impressed
Simeon was promised that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. Simeon sees and acknowledges the promise Jesus represents: he recognizes the Messiah. Often Simeon is depicted as a blind man, emphasizing that he possesses inner sight. Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and prays to God:
“Now you are releasing your servant, Master,
According to your word, in peace;
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of your people Israel.”
A few lines later Simeon says about Jesus to Mary:
“Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul”. These are the things Simeon has spoken about this child. He will be a light, bring salvation, people will chose for or against, and a sword will stab through the soul of his mother.
The first question of the spread was based on the character of Jesus in the story: “The promise of who I am.” The second question, belonging to Simeon is: “What is the liberation of my promise (the promise that I am)?” What is the “wholeness,” or the way to salvation of my promise?
Tears came to my eyes when I saw the card that I had drawn, the Moon from the Tarot of the Journey to the Orient. I should have known, relating my life to the life of Jesus is never easy; the road Jesus went was not easy, not for himself and not for the people near him.
On the card that I have pulled two people are running in the dark. Above them is a woman who holds the moon in her hands, she shines this light to the running people. These people do not see the moon; there is a cloud between them and the woman who holds the moon. Since this card must show liberation and wholeness, I need to interpret the card in a ‘positive’ way. The card is adding depth and some stinginess to the first card that I have pulled with the promise of ‘making people happy’ (Ten of Cups). The people on the card run without sight and light. I think the acknowledge of the promise by Simeon is: “You will bring clarity”. Messages that bring clarity are not always the easiest to give, so that’s were the tears came from.
