Queen of Spades

"The Queen of Spades" is depicted with two heads, one upright and one upside down, embodying duality and the unconscious. She wears a crown and holds a sword, her expression and gestures severe, yet stately. She watches over us all like a benevolent judge, knowing the past and imagining the future. Drawing from Tarot symbolism, she represents exacting foresight, honesty, and a connection to history. She is also surrounded by symbols, holding the key to all time. I have always had a strong affinity with the Queen of Swords as she is also associated with my astrological sign, Virgo. This painting is part of a larger, ongoing series where I am exploring the relationship between ordinary playing cards, the kind most humans have used for hundreds and maybe a thousand years, and folk practices from around the world where cards are used, such as in divination, meditation, and storytelling.