Comparative Tarot

Dialogue (2) of Skill shows two mature men standing and talking. The man on the left has long brown hair and a beard. He is dressed in a deep russet robe with gold braid. The man on the right wears a blue-green robe and his long gray hair does not cover the top of his head. His face is bare. Behind the two men is a circle cut into 4 quarters. In the right quarter we see a snake curled into a spiral next to a brightly burning fire. In the lower quarter we see fish swimming in the water. In the left quarter we see a badger nestled in a hole beneath the earth. In the upper quarter we see white birds soaring among the wind currents.

The Book says: This is the poet Taliesin trying to talk sense back into Myrddin (Merlin) the British prophet after he had gone mad and spent years wandering mindlessly through the Caledonian Forest. Taliesin visits Myrddin and tells him about the creation of the world. He describes the elements, he weather, the natural world, and its inhabitants, and so recreates the context for Myrddin taking up his life again. Myrddin's moment of reintegration comes about when the complex web of life is rewoven for him upon the skillful tongue of Taliesin; it is only when the fragmented soul is given a living, meaningful context that it can be reassembled.

Keywords: A successful journey; attainment of goals; courage in undertakings; personal fulfillment; being more than equal to a challenge; validating personal achievement.

Reversed: Venturing into the unknown; loss of self-awareness; plans do not work out; the reining-in or restraint of potential.

Soul Wisdom: When like-minded folk come together, or when challenge meets skill, the dialogue is assured and exciting. Where are your skills and goals being drawn together?

Bee's Buzz: When I look at this card what struck me was the combining of poetry - inspiration, divine fire, spirit, with mind - focus, intent and knowledge. Taliesin is the legendary bard of ancient Britain. He holds the memories and the divine fire that can inflame and inspire the land. Myrddin is the wise counselor, the teacher and mentor who eventually is driven insane by the horrors of war. His experience and knowledge are reinvigorated and restored by Taliesin's inspired words. And Taliesin's creative energy and inspired vision reignite Myrddin's will to live and desire to return to living among humanity. In some modern retellings of the Arthurian/Merlin legend, focus is on Merlin's magical abilities and feats of amazing mental ability. But all of his abilities cannot protect him from the insanity that is war. In some ways perhaps Taliesin's divine inspiration (which can also be seen as a kind of madness) protects him from this path. Myrddin's intellectual path may have even resisted accepting and acknowledging this negative energy present in humanity. The message of the Dialogue of Skill is that this two strong and yang energies present in human nature may need to combine forces in order to move to the next level. We already possess he fiery, inspired, creative energy but now it is time to learn how to handle it and what to do with it. Possessing something does not necessarily mean we know how to use it. At this point in our journey we need to take the fire burning so brightly in the Augury of Skill and being learning how to tame that fire, how to channel it's power and work with it or else we risk being consumed by it.

Bees Blessings
Debbie