Johnathan Lockwood Huie, author of Simply An Inspired Life, sent this picture in his Daily Inspirations email that I receive. As soon as I looked at it I thought, "That's the 9 of Wands." Then when I went on to read the quotes he had selected to go with the picture, I was sure of it. The Golden Dawn's title for this card is "Great Strength." It is about calling on the strength we have in reserve when we think we don't have any more strength at all. It is a test of resolve, determination and endurance. Looking at the soldier pictured in the card, I just know he will never give up or surrender. He may go down in the end, but he'll go down fighting with the last ounce of strength he has in his body!
The picture and the quotes below are about bravery, but implicit in the idea of bravery is that determination to endure which I see in the 9 of Wands.
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery as a quality which knows no fear, I have never seen a brave man. All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened.
- George S. Patton
Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Illustrations are from the Universal Waite Tarot and Jonathan Lockwood Huie. Please view his website at:
http://www.dreamthisday.com/
I love finding Tarot associations like this!
ReplyDelete(See: http://jamesricklef.wordpress.com/category/tarot-associations/)
I often see the 9/Wands in terms of the book "The Red Badge of Courage." Consider this quote about the book from Wikipedia:
"The novel, a depiction on the cruelty of the American Civil War, features a young recruit who overcomes initial fears to become a hero on the battlefield."
I also like this quote for this card:
"Heroes aren't born; they're cornered."
Best,
James Ricklef