What Card Am I? (Lit. Clues) 3rd Dec.- Solved

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jmd	03 Dec 2003
From the Kalevala, Runo XVII:257-260: If my strength as man should fail me, Then will I invoke a greater, Which shall rid me of the evil, And shall drive away the horror.

gloria	03 Dec 2003
The Tower?

jmd	03 Dec 2003
I should mention that I took a long time to reflect on this extract, and allowed various cards to 'sit' with it and see how each could possibly be reflected. XVI the Tower certainly has many aspects, especially of its castigation of human occupants, which recalls the driving away of horror, and one's strength not proving sufficient to such overwhelming power... but no, I felt in the end that this was not the main impulse I responded to in the selected passage :)

firemaiden	03 Dec 2003
You have read the Kalevala, oh great wise one? The name conjures up a record I bought once for its beautiful cover, when records cost $3.99 at Tower Records, and the Classical Section was still in the front... Sibelius - Legends from the Kalevala. I'm stumped, jmd... is it the Ace of Swords?

gloria	03 Dec 2003
JMD I am gonna go for The Star.

Mystic Zyl	03 Dec 2003
Strength, as it comes in many forms.

Bluemanticore	03 Dec 2003
Reading that makes me think the High Priestess.

Jewel-ry	03 Dec 2003
Hermit ??

Diana	03 Dec 2003
If he needs a greater, then he needs an angel to help him drive away the horror. Temperance? (Bluemanticore's guess is very thoughtful too. Welcome to Aeclectic, Bluemanticore! :) Are you going to introduce yourself to us in the New Members' section? We love getting to know the new members of our wonderful Tarot community.)

Minderwiz	03 Dec 2003
Hierophant - Higher authority, search for truth, spiritual meaning, power of organised religion.

skytwig	03 Dec 2003
wow, the more i read it, the more i see cards.... agggghhhhhh I'll go with Magician, with the invocation...... (I am tempted to say Death, however...... ;) )

TemperanceAngel	03 Dec 2003
I was thinking the Hierophant too! Am I right in thinking that we can only choose Majors? XTAX

jmd	03 Dec 2003
The Ace of Swords is such a wonderful image which emerges of the individual in the situation... but is not the card [& i'll have to get a copy of sibelius's work... the kalevala is such a weaving poetic epic - a sheer song in one volume - a great book which has images which do not want to stay still, for it works on the inspirational, rather than the imaginative, faculty... highly recommend it] The Star is the first card which originally came to mind, as it washes over one the spiritual mantle called upon... but not the card I settled on. Likewise Strength... and especially that inner strength which the spiritual warrior calls on. But what I settled on was more the being - 'I will invoke a greater' - who may give of this greater to the invoker. The High Priestess - such a potent force for dispelling all that this invoker wishes to have the strength for... but not the card I settled on. As Hermit, you sense the figure's one-ness/aloneness in both his inner light and existing strength and the travels and travails - but again not the card I settled on. Temperance was the second card which came to mind - as Angel who may properly restor the balance required which drives away that which need to be driven away... but not the card settled on. The Hierophant, like the Popess, each have such a wealth of higher authority which may, were they in the situation, be undoubtedly able to call directly upon the higher strength required.... but again, not the card I settled on. And likewise the Magician, though one senses his hafl-made and prepared invocation - his call - for that higher being to come and grace his state... but not the card I settled on... ...like skytwig, I found the way in which this quote (along with many others from this wonderful narrative) seemed to weave through the pack quite awe-inspiring... but did not settle on XIII :) And since I am asked by TemperanceAngel ... you do not have to choose a Major for the game - but I in fact did (again) in this instance :):):)

Dark_angel	03 Dec 2003
The Lovers?

nocturnaldreamr	03 Dec 2003
The Hanged Man: divination "Which shall rid me of the evil" The Moon: hidden enemies "strength as man should fail me" The Emperor: aid/ protection "invoke a greater shall rid me of the evil drive away the horror"

gloria	04 Dec 2003
The Devil?

jmd	04 Dec 2003
[aside: [i] I can see I'm going to have some difficulty in later explaining my choice!!! [/i] ] ...yet none of these it is, which I will invoke Who is greater than I... Not the Lovers, though discrimination and decision I will need to make; Neither Emperor, for though great a temporal protector, I cannot invoke him to get rid of the evil, nor to drive away the horror; Nor the Moon will I invoke - though she may reflect much; Or Hanged Man, though prophecy may pass his lips when upon Yggdrassil suspended... The Devil? Ahhh - a wise choice - who better to drive away those gifts than their giver! But no invocation to him from my lips shall pass!

Dark_angel	04 Dec 2003
Judgement?

jmd	04 Dec 2003
Oh close... so close... That Angel's trumpet blast shall surely beckon that Greater Being I too wish to invoke!!!

gloria	04 Dec 2003
Surely there's no Greater Being than the Sun?

jmd	04 Dec 2003
No greater Being than the Sun? for my eyes... no - but I will invoke a greater Being: the Sun beyond the Sun, Which shall rid me of the evil, And shall drive away the horror...

spoonbender	04 Dec 2003
I'd say: the World (or perhaps the Fool? :confused: )

jmd	04 Dec 2003
Ahhh... to be blessed by that Grace I shall yet invoke, and become as the Fov... Then no more would my strength as man fail me, nor evil from me be need to be ridden, nor horrors, already fled, be driven away... To speed towards that invocation I seek! For not the Fool did my heart settle on upon quiet reflection... though it may have :)

jmd	04 Dec 2003
Though Magician, thou art, spoonbender! Thy post has altered as I responded - but how? Have thou invoked that great Being before I? XXI - Le Monde it is :):):)

gloria	04 Dec 2003
Good one that JMD :) Congratulations Spoonbender :)

spoonbender	04 Dec 2003
Quote: Though Magician, thou art, spoonbender! Thy post has altered as I responded - but how? Have thou invoked that great Being before I? LOL. I edited my post after I saw that you wrote "so close" as a response to Judgement... :) that was a really good part and card you chose, Jmd! so this means I have to come up with something as good? :eek:

Minderwiz	04 Dec 2003
Well done Spoonbender Nice one jmd

spoonbender	04 Dec 2003
(thanks Minderwiz and Gloria) Just for those who are addicted to their daily dose of Literature-Clues-Tarot-Games: do not fear and be patient, I'll post the thread tomorrow morning (well, for me it'll be morning)... I already have an idea of which Clue I'm gonna give! Thanks for the patience, Spoonbender

The What Card Am I? (Lit. Clues) 3rd Dec.- Solved thread was originally posted on 03 Dec 2003 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.