by Jean Huets
She is the kind of person who takes a sincere delight in others' games and creations. Her impressionable nature gives her a deep appreciation of the arts; add to this the expressiveness of the water element and she may be a great artist herself, especially as a poet or an actor. She certainly rules artistic works that revolve around love.
Meanings - Kindness. Grace. Beauty. Nobility. Tolerance. Mediation. Poetry. Subjectiveness. A warm-hearted and fair person. Good friend and mother. A docile child. Gift of vision. Dishonesty. Unreliability. Vice.
King of Cups
A crowned king stands on the terrace of his palace by the sea. The crescent on his crown, the crab on the lapel of his robe, and the shield behind his right shoulder symbolize the astrological sign of Cancer.
The king's face bears traces of many emotions in its lines and in the ambiguous set of the mouth. He looks at once sad and happy, thoughtful and abstracted. The light on the walls of the palace is that of an in-between time: dawn or dusk.
Cancer is the most fluid of the water signs. Ruled by the moon, Cancer represents the matrix of emotional life and of the indefinable feelings that are usually called intuitive or subconscious.
The spear that rises above the shield indicates an authority that comes strangely from such a tender king. Emotional sensitivity, however, is not a bar to strength and control. The person who can really feel emotions is not the same person who is swept away by them.
The king's regard toward his subjects can be benevolent—even to the point of being suffocating. A "child of the moon," as Cancer is called, can be like an overprotective, overindulgent parent, or like an ideal parent, yielding at the right time, firm at the right time. If one is looking for nurturing or sympathy, Cancer will provide an ample supply.
Cancer is the noblest and kindest of people when allowed to express full dignity. The human heart is an open book to this student of the psyche, with friendship and romantic love as the most congenial subjects. Cancer expresses himself chiefly in devotion, whether in a relationship with his friends and family or with his god or guru.
When repressed or frustrated, Cancer can give way to gossip and intrigue and a sordid interest in freakish and uncanny phenomena of human nature. Intense melancholy, with storms of uncontrollable weeping, can strike the king; at these times, his friends and family must give him all their support and help.
The king of cups loves cuddling, but he can live with physical separation; what he finds unbearable is being shut out of someone's affections. As the shell is essential to the crab, a secure home is the king's priority. He may choose a career in residential architecture or interior design.
Meanings - Friendship. Polite, humane person. Gifts. Longing. Emotionality. Enthusiasm. Responsibility and creativity. Religious person. Psychologist or behaviorist. A considerate person, kind and reliable. Shelter. Liberal manner. Interest in the arts and sciences. Generosity. Indolence. Dishonesty. Melancholy. Gullible or malleable person. Artistic temperament. Double dealing. Scandal.
Suit of Swords
Suit of Swords
Ace of Swords
A sword bathed in brilliance symbolizes the element of air. In psychological terms, air is the medium of mental activity. Swords signify conquest and power.
The triumph implied in the ace of swords is not the kind that is won by battle. All of the aces indicate pure elements, energy before it is given form in combination with other elements, energy on a symbolic level. The ace of swords indicates the power of the consciousness to cut through obstacles and see into its own nature.
Buddhism describes the mind as being empty, that is, as having no absolute nature in itself. It is like the sky: we believe in it, we believe that we see it, but it has no solid, graspable nature, no real attributes except what we assign to it. It is empty, like a cloud, or like a rainbow that shimmers in beauty and then disappears. What we normally call mental or intellectual are only products of conditioning and vary from being to being.
The concept of the mind truly perceiving itself is as paradoxical as an eye looking at itself. In fact, there is no mind to see or be seen. Our "self" is only a bunch of qualities assembled for a short time, a lifetime. The sword of wisdom allows us to cut through attachment to a limited ego, and find the luminosity, clarity, and emptiness of the natural "mind."
In a relative or psychological sense, the sword indicates mental concerns such as reason, study, contemplation, intellect, and ideas.
Meanings - Power. Triumph. Conquest. Mental power. Great determination. An issue with many sides. Passion. Fertility. Championship. Debacle. Tyranny. Disaster. Self-destruction. Violent temper. Ambiguity. Repression.
Two of Swords
A woman sits on a broken pier. A cat is beside her, the moon above. Two swords are stuck in the ground.
The water and moonlight indicate emotions; the water plants indicate waters that are rather swampy. The girl enjoys the lotus, and taps the water with one foot, careful not to stir its muddy depth. She can visit her emotions, but the swords of reason are nearby; she will not let herself be pulled into the swamp.
A truce has been made between emotions and intellect. An atmosphere of tranquility bathes the image, and yet this peace may suddenly be broken. The cat peers warily from its mistress's side; the swords are close at hand.
The two of swords indicates a passionate and temperamental person who has been able to moderate his or her behavior through discipline and willpower. A stormy period in life may be passing. One may be called on to moderate a dispute or bring together antagonists.
Meanings - Balance through understanding. Peace. Calm. Familiarity. Harmony. Concord. Offsetting factors. Stalemate. Ambiguity. Vagueness. Contradictory thoughts. Duplicity. Lies.
Three of Swords
Three people in black stand in a stone courtyard. A rose pierced by three swords is before them. Clouds darken the sky beyond.
The three figures preside at the destruction of the rose. A sense of ritual is given by their clothes and their rigid posture. The woman is completely covered, from head to toe, concealing whatever emotions she may feel at the vivisection of the flower.
The rose in Western culture is a symbol of emotional and physical passion. It is also to the West what the lotus is to the East: an emblem of spiritual unfoldment, of vulnerability.
When one opens one's heart, as a child or as an adult, and meets indifference, rejection, or exploitation, the wounds are deep. The pain can be so intense that rather than attempting to heal, one decides to cut away what is perceived as the source of pain: the heart itself.
The figures on the three of swords are victims as much as the rose. Contempt for the emotions, narrow-mindedness, and alienation from their fellows are the three swords they will use to amputate their own hearts. Love will be seen as sentimental treacle, religion as superstitious nonsense, expression of the emotions as weakness. They will convince themselves that everyone is selfishly pursuing personal ends, and so the best they can do is win the competition. They may join a church or a political movement with the aim to stifle joy and freedom wherever these qualities may lurk.
Meanings - Lack of mercy. Separation. Alienation. Grief. Error. Absence. Sorrow. Locked-up emotions. Religious bigotry. Self-righteousness. Removal. Dispersion. Conscious insight. Decisive realization.
Four of Swords
Four men rest at an oasis. Their swords lie on the carpet in front of them. The planet Jupiter, whose sigil is on the carpet, signifies expansion, understanding, philosophy, and law.
The four of swords does not show the kind of inner truce shown on the two of swords. The interval of peace here has been reached through negotiation and the agreement to follow rules.
The four men reflect the ideal of human community, in which personal aims and conflicts are subjected to the good of society. If the men are usually adversaries, the influence of Jupiter gives them a way to lay down their swords without losing face.
The four of swords can also mean a rest or r
ecovery from illness, respite at an oasis of calm after a harrowing journey through the desert.
Meanings - Truce. Alliance. Peace talks. Calm after a conflict. Interval. Retreat. Agreement. Concentration. Mental work. Mental challenges. Respite. Rest after illness. Repose. Replenishment. Solitude. Exile.
Five of Swords
A man lies on the ground, hemmed in by five swords that pierce roses. Around him is a wasteland; in the distance is the ocean. A pentagram encompasses his body; the five points and their connecting lines symbolize the five senses.
The swords pinning the roses indicate that mental processes have been used to enslave the passions and spirit. Perhaps at one time the man thought this would give him power; now his energy and will are sapped. Although the man is not actually pinned down by the swords, he is passive within their influence. The land around him shows only the skeleton of its former fruitfulness.
The five of swords indicates a quest for dominion that has ended in defeat. Humiliating as it might be, the only thing to do is to accept the situation. Time will bring a more useful perspective.
Meanings - Disgrace. Weakness. Blame. Late insight. Acceptance of the unavoidable. Clear perspective. New knowledge. Degradation. Adversary may arise. Infamy. Dishonor. Uncertain outlook.
Six of Swords
A dancer poses on one foot. Behind him is a caduceus, near which is a pyramid. The highest discipline shows in the lines of the dancer's body. The swords pointing toward his foot admonish him to maintain perfect form.
Different spiritual leaders, for example, Rudolf Steiner and G.I. Gurdjieff, created body movements and postures intended to evoke specific states of mental awareness. Martial arts, such as tai chi and tae kwon do, use the body to enhance mental acuity, and the mind to enhance physical prowess and grace. Hatha yoga is a series of exercises that yoke together body and mind. The positions of ballet are intended to create an aesthetic effect on the beholder.
These arts are not creative. The forms are dictated by tradition and passed on by a living teacher, master, or guru. Their fruit are reaped only through dedication and regular practice.
The six of swords indicates that the rewards of discipline and hard work are beginning to manifest. The breakthrough may be in the healing arts, as indicated by the caduceus in the background, or in any field that emphasizes the connection of body and mind. A transition may be coming; during the change, help will come from a person whose self-discipline gives him or her a rather cold demeanor.
Meanings - Science. Deserved success. Balance. Intelligent behavior. Explanation. Change in the way of thinking. New mental orientation. Conscious association. A trip or journey. Headstrong attempts to overcome difficulties. Expedient manner. Success after anxiety. Graduation from school.
Seven of Swords
A woman walks into a hazy landscape. Swords are sunk in the ground around her. She is mostly covered by a large cloak.
Uncertainty pervades the card, from the cloud-swept moon to the cloaked figure. The woman walks barefoot in a field of blades and yet has an aura of carelessness.
Situations can reach a point where the only logical action seems to be to walk away from them. Before the first step is taken, though, one must examine one's motives. Is giving up merely the easy way out, an abdication of responsibility? Or is it the best way to cut losses? Will giving up on one approach open the way for another, or will it lead to yet another dead end?
The seven of swords indicates a situation that has become ambiguous at best. One must make a commitment or withdraw completely. Vagueness or inconsistency from self and others can be a source of frustration. An experienced person may be able to provide some direction.
Meanings - Uselessness. Vain effort. Inconstant behavior. Tolerance. Unclear intentions. Advice. New plans. Wishes. Consciously defining a goal.
Eight of Swords
A man and a woman stand in a pen of swords. A gray wall rises behind them. The ground is as uncertain as melting ice.
The grievances indicated by the eight swords are entrenched; neither the man nor the woman will make the first move toward resolution. They are no longer certain who is right and who is wrong, but pride or fear of losing control keeps them locked in the roles of adversaries.
The eight of swords indicates a conflict, internal or external, that both sides will lose unless some compromise or agreement is reached. Recriminations have decayed self-confidence and sympathy. The saving grace is that both sides are beginning to realize how much the situation has deteriorated. Neither can extricate himself or herself alone: it's all for one and one for all. Most likely, whoever takes the risk of making the first move will be met more than halfway.
Meanings - Disturbance. Interference. Limitation. Conflict. Blame. Resistance. Problematic thoughts. Mental prison. Imprisonment. Criticism. Limitation of ideas. Great mental tasks. Past treachery.
Nine of Swords
War ravages a landscape. Swords fly through the air, striking an unarmed man. Another sword hits the serpent of life.
The nine of swords shows a man who is, or at least perceives himself to be, a victim of malice beyond his control. Whether his personal enemy or his country's enemy considers the attack to be just, it is he who must pay with his life.
Everyone, from the most macho man to the most protective parent, must face the fact that there are forces stronger than themselves. War, rape, epidemics, natural and ecological disasters, murder—these terrifying events sweep across gender, class, color, religion, and nationality. The highest religious and secular leaders have felt the assassin's bullet; palaces, temples, and hovels alike are flattened by bombs.
Protection is not found in ignorance or passivity. One must demand universal suffrage, full education for adults and children, a clean environment, safe housing and unbiased police protection, respect and opportunities regardless of color, gender, nationality, and sexual orientation. One cannot demand these rights for oneself only. History has made it clear that everyone must enjoy the same civil and human rights.
Another kind of war is waged within. Guilt, anxiety, hatred of self, conflicts between personal needs and the needs of others, depression, and worry about things that are out of one's power to change can gnaw away at self-esteem.
The nine of swords indicates an urgent need to assert control over negative forces, external and/or internal. Possibly one has been living in a cocoon, unaware of world events and unaware of one's own mental currents. It's time to come out, to take action and become involved. Constructive efforts will help.
Meanings - War. Despair. Sadness. Failure. Negative thoughts. Fear. Shame. Anxiety over a loved one. Acceptance of reality. Self-realization. Brilliant ideas.
Ten of Swords
The ten of swords is the most frightening card of the Cosmic Tarot. It is an image of madness, a person besieged by the anguish of his own mind. The sun, far from being a healer, burns the sky into splinters.
Insanity has been perceived in many ways in different societies. Sometimes madness is considered divine; sometimes it is considered a curse. When severe mental illness strikes close to home, it is hard to see it as anything but a huge, painful puzzle that overwhelms our best intentions and most cherished ambitions. Only one thing seems really clear: the stable, functional mind is the most precious jewel we can ever have.
The urge to discredit those who are diagnosed as mentally ill, to dismiss them as "nuts," is a sign of the conformist in all of us. A patronizing attempt at pity can be a mask over the fear that is raised when basic assumptions about reality are questioned by "inappropriate" behavior and ideas.
The ten of swords warns of mental problems. The problem may be more or less intense; a sense of depression and anxiety could be a cloud in an otherwise sunny sky.
More seriously, ideas can take on overwhelming or grandiose proportions; thoughts may be obsessive, confused, disconnected. A painful sense of distance from one's emotions might be experienced. Inescapable despair may lead to suicide fantasies
or attempts.
Whether the problem is serious or mild, pay attention to it. Talk to someone who is stable, mature, and supportive. Browbeating yourself or turning up the pressure is no solution; be nurturing and gentle. If it is a friend or relative, or even a stranger on the street who is suffering, don't ignore the problem. Don't be afraid. Meet this person with all the compassion of your heart.
Meanings - Ruin. Destruction. Defeat. Mental confusion. Overwhelming thoughts. Pain. Mental anguish. The lowest point is reached. Acceptance of the unexpected. New mental horizons. Improvement. Help is on the way.
Princess of Swords
A woman is against the background of mountains and sky. Her companion is a hawk. A transparent sword rises from a flower.
The princess of swords wears the emblem of air, a triangle crossed with a hooked line. She operates in the realm of the mind, the intellect. Her gaze is direct, almost merciless; she is not inclined to compromise truth in order to spare the emotions of herself or others.
Like the hawk who sees the tiniest creatures on the ground from high above, her mind misses nothing. The sword that rises from the lotus flower separates good from evil, truth from lies. Vagueness or compromise won't be allowed.
The princess of swords lives by her ideas and principles. She is a "stirrer-upper," an iconoclast. She may not have suffered enough in life to be merciful or tolerant of her elders' little weaknesses and hypocrisies. If dumb complacency sets in, the princess will be the one to uproot it. If there is a cause, the princess will be the firebrand at the lead, or the conspirator behind the scenes.