We are shown something of the world, presented as a treasure from the high altar. Sealed with laurels and infinity bindings, and anchored by guardians of the four directions.
The angel and the eagle stand watch, while ox and lion engage gently with us. We are seen. Here.
We are not required yet to do, or to make, or feel or investigate. Simply to be here. To be aware within a great dream. Be ready.
Time, a fifth direction in the image, rushes at us. A subtle art is in our awareness of each direction: at once, we receive all that flows with the muse, and we see the possibilities fanning out.
Here is where paths diverge. We experience history, future, all, and nothing. We know that the muse cares not.
A theatrical pairing to the left of centre, shows us a projected backdrop. The performer on the right has to arch more, to bring all of the finale to our attention. They’ve moved us with their journey and their homecoming. We expect them to turn on cue and bow. End of show.
Except our child-selves are here to play. Jacketed like the left actor, and blue cloaked as the right. This portrayal has set us to feeling.
Cups represent all that flows and wells and dreams. Within and without, in wines and brews, in blood and cells. From this image we are to feel something. We are humans being, in fields of energy.
A cycle within a suit is our own hero’s journey. Our service that integrates the worlds. From the cycle of Cups we learn to gather and manage energy. We play in child-awe at the fountain. We accept each empty cup, and set it down when filled. All the way to our satisfied portrait at 9 of Cups: there we are with our full set. 1
The tenth cup seems unavailable through personal effort. It has to be awarded, almost by grace. Here we have the tenth, and its possibilities. And all the possibilities of moving energy. Even the rainbow praising our cups is made of light energy shifted by water.
The reward of homecoming is an ideal. A reference for every turning point, toward or away from permanance. Toward stability, or away to the freedom road. When we are moved by permanance we can think long-term. We can change our flow of creativity from the portable to the monumental.
There is a play. And we play. How else will magic flow, in the world of the ordinary?
1 Nine Cups, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p270
All images sourced at: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rider-Waite_tarot_deck
We see a stream of golden pentacles, a counter-clockwise circling of energy. And a solid bear of a character as the central pivot. Waite says this one is "in the guise of a merchant".1 What are these actors playing for us, here on the road outside a city? What is this piece of street theatre between a successful merchant and two worn out beggars?
Pentacles speak about the stuff of the world. About the magic of creating real things, real successes, real foundations.2 From our impressions of this image, something tangible is to be made.
Compare the archetype XVII The Star3. A counter-clockwise flow of dream energy is mirrored here: by the central figure pouring to the first supplicant; across to the next; up through the scales; becoming a stream of golden stars across heavens in the mind, and back to enrich beggars and earth. The sheer weight of gold returning could make the cycle self-sustaining.
In being the merchant we are richly at the center of the universe, supported and sustained, nourished and protected by universal creative substance. Now we are to distribute a balance.
We deal out six coins – two for you, two for the other, and two remain in the palm. This is not a one-tenth tithing recipe, but two thirds of something precious. Not gold, but an energy or information. Here we are as the Star, glowing in our stability and comfort, cycling energy to the world. We inspire and nourish.
A three times two-ness in the image finds a connection with Two and Three of Pentacles where: a youthful Two Pentacles4 has creative uncertainty in planning, and sending off our little ships; and Three Pentacles5 shows hard work and cooperation mid-project. With Six Pentacles we have success, and there is something to be shared.
Our merchant also pontificates a little. We have connections with the Hierophant (Major Arcana V)6 through cloak color, the attendance of two supplicants, and using similar hand postures. Hierophant is the authority on inspiration embedded in tradition, directing an army of supplicants who become authorities in turn. Something passes from one to the many.
We are Star and Hierophant acting in the world. From the Star we cycle fresh energy into now, and through the Hierophant we invoke tradition. The interplay and complexity of cycle and recycle; history and learning, along with inspiration and epiphany.
Yet another backstory to our charismatic merchant: wardrobe has put us in warm finery like someone from the Hanseatic League.7 That was an old northern version of the European Union, and it facilitated trade around the edges of Europe for about four hundred years. Merchants like us traveled the road and sea routes, trading goods and services, and bringing Renaissance culture back to northern cities.8
In being a supplicant, our poverty is creative need. Our characters are worn thin by a struggle to create. We face failure and the blank page. We may be held small through fear: someone could steal our idea; no one can help because only we can do this right.
How will we grow by creating? How will our relationships grow by creating together?9
As the left character we are asked to cycle half. Half of everything is to be out in the world, creating through movement. As the right character, here we've been, starving and begging, yet we have an unpublished red-letter something in the pocket. Cooperation and flow! Push out our little ships!
We take heart from the Hierophant's supplicants: to live simply, but create with the word of authority. Humble and strong and aspirational.
We learn to expand like a merchant, to employ, delegate, outsource. We can find subtle, half-hidden paths through which to advance.10
We learn, plan, create, assess - until this cycle harmonizes with that cycle.
1 6 Pentacles, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p270
2 Little Red Tarot: Magic Stars
3 The Star, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p136
4 2 Pentacles, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p278
5 3 Pentacles, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p276
6 The Hierophant, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p88
7 Wikipedia, Hanseatic League
8 Holbein the Younger portraits of Hanseatic notaries,
Wands are about something we're encouraged to do... and here is the one card in the Waite deck with a strong community feel. A call and celebration for work we can do with, and for the world.
Where we are in the image, the road is solid and earth colored. It's firmly in the here and now. There are four staves planted like a ceremonial gate from our side to the action. The welcome committee really want us: there's a lush and fruitful garland on the gate to there, and waving garlands and gardens in the scene beyond. But the people seem quite a distance away, compared with the size of the wands.
Perhaps we have some inner work to do in getting usefully from here to there. Also, the two inside staves recall that narrow gate to an old walled city, the after-hours 'eye of the needle'. We have to leave behind all our baggage, and our camel, to squeeze through. The image implies we have time and space to get prepared, and decide on joining the others.
Once we leave our side things are interesting. The greeters are clothed in the colors of the great archetypes I and II. On the left is the blue and white of the High Priestess, and the Magician's red and white at right. These two are not the archetypes, just regular people developing those qualities to help the world. And showing us how to be effective in that work too.
The High Priestess is the 'secret church'1 and the Magician creates in the world. That's the inner and the outer to what we need: connect with, and amplify, our personal christ within, our inner light and life;2 then broadcast with that spiritual and therapeutic toolset to create heaven on earth, right here.
Across the bridge, behind the team already working, is the great bulk of the image. In this deck, if a sky is just a sky, it's colored blue; if clothes are just clothes they have earthy tones.
The 4 of Staves sky is a brilliant expanse of sunbird yellow,3 behind and beyond a town with huge gray walls, and no easy way in. The walls have cheery red turrets, and the motif for home is in the little red-roofed house. Our home is safe and high. The town is positive and well kept. Proportions here imply nothing less than the consciousness or knowledge of the world (yellow), and the world's sub-conscious (gray). Or at least a local portion of that.
We are invited to work with a select group: in peace-making and harmonizing for all our invisible and unconscious connections; and in raising of the world's consciousness and knowledge base. According to our abilities. With happiness and job satisfaction. There's no promise of riches, rewards or renown. Most other people will pay us no attention.
1 The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite, p76
2 techniques described by characters in books I-III, Life and Teachings..., Spalding.
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