The Alchemist - Incidental Tarot
The Scientific Method In Everyday Practice
The Alchemist from The Incidental Tarot would be comparable to The Knight of Swords in other tarot decks. I really love how thoughtful this Knight of Quills (Swords) is. While Pages are usually about the start and intention of ideas, Knights bring those ideas into action. This knight is a student but he or she also can be a teacher or a mentor. In some respects this card reminds me of the magician, but a magician who is still experimenting and honing skills. He or she has a great passion for learning and discovery which can be a bit magnetic. It’s evident as he holds up the flask, that he is examining it carefully and is meticulously recording his observations. The Knight of Swords is often a person who is wonderful at explaining things and will take up someone else's cause who is less articulate.
As Holly DeFount, the creator of the deck says:
“He has the sharp mind of a scientist, the psyche of a great philosopher and the passion of an adept of the magical arts. The Alchemist has the ability to co-create his reality with the elemental forces of the physical world and the ethereal forces of his own mind. His passion for understanding the universe in all its manifestations is captivating, and he often gathers quite a following of those who are enthralled with his work. With an analytical yet open mind, the Alchemist can make connections and discover answers that otherwise would remain untapped. They will have a great love for books, a passion for all kinds of learning and the power to shift the consciousness of those they whose lives they touch.”
Of course the downside is that the Alchemist can also be a tendency towards being an argumentative smarty-pants and a ‘splainer who knows everything and is always right, even to the point of being abusive. I would say, that The Alchemist Reversed would easily represent the leader of the bay area coven turned cult I left several years ago who is now being investigated for her actions, while the members and founders, at least in the beginning, carried the positive traits of the enthusiastic young Alchemist, seeking knowledge and magic and wanting to share it, make the world a better place.
It’s so important even in our excitement over knowledge and exploration that we not let it go to our heads. Instead, if we take our time, observe objectively, communicate clearly and listen closely to others we can have a positive impact on those around us. Though I made mistakes, that approach overall, was what kept me from being sucked under the influence of Jessica “Rabbit” Mathews whose horse was so high that she felt entitled to crown herself “Yeshe” and “Reverend Mother.” I’m on my way to PantheaCon, the Pagan convention in San Jose, California this weekend. There will be many Alchemists there displaying the higher and lower attributes of the card!
But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? It’s a journey of discovery. Sometimes we muck it up. Sometimes we follow the junk science down a delusional rabbit hole and get stuck at the bottom thinking we’re on the top and sometimes we discover real answers and make genuine connections. There’s a lot to learn from this card!
As Holly DeFount, the creator of the deck says:
“He has the sharp mind of a scientist, the psyche of a great philosopher and the passion of an adept of the magical arts. The Alchemist has the ability to co-create his reality with the elemental forces of the physical world and the ethereal forces of his own mind. His passion for understanding the universe in all its manifestations is captivating, and he often gathers quite a following of those who are enthralled with his work. With an analytical yet open mind, the Alchemist can make connections and discover answers that otherwise would remain untapped. They will have a great love for books, a passion for all kinds of learning and the power to shift the consciousness of those they whose lives they touch.”
Of course the downside is that the Alchemist can also be a tendency towards being an argumentative smarty-pants and a ‘splainer who knows everything and is always right, even to the point of being abusive. I would say, that The Alchemist Reversed would easily represent the leader of the bay area coven turned cult I left several years ago who is now being investigated for her actions, while the members and founders, at least in the beginning, carried the positive traits of the enthusiastic young Alchemist, seeking knowledge and magic and wanting to share it, make the world a better place.
It’s so important even in our excitement over knowledge and exploration that we not let it go to our heads. Instead, if we take our time, observe objectively, communicate clearly and listen closely to others we can have a positive impact on those around us. Though I made mistakes, that approach overall, was what kept me from being sucked under the influence of Jessica “Rabbit” Mathews whose horse was so high that she felt entitled to crown herself “Yeshe” and “Reverend Mother.” I’m on my way to PantheaCon, the Pagan convention in San Jose, California this weekend. There will be many Alchemists there displaying the higher and lower attributes of the card!
But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? It’s a journey of discovery. Sometimes we muck it up. Sometimes we follow the junk science down a delusional rabbit hole and get stuck at the bottom thinking we’re on the top and sometimes we discover real answers and make genuine connections. There’s a lot to learn from this card!
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