Bonnie Cehovet | In Flight -Ten of Air |Gaian Tarot

In the “Gaian Tarot”, author/artist Joanna Powell-Colbert has depicted the Ten of Air (Pentacles) as Canadian Geese flying in a “V” formation during fall migration. Anyone who has seen this formation has certainly been affected by its sense of power and control. Joanna notes that in European tales of the Wild Hunt flocks of geese or swans embodied the souls of the dead as they flew through the winter sky.




Tens carry a sense of transition with them – the ending of one cycle, and the beginning of another. Sometimes I am not all that thrilled with the tens, as change is not an easy thing for me. Joanna asks us to look at what plans we need to let go of, what ideas we need to release as the old year winds down. We have reached closure with something in our life, but are having difficulty accepting the attendant changes. We are creating the drama of the ten swords nicely residing in our back ourselves.

Another thought here is that this card represents the Seeker who wants to be a victim. They take no responsibility for themselves, instead blaming their circumstances, or the people around them.

Joanna also asks us who are the ancestors that whisper to us as the geese fly overhead? What wisdom are they carrying for us? This wisdom will bring to us a new sense of awareness, a new and more positive way of looking at things.

If this card is acting in its shadow capacity, Joanna asks us to look at how we are resisting the progress of time – why we are holding on to the endless summer (that which, in my own words, no longer serves us well). She asks us to surrender to the natural flow of life. Perhaps easier said than done!

In this card we often see the harsher of life’s experiences. Accidents and sudden misfortune can be seen here. However, we need to remember that the element represented here is that of Air – associated with our mental abilities. What we are looking at is not the problem or issue in our life, but our reaction to it. And we do have control over our reactions!

One thing that we want to look at here is the overwhelming feelings that are associated with this card – exhaustion, sadness, general negativity. What questions do we need to ask ourselves to work through this? Why do we feel that we have lost control? What do we want to act on that we feel we cannot act on? What are we being forced to give up? What are we being forced to compromise on?

Joanna offers an affirmation for this card that encompasses its energy and helps us to incorporate it into our life: “I heed the inevitability of change and discover the gifts found in letting go.”

What change is coming into your life? What wisdom is it bringing you?

© March 2010  By Bonnie Cehovet, CTGM