Two Cards That Confuse Me in the Victoria Regina

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

imagoddess	08 Feb 2003
There are two cards in the Victoria Regina Tarot that continue to perplex me. I have seen these cards come up in readings I have done for other people. These are: 5 of Swords 6 of Swords I really try to use the intuitive approach to intrepretion, however, this deck's book offers a detailed intepretation of each card as it relates to Victorian England, and I think the book needs to be considered, since this deck is based on history. The 5 of Swords, pictures a man walking away from a messy conflict. And in particular I see this as a conflict that has involved several people, and may involve a romantic entaglement. Has this man caused the conflict? Why is he carrying the swords? The book, discusses intrigue, misplaced loyalities, and someone trying to get away with something. I pulled this card for a friend in regard to a romantic relationship, and I fear that their lover is being unfaithful. Or can you put a positive spin on this? The man who is walking away, may just be chosing to put the past behind him. Any thoughts? The 6 of Swords, pictures a man in a boat, with a rifle in hand, and there are 5 swords looming in the back. His face is rather inscrutable, but he doesn't look happy to me. I get the sense that this man is unhappy with his situation and is moving forward, but to where he does not know. The book discusses purposeful voyages. I don't see that, I see some messiness being left behind and maybe even avoided. Sometimes people just fail to step up to the plate and face the conflict in there lives, that is what I am seeing here. Any thoughts? imagoddess

Hedera	08 Feb 2003
Hi Imagoddess, Lovely deck, isn't it? Quote: The 6 of Swords, pictures a man in a boat, with a rifle in hand, and there are 5 swords looming in the back. His face is rather inscrutable, but he doesn't look happy to me. I get the sense that this man is unhappy with his situation and is moving forward, but to where he does not know. The book discusses purposeful voyages. I don't see that, I see some messiness being left behind and maybe even avoided. Sometimes people just fail to step up to the plate and face the conflict in there lives, that is what I am seeing here. Any thoughts? To me, he doesn't look unhappy, but very focused and patient. He's going to a place he needs to go but hasn't been to before, maybe he's not quite sure he's going the right way, so he's watching very intently if he's reached his destination yet. So he does seem purposeful to me, but still in unknown territory. It might be a long trip, but he has brought all the knowledge and tools he needs to get where he's going. Also, have you considered he might not be alone? MOre than half of the boat is invisible, there might be a companion rowing. The guy does look a little sad to me. Maybe because of the heartbreak and defeat in the 5 of swords. Just my two coin's worth. :) Hedera.

imagoddess	08 Feb 2003
Hedera - great insights! Now that you mentioned it, I did have a subconscious reaction to the position of the man in the boat. He is sitting as far as possible to the front of the boat. His rifle and the tip of the boat point all point in a singular direction. Very purposeful indeed! So, now that I think of it, he has made a decision, left something behind, however, does not know where he is headed, and so maybe that explains the look on his face! imagoddess

lawguy51	09 Feb 2003
Hi Imagoddess: I think it's Rachel Pollack who describes the RWS 6 of Swords as 'quiet passage through a difficult situation'. I look at the VR card and have the identical feeling as I do the the RWS card. Except in this case, you get the front view of the man. I see quiet determination, something unpleasant left behind and perhaps some unpleasant business ahead but the mind is still and determined. I liken this card to Strength in action. The 5, as always it's been a choice of who do you concentrate on, the combatants, or the man leaving the field of battle. Again, I do not feel you have to stray too far from the RWS version of the card. This is a card of argument, of a no-win situation. But I agree, the dynamic has changed because the combatants are a man and woman in a social situation. So this card for me, moves from a generalized defeat to something related more closely to a relationship. The man in the forefront I feel plays the same role as in the RWS version. The victor, perhaps the instigator, the pot stirrer, like he just provided some devastating, humiliating news to the couple. Just some thoughts. Lawguy51

Umbrae	09 Feb 2003
I see the six of swords as “doing a geographical” (moving to avoid facing the truth, and accepting responsibilities. It speaks of denial. The five of swords…tough card. I read it quite differently than most. I see it as things occurring behind your back, game playing, back stabbing, gossip. In both cases it could be either the sitter or their situation, you need to look a the surronding cards…and if the sitter is the back stabber, gossiping, game player, it takes a diplomatic hand to cut through the denial…cuz it’s never ‘their fault’, it’s always someone else.

imagoddess	09 Feb 2003
I agree, I see denial and avoidance in both of these cards. I also agree that in the case of the 5 of Swords, that the surronding cards will tell you whether the mess was created or not created by the man walking away, but anyway you look at it, it is still avoidance and denial, its as if this man is saying "screw it, I'm outta here". The 6 of Swords, is very similiar in that it is moving away from conflict, however this time, the person is not just walking away, they are in a boat, and while boats don't go very fast, they will get away from a situation faster than walking, and moreover to place more distant. I'm still conflicted about how purposeful this is, yes, there is a lot of purpose in this card, but in the readings I have performed, I have seen this card in situations where the querant was avoiding taking a position or stance in a situtation. And so maybe he has a purpose, but just because one does something with purpose does mean that what is propelling a person to take action is born from decisiveness. So again, there is denial and avoidance. imagoddess

Trogon	09 Feb 2003
Hi imagoddess, Others have given you very good answers on both of these cards. I do have one little thing to add for the 6 of Swords. As already mentioned by Hedera, there is the question of what is in the rest of the boat? My thought on this is that whatever problems he may be trying to leave behind... may still be in the back of the boat. He may not realize they're there, but he hasn't truly left everything behind.

The Two Cards That Confuse Me in the Victoria Regina thread was originally posted on 08 Feb 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.