That card you see differently- please share your thoughts.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

nina	19 Oct 2002
Hello, I didn't know where else to post this, but I thought it would be interesting to hear everyone's input. It seems everybody I've spoken to who reads tarot (not that there are so many) has one card that they speak of as though they know the secret others don't. Perhaps that's putting it a bad way- what I mean is one card that they simply do not accept the traditional reading of because they feel they know it on some intuitive level they didn't need to learn and the traditional reading is just plain off. Sometimes it only applies to that card in a certain deck, sometimes across the board. Does anybody have a card they feel this way about and would you care to elaborate on your feelings? I'm facinated by how much there is to see in a card (maybe because I just started 78 Degrees of Wisdom and loved her discovery of the Odysseus connection to the 10 of Pentacles) and by how cards sometimes speak to a person differently. Please share! -Nina

Demonesse	19 Oct 2002
Actually, I've always thought the meanings are quite appropriate, especially since I use reversals, but I find, oddly, that I often interpret the World in different ways --I'm a traditional-minded beginner; when I become more adept I may want to impress my own "philosophies" upon the cards though. :)

Francesca	19 Oct 2002
Everytime I see the 3 of Swords, especially when a lover or partner is involved in the question, I figure there is a third person involved somehow. The "other" woman so to speak. I came upon this after reading for a friend who was involved with one person and quite attached to another, and when I saw that 3 again reading for myself right before a first date. It turned out that there was some overlap and for a short while, I was the other woman. Francesca

jema	19 Oct 2002
i generally see the five of sword from the viewpoint of the aggressor. that is i don't see the "victims" point of view much, it happens - but mainly i see it when i know i have been a real bastard towards someone else. or when i asserted myself a bit too much and stepped on some toes in the process. this was made especially clear for me from the spiral deck where there is a man on the raft protecting his turf and refuse to let that poor woman get out of the water. so the "loss" of 5 of swords is often a loss of compassion for me. i guess that is the only card i can come up with for the moment, but i might add more later on.

Lovelace	19 Oct 2002
I feel this way about Strength - I see it less as a sort of calm control over oneself, and more of the really hard, indestructable core of ourselves that only shows itself when the rest of our facades and trappings have been burned away. This is based on the meditations I did on the majors when I decided to get serious about the Tarot; in my vision, I was trapped in a fire, and emerged as a skeleton of tough black stone. :TEMPS

Keslynn	19 Oct 2002
Mine is the 9 of Cups. Most books and other people see it as the "wish card," a wish coming true or getting what you want. For me this card turns up as wishful thinking. It indicates that I need to get my head on straight and think more practically. :) Kes

Teranar	19 Oct 2002
Me, I only somewhat know what the textbook meaning of some cards are and that's through interaction. I've aways interpreted most of the cards slightly different, and in some cases a lot different.

purplelady	19 Oct 2002
Temperance- I don't see it as "moderation". Maybe it comes from the motherpeace Temperance, and/or the Thoth deck. In the motherpeace, a tribal woman is dancing on the shore of the ocean, to me she is raising her kundalini or something! In the crowley-thoth, the figure has 2 sides to her face and is mixing 2 fluids. Basically when I see Temperance I feel it is an alchemical mixing of something, it could be people, elements, chemicals, maybe something else? It's the witch mixing a potion in her cauldron to create something magical and wonderful. It's a blending to create something new ......................but I just don't see it as "moderation " at all. I feel the card has an older , maybe secret, and much more interesting and powerful meaning.

ihcoyc	20 Oct 2002
9 of Swords. The nine is the climax, the summit, the sockdolager of every suit: the essence of that suit at its highest level of functioning. I read the 9 of Swords that way as well. Accepting swords as air, the nine represents words and ideas at their best, not nightmares or despair or night-wakings. The 9 of Swords is the Encyclopedia Britannica --- an old one, in alphabetical order. The 9 of Swords is Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. The 9 of Swords is Einstein's theory of relativity.

Demonesse	20 Oct 2002
For me this card turns up as wishful thinking. It indicates that I need to get my head on straight and think more practically. ----Keslynn Lol. For me, I always approach this card with a bit of detachment and remind myself that a lot of hard work, a bit of insipiration and some luck is needed to make the promises of this card come true. The nine is the climax, the summit, the sockdolager of every suit: the essence of that suit at its highest level of functioning. Accepting swords as air, the nine represents words and ideas at their best, not nightmares or despair or night-wakings. ----ihcoyc What happened to the tens? And that's a completely 360 degree turnaround of the card's meaning, lol! It's like a reversal the right way up! :smoker:

ihcoyc	20 Oct 2002
For me there's a "time to move on" quality to all the tens. That aspect of your life is taken care of, but continuing in that vein will not yield any more results. Just like the trumps tell a story and form a cycle, so also the pips form a cycle of their own. The ten of cups tells you to get a grip. The ten of clubs tells you to slack off a bit. The ten of coins says money isn't everything. The ten of swords is for problems that can't be solved by the mind alone. So you move from the ten of swords to get in touch with your feelings in the ace of cups. . . . I realize these interpretations are also slightly heretical.

divinerguy	20 Oct 2002
Reversals - I read them differently. I don't see the world in terms of black and white and good versus evil. I see it in shades of gray. When I see reversals, I see it as a diminshed level of energy for the characteristic at issue. The level of that diminshed energy depends on the context in which the card appears. Readings need to harmonize with the cards viewed as a whole, not in isolation. We don't live our lives in isolation, so we shouldn't read cards that way either. That's why I permit variable energy levels in reversals, rather than a mere opposite of the upright card. The same holds true with upright cards. They have to be interpreted in light of the other cards in the spread. The cards aren't there just to fill out a spot in a spread - each one has a role. Sometimes its not easy to find the answer, and you must take time to study the reading. But in the end, the hard work will be worth it.

Francesca	20 Oct 2002
Last Halloween I did a short, 3-card reading for a friend and the 5 of Swords showed up. I kept the readings loose so that my friends could contribute their own visions into the readings. The one who got the 5 of Swords saw it as a laying down of the swords, rather than a gathering up. A laying down of arms. I don't interepret that 5 as such all the time, but I take that meaning into account. Kes, I like that interpretation of the 9 of cups. I have ther RW deck and the figure always seems smug to me. Francesca

Cerulean	21 Oct 2002
The Knight of Pentacles has always been an odd one for me. It usually means a yang result or activity that shows in a material way or physical energy. Sometimes I associate this as with a successful uncle patting one on the shoulder or the good way a husband might buy something material to show caring for his wife. Not necessarily romantic, not exactly stodgy--something like buying a live and flowering plant, for instance. Or the husband or father raking leaves before company coming or fixing something defective on your car...something helpful to assist you toward a goal. If it is an aspect of myself, it usually means it's time that I get off my happy butt and go do errands or rake the yard, etc. Not exactly a secret, but my own sign language. Mari H.

Alex	21 Oct 2002
usually means to me that the querent (usually muself!) will behave like a jerk and hurt somebody else. Most people read the court cards (their reversed meanings particularly) as other people, and this knight specially, as "evil is the other person". I tend to see it as "evil is yourself, be careful with your sharp sword, buddy" The Queen of Cups I usually read as a woman with hormonal problems/ P.M.S. I don't think she is a lovely woman who is in deep contact with her feelings, but a manipulative lady prone to emotional outbursts.

Kazz	22 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Alex The Queen of Cups I usually read as a woman with hormonal problems/ P.M.S. I don't think she is a lovely woman who is in deep contact with her feelings, but a manipulative lady prone to emotional outbursts. LOL.......I think I will change my significator when I read for myself during P.M.S..:D The Page Of Swords, To me, this almost always means 'nasty gossip', telling tales out of school etc etc. During readings when this comes up it, the querent is subject to gossip, or the querent is the one who speaks ill of someone (or at least the cause of) it depends where in the spread this card falls. This isn't every time, but more so than not. Cheers Kazz :TQC...Oh my!!

Kirali	22 Oct 2002
The 2 of swords-- This used to always confuse me until a couple weeks ago. It means to me, an awkward relationship/friendship with someone, where you're not really friends with them even though they assume you are. It's weird but I just see it as an awkward/tense acquaintance/friendship thingie! :)

nina	22 Oct 2002
Hello, This has been great so far! Thank you to everybody, the idea of the Three of Swords indicating a possible love triangle is especially interesting. And the ideas about the court cards I've scribbled in my journal, the courts confuse me and hearing other peoples ideas helps (like the ideas for the Knight of Swords and Page of Swords). The Two of Swords has always seemed sort of opaque to me, this new interpretation has me thinking about that card again- I know exactly the relationship you mean. If anyone else wants to throw in on this, please do, it's really helped free up my thinking. -Nina

DeLani	23 Oct 2002
Really, I see each & every card differently with each reading. They have a whole spectrum of meanings, both good and bad, and each reading they fall somewhere else along that spectrum. That said, I have to put in my "special" Devil interpretation. In addition to the "book meaning" I also can see the Devil as the cure for too much Heirophant (pompousness). Like, playing the Devil's advocate, thumbing your nose at convention, farting in church, indulging in some good, old-fashioned illicit behaviour. Ahhh, now I'm feeling nostalgic... :)

Alex	23 Oct 2002
The Myth deck portrays a woman and her lover killing the woman's husband. So the association is first hand and very clear. For a long time I could see only that meaning in the 3 of Swords. I once came up with this one when a friend pulled the 3 of swords once more. He was jealous of his ex- wife and her boyfriend. I said: OK, that's your heart. Crossed by 3 swords and it could not hurt more. The first sword represents the pain your ex- has caused you. The second represents the pain her lover has caused you. The third, that one represents the pain YOU have cause yourself over all these years, letting yourself get hurt over and over again by a woman who does not care a damn about ya. That has given him a lot to think. So keep that in mind cause it might be of use one day! Blessings Alex. Quote: Originally posted by nina The idea of the Three of Swords indicating a possible love triangle is especially interesting

WillieHewes	24 Oct 2002
I've always grumbled at the 'Oh, no, death is good, death means change...' approach of card XIII. Every end is a new beginning is a really nice sentiment, but it's not what you need to hear if your husband's just died. Most people resist change, and their primary reaction to change, especially when unexpected is one of regret and pain. To me, that's what death is about. That's also why butterflies and babies on death cards tend to annoy me slightly... Willie - the Happy Squirrel

Diana	24 Oct 2002
edited

Diana	24 Oct 2002
edited

fairyhedgehog	24 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by purplelady Temperance- I don't see it as "moderation ... I feel it is an alchemical mixing of something, it could be people, elements, chemicals, maybe something else? It's the witch mixing a potion in her cauldron to create something magical and wonderful. It's a blending to create something new Yes! That's how I see Temperance too! And it's my favourite card.

sparrowspirit	24 Oct 2002
I am learning so much from this thread! I really am too much of a newbie to have anything to add, but I am thanking you all for your insight. I will continue watching this thread. Blessings. Sparrow

Pollux	27 Oct 2002
Well, talking about PMS... *LOL* I have done a good number of readings so far in whih Temperance gave me the clue to... "menstrual disorder". And almost all of the times the vard showed up as 8th in the Celtic Cross - SPOOKY!!! I will change the meaning of the position in "as the doctor sees you" *LOL* Temperane as vigor and good health (I don't use reversals, I go for the whole spectrum) is as old as the hills, but the pretty feminine thng keeps striking me. As for the 5 of Swords, I am exactly with Jema - I always had troubles projecting on the hooded grieving people in the distnce, I always found myself grinning back at that bastard! ;) And likewise this has come more when I got the Spiral too. http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/spiral/full_size/54.jpg Again, always depending on the Spiral, my understanding of the Two of Swords as been enhanced incommesurably... Just check the card and tell me what you think. ;) http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/spiral/full_size/51.jpg And the 6 of Swords is not as sad a card as it often is to me: it means you are about to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Again, check Spiral. http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/spiral/full_size/55.jpg

Alex	01 Nov 2002
as "don't try my patience any further"; cause in my mother tongue we use to say "my cup is full" when we've run out of patience w/something or someone. Valid too when we feel like we've swallowed too much from someone else. Like "I've had it". Also, indigestion and stomach problems. Just look at the U-W 4 of cups. Really looks like "I've eaten something that didn't go well".

anjocoxo	01 Nov 2002
I don't know why, but i can´t get along with this card and it's meaning... some books say that it means "institutions", ie school, university, company, whatever, and traditions. I've never seen it like that. I always have the feeling that it means help, someone who will give good advise and help you, that you'll see your problems being reduced if you speak w/ your friend (and they are there to help you)... this is how i see it.

Diana	01 Nov 2002
edited

WillieHewes	01 Nov 2002
anjocoxo, me too. :) Although I can occasionally see the Hierophant as institutions, originally I saw the cards as 'teacher'.

Kirali	01 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux Again, always depending on the Spiral, my understanding of the Two of Swords as been enhanced incommesurably... Just check the card and tell me what you think. ;) http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/spiral/full_size/51.jpg I see a woman walking blindly on a path. I used to interpret the card as blind choices but I came to know the 2 of swords as a more awkward friendship/pairing type situation for me. The type where people are friends under weird circumstances, such as you're friendly to each other because it'd be even more awkward if you weren't! hahaha my, I hope that I don't confuse anyone! hehe oops sorry. Since art can always been seen differently, I was wondering what your view of the 2 of swords is, if you'd be so kind. :) I like hearing different perspectives... helps me understand things more.. :)

Jewel	01 Nov 2002
Like Diviner Guy I tend to see many shades of Gray, not black and white. It all depends on where the card is in a reading and what the context of the reading is. One card that used to give me fits was the 4 of Pentacles ... until I got my belved Cosmic Tribe deck and from that moment forward the card has always represented a heavy burden to carry and the feeling that you need to guard your things (emotional and physical). You may be overreacting but those are the general feelings. The card has emerged from the "Scrudge" category for me to one of possible "Victim of one's own paranoia or carrying a heavy burden (whether by choice or forced on you)" all depends on the context of the reading and the placement of the card.

WolfSpirit	05 Nov 2002
I had the 10 of swords in a daily draw and nothing bad happened, but it was certainly a day I had to decide to be more focused on my work and not be laid-back about it. The swords stand for the intellect, so many swords told me to use my head. So instead of the very dark traditional meaning of "everything is lost", I can also see it as a warning not to be playful but to get down to business or things WILL go wrong.

Alex	05 Nov 2002
that person is just playing with life. Like "I don't need to see, I don't even need a solid groud, I'm pretty confortable walking at the moonlight, blidnfold, over this thin wire" Quote: Originally posted by Pollux Again, always depending on the Spiral, my understanding of the Two of Swords as been enhanced incommesurably... Just check the card and tell me what you think. ;) http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/spiral/full_size/51.jpg [/url]

The That card you see differently- please share your thoughts. thread was originally posted on 19 Oct 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.