My second favourite method of divination, after dowsing, is now tarot card reading. I don’t use much of a methodology – I’ve never “learned” the cards, nor do I have any background in the original tarot card meanings. At one point I was as far as to learn the general characteristics of the “suits”, but then with each changing deck this got re-worked and soon I forgot all about that information. I now just take some keywords from the book that accompanies the cards, read the general meaning, and let my intuition find the meaning for me in the light of the questions I asked. This method has worked very well for me, and has been astonishingly useful. I’m not going to change my ways now, even though I have bought the renowned tarot book “78 Degrees Of Wisdom” on Kal’s recommendation. One day I might even read it.
I wanted to do a tarot reading to fill in some of the gaps from my current quest of “The Sword and The Shield”. Sure, I had gone through two incredible experiences to acquire these energetic symbols, artefacts if you will, but what were they for and how could I access them? These were among some of the many questions that I had about the quest. I gathered my questions, and then pulled out the Wildwood Tarot deck – my favourite deck for druidic forms of answer.
Here are the questions that I came up with to ask:
- What is the purpose of me having Galahad’s sword and shield?
- To what purpose should I put these energy forms?
- How will the sword and shield help me in my spiritual quest?
- How will the sword and shield help others?
- How can I evoke the sword?
- How can I evoke the shield?
Some preliminary dowsing was required to complete my other questions, which I felt weren’t suitable to a tarot form of answer:-
- Will these energy forms last beyond this year? – yes, for as long as I work magickally
- Is there anything else I need to know about the energy forms? – this tarot will reveal all
- Is Ash involved in evoking their powers? – yes, I will always need as Spirit Guide to assist with their use.
- Do the two energy forms of sword and shield always have to be used together? – no
So, with some questions answered, and many remaining, I dowsed for the number of cards to draw for each question, and then made an ad-hoc layout on that basis.
Card draw and interpretation
a) What is the purpose of me having Galahad’s sword and shield? (1 card)
8 of Arrows – Struggle. Courage is needed to survive the storm. In the face of doubts about your path, summon your reserves of wisdom and courage. These tools are given to you to help in this struggle.
b) To what purpose should I put these energy forms? (1 card)
10 of Bows – Responsibility. The burden given to you is not only for your benefit, but for the greater good of all.
c) How will the sword and shield help me in my spiritual quest? (3 cards)
Sword – Ace of Stones (Foundation of Life) – The Sword is given so that you can to reach the very pinnacle of magickal will and single-minded focus by using this energy form.
Shield – Ace of Bows (Spark of Life) – The Shield is an integration (melding) with the environment and offers the mastery of its gifts.
Together – The Woodward (11) – Through their use find inner strength and determination, a quiet courage to be brought out with force during the dark moments on The Doubtful Path.
d) How will the sword and shield help others? (3 cards)
Sword – Queen of Arrows (Swan) – The Sword is a strong protector, yet has the ability to separate, and to bring sorrow and disgrace if not wielded correctly (see Responsibility above).
Shield – The Ancestor (5) – The Shield energy will be the dawning of new hope for those on a spiritual path who need it. With it this strength gives a forbearance, a patience of nature’s cycle, and gives the feeling of trust in the inner voice that Nature provides to lead you further along this path (see Woodward above)
Together – The Journey (13) – Together these energy artefacts allow for the change into a new self. By facing one’s inner self wielding the Sword and Shield, the dark and the light of the psyche can be fully explored, leading to an acceptance of death and the cycle of Nature. Death will hold no fear. Change will be accepted.
e) How can I evoke the SWORD? (1 card)
Knight of Stones (Horse) – Through the use of physical strength and activity. I believe this to be the “testosterone burst” that I discovered when doing physical training last year.
f) How can I evoke the SHIELD? (2 cards)
Two of Stones (Challenge) – Challenge + The Guardian. Er… tricky. “Challenge the guardian”? I suspect this relates to my Spirit Guide and calling upon his assistance to evoke the shield. This would fit with the initial dowsing, which indicated that such a relationship would be necessary for me to work with these energy forms.
The Guardian – A spirit form, possibly my Spirit Guide or guardian of any site that I want to work at. Needs a little clarification.
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Another remarkable and consistent draw. Considering that each Minor Arcana suite has at least ten cards with number values, eight out of the eleven cards drawn were either “regal” or “primary” cards (Knight, Queen, King, Ace) or one of the Major Arcana cards – i.e. the really ‘important’ cards. Astonishing, yet again.
