The Virgin Wilderness
Queen of Swords and the Hermit
Welcome to Libra season! Today’s post is one in a series in which I explore each court card, via their astrological correspondence, as an embodiment of the lesson of the prior astrological season’s corresponding Major card.
As always, this concept feels awkward to explain (and in fact, I’ve taken to copy-pasting these intros) but it’s really simple at heart: take a look back at the other posts if you haven’t already, and you’ll definitely see the theory at work: Knight of Wands (Sagittarius) as a response to Death (Scorpio), Queen of Pentacles (Capricorn) as a response to Temperance (Sagittarius), King of Swords (Aquarius) as a response to the Devil (Capricorn), Knight of Cups (Pisces) as a response to the Star (Aquarius), Queen of Wands (Aries) as a response to the Moon (Pisces), King of Pentacles (Taurus) as a response to the Emperor (Aries), Knight of Swords (Gemini) as a response to the Hierophant (Taurus), Queen of Cups (Cancer) as a response to the Lovers (Gemini), and King of Wands (Leo) as a response to the Chariot (Cancer), and Knight of Pentacles (Virgo) as a response to Strength (Leo).
Libra’s court card is Queen of Swords. Virgo precedes Libra, and the Virgo Major is the Hermit. So, how is Queen of Swords a response to/embodiment of the lessons of the Hermit?
When I think of the Hermit particularly as it embodies the energy of Virgo, I think about wholeness. Virgo is the sign of the ‘virgin’, and as such, it represents one who belongs to themselves. The Hermit is not looking outside, for someone or something else to complete them; the Hermit looks within. The Hermit is a wanderer through the inner wilderness. Wilderness is often described as ‘virgin’, as in unspoiled. That is where the Hermit journeys, in the virgin wilds of the heart and soul, which no one outside of the self can claim, a territory that cannot be defiled.
Queen of Swords is an embodiment of this teaching: that we are whole unto ourselves. Corresponding to Libra, relationship is of primary focus to Queen of Swords. Think of Libra’s scales; there is always a balance that needs to be struck, between the self and the other. But to truly achieve such balance, Libra must bring a whole self to the equation. This is why Queen of Swords is so deeply concerned with boundaries. The Hermit taught them the value of maintaining their ‘virginity’—and I hope it’s clear that this has nothing to do with sexual ‘purity’, but is simply about being uncompromised: Queen of Swords refuses to compromise their own integrity or participate in their own diminishment.
The Hermit is also a lesson in solitude. “How to be alone” is a succinct title for the Hermit’s teaching. Queen of Swords, too, has a deep relationship with alone-ness, particularly via loss and grief. You’ve probably noticed in the Tarot literature that they’re often referred to as a ‘widow’, a ‘divorcee’, someone who’s lost a child, etc. The heartbreak that Queen of Swords endures could potentially cause them to lose themselves as well, but the Hermit, with its emphasis on wholeness and on the value of solitude, has imbued the Queen with the fortitude needed to navigate their losses and stay intact. Heartbreak is how Queen of Swords matures and deepens their relationship with themselves. The Hermit has shown them that, no matter how dark and uncertain things feel, they always have an inner guide to rely upon.
And because Queen of Swords has integrated this teaching—that they can trust themselves to navigate the darkness, that their Hermit’s lantern will allow them to move step by step through uncertainty—they can also trust themselves to face what is obvious and undeniable. The Libra Major card is Justice, and it represents truths—as difficult as they may be-- seen in plain, clear light. Queen of Swords has the inner strength to look at them unflinchingly, because their sense of self is so rooted and secure.
Here are some prompts for you to try! If you’d like to share your pulls, I always enjoy hearing about them.
My inner wilderness
The boundaries I must put in place to protect it
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The heartbreak I endured
The strength that resulted
Don’t miss my next class, ‘Reparenting Yourself through the Major Arcana’, on Saturday, October 26. It’s live on Zoom from 10-2 Central time, and it will be recorded, so you can still sign up to watch later if that time doesn’t work for you.
It’s $30, but I am always open to sliding scale for anyone who needs it. If that’s you, just send me an email at oakmoontarot@gmail.com and we’ll get you squared away!
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Signed up for the workshop immediately! These correspondences deepen so much of how i experience the court cards. Thank you for this series.