Daffodils in the Snow
⚔️Three of Swords: Heartbreak, pain, sorrow | ⚔️ Ace of Swords: Power, new beginnings, opportunity, mental clarity
It snowed last night. It’s hard to imagine a warm midday sun turning to frozen precipitation within just a few hours. The last couple weeks have sent hopeful signals of seasonal change. A handful of sunny days triggered small pods of daffodils to bloom, as well as the collective mood. Pasty legs and un-manicured toes proudly showed themselves to the world. The heads attached to the torsos, connected to the legs and toes, were punctuated with blissful, but cautious, smirks. No respectable cynic would commit to a full blown carefree grin. It’s too early for spring!
I knew the snow was coming a week before it fell. Anyone could look at the weekly forecast to confirm that winter wasn’t ready to quit. Even so, it was hard not to feel shock, disbelief, even betrayal when the row of tiny suns turned into grey clouds festooned with snowflakes. Sadly, knowing something is coming doesn’t free me from the feelings that accompany the arrival. Try as I might to delay the flight, the plane was coming down, one way or another.
Today, I am thinking about the duality of feelings that occur during transition. I am still surprised by how easy it is to feel bliss in one moment and deep sadness in the next. Like when you and your date are fun and groovy one day and then mortal enemies the next. The ultimate bummer. I am non-confrontational by nature so a subtle whiff of tension will occupy my mind until I feel things are resolved. However, these agonizing jolts are what trigger change, movement, and growth. They can usher us into deeper levels of connection and fun.
Even though the hints of spring did not mean winter was over, they forced a shift. People were out and about walking, feeling social, and being friendly to strangers. After being cooped up for months, it was a tiny gift to be tugged out of winter, even if briefly. We are awake and prepared for the new.
My plan going into this project was to write about one card each week, but today taught me that sometimes you need more information! This morning I pulled a card, sat with it for a second, and felt like I was looking at an incomplete story. So, I pulled another card, and things connected.
This weeks cards: Three of Swords, Ace of Swords
⚔️ Three of Swords
Heartbreak, pain, sorrow
Yikes. This one is gnarly looking. A heart being stabbed by THREE swords in the middle of a rain storm, just like my heart when I saw the weekly forecast. When I look at this card I actually start to feel pain in my heart.
The Three of Swords can represent literal heartbreak, but more importantly, notice the pain is being inflicted by an outside source, and the experience is deeply painful. This card might arrive when we are especially sensitive to other people’s words, even if they are strangers. There are times when it feels impossible not to take things personally. When we find ourselves in these moments, it’s usually because we are taking the words of others for truth and not listening to our hearts. This card can serve as a reminder to get centered with positive reinforcement and self-love.
The rainstorm in the background might feel ominous, but it acts as a reminder that this is a cleansing card. Sometimes a good cry can be just the release we need to see more clearly when the clouds have passed. Crying is a totally valid activity. Bailing on your friends because you’d rather stay home and weep is totally acceptable. Skipping a wedding to lay on the bathroom floor and sob should be a prefilled response on the RSVP card you’ve already lost. Let those tears rip and you’ll know what to do next. The pain is temporary and you’ll be stronger and clearer than ever when the weather clears up.
When I pulled this card, the imagery was not matching my energy. The Three of Swords felt like what I was moving away from, not what I am moving through now. This is why typical spreads are many cards. They tell us stories about multiple dimensions of our lives spanning different time planes. Because I am still learning, one is a good constraint, but it might not always be enough to make sense of. So I pulled one more…
⚔️ Ace of Swords
Power, new beginnings, opportunity, mental clarity
Now we’re talking. Look at this glorious card! We have a fluffy cloud presenting us with a crowned sword draped in green garlands. The Ace of Swords feels regal, powerful, and victorious. The cloud is floating high above the mountains far away from any turmoil taking place below. When I pulled this card I immediately felt relief and encouraged.
Aces are the energy and feeling before an idea is born. They are the beginning of the journey, and there is a ton of energy to build momentum towards creating something new. I like to think the Ace of Swords is showing me where I am with this project. I feel inspired and excited to write these little stories and deepen my understanding of the Tarot.
Because Ace of Swords is the very beginning of the journey, the challenge is channeling all this energy into the right decisions. The mountains might be far away in the distance, but they tell us that challenges will certainly arise in the future. If we can hold the triumphant imagery of this card in our heads, it will help us maintain focus and fortitude through the rough times.
I love these two cards together. It’s such a beautiful reminder of the cyclical nature of all life. We must have the dark times so we can rest, recover, and regenerate new life. Sometimes we get caught directly in the middle of these transitions and it can be disorienting and derailing. The challenge is to try and see the glory in both the dark and the light.
xoxo
A quick note on Swords:
So many swords! If you haven’t noticed already, swords are coming up a lot. Usually this means we are seeking a solution to a problem that is mostly cerebral. As mentioned in my last post, swords map to the element of air, which symbolically relates to knowledge, action, power, and change. Swords center around the mental plane which can be a harsh and conflicted landscape. It’s difficult to stay in this space for long periods of time. However, it can help reveal decisions that need to be made and ultimately be a driver of clarity.