Tarot Discussion Group, Card of the Week.

Aces of Course represent new beginnings. The Ace of Swords is special in that it can represent moments of enlightenment that can change a persons life. Melanie has created a very interesting card. A young woman kneels at the edge of what appears to be a pool at first glance. Yet on a closer look, the water turns out to be space. Butterflys flutter near by, symbols of transformation.

The Main Character of the Card is of course the young woman. She appears to be naked. Although this could speak to Innocence, or Vulnerability, I think Melanie was more looking to indicate openness. Naked she is not protected by the roles we armor ourselves with in daily life. Whether it is a Businessman's suit or a Mechanics Overalls, we go about our daily lives in our Armor. It tells people for us who we are and makes unspoken statements about our status and approachability. Unencumbered by any role, Eve is completely open to any possible gift from the energetic world

The Swords, are seen in both their roles. The little sword in the hands of the Cherub, represents the insight so important in this card. Yet the larger sword, is depicted in the swords other role as a barrier. Marking the boundary between the mundane world where in we see Eve, and the energetic realm occupied by the cherub. Of course the boundary is not firm, and we see Eve reaching into the Cherubs realm to accept the offered sword. Even as we as readers, hope that the Tarot will help us reach into the energetic realms ourselves.

The Cherub being a baby speaks to creativity, and perhaps rebirth. After all rebirth is very important to this card. A simple idea, grasped at the right moment can have life altering consequences after all. Of course being winged it ties the Cherub to the classic provinces of the swords, Intuition, Clarity, and Intellect.

Although The Ace of Swords can represent a life changing event, in practice, like the Death card. The Ace will come up much more often than life changing events, if your read regularly. So take it as an opportunity to look for the Energetic, in the Mundane. It is so easy to allow the material world to grind down on us. To block out our perception of the Divine. Yet the Divine is always there, the presence of the Ace does not change that, it is merely a reminder. Still the Ace may also indicate that the unseen is more accessible than usual, and the Q.'s magical potential is at or approaching a peak.

So far we have been speaking of the Ace as a Significator, but what about when it appears as a modifier. Well as I said above, the Ace serves as a reminder, of the point of contact between the seen and unseen. So lets say the Q is asking if they should pursue the affection of someone. Depending on the Center card of the spread. An Ace of Swords, could indicate the Intent is, in line with the Q's wishes and that they would do well to court the person in question. An interesting description of the Ace of Swords as a modifier, I recently read was that it acts as a supercharger. The Ace does not so much determine the quality of energies in question, but amplifies them whatever energies are in play.

Divination: Totems: Butterfly, Transformation. Space, Energetic Realm. Cherub, Creativity, Rebirth. Eve, Openness, Purity.

Complete Change of Mind, Rebirth, Power, Prosperity, Victory, The seeds of Success take root.