Wisdom of the Queen of Swords

In Mary K. Greer's book Tarot for Yourself she gives a good first exercise to do when first learning the tarot. The first question is 'What is tarot?' Easy question you might assume but not when you start thinking about it. This is what Google has to say:

A set of 78 cards used in divination or to explore the unconscious. The 56 cards in the “minor arcana” are divided into four suits: wands (symbolizing action); cups (emotions); swords (intellect); and pentacles (material concerns). The 22 cards of the “major arcana” depict archetypes and elemental forces.

Taken from http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/022103/022103k.htm

My own response to this question is this:

Tarot is a set of seventy eight cards that allows someone to communicate with their subconscious mind more easily. It can offer insights into relationships, events or problems in your life. These insights can give you the knowledge you need to make better decisions.

I would say that the first definition is better than mine because it briefly explains the structure of the deck and gives explanations of the major and minor arcana. However, I feel I should explain my choice. Part of the exercise is to consider your response as if you were explaining to a friend and I wanted to explain what the tarot is in a physical sense but also what the tarot is because of what the tarot can do. I was trying to get away from the perceptions that persist with the tarot, especially from people who have had no contact with tarot personally and only have the information presented in the media to base their assumptions.

Sometimes I find that it is easier to explain what tarot is not, than what it is as each person's relationship with the tarot is different and not everyone has the same experience. In my case I own several tarot decks and my relationship with each deck is distinct from the others. I chose the word relationship deliberately as I feel I do have connections to, and with, my decks. Some are stronger than others.

The second question that Mary poses in her exercise is 'What is the purpose of the Tarot'? My answer is a personal one since I believe that the purpose of the tarot can vary depending on what you are using it for. The answer I used was:

I feel that the purpose of the Tarot is as a tool to aid in self knowledge and empowerment; to provide insights that you may not be aware of on a conscious level.

I also use tarot as a divination tool but I think my original comment still stands as I approach readings that I do for others in the same way I do when I am reading for myself. When I read for others I try to convey that the tarot is a tool of empowerment and that they are the ones who have the power within themselves to solve a particular issue and not the cards. I try and use spreads where the tarot provides the querent or seeker information about their particular circumstances. By giving querent this information they can hopefully decide for themselves what they want to do. The tarot can of course advise a seeker or querent but I am wary of saying that it provides answers as I am not sure that it does. Well at least not in my case. Maybe it does give answers but not the concrete ones that most people are used to in their everyday lives. Rather, it gives people options to consider.

The last question I am going to discuss here is 'What do I want to learn from the tarot?' When I did this exercise my response was:

I would like to develop my intuition skills and deepen my relationships with my tarot decks; enabling me to gain insights into my life.

Since I did this exercise on 26^th January 2007 the tarot itself has given me new things to think about. Often I do daily reflections that are posted to the Tarot For Life message boards. One in particular stands out. The reflection was 'What needs clarification and what motivations underlie it?' I drew the Queen of Swords and the Queen of Cups from the Druid Craft deck. My first impression was that it related to the relationship between myself and my mother as I associate my mother with the Queen of Cups and if you hadn't already guessed, myself as the Queen of Swords, although at the time I wasn't sure why it needed clarifying except to remind me to stop acting in haste and drawing my sword in attack which I am prone to do. However, several of my fellow members thought that the Queen of Cups might actually refer to me as I was discussing my belief in tarot, paganism and spirituality. It made me sit up and think that sometimes I over identify with the Queen of Swords and forget about the less dominant aspects of myself. Therefore, the two cards did show what needed clarifying. My relationship with my mother, but also on a more profound level of how I see myself That the two Queens are two aspects of who I am.

The tarot also indicated this message to me when earlier this month when doing a full moon reading. In that reading I got the Princess of Swords and the Princess of Cups. In essence the reading told me that to work out where I needed to go I have to start embracing the Cups aspect of my nature and give recognition that it does exist. To be honest I think the Queen of Swords tries to keep her fellow queen in shadow so that she, or rather I, doesn't get hurt. I need to learn how I can get these two aspects of myself working together and not be afraid to let the Queen of Cups show herself once in a while.

To answer the question posed. It's ok to decide what you would like to learn from the tarot but be prepared for the tarot to show you what lessons you really need to learn and give you messages on different levels. Some of which may not become apparent until later. I don't think there is such a thing as a simple question when it comes to the tarot.

Some people say that I am an argumentative person and I am going to prove them right by disagreeing with my own title. I believe that rational thinking and intuitive thinking are not in opposition with one another but have the potential, if nurtured, to compliment one another so that the picture becomes bigger and the understanding fuller and deeper.

The key words in that first paragraph are 'if nurtured'. I don't believe society as a whole values intuition and the insights it can bring. That is why I believe many struggle with the tarot when they start out learning, as not only are you learning how to listen to the cards but also how to use your intuition; in effect you are learning two skills at once and it becomes very frustrating at times. I gave up the tarot for about a year because I felt I wasn't getting anywhere. I have been using tarot regularly since 2004 when I picked it up again after having several dreams seeing my tarot cards. I decided the universe was trying to tell me something. I believe that a lot of people fall into the trap of believing that somehow that you are going to instantly succeed with the tarot, that as soon as you see the cards everything becomes clear and you learn the answers to the universe. In my experience, and others I have spoken to, you don't. I gave up because I was fed up of drawing a blank. Seeing just the picture and not the meaning. If I am being really honest I was one of those people who fell into the trap.

I don't know what other people expected when they started to use the tarot. I expected a big bang and the lights to come on and for me to suddenly gain a deeper understanding. Why did I have so unrealistic expectations? Reflecting on it I think it was because I didn't know how it was supposed to feel. A lot of us have gut instincts that we may have chosen to ignore because it contradicted rational thinking, but further along the line turns out to be correct. Why are we so mistrustful of this gut instinct or intuition?

A lot of it has to do with how a person is brought up by their family and/or conditioned by society. Children tend to be a lot more intuitive than adults. For example, they are more likely to sense a person in spirit than an adult. However, this maybe because in a child's formative years they can express their intuition more freely by being creative through art, music and other mediums by using their imagination. In fact, children are encouraged to express themselves in this way. As children grow older they are expected to adopt a more rational approach to the way they see the world via language and knowledge so that they begin to assimilate the behaviour of adults. I don't have a problem with this as a rational approach should be involved in a good decision making process, but I do have a problem with the emphasis that is placed on it at the expense of intuition.

A person is not encouraged to develop their intuition after they have left those formative years. Creativity for example, is not encouraged unless someone is talented in that area. I am not of course saying that adults are barred from creative endeavours but the way creativity is viewed is different. Instead of a way for them to express their intuition, they become hobbies; ways to pass the time, unless of course they can make money out of it.

Rational and intuitive thinking become two separate things. Intuition almost exclusively becomes for children only. Society impresses on people that an adult should only adopt a rational approach in their way of thinking. An notable exception is 'mothers intuition' but the cynical side of me believe that society allows this as it connects mothers to their children increasing the ties between them. Someone commented on a friend's journal recently with 'What is a rational woman like you doing believing in the tarot?' I may be paraphrasing, but only slightly. This comment reinforces the view that rationality and intuition don't mix which I don't believe is true. I maybe generalising here, but people who stand and say that they believe in the value of intuition are often characterised as flaky, needy or gullible. Which brings me full circle to last week's article.

Because we are not encouraged to use it intuitive thinking often becomes dormant. It isn't until we take up a creative hobby, start interpreting our dreams or using the tarot that we begin to hear the inner voice again. It also explains why it is hard to trust what it is telling us because it requires us to use skills that we have lost as we have become adults. When you use intuition effectively, it often tells you what you already knew, but were afraid to voice rationally. Sometimes though it offers you new paths that you can travel on, that were hidden from, or drowned out by the rational part of your brain.

Not only can intuition strengthen your rational mind but the rational approach can improve your intuition, but only if your intuition is no longer ignored and is actively listened to. Tarot cards often use a lot of symbolism, and by understanding what those symbols mean your intuition can become stronger.

If people were actively encouraged to develop their intuition throughout their life it would give them a deeper understanding of their lives and enable them to make better decisions? Surely, that can only be a good thing.

Well this is my first column, and I struggled with that age old question: How should I begin?

A little bit about myself. I'm nearly twenty five and I've been studying tarot on and off now for about three and a half years. When I can find work I am an IT tutor that works with people over the age of sixteen. I live with my mum who is also my carer as I have cerebral palsy which affects my mobility. I live in the United Kingdom and so my experiences of the tarot reflect this. I currently own six tarot decks: Universal Waite, Gilded, Robin Wood, Llewellyn, Druid Craft, and my first deck which is unnamed, purchased from a supermarket. My favourites are the Gilded and the Druid Craft.

Why the wisdom of the Queen of Swords, I hear you cry! Why not the wisdom of the King of Wands, or the wisdom of the Magic 8 ball? I'll answer the second question first. There is no magic 8 ball in a tarot deck that I know of, and I chose the Queen of Swords as I feel that this card is the one closest to my own unique qualities. Heh. Anyway the Queen of Swords is someone who loves using their mind for solving problems or engaging in pursuits be it creative or analytical. They love to share their ideas and thoughts with people and are full of fascinating, but often useless trivia. On the downside, lets face it there has to be one, these Queens look at problems from a factual perspective and often fail to take into account any emotional costs that may occur. This can make them appear cold and insensitive. They are also quick to attack, often verbally, if they feel threatened. So writing this column is confirmation of my Queen of Swordsness.

Today's topic was inspired by daytime television, the downside to being unemployed. They were discussing whether they believed in tarot and astrology. One of the panellists said yes, and another one turned and said “Well you're quite a needy person, aren't you?” I'm not bothered whether people believe or not but I was interested in their attitudes towards the person that did. I believe in tarot and astrology but I don't think I am a needy person. I certainly don't think that everyone that believes in tarot uses it as an emotional crutch, something that will magically fix all their problems. However, it would be foolish for me not to recognise that some people will use tarot for that reason; but then anything can used as an emotional band aid if someone wishes to use it in that way.

What really annoyed me about the comment however, was the implicit assumption that people who look to tarot and astrology are sad, and leading unfulfilled lives. That in essence we are being conned so we can feel better about ourselves. I usually find that these kind of comments are made by people with no, or limited experience of the tarot and just serve to perpetuate the myths that already exist. If a seeker goes to a responsible, competent tarot reader then the process of tarot reading should be explained to them. Tarot is not a tool for telling a person's fortune; tarot is best used as a tool for self improvement or highlighting the different factors at work in a certain situation so that a person can decide what to do for themselves. Tarot can of course suggest what action a person should take but the decision making ultimately lies with the person asking the question. It's a tool of empowerment. In my opinion tarot is not a tool to be used for questions that require a yes or no answer as that is taking power away from the person who needs to make the decisions.

The majority of people that I come across, seekers and readers, understand that tarot gives you an extra dimension to what you already know; but the power of the cards comes from within and not the cards themselves. We give the cards their power if we are open enough to the messages they offer. They do not control our actions but sometimes they give us that push to move forward in our journeys from Fools to Magicians.

Of course I may have a biased view myself since most people in my tarot circle are readers but feel free to share your views.