After the attempted assassination of President Trump on Saturday 13 July 2024, I decided to pull two tarot cards to gain insight into the situation. As I am no longer competent to read tarot for myself, practicing on public figures may help me redevelop my skills.
For my first question, I asked how Mr. Trump was feeling after the experience. The card I drew was The Hanged Man. This card, with its figure suspended upside down and the figure's reddish-blonde hair hanging loose, immediately caught my attention. The Hanged Man typically signifies gaining a new perspective and can also symbolize a sacrifice for a greater good. The halo around the figure's head is meant to emphasize enlightenment and a shift in perception, but I couldn't help thinking of it as "Orange Man's" halo.
In this context, The Hanged Man suggests that President Trump may have experienced a profound change in how he views his role and responsibilities. The ordeal could be prompting him to reconsider the motivations for his actions and decisions from a new vantage point, possibly coming to see his position as requiring a sacrifice or struggle primarily for the benefit of the nation.
This card also suggests the experience of being suspended in time and powerless to act. After the shooter fired his weapon, there were a a few seconds in which everything might have changed for Mr. Trump, his audience, and perhaps the whole nation. There was also a period of suspence for the audience who waited to see if Mr. Trump was still alive. From now on, the Hanged Man will suggest to me a pivotal moment, in which time seems to stand still and the future hangs in the balance.
The second question I posed was how Mr. Trump experienced that terrifying moment. The card drawn was the Seven of Wands, which depicts a figure standing strong and resolute against adversity. In the Morgan-Greer deck, the figure appears determined and unbowed, reflecting fearlessness and resilience.
I recalled that in the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck, Pamela Colman Smith portrayed the figure with mismatched shoes, a small but significant detail. The Erenberg Tarot highlights this peculiarity, which adds an amusing coincidence to my reading. When the Secret Service agents threw themselves over President Trump, they knocked off his shoes, and after the agents helped him up, we heard Mr. Trump ask for his shoes.
The Seven of Wands, therefore, not only indicates a person standing firm in the face of danger but also aligns with the actual events in a strikingly literal way. This card suggests that in that chaotic moment, President Trump was resilient, focused, prepared to assert his leadership, and concerned for his mission and his supporters.
These two cards, The Hanged Man and the Seven of Wands, offer intriguing insights into President Trump's experience and state of mind during and after the attempted assassination. The Hanged Man points to a shift in perspective, while the Seven of Wands highlights his strength and determination in the face of immediate danger. Through these cards, we can glimpse the complex interplay of resilience and reflection in his response to that brief but momentous event.
Clarity's blade reveals the victorious path,
Emotions embraced and intuition grasped,
Responsibility taken, you’ll sail to smoother waters at last.
Q: Is my situation hopeless?
A: Ace of Swords
I recognize that there is a problem, which is an essential step to resolving it. There is a possibility that I can be victorious over the problem. The situation is not hopeless if I grasp mental clarity and use my intellect to cut through confusion and see my situation and options clearly.
Q: What can I do to improve my situation?
A: Page of Cups
I'm too caught up in the present situation I face and too emotional. A lack of understanding of my feelings blocks my thinking, making me inflexible and unable to come up with a reasonable action. I should calm my feelings, love myself, and rely to my intuition to discern my next move.
Q: What will be the result of taking that action?
A: Six of Swords
Progress will be made if I listen to the advice of the Page of Cups. There can be a smooth passage from a difficult situation. Problems will end soon if I've taken responsibility for them and addressed them.
In Robin Voissey's Oneness Tarot, you become the seated figure, eyes open, hand blocking the blinding sun to better see a deer at the forest's edge. You are actively examining your surroundings, like an artist seeking a new perspective.
The Morgan-Greer Tarot reimagines this card beautifully. The main figure's human face emerges from the trees in the forest, mirroring the divine hand emerging from the clouds. Three cups stand on the ground, symbolizing the need for physical sustenance, while the fourth cup suggests that physical well-being also requires spiritual nourishment.
The Knight of Swords in this deck clearly delivers a crucial message: don't rush! The burning Tower is reflected in the knight's sword, indicating that his hasty actions have led to disaster.
Other cards also stand out. The Wheel of Fortune gives a humorous nod to Monty Python's Flying Circus while seriously portraying the downward turns of Fate. The Hierophant, meanwhile, sheds most (but not all) of the negative associations of oppressive power and ideology, offering a more positive representation. The deck’s borderless design enhances its appeal, with the image in the Four of Swords creating its own border.
The Morgan-Greer Tarot is a brilliant alternative to the Waite-Smith deck. Its powerful imagery invites your intuition and imagination to roam freely. Every tarot reader seeks "The Deck," and I think I’ve found mine. This deck reinvigorates Pamela Colman Smith's images.
