Tarot by the Mouthful – Ace of Swords

Kyle is a foodie who loves Tarot. Theresa is a Tarot reader who loves food. 

Together, we host Tarot by the Mouthful: a mouthwatering, multi-media culinary tour through the world of Tarot. 

Sublime recipes. Soulful stories. Essays, videos, interviews and delicious surprises. 

Join us every Sunday for a new installment — and get ready to sip, slurp, crunch and savor your way through the entire Tarot deck! 

This week: Ace of Swords

Ace of Swords: The Ace of Swords symbolizes a new mental direction. This is the “aha” moment, the breakthrough, the killer idea. It’s the burst through the mental fog towards clarity.  A fresh, clean start. This can also indicate the beginning of a conflict…or a victory.  An opportunity to lead. Will you take command or wait for someone else to do it?  Seize the opportunity – seize the day.

Kyle is out this week with Wisconsin Foodie stuff – so it’s just me!

Theresa – The Oathkeeper

When life gets foggy, as it often does, there is nothing more welcome than the clarity that truth brings.  I like to view the Ace of Swords as that moment of crystal clear honesty, the kind that cuts to the bone and reveals all.  It’s justice and mercy at the same time.

If I had to attribute this energy to a person, the fictional character in Game of Thrones, Brienne of Tarth, is the Ace of Swords.  She’s loyal, honest, and not afraid to use Oathkeeper, her sword, to obliterate all that stands in the way of justice and honor.

That’s mighty powerful stuff.

In the kitchen, we all need an Oathkeeper, a knife so sharp that it easily cuts meat off the bone as well as it slices a tender tomato as thin as paper.

Back in the day, I used cheap knives.  I’m talking K-Mart blue light special.  It’s because I was super frugal – and ignorant about the kitchen.  I spent many a day cursing the poor knife after one more “tomato incident” and trying in vain to sharpen it like I remember seeing dad do with his old sharpening stone on his cheap knives.

Because I was trying to save money, I thought those “never sharpen” knives you see on television might be a good buy.  NOT.  Once again, my frugality did not lend to a happy kitchen experience.

Finally, after reading a recommendation from Anthony Bourdain (mad lust for that man),I bit the damn bullet and purchased an expensive Global Knife.

The difference was startling.

With edges as sharp as a razor and a well weighted handle that fit perfectly in my little hands (technically the knife I purchased is a vegetable knife but it’s like a nice little chef’s knife for dainty fingers), I was cutting with precision and ease .  My knife sailed through the veggies, the tough cuts of meat, the tender pieces of fruit – everything got a clean, perfect chop.

I’ve had it for years now and it’s still immaculate, perfect.  That’s because a well made knife is built to do the job – and built to last.  This makes cooking a joy.

Lesson: save up the money and get a real knife.  Get your Oathkeeper and you’ll do your kitchen and yourself some real justice.

My Oathkeeper pictured above. (Black and white for dramatic effect! Ha!)

Bon Appetit!

Theresa and Kyle

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2016

photos from personal collection and Jessica Kaminski

Hungry for more? Click here to explore the entire Tarot by the Mouthful series, from the very first card… right up to our latest installment. Bon appetit!