Queen of Wands- The Sword of Truth Sharpened with Discernment

It's a long time since I pulled a sleepless all-niter. I sure as shoot don't miss those days! But that's what happened last night. It certainly wasn't anything like the all-niters I pulled back in my drinking days! This one was full of happiness and gratitude to be able help out my very good friends.

My friends needed me to travel with them to the airport where they would be taking the plane to visit family out West and their flight would be leaving at 5:20 a.m. this morning. It meant I left with them in their car at 1:30 a.m. and my friend drove us all for 3 hours.We arrived at the airport at 4: 30 a.m. and then I drove three hours back home after I left them to catch their flight.

 I was not having any problems staying awake, until about three quarters of the way home when, I had to fight the affect of my sleep deprivation. I was very grateful to make it home safely and after doing a few things before I flopped into my bed, I stayed there for a few hours and it was sure nice to finally get horizontal. I'll sure be hitin' the ole fart sack early tonight!

My friends very generously have lent me their car while they are away, which I so appreciate, as I have been without a vehicle for a number of months; not a situation I am not unfamiliar with, which it can get very wearisome and trying. It's hard to feel dependent on others to give you lifts or to help you out. It is a very good feeling to be able to return the favour. That said, it's also good to know that there really are folks that are willing to generously give to others, out of the goodness of their heart, when you are struggling.

 My sweet and good friends have always exemplified this kind of generosity of heart and spirit and I am so very grateful to be so blessed have them in my life.
My friends share many similar qualities of the Queen of Wands embodied by the Mythic figure of Penelope.

So after all is said and done, we now get to the Queen of Wands, who is referred to as The Sunshine Lady. She exhibits a loyalty that warms and heartens as it inspires. She is ever faithful and strong.

The Queen of Wands in some ways is the ancient figure of the 'superwoman'. However this does not mean that she has illusions about herself or reality. She has her feet planted firmly on the ground, that has come from her hard won life experience. She is the kind of person I think many can aspire to be.

This Queen lives her life with what Maureen Murdock calls in her book The Heroine's Journey, " a Spirituality of Creativity." She manifests the creative feminine. Her imagination and intuition makes her strong, and she holds her great strength and energy within. She devotes herself to what she is passionate about and what she has given her heart to in life.

I think The Queen of Wands is the truest kind of Heroine who has influence, because she has traveled the difficult path of life, first being rejected and vilified by her father as a child, solely based on the fact she was born female.

 Penelope, wife of the so called hero, king of Ithaca, Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman mythology) was off doing the ugly business of war, thought her husband must be dead, as she heard nothing from him for 20 years. In fact he'd left her alone to run the island kingdom with only her young son to help her. She was living life as a single mum while her wandering husband left her and his son to fend for themselves.

 In spite of having many suitors Penelope continued to have a loyal faithfulness toward her absentee husband, believing that he would one day return.

 The Queen of Wands is a magnetic woman who has has learned to rule her own world with ingenuity, strength, creativity and tireless energy. She is self-confident and is full of warmth and life. She has found her own voice.
 The Queen of Wands has carried her own sword of truth and sharpened her blade with discernment.

King of Swords - Primed For Action

Like the King of Swords, I certainly was  primed for action today, to fight the great Burdock Beasts again, this time in my front garden. They are now gone! Unlike the King, I am not exactly an authority, particularly when it comes to burdock, but I was determined in my attack strategy to rid my garden of this invading interloper. I dug out the roots and got them by the kahunas! I may not of succeeded in completely conquering them as there are others around that I can't get at, who will not doubt spread their seed, but these ones will not return! I know burdock do have great medicinal qualities, but I couldn't care less, because they have become my nemesis this week!

 I replaced them with transplanted sunflowers, nasturtiums and some wildflowers. Come Fall I will plant Foxglove, bulbs, and transplant a few perennials from my larger garden that is burdock free.
It's very hard work fighting the Burdock Beast, but so worthwhile to have my flower garden back again!


The King of Swords exists within us all, embodied in the mythic figure of the hero Odysseus. He fought terrifying sea-monsters and escaped the call of the sea Sirens who sang men to their deaths. He was driven by determination, foresight, cleverness, with the most impressive strategic skills of the human mind.

However the character defects found in the King of Swords is his lack of empathy for others and the  disassociation from his feeling. Paradoxically this is an individual of high principle in spite of his lack of empathy for others and is a contradiction of terms.
We may not be authorities but with determination, clear thinking, and by using our intellect we can find strategies to overcome our inner monsters.

The Burdock Beast

King of Swords - 'The Wily One'

This has been a week full of swords. My fourth day of drawing this suit. Yesterday I drew the Eight of Swords but didn't get around to posting, which is a card of bondage through fear.

Today brings me the King of Swords and the mythic figure of the the hero Odysseus who's intellectual authority and principles remind us to use reason over emotion and to not allow ourselves to be dictated by emotion and irrational thought. He urges us to act with foresight, cleverness, strategy, guile and determination to reach our goal.

The King of Swords may be cunning, artful, crafty and smart, but not necessarily wise. Wiliness needs to be tempered with intuited emotion, and wisdom, because the King of Swords in sometimes lacking in depth of feeling and can have a tendency to be dissociated with emotion necessary to be empathetic. In other words, trust your gut and be wise.

As a creative person it is essential for me to always be willing to question authority and to really listen to my own inner voice of authority. This may not be immediately apparent, but I need to be patient and trust that insight and discernment will be given.

Overcoming  fear means to be able to look fear in the face and traverse that road less traveled, and to be our own hero or heroine.

King of Swords - When The Student Is Ready The Teacher Will Appear

Truth? I am little intimidated by the King of Swords, or the folks with this personality type. When I really dig into the reason why, I think it is because I immediately begin to compare myself intellectually, and presume I am not on the same intellectual level as this person. Comparing ourselves to others is a basic common human character defect. The more insecure within ourselves, the more we compare.This is not a healthy out look I know, but it's true. It is futile to compare ourselves to another. It will always leave us feeling less than, that we just don't nor can we ever measure up to an unachievable standard, that really is an image that exists in our minds.

The King of Swords can be greatly admired for his creative intellect, and attractive, dynamic leadership qualities, but not so much for his lack of ability to respond to his own emotion, or for considering the feelings of another. He appears to be emotionally cut off, relying on his intellect for success, as opposed to his heart, although his ideals, and sense of fairness are very lofty and well intended.

He appears to be in harmony or perhaps likes harmony in his environment. No one is perfect I know, but he sure can give off that impression, as he is Odysseus, crafty, guileless, known as the Wiley one. Fact is, this King is a wanderer, not rooted is his heart, nor in his relationships. He's not big on empathy and compassion, but is known for his decency and fairness. He's a bit of an enigma and a contradiction. 

We all have contradicting traits. The message here for me is to be aware of these traits, and to be compassionate toward others, and toward myself for these shortcomings, and character defects. No one including myself should be intimidated by another's personality, and I certainly hope no one is intimidated by mine.
There is so much to learn, from people we admire and  love, and sometimes especially from those we do not love or admire, they have much to teach us. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.