Queen of Swords – Me and my journal

Today’s card is the Queen of Swords from the Spirit Within Tarot by Steven Bright. As you all know I identify highly with this queen and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how Steven has captured her in his deck.

We see a woman sitting at her desk in front of her laptop, scratching her head with a pencil. She is obviously pondering what to write next; how to formulate her words in a way they will describe her feelings and ideas as clearly as possible. It feels so natural to see myself in her place. It is almost as if the silhouettes are inviting us to put ourselves or others in the depictions of the deck.  

I like to journal, almost on a daily basis. It helps me to get my mind in order and to think in a more linear way, which can be a good thing when your mind sometimes resembles a merry go round. Also, I feel that writing things down makes them more real, more tangible. I’ve been journaling since I was ten years old so I can hardly imagine myself without a journal by my side.

And then I was wondering what she was journaling about and I got …the Nine of Pentacles. This is a favorite of mine in any deck. Although I don’t shy away from writing about sad and painful things, I do like to emphasize what is beautiful, magical and delightful in life. Focusing on the sad stuff comes naturally to many of us. It used to be that way for me too. So nowadays I’d like to push myself a bit further and try not to write only about the clouds but even more so about their silver linings. Like the lady in this card, I have so much to be grateful for.

What does royalty have to say about workouts?

Now Autumn has finally begun this year, it is time to hit the gym again. To be honest, during this heat wave I wasn’t really up to it. When I haven’t exercised in a while,it is always a bit hard for me to pick it up again and to keep at it. Excuses seem to pop up from everywhere: too hot, too tired, too busy, or I just don’t feel like it, but eventually I went. While I was walking on the tread mill, I was thinking about what the Tarot might have to say about exercising. Immediately I saw four young Pages running around the gym, trying out the equipment. They didn't pay me any attention, let alone have the time to talk to me. So I directed my thoughts to the Queens and asked them why I should work out regularly, even if I don’t really feel like it:

Queen of Wands: "Girl, it is the perfect way to keep your energy levels up and set you ablaze. Feel how your heart is pumping the red blood through your veins! You will be fired up to seize the day!"

Queen of Cups: "Ah my dear, working out will most definitely reduce your stress levels and make you feel so much more calm and relaxed. Breath in and out and produce those endorphins!"

Queen of Swords: "My dear lady, nothing is more effective to clear your mind from worrying and depressing thoughts than to work up a sweat. The most ingenious ideas will come to you when you are physically active."

Queen of Pentacles: "Oh sweetie, what can I add  to  this sincere advice. Exercising is a gift to your body, which is just as precious as your spirit, your soul and your mind. Treat it well and it will serve you accordingly and don’t forget to eat healthy too."

Well that settles it: Working out will be an priority on my weekly to-do list!

“The Beauty of Letting go” tarot spread

A few days ago I came across a small but powerful tarot spread on IG. It is called “The Beauty of Letting go” tarot spread (from Arcane Mysteries) and yesterday I tried it for myself, using the Original Rider Waite tarot:

1 What must I let of? Queen of Swords. 

Now that was a major disappointment to begin with. How could I release the Queen I identify the most with but then I realized she is can also be the embodiment of my less positive traits:

I see her sitting on her throne, all high and mighty. She is been through a lot and it only has made her stronger and more willed to survive. She will make sure her people won’t have to go through any of her own ordeals so she is determined to advise them and guide them even push them into the “right” direction.

Yes I can relate to that: The hovering mother, the meddling mother, the know it all mother. At least I can acknowledge these parts of me and that will be the first step of letting them go

2 What will I gain and accomplish as result of this release? Ten of Wands

No, I don’t think I will get overburdened by this. Rather I feel this card means that I can lay down all these self imposed responsibilities and lift up my head to see the beauty of the clear blue sky and enjoy life as is comes without the burden of having to control everything and everybody. So I will lay down these ten wands and stroll leisurely to that lovely little house in the distance. There I will pour myself a cup of freshly brewed coffee and dwell some more on the liberated feeling of letting go.

Journaling about The Queen of Scrolls - The Weaver

For today’s daily draw I've pulled the Weaver – The Queen of Scrolls,  aka the Queen of Swords, from the Chrysalis Tarot, my deck for the Solitary Tarot Challenge.

I thought it might be fun to show you how I do my journaling about a daily draw. This is slightly different and less cohesive than writing a blogpost.

First I pour myself  a cup of coffee  and then I start shuffling the deck. I don’t have a particularly way of shuffling. I just shuffle until I think it is enough. One thing though, I tend to smell my deck a few times between the shuffling. I store most of my cards with a small scented pillow or some incense, so smelling the cards makes me feel relaxed and is very comforting.

Then I pull my card and start writing whatever comes to mind:

“Yes! Another Queen!! How I love all my Queens of Swords so much. I can identify with them on such a deep level. And this one is particularly kind and lovely….

Purple is peaceful, conscious, serene and wise. Scrolls stand for idea’s words, stories, knowledge, intelligence, reason

This Queen is a weaver. She weaves her yarn into an image. With her words she weaves stories, parables, lessons, life itself. With her mind she weaves solutions and idea’s, truth and knowledge.

She invites me to come closer and to look at her weave and learn from her. She is waiting to share her wisdom and teach me.

This card radiates a peaceful serenity. Her cat is sleeping; snoring lightly.

The heft is a given fact but with the waft she is creatively filling up the open spaces in between. This way I can solve my problems, take on challenges and process knowledge.

When my basket is filled with all sorts of yarn, my possibilities on this loom are endless.

This idea fills me with peace and strengthens my confidence” 

These lose scribbles are  straight from my journal (except just a few more personal ones). It is not much but enough for a daily draw. After jotting down my notes I read the corresponding chapter from the LWB for additional explanations and interpretations.

I sincerely hope this way I can keep up with the challenge, which I am enjoying so very much. 

Queen of Swords – Sometimes she just knows

For today I've drawn the Queen of Swords  from the Druidcraft Tarot. For me this is one of the most beautiful depictions of this queen that I have in my collection. Maybe the reason I can relate to her so easily is because she has gray hair . I love her dress too. Its purple color  radiates her inner wisdom and in the Prussian blue of her robe I see her intuitive side which she can rely on while making decisions for her people. She is situated on the top of a mountain with a clear view over her land but for now she has her eyes closed, looking inward, asking herself what is the right thing to do . How does she choose for the good of all?

Yesterday we went to look at a puppy. Before that we had discussed with each other what we would ask, what we had to pay attention to, how we could decide if the doggy could be fitting for us. So many questions, so many decisions and how would we be able to signal our feelings to each other and decide what was the right choice??? 

Al those questions weren't necessary because when we saw the puppy, we fell in love instantly and M took the rule as queen, swayed with her sword and it was hers. (M will be the primal caretaker of this little dog). Of course we did keep our wits and asked the questions anyway but what we learned was more than satisfactory. 

Queen of Swords - Finding clarity through language

After  a short break from my daily draws we jump right in with yet another court card: the Queen of Swords from the Goddess Tarot. Since I have recognized my father in the King of Swords it is no surprise this is the courtcard I identify the strongest with. I love it how she is able to combine her love for truth and intellect with the nurturing aspect of all the queens. She has been through a lot and has distilled wisdom from all her experiences and she has developed empathy for her all her subjects. Some may say she is cold, but this is often more a protection for her fragile heart. Her people depend on her to make the right decisions and to clarify the situation with her favorite tool: language. She can put feelings into words and with her intellect she can word truth and decisions without room for multiple interpretations. It is what it is.  

I think today I will put this skill into use to determine my feelings about Divinity. While writing about my feelings and questions; encircling them with words and sentences, sometimes I can find more clarity than by just thinking about them. I love journaling,  making lists and mind maps. I think writing is a wonderful tool to explore my inner thoughts.

“Whether you're keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it's the same thing. What's important is you're having a relationship with your mind.”

Natalie Goldberg

The Queen of Swords wants to ride into the sunset

For today I've drawn the Queen of Swords from the Tarot of the Hidden Realm. Look at how young she is and already she has such a wise and serious facial expression. It makes you think what she has been trough.

I love her “Mona Lisa” smile. She hides her feelings behind her great discerning skills. Everyone looks at her for an answer or a solution to their problems. She is surely capable: everything in this depiction is pointing at her sword she is about pull from its sheath: the pearl just above her third eye, the owl mask above her heart and the lace points from her robe. 

I wonder what is on her mind and I pull a second card…: the Faery Stallion or The Chariot. In my opinion our queen doesn't want to be here at all. She is tired of all her responsibilities and of the people who are depending on her. Her mind wanders off to a time when she was just a young faery girl; free and careless as the wind with all her options wide open and choices yet to be made. 

Riding on her stallion in the sunshine, feeling one with her horse and the world around her.

Then she pulls her sword….

Sometimes life can be so overwhelming: too many people asking too many questions. Sometimes you just want to run away from it all. I can identify with this queen a lot and I do admire her fortitude, honesty and smarts but I pity her well hidden loneliness because it is so difficult to share your own feelings when everybody it counting on you.

Almost at the end of this post it struck me that she is the queen. She can say no if she wants to, in such a kind and pleasing way, nobody shall deny her the right to do so.

Affirmation: Today I am going to say no with ease and without guilt to every demand which can wait to until tomorrow.

A Three Card Daily Spread – Trusting my swordy skills will remove my blindfold

For today I've done a three card daily tarot spread for myself with The Original Rider Waite Tarot. The positions are as following:

1 The general energy of the day

2 The challenge of the day

3 The gift of today

The Original Rider Waite tarot

1 The general energy of the day – Four of Cups

For me today this card is all about having enough to deal with and not needing any more cups  with emotional “surprises”. There is a lot going on at home which is putting me in the position of maintaining the emotional stability and to be honest it is exhausting. So three cups in a neat row is manageable but I don’t want anything else on my plate. Please !!!

2 The challenge of the day – Queen of Swords

My rescue might come from my inner Queen of Swords if, I will be able to channel her qualities: Keeping my head above the clouds. Making kind but firm decisions and setting some boundaries to take care of my own peace of mind. How I love this Queen and the wisdom with which she reigns

3 The gift of today – Eight of Swords

Yay, my gift is to take of my blindfold and step out of my circle of limiting beliefs. I am stronger than I think I am and pitying myself is not the way to tap into that strength. So chin up and try to take some time to recover, without wallowing in self pity.

So I will be able to cut away the ropes which are draining my energy and do the things I love which a clear mind. Staying active is the best medicine for today and every tomorrow

The Queen of Swords teaches a life lesson

Druidcraft Tarot

Here she is, my favorite lady, my best friend in need! The Queen of Swords from the Druidcraft Tarot. Whenever she comes up I smile and I anticipate a strong sense of self preservation. The queen from this deck is the most beautiful depiction I have. I love it that she has gray hair. Her head is slightly lifted as if she is smelling the air and at the same time weighing her options. She caresses her sword gently. She loves her wit and intelligence. I like her being up high with her head in the air and her feet bare and touching the ground. She stays rooted. Her ideas have to be grounded and practicable; not just thinking and rethinking but also acting on it.

In my opinion she is not as cold as some of us think she is.  For me she is also a nurturing queen who wants to guide us, teach us and be there for us when things get overcomplicated. She will cut the knot, or untangle our problems and presents us with new options. Today I will need her mentality to stay true to a mindful way of thinking. To cut through worries and anxiety and see today as it  really is:  A free day to do what I want and to enjoy what I do.  She teaches me to be in control of my own thoughts and to notice how they're causing the way I feel. A life lesson....