The Eights
The 8 of Wands is, in almost every deck, a very simple image and a fairly clear message: events have been set in motion and will resolve speedily. While I can spin this to create a more mystical or more “important” meaning, in truth, when it shows up in a reading, I read it simply as events in motion moving toward their logical conclusion. No surprises…and not much time to change the outcome. Although, when things are moving that fast, it wouldn’t take much. The results, if you do try to upset the forward progress, are likely to be quite messy.
The 8 of Swords is one that I’ve seen spun optimistically a lot. And I am really an optimist. However, to say “she may be bound, blindfolded, and surrounded by swords, she can still escape if she tried” annoys me and diminishes the experience of the querent. This is one reason I love this particular image. The drama and tension of her dangerous situation is undeniable. This card, like the 8 of Wands, to me simply describes a situation rather than prescribes a course of action.
This 8 of Cups is really intriguing. Traditionally a card of leaving a perfectly fine and ultimately not right situation, the journey in this card has a twist. The figure is not leaving a stable home, but is rising from the ocean, rising from his subconscious. He is taking his human (or conscious) form and yet, he still worships the moon, the goddess of the depths of the ocean from whence he came. Very circular and yet very evolutionary. Complex and intriguing.
The 8 of Pentacles is the search for perfection, a journey of getting it just right. Just as the events in the Wands is nearly resolved, the danger in the Swords is nearly upon her, and the evolution of the Cups nearly complete, so it this artisan’s quest nearly realized. I bet the very next one he makes is absolutely perfect.
Hi Barb,
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I see the 8 of Wands a little Differently, more of a Volcano exploding, or crashing through termite ridden worm wood into your basement; “Forces long brewing under the surface now erupt into your life, situations pushed back to long now demand being resolved.”
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For me the 8 of Pents speaks to Mastery, the Q. has become the master of their situation, as skill, a career; and has intigrated all the tools of that trade/ moment into themselves, but is just shy of the transcendance we see in the 9; that moment of crossing from Journeyman to Master lays between these two cards.
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Your Thoughts?
Brightest Blessings, BB.
I love the 8W in the Sun & Moon deck, in which a woman is facing oncoming arrows without fear, a bolt of rainbow-light streaming from her hand. She’s a warrior of Love, and a reminder to me to face whatever is coming (oh so quickly!) my way with Love and acceptance (as best I can).
Hi BB!
As far as the 8 of Wands, I can see your point. I would tend to use that for the Tower. The 8 of Wands (particularly in the RWS deck) is just too orderly to feel chaotic or eruptive. The orderly lines and swift movement just feel like things rushing to a logical conclusion for me.
The 8 of Pents, I think we are pretty much in agreement here…yes, mastery, but still that desire for perfection. I think most masters become masters because they settle for nothing less than perfection, which is unattainable and so they keep reaching. And I definitely love your phrase “that moment of crossing from Journeyman to Master lays between these two cards.” Absolutely!
I’m so glad you stopped by. It’s been a while, I think. Shine brightly! Barbara
Oh I do peek in, I dont always comment, but I do pop by, glad you liked the 8 of Pents comment,
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But If I may Elaborate on the 8 of Wands,
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I agree with your about the Tower, but I see the 8 of Wands as sort of a Minor Tower myself. Much as the 6 of Swords is the Minor for Death. (Although One might argue the 4).
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Anyhow I would see the 8 of Wands as a less challanging situation than the tower; but I have a personal history with the card that leads in that direction.
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At the same time I can see your point about the orderlyness of the Wands, they often looks like Rockets all flying off in the same direction, (for good or ill), it certainly bares thinking about; but as I have noted before, we each have our own contract with the Tarot, and while there is a lot in common, we each ultimately personalize our meanings, no?
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Blessings, BB.
BB,
you wrote: At the same time I can see your point about the orderlyness of the Wands, they often looks like Rockets all flying off in the same direction, (for good or ill), it certainly bares thinking about; but as I have noted before, we each have our own contract with the Tarot, and while there is a lot in common, we each ultimately personalize our meanings, no?
And I say: YES! We definitely personalize our meanings. That is part of the beauty of tarot, isn’t it.
I had not thought of the 8 as a mini-Tower or a Swords (4 or 6) as a mini-Death.
Now I want to go through the deck and match some more minis to the Majors.
Thanks!
bb,
barbara