Elliot Adam's Blog, page 79
January 8, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Two of Swords (Reversed)
“Stepping out of limbo.”
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The Two of Swords symbolizes making peace with the feeling of being “in between.” In between life stages, in between jobs, in between relationships, in between projects, in between moving situations, in between friendships, in between career goals, in between big plans, etc. The card advises you to find your center in the midst of the transformations swirling around you. The truth is, we are always in a state of "in-between" somewhere in our lives. The Two of Swords illuminates that the place in your life that feels unresolved, is precisely where life's greatest magic is happening.
What feels uneasy or unresolved in your life? Is this "in-between" situation making you anxious about the future? Can you be at peace with not having everything completely figured out right now?
The figure on the Two of Swords is also in between. She is in between the land and the sea. In between the new moon and the full moon. In between the two swords she is holding. Yet, she is in a pose of complete balance. The woman is also blindfolded. This symbolizes that she can't see what is coming. But look how calm and centered she is. She has accepted not seeing with her eyes because she is at peace with her center, with the core of who she really is. She's okay with not having everything figured out. She's accepted being "between the worlds." "She knows that "in between" is where the magic of the natural world happens.[1] She has wisdom.
In nature, the in-between time is at dusk or dawn, and it is magical. At dusk all the animals get ready for the transition to night. The birds excitedly chirp for their companions to come roost for the night. The quiet deer come out of hiding to drink at the pond. The owls rise and call to one another. The light in the sky transforms. The atmosphere at sunset stirs and the winds begin to gust. The clouds glow in shades of violet-pink and golden-orange. If you witness this, there is an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility during this “in-between” time. This is how Nature illustrates “in-between. Nature guides us to experience serenity amid transition.
The Two of Swords asks you to make peace with the area of your life that is still in between. It reflects Nature, where twilight leads to night, then followed by dawn. The “in-between” time is where your higher-self is most alert. The lessons you are currently learning are making you wiser, stronger, and more aligned with the center of who you really are. Your best potential is manifesting.
You are exactly where you need to be, and everything is transitioning perfectly.
When the Two of Swords appears reversed it is time to boldly step out of limbo. If an aspect of your life has been suspended for too long, then it's time to get things moving again. The Two of Swords reversed usually appears after a period of incubation, a time spent making peace with yourself. It is a card of precarious balances, between the needs of the world and the needs of the self. Now that a truce has been made with your deepest, creative, self it is time to act. Commit your energy to completing projects, tasks, and goals. Step out of indecision and reveal your vision.
This card is always a reminder that we are all in a perpetual state of in-between. Once you have found peace within yourself, it is time to engage with the world. After stillness, action must follow. Take the blindfold off and see how things in your world have magically transformed. Your experience of life is a blank canvas awaiting your masterpiece. What will you create? How will you add to the beauty of those who came before? What do you have to say that others should hear? Step out of limbo and seek closure.
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[1] Ted Andrews, Enchantment of the Faerie Realm (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2013), 24.
Ted Andrews often wrote about the magic that occurs during what he called the “’tween times.” These include dawn, dusk, noon, midnight, equinoxes and solstices.
January 7, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Emperor (Reversed)
“Restoring stability.”
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The Emperor is the archetype for assertiveness and initiating a firm foundation for success. He teaches you that feeling secure can only exist when you establish strong boundaries. If you don't stand up for yourself, you are metaphorically wearing a sign that tells others that they can take control of your life and its direction. To the Emperor, this is the same as ceding his crown to a lesser king. The Emperor’s personal honor code forbids victimization. The Emperor is the personification of the voice within you that urges you to speak up assertively when something feels unjust. If you continually feel resentful that others aren’t treating you with respect, it's probably because you haven't been letting your "inner-Emperor" speak up.
Do you feel respected by others, and that your personal boundaries are honored? Do you have trouble saying "no," without an apologetic excuse or a fib? Do you want to “be nice” and think assertive people are somehow mean, selfish and don't care about others?
The Emperor is seated on his throne which is decorated with rams. Rams charge forward, assertively defending their territory and mates. The Emperor wears armor under his robes. This symbolizes that he ready for action at any time. He is not afraid to stand up and protect his realm. His beard symbolizes his wisdom, gained from experience. The Emperor is never aggressive, just to prove his masculinity. He acts only when his realm needs to be stabilized and protected. The mountains surrounding him are protective barriers. They are also his seat of power. From their peaks, he can survey all his realm, and swiftly act to protect his personal boundaries. The wields the scepter, and the orb. The scepter it a symbol for masculine energy, the orb is a symbol for the feminine. The Emperor holds both in balance and understands that each are equally indispensable. The Emperor is relaxed and at peace with his masculinity and femininity.
The Emperor appears as a firm figure, the compliment of his soft-featured wife, the Empress. The Empress sits relaxed in her garden, dispensing love, peace, and nurturing to her children. However, the Empress’ garden can only exist because the Emperor protects its borders, giving her this safe space to do her important work. Within you, there is not only an Empress, but an Emperor as well. Both are vitally important to be a balanced human being. If one archetype is ignored, inner turmoil often results.
Our society is obsessed with gender roles. It brainwashes children into believe that life is a series of "boys are this," and "girls are that." Boys should act more aggressive and assertive, girls should be "nicer" and more accommodating. The truth is, we all have both the Empress, and the Emperor archetypes within us, regardless of what gender we are. Both archetypes must be respected for inner and external balance to occur. Too much "Emperor" can make you overly aggressive, combative, and belligerent. Too much "Empress" can make you passive, a doormat, and a victim.
Today the Emperor is calling you to be assertive. You don't need to justify your right to be, but you do need to stand up for it. Respectfully asserting your position is very empowering if you’ve been overly passive. This card also portends the need to create structure, to aid in the achievement of a goal. Take responsibility for yourself and your dreams. Stand up and protect your realm. Stop saying "yes" when your inner Emperor is bellowing "NO!"
If you honor your inner Emperor, you will feel secure in yourself and your place in the world.
If the Emperor appears reversed, he may be asking you to identify what feels unstable in your realm at this time. Often this instability results from procrastination on pressing matters that require confrontation. Sometimes this card alerts you to embodying too much passive "Empress energy." Confrontation can seem like an uncomfortable concept. We often would much rather avoid the conflict. In truth, avoiding and procrastinating lead to a perpetual sense of inner turmoil and anxiety that is much more difficult to exist with. Confronting issues or projects that have been avoided will revitalize and restore your sense of order, control, and self-confidence. Take responsibility for all that is under your charge. It's time to lead, not follow. The Emperor's role is to defend, promote, and protect all that he cares for.
When the Emperor appears reversed, he also reminds you to step into your majesty. Stop fooling yourself into thinking you "can't do this." Instead of avoiding that which needs to be reinforced, dive in and change it. Take charge and create the stability you wish to see. Face the issues confronting you and act. The Emperor is the archetype of pro-activity. Meet your deadlines take charge of your life. Confront your finances, take care of that cavity, dust off your "to-do" list. The Emperor exemplifies not only control of his empire, but self-control as well. Your self-esteem will skyrocket when you summon the courage to do what is right.
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January 6, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Page of Swords
“Lowering unnecessary defenses.”
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The Page of Swords represents unnecessary defensiveness. These defenses guard a wounded area of the heart that needs healing. The Page of Swords guards himself from the feedback others give, which stunts his development. He often pretends that “he is fine,” and it’s actually “everyone else” that has the issue. If the Page of Swords could lower these unneeded defenses, he would actually experience a breakthrough. This openness would get him past the blockages he keeps experiencing. He would then move forward in his life to the next level.
Do you ever get defensive? (If you rush to say “No!,” then this card is for you!) Is it difficult to hear honest feedback from others, or even worse, corrections? Is fear of people seeing your vulnerabilities causing you to shut down, or detach?
The Page of Swords is often misunderstood, and has been described as dishonest. But this isn’t really fair. He is not a “liar.” He is actually in denial about some really difficult feelings. The Page of Swords is not a bad person. He just has some maturing to do.
Maturing?! He doesn’t agree! He is “never wrong.” He is always the best at what he does. He’s read the most books, won the most games, and has the most achievements. He is more clever than the other Pages of the Tarot. He says, “Me needing to mature?!” “You’re crazy!” “Look at how stupid they are.” “I’m the smartest one!”
Look closely at the Page of Swords’ position in the picture. He is guarding himself. The sword is raised to swing at any incomer. It is difficult to hug this Page. You just can’t seem to get close. He is in total defensive position. Even the biting winds of his words warn you to keep distant. They upset the birds above, and lash at the trees. All this defensiveness is actually a mask for hurt. A feeling of vulnerability that others will discover he doesn’t feel one hundred percent confident about what he is doing. If he could open himself to taking honest feedback, and admit he doesn’t know everything, he would actually experience a huge breakthrough.
Today, it’s time to find the place within that feels most defensive. This is where a fear is residing. Openly facing this fear, and accepting your need for growth in this area, will make it possible to grow past it. It is so easy to detach, deny, and forget your vulnerabilities. If you are a smart person like the Page of Swords, you might have rationalized your best areas for growth away. Release the need to prove you are correct today. Don’t insist on running to your own defense. If the feedback you are hearing isn’t valid, then you’ll know it. No need to react unseemly.
Gently lower any defenses today, with yourself and with others.
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January 5, 2022
The Card of the Day: Judgment (Reversed)
“What sleeping part of yourself is reawakening?”
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Judgment symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and restoration. It represents reawakening and returning to life after loss. Often, when people see this card, they are afraid that somehow this card means that they will be "judged." The only judgment that this card decrees is that you are worthy to rise again, and make your life as joyful, healthy, and full as it can be. Judgment represents your ability to abandon the thoughts, habits, and attitudes that keep your mind in "death consciousness." Fear, hopelessness, avoidance, procrastination, self-limiting behaviors; these are all mental graves that it's time to step out of now!
Do you wish you could just "snap out" of the depressive feeling that you are slogging through life like the walking dead? Have you been avoiding a personal goal that promises to make your life better because you are afraid of failing? Have you forgotten that you still have the power to make your dreams come true?
A luminous angel emerges from the clouds, blowing the golden trumpet of life. It resonates across the whole of the earth. All that was once dead, lost, and forgotten rises again; reborn and revived. A new day has dawned. The graves are cast aside. Today there is a life to live!
All the figures on this card represent the different facets of you. The angel is your "best-self, or higher consciousness," calling the long dead parts of yourself to return to life. Dreams abandoned, goals forsaken, hopes that were crushed; all these trials were necessary to make you the strong person you are today. It wasn't for nothing. The angel is the voice in your head that says "What am I doing? I deserve better! I am ready to get the most out of life!"
When Judgment appears, your best-self is giving you a wakeup call. It's time to get up and step out of the self-imposed grave your mind has been confined to. Today it's time to push past self-limiting behaviors about your potential and worth. Breathe new life into projects and dreams long thought dead. You can start living the life you want now, today, at this moment, if you summon the courage to step up and live consciously. Rise up like the fiery phoenix and out the ashes.
Everything in nature changes and dies. It can be sad to look back at the times when something important felt lost and you felt forsaken. But remember, everything in nature reflects rebirth. This includes you. This is the Divine and natural law. This is the benevolent judgment of the Universe.
When Judgment appears reversed it asks if you are sleepwalking through life. Upright or reversed, Judgment represents awakening and transformation. Judgment reversed indicates that in order to progress, you must be fully conscious about what is occurring at this time. Only by being awake and alert can you choose to establish new conditions.
Periodically we wake up to realize we’ve become entranced. A whole day or week or month has gone by without a sense of awareness, memory or vitality. Procrastination is often a side effect of this, however, at its root is detachment. It’s as if there is a disconnect between the mind and the heart. Ask yourself today, “Am I feeling my heart?” “Do I recognize the sensations of feelings like love and joy in my chest?”
There are all sorts of reasons to allow yourself to become entranced. Many times, it because of fear. Fear of pain, fear of discomfort, fear of taking responsibility, fear of letting yourself down......the list goes on and on. The Angel of Judgment represents your spirit, which needs to periodically blow bombastic notes from its trumpet to give you a wake-up call. If you can tune into the sensations in your heart, you will gain valuable information about what you need to do next. Allow yourself to feel your real feelings, especially the neglected or difficult ones.
Judgment reversed asks you to alert your Higher Self if you have been sleepwalking through life. Renew your passion for your goals, projects, and interests. If you feel dead toward them try to do a little work on them anyway. Even 15 minutes can be enough to rekindle the flames of creativity.
If you don’t like the sleepy direction your life is heading, you can choose to wake-up now. The phoenix within your soul is restlessly stirring, wishing to return ablaze with new life.
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January 4, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Two of Wands
“I’ll finally be happy when...”
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The Two of Wands represents the sense that there is something missing...and that if you were to get that "thing," then you would be happy. This restlessness can be useful to help you set goals and make improvements to your life. However, the Two of Wands warns that achievements and acquisitions will not be what finally "makes" you happy. Getting what you desire can feel good for a time, but if you gain the achievement, without authentic love for yourself, the achievement will soon feel hollow. The restless search for happiness through achievements, money, relationships, or status symbols can get you nowhere fast!
Do you ever think "I'll be happy when I finally have X"? Do you feel restless or anxious that you haven't lived up to your "life's purpose" yet? Do you somehow believe that the right salary, the right position, the right weight, or even the right person has the power to finally "make you" happy?
A lord of a manor looks out, over the great expanse of his estate. He always felt restless as a child, feeling there was something missing. He believed that he could find joy if he just gets to the right place in life. He was very poor growing up and his family struggled for money. He saw how poverty made those around him suffer, so he thought, "If I made a lot of money one day, then I'd finally be happy." He learned how to sail, and traded goods from all over the world. Soon the young man became very wealthy.
But money didn't quite satisfy this man or give him the joy he thought it would. He must be crazy! He always wanted wealth...and yet, this didn't seem to be enough. He looked at the nobility around him. They all acted happy with themselves. What did they all have that he didn't? They lived in castles of course! So, he thought "I think I'll finally be happy if I live in a fine castle, with battlements and a beautiful view of the sea.
So, the man purchased the grandest estate in the land, with a beautiful view of the ocean. This made him feel good finally.... for a couple days. Then that old restless feeling came back.... We catch a glimpse of him now in the picture. You can see him holding a globe, looking out restlessly, beyond the sea. He's thinking.... I’d be happy if I finally owned the whole world, with all of its treasures.
How much are you willing to bet that even "the whole world" won't make him happy?
Abraham Lincoln said, ""Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
The lesson of the Two of Wands is that the acquiring of "things," and the achievement of goals is not enough to bring happiness to an already unhappy heart. Money can make it easier to enjoy your life, but it will not actually "give" joy to your life.
The truth is that accomplishments, other people, how you look, and money can't "make" you happy, if you aren't already happy with yourself as you are now. If you can find self-love and joy, at this moment, without achieving another goal in life, then you have freed yourself from the restless search.
Today, stop thinking..."If I lose five pounds I'll be happy....If I find the right person I'll be happy.....If I get the right job I'll be happy.....If I become a doctor I'll be happy.....If enough people "like" my post I'll be happy......If I just looked a certain way I'd be happy.....
It's not true! Wherever you go, there you are!
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January 2, 2022
The Card of the Day: The High Priestess (Reversed)
“Notice recurring signs and signals.”
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The High Priestess is the personification of wisdom and inner knowing. If you've ever trusted your "gut instincts," then you were trusting her. You know far more than you "think" you know. To access your instincts and inner wisdom, you need to push aside the veil of the endlessly chattering, "rational" mind. The High Priestess guards the realm of your deeper feelings. When you access the deepest core of your being, you will often find you already know the answer. You just might be too distracted (or too afraid) to trust it.
Do you trust yourself and your instincts? Is it hard to access your inner knowing because you are distracted by anxiety? Do you confuse "fear" with your "feelings," causing you not to trust your instincts?
The High Priestess is the mistress of what lies beyond the veil. She is the keeper of your deepest wisdom. She challenges you to look past the thin shroud of your rationality and experience the deep sea of your inner knowing. She is crowned with the moon in its three phases: waxing, full, and waning. The High Priestess sees the big picture, and knows the beginning, the middle, and the end.
The High Priestess sits between two pillars: one black, and one white. This symbolizes that life's answers are hardly ever "black or white," but like the Priestess' position, are found somewhere in between. She sits before a veil decorated with pomegranates, the fruit of the Underworld. This symbolizes her answers are found beyond the anxious fears of death and change. Peeking from beyond her veil is the vast sea of the unconscious. All the answers to your questions can be found in those primordial waters.
The High Priestess appears today to guide you back to your instincts, instead of throwing your hands in the air and yelling "I don't know what to do!" The Priestess knows this is just a superficial exclamation of fears on the surface. She asks you to summon the courage, to pull back the veil blocking your vision, and access your deepest self for the answer. The answer is right there, beyond the veil of fears, and you already know what to do.
Trusting your instincts can be difficult. The "what-ifs" begin to emerge from your fears. "What if I'm wrong?" "What if this is just a big mistake?" What if I don't really belong here?" What if I fail?" These fears are as thin and superficial as a skimpy veil attempting to block the vast sea. Your fears are not your instincts.
To know the difference between your fears and your instincts, check in with your body. Fears will make you feel "tight," and anxious. Instincts on the other hand, make you feel sharp, clear, and empowered to act. Your instincts can be found in the place beyond the tightness, deeper within your core, deeper within your spirit. Your inner wisdom is an instinct that will guide you, like an infallible compass, whenever you feel lost.
When the High Priestess appears reversed, she asks you to notice any recurring signs or symbols you are receiving. The High Priestess is a teacher. She alerts you to a lesson you are learning. When the High Priestess appears, she tells you that the issues you are experiencing are deeper than they may at first appear. She is also calling your attention to the language of signs and symbols. Like an abstract painting, the High Priestess reversed asks you to examine the situation from different perspectives to understand it. There is deep wisdom to be gained from recurring signals.
The High Priestess speaks in a language of pictures, signs, and symbols. This language is not literal and cannot be understood by the rational mind alone. Trust your feelings to illuminate what the message is. There is nothing to fear when the High Priestess appears, upright or reversed. There is magic afoot. The Universe is communicating with you in serendipitous and synchronistic ways. It is encouraging you to find the answers to your questions by accessing your inner wisdom. Today, notice any unusual signals you receive. Is there a bird or an animal that finds its way onto your path? What could that animal be teaching you? Is there a color or something that catches your eye? Ask yourself what this means to you. Is there a card from your tarot deck that keeps emerging? What could it be telling you? Today, look on the grand design of the world with the wise eyes of the High Priestess. The answers will be found within, but the Universe will always provide clues in the form of recurring signs.
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January 1, 2022
The Card of the Day: The King of Pentacles
“Success.”
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The King of Pentacles represents the golden path to worldly success. He is someone who has "made it." The Bulls on his throne are a symbol for the astrological sign of Taurus. They represent stubborn tenacity and a commitment to reaching your goals. The King is surrounded by abundant possessions and lives in a shining castle. The King of Pentacles is looked upon by others as lucky. However, his success stems from knowing that "luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity."
Are you feeling nervous about your financial future? Is there something you want to achieve, but don’t even know where to begin? Would you say your thoughts about wealth in your life are positive or negative at this time?
The King of Pentacles is among the favorite children of his mother the Empress. He alone has been entrusted with her golden scepter which makes things grow. The reason the Empress trusts the King of Pentacles is because he has proven himself to be patient, prepared, and approaches his tasks with loving-willingness.
The King’s robes are covered with grapes. Grapes are notoriously fickle and need a lot of patience to cultivate. This is especially true when transforming the grapes into pleasure-bringing wine. The King of Pentacles has the perfect temperament for nurturing these magical berries. He is out in the vineyards long before the growing season, tending to the soil, and preparing the vines for the coming harvests. His patience and skill have made him wealthy, as everyone wants to taste his magical brew. The King understands that to truly get success from life’s pursuits, you have to enjoy them. You have to appreciate your responsibilities, taking them up with gratitude and a long view of the security they will provide. All of the King’s labors are undertaken with love for what he is doing. This ensures that as the grapes grow, they are infused with sweetness, and not bitterness.
To achieve the success of the King of Pentacles you will need several things. First, you need patience. Not everyday is sunny. Be reminded that the rainy days contribute life-giving water. Anything that is worth anything requires time to develop. This includes your goals, skills, and gifts. The grapes on the vine cannot be hurried, and must be tended kindly and consistently.
Secondly, you need to prepare for the future. Establish your goals. Write them down. Break them up into achievable bites. A checklist is a great tool for bringing structure to the achievement of a goal. It will also reveal what else you will need to do, and how far you have come. This will bolster your sense of accomplishment.
Lastly, you need to approach what you are doing with love. Infuse your responsibilities with a willing and grateful heart. This will bring much better results than if your tasks are approached with resentment, fear, or worry. This attitude will also guarantee that the grapes you cultivate are “sweet grapes,” and not ”grapes of wrath.”
Good luck will always find you if you stay prepared and positive. What are you preparing? What opportunities are you on the lookout for? Do you have your checklist? When the opportunities arise, act on them. You will already be ready!
The King of Pentacles signifies health, wealth, stability, success, and joy. Be content.
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December 29, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Knight of Cups
“The brave messenger of love.”
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The Knight of Cups is the tarot’s brave Messenger of Love. This Knight can communicate his deepest feelings without fear or embarrassment. Everywhere he rides, love begins to flow. He represents all forms of love: romantic, passionate, platonic, and familial. He can reintroduce a lonely person into a world of friends, and can bring renewed passion to an intimacy-barren relationship. This is because he does not let fear, embarrassment, or shame, keep him from opening his heart. He reminds those who believe they are alone, that they are actually connected, valuable, loved, and accepted. They may just need to be braver with opening up, and actually communicate with someone other than than their anxiety.
Do you have a hard time expressing your feelings, even to the people you are closest to? Are you too shy, or too scared to open yourself up to connecting with others? When did you last feel passionate or romantic?
The Knight of Cups is so hot! He is completely confident in his feelings and what is more attractive than confidence? He gazes electrically with deep blue eyes, and effortlessly expresses what he desires with impassioned conviction. He wears the wings of Hermes, the messenger god on his helm and his feet. Fish decorate his tunic. This symbolizes his ability to communicate clearly about deep unconscious feelings that can be hard to put into words. His main message is that communication about feelings heals isolation and confusion. The more difficult the subject, the more healing to be gained from talking about it. However, you have to be brave enough to open up with others.
You might wonder why you would need to be brave to express love. The answer is that it can be very scary! Even with people who have been together for years, it can be difficult to express affection and intimacy. This is especially true if your heart has been wounded by a deep betrayal or loss in the past. The Knight appears to tell as that retreating further from others will never heal the heart. The heart mends when it is brave and open, allowing new experiences to take the place of past hurts.
The Knight of Cups is eternally optimistic that the future will be brighter than times before. He knows that the heart is not as fragile as it pretends to be. It can heal amazingly, but must be open to do so. Bring some passion and excitement back into your life. Share, flirt, take a risk, make new friends, but most important open up!
Today be courageous, and express love, romance, affection, and passion. Have confidence in your worth and stop being so self conscious. You got more going on than you think! You don’t need to be in an intimate relationship to begin healing your heart. The first step is to be brave enough to open it.
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The Card of the Day: The Devil
“Confronting Shadows.”
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Nobody likes to confront the Devil. The Devil can be a jarring image to confront. This is because he represents our inner shadow self.... our Inner-Saboteur. This is the insidious voice within that tells us that we aren't worthy, that we can't be successful, that we are stuck with our lot. Often this voice pipes up, just before we are about to make a huge breakthrough. This voice comes as a final test, to see if we what we really believe about ourselves. The Devil is known by many names but by far the most fitting is the Prince of Lies. The biggest lie the Devil tells is that he is more powerful than we are. Each day you have a choice.....To believe the voice that tells you that you are garbage........ or to hear your better angels, who whisper that you are worthy.
How does your shadow manifest in your life? Do you struggle with self-esteem? Do you feel trapped in a situation that feels beyond your control?
When you look at the image of the Devil card you can see a man and a woman chained to his throne. They are a "corrupted" version of the innocent and pure image of the man and woman that appear on the Lovers card. They sport horns and tails...symbolizing their enslavement to the animal parts of their nature. The animal nature is only concerned with survival and protection of itself. It is not enlightened, and manifests in the form of fear, excess, jealousy, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, reactiveness, and the pursuit of personal comfort over all else.
Look closer at the figures chained to the Devil's throne. The chains they wear are quite loose. In fact they could step out of them at any time. This shows that despite the fearful size of the Devil, one can be free of him whenever they choose. When the Devil appears, this symbol calls your attention to the self limiting thoughts and behaviors that are keeping you imprisoned. You can be free at any time, but you must stop "rationalizing" these behaviors away and confront them honestly. The Devil highlights any untruths you may be telling yourself, which are keeping you from being the best version of yourself. You are more powerful than your inner shadow... it is real, but you are more powerful.
The best way to defeat shadows is to embody love. Be loving to yourself and to others. Don't get hooked into defending yourself in the face of someone else's shadow. Lovingly help someone today. Be kinder. If you are feeling fear, help someone else feel braver. Challenge the lie that you are stuck. Send light and love to those people you can't quite seem to forgive. "Unhook" yourself from the Devil's chains.
By embodying your better angels, the Devil will lose all power.
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December 25, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Knight of Swords Reversed
"Stress management."
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The Knight of Swords is an ambitious man. He is always striving to prove he is a successful adult. No matter how much he achieves, he can't seem to be happy or rest. The only thing he knows how to do is push ahead. Once he has completed his objective, he doesn't even know how to absorb it. He is already rushing ahead to the next task, driving himself mercilessly to win, hoping that someone will acknowledge his value through deeds.
Are you rushing through life? Do you stop to savor successes you've already achieved, or do you rush ahead to the next task? Do you feel guilty about resting when there's so much to do? Do you cram your day with so much activity that you feel drained and depressed?
The Knight of Swords reminds us that this is no way to go through life. In fact, it is downright harmful to your health. In this card's imagery, the horse represents our physical body. The horse is uneasy, anxious, tight, and trying to outrun his rider. The horse looks back at his master with an expression that says "Seriously, you want me to run faster?!" The Knight brandishing the sword represents the "cruel master" within. That nasty voice that tells us to shut up and keep going, even when we feel we are going to drop.
Our culture glorifies suffering through work. When someone says you are "a hard worker," that's almost as good as being one of the troops! "She worked until the day she died," is another one of our highest honors. But is your tombstone really going to be inscribed with all the hours you heroically put into your job? Is that really an authentic encapsulation of what you amount to? Our country has the highest death rates for stress related illnesses. Why don't we allow ourselves a siesta like other healthier countries? Is it a sin to have more "vacation time" than one paltry week a year?
Today, you must take responsibility for your own health and wellness by actually scheduling relaxation. No one is going to say, "Boy he needs a break, let's make him take one!" Working toward achievement is marvelous, but as with everything it needs balance. The Oracle at Delphi had a saying that guaranteed a satisfying life. "Nothing too much." That includes work, activity, play, food, drinking...everything!
Slow down today. Turn off the phone and take a relaxing walk or sit in the yard for twenty minutes. Stop being a slave to clocks, demands, emails, texts, televisions, and social media updates. You aren't living a full life if you are constantly cracking the whip across your own back to achieve. Balance work with rest today and your body will thank you.
When the Knight of Swords appears reversed, he calls your attention to how you are managing increasing external demands in your life. The horse on the card is a symbol for your physical body while the knight is the taskmaster within. The Knight of Swords reversed usually appears as a warning to slow down and replenish yourself. Stress is a fact of life. However, just because there is stress does not mean that you should be cruel to yourself while confronting it. The main critique of the Knight of Swords is that he is so focused on accomplishing his goal that he forgets to be present. When reversed, this can indicate that he is also unknowingly hurting himself in the process. Ask yourself, “How does my body feel while I am getting these tasks done? Have I been getting enough rest, nutrition and water? Is there a way I can be kinder to myself as I get all of this done? Is there a way I can make this stressful task more fun or enjoyable?
The Knight of Swords reversed can also represent obsessive thinking. If you are noticing that you are exhibiting “tunnel-vision” at this time you may need to consciously choose to place your thoughts on something else for a while. Restore your personal balance and look around you. Take the time to appreciate something beautiful. Have your lunch in the park today. Consciously let go of your tasks for a moment and give yourself a break. The Knight of Swords reversed asks you to be your own best advocate and to realize that your mind and your body are on the same team. Each part of yourself needs to be kind to the other. Take a deep breath in and exhale all the tension and the stress. Slow down and allow yourself to feel at peace with certain areas of your life still being “works in progress.” Give yourself a little gift today to show your appreciation to your body and mind and all that they do for you each day. The present is where beauty and magic is happening. Restore yourself now, not later.
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