DTC: Page of Swords

Page of Swords ⤓
The Adder

The court cards are always difficult for me the read.  The Pages and Aces are the hardest.  I think today I got the easiest of the lot.

The Adder is simply that an Adder.  The card is a wonderfully painted serpent.  So after the feeling creeped out by the fact I am looking at a snake.  The Adder (snake/serpent) plays a number of roles in folklore and mythology.  To me the first thing I remember is the snake is wise.  But this creature has a duality, it seen as both good and evil.

Today the Adder is reversed.  I see this as being his "evil" side coming out.  It may be bad news, or misunderstanding that causes harsh consequences.

DTC: The Chariot

Daily Tarot Card

The Chariot
Major Arcana #7(r)

Battle of Mount Badon

Wow, 2 major arcana in one week.  my mind must be sifting through some heavy stuff right now.

Ok first off this card is based off an actual historic battle.  The story may be a legend now but it has a actual real start in history.  Historians still debate the actual location of this battle but all agree it did happen.

The imagery on this card is very masculine.  Front and center is King Arthur in his chariot, his sword drawn, and his army following behind him.  What my eye is drawn to is the sky.  This is a card of battle, death, mayhem, and a beautiful peaceful sky.  It just so odd to me, I would have thought a dark sky for such an event.  To me that signifies I am looking at the confident conquerors.

It is nor surprising that the typical meaning for this card is a good start or overcoming obstacles with ease.  But our card is reversed.   To me, the reverse means a lack of confidence in overcoming a challenge, may be being unsure of how to begin a project and anxiety.

Since I am late posting this, I added the Shaman-Caselli Tarot (far left) and the Aquarius Tarot (far right) in the pictures.

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