Hello again, I celebrated my 43rd Birthday this week: By getting a good bit too drunk. After I slept that off, I laid out a cross, hoping for a little insight into the coming year.

Sig: Prince of Wands, This Covers: Hermit, This Bars: VII of Wands, This the Foundation: VII of Pen R, This is Behind: Wheel of Fortune, This is Above: Prince of Swords, This is before: Queen of Cups, This is your trump: X of Swords, This is your Home: Princess of Swords, This is your Heart: IV of Cups (R), This is the outcome: The Star.

Looking at Mel's cards I find certain details interesting. One is the fact that the Falcon and Eagle are both present. I think the Falcon represents vision, while the Eagle soaring, the freedom to use that vision. The light filling the frame behind the King is I feel the light before dawn. So the king is a guide to new beginnings. If you look carefully at the hand of the King, you will see, he is about to Sheath his sword. So although the King is a careful man, assessing us with his sword half drawn. When he has taken our measure, he is no threat to us.

Clouds fill the sky, setting a limit to the kings vision. Reminding us that however much we know we must still deal with the unknown. Clouds figure even more prominently in the Robin Wood. Golanv, in her essay on the Queen of Swords, describes them as symbols of discord, but the clear sky above, indicates the an ability to rise above those clouds, and I simply cannot put it better. Those thoughts of discord. Robins King is not nearly Melanie's, Clad all in mail, his arms crossed upon his chest. His swords drawn. Every thing about his body language says stay back. He is not our guide. He seems to me, to be the king of the other side of the swords suit.

If the Swords are about Intellect, Insight, and pure knowing, like Mathematics. The swords are also, about some of our harshest lessons in life. Lords of Worry (IX of Swords) and Lords of Anguish (X of Swords) pay court to this king. The swords come into play when we need to be cold, or when others are cold too us.

I have been feeling the sting of those lessons lately. I may well have lost a friend, someone I have valued for a few years now, but with whom I am involved in a misunderstanding. It seems it may be time to let go of that friendship, and the pain of trying to maintain that connection. That letting go, seems to be a part of a larger theme in my life just now. I have been clinging to bad habits. Sticking to a circle of friends, that I know I should have moved past some time ago now. I do care for these people, they are my dearest friends, but they are part of a pattern of life I need to leave behind me now. Its now only children, that need to consider whom they associate with, and how it impacts their life. Lastly, and not too whine, but it is a swords issue. I have been wrestling with anxiety attacks lately of the most unpleasant kind. Waking to nightmares. Or gripped by free floating fear, as I drive home. It is a curse, upon men in my family. My father wrestled with it for years. As have I off and on, it seems to be in our genes. I suspect it was a factor in my uncle's suicide, but I was not even born when that happened.

Yes the king of swords can be our friend, a mentor of great insight. Yet, Robins King is also part of the Tarot. He is the tax collector of the Tarot, appearing when it is time to suck it up and pay our dues. ... But I dont wish to end quite there today. I have been listening alot lately to Raven Dana's Accepting Mircles Tape, one of the affirmations she calls upon the listener to make. Is I choose now to learn my lessons through Joy and Pleasure. I very like that, and I dismiss the notion that I must learn through pain. Two powerful thoughts for those of us, with our fair share of milage on ourselves for one lifetime. So once again, I choose now, to learn my lessons through Joy and Pleasure.

Blessed be all, BB

Divination:Active, Analytical, Authoritative, Commanding, Controlled. Excellent Councilor. Just. Professional.

Reversed: Calculating, Cold, Cruel. Impersonal, Unjust, Lacking Compassion. Malicious.