TITLE OF CARD IN RW DECK: Page of
Swords
ALTERNATE NAMES: Sword Maiden ,
Discerning Daughter of Life
The Princess of the Rushing Winds; the Lotus of the Palace of Air;
Princess and Empress of the Sylphs and Sylphides; Throne of the Ace
of Swords
RW DESCRIPTION: The Page stands ready
for anything--ready to move in any direction, use his upheld sword,
and/or face any mission or challenge. He stands on a small rise in a
wide open space, wind blowing distant trees and low-lying clouds. A
flock of birds fly above his head.
FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME: Interesting
hairdo. Reminds me of my daughter, how her ponytail is always loose
and slipping out a bit.
UPRIGHT MEANINGS AND TRAITS: Authority, overseeing, secret service,
vigilance, spying, examination,
and the qualities thereto belonging.--A.E. Waite
Manifestation of the hidden, perception, insight,
seeing past the surface, "out of the clouds into clarity" (Ziegler),
mental acuity, observation, inquisitiveness, investigation,
scrutiny, prying, suspicion, spying for good or evil,
fact-finding, research. A bright student, alert, sharp, analytical,
reasoning, resourceful, studious. Drawn to knowledge and truth, quick
to grasp and/or develop ideas and/or plans, reexamines beliefs,
ignores nothing, questions everything. Needs the stimulus of new
challenges, but not that interested in old ones.
Debates issues, rather than people. Honest yet diplomatic, frank yet
discreet, faces facts, sets things straight, rights wrongs,
vigilant in the cause of truth and justice, fair,
idealistically ethical, self-disciplined, circumspect, clean
conscience. Optimism, resolve, effort. An active youth, eager,
quick, agile, lithe, graceful, dexterous,
technical/mechanical. Need for practice and patience in the
acquisition of a new and complex skill; repeated patterns.
(Hoover)
ALSO: Unexpected and sometimes
challenging news. Good sense of direction. An environmental activist.
Military school, vocational school.
REVERSED MEANINGS AND TRAITS: More evil side of these qualities; what is
unforeseen, unprepared state; sickness is also intimated.
Astonishing news. An indiscreet person will pry into the Querent's
secrets.--A.E. Waite Lack of preparation, foolishness,
clumsiness, impulsiveness, anger, aggressiveness, paranoia.
Voyeurism. Misguided search. Powerlessness in the face of stronger
forces. "She is frivolous and cunning." (Crowley) Rebellion,
threat to safety, a troublemaker, juvenile delinquent, bad influence,
sneaky, an impostor or unmasked agent. Reform school,
mandatory counseling.
BIBLICAL: Matthew the Evangelist
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith,
in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine. < 1Timothy 4:12-13 >
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of
understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and
judgment, and equity; to give subtilty to the simple, to the young
man knowledge and discretion. < Proverbs 1:2-4 >
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto
thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep
thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that
speaketh froward things; < Proverbs 2:10-12 >
MYTHOLOGICAL:
Minerva. Maybe Perseus, whose strategizing won him Medusa's head.
HISTORICAL: ?
ASTROLOGICAL: Gemini?
ANIMAL: young birds and/or small,
non-predatory birds (technically, as earth of air, the birds should
be chickens and ostriches)
HERBS/PLANTS/FLOWERS: rosemary,
lavender
LANDSCAPE/LOCATION: Bavaria
TIME/SEASON: windy Spring
CRYSTALS: raw Bergcrystal
SCENTS: fresh air!
- FILM/BOOK: Clash of the Titans,
Hamlet:
- "To be, or not to be, that is the question,
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
PUBLIC PEOPLE OR EVENTS: ?
OCCUPATIONS: student, investigative
reporter, IT, communications, science, sporting, technological.
QUOTES FROM OTHER SOURCES: Grownups
never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for
children to be always and forever explaining things to them. <
Antoine de Saint-Exupery >
- THIS CARD/PERSON IN MY LIFE:
Some sample questions from the dinner table tonight, from my
ever-so-inquisitive almost-6-y.o.:
- "Mama, who was the first person--Jesus or Adam?"
"And we're all in Noah's family, right?"
"And we're from the Israelites?"
"Will Papa rise from the lake if we scatter his ashes there?"
FAVORITE REPRESENTATION: Halloween
Tarot (see below)
COMPARISONS TO OTHER DECKS:
Halloween Tarot Page of Bats
by Kipling West
ISBN 0-88079-965-X
The Page of Bats walks over bumpy ground, bearing a
pumpkin on her tunic and a ghost on her scarf. She carries a large
bag bulging with equipment, of which a camera and binoculars are
visible. In her hand, she has a pair of glasses with swirly
lenses--X-ray specs, if I remember correctly. Although she walks
forward, she looks back over her shoulder at one of two bats which
are flying around her head. The black cat walks alongside of her,
also looking back over her shoulder, presumably at the interaction
between the Page and the Bat. The starry sky is mostly clear, with
some low clouds.
This is one of my favorite Pages of (Swords) because there's no
mistaking her hobby of observation. She's so inquisitive that she
wants to amplify her information-gathering skills with whatever tools
are available. She probably even speaks bat language, and uses her
friendship with them to take advantage of their sonar, as she uses
the other equipment to enhance her visual perceptions. She's never a
victim of Halloween pranks--she sees who and what is coming from a
mile away. If she were to meet up with a spook, she'd probably
barrage it with questions and then want to bring it to school for
show and tell.
While all of the court cards feature lone human figures, this card
has the most solitary feel. Not that she's lonely, but independent,
self-reliant. She has no fear of the unknown, rather pursues it with
anticipation!
Ancestral Path Princess of Swords
by Julie Cuccia-Watts
ISBN 0-88079-141-1
The Princess of Swords kneels (?) facing the left of
the card, with her face turned toward both her and the viewer's left.
She wears a dark red kimono and a flat, wide, white hat which
resembles a flower. She has a sword in a scabbard at her waist.
Something hanging from her back almost looks like a small brown bird
perched on her scabbard. Her hands are together in front of her, as
if in prayer. A shield stands beside her, and by it is a small
blossomed tree. In the background is a screen (can't think what
they're called) with a scene of the sun rising over the water, a
seaside cliff, a field of livestock, and some clouds. How can I tell
it's a *rising* sun? It's Japan, idn't it? = P
Looking at the image, the foremost feeling I get is of poise,
grace and dignity. Also a lack of experience with conditional ethics,
with a more idealistic picture of right and wrong.
The Goddess of the Rising Sun, she will always remind me of my
5-y.o. daughter and the conversation (with props) we had about the
Japanese flag. It was a spontaneous educational experience, driven by
her natural curiosity. Sometimes it's amazing, the grasp she has of
things. Other times her persistent questioning is annoying. I've
cured her of the constant "Why?" by always responding with "Why do
you think?" Now her questions are much more specific, and her
possibilities are endless!
This page contains excerpts from my original contributions to an
online Tarot discussion. The
Comparative
Tarot list is made possible by Valerie Sim and Yahoo! groups.
Page of Swords IMHO page created May 2007.
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