Tools of the Trade

The more that I read the tarot, I seem to find my own personal significance in the cards. Take The Magician as an example. I just knew that he was going to show up today. Today's cards are loaded with symbolism which makes sense to only me.

As I type, a man is hanging from the branches outside of my window. With chainsaw in hand, he has just cut away some of the beautiful (but massive 80ft) tree at the bottom of our garden. I adore this tree and I love how it spans over the entire garden, but as well as my parents finding it tiring and annoying to have to continually brush away the needles from the over-hanging branches, the fact that it blocks out light was a problem for prospective buyers, so they have brought in a tree surgeon. The last time that he came to offer a quote, I drew The Magician. I instantly saw him as someone who could wave his Magic Chainsaw and help us to sell our home. As I sit here, one man stands at the bottom and the other is harnessed to the tree. Coincidentally, they both wear red and have yellow helmets, which made me think of the general colouring of the card. The guy at the bottom points up at the branches which need to be removed. When I look at The Magician, with one hand pointed up and the other to the floor, he could be pointing at the foliage above him and saying 'Yep, that's the one we need to get rid of next'.

The 3 of Swords is a card of heartache and separation. This could very easily be connected to the tree, since I am sad to see it being cut. I love that tree, and despite the practicalities of taking some of it away and the light that is now flooding into the garden, I preferred it as it was before. I have always known it with it's fuller figure, so I do feel the loss. I asked the tree surgeon if he could cut me off a chunk of one of the branches to keep. I don't know what I want to do with it, but when we do move, it will be nice to have it as a memento. This tree has been part of my life for the last twenty-three years. I am sure that the squirrels and other animals who live there are not best pleased either.

On a more mundane level, today's cards tell me that there is something I can do. I've got the tools of the trade and can make a difference. I just got a message from my friend, who's grandfather died at the weekend. She is having a tough time generally and asked if I would be able to design the Order of Service booklet for the funeral. With my computer here, I said that I would. The 3 of Swords describes the broken hearts of both her and her sister.



Illustrations from The Radiant Rider Waite by Pamela Coleman Smith, recoloured by Virginijus Poshkus