Today's card up for your reflection is the Queen/Swords. In traditional Rider Waite decks there are only three swords in the whole deck that are pointed absolutely upright, this Queen's, Justice, and Ace of Swords. Like Justice, this Queen embodies and symbolizes the ideals of honesty, truth, transparency and an intellectual life devoted to cutting away illusion.

This Queen dispels any attempt at coercion, dissembling or manipulation as she cuts to the heart of every issue with her keen and clear thinking. This Queen often comes up in readings when we need to take on the Queen's characteristics; undertaking to resolve an issue and most importantly, when we are not being treated fairly by others. This Queen has very healthy boundaries and is not afraid to let others know when they have crossed the line.


1. I need to shore up the following boundaries with others in my life... I need to do that by...
2. When someone is being dishonest or unclear with me I handle it by...
3. Women are often socialized to 'play nice' and not share outright feelings or opinions if it may be disruptive to others, this is how it has affected me... this is what I need to share...
4. I need to bring clarity in this area of my life... I am going to do that by...

2/Swords troubles the still waters of pretending that 'everything is ok.' This card denotes blocked emotions, refusing to see the truth of something, inability to make a decision or to take a stand. This card is fear.

When we refuse to face naked truth we are often unable to truly move forward in our lives. This card is the impasse; the immovable uncomfortable stalemate we are creating because we believe that to carry two swords indefinitely is better than to allow one to fall.

But it is really only an illusion we are creating to kid ourselves because we cannot defend ourselves in this way, nor can we attack as needed... all it takes is one fingertip to topple it all.




1. All of my skeletons are nicely packed in my closet, if I were to open that door I am afraid that this would happen...
2. I am afraid that if I allow myself to truly feel this emotion, this will happen...
3. If I truly decided to see the honesty of this situation,  my life would become...
4. If I let go of my illusion, it would free me by...

So what happens we ignore the signs that 3/swords from yesterday brings to us? Our ego: negative repetitive thinking, concern over status, society, being alone, being broke, being a loser, etc. these are all those thoughts on replay that allow us to stay in situations that make us miserable.

Today I did not use a Tarot card to illustrate the message of 8/swords because I found this 30 minute performance artist Louisa Hamidi taping herself to the wall in a piece called Self-Induced Imprisonment (video).
8/Swords can be a hard card to accept because this card forces us to look at the ways that we are playing victim and places sole responsibility of our lives right back where it belongs, in our lap.

1. I am not happy with this situation but I am staying because I fear...
2. When someone points out an aspect of my life and I get defensive it is because...
3. These are some of the self limiting thoughts and behaviors I have/do that self-sabotage me...
4. Even though scary, I am committing to re