VIII Trumps – Adjustment
“The principle of balance: Justice/Realignment”
Keiko, In the photo of the card, the little bit of red in the background is the cloth that I spread the cards out on. I shuffled the deck and thought of you and asked for a card just for you.
From Tarot: Mirror of the Soul (Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot) by Gerd Ziegler:
“This card portrays the sign of Libra. It is a fascinating picture of balance. A young woman (the feminine aspect of the fool), holds the great magic sword between her legs and balances on her toes…Only absolute concentration and stillness, which come from finding one’s inner center, will allow this condition of equilibrium to take place. The slightest distracting thought will cause her to waver and destroy the balance she has found, the balance that is the nature of the universe.”
“The predominant colors are blue and green. Blue is the color of spiritual and intellectual powers, such as thinking, ideas, wisdom; green is the color of creativity, the power to put ideas into action. The downward-pointing sword lends a similar meaning. The powers of thought are directed toward, and put into contact with, the earth, and serve her.”
“This card is a summons to avoid all extremes in your daily life.”
From The Tarot Book by Angeles Arrien:
This first interpretive quote below shares similar qualities to the second quote above. You can see how each author/interpreter hone in on different symbols, reaching a shared interpretation of the card.
“The perfectly shaped circles or balloon are symbols representing formulated ideas or thoughts. This is the interesting balancing and synthesizing mind which is often expressed through writing, research, and design. …Here the Ace of Swords is facing downward, symbolizing the application of creative ideas in tangible, useful ways. The Ace of Swords in its own card represents the inspired, creative, and original mind. Within this symbol, the Ace of Swords (the creative mind) is being directly applied and brought to earth in realistic and practical ways.”
You will also notice, as pointed out in Arrien’s book that the symbols within the scales are Alpha, representing beginnings, and Omega (symbolizing endings or completions). She goes on to say, “The principle of balance requires that whatever is initiated or begun (Alpha) must be completed at some time (Omega).
To conclude with are Arrien’s words about the card:
“Basically, it is important for you to simplify and balance that which is out of balance or chaotic in your life. It is a time where you desire and achieve clarity on important issues that you have been considering.”
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Keiko, I hope that you were able to find something in this card, chosen for you—and by you from your intuition to mine and back to yours. And if not, that is fine too. The card is visually very interesting to me. It has an air of mystery. I like the blues and greens and how the background is bright, like light shining through. There is much to see in this card. I will let you gaze at the card and see how you feel.
Ah, the masked face…it represents “all her attention being turned inward. This makes her receptive to ideas and direction from her inner guide” (Ziegler).
I would love to hear what you think, Keiko, whether here on the blog or on email.
Rebb
