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The topic of the Samhain Blog Hop this time is to discuss or show, via the Tarot or any other oracle, who you would invite to an afternoon tea on the Day of the Dead. What do you imagine they’d be like? What Tarot card (or cards!) would represent them? What would you ask them? What would you like to learn from them? Your “guest” can be living, or dead, but imagine them there and then represent them in a Tarot card (or more).

I have a confession to make. I love Sir Ian McKellen. More than someone who has never met the gentleman. Probably more than the average 31 year old woman does. Not only is he a brilliant actor he was a pioneer for LGBT rights and was proudly a voice for gay actors when most were still afraid to speak out and be who they are. (And no judgement, people aren’t exactly inclusive now all the time let alone all of those years ago) He also has that kind of friendship with Sir Patrick Stewart that is just amazing.

Sir Ian plays some of my favourite characters in movies but my absolute favourite has to be Gandalf. My Mother giving me a copy of The Hobbit was one of the best of my reading life and I adored the wizard ever since reading it for the first time.

What Tarot Card/s would represent them?

Due to my character imprinting I see Sir Ian McKellen as The Hierophant, The Magician and The Hermit.

Firstly The Hierophant I love this depiction of Gandalf by artist SceithAilm. Honestly this whole deck is so amazing I wish it was actually a real hold in hands deck. While it isn’t my first pick for Gandalf there is the connection to society and its institutions in The Hierophant so that makes sense. Right up until he is betrayed by Saruman he believes in the integrity of the Order and in its members. Which is another aspect of The Hierophant.

Then there is The Magician from The Lord of the Rings Tarot. Gandalf uses magic in a way of the true Magician, he never shows off and I love the line in the LOTR movies where he reminds Bilbo that he is not a conjurer of cheap tricks. He wields and understands his power. Just like The Magician in the Tarot. He also understands that great power also comes in small packages; the Hobbits and he trusts that and them. Which if that trust were misplaced could have ruined them all. More than once. But being the wise man that he is he knows that even one person can change the course of the world.

Lastly I see him as The Hermit, why? It is just the first card that pops into my head. Maybe it is because he is the light and he brings the light to so many situations which is what The Hermit does, he illuminates. Gandalf also helps other characters find their own way from within which is exactly what The Hermit card is all about. This Hermit is from the Robin Wood Tarot. 

Being an Actor I am sure that Sir Ian could be pretty much any of the Tarot cards but this is just my take.

What would Ian be like?

I don’t know I am not sure I would want to project what I think he would be like. You know what they say about people meeting their idols etc.

What would I like to learn from him?

If I ever had the pleasure of meeting Ian I would just want to listen, I would ask him to tell me of things that he has learnt in life and what has really stuck with him in his experiences. I would ask about his time in the world of Middle Earth and in the Marvel Universe. I would ask him where his favourite places to gather his thoughts are and what he want to accomplish still in his life. There is just such a twinkle in this mans eyes.

I probably will never get the chance to connect with Ian but at least he is immortal on film.

Many Samhain blessings to everyone reading this Tarot Blog Hop and I have included my Sabbat Tarot Spread for Samhain below as this time of year in both Hemispheres is an excellent time for Divination.

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