Ancestral Path - Three of Staves
By Julie Cuccia-Watts; book by Tracey Hoover
Publisher: US Games Systems, Inc.

In the Ancestral Path, the suits have stories which flow from card 10 to the ace. In this card, the main characters are (briefly stated) coming back from their honeymoon--he to the reigns of power, she bearing new life. They disembark from the ship while a slave or porter carries their stuff. The three staves are their two royal scepters and an ankh she carries (symbolizing her pregnancy, literally "bearing life").

LWB: "Successful conclusion of a journey or project. Leaping back into the mainstream of activity following a period of withdrawal or inactivity. Inheritance; passing power, wealth or wisdom to the next generation."

I'm used to the idea of the ships moving *away* from the figure in the RW and derivative decks, but in the Ancestral Path card, the ship has arrived. This card symbolizes finishing a preparatory or beginning phase, which initiates the longer-term phase. The honeymoon is over, and now the couple returns to begin their marriage, family and reign. Another good example is graduating from school and starting a career. Finishing a deck and deciding on publishing options. Turning on the stove after you've got the veggies all chopped. Meeting with the playgroup director.

Looking back at the LWB meanings, I would amend "successful conclusion of a journey or project," and add, "which is yet the first stage of a larger journey or project." As to the second meaning, as a parent I can only say that whatever one is leaping into is frequently something that makes whatever went before seem pretty tame. The third meaning makes me wonder who is passing the power. I get more of a sense of power received (or claimed) in this card.

One Love All Love,
Moonchild