Comparative Tarot

2 of Poetry (Individuality) shows us a man sitting on a stool and holding a mirror in his left hand. With his right hand the figure is writing something on a sheet of paper. Near his right foot kneels an angel before a square. A group of spirits huddle beneath his left knee. His expression seems almost blank and his clothing is classical but unremarkable in style. He appears to be writing what he sees reflecting before him in the mirror. The angel also appears to be gazing into a mirror as though in search of something. Behind the figures are a range of gray-blue mountains. In a box above the figures is the phrase "Every man's wisdom is peculiar to his own individiality."

The book says: This image illustrates Young's lines comparing the "moral man" (shown holding a hand mirror and writing on his lap) with the "man immortal" (the angel) and the "world's dark shades" (the spirits). To see and express one's deeper individuality requires looking beyond the temporal self into the eternal self. If the man in this card puts aside his ego-mirror he will see his immortal self reflected in the square mirror at his fee, as well as a reflection of the infinite sky overhead. His true individuality is his divine reflection, the angelic self. The angel bows not to the mirror but to the divine spirit it reflects. This card is about avoiding worldly confusion and not being influenced by selfish concerns. You need to discern into which mirror you look - the vegetable glass of earthly issues or the mirror of imagination that reflects the eternal truth. This card suggests that every issue makes a surface impression behind which lies an eternal reality. True individuality comes from seeing both one's outer and inner personalities, discerning he difference and then acting accordingly. In the creative process this is when you look into yourself to see the underlying content and meaning of your project. his is the choice of whether to express your ego-self or you true self, which is a particularized expression of immortal truth. The more you are your (true) self, he more universal your message.

Keywords: Viewing things in your own way; awareness of intuition and oracles; holistic comprehension; being mindful of your talents; enlightened self-expression; ability to choose between alternatives.

Bee's Buzz: My first impression upon viewing this card is a sense of self-centeredness and being overly involved in one's image and what one projects to the world. The man is self-absorbed and almost consumed by himself. In some respects he represents the image projected by some artists - they are so consumed by their art that they lose connection with the world around then. And as long as its a temporary condition, this can be beneficial. But this card reminds us that when one becomes permanently self-absorbed and self-involved then one loses the connection to one's spiritual nature. The angel is our inner divineness, our oneness with the Great Spirit that imbues our world with her blessings. When we get too absorbed with ourselves, even for creative purposes, then we lose our sense of spirit. The blue mountains in the background remind me of the climb we need to make to reach our goals. The blue color speaks of peace, tranquility and calm. Perhaps we need to master these qualities (or at least try to) in order to reconnect with our divine essence and not get lost in contemplating our own navel. When I look at this card I am reminded of how easy it is to get so wrapped up in our own fire, our own creativity, our own drama, that we never looked beyond it. It's all about me (or you). And this can become extremely isolating because eventually even the best of friends grows tired of listening and sympathizing. There is a fine line between being in touch with one creative spark and getting consumed by it. And this card warns us of the possible loss to ourselves if we do become consumed by our own drama.

Bees Blessings
Debbie