Eight of Swords

Take A Look Around

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Like yesterday’s post, I’m playing a bit of catch up. I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 7th or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Eight of SwordsToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of painting oneself into a corner, putting hurdles in your own way, and other self defeating behavior including negative inner dialogue and pity party mentality.

What stands out to me the most strongly in this card’s imagery today is that there is no swords or snakes on the other side of the large tombstone looking rock.  The boy and the fox are so focused on the snake and swords that they haven’t looked around to see that there’s another way out of their situation.

And the boy and the fox?  They are me.  Freaking out and forgetting to look at other options, allowing my worries and fears to narrow my focus.  I need to remember to stay calm and take a look around.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Rising Sign Question: How can I balance the self with those around me, to achieve what I am asked to work on this month?

Witches Wisdom Tarot

Reading Summary: Focus on your new emotions (Ace of Water) and not the old feelings of scarcity that so often drive you (Five of Water Rx). You need to be able to go after what you desire and not just what you think you need to do (Messenger of Water atop Ace of Air), and you will once again light the fire of inspiration within you (Ace of Fire).

Take Away:  This is about putting more priority on the pleasure of my work and letting go of that iron grip I have on the feelings of responsibility and desperation that I often you use to push me forward.  The truth is? I’ve been using those feelings of responsibility and desperation more and more over time, and they are smothering my spark of enthusiasm and inspiration under their weight.

DECK USED:  WITCHES WISDOM TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Wish for the Future / Next Step in Getting There / The Home of My Hope

Savran Forest TarotWish For The Future – The Moon Rx – Less uncertainty is a great wish for the future.  Like most people, I struggle a great deal with insecurities and the illusions they create that make my reality mine and subjective.  These insecurities create a feeling of anxiety, and encourage predictive thinking that isn’t rooted in divination but rather is rooted in fear.  To be free of the uncertainties that stir up these insecurities would make for a beautiful future.

Next Step in Getting There – The Tower atop Four of Swords Rx – Make sure that you’re not standing back and practicing restraint during the chaos to come.  Sometimes, if you step back, you can ride out the chaos in peace.  Other times?  You have to fight for what you want to keep during those moments.  In this case?  You have to fight.

The Home of My Hope – The World – I take comfort from, as well as it being the home of my hope concerning, the cyclical pattern of life. The fact that we move through a journey that spirals back upon itself on another higher level again and again as we become better people through each event and trial we work through.  It fills me with hope that this cycle moves not just through our lives, but is also the journey of the soul.  A journey of betterment through time and experience.

DECK USED:  SAVRAN FOREST TAROT

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question: What aspect of myself am I ready to shed?

Oak Ash & Thorn Tarot

Reading Summary: I’m ready to take control (The Chariot) of my depression caused by my constant disappointment in myself (Three of Swords), and instead live in a place of contentment (Nine of Cups).

Take Away:  The cards are long-form telling me that I’m ready to shed some of my shadows that spur on my detrimental inner dialogue and create the potential for that slippery down-slope into depression.  This more generalized depression then has the ability to trigger a major depressive episode with far reaching and dangerous effects. 

The cards here indicate that shedding these shadows requires determination and control, but that the reward on the other side of having dealt with them and shed them is finding greater contentment in life.

DECK USED:  OAK ASH & THORN TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my biggest fear?

The Mushroom Tarot

Reading Summary:  Being overtaken (Five of Swords) by my mother’s qualities and influences (Queen of Wands Rx), and turning my world into shit as a result (Wheel of Fortune Rx)

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that my biggest fear is turning into my mother.  I have many of her qualities, and this is something I do very much fear.  I don’t want to become the cold, calculating, self centered type of person that uses the world and everyone in it as their personal game of chess.  I dread the effect that allowing these qualities to take hold within myself would have on my life and those around me.

DECK USED:  THE MUSHROOM TAROT

The Nature of Things

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  This is because I pulled an all-nighter last night with L packaging orders to ship out today.  We didn’t finish until nearly six in the morning.  At which point I went to bed to sleep and woke up just in time to haul ass to go get the packages out in the mail before the last mail truck left.  So… I didn’t get to either my yoga/physiotherapy or my meditation today, and I’m sure to pay for it for a couple of days to come.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Eight of Air (Eight of Swords) which is traditionally a representation of… well essentially, being in your own way and/or blinding yourself to your own obstacles and as a result making things more difficult than they have to be.  It’s all about getting in your own way, and all of the ways in which that can play out.

This is not what I see in this card, though. At all. I’m actually a bit confused by my reaction to this card as I’m struggling with the color combinations, which I find a bit disorienting.

What I see in this card today is in the imagery of the fox and the goose.  It is a display of one’s inner nature, much like the old fable of the frog and the scorpion.  It feels like a warning, although I’m not entirely sure what the warning is about.

So I would say that the message in today’s card is about making sure you are paying attention to the world around you, and those that surround you.  If something seems off and out of place? Pay attention. Be aware when people’s actions are not matching the energy you feel coming from them.   Don’t discount it as a fluke or unimportant.  It’s not as inconsequential as you would like to believe.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question: What can I do to release my fear of saying no?

Midcenturian Tarot

Reading Summary: Embrace the natural cycles of life (Ten of Swords) instead of fearing them (The Moon). Focus on developing your skill at regulating output and practice some patience (Temperance).

Take Away:  I’ve had a bit of a stalker thing going on with the Temperance card lately, and I wonder if this is the message that the card is trying to convey.  It is a message about honing my regulating and moderation skills, and incorporating patience to do so.  This is especially important in the saying “no” to adding too much onto my plate at once.

Add to that the need to get a handle on the trepidation that I feel when it seems something might be coming to an end.  I try and sustain too much because I want to keep going what is before me and try new things and develop new possibilities.  The problem is, when you preserve one while still working on adding and growth at the same time?  Your plate fills up super fast.

Together these two messages indicate a need to learn how to decide on what “phase out” and what to keep going.

DECK USED:  MIDCENTURIAN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  Where do I need to focus on directing more gratitude?

The Fifth TarotReading Summary: When you’re feeling overwhelmed by choices (Seven of Shells), don’t just toss in the towel and walk away (Eight of Shells Rx).  Instead stick around and weather through the storm (Apprentice of Feathers), and allow Gideon to help support you through these times (Elementor of Shells).

Take Away:  The support that Gideon provides me in my day to day life is what I need to focus more gratitude toward at this time. He is there for me every day, and in any way that I need him.  All I ever need to do is reach out, and there he is, ready and not just willing to help, but eager to help. He is my comfort, my anchor, my rock… and he is the calm in the storm when I am feeling overwhelmed and struggling with my own inner demons… or the outer ones as well.

I feel that I often come off as ungrateful for all of these things.  Too wrapped up in my own shit, I forget to look up and look outward, and to acknowledge how much he loves me and how very invested he is in me.. in my life.  In anything and everything I need from him.  I am so very lucky.  And so very grateful.  I wish I was able to express it better, but I will continue to try to both notice these things more… and express my gratitude more clearly and more often.

DECK USED:  THE FIFTH TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  sharpen // soften

Student Tarot v4 Godard's BirdsSharpen – Page of Wands – Now would be a good time to sharpen your focus upon those things that inspire you and create within you a spark of curiosity.  Experiment and explore the ideas that kindle your inner spark, and release those that can’t hold up to that sharper focus.

Soften – Queen of Swords and Eight of Pentacles – Stop judging yourself and your work so harshly.  Use your keen intellect to find potential outlets for your skills that will be of benefit instead of standing on the fence and waffling because your inner critic is having a heyday in your head.

DECK USED:  STUDENT TAROT v4 GODARD’S BIRDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  What do I feel when I work on something creative?

Psychopomp Tarot

Reading Summary: Release (Ten of Wands Rx and Three of Swords Rx) and the birth of positive emotion in its place (Ace of Cups).

Take Away:  There is a release in being creative. When I have pent up creative energy, it becomes a burden of sorts.  A struggle of tamped down and clogged up energy that builds in pressure within me. When I create something new and allow my creative spark freedom to play, it releases this tension in my chest and it is like opening up a special part of my soul to breathe.

At the same time, this release can also be emotional, as when I create there is an element of emotion to it. A letting go of doubts and worries and inner judgements in order to instead wallow in potential and energies that feel positive and pleasing.

In both of these types of release, there is then an opening for something else to sweep in.  And when I am enjoying my creative process, what sweeps in to replace these unpleasant sensations, emotions, and energy… are feelings of positivity.  Emotional positivity that is new and bright and shiny, and not yet touched by or tarnished by the unpleasant effects of my inner critic’s negative dialogue.

DECK USED:  PSYCHOPOMP TAROT

Perspective During Struggle

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused upon mindfulness in everyday behavior.   That is to say… paying attention to your impulse reactions and considering whether they are serving you and your goals or not.

We all do it, yeah?  Jump to a response without considering what we’re saying or where it comes from.  Some are simply aware that we’re doing it (or have done it) than others.  Part of meditation and mindfulness is becoming more cognizant of this behavior and learning from it so that you can become a better person through self-examination and self-actualization.

Eight of Swords - Spacious TarotToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally an indication of both the positive and negative aspects of self-restraint.

What I really see in this card today, though, is more of a Hanged Man perspective.   it has to do with the lone sword off to the side as the others are bound and restrained.

The message in today’s card is that sometimes when you are feeling all tied up in your own thoughts and struggles, it’s a good idea to take a breath and a step back, and try to see the situation from a different perspective.    By doing this, you can often find a different way to look at the situation and resolve any problems in your path.

DECK USED:  SPACIOUS TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What hard truth did I ignore last year?

Hydra-Nix Tarot

Reading Summary:  That sometimes you have push for the hard choices (Two of Swords) even when you’d rather sit back  and relax (Four of Swords) and stay out of it (The Hermit).

Take Away:  Okay so… sometimes when something is bothering me, instead of trying to deal with it, I will sort of just set it aside and pretend that it doesn’t exist.   A lot of times?  This works.  The problem resolves itself and I didn’t have to freak out about it after all.   The hard truth is, though… that sometimes?  It doesn’t work.  And in those times, having ignored the issue gives it time to grow and/or fester into something ugly and monstrous.

DECK USED:  HYDRA-NIX TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care during this new moon?

Jeremy Miranda Oracle Cards and Faeries' Oracle by Brian Froud

Reading Summary: Too much spark and not enough grounding energy.

Take Away:  From moving out of the gray and into the warmth, to the erratic energy of the Sylph.  Progression along that path will lead to disorganization and confusion.

In other words?  I need to stop allow my attention to flit about. Some of the tasks I need to get done are unpalatable, and some are just downright boring.  But that’s okay.  I’ll feel better for having stayed on task and gotten them done.

DECK USED:  JEREMY MIRANDA ORACLE CARDS and FAERIES’ ORACLE BY BRIAN FROUD

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I overcome setbacks?

Lo Scarabeo Tarot

Reading Summary:  Count your blessings (Ten of Cups), work with others (Two of Cups), and allow for there to be a balance of give and take (Six of Pentacles).

Take Away:  This is the exact same message I got the other day from one of these challenges that asked what was, essentially, the exact same question.   Same cards and everything, if I’m not mistaken.   And honestly?  This really does pick up on one of those things that I have a really hard time with.  That is, allowing others to help.  Not just allowing, to be honest… but even asking for help is often a huge struggle.  And that’s after I’m able to acknowledge I even need it in the first place.

DECK USED:  LO SCARABEO TAROT

 

Charity… It’s Okay to Let Go

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and entailed a thorough body scan from head to toe and then a brief guidance through the topic of self-competition and going a bit easier on  yourself when you are pushing for your best.

Tarot of the Little Prince Today’s draw is a double without jumper. The cards in today’s draw are the Seven of Swords and the Eight of Swords.   And isn’t it strange how they came out together like that?  But I have shuffled this particular deck a few hundred times now, so… it’s just meant to be.

What I see in the message of these cards is a fully intuitive hit based off the imagery and how the imagery of the two cards play of each other.   It speaks of the importance of leaving behind what no longer serves you in order to find a better place.  And, that leaving something behind means you are releasing your stakes in it entirely.  Who cares who comes along and picks up those things you have chosen to leave behind?  Perhaps those things will serve another better than they have you.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthDecember

Question: How did I treat my body this year?

This Might Hurt Tarot

Reading Summary:  I got in touch with my inner self and found a new perspective (The Hanged Man), but I struggled with a lot of difficult choices as well (Seven of Cups) and might have made a few missteps along the way (Two of Swords).  All in all, though, I’ve done a spectacular job of caring for myself (King of Pentacles) and ensuring that I am nurturing and nourishing my body (Queen of Pentacles) this year.

Take Away: I stepped up things on the self-care front this year, and have stuck with it since I first started with it in the spring.  This has really paid off in keeping me healthy this year, even if I’ve occasionally “slipped up” in my self care here and there along the way.

DECK USED:  THIS MIGHT HURT TAROT

 

Turn Around… It’s About Perspective

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Today’s meditation has not happened yet, because I had to get up early to help with things in the kitchen. I will be doing the meditation before sleep today, and will probably fall asleep during, as I’m very tired.

Today’s draw is the Eight of Swords, and thus reading is an intuitive hit that’s is 100% off of the card imagery.

The message in today’s card is that sometimes when things are looking their worst, you just need to open your eyes and look behind you. It’s not often that solutions to life’s problems just fall into your lap, sometimes a little creative thinking outside the box is in order for things to fall into place.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What what truth would like to reveal itself to me?

Ostara Tarot Reading Summary: When you pounce on new ambitions and passions, it can cause struggle and conflict (Five of Wands atop Ace of Wands), true success takes a combination of hard work, time, and patience (Temperance atop Seven of Coins). With those qualities present you can fly (The Star).

Take Away:  I have this habit of “pounce and plunder” whenever amazing new project ideas spring up, and that can cause a lot of chaos as I try to fit them in with current responsibilities. The cards are reminding me that “slow and steady wins the race”. If I want to achieve my goals, I need to practice some patience.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Take It With You

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on the benefits of taking a pause (such as when we meditate) to assist in clearing the clutter from the mind and creating a clearer focus.

This was a benefit that, when I started first meditating on a regular basis, I didn’t really notice all that much.   BUT, over time, I’ve come to notice that on the days that I do not meditate in the morning, I end up feeling more frazzled throughout the day.

It’s not a huge difference, but when you are dealing with anxiety, there’s always that last straw, right?   The meditation offsets that last straw, knocking a few others off my back at the same time, which makes everything just a little easier to deal with and my mind a little clearer as a result.

Today’s draw is a double without a jumper, meaning that they both came out together.

The cards in today’s draw are the Eight of Zephyrs and the Queen of Brine.

I find a common serenity in both of these cards, although the cards themselves speak to me of opposing situations.

In the Queen of Brine card, she is completely in her element where everything is familiar, and all within her element is completely trusting of her. The mollusk she holds is not hiding in its shell, but instead is open and exposed.  The same can be said for the clams in the corners of the card that expose their pearls within her presence. Creatures of the sea swirl around her, embracing her, and she is both confident and serene in her environment.

In the Eight of Zephyrs card, the little moth child is within water, which is not their natural element. And and yet they, too,  look serene in that environment and the environment appears to support their endeavor. The bushel of venus fly traps in the bottom right corner is an indication that there is always some risk that comes with trying something new and stepping out of your element… but as a whole the card speaks of finding serenity even in the unfamiliar of something new.

The Queen of Brine overlapping the Eight of Zephyrs speaks of taking that inner sense of  serenity within the embrace of what is familiar to you, and carrying it with you into times when you step into unfamiliar territory. Be aware of the danger of course, but also be in touch with how the new experience feels and the benefits it may bring.

Traditional Meanings:

Queen of Brine (Water) is a representation of a receptive alpha energy in the area of emotions, creativity, relationships, and intuition. The appearance of the card usually follows along the themes of compassion, caring for the self or others, and listening to one’s heart and intuition.

Numerically speaking, the Eight of Zephyrs (Air) is a representation of manifestation, purpose and determination, as well as accomplishments in the area of the mind, logic, education, thought, instinct, and communication.   Traditional meanings within the RWS system for this card also include self limiting thoughts and beliefs, self doubt, and being open to new perspectives.

Deck Used: The Stolen Child Tarot