Tyldwick Tarot

Five of Coins This image appears to be an abandoned building: vines grow up the wall, weeds choke the yard, and old pieces of furniture and other junk litter the area. Yet a set of windchimes made of five dangling circles hangs intact. In this card, the security and stability of the four has given way to the disturbing, disruptive energy of the five. Health, home and our finances may be affected. It feels so hopeless that we may just want to sit in that old, weathered chair chanting the mantra, "Woe is me." But this situation didn't just drop out of the sky, it has been building for some time. And unfortunately, it seems only pain will motivate us to change our circums…

Two of Coins On a brick wall, a pulley system is affixed allowing a bucket with a plant to be raised and lowered. My mother has two asparagus ferns hanging in large baskets from her front porch. When she takes them down for watering, it takes two people to hang them back up again because they become so heavy. This card has a reddish tone to it, and it symbolizes the great amount of energy being expended. We only have a certain amount of time, energy and money to spread over all of our obligations - both those we want to do and those we must do. Like all "twos," this card is about choosing; in this case, deciding how we are going to "spend" our coins (time, energy, mone…

King of Swords The King of Swords is elementally Air of Air, and objects that symbolize this element abound in this card: butterflies, peacock feathers, a huge fan, and a windmill figure. The King has developed and transformed over the years, as seen by the butterfly. He is no longer tactless like the Page or impulsive like the Knight. The sprays of peacock feathers show him to be an excellent observer. Like a scientist, he will watch carefully and pick up on small details that most folks would miss. Gathering all these observations together, he can make decisions and create solutions that are objective and fair. Just as the wheel of the windmill is turned by the wind,…

Queen of Swords The Queen of Swords is elementally Water of Air; the water is symbolized by the garden pool while both air and water are seen by the flamingos and the harps. She is a nurturer, but not the warm, cuddly, fuzzy kind. She believes the best way to help a person is to be blunt and honest with them (the harp makes me think of the phrase "time to face to music"). And believe me, this woman can help "tune you up." The flamingos are interesting birds; their deep, shovel-like bills are used to dredge up mud and water then filter out what is edible and what is not. In the same way, this queen encourages us to filter out the emotions that might be causing us to clo…

Knight of Swords The Knight of Swords is elementally Fire of Air, so there are symbols of both fire (fireplace, phoenix statues and illustrations, sun-like frame) and air (peacocks, bellows). This knight is the go-to guy in cases where a quick solution is sought. Unfortunately, don't expect compassion to be factored in the answer. Though extremely knowledgeable, he tends to see things in black and white, right or wrong, with no gray areas. He's all about quick action (notice the clock on the mantel), and most people would consider him impulsive. He reminds me of red-tailed hawks; in the blink of an eye, they swoop down, tear the head off a dove, then disappear with the…

Ten of Swords The inkwell, note and red smear on the wall immediately bring to mind a suicide. I can think of no other action that makes such a dramatic statement. But there are other forms of suicide that aren't physical, which is to what this card alludes. In these cases, there is a manifesto drawn up in the mind, an idealistic set of ideas and beliefs that a person is willing to go to bat for no matter what the cost. Just recently the Republican Party shut down the government in America because Obamacare was passed into law and they were angry about it. The politicians got paid for doing nothing, while thousands of Americans didn't receive services or pay while the …

Nine of Swords The truth might set some people free, but for others it strips them bare and leaves them feeling raw and exposed. Curled in an emotional fetal position, they want desperately to shut off their minds. But what we resist will only persist; it needs to be dealt with. The mind may have manipulated things to make them sound good, but now the “writing is on the wall” (as seen by the swords pip) and the unvarnished truth is plain to see. It’s excruciating the way the brain can replay over and over the choices made or words said and the consequences that resulted. Simply saying “I’m sorry” is not going to fix what has been broken this time. But is it possible we…

Eight of Swords There’s only one reason to put barbed wire on top of a fence or wall – to keep people from climbing over it. Having spent part of my childhood on a large farm, I can attest to the problems of trying - attempts often ended with a trip to the doctor for a tetanus shot. But one thing I do remember about those acres and acres of fields enclosed by barbed wire fences. There was always a gate somewhere. So why stay here in this one spot and stare at the wall and wire? It’s a good excuse not to have to do anything. I can point and say, “I have no options.” Okay, maybe it does look like I am blocked with no way out from where I’m standing. But if I’ll move my f…

Seven of Swords The paper with its collection of theories and algebraic equations made me think of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: "We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality." And in many cases, it has no ethical or moral compass either. Here is the card of the spin doctors who make a crooked politician look legit, a con man who sells worthless items to an elderly woman or anyone who uses bullshite to impress another person and earn their trust. He has so many facts and figures that it will make your head spin, and he sounds impressive. Forget trying to reason with this person; he has his own b…

Six of Swords The standing globe and world map on the wall made me instantly think of my mother. At age 77, she has visited over 50 countries, often going back to visit some of them again. In fact, she's making her way from Amsterdam to Budapest now. She comes from a small Southern town in Georgia where what's considered "nice and respectable" is firmly etched in stone. Perhaps because she taught school for forty years, she believes everyone should travel outside their community - if not overseas, then at least to another part of the country. It is easy to adopt certain ideas and opinions based on personal life experiences, especially from one's place of origin. It als…

Five of Swords This image reminds me of the many homes around here that were foreclosed on and now sit abandoned and neglected. It resembles what might be the 5 of Pentacles in the RWS, but it is actually a take on a Thoth-inspired meaning; it could be entitled "The Dark Despair of Defeat." But what caused the defeat in the first place? I think the dirty, broken window gives a hint - lack of clarity and detachment when it comes to self-assessment. My daughter and I were watching "Cake Boss" the other night, and one of the women on one team had an extremely strong personality. She demanded the huge cake they were making be stacked in a certain way. Even though her teamm…

Four of Swords The wheelchair is a symbol of being incapacitated, but in this case it is not the body that is the problem but the mind. It is the result of over-thinking, or “analysis paralysis.” We’ve become like a little motorized toy car that has run into the wall and continues to bump into it without going anywhere. What we need to do is stop thinking about the problem and rest our brains. I’ve been amazed in the past that as I’m falling asleep or waking up in the morning, I’ll suddenly find the key to unlock the puzzle that’s been driving me crazy. The solution can also come when my mind is distracted by some mundane task like weeding or cleaning. The other symbol…

Three of Swords This card reminds me of the saying, "When a door is closed, look for an open window." However this window looks not only firmly shut, but bricked up on the other side. There are times when life is like being in a car that is stuck in neutral; you can't put it in drive or reverse. The decision made in the Two of Swords is a done deal, with no way to return to what was and no option for the future. The only choice is to get out of the car and find some new wheels (ideas, beliefs) that work. Some people might choose to force the issue and get a bulldozer to knock down the bricks, but all that's going to result in is a pile of rubble. Take off that seat-bel…

Two of Swords A friend recently heard lots of birds making a racket outside and went to see what all the fuss was about. She found a terrified cockatiel, obviously an escaped pet. She got her cat’s pet carrier and placed it inside, and immediately it calmed down. She turned it in to the local shelter in hopes it would be reunited with its owner. The terror that bird must have felt is what I see in this card. The dove has been locked out of its comfort zone where it felt protected and secure. Isn’t that how it feels when we have to make a hard decision, one that will cause pain no matter what we choose? Though we may want to force the responsibility on someone else, it …

Ace of Swords The suit of swords represents clarity in various guises: ~ the objective truth ~ sudden creative inspiration or problem solving ~ effective communication ~ the light of understanding Yet the sword is double-edged; it can be used to help or harm. The spiraling steel basket around the hilt is more than just a decoration. Along with the cross-guard (hand-guard), they keep the hand from sliding down towards the blade during thrusts and protect the hand from blows by an opponent. Care must be taken with our knowledge and words, or we may wind up with unintended injuries. We need the cross-guard to stop us from crossing boundaries that we don't need to c…

King of Cups: The King of Cups is elementally Air of Water. The window and eagles (on the vases) show his association with air, and the swans and clouds represent a combination of both elements. His gift is being able to maintain his composure and detachment while in the middle of emotional dramas. Like the swan that floats atop the water instead of sinking down into it, he can see with clarity what is going on in a situation without being blinded by all the emotional muck. On the table by the window is a hurricane lamp, and it reminds me of a lighthouse in a storm. It is his light that can shine through all the chaos and help keep relationships, groups, businesses, etc. …

Queen of Cups: The Queen of Cups is elementally Water of Water - enough to float a barge and enough in which to drown. There are multiple images of this element in the card: the head of Poseidon on the wall (the god of water rules her head and heart), the two dolphin-like fountains and the large pool of water. A magpie sits atop the garden wall, a symbol of omen and prophecy, and indicates this woman's intuitive and empathetic gifts. It's not unusual for her to see a coworker and remark, "Your eyes look so sad. Do you want to talk about what is wrong?" She may have a sudden feeling about someone or something, rush to get where they are, and find that funny feeling helped …

Knight of Cups: Here is the Knight of Cups, elementally known as Fire of Water. Two dolphin figurines emphasize his watery nature and the fireplace itself his fire. A clock sits on the mantel, and like some of the other knights, he is driven by a need to get things done before time runs out, leading sometimes to a wonderful spontaneous experience and other times to an impulsive disaster. Yet the white flowers in the vases show his motives are generally pure. The dolphin figures speak to his need to be supportive and encouraging. He likes being the "white knight" that sweeps others off their feet with his kindness and help. The downside to this knight can be seen in the an…

Ten of Cups: Seeing the cabinet filled with various containers (cups, pitchers, teapots, vases, etc.) in this card reminded me of a visit I made to see my grandmother in the nursing home years ago. She took me to see a quilt that hung on her friend's wall across the hall. Each square marked some part of the woman's life: her diploma, a wedding picture, symbols of her career, beloved pets, children and grandchildren, hobbies and friends. Like the cabinet filled with the containers, it was a testament to the emotional peaks in her life. It marked a life of emotional fulfillment, a life blessed by many experiences, challenges and people. The quilt squares and containers are …

Nine of Cups: Nine lovely decanters of perfume are lined up across a dresser. Smell can flood us with memories, change our mood and even influence our work performance. Our sense of smell is connected to the olfactory bulb, a part of the brain's limbic system that is often called the "emotional brain." Our brains forge a link between a smell and memory; when we encounter the smell again, the memory associated with it is recalled and produces an emotion. Here in these decanters are various moods we can choose from - the woodsy smell of confidence, the spicy smell of sensuality, the citrusy smell of focused energy, the fresh floral smell of an exciting beginning. These frag…

Eight of Cups: The "sevens" are generally about assessing and evaluating, but in the "eights" things have been put in order, so now it is very clear what is real and what isn't. There can be no more wasting time with denial or fantasies. And what is seen in this Eight of Cups? An old potting shed is filled with broken and neglected tools. What should have been kept in good working order has been discarded in a dark shed. What should have been valued and appreciated is now ignored and neglected. This relationship is obviously lacking in what Aretha spells out in her song: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. However, the stack of pots do show some order - five on one side and three on the other…

Seven of Cups: On an elaborately decorated table sit seven cups; on either side of the row is a vase holding a peacock feather. Behind the cups is a statue of Mahamayuri, one of several Wisdom Kings and Queens in the Buddhist pantheon. As guardians and protectors, these figures were generally depicted with ferocious appearances in order to frighten and destroy evil and ignorance. Mahamayuri however, was generally shown with a peaceful countenance and riding a peacock. In choosing what will fulfill us emotionally, this queen reminds us to look beyond sensual pleasures and the desires of the ego. Wisdom is needed in making this choice, and she warns us not to be impulsive b…

Six of Cups: My first impression of this card was a vacation picture someone took while at the beach. But then I noticed the inscriptions on the concrete rail. It made me think of memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Wall or the bronze inscriptions of the 9/11 victims at the twin pools in New York. I've also had friends who planted trees to remember their loved ones as a living memorial, much like the six pots of plants in the card. Such memorials can help us integrate the past with the present; it is a way to learn rather than to simply regret. It is not necessary to shut the door on the past, but it is important to appreciate and live in the present moment. The watering…

Five of Cups: I can't think of a better image for loss than what is used in this card - a mausoleum. The low-hanging limbs of the trees seem to cling to the building, suggesting a difficulty in letting go and moving on. The iron gates on the mausoleum explicitly make it known that what is gone won't be coming back - the lost won't be found, the broken won't be mended. It wasn't until I saw the reflection of the mausoleum that I realized this area was a swamp. Like those emotions of grief, regret and sorrow, its boggy mud threatens to suck you under with each step. But there is hope... water lilies are blooming in this swamp. The water lily seed begins deep in the darkness…

Four of Cups: On a mantel sit four German beer steins with a medieval tapestry behind them. These steins originally had lids to keep out insects. But what is being kept out here? A clue can be found in the tapestry - it is a part of a group of tapestries called "The Hunt of the Unicorn." In this particular tapestry, the unicorn is using its magic to purify the water that had been poisoned by snake venom. The unicorn represents the ideals many of us have when we start something new. Unfortunately, real life rarely lives up to those ideals. I remember when I first started working with women alcoholics and addicts. I wanted to save them, to help turn their lives around. The …