Introduction

Xena's Redemption

Xena's Dilemma

^[4] Xena's dilemma was that she felt she was unforgivable. Also, she engaged in an exercise of atonement through mathematical formula, simply stated: How many good deeds make up for one evil deed? Or, more specifically, how many good deeds make up for just one murder? Using the formula, the key question became: How many murders has Xena committed? In her own mind, the answer was that she could not ever successfully atone.

^[5] Another problem Xena had was that her quest for redemption was only a surface pursuit. Although her acts were both remarkable and laudable, and she truly thought she was going about it in the correct manner, and she did achieve much good, her problem remained that below the surface, she was still basically the same person. She was homicidal, angry, vengeful, self-righteous, controlling, impatient, ill-tempered, and dishonest with herself. She was also filled with such incredible rage that personal growth became extremely difficult. Eventually she came to a state of stagnation.

Xena And Gabrielle

Xena and Gabby's very first campire scene in SINS OF THE PAST.

^[7] The relationship had three different aspects. There was a big sister-little sister perspective which sometimes spilled over into the aspect of a mother-daughter relationship. These two types were essentially loving and nurturing relationships. The final aspect was a knight/squire relationship which was essentially a master/servant association. All three aspects of this relationship conspired to hinder Gabrielle's growth, although Gabrielle left Poteidaia because she felt that she could not achieve any real growth in what she considered a stifling environment.

^[8] The relationship was also a symbiotic one. Xena was committed to protecting Gabrielle's physical person, while Gabrielle was committed to protecting Xena's spiritual being. Gabrielle actually had the more difficult and more important role. Xena quickly learned that she could not do without Gabrielle whereas Gabrielle discovered quite early that she could easily survive without Xena's help. Gabrielle could always go back to Poteidaia or she could go with the Amazons. This knowledge, perhaps, added to Xena's need to control the situation.

The Warrior Monk

^[10] The old Xena adorned herself in gold, jewels, and silks. She drank to excess, smoked opium, and dined on exquisite foods. She was a slave to her desires and she fulfilled her wants at the expense of her own and everyone else's needs. She was excessive in her sexual gratification and she always lived in either civilized luxury or barbaric splendor.

^[11] The new Xena was a follower of the philosophy of Stoicism. Her armor and clothing were serviceable and of good quality. She was either moderate or abstinent in her appetites. She was itinerant, preferring to live on the periphery of her society, also preferring to sleep in the open on the ground rather than in shelter. She appeared to be living in self-imposed poverty. It would make more sense if both Xena and Gabrielle had horses, but the one horse and two riders became a symbol of their poverty. This was the same symbol that the Medieval Knights Templar used to signify their own poverty by representing it on their standard.

The Spiritual Quest

^[13] In order to fulfil the quest, Xena must move beyond the concept of the Warrior Monk and assume the mantle of the Spiritual Warrior. It should be noted that the Spiritual Warrior is often a Warrior Monk, but a Warrior Monk is not always a Spiritual Warrior. The Warrior Monk merely searches for and defends a spiritual ideal, while the Spiritual Warrior embraces that ideal and becomes one with it. While Xena may exemplify the aspects of the Warrior Monk, Lao Ma is an example of the true Spiritual Warrior.

^[14] The Spiritual Warrior is that spiritually whole person for whom nothing is impossible. The Spiritual Warrior is a person of service. The truly redeemed master becomes the servant and the servant is the true master. Note that even though Gabrielle has taken on the role of the servant in the relationship, hers is the more important task. It is her duty to guide Xena toward the mantle of the Spiritual Warrior. The servant is the "Conscience Guide", and is, therefore, the true master. Thus, in order for Xena to fulfil her quest, her relationship with Gabrielle must be redefined.

Relapse And Rift

Xena is incredulous when she finds out "The child is Hope?!"

^[16] When the child is born, Xena demands that the child be killed. Xena had no right to demand this and Gabrielle had every right and duty to protect her child. Sometimes doing the right thing brings about disastrous consequences, but that does not alter the fact that the original decision was the morally correct one.

^[17] Gabrielle's big mistake occurs in Chin when she betrays Xena in the hopes of saving her soul. This incredible act of naivete, I suspect, is a direct result of a combination of the stifling of Gabrielle's growth and the traumatic effects of the events in Britannia. Also, it shows that Gabrielle does not always trust Xena to make good choices based on solid ethics. Gabrielle is beginning to think that she is sometimes better off going against Xena's will and following her own course of actions. Unfortunately for both Gabrielle and Xena, since Gabrielle was not allowed to fully develop in both wisdom and maturity, Gabrielle makes a foolish choice with disastrous consequences.

^[18] A shocked and bewildered Xena is shaken enough that she actually momentarily attains the mantel of the Spiritual Warrior. She is even able to throw the cosmic bolts, as did Lao Ma. But then, in a fit of rage, Xena kills Ming T'ien and loses everything she had gained. Lao Ma could easily have killed Ming T'ien, but she refused to. He was her child, and she did not want Xena to kill him either. She merely wanted to see him rendered harmless. What we overlook is that Xena is as much Ming T'ien's mother as is Lao Ma. While Lao Ma gave birth to the physical entity that was Ming T'ien, Xena gave birth to the spiritual entity. As Ming T'ien said to Xena, "It is you who made me into the monster I am". The killing of Ming T'ien was an act of pure murder brought about by the fact that Xena was incapable of controlling her internal rage.

^[19] The journey to Chin was an unmitigated disaster. Instead of fulfilling Lao Ma's last request, Xena ended up destroying much of what Lao Ma stood for. The relationship between Xena and Gabrielle is now seriously harmed. Xena cannot trust Gabrielle to look after her spiritual person and Gabrielle cannot trust Xena to protect her physical person.

^[20] When the fast-growing daughter of Gabrielle re-enters their lives, Gabrielle no longer trusts Xena enough to confide in her. She hides the knowledge of Hope's presence from Xena until it is too late. When Hope kills Xena's son, Solan, mistrust turns to estrangement and hatred in Xena. The Karmic Law is a cruel law; it was never meant for Xena to kill Lao Ma's son, and now Xena's own son is dead.

^[21] I feel that Gabrielle was blameless in both her protection of Hope and in the death of Solan. Gabrielle even takes on the heartbreaking task of killing Hope herself, which shows her courage, her commitment to the relationship with Xena, and her commitment to humankind as a whole. (After Hope has fully revealed herself as the Demon Child, Gabrielle is both morally right and duty bound to kill her.) ^[22] Only when Xena tries to murder her does Gabrielle finally scream out, "I hate you!" Thus, we come full circle only to find the current Xena a far worse permutation than the evil Xena we first encountered. We also see that the moment she screams, "I hate you!" is the moment Gabrielle really loses her innocence. After Gabrielle kills Meridian and loses her blood innocence, she tries to put both her life and her belief structure back together, but when she screams, "I hate you", and attacks Xena, this is an act of pure hatred and rage. In this action, Gabrielle makes a conscious decision to throw away everything she believes in for a chance at getting even with Xena.

The Tarot

^[24] In THE BITTER SUITE (58/312), we are introduced to a Tarot-based universe called Illusia. It is in this world that Xena and Gabrielle must work out their problems and get back on course.

^[25] To better understand how the Tarot works, I shall attempt to give some basic rules. (It should be noted that I am not a student of the Tarot, and the readers are advised to do further reading if they are interested in the subject.) Tarot Cards are dealt either face up or face down. When the card is face up, it is said to be "in the reading" when the card is face down, it is said to be "in the reverse". When the card is in the reading, this is supposed to reveal the positive aspects of the card, while the negative aspects of the card are associated with the card when it is in the reverse. The individual for whom the cards are being read is the seeker or the quarrent. A seeker often has a signature card; this card is thought to be representative of the seeker.

The Universe

The Lovers

^[27] The Lovers cards depicts two naked people in the presence of an angel. This card represents the bonds of unconditional love, the polarization and attraction of opposites, and the harmonization of Duality. Note that while both lovers appear on the card together, Xena and Gabrielle arrive in Illusia separately. This is a sign of the extent of their estrangement in that they do not even show up on the same card. It also shows that both women have serious problems with duality in that they cannot reconcile the people they are with the people they need to be. It also shows that their love for each other is flawed in that it is conditional love.

The Fool

The High Priestess\The Queen of Swords

The Wheel of Fortune

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^[31] This card signifies that Xena must take the risk of turning her life around. Actually, in Xena's case it is not much of a risk, since she has already messed up her life so badly. She is being given a second chance and she must get it right this time. She is being freed of the consequences of past Karmic Law, but she will be bound by future Karmic Law so she must be careful. Either up or down, this is a good card for Xena as long as she is willing to spin the wheel and take the chance. It means that her past will be erased. The Universe seems to be Xena's friend, and to have her welfare at heart. One way or the other, Xena is going to win. It is just a matter whether Xena takes the easy road or the hard one. Either way, Xena is going to grow up whether she wants to or not. Note that Xena is not the least bit interested in spinning the wheel. She only spins the wheel in the hopes that Callisto will lead her to Gabrielle.

The Hanged Man

The Emperor/King of Swords

^[34] Xena is stripped of the clothes of the High Priestess, and is dressed in clothes and armor in both the red of Ares and the blue of the High Priestess. Remember that Xena discarded the headdress of the High Priestess of the Celestial Temple. Ares now offers her a new headdress -- a helmet in red and blue. Ares is offering, in effect, to make Xena his High Priestess of War.

The Chariot

^[36] "Unfortunately" may be the wrong word here. Xena is not being forced into anything she does not want. She has both feet in the water and she is loving every minute of it. In Illusia, there are no victims; There are only volunteers. Xena is wearing the helmet and she accepts the sword that Ares passes to her. The High Priestess of the Celestial Temple carries the Torah in her arms, the High Priestess of War carries a sword.

The Empress/Queen of Pentacles

^[38] In the reading, the Empress signifies a woman who is kind and understanding, one who believes in cooperation and consensus. She is the mother of beauty and harmony. The Queen of Pentacles signifies a woman rich in spirituality. She is one who controls the bounty of the Earth and uses this bounty justly and wisely for the good of all.

^[39] In many Tarot Decks, the stars in the pentacles are pentagrams. The stars on Gabrielle's dress are six pointed stars. Also, in some decks, the Queen is dressed in a reptilian hide garment to signify renewal. The Empress and the Queen can signify the coming of the Earth Mother when they are in convergence, and both in the reading. So note, if Xena were to kill Gabrielle, she would not only be committing murder, but she would also be committing sacrilege.

^[40] In the reverse, the Empress shows a woman who has lost much of her own personal power because she sacrificed her own needs while attempting to meet the needs of another. She signifies co-dependance, indecisiveness, and the inability to work cooperatively. In the reverse, the Queen of Pentacles shows a greedy, selfish woman who is not as she seems. The Queen of Swords is a queen of aristocrats while the Queen of Pentacles is a queen of peasants and farmers. In the reverse, these two cards help to even widen the rift between the two women.

War And Peace

^[41] Both women return to their roots, Xena to her army, and Gabrielle to Poteidaia. While we see what we expect to see in Xena's army, we are shocked to see that Poteidaia is not the idyllic farm community that we expected. We find a place were nothing changes, and where change is even discouraged, and a place where people are better off if they do not know how to think. This is the Poteidaia that the young Gabrielle was so desperate to escape, but it is now the Poteidaia that Gabrielle longs to embrace. Still, she cannot do this until she purges Xena from her life. The people of Poteidaia have told her that Xena is the cause of all her misfortunes. We are witnessing the emergence of "poor little Gabrielle"; Gabrielle the victim. Lila hands Gabrielle the scythe and tells her that by killing Xena, she is actually doing Xena a favor. It should be noted that it would also be sacrilege to kill the High Priestess.

^[42] As we saw earlier, there are no victims in Illusia; There are only volunteers. Gabrielle takes the scythe and goes to meet Xena, who is coming for Gabrielle. Gabrielle attacks Xena and Xena easily deflects the scythe and throws Gabrielle to the floor where Gabrielle lies spread-eagled and prostrate on some geometric design, as if she were an offering. Xena kneels and drives her sword into Gabrielle as if she were preforming a blood sacrifice.

Death

^[43] The stage is now set for what may be the most symbolic scene in the episode. In the Tarot Cards, Death is shown to be a skeleton holding Ares' banner while he rides over the body of a dead monarch. There is a youth, a child and a bishop in the picture. In the Tarot, Death is not supposed to be a bad thing. It is seen as a chance for renewal and rebirth. The Bishop signifies Divine Charity; the Youth represents Faith in the rebirth; while the child signifies the Hope that new life brings. The monarch signifies that no one, not even the great, can escape Death.

The Hermit/Bishop

^[44] But in THE BITTER SUITE (58/312), we see Joxer in the role of both the Bishop and the Hermit. The Hermit signifies a person who has found Universal Truth through hard work and perseverance. He is also willing to freely share his hard won truth with any who wish to partakes of it. In the reverse, it shows that both Xena and Gabrielle reject the wisdom because of their unwillingness to learn and their desire to hold on to a state of unteachablity.

^[45] Joxer is also wearing the hat of the Bishop, but this is a very dark and mournful bishop. The only god present is Ares and there is no Divine Charity. The Monarch, the youth, and the child are all aspects of Gabrielle, and she is lying dead on the floor.

^[46] Xena has been transformed into Death, but she is no one's ordinary death. She still wears the red of Ares and the blue of the Priestess. The High Priestess of War and Death are merged into one and both are under the control of Ares. Thus we see Xena and Ares executing a dance macabre over the body of Gabrielle -- over the body of Virtue. They are celebrating the death of Virtue and the finality of death. All verges on being lost, were it not for the intervention of Justice.

Justice

^[47] In both Xena and Callisto, we have seen Justice at its most primitive: the law of the jungle, the law of tooth and nail. But we have also seen a Xena who believes in a higher justice, one based on Universal Truth. Here, the Universe is intervening to remind Xena that she once knew about Universal Truth. Justice is able to break the spell that Xena is under and Death returns to the state of being the High Priestess of War. But Ares abandons Xena, so in reality, she is the High Priestess of nothing. She is now just Xena.

^[48] A door opens, Gabrielle walks onto the stage, and everyone else disappears. Gabrielle is dressed in the white robes of Purity (Rediscovered Innocence). She is wearing the reptilian hide garment, which symbolizes, rebirth, renewal, and growth. This is also symbolic of the shedding of old ideas. She still wears the myrtle in her hair. We are witnessing the birth of a new Gabrielle.

^[49] A stronger Gabrielle challenges Xena: "You Killed Me"! A bewildered Xena begins to minimize, "I only killed an illusion," as if that makes all the difference. Intent is still intent. Luckily for both Xena and Gabrielle, everything up to now has been an illusion, but from now on, everything (including the consequences) is real.

Strength

^[50] This card shows a woman dressed in the white robe of purity restraining a lion. Instead of using force, she is using love and compassion. Gabrielle is Strength and Xena is the lion. This card signifies what the new role of the reborn Gabrielle will be.

The Tower

^[51] This card shows a tower being struck by lightening and two people falling to their deaths. This card signifies that one's world view is being challenged in a radical way. This is not a bad card, but it is a traumatic one. The degree of the trauma is dependent on whether the card is in the reading, or in the reverse. The destruction of the old world view allows for the development of a new one. The seekers are being touched by the Divine, and the seeds of healing and spiritual wholeness are being planted within them.

^[52] For Xena and Gabrielle, the past is being shredded. We are witnessing the death of the old, the death of blaming and recrimination, the death of false self-destructive illusions. We are also witnessing the birth of real communication. But the birth is being stifled by accusation and anger, so it is important to move on to an even more traumatic situation in order that Xena and Gabrielle may reach catharsis. (Note that when Gabrielle and Xena are being pulled into the hole of the Wheel, for the first time in this episode, we see that they have concern for each other and Xena tries to help Gabrielle).

Judgement

^[53] In the Judgement card, we see a picture of the Angel Gabriel blowing the Judgement Day trumpet while six souls are being raised from their graves to go forth to receive their judgement. In THE BITTER SUITE (58/312) we see that Gabrielle and Xena have returned to Dahak's temple and that Gabriel has been replaced by a very dark angel. When this angel blows his trumpet, he is not raising the dead for judgement, but so that they can become judges. Xena and Gabrielle are on trial for the sin of Hate, and they are being judged by their peers. The Haters are being judged by Haters. The judges pull back their cowls to reveal Callisto, Caesar, Ares, Khrafstar, Xena and Gabrielle.

^[54] Both Xena and Gabrielle are transported back to the moment of their individual trauma. Xena is placed on the cross of Caesar, while Gabrielle is chained to Dahak's alter. The subjects of their love who are now the subjects of their hate, become their tormenters. The fact that they have allowed themselves to be controlled by hate has brought them back to this, back to the places where their hate was born. Only here where their hatred was born can they renounce hate. With their renouncement of hatred, the judges are destroyed and both Xena and Gabrielle are released.

^[55] We now see that Gabrielle is dressed in her regular clothes while Xena is dressed in the sackcloth of a penitent. The Wheel returns and opens up to reveal the world behind a veil of water and across a stream. On the other side we see Solan, who is the Sun and Gabrielle and Xena make for the veil of water. Gabrielle crosses over without hesitation, but Xena hesitates and is scalded by the water.

The Devil

^[56] The Angel of Judgement reveals himself to be Ming T'ien and he now appears in the role of the Devil. C.S. Lewis stated that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside, and nowhere is this more clear than with respect to Xena. She is being held back because of her inability to renew herself, and she cannot renew herself until she learns to forgive herself. Xena cannot begin to forgive herself until she has been forgiven by others. She finally discards her illusions and asks Gabrielle and Solan to forgive her. This they freely do. Since Xena is unable to forgive herself, her act of self-redemption becomes an act of salvation on the part of Gabrielle as Gabrielle reaches back through the veil to grab hold of Xena's hand and pull her through.

The Sun

^[57] This is a card of great joy. All the hard work is now in the past. The seekers can now begin to reconstruct their lives. The fact that Solan is the Sun should signify to Xena that everything is forgiven. Unfortunately Xena still cannot forgive herself, but she is back on the right track and she is much wiser now. The rage is gone, but Xena must realize that the soul is like a bottle: once it becomes empty, it can easily be filled again, so it is better to fill it with something good.

^[58] The real change seems to be in the new Gabrielle. Gabrielle is no longer the naive little country girl that we first met, although she keeps much of the country girl charm that makes her so endearing. What we witness is a new Gabrielle, reborn and renewed. She is now a mature young woman who understands her place in the world. She has traded her naivety (immature innocence) for wisdom (mature or rediscovered innocence).

Aftermath

^[59] We now know that Xena is back on the right path. We also know that she is both the High Priestess and the Queen of Swords, and that her destiny is to become the Spiritual Warrior. She is also Death, but only if she wants to be. Gabrielle is the Empress and the Queen of Pentacles, but she is also Strength and Humanity. She is now the Conscience Guide. In the episode ONE AGAINST AN ARMY (59/313) we see a Gabrielle refusing to let Xena stray from the path, no matter the personal consequences. In FORGIVEN (60/314) we see a Xena who still cannot forgive herself, who still considers herself to be unforgivable. But we know that despite her personal demons, Xena will be all right with Gabrielle there to help her.

Bibliography

Tarot Basics. Evelin Burger & Johannes Fiebig. Sterling Publishing, N.Y., N.Y. 1971.

Mastering The Tarot. Eden Gray. Penguin Books, N.Y., N.Y 1971.

The Tarot. Alen Oken. The Crossing Press, Freedom, Ca. 1996.

Biography

If author picture is available, insert above and
change width and height to match Brian Lashmar
I was born in 1949 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; where I still live. I received a B.A. in Anthropology and a diploma in Addiction Studies from McMaster University. My hobbies include researching Medieval and Classical heroic literature. I also enjoy fly fishing for sunfish and trout. I hate computers for the godless contraptions that they are, but unfortunately, I'm addicted to one. I am a fan of Samurai movies and I admire the works of Inagaki, Kadokawa, and Kurosawa. THE SEVEN SAMURAI and RAN are two of my favorite films. I have a dog named Suzie, and two nameless cats.
Favorite episode: THE BITTER SUITE
Favorite line: Joxer to Xena and Gabrielle: "What if none of this really is happening, and we're, like, all in somebody else's head and they're making us up?" BEEN THERE DONE THAT (48/302)
First episode seen: SINS OF THE PAST (01/101)
Least favorite episode: GIANT KILLER (27/203)

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