Reflections on Swords in the Negative - 5 of Swords - DEFEAT

Next card I am going to look at (I have decided I am not going to go in an orderly fashion, rules are meant to be broken...) is the 5 of Swords. The 5's in Tarot are notoriously "difficult", they are all various stages of conflict: Loss (Cups), Defeat (Swords), Misery (Pentacles), Aggression (Wands).
Keeping in mind that Swords are Air and that we look at conflict in the mind here, I always have found the 5 of Swords a bit of a difficult card.
The Lord of Defeat is a bit uncertain.
What to do? Are the Swords left, stolen or dropped?

Do I follow them? Kill them? Stab them in the back? Go off on my own merry way? Have they stabbed me in the back?
I find this card slightly neurotic. There is the aggressiveness of the main character, he does not trust people. But then he probably does not trust himself either.
This is the opposite of being depressed or self destructive. This is the want to fight and argue your way until you get the last word (or Sword) in. The mental confusion stems from not knowing which way to go and so just acting out of ego and anger.Not caring if you are acting honestly or dishonestly. You might get retaliation but hey, you got what you wanted right?
In readings (of course also depending on the other cards) it could point to a deceitful lover, a liar and a cheat. A partner in business that is perhaps being deceitful or stealing. A mugger or someone being aggressive.
This guy does not know what to do, stay or go, move or stay still. We know the 6 of Swords is then about moving forward but how do you get from this 5 to the 6?
Well, I tell you, you would have probably stolen the boat. But hey, you're getting on the other side right?
Oh, and be careful not to be so arrogant to let yourself be caught uh?

Reflections on Swords in the Negative: 9 of Swords and clinical depression

So, what best to do on a cheerful sunny day than delve into the dark recesses of grief and pain.
Some keywords for the 9 of Swords:

- Stress
- Anxiety
- Despair
- Delusions
- Paranoia
- Anger issues
- Nastiness
- Mental Imbalance
- Depression
- Calculating and cold

Perhaps this is not a much touched on subject. At least from what I found while doing some research.Often it is said that many (or the majority of) Swords in a spread could signify that the person is going through untold amounts of stress or that there could be a mental imbalance.

Think of Air (the element of Swords) as being in a pressurised container. What would happen if there is no release valve? It blows up of course.
Obviously Swords embody both positive and negative qualities, but I am focusing on the negatives here. Someone presenting negative Swords aspects could be stressed, confused, almost neurotic, but also cold and often deceiving. By the way, in the Thoth deck, the 9 of Swords is known as "The Lord of Cruelty".
The following card, the 10 of Swords really isn't much better. While there is hope in the background, things cannot possibly be getting any worse.
In the 9 we can see someone starting a downward journey. Perhaps they have reached breaking point, perhaps they over think and have high anxiety. But there is no escape, unless this is recognised and addressed.
It could simply be realising and acknowledging that one needs help. And asking for it. Chances are that even with help, things will get worse before getting better. Charming eh?
We live in a culture of "I can do it". Where often recognising that one needs help is considered weak.
Let me tell you. It isn't.
The person emboding the 9 of Swords tends to internalise a lot, if not addressed though, see previous pressurised air example.
Acknowledging the 9 will bring forward a mini Tower experience in the form of the 10 of Swords.
A crisis, after the crisis, to solve the crisis.
What could be an antidote to the 9 in Tarot? I'd say perhaps the 3 of Swords. Emotional Healing. A long journey but possible.
Looking at the other suits, possibly all the 6's, moving forward after conflict and difficulties.
Recurring Swords cards in readings can signify underlying problems, very likely not addressed. Look for repeats and the surrounding cards. I know most readers do not generally read on health issues but, if a real red flag pops up, it could be the case for telling someone in a sensitive way to seek advice.
The 9 of Swords can also represent self-harm. The wish to mask unbearable pain with more pain. Often a very misunderstood (and dangerous) issue. ALL Swords cards in the right context can point to depression.
I would say that if you (or your client) get to the point of self-harm I strongly suggest to seek help and advice. Trust me, help is out there.

Also ask the Tarot for advice. You could, for example ask:
1) What is the main issue to address?
2) How do I address it?
3) What would help?
4) What action should I take
5) Advice

If you get the majority of Swords in the answers then you know it is internal and needs to be brought out and addressed.
And if you need outside help, or someone to talk to and are in the UK, the Samaritans are wonderful and you can call free on

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Create Tarot Naturally by Gillian Avart - A review

"Create Tarot Naturally" is a book of just over 200 pages of thorough and helpful information on how to learn to create your own personal deck. It is well written and very clear on what to do and how to also help you interpret the cards. Each card section has its own quiz to help you retain the information and I found that useful (I usually have the attention span of a flea). 

Each card is explained and has tips on how to interpret it in the form of keywords or phrases that are helpful for beginners. Pictures of each card are included. Gill explains thoroughly the process of getting to know each card and how she came to create each one. 

The end section of the book explains the process of creating your own deck, from photographing to printing, to choosing the right accessories and software. Gill also delves on what went and could go wrong in the "Learn from my mistakes" section. 

Although this is intended to give advice to anyone wanting to create their own deck, you can also feel from reading the book that this has also been a very personal journey for the author. 

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Tarot, from beginner to advanced, as it is not just a pleasant and useful read, but also an insight on a very personal creative process. From this, one can easily take what is useful to them and then progress on their own personal Tarot creating journey. 

And here's a direct link to the book :) CREATE TAROT NATURALLY

Dream Interpretation with Tarot

Tomorrow I will be talking (while drinking some wine) about this topic in the LIFE AS A SEER radio show (click for link to go to the FB event but also if you miss it you can download it later).
I have always had  fairly vivid and active dreams and I enjoy interpreting them and using Tarot as well to get clarity. A 3 cards spread can be enough to gain focus, you can do:

- THEME
- MESSAGE
- ACTION

Or you can tailor it depending on the intensity and symbols of the dream, or you can even just throw as many cards as you want just for advice and then read the story in the cards. But here I am going to tell you how I do it (when I remember to write them down :p) and you can also use this method. Here is an example of a recent dream:

"I am at some sort of big outdoor event in the countryside with many of my friends. I then get somehow lost and panic a bit. As I finally head back to the entrance of this natural park, I get into the information office and, as I walk in, I realise I cannot see hardly anymore. My right eye has gone blind, my left still can see. A bit. I tell a lady there and she tells me to call my friends to take me home. I am thinking I am having a stroke and panic. I try each mobile number and all of my friends phones are off. I look in a mirror and notice that both my pupils are fully dilated and totally black".

So, first things first. BREAK DOWN THE SYMBOLS. Here we have: countryside, sight, eyes, blindness, phones, black.

Countryside: can be wanting freedom from something that is constraining, open spaces and need for personal space.
Sight: Being able to "see" is important, as for clarity. And also for awareness of what is around us and what is coming, this could be fear of losing control.
Eyes: They are our ability to see, windows to the soul.
Blindness: Losing sight here could be fear of losing control, well some control is already lost because the right eye (generally future as left is connected to the past) is now completely blind. This could be anxiety on not knowing what is ahead.
Phones: This is about communication and how we relate to others and they to us. All phones are off, no response. Therefore this is saying that there is a feeling of being cut off and not being able to express oneself.
Black: Absence of all colours. Again this is about not knowing, what is behind the black? Is there light or is it just a black hole?

Next we draw some cards. In this case I did not use the spread above, although I still drew 3 cards. Because what I want to know is:

- WHY AM I BLINDED?
- WHAT AM I MISSING?
- WHAT IS THE DREAM MESSAGE TO ME?

Using the Morgan Greer deck I have then drawn the cards as above:

- 9 OF PENTACLES: I would say that this is telling me that I am blind to what I have. This 9 is a card of stability and enjoying the results of one's work. I am blind to this, very likely that this is not done consciously, but it is telling me that I probably have more than I think and that I should start appreciating it more. Also working towards more stability (10) and "regaining" sight.

- 10 OF CUPS: Well, lol, while this card is more emotional as it is Water, I would say that I am getting a similar message. I am missing the fact that I can have all these Cups and drink them, that this is in my control if I wish it to be. This 10 is also about finding the right emotional balance.  The 10 of Cups can also be about an ideal "union" be emotional or otherwise.

- THE TOWER: Now this made me laugh, if you listen to the radio show you will see that I used a different dream example there and this was the exact same card that came out as third. Absolute change, upheaval, the demolition of something for it to be reborn. A phoenix rising from the ashes. This is destruction but with a purpose. The Star (hope) follow in the Majors sequence. Nothing is lost, just reshaped and rebuilt.I think this is telling me that I need to "Tower" myself. You know a bit like having a major "fuck it" moment. And this is a card I rarely pull ever but that it has been following me for a couple of weeks (yes I am being very careful while crossing the road etc :P).

And it is as easy as that, helps though to write the dreams down as you as you can, or generally parts gets lost.
So happy Tarotpreting ;)

 

New Moon Progression Tarot Spread

Well, since it is New Moon in Gemini today I believe, (sometimes I do lose track as I have the attention span of a midget for what regards keeping track of cycles and things...) I thought why not create a spread for advice in moving forward.
When I put "Prison" I was actually thinking of the Monopoly game and getting a get out free ticket and of creating a MANY cards spread....but then worked out that doing a spread that way would have simply taken too long, so I lost attention again of course...But I left "prison" because we so many times cage ourselves up (like in the 8 or 2 of Swords) where all our issues (or mostly) are actually of our own doing.
What do you want to progress with? What are you blocking yourself with? (yes you ;) ) What do you want to be released from and free to let better energies in?
This could also be about your spiritual path and how to progress. However you want to use it I hope it will be of guidance for you :).
And Happy New Moon of course :)

Feedback on how it has worked for you is always welcome :)

The inevitability of Death

Death (as those closer to me know quite well) is one of my favourite cards in the Tarot deck. While there are other cards that can lead to change, sudden transformation and upheaval (Tower, 10 of Swords for example) Death is inevitable. We can change the outcome in general or shape things to suit us better even in the middle of a crisis. But with Death as an outcome (or in a very significant position in the spread), we know that it will happen, eventually.
And yet many of us (including myself) choose to either ignore it or think we can change/avoid it.

A year ago I had a great reading done at the London Tarot Festival, my question was a personal one and the reader had no idea of my situation. I watched her pull the cards out and, one by one, answer a totally different question I did not ask. I was about to make a huge work decision, but I knew that! And the outcome was Death.
She was very kind and apologised (lol) but proceeded to do a lovely and accurate reading, the cards were telling me to focus on work, that what I asked was not relevant and not important at the time. I chose to ignore Death, I gave it a fanciful meaning that I was about to make big changes anyway.
But you see, Death does not manifest quickly, it creeps up slowly and then Wham! You're dead and transformed.
I watched a year go by and every single card manifesting in that reading. I cringed a little with every month passing (it wasn't bad but a hard and difficult path). And then, Death. And I knew that, even though I have given many talks on this card, I still was missing the main point: We cannot run from Death, whatever the situation, it will catch up with us. The Grim Reaper may take a break every now and then but then will follow.
So, if this card manifests for you, pay attention. There may be some changes you still need to make and, a bit like Judgement, if you do not listen they will catch up with you and you may end up losing control and being forced to change and begin again.
Don't get me wrong, I do not think that it is a negative card at all. But, sometimes, in order for something to begin again, something else will need to die. The energies from this Death lending momentum to the new start.
And so it begins.

Full Moon Manifestation Tarot spread

Since tomorrow is Full Moon I thought...why not make up an easy spread for manifesting. You could use this spread also as part of a Tarot manifestation spell. Simply leave it out with anything else you have used for the ritual.
Candles are always nice to use in this case, depending on what you want to manifest, you would need:

Green: Finances
Red: Love/Passion
Pink: Romance
Black: Clearing/Banishing
Yellow: Career/Creativity

Not dipped candles by the way, but solid colour ones. 

I have added a Lenormand card at the end for extra advice just for fun. If you are not familiar with the Lenormand system feel free to ignore it (or learn it..)

So here goes:

I used my Morgan Greer deck to draw this spread about finances for myself (gulp...)

 1) Knight of Swords - Fast energies, quite likely I need to act on them and be very proactive, but positive forward movement.

2) 3 of Wands - Keep making plans, again I am feeling here the message is don't stop, keep going (stopping?? Who ya kidding?)

3) The Empress - Keep within yourself, taking care of myself and be positive. Putting my needs before others for a little while.

4) The Hanged Man - Be patient (ah well one can always hope...). Planning and reasoning without rushing will win in the end.

Lenormand advice: The Mountain - Blockages are in the way, they will need to be conquered first.

...shuffles off to pay some bills...