Tarot Discussion Group, Card of the Week.

If you follow these essays you know I am very much a fan of Melanie Gendrons Deck. So as I was preparing to write this essay, I began to precieve I had a choice. One was to compare the Gendron/ and Universal Wait Cards, like I do most weeks. The other was to compare the Hermit and the 2 of Staffs in the Gendron Deck. If you look at the two cards you will see definate visual echo's. The hermits staff rests in the crook of her arm just where the staff of the priestess in the 2 of staffs rests hers. I see both women as Hispanic or Native american persons. Both hold their hands in Identical position. The globe of the 2 of staffs is smaller and mystically suspended in space, but her hands are in just the same place. Ultimately in this Mother/ Daughter representation I see Melanie is pointing out powerful echo's and I thought It might be interesting to examine them.

The Hermit is traditionally about a person who has retreated from the day to day world. She has withdrawn to a place where she can contemplate timeless matters. She carries a wand, but in many ways she seems more of a swords card. Look at her, The Totem of the Swords, the Eagle flys over her head, while in her arm rests the Staff. The mountains and the still blue pool, speak to her understanding of all 4 elements. In the sphere she holds in her hands, an eclipse is visible in the "crystal ball", connecting the card to realms beyond the material world.

The two of wands is speaks to us about attainment, she quite literally in the card has the world in her hands. The traditional depiction of a lordly man looking out to see, a globe in his hands, speaks to that attainment. Two's are about choices, but unlike the 2 of Pentacles balancing act, the 2 of wands seems to have either 2 very attractive choices, or have found a balance between two equally important aspects of life. The Priestess, having found a balance between her inner life as a priestess, and her outer life as a Mother. The 2 of Wands shows us the Hermits wisdom and perspective coming back into the world through her daughter. Guided by the Hermit, she is closely intune with her intent and does not want for material things. She holds the world in her hands rather than being overly attached to the material. Yet she also has the energy of youth and the spirit of a muse.

Divination: Totem The Eagle, The great spirit, vision: Illumination, awareness of the Intent. Self Knowledge, Integrity, A true guide. Good Advise, Faith combined with Personal strength.

Reversed: The Ego blocks out the Intent, Objection, Clinging to Dogma in the face of Knowledge. Time to withdraw, rest, find your center.

Please click on the Tarot Home link, to access a list of all card essays currently online. Please share your thoughts I look forward to your replies in the group.