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2.6 King, Queen

Activity

Spend time with each of the Swords below to generate your “tarot encyclopedia” notecard for each. I recommend the following process, which only takes ~10 minutes per card. You do not need to complete all (or any) card in a single sitting.

  1. Look at the image on the card and examine its details.
  2. Read the page in the companion book for that card.
  3. Read the description provided here.
  4. OPTIONAL: Read other descriptions of that card online or in other books.
  5. Reflect on the questions posed.
  6. Write down the details of the image that have meaning to you and the 2 or 3 interpretations (perhaps 1 heavenly, 1 upright earthly, and 1 reversed earthly) that resonate most strongly for you. Feel free to write down your own interpretations based on what comes to you!

Queen of Swords

Name: Critic (I prefer Clarifier)

Astrology: Sep 12 – Oct 12.
Element: Specific Water of Primal Air

Position on The Tree: Understanding as Force of Water in the Formative World.

Notes to Consider: An angelic cherub floats in the sky over an intense woman holding a decapitated head. The cherub brings a quality of love, innocence, and well-being to the event. The face of the head looks like it is at peace. The queen has cut through the crap, protecting the mind from the material/base/lesser nature, inviting deep contemplation. She is keenly observant and perceptive, naming what is with a sincere desire to serve; even though that service sometimes feels harsh. She is independent, objective, confident, and functioning from a pure source.

When she is cut off from that source, she can become sneakily cruel, deceitful, and unreliable.

King of Swords

Name: Teacher

Astrology: Jan 10 – Feb 8
Element: Specific Air of Primal Air

Position on The Tree: Beauty as Force of Air in the Formative World.

Notes to Consider: In teaching, there is a dual process of building up (the sword) and destroying (the scythe). The king’s chariot is pulled by unruly cherubs (thoughts), giving it remarkable speed and agility, but losing focus also leads to losing direction. He is the healthy and high expression of a well-intentioned, no-nonsense individual. His high morals and standards, ability to flex and flow, and sympathetic but rational leadership create excellent conditions for growth.

When things don’t go his way, he can exercise premature judgments, abuse his intellectual power and leadership, or refuse to take a stand. He can become plotting, malicious, or manipulative.