Comparative Tarot

Description: In the background, sun sets at the horizon in a beige twilight sky. Clouds along the horizon are striped orange and yellow. Stars are visible as white dots in the top third of the card, three larger stars and a scattering of tiny ones. A rounded world below is mostly covered in greenery, with a river curving down the left side of the card and across the bottom. Floating above the world and centered over the horizon are two pairs of three crystal torches, with a larger fifth gold torch centered upright in front of them. Rainbow reflections curve along the horizon and from the larger torch down toward the others on either side of it.

Card title: Courage

Astrological association: Mars in Leo

Stones: Ruby, Peridot, Turquoise, Onyx, Sardonyx

Roman letter: G

I Ching: 40, Liberation, Deliverance (R.L. Wing)

Faceup Meaning: An aggressive approach to solving problems. Having an attitude filled with power and valour. Courage will be required to solve the situation at hand. A small gain is made after much effort. Standing your ground. Facing adversity. Ignoring the opinions of others. Holding fast against many others. Being yourself without fear or care of being harmed. Advantage.

Reversed Meaning: Being timid. Losing your nerve. Afraid to take action. Bowing down to others in the community. Being overwhelmed. Looking for ways to compromise. Giving up hope. Courage is not required to solve this problem, instead seek other avenues. Having others disapprove of you personally. Feeling as though you are in great physical harm. Doubt.

My take on it: I find pip-style minor arcana cards hard to interpret, and this one has even fewer background cues than others in this deck. Torches in twilight bring to mind the words of Dylan Thomas:

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

When things seem most hopeless, don't give up and let the darkness overwhelm you. Hold your torch of your convictions up high and forge ahead!

Tracy Hite