Learn Tarot. Lesson 8: The Suit of Swords. Part 2.

[@sandyseaver883]

This is the story of deepening depression that ends with a nervous breakdown (the number 10 for me) I am fighting my way back. Maybe upside down could be getting the help you need. ❤ Great series. You speak the way I learn best.

[@sacredtarot]

Really pleased these are speaking your language!

[@BluntBlessingsTarot]

bloody brilliant.!!!!!! reallly enjoyed your take on it. Thrilled I found you on here

[@sacredtarot]

Thank you! I'm glad this was helpful!

[@lisamclean3407]

I have heard the term "keeping you awake at night" a lot for the 9 of swords. Your interpretation of "cruelty" is a lot harsher, and given the finality of the 10 of swords, I think it makes more sense than the milder "keeping you awake" perspective. I'm thinking that if someone was being harshly and heinously cruel to you, or, if in fact you are the perpetrator of such an act on someone else, then anyone suffering from severe injustice, or in the case of the perpetrator - one would hope severe guilt on their minds, then they would not be able to settle into a good nights sleep??? There would be exceptions though for people who are narcissistic or who may be mentally ill? Just my thoughts. Thank you so much for your lessons - I am enjoying them immensely.

[@mariannenay2513]

I feel that "Spirit" has led me here! Thank you for your incredible teaching!

[@sacredtarot]

It's my pleasure Marianne!

[@peachiegirl1970]

Thank you so much for your teaching and your guidance. I feel like I've been called. I have searched alot of 'guidance' but to no avail. Until I was led to you. Again Thank you.

[@joya3515]

You’re the best 💚

[@sacredtarot]

Thank you!

[@FR0STBL0D]

The reconstruction of the comment I lost: This was another wonderful lesson. Here's what I learned: I'm still not too fond of the fire/air attributions of the Rider-Waite-Smith. I only get "air" with the II, and VIII on. The others have much more "flames of hope", "heat of battle", "ferocity of will" energies. I also miss the quality of intuition (with skin being the related organ) that flows with air. Maybe the theater stage approach is an issue here ... Anyway ... luckily there are decks out there that better align with how I perceive the elements. (The most clear one I own may be the Tarot of the Sidhe with Dreamers as air suit and Warriors as fire suit.) IX Reversed: To me the card reversed may indicate ways out. Maybe just in two ways. Both are related to accepting despair for what it is and dealing with it. 1) Moving forward and being brave enough to face the inevitable defeat in X Upright. 2) Awakening from the nightmare and victimhood. Crawling upwards out of the bed, daring to walk with grief, slowly. Leaving perspectives and ways behind that the swords lock away. (Maybe having to deal with qualities of earlier cards, III, IV, VI, VIII at the same time and with sometimes returning despair). => It's still a very difficult card to deal with. X Reversed: I'd say ... focusing on the silver lines at the horizon may inspire false hope. Believing to already having hit the ground, when it's not true yet. The swords will pierce thru even more flesh. Impalement is still happening. Damage culminating. However ... the silver lining may inspire to accept the utmost cruel defeat and horrible death knowing ... a new dawn is coming. A completely new cycle is beginning. The world will be a very different place. Whatever that may mean.

[@ayelet8168]

Dear Chris, as I go deeper into the learning of the language of Tarot, with you as a wise, generous guide, questions regarding other possible meanings of the cards rise, and I hope you won't mind answering: The Nine of Swords, could it not be also read as a card of a tormented thought? The murder of Abel (thanks for this detail); the passionate roses that pave the blanket; the prison-like swords - could they not suggest a passionate crime that keeps haunting the conscience? And The Ten of Swords - could it not be that the dreadful image is actually an invitation to accept the lesson, and surrender to the difficult part of the journey, in order to learn, and heal and get free? 💕🙏🏻 💕

[@sacredtarot]

Both of these interpretations are sound, and very powerful. You know you're on the right track when you begin to build your own set of interpretations on the foundations of the basic traditional ones. Just carry on letting the riches in the images speak to you and trust your own judgement. You'll give incredible readings!

[@ayelet8168]

@@sacredtarot Thank you, Chris. How generous you are! 💕

[@donnasmith9938]

Amazing

[@sacredtarot]

Glad you enjoyed this!

[@tamarialakayye]

Have you noticed? On the blanket, it looks like their are zodiac signs in the blue squares.

[@sacredtarot]

Yes indeed! To be honest, I don't know the full significance of them, but like all things on PCS's cards, there will be a very specific meaning behind them. Her attention to detail was astounding.

[@tamarialakayye]

@@sacredtarot Certainly! I’m really thankful you created this series because I gained a lot of knowledge and clarity from your demonstrations/explanations. Thanks so much for sharing 🤗

[@deana.blackburn4720]

There's one sword in front. A new beginning once she gets free from rigid thought.

[@escreamer1]

Another wonderful lesson. Thank you! I'm a little curious about your interpretation of the 7 of Swords upright. I see so much sneakiness there and stealth. The thief in the night, wanting more than he can carry.

[@sacredtarot]

I think you're right. There are different ways you can interpret this card, one of which is the Golden Dawn's concept of unstable effort. I also see it as sneakiness and the stealth of a fox.

[@SunshineDiamonds]

I see it as a desperate need to hold onto your own pure thought and getting away from imprisonment of thought... Which in the 8 of swords is a warning - is she imprisoning herself with her thoughts?

[@laurenlevy9948]

I'm wondering if the RWS deck depicts the swords cards in a scary way as at that time the "thinking " person would have perceived the tarot as heretic. The deck's creator's night have perceived themselves as victims of the war that so called rational thought might have represented to them.

[@sacredtarot]

It's a really interesting thought Lauren. I'm not sure with Pamela Colman Smith however. She was a deeply intelligent woman but not in a conventional 'rational' way. She wore her heart on her sleeve in many ways and her worldview centred around an innocent optimism. Her art and poetry often channelled melancholy or sadness when that ideal wasn't realised. Her view of the swords would have been more direct maybe; less nuanced but by no means shallow. As for A E Waite, he may have viewed things differently - he was certainly a more conventional intellect on many levels. I don't think he ever truly understoid the full measure of Pamela. He certainly underestimated what she brought to his Tarot deck as the artist and paid scant attention to her minor arcana illustrations. You've raised a fascinating point!

[@laurarooney]

Victim card 8oS??

[@sacredtarot]

That's a really valid interpretation. You could view this as someone who is an actual victim or someone who casts themselves as a victim.

[@beebeetee9957]

Is he the ferryman or is he the husband and father?

[@beebeetee9957]

in the 6 of swords...

[@sacredtarot]

@@beebeetee9957 I think it's ambiguous. He could be either.

[@laurenlevy9948]

Good point. RootLockTarot podcaster ties in the idea of the disengagement of emotion and reliance on thought required in rescue work. Perhaps this guy wasnt' successful in using thought alone to deal with his or other's trauma.