Minor Arcana
Air Cards
Air Cards
Air is the most unseen of the elements. It is related in this deck to swords and birds. The swords shown in the cards represent clarity of mind, reason and intellect, and also challenges. Like the air, thoughts are unseen, and we can become entangled in the illusions of the mind. While the truth can set us free, thoughts can also deceive us. The Mystic of Air in the Imaginal cards is Merlin who can weave enchantments with the power of his mind.
The Quest for the Sword Hallow (holy thing) can present a series of mental challenges, but it also invites renewed perception. The Grail test in Air is to learn discernment through Self-Inquiry, to establish Sovereignty and ultimately Direct Knowing. The one who has mastered Air needs no master.
Traditionally, this is the realm of swords. There are many swords of truth and power, but the most ancient sacred treasure comes from Ireland. It is the “Sword of Light” or “Shining Sword” of Nuada, outlined in the Book of Leinster. This fiery sword that can dissolve or deflect was said to originate from mystical Findias in the north, was engraved with spells that made the bearer undefeatable. It was the sacred gift of the first king of the Tuatha De Danann who called it Claímh Solais (phonetisized “Klau-Solas”).
The ancient hallow in Arthurian myth is “Excalibur” or Caledfwich in Welsh, the magic sword of King Arthur given to him by the Lady of the Lake, to be returned at his death. Excalibur is a symbol of authority, responsibility of power and divine kingship. It is the mythmaking of a leader and is an indication of potential glory, hope and honor.
In the Celtic Wheel of the Year, Air is associated with the direction of the east, the place of the rising sun, and the springtime. The Druid animal totem is the bird, especially the Hawk or Raven with clear sight and increased intuition. The Air cards are also paired with a variety of Gemstones.
Self-Inquiry is well known by mystics around the world as the main path to Self-Realization. With the Air cards, three Grail questions are asked. You are invited to choose one, or several, to inquire into. Inquiry can lead you to wholeness.
Ace of Air – Truth
Keywords:
Thoughts – New Ideas – Mental Power – Freedom
Reversed
Illusions – Misinterpretation.
Meaning:
The Ace of Air represents clarity of mind, reason and the intellect. The sword shown in the card points upward, reminding us of the power of divinity and the mystery of Primal Source. The Ace of Air suggests that it is time to call upon reason, new ideas, and the power of truth, and that answers will be forthcoming. Sanity is won when we establish Direct Knowing. As the Lady of the Lake raises her hand from the lake and holds the sword aloft, know that clarity will emerge. The path forward will be revealed, and the truth will guide us to freedom.
Challenge:
The Ace of Air relates to Sovereignty, specifically the divine right to be free of external authority figures and to govern our own lives. Whether the card is upright or reversed, remember that swords always test the Grail seeker. The challenge is dealing with the energies of the unseen. There are times when we seem bound by spells. It is time to use the sword to destroy any illusion that does not serve. We can get caught in the illusions of the mind. The way to freedom is inquire into truth.
Legends of the Grail:
Air likes to be elevated and is happy in the Ace position. We see Arthur’s sword pointing skyward. Excalibur, Caledfwich in Welsh (pronounced “cad-fish-witch”) is a symbol of authority, responsibility of power and divine kingship. It indicates the mythmaking of a leader, as well as potential glory, hope and honor.
Pre-Celtic Legend:
his sword is linked to a more ancient treasure from Ireland, “Sword of Light” or “Shining Sword” of Nuada. The crow in the center is related to the Morrigan, a Celtic goddess who had the ability to shapeshift. This daughter of the Tuatha de Danann, turns into a crow on a few occasions in the Ulster Cycle. She is generally known as a warrior goddess, but she can also be a fertility goddess and above all else, she values sovereignty. Her ability to shape-shift in a battlefield reminds us that she is not afraid of death. As a sovereignty goddess she holds the crow on the king.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The alchemical term Hieros Gamos (a Greek term for Sacred Marriage) applies here. The Ace of Air indicates that the Goddess, a personification or embodiment of the land, grants sovereignty to the king. In the Celtic era, this was ritually enacted by the Goddess or Queen marrying the King. In fact, a man could not become king without approval of the Goddess of Sovereignty. Queen Maeve is another Goddess of Sovereignty, and so this card is connected in this deck to Queen of Earth, and her husband, Cohchubar, King of Earth. Reading note: If two or three of these cards appear in the same reading, inquire into the ways in which you are required to break free from any outside authority, and lead from Direct Knowing.
Expression:
The love of the truth, for truth will set you free.
Grail Question:
What does Sovereignty mean to you? What is your relationship with truth? What is the path forward?
Two of Air – Truce
Keywords:
Differences – Polarity – Friendship
Reversed
Indecision -Doubt – Deliberation
Meaning:
If you pulled this card, put down your swords because in truth neither one of you will win. There are gifts to be found in doubts and fears. Sometimes it is best to call a truce and simply abide until the way forward is clear. There are times to deliberate and befriend the mind, and this is one of them. This is an invitation to find win/win solutions and retain friendship regardless of differences.
Challenge:
The world is which we live often appears dualistic, and we are sometimes faced with choices that invite compromise, or war. It takes courage to find balance and stand on our own two feet in peace without the need to engage in conflict. When we know our own mind, then we can engage with peace and certainty with others. This is the way of Justice. Note: This card pairs with the Justice card.
Legends of the Grail:
The Celts consider the Crane to be a messenger of the Gods. In Nimue: Freeing Merlin, they act as guides to the Underworld and the realm of Gwyn Ap Nudd. Cranes remind us to establish balance and harmony in our lives. Journeying with a Crane may help us overcome issues that may have originated in a previous incarnation. The illustration shows two herons that could strike and engage in battle, but the higher path is the wisdom to just agree to have a difference of opinion.
Gemstone:
On the hilt of the swords are precious gemstones including Blue Sapphires, which are considered protective. These stones can bring spiritual insight and represent faith and hope. Sky blue as a color relates to divinity. It is reminiscent of the biblical teaching, “Not my will but Thy will be done.” (Luke 22:42).
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The Trinity Knot or Triquetra in the center of the card is composed of a circle and uniting three interlaced arcs. The Triquetra is one of the oldest spiritual symbols, dating from 4BC and perhaps earlier. It appears in the Book of Kells where it was used to depict the holy trinity This Celtic knot is still used in homes to dispel negative energies. Triquetra means “three-cornered.” The idea is that there is a never-ending unbroken line that represents unity, protection, strength and everlasting life. The symbol reminds us that true strength is found not in division but in unity. The idea is that there is no beginning and no end to life. When we begin to tap into divinity, there is an eternal flow that will carry us forever.
Expression:
Agree to disagree. Facing opposition is a test of character.
Grail Question:
Can you be peaceful even confronted with an opposing view? Is there is situation in your life that requires compromise? Do you trust the will of the divine?
Three of Air – Confusion
Keywords:
Sorrow – Grief – Heartbreak
Reversed
Letting go of pain
Meaning:
If you have pulled Three of Air in a reading it may be that you have experienced an emotional blow. You may be going through a breakup or separation due to incompatibility; or you may be facing a situation that pains you in some way. You may feel rejected, hurt or unhappy. Part of the teaching here is that there is strength and kindness in the vulnerability of the heart.
Challenge:
The Three of Air is inherently a challenging card signifying pain and suffering, even heartbreak. We must keep in mind that there is wisdom in grief. Suffering can make us feel confused, and the feeling may make us contract and withdraw from a situation. There are times when we must shed healing tears. When we face our pain, we tend to become more loving and compassionate. When the perceived swords of judgment are removed, we may discover the great wisdom of the heart.
Legends of the Grail:
The Owl shown in the card is from the Welsh story of Blodeuwedd, the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes in the Mabinogion. in Heroines of Avalon & Other Tales. In the tale, magicians transform meadow flowers into a wife for the hero or sun god Lleu. Blodeuwedd takes the shape of a beautiful woman. Known as a Goddess of emotions and seduction, she has been raised in nature and loves the buzzing of bees. She understands little of human morals. As she is created, a taboo is placed on her, that if she is unfaithful to her husband that she will be transformed into an owl. After she is abandoned by her husband, she does encounter another man, Gronw, and is confused when her feet turn into talons and her arms turn into wings. As an owl, she flies to Arianrhod for healing, wisdom, and ultimately, freedom. In some versions of the tale, she is cursed forever for her adultery and attempted murder of Lleu.
Celtic Mythology:
The story of Branwen, daughter of Llyr, mythical king of all Britons, also appears in the Mabinogion. Matholwch asks for Branwen’s hand in marriage in an effort to unify Britain and Ireland. Within a year they have a son named Gwern. However, because of a horrible act inflicted on Irish horses, the hoped-for unification is broken. Branwen was imprisoned and cruelly punished. A bird carries a message for her and eventually she is freed, but she cannot justify the horror she has seen and dies of heartbreak.
Gemstone:
The three stones on the hilt of the swords are Tiger’s Eyes, stones that help the wearer to be courageous and maintain resilience in situations that can seem overwhelming. The Black Obsidian on the tips of the swords protects against negative energies. The stones is help the wearer banish grief.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
An owl looks stunned, opens its wings in front of a triskele. The three circles seem to be spinning as if confused. It almost looks as if the bird has flown into a window and is in shock. A sword or truth rests above the owl as if ready to slice through the chaos. Two swords below are locked in truce. The owl shows only one eye, suggesting the way forward is to return to simplicity.
Expression:
The courageous face pain, learn, forgive, and then transform.
Grail Question:
In what way has your heart been wounded? What confuses you? Is there anyone is your life that you need to forgive?
Four of Air - Stillness
Keywords:
Retreat – Meditation – Acceptance
Reversed
Restlessness
Meaning:
If you have pulled this card in a reading it is time to rest, meditate and refuse to engage in strife. The wise ones know that to walk on the earth in peace takes a master. Give yourself time to think and reflect. There are times to refuse to engage in conflict and in those moments, there is power in walking away.
Challenge:
Anyone can engage in conflict, so choose which battles to fight. Often when we give ourselves meditation and reflection time, we can gain new insights and perspectives.
Legends of the Grail/Celtic Myth:
The illustration is of four songbirds is from the story of Emer, from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the tale, Emer waits patiently for the return of her future husband, Cuchulain, who must go to Scotland to train with Scatch, the Mystic and Scottish martial artists known for turning men into heroes — or killing them. Emer does not to seek Cuchulain, because she knows he will come for her when the time is right. The four songbirds always accompany the great beauty Emer, who knows how to weave tapestries of life and love. Although she is imprisoned by her father, she refuses a suiter and awaits the destiny that she knows she will live into. Even when forced to sleep between a king and a druid before the day of her wedding, Emer accepts her fate and trusts that she will soon be in the arms of the man she loves.
Celtic Myth:
Augury is the ancient art of reading or interpreting the future based on the flight patterns of birds. The Roman augurs sought to read whether the gods approved of a course of action. Lightning, thunder and the cries of birds were considered important. The druids still employ the art of augury, or interpretations of nature, to understand the passage of time, and time-travel, also to understand the flights of souls after death, and to understand immortality. The Celts believed that when we died in this world we were born in the Otherworld; and that we left the Otherworld to take on a new body in this dimension. They also believed our birth into the Otherworld should be celebrated. The Otherworld is sometimes called the realm of Beauty.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Songbirds represent elevation, wisdom, and hope. Because of their ability to fly away, they symbolize freedom. They also sing when caged. Here the birds looks as though they are on a Ferris Wheel, so there is some confusion about what is up and what is down. The sword above the four birds suggests that the sword of truth can slice through the stillness releasing the birds from the confines of their wheel. The three swords below are straight and suggest that meditation and stillness are a prerequisite to understanding the way forward.
Gemstones:
The Lapis Lazuli stones in the hilts of the swords suggest that intuition and inner awareness must be awakened.
Expression:
Close your eyes, rest and find solace within.
Grail Question:
Is it time to take a retreat? What is your experience of peace? Are you able to take the essence of peace into the world with you?
Five of Air - Conflict
Keywords:
Defeat – Battle – Obstacles
Reversed
Setback – Overwhelm – Challenges
Meaning:
If you have drawn this card in a reading, there is some sort of conflict taking place. The Five of Air is a card of initiation, and one of the more difficult ones. You always have the right to defend yourself. Even though it seems unfair, sometimes brute force will win. If you are willing to see a conflict, even a defeat, as a teacher then you can learn a lot about ourselves. Failure can clarify a lot. It may be time to set some healthy boundaries.
Challenge:
The sword of light can be misused. None of us likes to feel overpowered or conquered, but since swords are ultimately about justice, we might ask who or what is being defeated. It might be that it is time to conquer an addiction, or vanquish a bad habit, or leave a situation in which we feel dominated. In these ways we see the sacred hallow at work. We may also find that conflicts make us feel as though our psyches have been split in two. Sometimes it is smart to accept defeat and move on; at other times we need to stand and fight.
Legends of the Grail:
In the story of Nimue: Freeing Merlin, in order to save herself from the sword of Balin, Nimue creates a double. Although she is ultimately unharmed by the sword, the beheading of this image of herself causes disruption and chaos in Camelot. It also creates a challenge for Nimue, who must ask for assistance of Gwyn Ap Nudd, Lord of the Underworld, to recover this soulless double. The issue is that the double causes problems. As this image-self picks her bloody head off the floor and sets it back on her shoulders, the court calls her a sorceress. The true Nimue, in shock and despair, watches helplessly as the scene unfolds. She knows she will be thought of as evil, and it takes the help of many advocates to bring the two sides of herself back together again. Even today, Nimue is confused as an evil sorceress, and her true role as mysterious Lady of the Lake is often misunderstood.
Celtic Myth:
The crow in the middle of the swords is linked to the Morrigan, Morrigu, or Mor-Rioghain in Modern Irish. She is also known as the Great Queen or Phantom Queen, and often appears in her triple form. In Irish myth she is thought to be the embodiment of the three land goddesses: Eriu, Banba and Fodla. She is associated with war and fate, doom, death and is invoked for victory in battle. She encourages bravery in those she supports, and fear into her enemies. She is an ancient Goddess of Sovereignty, who protects certain territories and their people.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A crow looks as though it could be pierced by several swords. It has flown through the conflict but the other birds flapping and cawing remind her that awareness is needed. There are issues that still need to be resolved. A flock of crows is called a murder, probably because they flock to battle scenes.
Symbolism:
Rhodochrosite heals by dissolving the walls that have built up due to hurt and trauma. The Rhodochrosite in the hilts of the swords suggests that conflict is revolved through compassion. This pink stone of love invites a positive outlook.
Expression:
Choose your battles wisely.
Grail Question:
Is it necessary to engage in battle? Who feels defeated? What needs protection?
Six of Air – Journey
Keywords:
Moving on – Earned Success – Progress
Reversed
Trapped – Lost – Escape
Meaning:
If you have pulled the Six of Air in a reading, it’s time to just stay focused on the journey of life. It might be smooth sailing or turbulent, but just keep moving along. This is a time to reflect on the lessons that are being learned. Like Cessair and her hawk, you may feel sad about what is being left behind, yet it is important to keep your eyes focused like a hawk on the future. A change or transition is taking place that is based on decisions made in the past. You may feel like you are trapped, or that you want to run away, but the lesson is to be present with what is arising. This too shall pass.
Challenge:
Change tests us to trust the unfolding future. Even if we feel lost at sea, it is likely that the future is more promising than what we have left behind. The heart and mind may feel in opposition to each other, the rational mind may want to dominate the intuition of the heart. The challenge we face here is to trust that we are guided and to pay attention to the flights of birds, and other signs that we are on the right path.
Legends of the Grail/Irish Myth:
The Hawk in the card is from the story of Cessair (the daughter of Noah’s son Bith and his wife Birren) who was denied a place on the Ark. Refusing to drown, Cessair built her own Ark and escaped the deluge with three men and fifty women. They sailed for seven years, until they finally landed with the help of the goddess Eriu at Bantry Bay in County Cork in 2361 BC. Fintain survived the flood by turning into a salmon. Eventually he became a man again and told the people the story of the bravery of Cessair and her people.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The Celtic Tree of Life or Crann Bethadh shown in the middle of the card symbolizes balance and harmony. It is symbolic of wisdom, strength, and longevity. Many Celts believed that trees acted as gateways to the Otherworld. Druids gathered in sacred Oak Groves where they engaged consciously with the many forces of the universe. Observing a tree in all four seasons supports the understanding of renewal and rebirth. The Tree of Life can carry messages to spirits that reside in the Otherworld. The Hawk of dawn flies east carrying the wisdom of nature to those who are ready for the journey. Spikes protect the Tree, but also act as a compass for cosmic travelers. The six swords point outwards as if protecting the journeyer.
Gemstone:
The Yellow Sapphires in the hilts of the swords is a gemstone of wealth, spiritual knowledge and power. It is linked to the planet Jupiter and can have a positive impact on an individual. It helps the wearer achieve mental equilibrium. Some mystics feel it can help a person avoid accidents.
Expression:
Thoughts have wings.
Grail Question:
Is it time to take a journey? Are you being challenged to step onto a new path? What in your life needs focused attention?
Seven of Air – Trickery
Keywords:
Illusion –- Betrayal – Deception
Reversed
Lies – Dishonesty – Games
Meaning:
This is generally a card of deception, betrayal and mental manipulation. Someone may be casting an illusion and trying to get away with it. It is best to be honest, because secrets are always exposed in the end. Or you may feel as though you want to escape a situation, to sneak out the back door without being noticed. Honesty is always honorable. Ultimately karma and conscience do not allow for trickery. It’s best to come clean. If something feels suspicious, inquire into it and discover the truth.
Challenge:
Establishing healthy agreements make friendships last. When someone breaks an agreement, then trust shatters and the relationship needs to dissolve or be reformed. It can feel shocking to be deceived, and recovery can be challenging.
Legends of the Grail:
Merlin can sometimes appear as a Wren. In the novel Nimue: Freeing Merlin, Myrddin Emrys is confronted by the Morrigan in the form of three hags. He tells invites them to challenge him. The first had throws water and then spits on him. Merlin smiled at her. The second blew on him until his hair stood on end. Merlin laughed and teased her for trying to undress him. The third threw a thunderbolt, and he responded by quickly shapeshifting into a wren who flew to a branch and burst into song. Because the elements loved Myrddin, they would not hurt him.
Celtic Myth:
Lightning was the weapon of the lightning god Taranis, and the Wren was sacred to him. It is thought that he was transformed into the Roman Jupiter. The Wren, Dreolin in Irish, and Dryw in Welsh was worshipped as a sacred bird by the Druids. The Wren is small but sings powerfully and is thought to be cunning because of its ability to soar over bushes and to amazing heights. Unfortunately, the beautiful bird was traditionally killed on St Stephen’s Day. Druids felt blessed when they saw the bird. In Scotland it was the Lady of Heaven’s Hen, and the bird was protected.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The triple spiral is one of the oldest symbols of spirituality. Three is a sacred number, for it defines the eternal cycles. There are three Celtic worlds: the underworld, the present world and the celestial world; or earth, sea and sky. In the card the triskele is encircled with a ring of pearls symbolizing our ability to move and overcome adversity, to purify and become whole.
Gemstone:
Emerald are stones of the heart that invite the wearer to experience love and compassion. The biblical parable of the Pearl of great price reminds us that the whole world may be gained while the soul is lost. (Matthew 13) The Pearl beyond price is eternal joy and eternal life. A Pearl or Mukta in the Vedic tradition, enhances the power of the Moon, bringing peace, steady mind and wellbeing to the wearer.
Expression:
Why gain the whole world only to lose your soul?
Grail Question:
Who is betraying you? What does dishonesty serve? What is the pearl beyond price?
Eight of Air – Spellbound
Keywords:
Illusion – Betrayal – Deception
Reversed
Lies – Dishonesty – Games
Meaning:
The Eight of Air in a reading can indicate that you are feeling trapped or bound by illusion. Have you given your power away to an outer authority that does not deserve your devotion? Have you become passive, or fallen victim to a situation? If you are feeling silenced, censored or enslaved, it’s time to break free from the spell.
Challenge:
When we feel trapped in a drama, it’s a sign that is time to change our thinking. We might want to meditate on the way in which we have fallen prey to negativity or have been paralyzed by fear. Let go of the judgement and walk away. Then we can become free agents again.
Legends of the Grail/Celtic Myth:
The Welsh Star Goddess Arianrhod`of the Silver Wheel had the ability to shapeshift into an owl which allowed her to peer into the depths of a human soul. Arianrhod, the daughter of the Mother Goddess Don, was virginal in the sense that she contained her own vessel of light energy, but also enjoyed the company of Mermen. Her uncle Math needed a virgin to hold his feet, and Arianrhod reluctantly agreed to assist him until he could find another maiden. He tested her purity by making her leap over his enchanted wand. As she leaps, she gives birth to Dylan, a sea spirit, and another child who is kept in a magic chest, and eventually with her reluctant blessings, becomes Lleu Law Gyffes. The story reminds us that even a Goddess can become momentarily spell bound.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The Silver Wheel represents the process of life, death and rebirth. Arianrhod was said to carry the dead to the heavenly Corona Borealis. The Silver Birch of new beginnings was also sacred to Arianrhod. It is celebrated on Samhain, at the beginning of the Celtic New Year. Birch twigs are often tied together at that time to drive out the spirits of the old year. The nine spokes in the wheel indicate the ending of a cycle of time.
Gemstone:
Hematite (a Greek word meaning “blood”) is linked to the planet Mars, named after the Roman god of battles. It is connected to the root chakra and draws protection to the wearer.
Expression:
Always believe in a happy ending.
Grail Question:
What fascinates you? Who or what has a spell over you? In what ways are you fascinating?
Nine of Air – Nightmares
Keywords:
Dark thoughts – Negativity – Stress – Anxiety
Reversed
Daymares
Meaning:
Challenge:
Negative thinking can make things seem worse than they are, especially in the middle of the night. Fear makes us contract, and pulls us away from life supportive energy, and our natural ability to create. Discover what is truth and what is fiction.
If you have drawn this card in a reading, you may have fallen prey to negative thinking. Worry and stress can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If nightmares are keeping you awake at night, it is time to seek help. Find someone who can help you understand your situation clearly.
Legends of the Grail/Celtic Myth:
In Nimue: Freeing Merlin, the Goddess of Sovereignty was evoked in a ritual to challenge Myrddin Emrys (young Merlin). High Priestess Anna commenced the ritual by opening the doors of the four directions and calling upon the guardians of the land. In the East, the direction of Air, she called upon the primordial Goddess Anu for insight and wisdom. In the South, the direction of Fire, she called upon the creative life force of the dragon beings. The land shuddered and shook as she sang to the South, and it was clear that the Dragons were listening. To the West, the direction of Water, she asked Morgen, Goddess of the Sea, to act as challenger. Immediately, the sky darkened, and a funnel of water blew in from the lake. A murder of crows obscured the sky. They landed and cawed raucously in the trees around the young initiate. She turned to the North, the direction of the Earth, and called upon the presence of the Ancestors in Myrddin’s long lineage. Then she asked for the presence of the Cailleach, the Old Loathy Woman of Celtic Myth, for this was a test to see if Myrddin Emrys could serve as a leader of a nation. During this ritual Adhan, Myrddin’s mother, stepped forward, announcing that she knew her son’s lineage, although she had kept it secret. The rumor had been that she had been visited by a demon, but she confessed that it was a tale she had told to stay alive. She tells her son that his father was the Bard Madog Morfryn from the town of Caerleon-upon-Usk, and the descendent of Cole Hen. She asks that Coel Hen’s protection and blessings rest upon her son. The Goddess of Sovereignty in her crow form then tests Myrddin Emrys, who chooses the way of light and peace. After he makes his decision, the murder of crows take flight into the air and disappear.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Nine swords are stacked around a window showing a murder of crows that appear to be flying through a storm. The garland of flowers protects both the birds and at the same time keep them encircled. They seem to fly around and around without seeing a way out.
Gemstone:
Peridot promotes restful sleep. Amethysts clear negative energy.
Expression:
You can always create your way out of a nightmare.
Grail Question:
What haunts you?
Ten of Air – Endings
Keywords:
Martyrdom – Exhaustion – Breakdown – Breakup – Dead-end
Reversed
End of a story; NDE
Meaning:
The Ten of Air in a reading indicates that something is ending. It may be a job, a relationship, a way of being, or even a mental approach has arrived at a conclusion. This sort of ending may seem painful, final, and may carry a sense of being wounded. If this card appears in a reading you may feel as though you have been stabbed in the back. As with all air cards, you can choose how you feel about this situation. Perhaps it is great that the ordeal is behind you now.
Challenge:
The test is not to despair when reaching a conclusion, but instead to understand why the ending is taking place. Reversed Ten of Air can suggest a near-death experience, or shared death experience. Sometimes when people have faced their demise, they return with a very different outlook on life.
Legends of the Grail:
In The first person to achieve the Holy Grail was actually the sister of Percival. It was Dindraine who opened the gates to heaven through her self-sacrifice and martyrdom. In the story that appears in Heroines of Avalon & Other Tales, Dindraine has visions of being a bride of Christ. The priests do not understand her visionary and oracular nature. She knows that the land is in despair and that a countess is wasting away. The countess needs the blood of a maiden to recover, and Dindraine allows her blood to be given to the countess for her healing. Unfortunately, the wound is deep, and Dindraine bleeds to death. Percival is upset by the sacrifice, but Dindraine’s visions are strong, and she knows that the Kingdom of Heaven is opening for her. She leads the way for the pure knights, Galahad, Percival and Bors. Once on the Otherside, she sees that rebirth is necessary for she did not learn to honor the land of the living. Sometimes the religious fervor of martyrdom blinds us to the inherent beauty of living.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The spiral of Willow leaves draws the Dove counterclockwise against the natural direction of the Sun, Moon and Stars. It can suggest an encounter with the underworld, or with death. In Christianity, the Dove represents the Holy Spirit. (Luke 3:22) The Holy Spirit can move through a visionary such as Dindraine, who sacrificed her life for that of another.
Gemstone:
Ten different gemstones offer many possibilities for the next phase.
Expression:
For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Grail Question:
What is ending?
