Celebrating International Tarot Day: The Nine of Swords

(c) Aquatic Tarot

A year has passed, and we are celebrating International Tarot Day again on the 8th July.

On this day, tarot enthusiasts all over the world are celebrating the magic of tarot, and this is my contribution to Oephebia’s Tarot Challenge.

Cards for each participant were chosen at random, and the Nine of Swords was drawn for me. How lucky am I 😊

The Nine of Swords is all about worries, anxieties and fears.

In the image of the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) Tarot we see a woman, who seems to have just woken up from a nightmare.

The background is pitch black, no glimmer of light, as if all hope and optimism has been lost. It looks like a dark night of the soul.

Imagine lying in bed at night and you can’t sleep. What do you do? Thinking… over-thinking… small issues and negative-self-talk can easily become large shadows in the dark leading to self-inflicted suffering.

Irrational fears begin to cloud sound judgement. It’s time to switch on the light and make yourself a cup of cocoa. Or pick up an inspirational and uplifting book or magazine to calm down your racing mind.

The suit of Swords relates to the element air, which is associated with the mind, logic, reason, intellect but also life’s challenges.

The pattern on the blanket is a combination of a red rose and the symbols of the zodiac air signs, which suggests that anxiety is created in the mind based on emotional attachments.

Numerically, the number nine marks the completion of a cycle, fulfilment, conclusion, integration and attainment.

It indicates a turning point after having reached a peak, which is beautifully illustrated in the RWS Major Arcana key 9, The Hermit, who is standing on top of a mountain searching for a new direction.

Nine is also linked to Major Arcana key 18 (1 + 8), The Moon, which can indicate confusion and insecurities often on an emotional level.

There is a sense of aloneness in all the Tarot Nines, suggesting a need to be self-reliant and take sole responsibility for our situation.

Astrologically, the Nine of Swords is linked to Mars in Gemini. In Tarot terms this means an energetic influence of The Tower and the Knight of Swords, quite a stormy and destructive force.

This astrological association offers us more insight into the meaning of this card – the destructive force of the mind, cruel words, harsh criticism, restlessness, impatience, being on the verge of pressing the self-destruct button.

But not all is lost as there is another force influencing the Nine of Swords – The Lovers, also linked to Gemini and a more benevolent energy amidst all the mayhem.

Something good is hiding in the Nine of Swords
(Image: Cosmic Faery Tarot)

Love, as always, is the answer, especially self-love in this case. Be kind to yourself. Put your hand on your heart to soothe and talk lovingly to yourself. Be patient. Detach from drama.

Realise that you are creating your own suffering and can choose to think differently, in a more life-affirming way.

Crystals that can be used with the Nine of Swords are those that alleviate the destructive energies of this card. Here are a few suggestions:

• Sunstone, which can be placed on your sacral chakra for 30 minutes while you focus on relaxing and becoming present 

• Rose quartz, a stone that helps to nurture self-love, and Agate, which is associated with the Lovers, for clarity of mind and practicing healthy discernment 

• Garnet, linked to the Tower, can help release outdated ideas and beliefs 

• Peridot, linked to the Hermit, has a healing influence on the mind to find inner peace 

• Sapphire, linked to the Knight of Swords, can help cut down on confusion and confront issues head-on to dissolve anguish 

Herbs that help to diffuse mental chatter and clutter are chamomile and valerian. Ginseng helps to resist stress and improves cognitive ability. It is also being used to reduce anxiety.

The Nine of Swords is one of the bleakest images in the Tarot, but like all the other cards, it also offers a positive message: acknowledge and face your fears; they can be blessings.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Why Your Fears Can Be Blessings

Face your Fears - Tarot of Quotes

My Ascendant is Gemini.

The corresponding Minor Arcana cards for this zodiac sign are the Eight, Nine and Ten of Swords, and the Knight of Swords...

I have lived with the energies of those cards since I was a young child, when my parents left me at home alone at times and I started developing a fear of abandonment.

Anxiety has been my middle name ever since.

It has affected me profoundly, and only now in my midlife years am I beginning to come to terms with it.

Sometimes I can ignore it, at other times I can control it, and then at bad times it can be pretty much overpowering.

But fears are not there to be shoved under the carpet.

If you find yourself worrying about the worst catastrophes that may or may not happen to you, then embrace them as blessings.

Why?

Those fears teach you lessons.

They make you aware that anything can happen at any time. Just go with the flow and surrender to those possibilities.

They show you an alternative life and ask you to remind yourself of your strength and ability to cope.

Those fears tell you that if the worst happens, you are stronger than you think.

They ask you to imagine yourself rebuilding your life, and despite tragedy you can and will experience happiness again.

Whatever your fears are, be grateful for them. Embrace them as your guides rather than being paralysed by them. They prepare you for the unexpected and unwanted.

Nobody wants to experience illness, death, poverty or heartache, but when blows like this hit you (and they will sooner or later), use your fears to make you strong rather than helpless.

When you begin to accept the possibilities of a worst case scenario, the power that your fears have over you will start to fade.

Sometimes your fears teach you to be cautious; they stop you from walking naively into a disaster zone.

Fears are useful to help you evaluate your options and realise that at times it's okay to take a risk to live life fully.

A phobia can be paralysing, severely restricting your life, but rather than imagining yourself screaming and passing out when put into that situation, picture yourself laughing and saying to yourself what was all that fuss about? 

Imagine the exhilarating freedom you will gain, when open spaces let you breathe deeply, and a plane journey takes you to new and exciting destinations.

It takes time to rewire your brain to focus on the positive rather than the frightening negative. Don't give up. Keep going.

Affirmations do work, if you keep using them.

You can ask the cards for guidance, too, by exploring questions such as

• If the worst came to pass, what new opportunities would come up for me?
• What good will come from it?
• What unexpected positive experience will I have as a result?
• How can I stay strong and pursue happiness in difficult times?

Walk with your fears, make peace with them and let them give you wings.


Christiane

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Why Anger Is Good For You According To The Tarot

It's okay to hit the roof, as long as
you don't set someone's house on fire 😃

Anger is often misunderstood and viewed negatively because it is typically associated with its extreme manifestations: rage, bullying, violence, and destruction.

In Astrology, anger is associated with Mars, and in the Tarot, Mars is linked to the Tower. The forces we see in this card are destructive, an outburst of energy.

We are all taught from an early age that anger is bad, and we need to suppress it.

True, we don't want this powerful energy to get out of hand, but learning instead how make use of it more constructively can be liberating and life-transforming in a positive way.

Anger is actually good for you, when it takes you from a position of powerlessness to empowerment.

When you say "enough is enough".

When you are stuck in sadness or depression, feeling angry about what caused your situation can pull you out of your black hole.

When it feels better to be mad than sad, you begin to stand up for yourself, speak up and fight back.

Anger initiates change.

When you have to cope with loss or bereavement, you will feel anger at one point during that process. It will help you move forward.

It is important to release anger, but not by killing people or destroying their property, but in a more creative and healing way.

The Martian energies, including anger, are also present in Minor Arcana cards linked to Mars. They can teach us a lot about anger, its causes and consequences as well as how we can turn it into a positive force.

Two of Wands - Mars in Aries

We don't see any anger in this card, but it may encourage you to use your anger as fuel towards a new beginning. Looking to the future, making plans, nurturing your aspirations and setting new goals.

Perhaps you have just lost your job, you are angry about how you have been treated. Use your anger to find a better job, work for the competition and become more successful.

Nine of Swords - Mars in Gemini

See what anger does to you when you don't let it out? The urge to release anger is often suppressed by fear. Fear of punishment, of hurting others, of feeling guilty.

Fear causes suffering. There is a sense of feeling powerless in this image. The Nine of Swords is asking us to shift those limiting beliefs of reluctance and inhibitions through communication.

When your situation is desperate, and there is no improvement in sight ("I can't do this"), anger can help to overcome fear (shift towards empowerment) and can cause quite a revolution. The longer anger is suppressed, the worse the consequences will be when released.

Seven of Wands - Mars in Leo

We see a lot of physical energy in this card - there is a sense of high adrenaline, stress, frantically defending or working on something. We can also see determination and persistence (perhaps even obsession), but how long can this man keep going?

Anger can be released by taking action, through physical exercise and practising self-care. Running, gym sessions, dancing....any exercise you feel passionate about.

Releasing anger through physical activity can lead to emotional and mental recovery.

Five of Cups - Mars in Scorpio

Sadness, disappointment, loss. You cannot get passed those debilitating emotions without a spark of anger.

Without crying, ranting, screaming or writing soppy poetry to express your anger about someone, who hurt you, you cannot move forward and cross that bridge in the distance towards a happier life.

Rather than directing your anger towards others (including the guilty party), express your uncensored thoughts and feelings in a journal or artwork, such as sculpting or painting.

Three of Pentacles - Mars in Capricorn

No hint of anger in this image, but the Martian energies may encourage teamwork and collaboration. Don't be angry on your own. Get together with like-minded souls, who are equally unhappy about a situation.

In a group, you can work on making changes for the better. Think of trade unions, animal rights and environmental organisations, where you can channel your anger about unacceptable conditions into a transformative force.

Ten of Cups - Mars in Pisces

Such a happy image, and yet the Martian energies are simmering beneath the surface, ensuring that happiness won't last forever.

The message of the Ten of Cups regarding anger is to develop a healthy relationship to feeling and releasing it.

Only suppressed anger leads to long-term resentment and bitterness. In a relationship, it is important to express your anger without fear or guilt, rather than pretending everything is fine.

Releasing anger in a constructive way can actually improve a relationship, and yes, it could break it, too, but then perhaps that would also be for the best.

Forming a healthy relationship with anger, embracing it rather than demonising it, is a powerful life skill helping you to grow, heal and transform in a positive way.

How is the Tarot helping you to release, express and heal your anger?

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: Interested in learning to combine tarot with astrology? Then check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology course

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Tarot Astrology: Sun in Sagittarius, Full Moon in Gemini

Cosmic Tarot, Norbert Lösche © 1988 F.X. Schmid

Tomorrow the energies of the full moon in Gemini (Lovers) together with the lunar eclipse will mingle with those of the current sun sign Sagittarius (Temperance). What do these two cards tell us about this astrological combination? What do we need to pay attention to at this time?

We have already experienced this combination in May this year, when the full moon was in Sagittarius with Gemini in the sun, and the emphasis at that time was about healing relationships.

Whilst Temperance is asking us to focus on moderation and harmony, the airy energy of the Lovers reminds us to strive for mental equilibrium. The key phrase is "mind over matter".

Temperance suggests a need to reduce, de-clutter and discard; less is more! Combined with the Lovers this may well relate to information overload. Are you getting carried away floating around the internet reading too much stuff about other people? All that random unimportant rubbish clearly serves no purpose to your life and well-being.

The Temperance/Lovers combination is asking you to

• heal your way of thinking, and be more discerning about the information you are seeking and absorbing; avoid reality TV and celebrity gossip trash in favour of what inspires your creative potential. 
• slow down, even when the collective madness of the world around you is speeding up; let go of those constant status updates, Twitter feeds and other mind-cluttering titbits bombarding your smart phone. Instead, enjoy listening to classical music, have a calming bath, light some candles and other sensory pleasures that help you clear your mind from excess clutter. 
• reduce your anxiety levels, which may be raised at the time of the Gemini full moon. In Tarot, Gemini is also linked to the Nine of Swords, which is associated with worries and fears. Keep anything at bay that induces or increases feelings of anxiety, which can keep you from making the right connections that help you move forward, evolve or understand the bigger picture. 
• play and be creative. Find productive projects that utilise your mental energy, intellect and imagination. Best to be shared with family, friends and in social circles - playing games, cooking, crafting, telling stories.

The Temperance/Lovers energy combination can help you focus on mental clarity and free thinking. Collaborate with others rather than compete. Strive for new knowledge that aids health, rejuvenation and personal transformation.

How will you take advantage of the Temperance/Lovers energy mix this month? Do you feel you need a break from media overload and social networking to clear your thoughts and create more space for healthier and more grounded activities?

This week seems like an ideal time for a serious mind detox ;)

Enjoy! It will do you good.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Giving Up The Habit Of Worrying

 Aquatic Tarot © Andreas Schröter 

The Nine of Swords is all about worrying, anxieties and fears.

It's obvious when looking at the image: the woman seems to have just woken up from a nightmare, the background is pitch black, no glimmer of light, as if all hope and optimism has been lost.

The suit of Swords relates to the element air, which is associated with the mind, logic, reason and intellect.

The pattern on the blanket is a combination of a red rose and the symbols of the zodiac air signs, which suggests that anxiety is created in the mind based on emotional attachments.

Emotions can be irrational, and as a result worries and fears can be irrational, too:

"I've suffered a great many catastrophies in my life. Most of them never happened." - Mark Twain 

This quote sums me up quite nicely. When I was in my twenties, I suffered badly from anxiety, caused by irrational fears about illnesses (in my imagination I suffered from the most horrific incurable conditions), fears about the future (as a student I worried, if I would ever get a job and earn a living), fear of flying, fear of eating British beef.....

Hey! 25 years on, and I'm still alive despite some health issues, managed to get a couple of well-paid jobs along the way, but I was also unemployed a few times (worrying about "Will I ever get another job?"). British beef hasn't made me gone mad yet...so far, and I know now that all those horrible feelings of anxiety in my early adult years were a waste of time.

Let's face it: worrying serves us no purpose other than to make us feel tense and miserable, especially when we worry about things beyond our control.

"Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere." - Vance Havner

Instead, focus on generating kind and optimistic thoughts, so life can begin to flow into more positive directions. Focus on creating the life you want, rather than creating fears.

Try this:
"I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number."  - Edith Armstrong

It is true that most worries and fears are blown out of proportion. Many people worry too much, because they think too much. Over-thinking is a bit like over-eating; the heaviness makes it impossible to remain light and flexible.

"No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear." - George MacDonald

If you worry a lot, then this book
might help you

When people have negative thoughts regularly, they gradually become attached to them. Negative thoughts become a habit, and it's so damn hard to get rid of any kind of habit you have nurtured for so long.

What is the solution? 

Learn to detach yourself from negative thoughts. Detachment is letting go; acknowledge your worries and fears, but then release them, like soap bubbles that float up and away into the sky.

Think for a moment why you harbour these anxieties; do you need attention or reassurance? I needed lots of reassurance (=attention?) on a regular basis.

But one day I realised that reassurance was like a drug feeding my habit of fear.

I stopped asking for reassurance.

The trick is to break the cycle, stop feeding the fear...stop paying it attention...not letting it rule my life. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

I decided I have to let life take its course. Whatever will be, will be.

I went cold-turkey. It was tough, but I started to keep myself busy with adventures and creative projects that I enjoyed and helped me grow (yes, Tarot was part of that, too ;))

"Loneliness, insomnia, and change: the fear of these is even worse than the reality". - Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966 

Remember that when real difficulties crop up in your life, you will be stronger and more resilient than you think. Real difficulties, unlike the imaginary ones, can be overcome. 

Life isn't always a smooth ride. Something bad can happen tomorrow, next week or whenever, but it's beyond my control, there is nothing I can do about it except withdrawing from life, and I don't want to do that.

Nurture a desire to be free from negative thoughts:

"Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow."  - Philip Gulley

Let go and know that all will be well. Trust that life will take care of you. Have faith.

Don't let fears hold you back!

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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