By Sarah Taylor
Continuing from last week, we now have the full Court Card complement: in the reading on Sunday, March 8, the Queen of Swords sat at centre, with the Prince (the Knight in the RWS deck) of Swords to her right; and today, the Princess (the Page in the RWS) of Swords stands at centre, with the Knight (the King in the RWS) of Wands to her right.
Seven of Wands, Princess of Swords, Knight of Wands from The Röhrig Tarot deck, created by Carl-W. Röhrig. Click on the image for a larger version.
There are shifts and emergences afoot at the level of how you are expressing yourself as an individual with an emphasis on thought, intellect and beliefs. The ‘odd man out’ is the Knight — a Wands card. This denotes both the implied presence (through his absence) of the Knight of Swords, and the birthing of a different emphasis.
How are you experiencing your own evolution from someone who has of late been focused on the mental plane, to one who is now defined by fiery, active, directed creativity? Where is something being birthed from the intellect and asking to be trusted as a force that is more impassioned and intuitive?
More importantly: what risk are you in the process of taking in order to give voice to your beliefs, and to enact them boldly, unapologetically, and in a way that asks you to stick your head above the parapet? Because your act of self-definition and the assumption of an inner authority that burns from the very heart of you will be hard to ignore.
The foundation to this week’s reading is the Seven of Wands. In the card, a figure is seen leaping from one locale to another, negotiating an abyss from which emerges seven Wands. The figure is naked — unarmoured, and without artifice. It is clear from the card that the jump is almost certainly successful.
It is also an act of daring and courage.
It takes a lot to trust the inner force of self-definition and revelation in order to propel yourself to new lands. It takes trust to make that decision when there seems to be no safety net. You are following the calling of your own creativity. That is your map, and little else.
What lies beyond the ledge remains a mystery, save for a growing understanding that there is a voice inside you that is demanding its turn to speak, and a power that is waiting to be expressed.
“no compromises.”
The writing on the Seven of Wands is the essential message of all three cards. The Seven is the act that defines this statement, while the Princess and the Knight are you, the one who is doing it. The Princess of Swords, as the youngest member of the Court Cards, is the voice of innocence that is unafraid to declare what it sees as truth. She is “Rebellion” embodied, the eyes on her headdress denoting the keen-sightedness that she has — the access to her truth that is untempered by artifice or a dwelling on consequences.
She is beautiful; she is willing to stand out. Her sword is something she is still yet to master, but in one key way she has mastered it: she has freed herself. The rope and chain that once bound her are severed. Her hand, no longer held in check by what she has been told to be — the voices, inner and outer, that restrained her — is liberated. Now, she is able to release herself into the world and seek out the independence that was not possible while she was identified with something that sought to keep her in (her) place.
When I look at both the Princess and the Knight next to her, they strike me as one-and-the-same person. Both have their heads at the same angle; the red on the Princess’s headdress mirrors the Knight’s hair. The inner child and the adult in alignment, one with the new ability to see and speak what she sees, the other coming into his own as a force to be reckoned with, and who is able to find a home in the red-hot flames of Eros without being consumed by them. He is fire, and he is also a space in the fire. He knows how to work with what licks up from beneath, and to contain its energy, so that it is shaped and directed consciously.
So it is time to go back to what I noted at the beginning of this article: the Knight of Swords as an implied presence, given he is the only Swords Court Card not to appear in the three cards from last week, and the three this week. Because he is here, that’s for sure, except his outer expression is one that is distinctly more fiery than he is often given credit for. I see the Knight of Wands as holding that Swords energy along with his fire. He is the emissary for both. What a formidable combination! The potential to analyse and apply wisdom in a way that is unequivocally creative.
That’s you, by the way. Yes. You. What is clear here is that you have started to step — no, leap — into a new relationship with your mind and your artistry that is both courageous and measured. You may not have a clear idea of where you’re going, but it seems you have a far clearer idea of who you are than ever before. And what you’re embarking on has legs; it can take you places.
If you can contain and focus what is moving through you, you have the capacity be a force to be reckoned with. Good going, intrepid traveller!
Astrology/Elemental correspondences: Seven of Wands (Mars in Leo), Princess of Swords (the earthy aspect of air), Knight of Wands (the fiery aspect of fire)
If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread.
you are amazing x
I want to be incredulous, but now know better. What a journey the past year and a few months have been and this part of my journey has been recorded faithfully week after week, being repeatedly confirmed to me through the Tarot cards and your brilliant reading of them. Yes. I AM Here Now! Whoa! And your insight concerning the Knight of Swords being present through his absence is outstandingly, shockingly, TRUE. What Genius on your part_What a gift you are for your readers, such as I. Thank you!
All who wander are not lost – J.R.R. Tolkien
You’re fabulous, Sarah.
Strider! (the whole poem fits?!)
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
That does, indeed, fit, pam! What a clear poetic illustration of the reading!
It was Mandy actually!
xxxp
So it was 🙂 Thank you, too, Mandy!
Pam, I had no idea this was part of a poem. I just saw the line somewhere years ago and it always stuck with me. Thank you dearly for filling it in – it gave me goosebumps!
Sarah, you were the original inspiration, so thank you too.
Hi Mandy, if you haven’t read the Lord of the Rings it is a goosebump sort of book. Starts slowly, but you could skip to the chapter about Bree and the Prancing Pony to meet Strider/Aragorn and start there. It is a little dated in writing style perhaps, but that doesn’t matter much.
After your post I was looking on youtube and stumbled on an interview with VM – of course he has scandinavian roots – and he was saying it was such an opportunity to breathe life into the Nordic tales in some way – Tolkien was steeped in them apparently.
Oddly , this week too, Dad and I were watching a ‘life’ of C S Lewis – a sort of flashback/monologue with Anton Ro(d)gers and of course Tolkien was in that too…
TOO awesome 😉
Thank you Sarah. Your readings are truly inspirational along with the other amazing work here on PW.
Once again, these cards repeat my dreams of the week, and the decisions I made over the weekend. Go ahead, go ahead, go on, leap!
Knight of Wands at first glance looks like James Dean. The graphics on his garment evoke military, a checkered racing flag (Chariot???) and gang colors. He’s young for a King/Knight. I looked up the image of Knight of Swords. Quite a contrast! Here’s a picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/434245589047111346/
The Knight of Swords is invoked by the Knight of Wands. The Knight of Wands has the energy necessary for that great leap in the first card. Apparently impulsive, but driven by necessity, faith, and calling. (the Fool from last week–as shown in RWS Tarot.) The great leap is not strategic, or an act of leadership, as might be indicated if the Knight of Swords had appeared in this reading. His energy is invoked later, after the leap. The only way to make that leap is with the energy of the Princess and the Young King, their raw courage and rebellion, and profound desire (Eros) are what it takes
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Yes this reading is oracle for sure. See you on the other side!
“The only way to make that leap is with the energy of the Princess and the Young King, their raw courage and rebellion, and profound desire (Eros) are what it takes”
Aho, DivaCarla!
I savor your reading like a cup of fine tea Sarah. I’ve been listening to Jackson Browne and writing while sitting at the kitchen table and it’s like you told me what I’m trying to do. With the leap, there is a sort of a dance. I am letting it take the lead and thinking yes, maybe, just maybe – just learning to show up. And then to be brave: not sure and no worry about the cans and shoulds. Thank you for this gift!
…and again, Inspiration! Thank you Sarah:-)
Thank you so much, everyone! I’m also taking the leap here myself.
Feel more like sleeping more than leaping at the moment – but loved your reading, as always, Sarah – and love that sexy Knight!
He’s pretty dang sexy, isn’t he, Lizzy?!
Sure is, Sarah! Gave me quite a turn when he first appeared… (must mean that the leap is nearer than I think).
Thank you, Sarah, for continuing, week after week, to add explanation and encouragement to what is manifesting for me in my life….This is amazing!!!