Tarot by bluemoon
The more I work with the court cards, the more I enjoy them and understand their crucial relevance to the Tarot as a whole
As I said previously, it was the queens that struck me initially with their power and beauty and, as we reach the swords and pentacles, that impression has not altered
In the Mythic Tarot, * the queen of swords shows the Greek mythological figure Atalanta sitting on a silver throne holding a sword in one hand and a water jug in the other
Her cool blue robes and facial expression lend a somewhat stern quality to the depiction and [b]stern, cool[/b] but [b]serene[/b] were:- my initial thoughts on meeting her
Atalanta was initially rejected and exiled by her father as he had wanted a son but he took her back on hearing how, in her adoptive family, she had become a skilful and talented hunter who was as strong and fast of foot as any man
According to Grant and Hazel,** she was so confident of her own abilities that she even tried to enlist as an Argonaut on Jason's quest to find the golden fleece
Atalanta represents an early shot across the bows in the battle for the equality of the sexes and this queen does, indeed, often stand for justice, equality and social reform, not to mention the independence and progressive outlook displayed by Atalanta herself
The queen of pentacles shows Omphale, queen of Lydia (now in Turkey), sitting on a throne decorated with earthy bulls' heads, holding a pentacle in one hand and a rich bunch of ripe grapes in the other
She wears sumptuous orangey robes and appears against a backdrop of rolling, green hills
My initial reaction to this card focused on the [b]sensuous beauty[/b] of the figure and the [b]richness and fertility[/b] of the scene overall
Omphale ruled her kingdom when her husband died with power, wisdom and generosity
She was, though, indulgent in physical and sensual comforts, lavishing fine clothes and perfumes on herself
Nothing but the best would do, especially in her choice of lover who was none other than the ultimate hero Heracles (Hercules) himself
Clearly, then, this is a queen who speaks of much luxury, sensuosity and material comfort
*The Mythic Tarot J
Sharman-Burke and L
Greene Cards illustrated by T
Newell Workbook published by Rider/Eddison-Sadd, 2001 edition
ISBN 0 7126 1473 7 Cards ISBN 0 7126 3002 3 ** Grant, M
and Hazel, J
Who's Who in Classical Mythology
Routledge, 2002, p.54
ISBN 0415260418
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