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4.5 Ten, Princess, Knight

Activity

Spend time with each of the Wands 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!

Ten of Wands

Name: Oppression

Astrological Correspondence: Saturn in Sagittarius

Position on The Tree: Pluto of Fire. Kingdom in the Archetypal World.

Notes to consider: The pressure is great, yet the figure keeps walking. There is a great determination and self-sacrifice in bringing the totality of our Will/Purpose/Creative spark into being. Nothing worth doing is ever easy, they say.

We may also carry our good intentions with us long after they have outlived their usefulness and refuse to cut down our commitments.

What is the opposite of striving to manifest our will?

Princess of Wands

Name: Envisioner

Astrology: The Season of Summer. Cancer, Leo, Virgo
Element: Specific Earth in Primal Fire

Position on The Tree: Kingdom Force of Earth in the Archetypal world.

Notes to consider: A sacrificed goat (Aries) on the double altar (representing the universe) with that spiked staff thing? This princess is a little wild! Independent and inspiring, this self-assured energy asks us to harness the creative drive and turn it into action. She may be a little immature sometimes; she’s a young fire.

When this element gets out of balance, it can induce shallow self-absorption, create the drama queen, and have an “anything goes” attitude toward getting what they want.

Knight of Wands

Name: Promoter

Astrology: Nov 13 – Dec 12
Element: Specific Fire in Primal Fire

Position on The Tree: Wisdom force of Fire in the Archetypal world.

Notes to consider: This is the force of Divine Will in its purest form. Rushing, coursing passion, confidence, skill, and commitment. Not any specific idea itself, but the energy that proceeds an idea. Not the action itself, but the inspiration and drive of being alive that enables all actions. Ingenuity and generosity are second nature.

Fire burns. When the conditions are right, it’s our greatest tool. When it gets out of control, watch out. Aggressive, fierce, chaotic, brutal. The lack of restraint and good direction can be devastating.