Fire dancer - Margarete Petersen's Daughter of Flames

Margarete Petersen’s Daughter of Flames is beautiful! Sheer exuberance as she dances in the wave of firelight, yet still contained within that square boundary...  Petersen writes of her being nourished by the milk of a tigress to become strong, but I see no felines in the image, unlike the big cats in the Six,  Seven and Eight (and possibly Nine!) of Flames.

Daughter of Flames (trimmed):© Margarete Petersen

Traditionally, we’d look to the Knight as an adventurer driven by passion, willing to take risks - or acting without even considering the risks; foolhardy, perhaps.  If the Page/Son is the child, then the Knight/Daughter carries more of the adolescent/youthful energy, and usually shows movement – often through the stance of a horse.  

 

No horses for Margarete Petersen, though. In her Daughter of Flames, I can see the passionate adventurer, the carefree adolescent. Petersen’s court cards give each other gifts: here, the Daughter receives the gift of song from the Mother, inspiration from her Father, and rhythm from her brother (Son) – all very clear in the image. 

Definitely movement, fire and spirit! But not much staying power, probably – she seems a bit too ephemeral for that.

 

Dancing in the fire 

Seeking out new adventures, 

Embracing the world. 

Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004.