Hand Washing

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Two of Wands; from the Master Tarot, the Man of Power:

          The subtitle for the Two of Wands is 'Dominion,' meaning supreme power or authority. Such sovereignty allows for freedom of choice in the way our lives unfold. In this card, two paths intersect between two crystal columns; one represents sticking with the traditional, tried-and-true way and the other is taking a new, unorthodox route.The companion book describes this point as "creative energy waiting to be channeled." The Man of Power (Pontius Pilate) implies a pause before choosing. Pilate, the Roman governor of occupied Palestine, was known for dealing harshly with those who caused trouble in his domain. When Jesus, a zealous social reformer, came to the attention of Jewish leaders and challenged Roman rule, he was brought before Pilate. Pilate tries to give him a pass, but the crowds insist Jesus be crucified. Pilate washes his hands of the matter and permits him to be put to death. The booklet states that Pilate was a man "who sees yet claims not to see." In other words, "Don't blame it on me. It's not my fault." But the choices and decisions we make are our own, so our motives need to be thoroughly checked beforehand. In real life, there is no washing of hands to pass the buck.

Some Things Can't Be Washed Away

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Hermit:

At the top of the mountain, a mask has come off - here there's no reason to play any role. The maze-like grid on the face reminds me of those pencil and paper games, where you start at one point and try to find your way to the center or finish point. This is an uncomfortable place for some people; there is nothing to hide behind and the only thing to listen to is your own thoughts. In the solitude there are no distractions from a self-inventory that can bring deeper self-knowledge. The path that has been walked will be evaluated, and the conclusions found can be used to determine the direction to go from here. Clarity is the purpose of the Hermit; it can lead me to the center of the maze.

From the Master Tarot comes "Man of Power:"

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

~ from Shakespeare's Macbeth

This depiction of Pontius Pilate shows him washing his hands in an effort to wash away blame. The card represents two faces of the ego: the blindly dogmatic one that refuses to see and the cunning one that sees but claims otherwise. Either way, the ego thinks it can evade responsibility. But as Shakespeare's Macbeth discovered, truth has a way of coming out in strange ways. It's easy to think I don't have any influence over others in my small world. Yet I must still acknowledge and be accountable for the affects my actions or inaction.