Weekend Spread

I have been kinda bleak of late.  It makes pulling a daily tarot card a bit hard.  So this weekend I set down and did a simple 3 card spread.  I have decided to share that with you today to make up for missing the daily tarot today.

I did a relationship spread.  Layout is simple You, Them, and together.

Queen of Spears (Dindrane)→ Justice (Lady of the Lake) → King Of Swords (Mordred)⤓


Queen of Spears -  Strong woman seeking knowledge to help others.

Justice - GUT - being judged - determining worth

King of Swords ⤓ -  Being used, unfavorable outcomes.


-Reading-
I see the person is searching, possibly lost on their path, may be unsure of their place.  Justice as a person or group of people is read as judgmental or over-evaluating.  The King of Swords reverse states the out come of this current relationship is not a pleasant one.  People are going to feel cheated and manipulated.

Please feel free to let me know how you would see this reading and outcome.

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: 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

Daily Tarot: Eight of Swords

Daily Tarot Card
Eight of Swords
~Gwenevere at the Stake~

This card depicts the title perfectly. Center of the card is the fair Gwenevere being chained to her stake. She is scared and wildly pulling away from her fate. No matter how hard she struggles her hands and feet remain bound as the "monk" prepares her for what must be done. This card is the saddest card in the minor arcane for me. It fills me with hopeless efforts to change, bring trapped but desperately seeking freedom.

Other decks do have a figure trapped and/or bound but they are not in such immediate danger. Often they give the sense one is trapped by themselves and one's own mind. But in AL it feels more grim, death is behind her pulling her in. Where in RW she (also female) she is simply bound on a plain or beach unsure what is to happen but feeling trapped by what it may be.

I drew this card first thing this morning after bed dreams last night. I think the deck grabbed on to my unease of the dream and found the card to explain myself in the dream. Well played deck, well played.

AL/CD/RW/Phantom Wise (out of print)

Daily Tarot: King of Swords

Daily Tarot Card

King of Swords (upright)

~Mordred~

The artwork for this card is wonderfully detailed.  Mordred is depicted on his throne staring straight at you, intently.  HE is the center of this card.  You are drawn to his face where you see a man of intelligence and cunning.  But knowing the story of Mordred, there is a shadow of something dark in those eyes.  The room seems a bit darker as only one small fire in front of him is the light source.  My initial reaction is always male, intelligent, and tactful.  So to me this card represents a tactician,someone who is cunning and just a tad ruthless in his quest.

Swords always seem a bit menacing to me.  They are instruments of death, beautiful and deadly.  Rider Waite Kings all seem the same to me.  Celtic Dragon shows a King deep in thought with a fire drake, I still get that sense of intelligence and tactician but it lacks the menace and cunning.

Today I am going to spending time with my family which makes me feel like I am eggshells.  I will plan everything I say, do, and wear with them in mind.  This is not what I should be thinking about but that is how approach the day with them.  Today will be keeping my plans in mind.  yes, there is stuff unsaid and it will remain unsaid.