Page wrote, "Common belief held that children and fools could speak only the truth. This belief was a kind of protective covering for the jester — after all, who could blame fools for saying whatever came into their heads? Laughter was the oil a jester used to slip inconvenient truths into the royal presence without offending it." He could even mock Church officials, pointing out that they weren't living up to certain standards. Earthquake shows the effect revealing such truths can have. Although chaos may ensue for a time, bringing to light factual information can help reshape things into a healthier whole.

Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All.  

~Gospel of Thomas

Winning an Earthquake

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Knight of Clouds (Swords); from the A'HA Oracle, Unfurling:

You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.

~Jeannette Rankin

This armored knight looks like he's spoiling for a fight. Fierce, intellectual arguments that leave no room for listening are his strategy. He firmly believes he alone knows what is true and just. When others sputter to defend themselves or simply walk away, he feels he's won the battle. But did he actually change any minds or hearts? He might take some advice from MLK, Jr.: "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon... which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals." Unfurling shows some ferns slowly unrolling new fronds. Transitions and growth take awareness, patience and effort. It's not just others who need to change, but ourselves as well. Perhaps if this knight would channel some of his energy toward self-reflection, he might evolve into a wise king.

Prepare to Land

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Swords; from the Jade Oracle, Coatl:

Theoretical principals must sometimes give way for the sake of practical advantages.

~William Pitt

Being Air of Air, the Prince/Knight of Swords lives most comfortably in an abstract rather than relative world. Well-educated with a mind that works at the speed of light, he can assimilate ideas in innovative ways. He reminds me of Vincent Nigel-Murray, one of the interns on the TV series Bones, who constantly spouted random facts to relieve his anxiety. Occasionally his blurts would be tangentially related to the work at hand, but it took some puzzling to figure out. More than once, his coworkers would ask "How is that pertinent?" Coatl (serpent) was a sacred symbol of the Aztecs. As the snake was able to crawl on the ground, slither up trees, and swim in water, it connected the realms of earth, air and water. It reminds this airy Prince that abstract ideas are only useful when applied in relative, concrete ways or when used to expand perspectives.

Argumentative Altercation

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Knight of Air (Swords); from the Curious Oracle, Alchemy:

When we respond from a more dispassionate perspective, and are not just caught in the game of defending or promoting our ego, it is as though a different world opens up. We begin to see how our limited focus has prevented us from developing a bigger vision of what is going on and how best to respond to it. ―Judy Lief

With beak open, claws extended and feathers flying, this Knight of Swords/Air is not afraid of an argument. He believes if he has the facts, then he's right. What he lacks is context (what might be true in one situation is not necessarily true in another) and empathy. He's got skin in the game - he enjoys the reputation of being knowledgeable and likes to prove it. Alchemy (transformation) suggests there is a middle way without painting everything in black or white. Sincerely listening rather than just telling can help him not only better understand another perspective, it can make him less argumentative. And being less cocky can make the other side more willing to listen to his point of view as well.

Dividing Lines

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Mahjongg Cards, Dragon:

Who we are in every aspect of the self - individual, family, community, culture - is defined by what we crave, who we hate, and what we believe to be true.

—Sean Feit Oakes

Being elementally Air of Air, this Knight is full of knowledge and eloquent in speech. And while he may think he's a defender of justice, who he works for is often selective based on personal preference. Though he might not admit he hates anyone, his actions and words clearly act as a dividing line between 'us' and 'them.' Dragon suggests good fortune, and in this Knight's case, it would be that he balance some of his intellect with compassionate wisdom. To understand our connection with the whole of humanity allows us to be a more complete human being, one whose life has meaning beyond our latest conquest. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Silence Doesn't Always Protect

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Siren (Knight) of Air (Swords); from the Tattwa Cards, Ether/Seed of Earth:

Lilith, in Mesopotamian and Judaic mythology, was said to be the first wife of Adam who was banished from the Garden of Eden for not obeying Adam. She was demeaned by the religious and admired by feminists. Her message is that it is time to face our fear, quit hiding all that we are, and stop compromising our spirit. Being different and speaking up for oneself should not be demonized. Ether/Seed of Earth suggests gestation; it is a time of patience, preparation and learning (keep our mouth closed and our ears open). Our truth needs to be heard, but first we must collect information and evidence to ensure that what is heard is more than just our anger.

Your silence will not protect you.

― Audre Lorde

Unity without Uniformity

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, The Flower Ball:

There is a lot of energy and movement with this Knight of Swords, emphasizing both his fearlessness and recklessness in the area of ideas and communication. The left hand is sometimes seen symbolically as representing receptivity, yet this fellow holds wields his sword in this hand. That might suggest that he likes to forcefully deliver his opinions while refusing to listen to those of others. Yet the Flower Ball suggests there is a happy medium in intellectual conversations - discussion rather than debate. I've been in a theological book club for over a decade now; its main tenet is respect. I've learned that we can maintain unity without uniformity when dignity and consideration are upheld.

Don't Settle

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Swords; from the Alchemist's Oracle, Embrace:

Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, was Queen Victoria's daughter. Once married and settled in Germany, she realized her new husband was lacking in intelligent conversation and shared few of her interests. Rather than moan and groan, she began to pay close attention to the social concerns of the lower classes. She visited the homes of the poor to learn about their living conditions in hopes of improving them. She would eventually found the Alice Society for Women's Training and Industry, for the purpose of educating women, and the Princess Alice Women's Guild, an organisation devoted to training nurses. Embrace encourages us not to accept "a life that is less than the one you are capable of living" (Nelson Mandela). Like Alice, we must discover what we're capable of instead of being content with what we've been assigned.

Find your own happy street, don’t settle for someone else’s address.

~Christine Szymanski

Intelligence Doesn't Always Mean Wisdom

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Lily:

The Knight of Swords is elementally Fire of Air, so there are symbols of both fire (fireplace, phoenix statues) and air (peacocks, bellows). He's intelligent and well-read, as well as being an eloquent speaker when it suits him. He sees himself as a truth seeker. Unfortunately, he can also be as impulsive as his knight cousins. At times, that bellows can fill him with hot air, and what he might pass off as knowledge is simply pure opinion stated as fact. When his ego is involved, his tongue can cut as sharply as any sword, and many will be intimidated enough to go along with him. The Lily has been associated with the fleur-de-lis of heraldry, and thus it is sometimes interpreted as the wisdom of elders. While the Knight might be full of knowledge, there is something to be said for life experience, an open mind, and a willingness to learn from others with different skills and training. Intelligence does not always reside in the same container as wisdom.

Half Truths, Whole Truth

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Prince/Knight of Swords; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Autumn:

This Knight is a smooth talker and a quick thinker, plus he has a mind full of knowledge. He likes to think of himself as the bringer of truth and justice. And that falcon peering over his shoulder implies that he likes to bring these swiftly. But the Autumn card suggests he slow his roll. Autumn is a time of both slowing down and preparation. Photosynthesis requires a tremendous amount of water, so deciduous trees cut off the water supply to their leaves in order to survive winter. Likewise, the Knight of Swords might need to listen more and talk less, while also expanding his understanding (which involves more than just knowledge). Otherwise, he's liable to become fixated on his own version of truth and justice rather than seeing the whole story.