The Purposeful Walk

When I first received the Anne Stokes Gothic Tarot, I was a little uneasy with some of the courts; namely the family of Swords. I didn't mind finding a Grim Reaper on my Death card, but as court figures? Well, let's say I wasn't so keen. In the Anne Stokes Playing Cards, some of the same characters turn up, including this one, who is named Mardoc in The Playing Card Oracle system. But here, it doesn't bother me quite so much. Possibly because there is just two in the family of Spades. Mardoc's daughter, Terrene, is a chip off the old block.

Apparently, Mardoc is heartless, but I am gaining quite a fondness for this guy. I am not a big fan of skulls, even though I do have a large one on a belt buckle that I bought before the explosion of them in high street fashion. I used to wear it a lot before then, with skinny jeans and hoodies. It's a stylised one, so quite unlike the face of this grinning K♠. I can sometimes find these kind of skeletons a little creepy, but since this one has turned up a good few times in readings, I am succumbing to his charms.

Interestingly, this is the third court in as many days. Following the same procedure as I have with the last two, I shuffled good ol' Mardoc into the three jokers and he ended up sitting in the third position - that of torso, which is governed by Hearts. Hearts (water) and Spades (earth) are naturally compatible. Earth needs the nourishment of water and water needs earth to give it form. Water softens Mardoc. He's not heartless really. He's just a practical guy who's not particularly interested in working with his emotions, which makes him a little insensitive to those of others around him. He'd have probably liked my afternoon. Even though a little tired, I went out into the garden to help my parents. They cleared a bed overgrown with weeds and bushes and I set to burning it all. Once done, I helped them drag a big stone birdbath into position. Yup, Mardoc would have enjoyed that: 'Get the job done son', he'd probably have said, passing the candelabra to light the bonfire with.

I was up early this morning to get bathed and go to see my psychotherapist. She seemed impressed with my progress and we have scheduled in a few other bits to my routine. She wants me to take a short walk every day, which we are calling a purposeful walk. She suggested I tie it in with my creativity; maybe either taking a photograph on my walk, or completing a small sketch, or collecting something. I liked that idea and may bring it to my blog as part of my daily draw. Mardoc likes it too. Sitting amongst water, he brings action into the realms of emotional reaction and creative reflection.


Illustration from The Anne Stokes Playing Cards by Anne Stokes