Powerful rulers once employed alchemists to attempt the arduous process of creating gold from non-precious metals by way of magic. Though the tale is told that alchemists could, in fact, accomplish this task, it is said that they could not produce this gold in large quantities. It is also said that the attempt to perfect this process of gold making is how we wound up with both porcelain and gunpowder. 

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Five of Wands

A naturally occurring conflict erupts from the basic inequities of society that remain part of the aligned group. Those organizing for their collective rights as workers will still be dealing with misogyny, racism, homophobia, and even classism because we internalize the bias we survive. This is a Five of Wands conflict in that one is not at odds with the goals of the others in the group but with the preexisting and unexamined social prejudices held by individuals. This is a worthy conflict that furthers the lofty goals of equity throughout society and it must be taken head-on with skill, strategy, and resolve. 

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The Hanged Man

This figure could be Odin, who is often known as the god of war and death in Norse cosmology, hanging in the Yggdrasil tree. Odin wanted to know everything so he made a number of sacrifices in order to gain the knowledge and wisdom he desired, including giving up one eye and impaling himself on his own sword. After these acts, he strung himself up in the tree of life for nine days and nine nights over the course of which he learned the secret language of the runes. Through his ordeals, Odin also gained the capacity for both prophecy and shapeshifting. He is often depicted with his two ravens, Thought and Memory (Hugin and Munin), who fly around the world and report back with what they see.

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