Journey in 78 Steps

Daily Draw: 8 of Swords

The 8 of Swords in this deck is composed of two sets of four swords woven together into a pair of diamond shapes.  Four of them are pointed down, and the other four pointed up, so that each set is facing off against the other, the tips of the front pairs touching each other. 

Between the two sets there is an intricate bit of knotwork filling the space that is composed of two two triads surrounded by circular patterns and locked together by a diamond shape.

In the center of each set of four swords, the space in the middle is also filled by knotwork, reminiscent of a circle cut into quarters.

Above the upper set of swords there is a small white glowing light, but the rest of the background is filled with an angular background (squares divided into triangles) that is made up of deep red, purple and blue shades - the overall effect of all this squared and filled up imagery is darkness and claustrophobia... it's all so complicated and orderly that there is no room to breathe.

The small light shows that there is something beyond this tightly bound situation, but very little room to maneuver to access it, and it does little to bring light to the situation - it is either far off or very surpressed.

The way these two sets are squaring off against each other looks like a stalemate to me, and not only is either side willing to back off... they can't, because there is no room to move.  It's very difficult to see any way to change this situation.

The 8 of swords is one of my least favorite cards in the deck, and the one I most often see in readings to describe the surrounding feelings - when we're having a problem we need to seek guidance for from a stranger, it seems it is because our situation has reached a point where we've tried everything we can possibly think of to change it - and our instinct when it comes to fixing things is to increase order and stabilize, when sometimes what is really needed is a shake up.   So we patch, patch, patch until it's absolutely as stable as possible... and then we find ourselves stuck, because all we've done is strengthened the stability of a bad situation.

The light here may be the only way out.... to let it go, stop propping it up... bring in some chaos.  If what you've done a hundred times isn't working, don't try harder.  Try something different.

Daily Reading: 5 of Coins / 8 of Arrows

This is an unsettling pair of cards, now isn't it.  It's a rather unsettling day - my plumbing problems look like they may be about to get ugly, so we're avoiding water usage while I try (in vain so far) to contact the landlord.

So the 5 of Coins describes the external theme for the day - lack and abandonment.  I lack the ability to use water (see? it's frozen - not usable), and am abandoned by my landlord who won't pick up the phone.  If this problem is what I think it is, incoming storms are going to create a bad situation if she doesn't get someone out here.

This card shows Danae, cast out by her father, making her way in the cold, cruel world with her infant son - at this place in the story, things look very grim indeed.  I'd like to hang onto the rest of the story, where help does come via the help of the gods and her own ability to care for her family... but right now, I feel cast adrift and need to get professional help in here before it's too late.

The internal, spiritual response here isn't exactly inspirational either... the 8 of Arrows (Swords) shows Psyche at the point after she's been abandoned and rejected by Eros, stuck in the mud with arrows pelted down around her.  Her posture is dejection and despair - no way out and nowhere to go. I don't like the look of all that mud much, either. 

Sometimes it's like that... I'd love some higher lesson or meaning for crappy situations to make up for the pain of them, and sometimes the best I can come up with is 'this sucks'.  Until I can get my landlord in on the situation, I'm pretty much just stuck and bereft.  And in need of a shower, some clean dishes and few loads of desperately needed laundry.

I will make note of one thing though... the figure in the 8 of Arrows has turned her back on the actual situation to wallow in that mud - there is some good possibility here that I'm catastrophizing the problem more than I should - the woman on the 5 of Coins is slogging it out... on the 8, the woman has given up. I'll try not to internally make this more difficult than it is.

Update:  I have spoken to the landlord twice now (and called about a dozen times trying to get her on the phone).  The first time, I got her husband and explained the problem.... and waited... and then she called and didn't have a clue what the problem was, so re-explained, and was promised someone would be out today.  And now it's nearly 7pm and no one has been here.  I need to be able to use my water! And I'm afraid the delay is going to cause a huge mess to deal with in the basement - the last time this happened, it went from 'hmm something's wrong' to a horrible mess in just a couple days and it's about to rain a lot.

grr. sigh.

My Tarot Profile

"Journaling For Your Self" has a series of calculations for determining certain cards that are of particular significance, based in various ways on one's birthdate.  I thought these might be good first cards to take a look at and study.  These are the cards that, when they turn up in a reading, merit extra attention and are also good cards to study and meditate on.

I don't mind saying that my response to the placement of the Tower on this list caused a "Oh, just great!" reaction out of me, but... it is what it is, and I guess I better pay attention to it.

So, here's the list, and I'll be picking from among these for more intense study over the next couple weeks:

My Tarot Profile

Personality Card:
(Indicates my life purpose, aspirations, and lessons to be learned.)
VII: The Chariot

Soul Card:
(Indicates my soul purpose and qualities that will assist me.)
VII: The Chariot

Hidden Factor/Teacher Card:
(Indicates qualities I fear, reject, or don't see that can be my greatest strengths.)
XVI: The Tower

Zodiac or Sun Sign Card:
(What I Need For Self-Expression)
VI: The Lovers

Current Year Card (2006):
(Qualities I Need to Develop This Year - Same as Personality/Soul Card. This is a very significant year for me.)
XVI: The Tower

Next Year's Card (2007):
(Qualities I Will Need to Develop Next Year)
XVII: The Star

Lessons and Opportunities:
(Minor Arcana corresponding to Soul Card - these have heightened significance in a spread.)
7 of Wands
7 of Swords
7 of Cups
7 of Pentacles

Zodiac Lessons and Opportunities:
(Minor Arcana corresponding to my sun sign)
8 Swords
9 of Swords
10 of Swords

Destiny Card:
(Pertaining to birthdate - indicates fundamental impulses, desires, and reactions of myself as an individual.)
9 of Swords

Personal Potential Card:
(Court Card corresponding to sun sign)
Knight of Swords

Inner Teacher Card:
(Court Card corresponding to moon sign)
Queen of Pentacles

Mode of Expression in the World:
(Court Card corresponding to rising sign)
Queen of Cups