by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
Known also as the Lord of Unstable Effort, and aligned with the Moon in Aquarius, the Seven of Swords represents negative expectation, trying too long for too little result and the outcome is a feeling of despondency. The Moon is immersed in the past and Aquarius is concerned with the future, so here we have a conflict of focus. The Suit of Swords refer to the mental processes and in particular the ability of the mind to either create or destroy possibilities. There is a popular acronym from computer science that originated in the 60's that is GIGO which means, Garbage In, Garbage Out. The quality of information you input into your mind governs the quality of information and experience that comes out. If you want quality of experience you must ensure quality of thought. Or as my nan would put it Ask a silly question, get a silly answer. So start to ask better questions in your life, and you cannot but get better answers. This card tells you it is time to take control of your thoughts and by doing that your future results. Most people in the rational world are caught in the cycle of fear, which is a need for security, a need to be sure that today will be like yesterday and tomorrow will be like today. When you decide to break out of that mould, then new possibilities appear, and it is time for you to contemplate new possibilities because your expectations have until now been built on what has made you feel safe. Traditionally this card might show up as bad luck,...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
Known as the Lord of Unstable Effort, and aligned with the energy of Moon in Aquarius, the Seven of Swords represents discouragement, despondency and negative thought patterns that become entrenched. Since Aquarius has a tendency to be analytical and scientific even, and the Moon is instinctual and emotional and not really rational, then Aquarius will have the poor Moon convinced that if things aren't going well then they're just going to get worse before they get better. The clarity inherent in the Suit of Swords is weakened by a multitude of daggers that represent pessimistic thoughts, and a kind of hopelessness that nobody can talk you out of. It's as if you can no longer remember that everything, no matter how bad, always has the potential to get better, and since change is constant you can pretty much bet that your situation will improve. Anxiety, which is a negative habit of living in the future, takes hold and even though you do not know for sure that what you worry about will ever eventuate, your thoughts continue to feed off each other and soon your internal dialogue has convinced you that it can only get worse. What you need to do now more than anything is to understand that your thoughts are not based on reality, they are the result of the filter you are viewing things through at the moment. Once you realise that you are the one who is placing limits on yourself, you can drop that activity as you will see it for what it is - fear. A good question to ask when fear and...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
The Eight of Swords is the Lord of Shortened Force and is aligned with the energy of Jupiter in Gemini. It represents over-thinking problems, being caught in a bind and difficulty in choosing the right course of action. Jupiter represents growth and expansion, and Gemini brings different and often contradictory options and possibilities, so this card is calling you to expand your horizons by adopting new ideas and actions. The Eight of Swords shows up in a reading when a choice is required, but neither option seems appealing to you, and yet you must choose. You have created a situation that cannot be talked out of, and usually this situation arises because you have avoided making a necessary decision earlier. This happens with people who are too 'nice' and who don't like conflict, but in this situation, a conflict is created anyway. The thing is, the situation is not really unsolvable, it just seems to be too difficult to resolve. The woman is surrounded by swords and because of her blindfold she is unable to navigate her way to safety. But the Swords are not threatening her directly, rather they form a barrier that she cannot negotiate because of her blindfold, or her refusal and inability to see the way around. You can now either wait until conditions improve which they will over the next eight weeks, or decide to remove your own blindfold and pick your way through the options that present themselves to you. It is important to realise that you are not powerless, you have the choice to find a rational solution no matter how insurmountable...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
The Eight of Swords is also known as the Lord of Shortened Force and is aligned with Jupiter in Gemini. It represents an inability to take decisive action and worry about a situation that immobilises you. It describes being caught in a situation where you feel you are damned if you do and damned if you don't so you close your eyes and hope that the situation will resolve itself. If you can't see what surrounds you then maybe it will pass you by. But like the child who plays peek-a-boo, hiding behind your hand does not guarantee your invisibility and your protection. Sooner or later the situation must be faced and dealt with. The thing about this card, and look at the imagery to confirm it, is that the woman is surrounded by the swords and the other dangers but still remains unaffected by them. Because she is blindfolded, her senses perhaps are more acute, but they are also not telling her that if she could only see what surrounds her she could formulate a plan of escape rather than cowering in fear. This card describes accurately the power of the mind to cripple us when we are not looking at the situation with a critical eye - our thoughts tell us that we need to be fearful and that we have no power and so we act in accordance with this belief. But it is simply not true. It is time to take away the metaphorical blindfold and understand that you are more powerful and aware than you realise. Instead of the swords being barriers to your...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
Known also as the Lord of Shortened Force and aligned by Jupiter in Gemini, the Eight of Swords represents worry, over-thinking and indecisiveness. Jupiter represents expansion and Gemini brings variety and choices, and so you are called to stop playing it safe and move into the possibilities presented to you to expand your life and your happiness. The Eight of Swords advises you to take a pause, not feel pressured to make a decision or take a course of action. There are two choices between which you are unable to decide and so you are in something of a deadlock, but also feeling compelled to take some sort of action even though neither choice appears palatable. This card warns that when you stand for everything, you stand for nothing. You may have a history of reluctance to express your real views in fear of offending someone, or because you have a fear of confrontation. You need to examine this situation honestly, with clarity and with a willingness to create balance by taking action and facing the issues presented. This card gives you the opportunity to use the gifts of your mind, your intellect, to disentangle yourself from this situation by biting the proverbial bullet and taking the action that is the least distasteful. By turning away from problems now, you will be no closer to moving out of this dilemma. You are on the brink of a discovery about yourself, and a lightening of your burdens, finally, although this is not without a degree of discomfort, or painful realisation. The secret is to take the action and you will move...
by estellew | Aug 10, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Swords, Tarot
The Nine of Swords denotes a tendency to be self-critical and is aligned with Mars in Gemini. It speaks of cruelty to the self, causing much anxiety and fear, restless sleep with disturbing dreams. Negative habits of thinking are ingrained and have become hard to eradicate, but over the coming weeks you will be drawn to people, places and ideas that present an opportunity to release these thought patterns and find more gentle and peaceful ones instead. You may find yourself caught in an internal debate over two points of view, with neither side winning. A better strategy would be to direct that Mars energy into physical activity - when you change your physiology, then your focus will change to a more positive one. How have you been judging yourself lately? In what ways have you been judged by others and taken that on as your truth? Practice accepting yourself and all the gifts you bring to the world, and make that the focus of your thoughts instead. Hang out with positive people and refuse to get drawn into negative conversations now - don't worry, there are plenty of people willing to do both and the choice is yours whose conversation is more beneficial! Understand that this way of thinking is a pattern that is formed over time, almost without you noticing, and so the Nine of Swords arrives to tell you it is time to fight back and regain self-love and acceptance. from "Dark Fairytale Tarot" by Rafaele De...
