A Journey of the Soul as manifest in the suit of Swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moongold	23 Jan 2005
The suit of Swords in the RWS is frequently a subject of reflection. I have also been thinking on it in my own study of the RWS. This deck is quite profound, and one need not be tied by traditional meanings. Every card and every suit can be seen differently. I thought that one way of doing this would be to reflect on each suit as a whole. In so doing I found that sometimes it is logical to do it in sequence and sometimes not. Our lives are not sequential. They are more like fields of experience, constantly changing landscapes. We can trip over in a field of flowers; we can fall on our own swords in moments of apparent triumph. In reflecting on the entire suit of Swords, the consistent theme was water. The calm sea is present in the distance in many of the images. When I looked at II Swords, I thought immediately of the High Priestess and saw her personified in water and Moon. Some of the literature describes the High Priestess as the Receptive, waiting for the breath of the Divine; the means by which the Divine becomes active in the world. She is the still water which reflects the love and wisdom of the Divine. I see her as the Divine Mother. Some call her something more abstract – the Divine Feminine. I prefer Mother. In my very limited understanding she could be an equal part of Trinity. Trinity is significant throughout mythology, spirituality and religion. I was not sure where to place this thread. It could go in Your Readings or Spirituality as well. If the Moderators want to change it that’s fine by me. I am putting it here initially because it sort of uses Tarot cards to explain a spiritual journey. I didn't put in Spirituality because there isn't much mention of the cards there and that forum is subscribers only. Often in readings we see connections and groups so it is interesting indeed to look at entire suits. It is not necessarily the only way to do it but it is one way. Another interesting way would be to look at all twos, all threes and so on. None of this is new but we may not often have discussed this way of working with things here. I had a quick look and could not see too much but I don’t often hang out in these sections. Forgive me if I’m repeating something that has been done before. The interpretations below come from my own meditations, although I have tried to make them impersonal. Some of the interpretations I have not heard before but this does not mean that others have not also made them. We have a great collective unconscious through which many things are shared. This journey is spiritually oriented but could be done various other ways. In one of my worst moments I have even done this in a satirical, somewhat cynical manner but I won’t share that. This interpretation also reflects my own belief in reincarnation. A journey of the Soul as manifest in Swords Ace of Swords The Soul is gifted with innocence and truth . She is fresh and her life in this world is a story to be written. Close to the Divinel, the Soul is sharp with joy. II Swords The Soul is lost. Eyes are veiled and spirit divided. Even the present cannot be seen, let alone the road ahead. The wisdom and beauty of the Mother is always reflected in the distant quiet waters and the soft light of the crescent Moon. The closeness of the Divine is a lesson.to be learned again and again. III Swords The heart has been torn with pain and self-obsession. Divine wisdom and healing can be present in even the deepest wounds. IV Swords Rest and reflection offer healing. The quieting spirit foregoes the fourth sword. V Swords The wounded self is the hardest battle. The tools of self-destructive conflict can be left aside; the spirit refreshed in the quiet waters of the Mother. VI Swords Soul is child and adult, mother and father, heading home. For now she is captain of her own ship. VII Swords Ah …in the spiritual search … how many times has the Soul chosen the uncertainty of five and left the wisdom of two? VIII Swords The Soul can walk away from self-imprisonment. The quiet waters of the Mother bathe her feet, welcome her to the real presence. IX Swords The Soul knows herself well. All is in order and she is at peace , ready for whatever fate holds . X Swords The old self is dead. The Soul waits for refreshment and renewal by the sacred waters of the Mother. Many blessings ~

The A Journey of the Soul as manifest in the suit of Swords thread was originally posted on 23 Jan 2005 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.