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OVERVIEW OF THE SUIT
From:Prairie:
SWORDS: Swords represent air, the east,
spring. They have to do with action,
change, force, movement, trouble, &
strife. They deal with the mental level
of consciousness. Swords mirror the
quality of mind present in your
thinking.
SWORDS:
CORRESPONDENCES
From:Prairie:
Ace:
Air signs: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
2: Moon in Libra
3: Saturn in Libra
4: Jupiter in Libra
5: Venus in
Aquarius
6: Mercury in Aquarius
7: Sun & Moon in Aquarius
8:
Jupiter in Gemini
9: Mars in Gemini
10: Sun in Gemini
ACE OF SWORDS
From: "Brigit Douglas"
Hi Everyone,
Well, isn't it exciting to be
starting the next round of lessons! And
I'm very glad to be the first off the
mark for the suit of swords.
I only have the Rider-Waite deck so that is what I am basing my interpretation on.
Some keywords: Victory, innovative thought, general thoughts, the nervous system, mental force, truth, justice, fortitude.
My interpretation: The Ace of Swords represents a mental breakthrough of some sort. The sword is breaking through the clouds of negative thought and achieves a clear understanding of the matter. The querent has all the inner strength and power to meet the challenge and be victorious. It is like a whole new way of thinking has dawned on the querent. An example is when you break up with someone, no matter how long or short you were with them for, there's a patch where all your feelings are all over the place. But there's always that one point where you think, no, I'm over him/her. I know what went wrong, and I am now going to move over that. It's the point where you suddenly realise that. You succeed over everything. Nothing can make you think differently, and no-one can put you down. It's a feeling of victory, which is also symbolised through the ivy or whatever that green thing is around the sword! It's a bit like the 6 of wands (I think…. The one with a guy on a horse and some wands around him and he's victorious). It's about superior thinking. Positive thoughts that you keep you happy for the whole day!
Reversed: The querent has experienced a huge defeat and is dealing with someone/thing that has much more power. The forces are working against the querent. Plans have come to a stand still and are delayed. You will just have to wait until the little Ace of Swords flips over and is upright until things get back on track!
I'd love to here your input too. Hope you enjoyed it!
Brigit
From:Sunraven
Gently meet, Brigit,
Lovely! And right on target!!!!!!!
However, let me earn my keep as a teacher, a minute, here. The difference between the Ace of Swords and the 6 of wands is this.
The ace of swords is kind of the AHA! card. The mental light bulb. It does signify clear minded victory, indeed. but that victory is the direct result of an internal realization or understanding. It is mind over matter in its purest form.
The six of wands is also victory--but it is more the victory based on a turn of events or the actions of others that make you look good. Like, for example, if you do a really *fine* research project for your boss--and your boss uses your material to base a presentation on--he looks great, but he looks great and is victorious because of your work. The other thing about the six of wands that is different is that although it represents a victory--things going your way--it is very ephemeral. Enjoy the energy--cuz it won't last.
But the Ace of swords is a sword in your hand. You created it, you control it.
Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gently part,
Sunraven
TWO OF SWORDS
From: Prairie
Merry meet! In the Rider Tarot, the 2 shows a woman in a grey gown sitting on a grey bench in front of an ocean beach with rocks in the water. She is blindfolded and holds 2 crossed swords, point upwards. The moon in the sky is waxing.
First, I'll deal with the symbology. The woman is blindfolded, showing that she is confused about her situation. She cannot see the problem or the solution clearly. The swords are perfectly balanced, showing a balanced and stable mind. The water signifies emotions, and the rocks show tension.
One of the divinatory meanings of this card is tension in a relationship, needing a cool head to solve the problem. A need to look at both sides of the situation. The waxing moon shows a new beginning arising out of the solutions found for this problem. The preponderance of grey shows a need to be neutral, and to look at both sides of the situation. (The balanced crossed swords signify the same thing). Crossed swords, in Native symbology, is a symbol of truce. A truce needs to be called, and the problem needs to be resolved using logic (the suit of swords deals with logic and the use of the intellect). Both sides of the situation need to be addressed.
From:Suzanne
All I can add to Prairie's lesson is the (for me) amazing realization that the Two of Swords perfectly describes a situation I've been indirectly involved in lately with two of my friends. As an astrologer, I can say that as he is a Pisces, and she a Gemini, and his Moon is in Libra, and hers in Cancer, that they have two difficult situations in their charts to deal with, and not just one. Their Suns are incompatible, and so are their Moons. Both have very strong personalities, and I feel that I've been witnessing a battle that will determine who will be ruler. This is what the Two of Swords is like. The blindfolded maiden is trying to balance two swords, each of which is opposite the other. The maiden herself is blindfolded, and it is said that Justice is blind. Fairness will determine the outcome, or the two opposing forces, equally strong, will have to learn to balance their energies, and to get along.
Love and Blessings,
Suzanne
THREE OF SWORDS
From:Armande
3 of swords is a painful card, it gives that "twang" in your heart: loss, sorrow, mourning that loss. You know something painful has happened or surfaced from the past and that it needs to be cleansed. It is a wintery card: this needs being taken care of before you can go on. It is no use starting on new projects, just as it is no use to plant seeds in the winter.
Whilst mourning your loss / feeling it, you can release yourself. It often indicates a whoooole lotta tears, cleansing goes hand in hand with tears. Tears are purification.
There is no other way than move through it, then you can let go. In this way it is in a odd way a "fruitful" (3) card: it allows you to move on.
The Haindl-card shows 3 swords hanging in the air, against a sort of grey/brownish cloth. There are 2 swords to the left and 1 to the right. In between those there is a big tear coming out of what seems to be a rip in the cloth. It is as if it has been scraped and the skin has broken. There is some blood to be seen, but the tear flowing from it is thicker. I read this as follows. It may be that the emotions are bigger/stronger than the actual fact/cause itself. It is the coming to terms with it that takes precedence. It also shows the person seeing nothing else in their life besides this loss.
I use reverse cards as well and in that case I read it as someone not willing to face the loss, and thus prolonging the pain. Denial of what is happening, so they need to turn the card around and deal with it.
From:Sunraven
Gently meet, Armande!
EXCELLENT! You have the essence of this card. Of course, I wouldn't be me if I didn't add something, would I?
Thing about the 3 of swords is that it cuts to the chase. It pierces the heart of the matter, and separates reality from illusion. That can be an extremely painful process! And it separates *us* from those things that are no longer serving us, which can be equally painful, if we aren't ready, or are in denial. Also, this is the card of misunderstandings. People talking AT not WITH one another. The kind of thing where someone makes a decision and even acts on what they THINK another person said--not WHAT they actually said. Watch this in a spread--make sure your seeker *really* knows what's going on! But you did a stupendous job!!!!!
Oh. On another subject ... I got 2 new decks!!!!! Finally got Barbara Walker's Sacred Tarot and Daughters of the Moon. Yipee!
Take care, all.
Gently part,
Sunraven
FOUR OF SWORDS
From:Indigo
This is one of my favorite cards in the deck. It comes up alot when I'm doing my readings. It's the 4 of swords, or Truce in my deck. I use the Thoth Deck. This card represents the negotiating mind, the conflict/resolution mind, or the meditating mind. In any kind of negotiation, one must be open to staying in balance and non-positional. The truce making process is a 4 fold process that's experienced on all four levels of consciousness, mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical, which is represented by the four swords and the four tiers of the lotus blossom on this card. Truce is an opportunity to move through conflictual issues. In order for conflict resolution to be successful, there are four peaceful principles that come from native tradition which is referred to as the four-fold way. In order for truce to be truly experienced, one must: show up, pay attention, tell the truth, and not be attached to the outcome. The results of this is renewal and regeneration. This usually means that in the next 4 weeks, or next 4 months, there will be an opportunity for truce making or conflict resolution or negotiation of important issues or with important people in your life. You will have the flexibility and expansiveness of Jupiter and the centeredness and balance of Libra to use to work through this. This card has the Jupiter symbol at the top of the card and the Libra symbol at the bottom of the card.
Indigo
FIVE OF SWORDS
From: Krystlhawk
Good Day Everyone !!
The V of Swords~~~~
*****Deck used: Morgan-Greer*****
When I first look at this card, the very first thing I see is the smile on the face of the man/woman holding the three remaining swords.
I wondered why he/she was smiling. Then I looked and saw that in the background there are two swords laying down on the ground, behind two people. There is one person kneeling with his face in his hands, which make me feel very sad.
Then there is another person facing the sunset with his hand stretched out, like he is saying please help me. I feel that they know the person behind them is feeling good about "Himself". Like why isn't he coming over here to ask how we are.
I am feeling like this a a selfish card. The person in the foreground sees what's happening to the others, but he is very satisfied that he still has his !!!!!!!! I am thinking that this is a card that is teaching us to stop and re-think about our surroundings as well as others.
To be aware of situations that do not only pertain to ourselves, but the fact remains, there is a whole world around us that needs attention.
Blessings to all,
Kryslhawk
SIX OF SWORDS
From: Mareth
I really like the VI of Swords. It's one of my favorite Minor Arcana cards. In all of the readings that I've done for friends, family, and coworkers, no one has ever had a bad reaction when it appears in a spread. It always brings smiles and sighs of relief to the querent. There aren't many Minor Arcana cards I can say that about...and definitely no others within the suit of Swords.
I do not read cards in "reversed" positions for one main reason: I feel there are enough cards within the Minor Arcana to represent the full range of human experience without having to worry about upright vs. reversed meanings. (Please, do not misunderstand me; I am NOT saying you're wrong if you read reversals, just explaining why you'll find no mention of them in my interpretation of the VI of Swords.) I try to keep all of my cards facing the same direction, so if a card does fall in a reversed position, I would simply interpret that as a more challenging situation for the querent.
That being said, we're off to explore the meanings of the VI of Swords... The descriptions that follow are in my own words, written after contemplating the VI of Swords in each of the three decks I currently own.
Brightest blessings to you all,
~* Mareth *~
THE GODDESS TAROT (Kris Waldherr):
The VI of Swords in this deck seems to be very traditional, meaning that it is based on the Rider-Waite imagery. It shows a woman (in this case, the Goddess Isis) seated in a small boat. She seems to be absorbed in thought—-perhaps meditating about her trip and the events that brought Her to it. This is very appropriate since I interpret the Swords as being symbolic of Air and its cerebral pursuits.
There are six swords in the boat with her. Because She does not appear to be in any physical danger, I would have to interpret the presence of the swords as being representative of the qualities of Air—-knowledge and wisdom—-that She brings with Her (as opposed to being weapons of protection or aggression.) They are symbolic of what She has learned on Her journey and has led Her up to this point.
In the background lie a mountain range and a pale grey sky. The mountains are painted in dusky pinks and purples, which bring to mind the quiet time before sunrise. This is a time when it is really neither night nor day, but a transitional period that holds elements of both. To me, this indicates that the old situation has not been completely finished, but it is on its way out, making room for new developments to come.
The water in the foreground of the card is quite choppy and it looks like the trip has been a bit unpleasant or difficult up until this point. The water ahead is not completely smooth either, so the difficulties may not end immediately, but will be lessened in some way. When I look at this card, it makes me think of the old cliché "There's smooth sailing ahead." It appears that, while there has been difficulty in the past, the future may hold promise of more positive things.
We are not shown where the boat is headed, which may indicate that the journey has an uncertain destination. Of course, since the card depicts travel, an obvious interpretation would be an upcoming journey or relocation of some kind, especially if it involves travel over a body of water. This change may be a physical one (such as a change of address or employment) or an inner transformation.
HERBAL TAROT (Michael Tierra and Candis Cantin):
In many ways, the VI of Swords in this deck is very similar to that of the Goddess Tarot. It also depicts a boat moving away from choppy water into a more serene area, indicating that a troublesome situation of some kind is being left behind. Ahead of the boat is open water, with no clear destination in sight. Perhaps the person who set the boat in motion is not even sure where it will end up, but is more concerned with leaving some unpleasantness (even if it's only bad weather) behind.
There is no one seated in the boat... which has always troubled me. After thinking about WHY this should bother me, I came to the conclusion that it is because it makes the card appear lonely... as if the querent has had to leave behind old attachments in order to make a fresh, new start.
The boat's only contents are the six swords, which I would again interpret as representing knowledge and wisdom instead of being weaponry (especially considering that they are firmly embedded in the planks of the boat).
The sky in the background is pink and the sun is either setting or rising. Either way, it appears that one cycle is ending, which will allow another to begin.
Prominently featured on the card is a Vervain plant. Immediately upon seeing this, it screams, "MOVEMENT" to me. I use herbs quite a bit in my kitchen Witchery and Vervain is an ingredient that I include in just about everything. The reason for this is its tendency to make things "go," by reinforcing the magickal properties of the other herbs and bringing about a change quickly.
On this card, the Vervain plant is in bloom and, as an amateur herb gardener, I know that the time of the flowering is like a halfway point between its beginning (the germination of the seed) and the fulfillment of its destiny (when it produces seed for the next generation). To me, this means that the cycle is at a halfway point. The energies are now waning and room is being made for a new cycle to begin.
MINI-CONNOLLY (Eileen Connolly)
In many ways, the Connolly imagery is non-traditional, but that's not to say that there's anything wrong with it. I love it, to be honest with you. Compared to the other decks I've used (too many to list here), it's fresh and different and sometimes puts a unique spin on things. This is the deck that I use when reading for non-Pagan-friendly querents, by the way, since it has very positive imagery throughout both the Major and Minor Arcana.
When I took out the VI of Swords from this deck and placed it alongside the other two, it took me a while to figure out how much the three cards have in common.
It seemed that Connolly's version had little to do with the others and I figured I'd have a difficult time relating them all. Oh, how wrong I was...
The VI of Swords in this deck doesn't show a boat adrift on choppy water. Instead, it shows a person (who could be either male or female, if you study it closely). He is running across a bridge with a staff in his hand. (Humor me if I refer to the person as "he" or "him" instead of using "s/he" or her/him, which gets entirely too cumbersome for my liking…) Behind him, the bridge is unadorned. Before him, a flowering vine clings to the stones.
The bridge's supports are in the form of six swords. In the foreground, the water running under the bridge would be difficult to navigate, since it appears shallow and has many twists and turns. On the other side of the bridge lies open water, smooth and easy to navigate, but with an uncertain ending point. It could be a bay, which would indicate a short trip, or the ocean, which might foretell a long journey.
What does all this imagery mean to me? Well, the bridge itself is a transition... A way to get from one place to another, if you will. The flowers before him, but not behind him indicate a change, growth of some sort, movement toward the completion of a cycle. The water in the foreground with its inherent perils represents troubles in the past, while the open water in the background shows that things will become easier for the querent. The swords represent the wisdom the man possesses that has brought him to a transitional point in his journey. The staff (representative of the suit of Staves and the element of Fire) represents the motivation that has caused a change to come about. We cannot see the final destination of his journey…and he may not either. But he is leaving someplace or something behind to pursue new goals.
In other words, it says to me pretty much the same thing as the "traditional" imagery does:
A period of change, whether physical or emotional
Wisdom is being accumulated and put to good use
Leaving a difficult situation for a more positive one
An old cycle is beginning to come to an end
From: "Brigit"
Hi,
I just have to post on the VI Swords...
I draw a card every day. It doesn't dictate my day, rather I look at it at the end and think how it related to my day and its events. Sometimes I get the same cards a couple of times in a row. But this one keeps popping its head up all the time! I get it every time I'm meaning to do something but am too lazy to do it. For example, during exams, I did jack-all for study but really should have because I needed it. And during that time I kept getting the 6 of Swords! And one day I had Uni (and the 6 of swords) and I ended up going to only one class and cutting the rest to go and walk down at the beach with my friend because it was such a nice day. Other times, I will have an essay that needs to be written but I never get around to it when 6 of swords has come up.
I don't think it is a matter of conditioning. I mean, it's not me going "Oh, 6 of swords, that means I can slack off today", rather no matter how I take the day, I end up doing something other than the thing I'd planned to do.
Now in relation to the card's meaning... There's a vague connection. Well, I see the card as regret of leaving behind something, but knowing that you are going onto something new. So maybe it is regret that I'm stuffing up the day in terms of what I should have done. But really, maybe it was better for me doing that (tho I don't believe that!).
So anyway, thought I'd share that with you all!
Cheers,
Brigit
SEVEN OF SWORDS
From:Jinks
VII Swords
Description:
Albano-Waite deck: A man glances smugly over his shoulder at the tents of a military camp. He is tiptoeing away with two swords in his right hand, and three cradled in his left arm. Two more swords stick upright in the ground in front of the tents. In the far background, behind some training soldiers, a gray cloud sits low on the horizon.
Tarot of the Old Path: Again, a smug man carries away four swords, and looks over his shoulder at the three remaining swords stuck into the ground.
My impressions of this card:
Something will be taken from you by stealth. It may be material goods, or things less tangible like your reputation, credit for a job well done, or someone's faith in you. Not all will be taken or damaged - just enough so that it's obvious that you've been robbed. The perpetrator's attitude is, "That'll show her!" This is a vindictive robbery, not one done only for the sake of financial (or other) gain.
Reversed: The swords clatter to the ground, alerting all to the
thief's actions. He/she will be caught red-handed. If you were falsely accused of something, you will be vindicated and the real culprit revealed.
Having composed my interpretation of the Seven of Swords, I looked it up in a few of my books (and boy do I have a lot of them! :) ). Some of them indicated that the querent was the sneaky man on the card, and warned of failed plans, unreliability, and unwise attempts to take what is not one's own. One book said that the card meant travel by land. (Hunh??)
My favorite interpretation came from The Feminist Tarot by Gearhart and Rennie. Paraphrasing and quoting sloppily (I didn't take very good notes), it said: Deception. Fraud and roguery in service of the revolution. Cleverness and stealth. Or, betrayal of the querent. Or, warning against direct confrontation when facing a powerful enemy (the Patriarchy).
Reversed: Failure to complete the plan, misplaced trust, a narrow escape or being caught in the act. A risk that "burns" and therefore ensures learning from the experience. (I especially like that last bit.)
Even though I usually use a Waite-based deck, I was intrigued by the very different image I found for the Seven of Swords in a couple other decks. I thought I'd give them a try, too.
Description:
The Witches Tarot: Three musicians set on a bench built into an alcove of a brick wall. The dark-haired man on the left plays panpipes, the dark-haired woman in the center plays a lyre (her eyes are closed), and the blond man on the right plays a flute. Seven swords, stacked perfectly one on top of the other, sit on the ground before them, but out of reach. Wispy clouds (smoke? The beginning of a fog bank?) obscure the trees behind the wall.
Connolly Tarot (mini): Two androgynous youths play their instruments on a cliff. The seated one on the left plays a harp, and looks dreamily into the distance. The standing one plays a double flute, with his eyes closed. Stuck in the ground, like a fence between them and the cliff's edge, are five swords with green pommels. Two more, with red pommels, are stuck in a large gray cloud above them, hilts towards the ground.
My interpretations:
"Fiddling while Rome burns." You relax and enjoy leisure pursuits, safe and protected, but don't get so wrapped up in your recreation that you don't pay attention to what's going on around you. Those swords might fall out of the cloud - and hit you.
Reversed: Protection from the unexpected. Your defenses are within easy reach. Don't worry.
The books had various interpretations, most mentioning advice being offered, and success achieved through hard work. Reversed meanings tended toward slander, failure, and bad timing. (Except the booklet that came with the Connolly deck, which said that the card reversed meant advice and help offered, and upright that plans had fallen through. Go figure.)
Jinks
EIGHT OF SWORDS
From: Sunraven
On the face of it, this is a card about hopelessness, restriction and lack of options. but it isn't. Not really. If you look at the Ryder Waite deck, you see a woman, tied from the waist up in such a way that she cannot move her arms, and blindfolded. She stands between 8 swords--and there is a featureless background. It would seem that she can't go anywhere--that she is imprisoned.
However, keep in mind that this deck, as did many of the older decks, portrayed the negative meaning and implied the positive. So, let's consider our tied up lady. First of all--there is *nothing* in front of her. She could just walk straight ahead, if she so chose--blindfold or not. But she does not choose to do so. She seems to be waiting for rescue.
Now. Let's consider the nature of the Swords. They represent the mental world--our conscious minds and what they do and how they work. In terms of our thought process, this is typical of the times when we *think* we are trapped--have not options--and must depend on the kindness of others. but--is that *ever* the case? We *always* have options--but those options may or may not be acceptable to us. This is fine--so long as we acknowledge that we have them. If we don't, it doesn't take us long to drift into victim mode. And that is where our lady is at the moment.
The Connolly deck shows this a bit differently. First of all, the main character is a male--and in that deck, all men represent the conscious mind. Next, he's in indigo--the color of healing and the sixth chakra--or clear-sightedness. Third, he's standing behind his window. He can look out at the snow, where 8 swords stand--abandonned by his enemies.. Notice that the points are in the ground.
One gets the feeling that his room is warm and safe--and that he will come out as soon as the snow melts. Which he will, BTW.
So this is really a card about gathering mental resources. Biding one's time. Doing nothing for the moment--not because you *can't* but because inaction
may well be the appropriate action.
However, watch this card when combined with other negative cards. It can be one of the indicators of depression, and it can indicate a feeling of being trapped in a dead-end situation, and unable to get out.
Gently part,
Sunraven
NINE OF SWORDS
From:Prairie
The nine, in the Rider deck, shows a woman sitting in bed with her hands over her eyes. She is obviously in pain or in great sorrow. Since swords represent the mental realm, this card can be interpreted as mental anguish, depression, guilt, putting yourself down, nightmares, misery, a sense of hopelessness, despair, anxiety. This card represents the mind that injures itself through doubt or depression.
Traditionally, the nine of swords has also meant sorrow for another person who is close to you. Along these same lines, the nine could also mean worrying about a loved one, sometimes to excess.
Keep an eye on the cards that surround or modify the nine. If it falls next to the Star, remember that all is not lost. There is a ray of hope in there, a reason to pull out of the depression, a lifeline out of the anguish. If it falls next to the High Priestess, you must be prepared to face the truth without fear or doubt. In the same way, if it falls next to the Hermit, someone will show up to guide you out of the hole you seem to have fallen into. If there are aces in the spread, look for the light at the end of the tunnel, a way out in the form of something new and fresh.
The astrological correspondence for this card is Mars in Gemini. When you pull this card, ask yourself why you are being so hard on yourself. How are you putting yourself down or what is the source of your depression? What can you do to make yourself feel better?
If anybody has anything they would like to add to this, feel free to jump in here! Any comments or criticisms are greatly appreciated. Prairie
From: Armande
MM all!
When I use the Rider waite and this card comes up, I also notice the bedcover which has red flowers to a yellow background (hope for the future). If she were to open her eyes, she would see the pretty bedspread and realize that not all is lost.
So I tend to read this card as being stuck too long in pain or sorrow, maybe exagerating it, but that depends on the other cards for a a large part, like Prairie said.
My 2 cents...
Armande
From: Sunraven
Your two cents, and worth far more! Thing is--if she *doesn't* open her eyes, and confront her situation, she will *never* see the pretty bedspread, or anything *but* her impression of her situation. And ya know--there is nothing more scary than what we *don't* see, cuz we don't even know what it is. But you are right on, Armande!
Gently,
Sunraven
From:Suzanne Levinson
I've always been in awe of the Nine of Swords. In tarot, I always turn up as the Queen of Swords, so that is my suit, and nines have a lot of power. I'd like to think that the other side of all the misery evident in this card is that you are finally facing up to something, that things can only get better now.
Suzanne
From: sunraven
Gently meet, Suzanne,
Well, I pretty much agree with that. You know, each card presents a challenge, and offers a solution. the challenge of the 9 of swords is the stress (mental) that fear can bring. It is the 3 AM horrors. The worries we add to by worrying. The mental "what if" games we play with outselves. but mostly, it's the monsters in the back of our mental closets. They tend to give us nightmares and wake us up. But what the 9 of swords says to you is: confront. Turn on all the lights. Take our situation, and put it under the brightest lifht your mind can generate. Look at all sides of it, examine it until it holds no shadows, no mysteries. What you will find, if you can do that, is that your problem is smaller than you are--and that *you* are in control. So, yes. Ultimately, this *is* a card of fairly awesome power. But it is the power of knowledge over ignorance: reason over knee jerk reactions: clear thinking over fear-motivated emotion.
Gently part,
Sunraven
TEN OF SWORDS
From: sunraven
Gently meet,
If your first exposure to the X of swords comes from one of the older books and more traditional decks, you come away from this card with a feeling of utter defeat. The Ryder Waite deck, for example, shows a man lying flat on the ground, with 10 swords sticking out of his back. The meaning given is, if anything worse than the 9 of swords. But remember, the older decks portrayed the negative and implied the positive. They did this to keep the frivolous of soul away from the mysteries of the Tarot.
But this card contains within it some of the most powerful lessons in the suit.
As you know, swords ae about mental activity. The conscious mind and how it works--or doesn't. This is, in some ways, a card of absolute passivity. A complete letting go--in the negative, from despair. But in the positive, the seeker has realized that he/she has taken her (his) issue as far as possible, and that there is nothing more that can be cone. At times like this, it is necessary to become very quiet, to be able to allow things to take their course--without intervention, manipulation or control. Remember, inaction is a form of action. The choice to do nothing *is* a choice.
This is not, as some have called it, the doormat card. I could make a case for this being the ultimate card of passive resistance--but, instead, let me describe how another deck portrays it.
In the Connelly deck, we see a woman, standing very straight. Her hands are touching two energy centers, and she wears teal (a mix of blue, (freedom) and green (discipline.) The pattern on her sarong is purple, the color of wisdom. Around her is a white light, and 10 swords shoot away from her into an indigo (healing and clarity) background. This is one of the primary healing images in this deck. She has seen and dealt with the worst her situation has to offer, and she has taken a deep, cleansing breath. The energy pouring into her aura comes straight through her, and from her Source.. The swords are falling away, and the negative energy is being transmuted into something beneficial.
When you see this card, you can smile. There is, after all, no 11 of swords--so tell your seeker the worst is over, and things have to change now. There's nothing else that *can* happen.
Gently,
Shoshana
