The Aces: A Solitary Path
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m re-reading Cory Hutcheson’s 54 Devils, a short volume on divining with the playing cards. In it he portrays the Ace of Spades as a showing a solitary venture in which no assistance is forthcoming. I decided to expand this idea to all of the Aces as expressions of “going it alone.”
In the realm of tarot, the Ace of Wands suggests receiving “no encouragement from others;” the Ace of Hearts “no sympathy;” the Ace of Swords “no guidance;” and the Ace of Pentacles “no confirmation.” In all four cases the circumstances are clearly devoid of any kind of external reinforcement, and there is nobody else to blame if things go wrong even when a court card is present. Unless the ghost of Harry Truman swings by, the “buck stops” with the querent.
If the seeker is inclined to serious deliberation of the “think first, act later” kind, this inherent self-sufficiency may well be an auspicious influence. The aggressive Ace of Wands and Ace of Swords should ideally elicit a “look before you leap” response, while the more benign Ace of Cups and Ace of Pentacles convey a “stay calm, keep your eyes open and take nothing at face value” vibe. When they appear in a reading, all of the Aces grant an opportunity to step back and assess the situation before committing to action.
Although there is a tendency in modern tarot circles to imbue them with a greater sense of momentum (as in “taking the first step”), the Aces in their self-referential “solo” mode are perfectly aligned with the emphasis on doing nothing prematurely. As I see them, in Pythagorean terms they represent the static “point” of potential energy that exhibits no motion or direction; while they may embody nascent purpose, they do not yet exhibit its kinetic dimension, which arrives with the linear trajectory of the Twos. The Aces epitomize “What could be,” not “What will be” even under the most advantageous conditions.
When the Ace of Wands shows up in a spread, there is usually abundant enthusiasm that can lack focus and staying power: the dilettante or dabbler is symbolized, as well as the insouciant “player.” The Ace of Cups is like a pristine well of feeling that could soon become a stagnant swamp of self-defeating remorse and regret if it isn’t given a healthy outlet. The Ace of Swords risks paralyzing itself with navel-gazing self-analysis if it doesn’t raise its sights. The Ace of Pentacles may choke on its own prosaic inanity while it sits on its hands.
It isn’t sufficient to the embody energy, we must put it to work. These wholly subjective cards rely on the cards following them to furnish a gateway to progress, a dynamic incentive to seize the moment and release their latent mojo. It’s nice to see them in a forecast as an available resource, but — while they may inspire one to imagine the road ahead — they aren’t going to carry the day all by themselves.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on August 13, 2023.
