10/08/2025
It’s my day off, I went downtown for a bit this morning to have some time out of the house, and spoke with a man outside of Powell’s books who was setting up a vendor table for his art he’s been making out of recycled materials for the last 36 years. He asked me what I was passionate about and I said tarot. Apparently I was the first person he’s spoken to that answered that question with that answer. I came back home and decided it was as good a day as any other to pull a card. Not for any specific reading, just to keep my studies of each card intact and fresh in my memory.
The moment I began shuffling, the King of Swords flew out of the deck.
I considered first that swords are represented by the element of air, which is an intellectual domain of thinking and the pursuit of knowledge. The King is an authority figure, protector, leader. I thought very much of my own father, his constant pursuit of knowledge, his leadership in our family and also the church. He always maintained the same level of focus on the things that were important to him. He was a very level headed man, he communicated very clearly, and although he was rooted in his beliefs, he always sought to learn more. I have more respect and admiration for those traits now as an adult, and I’m inspired to be like him in those ways. The King of Swords represents him in all of those ways and more.
Tarot is my catalyst for processing the most difficult emotions I’ve ever felt. Without any intention aside from basic study, the card that jumps out directly correlates to the piece of my life that I struggle the most with. Being reminded of so many specific details of my dad does make me miss him more. The King of Swords is my reminder that although we all leave this earthly realm eventually, we leave a mark on the world anyway. I will treasure the parts of him that I carry with me, and hopefully pass them on to those I love, the same way he did.
