Tarot Tuesday: Six of Swords

Six of Swords

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck

US Games Systems, Inc. 

Greetings everyone, and welcome to Tarot Tuesday!

Today's card is one of the few in the Swords suit that doesn't truly suck: The six. 

Check out the water on the card! You already can see there's an emotional component...see the rough on the right and the smooth to the left of the boat? The situation that this card describes is improving slowly; the boat will be through the rough waters soon. 

It can also represent feeling a little bit down...one might call it "the blues" as well. 

One of the more common meanings is the idea of travel or movement. When I get this card, often I tell people to take a trip, ideally one that is on or near water, or even overseas. Any type of water will do: Whitewater rafting, deep sea fishing, or a cottage by a river are all good examples. Water helps restore people and it is healing. 

This card is particularly important for me this week as I prepare for a vacation near water! I'm taking my own advice and getting away from my business for a while. I won't be seeing anyone professionally until March 12.

Until next time, good people! Catch you on the flip side. 

The Blindfold in the RWS Tarot Deck, Part 2

We’ve talked about the idea of the blindfold and how it gives the idea of limitation or the inability to see clearly. Also, the idea that it was put on by a human and must be taken off by a human is also a concept that merits consideration. What you see on the cards is important when you read them. 

You’re thinking, “Of course. That’s how the tarot works. It presents images that spark the subconscious mind.” But if that’s true, then the absence of a particular feature on a card can make a difference in your interpretation, right?  

 To that end, let’s look at the flip side and talk about what the cards DON’T show. Is there one card that you might have expected to have a blindfold and doesn’t, for example. Close your eyes for a moment and consider it before you read the answer below.  

If you answered Justice, pat yourself on the back. In courtrooms and law offices you’ll often see representations of Lady Justice blindfolded. The concept behind it is that justice is blind, that the law is what counts and not what you look like. Equal justice under law is what we strive for in our society. 

To be fair, not everyone has seen these statues, so don’t beat yourselves up if you didn’t come up with it.  But Lady Justice in the tarot has nothing impairing her vision. She sees clearly, and with her sword and scales is prepared to weigh and measure each person that comes before her. You’ll get what you deserve from her and she looks you in the eyes as she metes out her wisdom.  

To me, the lack of visual impairment indicates an ability to judge all fairly based on their merits. You can’t hide from Justice, in other words. You will receive the benefits or suffer the consequences. 

In the tarot we focus so much on what we see that it’s good to consider what we don’t see once in a while. And I hope you won’t forget that as you study the cards. 

Tarot Tuesday: The Blindfold in the Rider-Waite-Smith, Part 1

What do you think of when you see someone that’s blindfolded? That’s the question I put to you today.

On the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there are two cards where people are blindfolded, and both are in the Swords suit. The Two of Swords and the 8 of Swords. On the Two, the person is facing away from a body of water holding the two swords across the body. 

On the 8 of Swords, the eyes are covered, but the whole body is bound in a field of swords. 

To me, on both cards the blindfold represents limitations or boundaries. That seems like a fair point, given the image. But what I find much more interesting is the idea that a human had to put them on. 

Let me explain a little more fully. A blindfold doesn’t just appear on a person. 

You can do it yourself, or someone can put one on you...sometimes by your consent and sometimes not, depending on the situation.

When these two cards appear separately, I often will ask the client if they are seeing a situation clearly. I will encourage them to remove the blindfold, but it’s not always easy. 

There may be some denial (2 of Swords) involved, or the client may feel like they have painted themselves into a corner and no choice seems to be good (8 of Swords). The cards around it will paint a clearer picture, of course.

It may also be that in a figurative sense another person has blindfolded the client, or forced the client into a situation where they feel they have no good choices.

When you see either of these cards come up in a reading, remember this: A human put it there, and a human has to take it off. That may help you focus the meaning of the reading, especially if you are reading for yourself.

Tarot Tuesday: Two of Swords

Two of Swords, Rider-Waite Smith Tarot

Copyright US Games Systems, Inc.

I've been seeing quite a bit of this card recently. But a person drawing this card probably isn't seeing what's really going on. In fact, she's choosing not to see it. 

A pretty common read on this one is denial. The person is blindfolded and looking away from the water--emotion--because they're avoiding it.  I love to call this card "LA LA LA LA LA I'M NOT LISTENING TO YOU!"

I'll often tell clients, "You don't know what you don't know here. It's not as bad as you imagine." But the client has to choose to take off the blindfold. 

We'll discuss the imagery of the blindfold in a later blog. But it's a very important piece of the puzzle on this card. 

Traditionally, this card can represent avoidance or any of its synonyms, like evasion. 

I'll also say that sometimes it's not a negative card. You do have to turn your back on people sometimes, especially when they are toxic or have shown a willingness to take advantage of you. This is a great technique for energy vamps, for example. 

One final note: A tarot article I read gave the meaning "bipolar disorder" for this card. For me, the jury is still out; that would probably be more of a Cups matter, in my humble opinion. But it's something to keep in your palette of meanings!