When she enters the room you can’t help but be captivated. It’s as though she sparks with intense energy, a fiery sexy siren in killer red heels.
The energy of this Queen in our classroom is overwhelming, we all want to talk to her, and if she catches your eye you feel the crackle of her unique synergy; it’s contagious.
She’s a fire brand, creative soul, a dancer, a campaigner, glamourous, fierce, unconventional, strong, passionate, alchemy in action.
This Queen’s energy can help us with our creative projects, our passions, our dreams, her fire helps us transform situations, gives us the energy to bring ideals into reality. You may recognise someone in your life in her, or know this energy in yourself. In a reading she points us towards calling our dragons and using them to fly high and free. It’s time to get in touch with that fire in your belly and shine.
3. What makes you feel confident? What lights you up? Wearing heels? Your “witch please” T shirt? Dancing the night away in clubland? Painting? Writing? Singing karaoke? Do more of that.
4. Spend a week with your Queen of Wands card. Put her somewhere prominent in the house, she’s your mentor this week. What has she got to teach you about dragon taming and lighting your own freaky fire?
Notices first. There’s a free Facebook group to accompany this class. Here you can access additional information such as deck review videos, ideas for practice and free spreads. Come and say hi.
Today’s lesson considers the Knight of Wands. If we connect our court cards with specific people then the Knight energy is that of the adolescent/ young adult. Knights are often optimistic, driven, idealistic. They carry the vibrant, external energy of their suit and element. In the Wands this is fire. You can imagine where this is going…
In my cards the Knight is often mounted, usually on a horse, though in one image on a lion (The Texture Tarot)! They carry their wand like a spear, driving forward, there is movement and energy.
The Knight of Wands is a fiery character. I have someone like this in my family. Creative, with more energy than any normal human, sparky, warm, but also quick-tempered, not suffering of fools, swift, impulsive, determined to the exclusion of all else, focused.
When the Knight of Wands crops up in a reading it may refer to someone you know, or to an energy like this at play in your own life. For instance, if I see the Knight of Wands in a reading for myself I might ask how I can engage more with this forthright, passionate, alchemical energy, and where I need to be aware of rushing in with too much fire…
Exercise 75
If the Knight of Wands cropped up in your reading, who might it represent in your circle of family or friends?
What would it be like to spend a day with this Knight? Would it be fun? Comfortable? Inspiring? Dangerous?
How does this Knight spend her spare time?
How can you work with the energy of the Knight of Wands when needing greater energy or creative spark?
It’s the end of the term, and we’re fortunate in class to have a visitor this week. She’s a firecracker, literally; lively, charming, a little bit chaotic and risky. Welcome ladies and gentlefolks our Page of Wands.
Fire is the element of alchemy and transformation and this page brings with her an energy of change.
In my cards she is a snake curled into an infinity symbol around a budding wand, speaking of shedding skins which no longer fit and the possibility of new growth. She is a brightly dressed fiddle player lost in her music. Or a child watching over a fire, eyes aglow with wonder and mischief. She reaches up into stars above a tower of flames with a tiger at her heels. She is a fox, quick-witted and cunning or a stoat, alert, graceful, watching.
Listen to the wisdom of the Page of Wands in the coming weeks. As I write we’re approaching Yule/ Christmas-tide. Often this is a time of family gatherings, social occasions. It is a time often burdened with tradition, patterns, expectations. The Page of Wands encourages us to bring a little alchemy to this time of year. To bring the magic of fire, of transformation to our seasonal practices, whatever our faith; to stay open to wonder and the possibility of doing differently.
Exercise 74
How can you work with the Page of Wands to bring transformation to your traditions and established patterns?
What can this Page teach you about everyday alchemy?
Where do you need more mischief in your life?
If you were to embody the Page of Wands what would this look like for you?
Light and candle, watch its flame dance, then make a wish and blow it out. There is power and magic in our childhood dreams and beliefs.
We arrive to class today weighed down. Some of you come with projects, huge 3D models, A1 size posters rolled beneath your arms, bags full of books. We are burdened, in seeking to do our best we’ve managed to bring everything but the kitchen sink. There’s no room in the room, we’re falling over each others bags and props and getting scratchy and ill-tempered.
In a reading this card to me is “too much.” It’s the card of burn out, fatigue, trying too hard, over-egging life’s puddings. It’s the card of well-intentioned care for others which turns unwittingly into martyrdom or enabling, it’s the card of over-responsibility and self-sacrifice.
The witch in this picture looks exhausted. She can barely climb the hill she’s attempting with her arms so full and it looks like only a matter of time before she lands flat on her face, the brooms scattering in all directions.
When you turn it over feel the stifling, muggy heat of a late summer day before a thunderstorm, be aware of the need to pull back and allow the lightning crack, allowing it to release everything you’ve been holding.
As a ten this card is the culmination of the pip cards in this suit, the end of a journey. Might be an idea to put some of those brooms down before you start anything new…
Exercise 73
1. Stop and take a breath.
2. What are you holding which isn’t yours to carry?
3. Look at what you can set down.
4. Now do it. Your arms may ache for a while, as you let go of the things you don’t need to carry, but in time you’ll adjust and be able to move more freely as a result, ready for the birth of the next cycle.
Take your card, feel into its story. What do you see? If you stepped into the card what would you feel? What’s the emotion here? What would this card and its character say to you if it could speak?
I see figures looking strong, determined, battle worn. I see power, I see grounded grit and perseverance. The figures here tell me it has been a long journey. There have been hardships along the way, certainly, the scars they bear tell the tale, but there is also hope, and a sense of achievement in spite of it all.
In this place, in this space you are to be honoured. You have come through more than anyone will ever know. And you’re still standing. I bow to you. To your spirit, your fire-filled, creative heart. Your longing to see justice done, your dreams and imagination, your fierce love.
You have the power.
Eight Coins Tattoo Tarot
Exercise 72
Rest now, for a while. Soothe the scars, allow the bruises to fade.
Take yourself off into nature, your back yard, the local park, the woods or seashore.
Gather tools from nature, a small round stone, a sea-soothed piece of drift wood, a pine cone.
Create a talisman from your treasures, to remind you of your strength, determination and perseverance.
Honour yourself with a ritual to mark your trials and triumphs.
It’s all going on here. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. It’s unexpected. It’s full on.
My cards show many budding wands, eight wands being struck by lightning, meteors hurtling throught the sky, feasting around a roaring fire, powerful energy beams shooting from a warriors palms.
I have mentioned more than once in the group (come and join us :-)) how I find the cards mirroring my life as I’m working through this class. A case in point from this week. I went for a meeting at the local university about a job. In my mind this was a speculative chat about the work they might be able to offer me. Twenty minutes later the woman who runs the department is asking me how many hours I can do and saying I will have an office. Suddenly everything is happening. It’s exciting. I’m also somewhat in shock. Two days later I’m signing a contract, I have to reevaluate my calendar, shift some pieces of work, cancel others. I feel a little off kilter, but also full of joy and anticipation. The next few weeks look like they’ll be hectic as I rush to cram in the projects scheduled for a longer time frame. I know this could lead to burn out. But at the same time I know if I can negotiate it well, leaving the spaces I need, the outcome will be magical.
The Eight of Wands may be a warning, or it may be a promise. Or it may be a bit of both. Be aware of the power available to you in this place. Be aware of the risks; you might be playing with fire. Or maybe fire is ready to play with you. Magic and alchemy await. Life is unlikely to be the same again.
Exercise 71
Make a baking soda volcano, or throw some Mentoes into a bottle of cola. If you were the volcano/ cola, what would that feel like? To me this is Eight of Wands energy.
How might you handle this powerful, exciting energy without getting burned? What will help you negotiate it and use it?
What might you need to do to be ready when the Eight of Wands comes to call? How will you know?
The King of Wands.
Ladies and gentlefolk, please be upstanding.
Welcome class; how have you been?
