By Sarah Taylor
These words came to me last week when I looked at the Princess of Swords:
“[H]ere you are, the Princess of Swords. You’ve come through and there is a new aspect to your experience. You’ve achieved something, even if you can’t quite yet believe it’s happened. Yep. That’s you. You’ve demonstrated your chops and earned your stripes.
“Own it, baby.
“You’re not going to get mystified by that one again — your eye-woven headdress will make sure of that. You may step towards it, you may step into it. You won’t stay there for long. It will no longer be tolerable, and you’ll be inclined to speak out, strike out, refuse to take that shit anymore.”
Princess of Swords, Nine of Swords, The Hanged Man from The Röhrig Tarot deck, created by Carl-W. Röhrig. Click on the image for a larger version.
Well, of course: when you step up and declare to yourself, to others, and to the world that you are most certainly not going to take that shit again — what would a rational, compassionate, and accommodating universe do but help you prove that? What would it do but concoct an experience of just what you’re used to — tailored just to your experience — so that you then have the choice as to whether you want to:
a) step towards it,
b) step into it, and/or
c) decide how long you want to stay in it, if at all; or
d) walk away?
You are at choice here. Completely at choice. It may feel that you have little or no option when you’re in the thick of it, bile rising in the back of your throat, sword drawn, ready to charge into battle. Or, it may not seem like a battle. Things may be entirely courteous on the surface. Smiles and waves; voiced approvals; all the right things being said.
But if you catch yourself thinking to yourself that it has a familiar feeling at its core; or that you’re in “Same shit, different day” territory; or it looks different but smells entirely like it always has, congratulate yourself. You are earning your stripes. You spoke out and took a stand. Now you have something to take a stand against.
However —
There’s a catch, all-seeing, mighty warrior and liberator.
That battle party you’re steeling yourself for that’s waiting up ahead? It’s you. You’re the catch. A part of you is waiting for you in the bushes at the edge of the pathway and it has a trip-rope at the ready. That beautiful, steadfast, faithful shadow-fighter in you who is vigilantly looking out for you, hand on sword hilt, just itching to strike out against that next move in your direction. It has such good intentions. But this time, you know that aspect of yourself all too well: it isn’t striking out at others. It is striking out at shadows. Your own shadows.
In other words: if you feel you’re being drawn into battle with someone or something, ask yourself first if the truth is that you’re really being drawn into a battle with yourself over something that no longer exists in the way it used to. And if that makes sense to you, face that part of yourself; thank it, and then move on and round it.
You do not have to step into this noose. This time, it does not have to be for you. Self-criticism, compulsion, remorse, regret — none of these is at all necessary.
Suffering is optional. Doing the same thing, again and again, is optional. Believing that you are not free already is optional.
That sword you’re holding in your hand is sharp. You can use it constructively. How can you parse matter? How can you slice away to discern truth? How can you cut to the heart of what really means something to you?
How does your vision help to shape your world?
How can you take what you have and know, and use it, to make that world happen, and right now?
Right now, you can choose to take a different step. Knowing you have freedom of choice is the greatest freedom of all.
Astrology/Elemental correspondences: Princess of Swords (the earthy aspect of air), Nine of Swords (Mars in Gemini), The Hanged Man (Neptune)
If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread.
Thank you so much Sarah for this powerful and enlightening message. I could not identify what was going on with me this weekend . Yet, once I read your tarot reading I felt it within my being how truthful it rang to me. :>)
Thanks,
Margaret B. Lee
Oh boy, dear Sarah – can’t believe your reading this evening. I did take that step, sword in hand – and am on the edge of a new world- but as I teeter on this edge, my actions have also brought up a lot of stuff in myself and others – and I’m in a scary place right now. I really can’t thank you enough for your magnificent reading, particularly these words, “In other words: if you feel you’re being drawn into battle with someone or something, ask yourself first if the truth is that you’re really being drawn into a battle with yourself over something that no longer exists in the way it used to. And if that makes sense to you, face that part of yourself; thank it, and then move on and round it.” Thank you (((())))
Excellently said. Thank you.
Knowing that I have freedom of choice, that is the constant challenge. It seems to me like the choices for freedom I first took – becomes the bondage so difficult to be free of now. But remembering I am free makes the possibility of new choices, now, more likely. Freeing myself of limiting beliefs is to dismantle the original freeing new beliefs. Is that making sense?