The 10 of Swords and Knight of Cups
When I pull cards, I read many Tarot resources to help ground me in the meaning of the cards. Many people have studied longer than me or created the cards I am using, so I want to know what they think.
But when I went to read the interpretation of the 10 of Swords, I could not listen to the words. It was all about how positive or negative thinking creates the circumstances in our lives. That if you pull a card like the 10 of Swords, also called Ruin, you need to examine your thoughts and actions and see how you manifested a negative event.
This is the ‘cult of positivity’, the belief that our ability to project hopeful energy is connected to everything we do. I do not subscribe to this belief. Our thoughts do not make bad things happen.
I am not saying our thoughts have no impact on our feelings or healing. But they do not create negative or positive events. This idea is actually harmful.
It makes people think their lack of commitment to positivity made something negative occur. That negative things only happen to those that don’t keep a hopeful mind at all times. Negative things happen to everyone, regardless of their thinking patterns.
What I will take away from the 10 of Swords is that Swords rule the mind. And thoughts after something terrible happens are hard to control. But we can let negative and positive thinking exist at the same time.
We can think how unfair life is and let a beautiful winter sky make us feel the slightest bit better. We can also acknowledge that things absolutely suck while also reaching out for support from those that love us.
We can be angry and deeply sad. We can also think a nice thing about the person who gave us a hug today. Small bits of light can come in when we spend time in the darkness of grief. It can just be dark too and that’s okay.
The Knight of Cups is all about goals. And since it is a Cup card, it is connected to our emotions. This week let’s make an emotional goal.
Always staying positive or jumping straight to positivity should not be the goal. Acceptance of all emotions and thoughts should be. Making negativity the enemy is harmful, so let’s stop that.
Negativity and heavy emotions are normal. Grief is a natural reaction to losing someone you love. It is okay to be sad, upset, depressed, apathetic, overwhelmed, and negative. We need to let those emotions have their voice. We need to tell them it is okay that they are here.
When we acknowledge our feelings without judgment, something amazing tends to happen. We can feel a little bit lighter. We still feel sad and negative, but we don’t feel the added layer of guilt from feeling that way.
The ‘cult of positivity’, a nice idea with quotes plastered all over Instagram and Facebook, creates shame and guilt for those who cannot be positive right now. I want to let you know that all emotions are valid and it’s normal to feel bad.
The 10 of Swords and Knight of Cups are calling us to accept our thoughts and emotions. Let them have their voice. Love yourself when you feel dark not just when you feel bright.
The Full Moon on the 12th of this month will help us be released from our feelings of guilt. It will aid in our emotional acceptance. It will be the perfect companion for the energy of the cards.
Mantra for the week: I listen and accept all my emotions. I let go of guilt and judgment.
