Chris Butler Tarot - Seven of Swords

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Seven of Swords

http://chris-butlerart.blogspot.com/2008/07/seven-of-swords.html

What happens when you find yourself in a situation where everything isn’t quite as it seems? This is the territory of the Seven of Swords.

When Pamela Coleman Smith designed her version of the card, she showed a valet creeping stealthily away from an army encampment, having stolen five swords. Two remaining swords stand upright in the ground beside him. If you look in the background of the card, you can see what might be a group of soldiers, blissfully unaware that their arms are being stolen. The implication is of a daring theft, requiring stealth, skill, courage, deception and significant risk taking on the part of the thief. He carries what is possible and may have to sneak back to steal the remaining two swords.

The card itself denotes a situation where honesty may not always be the best policy. You may find yourself in an environment or situation that requires you to guard your own council jealously whilst treading on eggshells to negotiate a safe path through difficulties.

When designing my first deck, the Butler Tarot, I opted for a simpler image, inspired by Nigel Jackson’s Medieval Enchantment Tarot. My Seven of Swords shows the face of a fox in the half light of an orange sunset. Of all animals, we associate the fox most with guile, cunning and stealth. When this card appears, we find ourselves having to assume the fox’s qualities to get by.

I’ve experienced situations like this on several occasions throughout my work and personal life. In each case, I’ve been faced with someone who appears on the surface to be a good friend but harbours hidden motives for their own gain. When these hidden motives are to the detriment of your own well being or to those around you, it becomes necessary to extricate yourself from that person’s sphere of influence.

Secrecy and even dishonesty become inevitable in such circumstances and the greatest challenge of this card lies in the need to maintain your own personal integrity throughout the whole process. Revenge is not the issue here, self preservation and the protection of those close to you is what matters.

Whenever this card appears, it’s a sign there’s someone near to you that may need to be re-assessed. If you’re feeling that a friend or lover may be too good to be true then there’s a simple reason why - they are hiding something. Stay quiet, watch, listen and plan your next steps with care.

Chris.

Chris Butler.
Illustrator for the Quantum Tarot. To be published by Kunati Books. September 2008.

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