The number 5 represents that added something that brings the situation out of balance again.  It represents the struggle and challenge of inner and outer growth.  Cups are associated with emotions, love, pleasure in life; matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and the inner planes, and the element of water.   This card often symbolizes the need to let go of our emotional connection to something that has passed out of our lives. 

The Celtic Wisdom Combat of Art shows a forest at sunset.  Three spears are flying over the treetops.  Among the tree trunks three figures are visible.  They resemble images of the "Greys" (those big eyed, big headed extraterrestrials).  These are the spirits of the trees who have been roused by Gwydion and Amaethon to fight against Arawn, King of Annwfn.  Each of the spirits holds a shield and they almost seem to be dancing.

On the Zerner-Farber card there is a maiden wearing Victorian or maybe Edwardian garb holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a fan in the other.  Something about her strikes me as an accomplished flirt.  Behind her is a dejected suitor.  He holds his coat in one hand and his hat in the other.  His face is downturned.  It seems his suit has been rejected.  Around the young woman are five hearts three of which are cracked in half.

The first time I looked at the Combat of Art card, I just didn't get it.  I didn't get a sense of loss or any of the traditional meanings associated with this card.  Looking at it this time I realized what the loss is - we have battled the tress and humans have won.  The spirit in the trees are what have been lost.  These dancing figures are the spirits who inhabit the trees.  How many of us still believe such creatures exist?  I know there are some out there but many humans give no thought to cutting down a tree for their own purposes - wood for fire, paper, other commercial purposes or just because it's in the way.  We no longer treat the trees with any reverence.  We have lost that mystical connection to the trees and to the natural world around us.  It's not completely lost but it is at risk.  We need a Lorax to speak for the trees and raise awareness.  Where is Dr. Seuss when we need him?

On the Zerner-Farber card I get the sense that this young lady has broken a number of hearts with a touch of careless abandon.  She doesn't consider her suitors feeling any more than  most humans consider the feelings of trees.  She goes blithely on her way and strikes up another relationship.  Perhaps she is not cruel in her rejection, merely oblivious and self-centered. 

I get a sense from both these cards that what is out of balance is our sense of connection to each other and to the world around us.  There are still some who recognize and honor this connection but many do not.  The loss is that we don't get the the truly awe-inspiring realization of how we are all connected.  Perhaps once we became "civilized" and moved beyond our tribal roots, we became overwhelmed by our sheer numbers and were unable to maintain that connection and keep our sanity.  I have often thought that humans really aren't designed to function well in extremely large settings and groups.  We tend to shut down and shut off parts of ourselves in self-defense.  There are numerous stories in large towns and cities of people standing by and doing nothing while someone else was brutalized (the Kitty Genovese case here in NYC being one of the most notorious).  Research has show that in a large group, each individual person things someone else will do something.  If we do not see anyone else acting then we assume our response is wrong and this situation is no big deal.  As horrifying as that might seem, it makes sense.  In a city like NY you are bombarded by so much stimuli every second of every day that you can't cope.  You can't help all the homeless.  You can't cure all the sick.  You can right all the wrongs.  After a while you are so full of despair and maybe even self-loathing that you have to shield yourself and maintain very strong boundaries otherwise you are overwhelmed.  I am very good with these boundaries.

What is lost in this approach is the simple connection to other human beings - a smile from a stranger as you ride the train in the morning; a shared laugh at a humorous situation or even a morning greeting to someone you see every day but whose name you do not know.  I have seen many people adapt the "subway death stare" here in NYC.  They stare straight ahead with a glazed look in their eyes avoiding eye contact at all costs.  I don't want to be like that anymore.  I want to enjoy the occasion theater of the absurd that takes place every day.  I want to connect with others and let them know in some small way that they matter and that I see them.  This is still a work in progress for me but I know deep within myself that I am getting better at it.  I still rant about "transplants" and "invaders" but that is mostly bluster to protect this newly forming part of my personality.  Right now it's like a crab without a shell - very vulnerable and unprotected.  So my "New Yorker" persona must maintain this protective demeanor.  I may never be able to share it with absolutely everyone with whom I come in contact - that's a bit too frightening and overwhelming for me.  But I can certainly learn to be more generous with it.

Tarot Affirmations by Sally Hill:

• I am dealing with challenges to my emotional balance.
• I am at a crossroads, I can choose to turn and look at present opportunities for love and happiness.