Margarete Petersen’s Seven of Feathers is dominated by the beak and talon of a bird and a newly-emerged butterfly, superimposed on the ever-present sphere. According to the LWB, the butterfly symbolizes seeing things for the first time, while the beak and talon represent being ready to tear apart what we don’t like. It’s about recognizing traps, the self-fulfilling prophecies and self-sabotage, the blind spots. The phrase that really sticks with me is “change your attitude towards your own hostility”. There’s the dawning of awareness (good Air/Swords correspondence!) of the potential for damage through negative thoughts and words.
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| Seven of Feathers (trimmed): © Margarete Petersen Tarot |
The Seven of Swords is often linked to being stealthy – one
of my tarot friends, Alison Cross, calls it
the ‘Sneaky Pete’ card. Some say it’s
about making a sly escape, but I like Juliet Sharman-Burke’s description –
“tact rather than aggression”. The
astrological association is Moon in Aquarius – so we have the potential for unpredictable
reactions, perhaps. But there’s something about thinking things
through and making plans for the future (Aquarius) while taking great care with
those plans. Remember the Moon is ruled by Cancer, so there’s likely to be an
element of protectiveness involved – possibly to the point of being
underhanded. Aquarius brings the
detachment, the clarity of vision, so that any protectiveness or nurturing
quality to the action is not going be based on emotional needs. We often warn against being too free and open
about what we intend to do when we see this card – that’s the Moon’s caution
acting on an Aquarian desire to spread knowledge within the community.
Beware the mind’s traps.
Valid beliefs, or a new
perspective required?
Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004.
