36 THE STRATEGIST

Intellectual, control, tactics, science, living by the mind, diplomat; causal connection (law of cause and effect).

Gemini/Virgo.

Mercury/Mercury.

Messenger + Servant.

In this card Mercury exerts double influence, uniting Virgo/Servant and Messenger/Gemini. As a result, we see the Strategist behind a chess board. He has distanced himself from the world and in the silence of his study plans his game. The chess board tells us of his ability to model and calculate moves. Four pieces remain on the chess board - characters from the zodiacal cards: Messenger (mind, thinking), Servant (action according to plan), Ego (desire for power, egocentrism), Mother (ability to live, survive). Missing pieces include - Preacher/Jupiter (mercy, magnanimity), Pair/Libra (paired relationships), Beloved/Venus (love). He has no feelings, no happiness, and no victory in life; he needs no one. He has discarded pieces he won't need: Warrior/Aries (guilelessness, openness of intentions), Master/Capricorn (rejection of desires for the sake of gaining wisdom), Tempter (depths of the subconscious), Fool (unpredictability), Angel/Pisces (emotionality). These qualities are alien to him. He is analyst, intellectual, tactician and strategist in one person. The Strategist attempts to compensate with intellect for what is lacking in life - feelings, happiness, love of life, spirituality (faith, morals).

Strategist - a chain of sequential steps. Solves chess problems - calculation. Chess board - enclosing the world in a rigid quaternary scheme. 4 pieces on the chess board - crystallization, rigid scheme, stability. Books and map - scholarship, theorizing.

Ability to model, calculate moves, ability to live and survive, analyst, intellectual, tactician.

Lack of feelings, happiness, love of life, spirituality (faith, morals), absence of broad views, constraint.

A person will be engaged in tedious work. Everything as always - according to plan.

What will come easily today, without strain. Good to make a plan for the future today. Engage in tedious, everyday work.

Living without deviating from the plan is boring and tiresome. One must sometimes allow oneself a small celebration.

Today one can learn objectivity and impartiality.

You are the Strategist today, help others plan their lives.

Management, power, keeping the situation under control. Being above the situation, creating an ideal life scheme, life plan. Rationalization. Power over others.

A person in the state of 'Room Napoleon' or the geographer from 'The Little Prince'. State of an armchair scholar. For him it's important that everything be predictable.

Proceeds according to scheme, schedule, within given framework.

Complex relationships - by contract or calculation. Strict control - pure reason, no emotions, feelings pushed to the background. Schedule, meetings by appointment. No interaction with partner. If the union exists at all, the relationship is cold, asexual, and meetings and dates occur by schedule and pre-agreed timetable.

Life measured with a compass and calculated to the smallest detail leads to absence of spirituality and emotions. In the name of rationality, mercy, magnanimity, partnership, love may be rejected. Without feelings there is no joy in life. Instead of depth, sincerity, joy, the Strategist rather evokes boredom in people.

Take nothing on faith. Calculate, model the situation, act logically. Plan your actions carefully, don't give free rein to feelings. Implement your plan in life.

Obtaining a plan.

Dry rationality, building a mental picture of the world beyond which a person cannot see. Constructing reality through rationalism. The Strategist does nothing without first composing in his mind a chain of sequential steps.