This week’s cards offer a pleasing balance: one Minor Arcana card and one Major, the satisfaction of having completed one thing but with another thing yet to do.
The Six of Daggers is a lovely pat on the back, a nice way to start the week: You’ve accomplished something, taken a step forward because you’ve done the work to earn it. You’re not at the finish line yet, by any means (do we ever really get there?) but you’ve made tangible progress.
I illustrated this concept by showing six ornate daggers in a fancy presentation box lined with lush moiré fabric. See the engraving on the blades and the jewels on the hilts? This contrasts with the plain daggers on most of the other cards in this deck. The set of daggers isn’t a huge thing, but it’s a nice little “win” along the journey.
The Judgment card points to the need to make a decision, probably a difficult one. The important aspect of this situation is to make the decision based on what you feel is right rather than based on anyone else’s opinion. For me, the best way to do this is by checking in with the higher self or the divine.
That’s why I’ve illustrated this card with the central seat from the Throne Room in the Knossos temple complex. Despite Sir Arthur Evans’s fantasies about it being King Minos’s throne, archaeologists now agree it’s the centerpiece of a ritual room where a priestess embodied one of the Minoan goddesses - a place where the divine intersects with the human.
Also, if you look closely at the card, you can see that the painted border that frames the “throne” isn’t exactly even; it slants ever so slightly to one side. In other words, it’s not perfect.
I could have used a ruler to make it exactly even, but I chose to draw that line freehand and let it be imperfect, because that more accurately illustrates another aspect of this card’s meaning: We’re not perfect. No decision we ever make will be perfect.
So we have to decide where to draw the line.
What’s good enough? Where does that delineation lie? That old saying about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good applies here.
So do the best you can. Make the decision based on your true values and move on from there.
This week's cards:
Six of Daggers: Well done! You've put in the necessary effort and moved a step or two forward. You've accomplished something, so take the time to enjoy it before you put your nose back to the grindstone.
Judgment: It's time to make some hard choices. Make your decisions based on what you feel is right, regardless of what anyone else thinks. This may mean you have to change direction or move away from some people and toward others. As long as you stick with your principles, it will turn out all right in the end.
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About Laura Perry
I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice also includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series. I’m also an avid gardener and living history demonstrator.
Coming in my first week of retirement… timely ✨
I'm a bit confused about the suits in your tarot. Your interpretation of the 6 of daggers relates more to the 6 of wands in traditional tarot decks. What do the labryses and horns relate in terms of elements?