Married, Father, United
break down all the long-established patterns and assumptions that we have taken for granted for so long.
react with hope, letting go of our fears.
identify the things to which we are clinging that no longer serve us well
Listen carefully for random symbols which will point you in the right direction.
to resist change is to deny life,
Ryûge asked Suibi, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the west?” 
Suibi said, “Bring me a chin rest.” 
Ryûge brought one and gave it to him. 
Suibi took it and hit him. 
Ryûge said, “You may hit me as you like. After all there is no meaning to the
Patriarch’s coming from the west.”
Ryûge also asked Rinzai, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the west?”
Rinzai said, “Bring me a sitting cushion.” 
Ryûge got one and gave it to Rinzai. 
Rinzai took it and hit him. 
Ryûge said, “You may hit me as you like. After all there is no meaning to the Patriarch’s coming from the west.”
Later Ryûge became abbot of a temple. 
A monk asked him, “Master, at that time, when you asked Suibi and Rinzai about the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the west, did they clarify it or not?” 
Ryûge said, “They clarified it all right. After all, there is no meaning to
the Patriarch’s coming from the west.”
Chôsa had a monk ask Master E, “How was it when you had not yet seen Nansen?” 
E remained silent. 
The monk asked, “What about after seeing him?” 
E said, “Nothing special.”
The monk returned and told Chôsa about this. 
Chôsa said, “The man sits on the top of a hundred-foot pole. He has entered the way, but it is not yet genuine. He must take one step from the top of a hundred-foot pole. The worlds of the ten directions will be his complete body.” 
The monk said, “How shall one take a step from the top of a hundred-foot
pole?” 
Sa said, “Mountains of Ro; water of Rei.” 
The monk said, “I don’t understand.”
Sa said, “Four seas and five lakes are all under the imperial reign.”
when we are hurt and unhappy is that objectivity and clarity go out of the window
able to cut away the rubbish and confusion which tends to cloud out major issues
In a spiritual sense the appearance of the Ace of Swords will often mark a turning point or breakthrough into new clarity and wisdom.
A monk asked Unmon, “What is meant by the pronouncement ‘to go beyond the Buddha and
the patriarchs’?” 
Unmon said, “Poor rice cake.”
A monk asked Kyôzan, “Your Reverence, do you know letters or not?” 
Kyôzan said,”According to my capacity.” 
The monk immediately turned around once clockwise and said, “What letter is this?” 
Kyôzan drew the ideograph for “10” [ + ] in the earth. 
The monk turned himself around once counter-clockwise and said, “What letter is that?” 
Kyôzan modified the sign” + ” into a swastika [卍]. 
The monk drew a circle in the air and lifted his two palms like Asura vigorously holding the sun and moon and said, “What letter is that?”
Kyôzan immediately drew a circle enclosing the swastika. 
The monk at once represented the vigor of a Rucika. 
Kyôzan said, “Good, good. Keep it with care.”
union and harmonisation of opposites.
Life is a river
this one is the ‘Come together’ card
need for patience and for moderate behaviour
Shuzan instructed his assembly and said, “If you attain the first verse, you will be the teacher of buddhas and patriarchs. If you attain the second verse, you will be the teacher of heaven and humankind. If you attain the third verse, you cannot save even yourself.” 
A monk asked, “Which verse did Your Reverence attain?”
Shuzan said, “The moon is set at midnight; I walk alone through the market place of the city.”
able to shift events in his favour
highly skilled, highly powerful and hence a highly dynamic and charismatic figure.
If we choose happiness and joy and put our Will behind them, that is what we can achieve.
a card about communication
we need to be experimenting with the way this web works
if you aren’t happy with your life the way you’ve made it so far, the Magus releases the power within you to make it something happier and more satisfying
Zuigan asked Gantô, “What is the intrinsic, everlasting principle?” 
Gantô said, “It has moved.” 
Zuigan said, “What if it moves?” 
Gantô said, “You can’t see the intrinsic, everlasting principle.” 
Zuigan thought for a moment. 
Gantô said, “If you acknowledge it, you are not yet free from the roots and their dust. If you do not acknowledge it, you are immersed in endless birth and death.”
David Given Schwarm 