In today’s card from the Gaian Tarot we see a
hiker on his journey taking a moment to look at his map. He needs to make up
his mind where he wants to go from here. Also he can track back where
he came from.
So for now,
he needs to decide if he should go straight for the mountain or follow the
river and stay in the valley. When you set out for your life’s journey it is
good to make a map and plan out your major goals so you won’t get lost along the
way. But is also wise to make room for the unexpected; for adventure. It isn't
possible to plan out your life to the last detail. Nothing in life is sure
and every certainty is in my opinion an illusion, made
up by our controlling ego. I like this
version for the Seven of Swords so much more than the Rider Waite version. Here the hiker is gathering his thoughts, his options (his Swords). Discarding some
of them and holding on to the rest. No treachery or sneakiness is depicted here,
just a lot of common sense.
After having
mapped out the best way to reach his
destination, the hiker puts away his map and continues his journey. How exiting making plans might seem, nothing can
compete with the actual travel.
Affirmation: I am
determined to keep following my own path and trusting each step will bring me closer
to who I am supposed to be.
As you said Ellen, this is a perfect example of how the Gaian images more fully round out some of the traditional meanings. I can imagine me wanting to get to my destination as quickly as possible, yet wondering if the shortest route might be more dangerous, or if I might miss the best scenery.
ReplyDeleteIt has took me a long time since I realized we always have to choose one way or another and try to make the best choice we possible can in that moment. Sometimes you just have to take leap of faith and follow your gut instinct :)
DeleteMap? You mean I'm supposed to have a plan? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to break it to you but I guess everybody enters this world with some kind of plan. Maybe yours is tucked away deep in you backpack :D
DeleteI really love this depiction in the Gaian because it highlights the element of "strategy" which I think it so important to the energy of this card in any deck. So many people see this as the "thief" card and they're really limiting themselves. Strategy, and even recognizing what won't work so that you can start to focus on what will - I think that's one of the greatest gifts of the 7 of Air/Swords.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. It has took me a long time to get past the "thief" aspect of this card. It started to dawn to me when I saw the Druidcraft version with the old man studying. :)
DeleteLove your affirmation, Ellen, and the comment about making room for adventure. One thing that comes up for me with this card is the question of who made the map? Do we follow a map someone else creates, or do we draw our own? :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question to think about. I belief we draw in our main direction and destination before entering this life and adjust our path when needed and add little sidetracks along the way. Also we can color in the empty spaces of our map after we have visited them to make a unique piece of art. :)
DeleteSomewhere in all this there is a grand design too which transcends time and space. So in the here and now I'm not able understand it.
That's a beautiful way of explaining it, Ellen :)
DeleteThanks Chloe
Delete