Elliot Adam's Blog, page 82
November 28, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Three of Swords
“Forgiveness.”
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As you might imagine the Three of Swords symbolizes the wounded heart. Every human being experiences betrayals, cruelty, unkindness, and even abuse to varying degrees. These traumatic events feel like actual swords driven into the heart. Like any penetrating trauma, the shrapnel must be extracted for the injury to heal. Likewise, the swords pictured in the card here need to be drawn out and released from the heart so that it can heal. Sounds easy, right? Well it's not! This is because the only thing that can give you the power to release the sword from the wound is forgiveness...... What?! Forgive that @%^*@*+?! Never!
Are you unable to forgive individuals from the past who betrayed you? Do you still get angry and feel victimized? What emotions do you feel when you conjure the image of this person up? Hatred, revenge, rage, sadness?
The heart on the card is the victim of devastating injury. Three large swords symbolizing the wounds inflicted by three traumatic past events. The swords are weighting the heart down beneath grey clouds. Rain continuously pelts down on it. And yet look at the proportions... The floating heart is actually quite large when compared to the swords. This symbolizes that the heart is stronger and more resilient than any wound to it. It also symbolizes that the wounds (swords) can weight the floating heart down. This negative energy prevents it from rising above the clouds to bask in joyful sunlight.
The Three of Swords reminds us that even though “another” may have put the sword in your heart through a betrayal, we perpetually betray ourselves by not letting go and releasing the resentment. So, if the only thing that will unburden the heart is forgiveness, then why is there such resistance to doing that?
Swords represent power... Righteous indignation is seductive, and feels very empowering. The heart may want to hold onto the swords because it feels that somehow it now possesses more power. Although it gives an immediate illusion of being the moral victor (we are not the bad one after all), it also leaves us feeling hollow and empty. This sense of "power" is held onto for dear life, so that we aren't suckers caught off guard again! And yet, the heart remains heavy and isolated, and we miss the joy of the sunlight above the clouds.
Practicing forgiveness allows for releasing the negative energy within, so that you are not carrying it with you everywhere. Each day you refuse to forgive, you actually decide to keep carrying all that toxic poison within you for another day. There is an anonymous quote that says "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to drop dead!" Think about our world affairs, and how lack of forgiveness perpetuates war, hatred, and conflict.
Forgiveness does not mean "condoning" the reprehensible behavior of another. It does not mean you need to call this person over for tea and pretend nothing happened. Forgiveness is less about them, and more about you. The wound happened, but it's not still happening today unless we hurt ourselves with it. This means that you also have to forgive yourself for holding onto this garbage for so long. Forgiveness gives you the power to let the painful past go, allowing you to move on in your life unencumbered and free.
Today work on forgiveness. It often doesn't come overnight! Today you can draw the heavy swords out of your heart. Then it will rise like a phoenix above the rain, light and free.
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November 27, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Queen of Swords
“Empowerment.”
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The Queen of Swords symbolizes bringing order to chaos through clarity and boundaries. She is also an archetype that does not apologize for her right to have a place at the table. The Queen of Swords stands up to bullies and societal pressures. She questions the legitimacy of structures and rules that do not make logical sense. She keeps an eagle eye on maintaining her strength, integrity, and personal authority.
Are you uncomfortable with setting up boundaries with others because you might look "mean?" Is your career path in harmony with your authentic self? Is it difficult for you to stand up to the pressures of what others think you should be or do?
The Queen of Swords gets a lot of bad press. This is because she is not a docile, submissive or objectified woman. She is too powerful to be minimized by mindless societal roles and conventions. She uses her sword to cut through the hypocrisy of others' assumptions concerning how she should act, and what she should be. She knows that if she bows down to the demands of what others want her to be, she is selling herself short. She places strong boundaries because this is how people and organizations become healthy and grow. She is a master of transforming the energy from victimhood to being victorious (look at her butterfly crown). She commands respect because she respects herself first.
Even modern society still seems to have a problem with seeing women in strong leadership roles. Early on we are taught that women should be "likable" and "selfless," rather than strong, powerful, or ambitious. Women who embody the energy of the Queen of Swords are sometimes ostracized, despised, and ridiculed for no other reason than: "I just think she's a B#%*@." However, some of the best leaders history ever produced were strong women like Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, Queen Elizabeth I of England, and Empress Catherine the Great of Russia.
Whether you are male or female, the Queen of Swords appears to reacquaint you with your personal authority, strength, and power. You may also need to be more self-disciplined or create some much-needed boundaries. Don’t worry about being “liked” as much as being honest with yourself. Speak up and solve present issues and problems. You are strong and capable.
Do not apologize for your strength, power, or authentic self. Own it.
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November 26, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Hierophant
“Unlocking the sacred.”
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The Hierophant card symbolizes seeking the sacred. Every culture since the dawn of human history has had a concept of (and instinct toward) spiritual awareness. Some names for this awareness are: God, The Universe, The Gods, Higher Power, Great Spirit, the Goddess, Nature, Angels, the Higher Self, the Great Mystery… it’s different depending on who you talk to. Nobody’s “wrong” or “right,” because no one has the complete scope of this "infinite thing." Each of us are parts of a collective, describing the same "Divine" thing we are seeing from different vantage points. Each perception of the Divine is unique. What is sacred to one, might hold no meaning for another. However, the part of our psyche that authentically prays is universal. Similar to love, Spirit transcends religion, cultural identity, and imperfect human perception.
Some individuals identify as atheist, and yet many of them would concede that humans evolved with a biological component in the brain that developed into an "instinct" toward spiritual belief. Whatever your personal beliefs, the Hierophant symbolizes one important thing: Humans have a natural instinct to connect with something bigger than themselves, that transcends their worries, concerns and troubles.
Does religious baggage prevent you connecting with the Divine? Are you skeptical that a God/Awareness/Spirit even exists? Do you secretly feel you are isolated and alone, without a significant purpose? Do you feel out of touch with your Spirit?
If you are reading this card today the Divine place within you wants you to know It’s listening. You are being felt and heard right at this very moment. You are being viewed with perfect love and acceptance. Have you ever felt this Awareness within you before? It certainly feels you. It emanates from within you and connects you to others, and even the cosmos. This Awareness knows your whole history, and marvels at the radiant light that is uniquely yours. The stars are made of it and infused with this same elemental light. You and the stars are related, are descended from the same matter. This Awareness is ever near, patiently waiting for you to ask for what you need. It can find the quickest, surest path to manifest what you need most.
You are one unique piece of awareness, of a larger Universe of Light, able to reflect on itself. Your atoms are made from same elements as the stars, and yet you can reflect, think, be conscious and aware. You are an individual, however, you are plugged into something far greater. It doesn’t matter what you name this Awareness. This transcendent energy surrounds you whether you want to acknowledge its presence, believe it, name it, or not.
The Hierophant gently guides you back to the pathway that leads to this Awareness. The keys at the Hierophant’s feet represent the need to unlock the sacred place within. Reaching out to the Sacred part of you can aid you with releasing burdens that feel bigger than you. Find a quiet moment. Unload your fears, tears, and assumptions of hopelessness to the Divine. When your prayers are true, they are heard. We may not get what we expect, but we will get a solution. What has been feeling so heavy, so unsolvable, and so hopeless? You’re being heard right now. It’s okay to ask for what you need.
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November 25, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Wheel of Fortune (Reversed)
"When the Wheel of Life feels like it is moving in reverse."
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The Wheel of Fortune symbolizes unpredictable events, both considered fortunate and unfortunate. These are the events that occur with seeming randomness. They leave you feeling as if you have no control over them. The figures on the turning wheel illustrate that life moves in cycles where it brings periods where you might feel on top of the world, and other times when you feel as if you’ve hit rock bottom. Chaotic and unplanned things do occur in life. The rim of the wheel represents the external world with all its chaotic unpredictability. [1] The center of the wheel represents your center, the seat of your best self. If you can find you way home to your center, then the random things that occur in the world outside of your control will not feel as disturbing.
Are you stuck at the rim of the wheel, rising or falling with each unexpected event in your life that happens? Can you take unexpected events in stride, or are you rigid and inflexible? Do you panic when something doesn't go exactly according to plan?
In the book, "Following Your Path," Alexandra Collins Dickerman perceived the Wheel of Fortune as a metaphor for the changeable external world.[2] If you wrap up your whole identity and self-worth with what everybody “out there" thinks at the rim of the wheel, then you will be doomed to emotionally rise and fall with each acceptance or rejection you receive. However, if you can reconnect with your center (symbolized by the hub of the wheel), you can remain centered, without taking the chaotic ups and downs of life personally. When you operate from your center life no longer feels random, and you can control the direction of the wheel of your life.[3]
When the Wheel of Fortune appears, it is time to get off of the emotional roller coaster and detach from external dramas. Staying fixed at the edge of the wheel can get emotionally exhausting rather quickly. The truth is we don't have complete control of every life event that occurs. Sometimes #*%@ happens! Other people have free will and can act unpredictably. Good things can happen to awful people, and terrible things can happen to good people. Some people win the lottery without having done anything to deserve it. Others get hurt, through no fault of their own. In life, events rarely go “exactly” according to plan. These occurrences are outside of our control. However, we do have the ability to control how we respond to life. We each can choose to let our best-self handle the situation, or the part of ourselves where fear resides.
The Wheel of Fortune appears when it’s time to take random things in stride. Good or bad. Fair or unfair. Don’t take random events in life personally. All you have control over is you and your chosen response. Choose to respond with excellence. Reclaim your connection with your wise center. Sit peacefully within the eye of the storm. View your current situation with the higher awareness that resides within you. If you are centered, you will operate from a place of great personal power. The Wheel of Fortune foretells good luck for those who find their way back to their center.
When the Wheel of Fortune appears reversed it illuminates repetitive cycles, patterns and recurring life-lessons. Just as a wheel that moves in reverse brings a vehicle backward, so too the Wheel of Fortune reversed can take you back to an old life-lesson that seems to be repeating itself over and over. Getting frustrated at the repeated lesson is fruitless. The lesson is recurring because it holds the key to moving forward. Once you accept the lesson, and do the work on self-improvement, the wheel will begin to move forward once again. Surrounding cards may illuminate what this life-lesson is rooted in. Human lives are governed by cycles. Sometimes you are up, and sometimes you are down. The key is not to link your whole identity with the place you find yourself on the wheel at this moment.
It can feel frustrating when you eagerly wish to move forward, only to find that seemingly keep moving backwards. However, success is hardly ever arrived at in a straight line. The journey toward success bends, and curves and spirals. Like a spiral it sometimes looping back over itself. Sometimes you will feel like you are back where you started, with no progress being made.... but this is an illusion. Wisdom is accumulated with each cycle. Each time you revisit a challenge you know it more intimately and are able to see dimensions that were not apparent before.
The Wheel is made not just its outer rim (a symbol for the external world), it's source of strength is its center, the hub (a symbol for the divine center within you). Don’t get angry at recurring cycles for there is an important lesson to be received from them. The Universe is always showing you ways to move forward through patterns. Sometimes you do need to go back and pick up an important part of your center that was left behind.
Don't personalize the ever-turning Wheel, whether it is upright or reversed, whether you find yourself rising or falling. Ask yourself what the Universe is teaching you through the cyclical patterns you are experiencing. Are you learning about your true worth? Perhaps you are remembering how to reclaim your courage. Often, revisiting the place you are stalled to reclaim the part of you that seemed lost, is just the remedy needed to begin progressing forward again.
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[1] Alexandra Collins Dickerman, Following Your Path: Using Myths, Symbols and Images to Explore Your Inner Life (Los Angelos: Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc., 1992), 131.
[2] (Dickerman, Following your Path, 137-139.)
[3] (Ibid., 131.)
November 24, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Ace of Swords (Reversed)
"Guarding your new beginning."
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The Ace of Swords symbolizes reclaiming your personal power by taking charge of your life. Like all Aces, it symbolizes a new beginning is at hand. Your personal power is much like a sword, waiting to be drawn from a scabbard. When you grasp what makes you powerful, you can transform your energy, from victim to victor. The Ace of Swords cuts through trance-like states of mind. It flashes with dazzling light, awakening your self-confidence.
Do you feel your personal power has been depleted somehow? Are you avoiding something that you know will make things better if you just get the ball rolling? Are you overwhelmed by anxiety, causing you to feel uncomfortable with confronting an area of your life?
A mighty hand grasps the flashing sword. Sparks crackle from its blade. The Sword represents your vitality, life force and personal power. The sword is crowned. This symbolizes that when you grasp your power, you become fit to rule your life. You are the King or Queen of your own world, vested with the divine authority to make it as successful as you dare. The mountains symbolize the great heights you will ascend to, if you decide to act.
An olive branch dangles from the left side of the crown. This symbolizes that your life will feel more at peace, when you act. This seems counterintuitive to our fears which tell us to avoid things that might create stress. However, inner turmoil comes from the avoidance of confrontation, not from taking responsibility.
A palm branch graces the right side of the crown. Palm trees are primordial, tough, and hearty. They can endure desert-like heat, and torrential hurricanes. The palm branch symbolizes your resilience. You can endure much more than you may be giving yourself credit for.
Today, a new beginning is at hand. Don't dwell on yesterday, last year, or what might lie ahead. Your personal power is crackling in the present, right now. Where will you send that energy? Channel the energy to the place in your mind where your power resides. Act on something that you have been avoiding. This will restore confidence in your mind and its ability to make better decisions.
When the Ace of Swords appears reversed it represents defending positive new ways of thinking that are still in their infancy. When the blade of a sword is depicted upright, it symbolizes that it is “at the ready.” When a sword is upraised it is ready to fight or to act. An upraised sword can respond to any anticipated action. When a sword is depicted with its blade lowered (as in this case) it symbolizes that the sword is in a state of peace, rest, and that it is guarding something.
When the Ace of Swords appears reversed it can mean that you need to stay vigilant and protect something that is just getting its start. This could be new habits, a new mind-frame, a new perspective or a new creative project. Aces always represent new beginnings, and the Ace of Swords reversed can represent that you need to take special care of something fragile, that is still in its beginning phase. This card could also mean that you need to protect yourself during a sensitive time of change. For these positive new developments to take root, you must protect them until they are strong enough to stand on their own. The Ace of Swords reversed can also symbolize the need to protect yourself from the negative thoughts, comments and actions of others.
The Ace of Swords (upright or reversed) indicates the necessity to change your perspective from feeling powerless to powerful. You can indeed triumph, but first you must rediscover confidence in yourself and your abilities. Like the palm branch you are far more resilient than you think. Have courage and protect the empowered person you are becoming.
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November 23, 2021
The Card of the Day: The King of Pentacles (Reversed)
“Get organized in your thinking.”
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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 must enjoy them. You must appreciate your responsibilities, taking them up with gratitude and a long view of the security they will provide. All 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 every day 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.
When the King of Pentacles appears reversed, he signals that it is time to get organized in your thinking. Future goals can quickly become overwhelming if you try to tackle every single detail from the start. The King of Pentacles advises you to break up your major goals into smaller achievable tasks. Be patient with yourself, and with the process.
What is the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed in order to begin the journey toward your goal? What seems to be habitually holding up progress? Are you avoiding something out of fear? What do you need to learn more about to take your next steps?
Take your major goal and break it up into a manageable sequence of steps. Organize your tasks into a manageable schedule and take action. The King of Pentacles is a master organizer. He patiently and lovingly tends his vineyard over time, ensuring the sweetest grapes. The best grapes cannot be hurried. The King's example can help you remove the "mental clutter" that are obstacles toward progress. He exemplifies the notion that Rome was not built in a day........ but also reminds you that Rome was eventually built. It's time to not only be proactive, but patient as well. Before you know it, you will taste the sweetest grapes.
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November 22, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Seven of Swords (Reversed)
“Change of luck.”
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The Seven of Swords represents using your wits to overcome current obstacles. It reminds you to not fight life’s difficulties, but to use your intelligence to bypass something that appears fixed or immovable. The Seven of Swords reminds you that “It's not over until it’s over,” and that there is usually a way to succeed if you don’t give up. You are more clever than your current challenges, but you must "think smarter, not work harder!"
Do you give up easily when life is sends a setback or do you find a way around it? Have you ever used your wits to outsmart a obstructive situation that looked hopelessly immovable? Are you tired of “fighting” against one life-barrier after another?
Don’t get mad, get smart!
The man on the Seven of Swords is a brilliant tactician. In the background you see an army has invaded his homeland. They have set up camps and are conferring with one another about how to conquer the invaded territory. Instead of fighting the whole army by himself, the figure on the card uses his wits to outsmart them. While the troops are distracted, he creeps in and steals five of their seven weapons, greatly diminishing their strength. Instead of fighting or retreating he uses his mind to find a brilliant solution to the present impasse.
Not every challenge in life needs to be approached as “fight or flight.” Sometimes you need to use your mind to systematically review the challenge from different angles. Often you can find a way “around” the obstacle, with way less frustration and angst. Apply a different perspective to what appears hopeless. Ask experts for advice. Get more information. Really know more about the situation you are grappling with. Understanding the challenge in its entirety will give you power over it. Use the internet! Everything you need to know is at your fingertips. Are you arming yourself with enough knowledge, or are you just hoping everything will work out?
Sometimes we avoid the solution because it means we have to commit to a decision and take a risk. Many things may change, and change is scary. The man on the card is taking a risk by invading the enemy camp, but he knows that being proactive is better than hoping and wishing the army might retreat.
The Seven of Swords appears today to tell you that instead of ramming headlong into a current life challenge, be smarter than it. Use your strategic mind and do some research. Don’t give up when life gives you a “No!” Say to yourself: “Hmmmm...., we’ll see about that!”
Knowledge will give you great power over each obstacle.
When the Seven of Swords appears reversed, it indicates that the little black rain cloud that has seemingly been follow you is finally dissipating. Change of luck and good fortune is in store. The trickster on the card indicates that unexpected events will be swirling around you. Chance, lucky meetings will take place. Read between the lines to any agreements however, since there is an unpredictable quality to this card.
This is a lucky card, but be prepared. As the Roman philosopher Seneca once said: “Good luck is when preparation meets with opportunity.” Think ahead and plan your next life steps. Use your clear wits today and good luck will be on your side!
Also, this card does depict a thief. It is important to guard your personal info and finances in order to ensure lucky days to come. Pay attention to the details.
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November 21, 2021
The Card of the Day: The King of Swords
“Challenging assumptions.”
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The King of Swords appears to be a stern man. In fact, for many he is the archetype of The Man (The societal structures that unconsciously direct us to assume our place). The King of Swords asks us to examine how we might be limiting ourselves based on our own assumptions.
Are you unconsciously allowing old, fixed views to color your perception of yourself or others? Do you feel like you are limited, or can't get ahead because you're a woman, a minority, gay, poor, disabled or just feel like the deck is stacked against you? Do you look at others that are different from you with assumptions before you really get to know them?
All of us are raised in a world of assumptions. As children we are unconsciously presented with attitudes of racism, sexism, and phobias that color our eventual view of the world. People fear what they don't understand. People also find it uncomfortable to question a conclusion they arrived at long ago. When the King of Swords appears, he places you in contact with your own assumptions. Every now and then we need to challenge our assumptions in order to grow. Sometimes the assumptions that need to be released are narratives that you are unconsciously accepting from external society about how far you can go, and how much you can achieve.
The King of Swords is not an evil king. His real interest is preserving the security of the System. He argues that the way things are far better than changing his mind. Sometimes the King of Swords symbolizes a difficulty with changing your mind about something that seems settled. Although the King looks fixed, look closer... There are butterflies covering his throne. This represents that systems can be changed; assumptions can be transformed, and old divisions can be healed through understanding. The King of Swords can change his mind! Here's the biggest secret: The King of Swords is a part of us. The part that needs to lose its rigidity.
What part of you feels rigid? Are you dismissing whole swarths of people, simply because they have a different viewpoint, politics, ethnicity, or other social identifier? What calcified attitudes in the world would you like to see changed? Are you encountering these traits with someone else around you?
In order to change fixed attitudes, you must understand them. The King of Swords represents understanding things more acutely, so that you can make reasoned arguments and arrive conclusions that are evidence-based. The King of Swords is at his best when he applies critical thinking and logical arguments. Sometimes the King of Swords appears in the form of a loved one who challenges your own viewpoints and assumptions. They may say the craziest things, and may be incorrect with the facts, but they do serve in making you question your own conclusions.
You will never win a full on “battle” with the King of Swords. He’s heavily entrenched and armored. He can be a fixed personality, or he may represent an institution or organization that is set in its ways. When the King of Swords appears win him over with clarity, evidence and reason. This King can change his mind, but only if it makes logical sense to do so.
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November 20, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Four of Swords
“Rest.”
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The Four of Swords symbolizes our need for inner-peace. It encourages rest and recuperation. The appearance of the Four of Swords gently reminds you to call your attention to your body, and any areas where tension has been building up. You may need to give yourself some peace and quiet to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit. You could also find that it's time to let go of whatever is preventing a sense of peace and causing inner-suffering.
Do you feel inner-peace, or have you been suffering?" When is the last time you gave yourself a relaxing mid-day nap? Do you need a break from the stress that's built up?
Hidden in the upper left-corner of the stained-glass window in the Four of Swords is the word: PAX (Latin for PEACE).[1] Aside from encouraging rest, this card asks if you are feeling inner-peace. Often the cause for suffering in our lives is attachment to things that need to be surrendered. Trying to control outcomes or hanging onto a path that no longer brings rewards are examples of this. Identify anything that is interfering with your inner peace. Is it a life path that you honestly aren't happy with? Is it a fixed attachment to a specific outcome? Wouldn't it be a relief to finally let the source of your suffering go and see what new wonders await you? We are often very good at rationalizing why we need to suffer, but there is no rationalization for it. You can choose inner-peace and let go of whatever you've outgrown that keeps preventing a sense of being at peace within yourself.
Another way to bring a sense of inner-peace is deep breathing. Secure ten minutes for yourself where you won't be disturbed. Sit back and relax in a comfy chair. Bring your awareness to your body. With your mind, slowly scan the sensations of your body from head to toe. Is there an area with tightness built up? Find the area of tightness and relax the muscles surrounding this area as much as you can. When you identify where the tension has built up, it’s time to breathe into it. Empty all the air from your lungs. Take a deep breath, slowly inhaling through your nostrils over an eight second count. Fill your body with revitalizing air. Let your stomach expand with the inhalation. Inhale the revitalizing oxygen into the place of tension. Hold the air there for eight seconds, right in the tense spot. While holding the air, purse your lips as if you were about to drink from a small straw. Exhale all the air over eight counts through this aperture slowly. It should sound like a dolphin’s exhalation. (PPHHHHHHHHH). Use your abdomen to press all the old air out of your body. Let all the tension escape with the breath. Feel the muscles around the tense spot relax even further. Repeat this breath exercise with two more healing inhalations and exhalations (Eight counts in, hold eight counts in stressed spot, release through pursed lips eight counts). With each exhalation allow your body to let go of all the accumulated strains of the week.
People in Western culture often need to be reminded to breathe, relax, and let go. Modern humans are always being stimulated by tasks, media, and demands. Breathing is the easiest way to release tension, but there are so many other ways to relax. Take a nice hot bath with candles and scented water. Sip a cool refreshing drink or soothing herbal tea. Take a relaxing nap for an hour just to rest your brow. Read your favorite book with snuggly blankets a cup of cocoa. Take a breather in a cool darkened room.
When the Four of Swords appears, you must allow yourself rest and recuperation. Perhaps it’s time to plan a vacation, or even a walk in Nature. You don't need to suffer. Blessings will always come to those who are at peace within themselves.
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[1]Theresa Reed, The Tarot Coloring Book (Boulder: Sounds True, 2016), 102.
My friend and colleague Theresa Reed (a.k.a. the Tarot Lady) first brought my attention to this interesting little detail hidden in the stained-glass window.
November 19, 2021
The Card of the Day: The Three of Pentacles
"Enjoy the learning process."
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The Three of Pentacles depicts a young man learning a trade at a monastery. This card symbolizes the refinement of skills or talents. The Three of Pentacles exemplifies work that is worthwhile and meaningful. In order to excel at it, you must be patient with the learning process. This means being open to making mistakes, and not giving up when setbacks happen.
What skills are you currently learning? Are you expecting yourself to be perfect? Do you constantly compare your skills to that of others and feel that your abilities aren't good enough?
Although the Three of Pentacles symbolizes "perfecting" a skill, it does not require us to be perfect. Quite the opposite, this card asks you to look at the big picture. Look how far you've already come with what you are learning. Look ahead to what can still achieve! Improvement can only happen if you are open to learning. No matter how good you are at your talent or skillset, you can always get better.
In the learning process, mistakes will be your best teachers. Mastering anything is all about trial and error. You will make mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the better you will get. You might feel like you look stupid occasionally, but don't give up. If you keep doing the work, you will achieve your goal.
The learning process is never a straight "B-line" toward a goal. It is a winding path, of hills and valleys. Sometimes the path loops around and makes us feel as if we are going backwards and learning nothing at all. This is an illusion. Like a spiral, the path winds around and back, and yet always upward. Sometimes success isn't achieved right away. It’s as if the Universe wants us to learn something important about where we are right now, without rushing on to the next thing. Are you impatient to get this phase in your life over with? Slow down! You are missing an important teachable moment. Sometimes, the thing we are learning isn’t academic, but an important life-lesson. The Three of Pentacles always highlights an area for self-improvement.
Recall your passion for the skills you are honing. The Three of Pentacles can also foretell beginning an area of study, or the acquisition of important knowledge which will have long-term implications for your future. Be patient with the learning process.
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