Comparative Tarot

Description: Unlike the warmth of the other wands in this deck, here the sky and ground are a muted greenish gray. The sun has been replaced with a floating yin-yang symbol. There is a path to the symbol, but with multiple blockages along the way; a patch of thistles, two crossed torches, and finally a grate of eight torches jammed into the ground.

Card title: Oppression

Astrological association: Saturn in Sagittarius

Stones: Gold Topaz, Turquoise, Garnet, Sapphire

Roman letter: J

I Ching: 54, The Marrying Maiden, Subordinate (R.L. Wing)

Faceup Meaning: “Excessive obligations that weigh heavy on your shoulders. … Burdens that come with great success. … Feeling that there is no way out. … Striving and sweating to meet an unreasonable deadline.”

Reversed Meaning: “Reevaluating the situation and setting yourself free from the ties you have accepted. … Changing your perspective to allow a freeing of the mind. … Liberty. Self-rule.”

My take on it: I see the distant symbol as a spiritual balance, an ideal state to strive for, but a perfection that can never be reached. Success comes in making the journey, getting past each roadblock along the way. It’s only when we balk or give up at a challenge that we lose our way. I’m not sure why, but right now this card seems more hopeful than anything else. That may change next week, or tomorrow, or in the next five minutes, but now I’m stepping over those thistles.

Tracy Hite