esson 46: Talesin--Pursuit of the Soul
- 1. First betrayal of childhood imagination: Sword King
- My father thought the best way to raise a family was by
intelligence, rather than emotion, etc. The Sword King demands
that we 'cut the crap' and tries to analyze the reasons behind the
exercise of imagination. "She's only trying to get attention." The
figure in this card bears a remarkable resemblance to St.
Nikolaus, and I remember when I learned there is no Santa Claus.
- 2. What lesson this taught me: Stone King
- Not every story is truth. Tradition and folklore have a
separate place and function than literal truth.
- 3. First betrayal of love or friendship: Spear Maiden
- I think this card represents me, and how my uninhibited nature
has always made me open for betrayal and being taken advantage of.
"Curiosity killed the (virgin) cat." My desire to know and
experience pulls me headlong, without regard to safety or defense.
- 4. What lesson this taught me: Grail Hallow
- How to separate giving/sharing my heart from giving/sharing my
body.
- 5. First inspired to take a spiritual path: Grail Ten
- This should be Card 6! Fulfillment! When I was nine or ten, I
was saved. In this card, I am the tower and Jesus is the
light inside.
- 6. What lesson this taught me: Spear Two
- It's always my choice, but I don't have to walk alone.
- 7. First realization of being one of many seekers: Spear
Hallow
- When I met Eli V., it began a time of inspiration and creative
experimentation. We sparked and prodded each other.
- 8. What lesson this taught me: Grail Seven
- While Eli and I explored the realms of mystery, we sometimes
lost our hold on reality. Our expanded view didn't help us deal
with society, but drew us outside of it--into self-deception and
even danger. We harbored unrealistic fantasies about sorcery and
magick. As the A.T. book says: "the glamour of esoteric
practices." Useless if not applied to LIVING!
- 9. The Transformed Self: The Star
- Every man and every woman is a star. I have faith and hope
that there is a shining Truth between logic and lore, love for
others and love for self, community and individuality, imagination
and illusion, religion and magick.
efore I
wrote the interpretation for Card 9, I pulled Talesin out of the deck
and placed him top and center (between Cards 1 & 2). The meaning
of The Star is his clarification and his gift.