In Shining Armour?

For the April 'poem a day' challenge this year, I'm writing haibun to explore and reflect on my new Tarot deck, Forests of Enchantment. 

Here Knights are called Seekers – which fits quite well. To understand the Court Cards, think of an old-time royal court.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The little Pages (who were indeed children) carried messages between the adults. Knights, young men, protected the realm, fighting on behalf of King and country. They undertook various quests. Queens (mature women) were nurturers – of the realm as well as heirs to the throne – and could stand in for the King in a leadership role if required. Kings (mature men) were the supreme Heads of State, ruling the whole kingdom.

And young women? Included with the children! Which is how they were generally regarded pre-feminism – and even now there are places where liberation lags. Aleister Crowley renamed the Pages as Princesses. He kept Knight and Queen; Kings became Princes. James Wanless, of Voyager, recasts them as Family Cards: Child, Man, Woman, Sage. The Sage, or wise elder, can be any gender.

So there are many ways of describing them, but the Seeker of Challenges (Knight of Swords) is indeed a knight, shown in full armour. He is called 'menacing'. I’d rather see him as protector than aggressor.

Soldiers – heroes or thugs? A psychiatrist I knew told of a colleague who had occasion to escort a number of VC winners. He said they were all ‘raging psychopaths’! (But remember, VC winners are rare.)

In the Waite-Smith and Thoth decks, we see this Knight, sword raised, against a background of sky. I’m reminded of a legend I once read, about a tribe of warriors who had to leave earth and ride forever through the heavens. But if their people should ever need them, even generations later, they promised: ‘We shall swoop down from the skies to save you!’

This card's abstract qualities include bravery and loyalty, but could also indicate ‘an impasse, a breakdown in diplomacy, or a movement toward war’.

Or – this is the suit of the mind; perhaps it's an intellectual challenge this Seeker faces. He has the skills to do so.

the brawler said 

I use my fists because

don't have the words