Editor’s Note: If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread. You can visit Sarah’s website here. –efc
By Sarah Taylor
You are taking something on — psychically, energetically, creatively. This isn’t a tangible burden that you experience with your five senses, but you’ll be feeling it nonetheless — either explicitly or implicitly. And carrying it is your choice, even if perhaps the load isn’t entirely yours. There is assistance from outside, but you first need to approach it. Some approaches will be more effective than others.
Today’s reading resonates with a fiery charge. Yes, we have two swords in the equation — which represent thought and intellectual analysis — but the focus is predominantly on something far less tangible. Wands, as I mention in the introduction, are psychic, energetic, creative. They seek expression, and yet we are so often fearful of the form of that expression, and what it might mean for us, that we repress it. But wands, by their very nature, cannot be repressed, which leaves us with the options of working with them consciously, or unconsciously.
The next two things that strike me are that there are single figures in all three cards, and the skies are clear: there is no external interference that is relevant here. The conflict and/or sense of oppression comes from within; the attempt to apply logic where logic is ineffective comes from within; the solution comes from within. Key to this idea is the Seven of Wands: what rises up from beneath. This is the fight to keep something in control that is seeking expression, or at least recognition. It might be as yet unconscious, but there are hints of it. It might come out in other ways, but it is asking to be acknowledged.
I see a two-layered meaning to the Two of Swords:
Thoughts aren’t going to cut it. They might postpone what it is that you’re dealing with, but they won’t solve it. Swords are not the solution to wands energy. Wands energy is asking for your intuitive discernment, a diving into your creative self, where answers might not be in words, but, goodness, they are felt nonetheless. They might not make immediate sense; that does not mean they are wrong.
By applying logic, you are simply perpetuating oppression in a different form — look at how the two swords mimic the configuration of the wands on the left. Both are in a V-formation. Both point downward towards their source: the individuals concerned.
The single wand that the figure holds in the Seven of Wands also mirrors the slant of the sword in the left hand of the figure in the Two of Swords. It is as if she is picking up where the wand leaves off. There is also a feeling of equilibrium to the two swords that is not present in the Seven, which, as an uneven number, embodies a continuous striving for balance and resolution. And this is where the second possible meaning comes in: it might be time to seek some form of partnership where you can unburden yourself, and where you are heard and respected. The Two of Swords can suggest an alliance that is put in place for a specific task — a mode of therapy or healing between practitioner and client being a case in point. It is a delicate balance, there is no emotional involvement, it is impartial, it taps the lunar side of who we are, it dives beneath calm waters to find and salvage what lies underneath, it is non-aggressive (the swords here are not being used in battle, but pointed away from each other, their tips touching the edges of the picture).
If we come to a point where we feel that we can no longer go on the way that we are, we have the choice to seek out a way of processing what it is that we are carrying. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, but it needs to be a place where we feel safe, free to explore the nature of our burden, and where we will be respected and given the space in which to do this.
And so we come back to the Ten of Wands to place the stooped figure in this perspective. The following excerpt is taken from an earlier article on the Ten of Wands:
There is obviously something compelling him, and this is emphasized by the tilt of his body, as he leans towards his destination. Is that where the payoff becomes apparent? What feels certain to me is that, when he gets there, he will be relieved of his burden; and by setting down his load he creates the potential for starting something new. … For now, there is a period of toil that asks for care and steadiness. Even if he is not able to see it, we know that relief is in sight.
Is the conflict you feel coming from somewhere else — or are you projecting an internal conflict out into the world? Are you a victim, or do you have more choice than you realise? What do you take on, how do you take it on, and where and how can you seek relief and release? Remember: a purely intellectual, swords-based approach will be a stop-gap rather than an effective measure. What is effective, however, is to apply the Two of Swords another way — in terms of a working partnership that is impartial, and strives for peaceful resolution rather than conflict. If you do this, you might be surprised at what treasures you find beneath the surface of that ocean.
I could be wrong, Amanda, but what you write sounds like a big, “Go for it!” to me. 🙂
morning pages are something i’ve been trying to get back to for what seems like forever. they were quite helpful to me a couple years ago — first on their own (i had to abandon “the artist’s way” the first time due to all kinds of resistance, and ended up coming back to morning pages completely organically and with devotion and motivation), and then re-committed to “the artist’s way” with success.
somehow carving out the time has seemed impossible due to some fundamental changes in the general structure of my time and blurring of “work/home” boundaries.
but i feel like that kind of emptying out, partnered with some more-conscious writing, would be a great help i doing things like following through the issues that reared their heads recently and sorting them, understanding them, acting on them in grounded ways.
“Thoughts aren’t going to cut it. They might postpone what it is that you’re dealing with, but they won’t solve it. Swords are not the solution to wands energy. Wands energy is asking for your intuitive discernment, a diving into your creative self, where answers might not be in words, but, goodness, they are felt nonetheless. They might not make immediate sense; that does not mean they are wrong.
“By applying logic, you are simply perpetuating oppression in a different form…”
so it seems something like morning pages may be a way to use words to get past thoughts and let the intuitive come through? the answers may not *be* words, but may come in the creative use of words nonetheless?
gee — can you tell i’m someone who has often struggled with trusting her intuition?
ooooh, the 7 wands depicting what’s “coming up from beneath”! I have never seen it that way before, thank you!!
i’m working my way slowly this deck writing a poem for each card. Haven’t written one in about two months, but your insights give me all kinds of ideas. thank you squared!
(catching up/procrastinating ;))
Thank you so so much Sarah, always, for your kind words.
Warmly,
HS
Sending you good thoughts, HS! Strength is a great one to get for the future card — all about working effectively with the wild beast within to the advantage of both; a card of patience, tolerance and restraint (while allowing both to shine through). In the Xultun Tarot deck, Strength is depicted as a flowering cactus. It might take some time to flower, but when it does, it is fully expressing the beauty of what it is.
🙂
Thanks Alexander/Half. As always you’ve added much to my learning here.
xo
happy rebirthday, alexander! 🙂 i’ll miss your ironic pun, but wholly welcome your full name, full self (as full as one can be in cyberspace) here.
I too am grateful for the synchronicity of this spread. Thank you Sarah! I was previously daniel, now Hugging Scorpio. 😉
I’ve been dealing with a shared tax problem that’s been dragging on, working itself out layer by layer. I’ve paid attention to an inner process here as well whereby this issue is also a result of many unconscious correlations. As I’ve healed my inner life, so this outer problem becomes more resolved. I do have help on this, but still, it takes time. I did a spread for myself recently where the 7wands and 2swords appeared, along with Strength in the future and the King of Cups in the outcome. So, as you also describe, it feels like a period where one has to deal with things unemotionally but (hopefully) effectively.
So, send me a good thought or two as I work this out! 😉
Gratitude,
HS
Thanks Alexander for your post! Your mentioning the Flow rune coming to you, your mention of the waxing moon on the 2 of swords card and my own reading last night in Angel Numbers– 299–“Get to work on your mission without delay even if you don’t yet feel prepared or qualified, Your contributions of love and light- (no matter how large or small) are needed in the world–now” and I say to myself, oh dear, oh dear.
I hear it– I know it — what if I can’t DO it? (Moon in Libra is not inclined to fast action under pressure, you know,) Your words were amazingly eloquent and are the very point of my crossroads.. “An unction to rebirth, possibly inspired on a karmic level, by understanding THE FRUSTRATION of BEING INCARCERATED in an ANCIENT PRISON of un-life, an intellectual hall of mirrors, inescapable by perceiving merely on a plane, panoramically…”
And again your words “The only egress is faith and will, combining to press the trapdoor button in trust – entering into freefall to a deeper, intuitive realm – the one that would resonate with the lunar/intuitive ”
Honesty, faith, courage are the spiritual virtues I will need to put my finger on and press the trapdoor button. Am I ready to receive the gifts? (Being a true moon in Libra–my last question as I stand at the door ready to jump is–are you SURE I can’t take two parachutes?)
:>)
+_+
And I bid your new incarnation welcome, Alexander! 🙂
“The only egress is faith and will, combining to press the trapdoor button in trust – entering into freefall to a deeper, intuitive realm …”
How beautiful is that?!
Well.. in honour of this article, and the spirit of cosmic synchronicity, I rebirth from Half De Witte to Alexander De Witte.
I wanted to add about the Two of Swords that in the background stands the Waxing Crescent Moon. The significance?
In line with the article’s movement, an evolutionary astrological perspective would see the waxing crescent as bringing an urgency to the native..
An unction to rebirth, possibly inspired on a karmic level, by understanding the frustration of being incarcerated in an ancient prison of un-life, an intellectual hall of mirrors, inescapable by perceiving merely on a plane, panoramically…
The only egress is faith and will, combining to press the trapdoor button in trust – entering into freefall to a deeper, intuitive realm – the one that would resonate with the lunar/intuitive admonition herein confirmed also to me via the Rune Card of Flow – one that I received for the first time in an age yesterday; after a lengthy period of moon observation, meditation and study; as well as the taking up of Yoga, since the last Full Moon.
The Waxing Crescent will be greeting us toward the back end of this week…
Hola, Namaste
Alexander (formerly Half) De Witte 😉
I am so deeply touched by your comments – Burning River, aword, Amanda. We’re all in this together; we all help each other. From my heart to yours.
Started my Morning Pages again this past week thanks to your recent article, Sarah.
New creative idea and practical developments have appeared. “Intuitive Negotiation” is where I am at with The Other.
The idea of {imagine that! an “idea of”! :>) } negotiation (negotiation is definitely not my strong point, but I can and am Negotiating) was suggested in the articles concerning the recent Mars transits through Cancer and Leo) and I truly appreciate your reminding me of that choice as I approached the Unapproachable last weekend.
I am pressing toward a warm, safe future; have even at last been able to envision a part of it; but there is much to be done to stay on the way that will lead to that.
Conflict can no longer be part of that pathway.
Thank you all (PW staff) for the signposts along The Way for not only myself, but amazingly for any and all who want them,
Again, amazing follow up and follow through, Sarah, of the past week’s draws. I still do not know All The Answers. But this truth is being reinforced by the stars and cards and my own Intuition: that the only True Answer is lying, coiled, within myself, awaiting its welcome into my consciousness and my life. And it will unfold as it will unfold, as I step, one step at a time, as I shall step.
+_+
ps – hey PW, the new “edit/delete” feature is cool.
Sarah, just as we are deeply in need of connection to one another, you have once again shown how (in this particular tarot deck anyway) the cards speak not only to us individually but together as a “community” giving us a bigger story and joint message.
“Is the conflict you feel coming from somewhere else — or are you projecting an internal conflict out into the world?” Pregnant Question, yes.
Today I wrote “three pages before rising” and in the process recorded dreams otherwise by now forgotten. All found me constrained but with opening to evolve from that constraint and pointed to the idea of need to find a different POV regarding the conflict I “think” I feel – and that the POV of others in my “community” surely is one way to bring new light upon those feelings of constraint.
Thank you. Wonderful article as always.
xo
really? this is what is coming up in the weekend tarot after this week?
damn…. *sigh*
i guess i shouldn’t be surprised, really.
🙂