DTC: Seven of Swords

Daily Tarot Card

Seven Of Swords (r)

The Sword in the Stone

This is a repeat card.  So I will try to think of it in a different light.  Last time this card utterly confused me, and to be honest it still does.

I really love looking at this card.  To me this is where my fascination with King Arthur began and then spiraled out of control.  I am of course talking about the story of the Sword in the Stone.  Except there is twist in the card.  That is not Arthur pulling the sword but Galahad pulling Balin's sword.  I had to Google the Balin story to refresh.

In a nutshell a Lady of Avalon (not THE Lady) comes to Arthur's court shortly after Balin had been released from prison.  The Lady announced only the purest knight may unsheathe the sword.  Everyone tried, including King Arthur, but no one could pull the sword.  Balin asked to try and after some hesitation the Lady agreed.  Balin, who was imprisoned because he was wrongly accused of killing the King's cousin, pulled the sword and claimed it as his prize.  But the Lady warned that keeping the sword would prove his undoing.  Balin is eventually banished from Arthur's court and is set on a path of destruction. Nope, I am not going to tell you the whole sordid affair, you should go read it yourself.

In this card we see Galahad claiming this sword from the river with Arthur watching from the bank behind him.  This marks the beginning of Galahad's quest.  But I want to take not of the water, it is running water.  Running water in some stories is known to purify and remove curses.  So by placing the sword in the river, Merlin has removed the curse that Balin suffered.

Now rethinking the card I can now understand the divination/upright meaning for a new beginning.  For the reverse, Galahad pulls this sword on the advice of Arthur and Lancelot since reverse is perceived as negative versions it is starting badly or heading ill advice in the start.

Bonus image:

Tarot of the Magical Forest