Step 20
* Describe each card.
* Line up the cards so there is some flow or progression of similar design features. How does each card appear in terms of similarity and differences?
* What new meanings can you find in some of these cards? Use stories, dialog, visualization, metaphors, etc. in your explorations.
5 of Swords
In order:
RWS, World Spirit (WS), Tarot of the Old Path (ToP), Quest, Osho Zen
The RWS has three characters in all, the biggest who is in the front, then the middle man, and the smallest man. The biggest appearing to be “winner”, holding 3 of 5 swords, the remainder at his feet. In WS the “loser” is the biggest, being up close and personal while the “winner” is in silhouette-a mere after thought.
The sky in RWS remains questionable, is a storm coming, or did it already pass?
In WS there is no doubt, it’s raining starting from left to right of the card. The swords remain solid in RWS, while in WS they no longer speak since they are all broken.
To me, the broken swords symbolize the breaking of old ways of being/thinking. There is a visible wound to the loser in WS, while in RWS, no blood at all. The water in WS is coming from the heavens while in RWS, the river flows from left to right. The mundane versus the spiritual?
Makes me think of the following phrases:
“what goes up must come down” and “”what goes around, comes around”.
Still both of these cards have a hard surface except there seems to be a glimmer of hope with WS in its patches of green grass. Perhaps indicating that there is still growth and progress to be gained from confrontation/conflict.
Dress is still ornate in both, but much darker in WS than RWS.
Bringing in Tarot of the Old Path (ToP)…just as in WS, ToP continues with 2 figures. One loser, one winner. Among my deck picks, a threesome will never been seen again. Here on the ToP, you clearly see both. Now, not only does the winner have 3 of the 5 swords, but also has a flag and horn. The winner is still behind the loser as in WS, and as in all three (RWS, WS, ToP) the winner appears calm and in control. The loser runs, in ToP, with 2 bloody swords. I sense much effort on his part to defend himself, but something in him says “RETREAT!”
The winner in ToP appears comical with a bull cap (crap?) on, Taurus anyone?
Armor is first and last seen in the Tarot of the Old Path, out of the four decks picked. Seems like the ToP loser has taken his loss a bit too seriously. This is also the first and only card with blood on it, a tragic comedy?
Well, no one dies (tragedy) and no one marries (comedy), like in an opera, lol!
In the Quest tarot the lesson is highlighted regardless of the casualties. Only huge swords appear on a red landscape. The only suggestion of humanity is on the bottom left, as a mummy-like face is highlighted. The colors are very vibrant in this card, makes me think of fire as opposed to air. With the glyph for Venus on the top left and Aquarius, the following phrases come to mind:
“I’m a lover, not a fighter” and “rule maker, rule breaker”
On the display of just swords: “just the facts-yes”
These swords stress (to me) the importance (so huge) of communicating properly, thinking clearly, and the need to outline boundaries. A single star hangs high in the sky with the sun just behind one of the swords. Both luminaries give hope of Guidance, and maintaining an inner independence without becoming alienated or cold.
In Osho Zen the Swords become Clouds, and neither is evident, only two trees growing side by side. One oak, and the other bamboo. Neither tree judges the other or sees itself as better than the other.
A quiet respect exists in their contribution to the Whole.
* List three keywords or phrases that seem common to all/most of the cards from these different decks
-win, lose, draw
-the darkest before the dawn
-let bygones be bygones
* Which card-version expresses best the advice you would give yourself?
The Quest tarot.
It suggests that events (swords) happen for a reason and although they may be unpleasant, the choice remains…to make the best out of things, or not, lol.
The mummified face on the bottom of this card, faintly visible, gives me the idea that nothing will be the same ever again. For better or worse, forever changed. The combination sun and star gives hope among the hot and arid. It seems as if nothing can grow in such an atmosphere, but who knows, all things are possible with God.
*If you were to design your own version of this card, how would you do it?
With war ended an emaciated figure appears. He has ratty clothes, long hair, and a beard. Having had little to no food in many years, he comes upon a can of peas. He searches about and finds the body of his dead enemy, a soldier.
He takes the dagger from this dead soldier’s belt and works his way into the can of peas.
The card would simply picture a close up of his worn face, in profile, as he daintily scoops 5 peas up from his dagger into his open mouth.
I’d call it The 5 of Peas ~Nourishment~