The cards pictured are from the Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck.
The Eight of Swords and The Hierophant
This week, as we collectively experience the afterglow of the Solstice and the energy of the holidays, our cards highlight the challenges we might face. We are encouraged to let go and be reassured that we will find the wisdom we seek.
When the Eight of Swords comes up in a reading, something is interfering with the natural flow. We may feel stuck and that there is a block. This interference may cause us to slow down, feel confused, or not know how to move forward.
The Eight of Swords wants us to check in with ourselves. Are these blocks coming from inside us? Do we feel tension physically or mentally? Or are they coming from outside us? Is someone blocking us from reaching our potential or adding toxic energy?
In traditional Chinese culture, Qi is the vital life force that flows through everything. When we feel healthy, Qi is believed to flow freely through the left and right sides of our bodies. If we have a block in energy, we might feel sick, have muscle pain, or feel low emotionally.
You can work with your Qi by visualizing energy flowing freely throughout your body without any blockages. Drinking plenty of water and moving in ways that feel good also support this work.
Spend some time thinking about your blocks this week. Try to back away from the places you feel stuck and instead focus on where things move with ease. Changing our focus will bring more positive and free-flowing energy into our lives.
It is no use hammering away on a blocked door if it does not open. Once we back off, then we can gain perspective and connect to places that feel lighter and more fruitful.
The Swords rule the mind and communication, so another way to work with the card is by writing down your thoughts to find more clarity. Express what is overwhelming you, make a list of your plans, create a budget, or journal your affirmations.
Using the written word to let out what is in your head will bring a much-needed release. Articulating what you feel and organizing your thoughts will be powerful tools for healing.
Our next card is the Hierophant. When this card appears, we open to the guidance and wisdom of others. We are ready to move to the next level, but we are unsure of the direction to take or how to get there.
The card encourages us to seek a spiritual practice or a teacher to help us reach a higher vibrational level. We welcome the words of wise leaders, writers, and mentors to learn from their teachings.
Many brilliant people have come before us who have discovered peaceful ways of living. We do not have to reinvent the wheel or go through it alone. They have found answers to life’s many questions, and we can gain from their experiences.
Tarot remains my tool for support and guidance. I have turned to it over and over again when I need to connect with my spirit and get out of my head. Reading the beautiful interpretations of other Tarot readers always inspires me as well. Tarot is my constant Hierophant.
Be open to teachers in all forms. It could be in a book, a loved one, or a therapist. You may already know this person, but their spirit will have a profound impact on you this week. The Hierophant calls us to receive guidance from our mentors, ancestors, and angels.
Keep your eyes open for specific signs that will guide you in the right direction. Be ready to take in all that is around you. The call of The Hierophant is being amplified, and the universe is speaking to you.
Mantra for the week: I invite clarity to my world. I call on wisdom from teachers in all forms.
To book your personal tarot reading or purchase a giftcard for a loved one, visit nikkifo.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!
