Aeclectic Tarot Forum - Rider Waite - 7 of Wands

slinky_jo

13-03-2002, 17:43

A-ha!

Have you also seen the same kinda thing on the seven of pentacles card? He's wearing different coloured boots. The same interpretation could be read for this card too? To me, it means that there is indecision about a change of job, or whether to accept a promotion, or does the querant need a bank loan, etc. It seems like a card of monetary hessitancy and ponder.

Mojo

13-03-2002, 19:31

Ah! Finally someone notices the shoes!

When I teach Tarot, I always have my students tell stories using every image on a card. The 7's are always favorites because I always ask them to explain the shoes!

Makes for some really interesting stories!

(and once you figure out the shoes, try explaining the birds on the court cards in Swords)

Butterfly

13-03-2002, 20:26

Originally posted by slinky_jo
A-ha!

Have you also seen the same kinda thing on the seven of pentacles card? He's wearing different coloured boots.
That's strange, on my Rider Waite the boots on this card are the same colour. Could it be a different edition?

Strange2

13-03-2002, 23:06

In Isabel Radow Kliegman's book "Tarot and the Tree of Life", she suggests that the two different shoes in the 7 of Wands indicates that this is a card of standing up for ourselves and for our passions and eccentricities.

As Kliegman states, the 7 of Wands says :
"I have the right to my eccentricities as long as they don't hurt anybody. ... If I'm doing something that strikes you as very peculiar -- back off. It's not your business, and I have a big stick here to encourage you not to mind it."

Highly recommend this book, by the way. Very entertaining and insightful.

VGimlet

14-03-2002, 04:09

I just got done studying that card this week, and noticed the different footware. I couldn't find anything about it in any of my books. I finally decided it indicated that although you might feel a bit off-balance, you still have the advantage in the challenge you're facing.
I like the idea of standing up for our passions and eccentricities, too, that works well for me also.

Liliana

14-03-2002, 10:20

In the rider waite, 7 of pents shoes are different colors, in universal waite they are not,it could be the different colors in the rider waite is because one foot is in the shadow of the bush tho. I love tarot.com and their browse deck section,allows a poor person like me to do such comparisons without owning thedecks hehe

Malachite

14-03-2002, 18:07

Maybe it shows how ill prepared he was for the fight, but he still managed to come out on top?...
I had to read up a bit when i did that card for the FACT, and thats the only thing i can think of...

Butterfly

14-03-2002, 19:25

I'm going out on a complete limb, but generally shoes, and feet are about stepping out, taking action. Bringing a bit of left hemisphere/right hemisphere brain dominance stuff into that- he's got a boot on his left side (right brain- artistic, yin, visual) and shoe on his right foot (left brain- verbal, yang, very rational). Not quite sure where I am going with this- something about the level of protection or closure the different footwear provide symbolically representing the kind of action he is taking.
Oh, I know, I know.... I'm confusing myself too! My thinking can get a bit too lateral sometimes (very right brain dominated LOL)

Tarot Hermit

14-03-2002, 22:52

I have several different versions of the Waite deck. In both the Albino-
Waite and the Original Rider Waite the boots are the same color. In the deck
with the blue plaid back they are different colors. So perhaps this is just a
fluke with the plates?

Tarot Hermit

blumoon

15-03-2002, 06:24

my 2 cents worth is that perhaps the different shoes could mean that he is fighting for more than one thing/cause/belief, etc, or that he could be in 2 minds at this point of his journey :)

Diana

15-03-2002, 08:25

Originally posted by blumoon
my 2 cents worth .......

Blumoon: I've noticed that your two cents are worth a lot more than just two cents :) Keep those observations coming!!

blumoon

16-03-2002, 08:16

Originally posted by Diana

Blumoon: I've noticed that your two cents are worth a lot more than just two cents :) Keep those observations coming!!

thank you very much Diana that made my day! :) :) :)

Umbrae

22-03-2002, 16:49

There is a LOT of symbolism in the tarot that is shared with the Masons.
You may want to hunt down a member, and ask them about the symbolism of one shoe off (or different).

MeeWah

22-03-2002, 19:04

I have noticed the dichotomy in footgear & attributed it to referring to balance; positive/negative; yin/yang; the use of energy.
Butterfly's explanation seems to run along similar ideas.
Feet represent understanding. The *right* side or part of anything refers to the conscious realm or the mundane.
The *left*, to the unconscious or of the spirit.
The right foot is more exposed; not hidden or more obvious. The left is completely covered by the larger expanse of the boot; more protected; partially "hidden"--as the unconscious is.
BTW: I have never come across any references to this.
Mojo: Care to enlighten us, please?

Niove

24-03-2002, 02:32

Well I'm not Mojo, but I will add my two cents. The shoes may be linked to the two sphinxes of The Chariot, indicating what some of you have already suggested, two different sides.

One astrologer, Partricia Darrow says, "Two different types of shoes, two different understandings." Perhaps the shoes do stand for differences... hm, and in such an obviously, literal way.

You can visit Darrow's site at:
http://home1.gte.net/darrowmp/TouchofTarot.htm

Watch it, this site will take some time to load!

Mojo

24-03-2002, 10:00

Just for you, MeeWah!

I hardly ever read about Tarot, but I love reading about the beliefs of different cultures and especially about different forms of mythology.

I am especially amazed when I find similar beliefs in cultures that had nothing whatsoever to do with each other. Symbology about shoes is one of these cases. There are three very differenct cultures who all have almost identical symbology about shoes. Ancient China, ancient Germanic and the Mayans of Mexico all used shoes as references to sexual organs. In particular, shoes representing female genitalia and boots representing the male (except the Maya, where men are always associated with the bare foot).

Actually, I think Butterfly was on a good track with her left brain/right brain approach....

Take another look at the 7 of Wands... one shoe, one boot. The "female" symbol on the right foot, which is associated with the left brain - the thinking brain, and the "male" symbol on the right foot, associated with the feeling brain. Interesting dichotomy, huh? MeeWah is right about the yin/yang, but in this case, it's refreshingly flip-flopped from what you would expect.

Of course, once you start thinking about associating shoes with genitalia, it really changes the whole feeling of the Cinderella story, huh? Especially when you consider that the story originated in China and was developed into the story we now know in German folklore.

Umbrae

24-03-2002, 11:09

I do not understand the connection between the basic meanings of the card, and symbolism for genitals.

I do understand the Masonic tie in. It makes more sense both in card interpretation and history.

There is a ritual in The Masonic orders that involves divesting yourself of ONE shoe, symbolic of giving/sacrificing your own shoe/self to/for another brother who is in need (of a shoe).

So you have this poor bloke defending himself against overwhelming odds. However he has secret, unseen allies…

…Wonder how many of them Golden Dawn boys were Masons?

Lion-O

24-03-2002, 12:53

After checking the Rider deck he's wearing a shoe and a boot) and the meaning of the card I can't help but feel this man is simply showing his self confident in doing as he feels like. To quote what my book has to say about the card "demonstrating strong character" and "standing up for what you believe". In the timeperiod in which these pictures should be seen it wasn't exactly common to do something totally different then it is now. When I go out wearing shorts and 2 different socks some people may look strange but thats about it; most won't even notice or when they do won't even care. If I would like to be seen I need something more drastic in these days. But when looking back at the time these pictures reflect I can imagine it is a big issue and it should not be underestimated IMO.

After seeing this I also took out my favorite deck, the Mage deck, and looked this card up. Before I go on you should be aware that the mage deck uses different suits.. 'Primordial' aka Cups, 'Dynamism' aka Swords, 'Questioning' aka Wands and finally 'Pattern' aka Pentacles. The 5 of Questioning shows 5 persons walking around in a room, obviously looking for something. They all wear a "flashlight" on their helmet except for 1 person who seems to be in charge. He does have this light on his helmet but has simply switched it off.

I think both cards clearly show a mutual meaning but personally my Mage card is easier to understand in this aspect (do note that I'm a bit biased here since I've been using the Mage deck much longer then the Rider deck).

To get back to the original question; IMO it shows you know what you want and you don't let other people keep you from your goal. You like wearing 2 different shoes and simply don't care what other people say about it (in a time period where this is highly uncommon) or you're clearly having a leading role in which you simply stand "above" the others.

MeeWah

24-03-2002, 17:40

Mojo: Bless you! That is very interesting; also that the Cinderella story originated in China.
(In ancient China & up until my grandparents' time, the binding of the female foot was practiced from early childhood. There was reasoning & symbology behind it.)
Umbrae: S.L. Macgregor Mathers, William Wynn Wescott & Dr. W. Robert Woodman were the founding members & were Masons. I think Wescott was the moving force behind the formation of the Golden Dawn; apparently enlisted Mathers & Woodman as members. Wescott's background in masonic rituals influenced his contributions to the Golden Dawn teachings.

Umbrae

24-03-2002, 19:33

Well, I admit I could be wrong, but I always took the shoe/shoes to be a tie in (“Strength through hidden alies”).
Kind of like the 3 of Pentacles. Why is it such a fortuitous card? Different classes, and trades…the “upper crust” guys looking up at the ‘craftsman’…I always figured they were all Masonic brethren.
The Pillars behind the High Priestess...(Tie-In).
With the founders being Masons...How many more tie-ins are there?

Karenwhe

29-01-2003, 22:14

Originally posted by Mojo
(and once you figure out the shoes, try explaining the birds on the court cards in Swords)

The birds in the Sword court cards are communications and messages. In all my readings for some funny reason (which I can't rationalize) when I come to notice these birds there is a lot of communication around the querent - but I mean a lot, from emails to meetings, to many phone conversations over an issue or sometimes over many issues, but that depends on the rest of the reading.

Edited to add: that was too simplistic so……… birds to mean communication and different birds mean different types of communications in different cultures. In history it is known that birds carried messages in wars bla, bla, bla you get the message it think. Wow, I just succeeded to rationalize my statement - this would be the first for me.

Karenwhe

29-01-2003, 22:36

The way I see it in the Seven of Pentacles the different color shoes signifies oneness. The person is living in the moment but also thinking about the future. The shoes signify the spirit and the body (the orange (spirit) and the brown the (body or matter).

I read somewhere that this guy has something to do with the art of Zen, but I can't see this in the card, so I didn't pay much attention to what I read in that article.

Karenwhe

29-01-2003, 22:59

In the Seven of Wands the different shoes (which as opposed to the Seven of Pentacles these are different shoes not only colors), means being two minded about something.

To elaborate feet = security, he is not secure in what he is thinking, he is not sure if he is right on wrong about what he is doing. The card come to tell that he is right however, the shoes come to tell of this two mindedness about things. He is not sure he will win the battle, he is also not noticing that he has a good strategic point. Again the shoes come to tell what is in his mind, while the image as a whole come to tell what is his real situation (strategically placed at a higher point).

To give a real life example would be like someone knows that they are right about something however if the crowed will tell him for long enough that he is wrong, he will get brain washed eventually. The shoes come to tell that the crowed is getting to him he is already not sure whether he is right or in this stand point. But the advice in the cards is that he should keep to his opinion or whatever he is doing because victory will prevail as he is right and the rest are wrong. Will he be able to stand the outside pressure? That should be determined by the surrounding cards.

These were my two cents.

firemaiden

02-02-2003, 16:37

I tried to post about "le boiteur" before but I guess the devil didn't want me to uncover his hiding place!

The thought which immediately springs into my head here, is that with two different kinds of footwear -- it can be like one shoe on, one shoe off, it can make your gait unsteady, like limping.

In French literature (anywhere else?) a limp is the sign of the devil, who is sometimes portrayed as "le boiteur", or "le boiteux" -- this is also reflected in music about the devil - in Gounod's Faust for example, the devil's music is in dotted rhythms.

Le Sage wrote "Le diable boiteux" 1707 = "the Devil on Two Sticks"

So, is there any logical link with this card to the Devil???????

gloria

30-04-2003, 06:45

In her book Tarot Reversals, Mary Greer suggests that the odd footwear could indicate an uneven or unsure footing.

paradoxx

30-04-2003, 18:08

unsure foooting seems to fit the divinitory meanings. The masonic shoe meanings are, well, illuminating (what else could they be), and the relationship to sexual meanings is classically innovative and totally applicable.

However something that is not being noticed is that the figure is not victorious yet, the wands are still going twords him and he has control of that but he looks to the right and is ready for what is to come (the next card perhaps) and what it means. 7 relates to the chariot therefore cancer rulled by the moon. Many cancers i know are split between their intellect and their emotions and don't get very far, thus need help with who they are (hence the odd footwear) but are usually prone to do things themselves even if its damaging to them. this interpreation is highly subjective to surrounding cards (and who or what they represent).

Phoenix_Down

05-05-2003, 16:34

Joan of Arc?

Like it was stated earlier, one shoe is more masculine and the other more feminine. Also, looking at the figure, the face could be taken to be slightly feminine. This could be Joan or a Joan-like figure.

With one foot on one side of a trickle of water, and another on the opposite side, it seems that the figure is not just having external battles, but also is having trouble fitting in, walking a fine line between one and the other.

My 2 newbie cents.

HudsonGray

05-05-2003, 16:58

I do SCA re-enactment (medieval times) and some of the footwear is with very soft leather, that can be rolled down or pulled up for comfort/rain protection. Could be that his footwear is of the soft variety & one side just is very loose leather that stays on best when it's rolled down.

He's also not wearing leggings that need to be tied up (with those criss crossed leather straps) that they used in winter. This is summer gear.

Just a different explanation, may not be the one that's accurate, but it's feasable.

TemperanceAngel

04-11-2003, 00:04

I love how the Rider Waite's imagery can appear at certain times and remain unnoticed for so long.

Don't think I have ever noticed the different shoes, but I had a thought that Seven's are about change, but the change has not yet happened.

Perhaps he is trying to obtain the right balance for the change, almost has it but not quite yet. Part of him is ready, but not completely??

Great observations everyone.

XTAX

firestorm

15-11-2003, 10:02

Originally posted by Butterfly
I'm going out on a complete limb, but generally shoes, and feet are about stepping out, taking action. Bringing a bit of left hemisphere/right hemisphere brain dominance stuff into that- he's got a boot on his left side (right brain- artistic, yin, visual) and shoe on his right foot (left brain- verbal, yang, very rational). Not quite sure where I am going with this- something about the level of protection or closure the different footwear provide symbolically representing the kind of action he is taking.
Oh, I know, I know.... I'm confusing myself too! My thinking can get a bit too lateral sometimes (very right brain dominated LOL)

This really reasonates with me in addition that wands are generally about action.

mac22

22-01-2004, 16:54

skytwig

22-01-2004, 17:28

Dare I say it is just bad artwork?

Majecot

22-01-2004, 17:53

Originally posted by Strange2
In Isabel Radow Kliegman's book "Tarot and the Tree of Life", she suggests that the two different shoes in the 7 of Wands indicates that this is a card of standing up for ourselves and for our passions and eccentricities.

As Kliegman states, the 7 of Wands says :
"I have the right to my eccentricities as long as they don't hurt anybody. ... If I'm doing something that strikes you as very peculiar -- back off. It's not your business, and I have a big stick here to encourage you not to mind it."

Highly recommend this book, by the way. Very entertaining and insightful.

I like that... I used to were two different sneakers :D
I was standing up for my individuality ( some people called me eccentric).
I think maybe I should have done the 78 weeks with my RWS, I never noticed their feet. going to have to examine that now.

WalesWoman

22-01-2004, 22:05

Maybe he was in such a hurry to head off the the attackers, that he just grabbed whatever came to hand without paying attention to what he was doing. No time to prepare? Sudden attacks or need for defense.

Indigo Rose

24-01-2004, 07:11

WOW! I never noticed the shoes being different. That is what I love about the RWS deck, so many things to learn.

Vincent

28-01-2004, 01:28

*****

Dasani

28-01-2004, 08:47

sorry misunderstood!

Vincent

07-03-2005, 18:07

*****

psychic sue

08-03-2005, 10:22

I don't think it is a shoe. I think he has got a pair of boots on, but one has been ripped around the top during his confrontations.

caridwen

14-03-2005, 08:23

In ancient China & up until my grandparents' time, the binding of the female foot was practiced from early childhood. There was reasoning & symbology behind it

The binding of the feet was practiced from babyhood, it was very painful and involved moulding the soft pliable bone with bandage like material. It crippled them into infancy and of course, afterwards they could only hobble.

Very small feet were considered firstly a sign of wealth. It meant the woman did not come from peasant stock and didn't have to do manual labour or indeed any kind of labour as she couldn't walk very far. She would therefore need servants to help her with almost everything.

Secondly, it prevented women from leaving the house or running away. This was at the time of arranged marriage where a very young girl, could be forced to marry a middle aged or old man for the sake of family relationships or to further the family's wealth. Girls were objects or assets to be traded according to the family's will. The patriarchs didn't want their women running into the arms of another man and thus sullying the family line.

Another reason is aesthetic value, men liked the way women moved when they had very small feet, it gave them a sexy swing of the hips. The smaller the feet the more 'feminine' the woman.

Fulgour

17-03-2005, 19:09

***** I'll see your ***** and raise you ****** :)

Vincent

17-03-2005, 19:42

I'll see your ***** and raise you ****** :)
There is no credit.

Cash only

Vincent

jentayu

18-03-2005, 04:03

There is no credit.

Cash only

Vincent

Ka-Chhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiingggggggggg.................... (*_*)

**************

Elven

18-03-2005, 05:59

LOL, I had this card in front of me when I read the heading and just had to post. I had been studying the card and had not noticed the shoe but my first impression was
'When the shoe is on the other foot" meaning when 'it' happens to you too you will understand why.
and stand firm, donot budge.
I have always seen a stong wind blowing on the bottom half of the torso in this picture. I was just about to interpret it for another reading and say that the person must stand firm. It was that (shoe) foot that cannot move lest he looses the balance and falls over the edge. I think it is quite important. Maybe they're the latest Alpine absailing shoe which as we know we can only afford one of, not the pair. LOL.

arizonagirl: Sedona is my most favourite mystical place in the world!

Rosanne

18-03-2005, 06:39

Maybe it is a case of putting your best foot forward?
Maybe he stole a shoe from the maimed one in 5 Pentacles and the maimed ones brothers have come to get it back?
Maybe He has not had time to put his breeches on and take his bedsock off?
Or maybe.. this is one of those cards that Waite supervised and Pamela was just being a little defiant?
What I really want to know is why all the knights are one legged?

graylensman

28-03-2005, 12:05

Dare I say it is just bad artwork?

LOL! I just noticed this shoe thing, as I am coloring my own deck in order to become well aquainted with all the cards... and skytwig's explanation is what struck me first!

On the other hand, the story that popped into my mind when thinking on this card is the final act of MacBeth - where Birnham wood comes to Dunsinane - and when you remember how MacBeth first comments on "borrowed robes" and being dressed in garments that ill-fit him - well, the shoe/boot thing touches on that...

And I could be stretching for meaning as much as anyone! :)

psychic sue

29-03-2005, 07:11

There is another thread on this somewhere.

I think that one boot has been torn in his battles. To me this symbolises that he is a fighter and although one boot is torn it still functions. So he has been through the wars but he is not defeated.

Just my thoughts.

Sue x

jumptothemoonyea

29-03-2005, 07:51

caridwen

29-03-2005, 11:12

The different shoe is actually a door into another dimension. We live in the assumed world of expectations, this 7 of different shoes is a breaking of assumptions, a hole into non-ordinary, asymmetrically misaligned with our habitual space. Seventh dimension entrance has been found.... :D

Maybe it's one of those thingies from Harry Potter - you know, that you hold onto and it whooshes you into another place...no? (walks off whistling)

Fulgour

29-03-2005, 12:38

Maybe He has not had time to put his
breeches on and take his bedsock off?Once you begin to see this, that the man has tumbled
out of bed too late to skedaddle and must now fight to
save his hide, the words "Shotgun Wedding" stand out.

Mars in Leo is the attribution, and that's pretty hot stuff.

samantha

13-04-2005, 05:49

( coming in late : what a great thread!)

Fulgour !! I've just stumbled on this ( after a lengthy search on everything
and anything to do with 7 wands ) and its a big ' a ha " moment . I'm going to look at the astrological connection ...but may be back with questions later !

Later :

So , this card can be about the split between heart and head ( as represented by the shoes) . But which takes precedence ? Other threads have said that he is in 'two' minds ...but ultimately which way does it fall ? Under what banner is he taking a stand ? Perhaps his heart got him into this situation , but his head has to get him out of it.

graylensman

13-04-2005, 15:42

Perhaps his heart got him into this situation , but his head has to get him out of it.

Why that assumption? :) The wands are about passions and action. I would argue the opposite, samantha - he's allowed reason and logic to box himself into an untenable position, and now he must depend on courage to overcome an unpleasant situation.

samantha

14-04-2005, 01:04

To be honest I'm not really sure ! I'm still trying to unravel this card! I think I see what you are saying . Maybe his intellectual standpoints or 'ideals' are only working for him ( so it is his own brand of reason and logic) . I have seen this card refered to as " taking the moral highground" . I think I interpreted this somewhat niavely before as some universally accepted 'moral highground' when really it could be based on any one individuals code of ethics.

isthmus nekoi

02-05-2005, 20:23

It's interesting what Umbrae has said about lending a shoe b/c 7s in the Crowley deck seem far more weak. Crowley writes, "the position is doubly unbalanced; off the middle pillar, and very low down on the Tree." (BOT: 182) In this sense, the man depicted needs serious help (unlike, say the man in the 9 of wands. He's not budging and he is fine by himself thank you very much!)... w/all sevens, the energy is unfocused. What about the wands pointing towards the man - an unfocused attack on him?

Also, as a side note... I felt I had to add this b/c ppl sometimes assume foot binding was always around in ancient Chinese history (not that anyone's said that here). China is *ancient* and has had its share of footloose dynasties ;) Also, not all regions bound feet the same way (e.g. didn't go for the extreme three inch deal).

gilded goat

03-05-2005, 11:56

the seven is caught between the six and the eight of wands, triunph and things rapidly moving onwards respectively,perhaps after the apparent security of the six he was lulled into a false sense of position and power that he is now having to defend against the odds but he expects aid hence he battles on and being caught with his pants down has to grab what he can after all you carn't fight a bunch of blokes with sticks if you aint got no shoes on not good for the tootsies

Lyyda

05-05-2005, 07:21

What about the two different kinds of footwear being adaptability in any given situation? He looks like he's ready to take on all comers.
Lyyda

Fulgour

05-05-2005, 08:53

Under what banner is he taking a stand ? Perhaps his heart got
him into this situation , but his head has to get him out of it.I like to call this card "The Stronghold" because
he does have the advantage of the high ground.
But what if the SIX attackers are keeping him at
bay up there, so he can't get away until later...
they may be waiting for a Chief to come around.

His shoes were drawn with certain insight into how
a person in a hurry will make very hasty decisions,
and with Mars in Leo there is going to be sexuality!

Sassyjackal

13-06-2008, 12:55

Seven of Wands: I am new to Tarot cards, my mother and grandmother read cards, but regular playing cards. My mother passed before I was able to learn from her so I took a class in Tarot. I love it!

One of the first things I noticed about the suit of wands was the mismatched shoes on the seven of wands.

I have done only a few readings and this card came up during one of these readings. The shoes were drawing me in.. this popped into my mind: This person had a struggle of keeping a balance between two different worlds, work and home. In both worlds she was in charge, in control, but she kept those worlds separated, when one world invaded another her footing became unsure, off balance. She was one person in one world, and another person in the other. Separtion was necessary to maintain the delicate balance. When I spoke of this during the reading her eyes wided and said "how did you know?"

This card has come up since, but the shoes did not call to me, and the reading of the card was different.

Compared to the other comments on this card it seeded so far off. I am asking for your assistance, I am not sure if the reading of this card was "in the ball park". I feel so unsure of myself.

Help me.....

rcb30872

15-06-2008, 20:22

I remember something about the shoes in relations to dreams, unfortunately the dream dictionary I had has been destroyed by my son :rolleyes:

I found this: http://www.thecuriousdreamer.com/alternateterms/1853/
The image or impression you present to others as you make forays into the world, work with others, and accomplish things in the world around you. Your visibility to others as you go about your business in the world.
Don't know if that helps.