Joker of Axes (=Page of Swords)

Description: Amid swirling gray mist, a jack o’lantern headed figure raises a double-headed axe. It’s hard to tell if he is smiling a bizarrely-toothed grin, or has a gag or mask over his mouth – I get the feeling that he can’t speak for some reason. His axe has a tiny jack o’lantern finial; unlike his own pumpkin head, the one on the axe is frowning.

Interpretation: Traditionally the “student card,” this possibly-speechless apparition makes me think of the literal meaning of the word “sophomore” – “wise fool.” When it turned up in a reading I did for someone else, I also used the phrase “the Headless Non-Horseman.” There’s something unfinished about the figure, despite his I-dare-you grin and boldly-wielded axe; I’d say he’s all bark and no bite, but I’m not sure he can bark either! He’s still learning – for instance, that’s NOT the way to hold a battleaxe – even if he thinks he’s learned enough. And this really did resonate with me today, I am in charge of training new employees at my company and apparently I haven’t kept up with the company’s newest procedures. I’ve been authoritatively telling new hires to do things that are no longer technically correct, although they were correct when I learned them myself several years ago. My self-confident attempts to cut through the fog for others have belied the fact that I’ve been in a bit of a fog myself! I need to get more humble and learn more from the company’s decision-makers about what they’ve designed and implemented over the past few years. I need to be a good student so I can continue being a good teacher.