Strength and Integrity ~ Tarot for 27 Feb 2017

Another 6, 7, 8 progression occurs in today’s tarot reading. Communication and balance, intuition and the shadow side of self, and our practical nature comprise the numerological influences of the cards. I pulled a fourth card, an Ace, which corresponds with one or new beginnings. Two cards from the suit of Cups dominate the reading along with one card from the suit of Swords and one from the Major Arcana. The overall numerology is 22, or the Master Builder number that makes our dreams a reality.

A young boy offers the gift of flowers in a golden chalice to his young friend in the 6 of Cups. Beauty and joy are signified by the large flowers with white depicting the purity of new love or friendship. A brilliant yellow background appears behind the young friends suggesting youth and vitality. The cups themselves represent our emotional presence, intuition, and the Goddess. The 6 of Cups suggests balanced emotions and relationships and the happiness both bring.

The 7 of Swords depicts a man carrying off five swords. Two remain, upright and aligned with each other. He appears to be running away, perhaps a thief helping himself. But all we really know is that he appears to be in a hurry as he carries five swords over his shoulder. This is one of those tarot cards where looking at the surrounding cards seems to assist in its intepretation. Otherwise any assumptions made could be incorrect. Deception could be its interpretation or simply someone transferring something from one place to another.

Strength, the eighth card from the Major Arcana suggests the power of the Goddess within. The woman sits quietly with the lion who looks lovingly at his mistress, her wild and practical nature in balance. She possesses the courage necessary to embrace her primal nature and to stand in her own power. But as we can see from the loving relationship between the woman and the lion, each possess a gentle sort of strength filled with trust and a secure presence.

A hand emerges from billowy clouds holding a golden chalice, water overflowing to the lotus flower below. A white dove signifying peace perches just above. The Ace of Cups depicts the beginning of our emotional presence or identity and represents abundance, love, and joy.

If we interpret the 7 of Swords as thievery in progress, then it can be said to represent our shadow side of self. Reason has run amok and we’ve convinced ourselves that stealing is just fine. The compassion we learned as children seems to have been replaced with a self-centered focus. But then it seems some growth has taken place as we learn about grace and compassion from the Strength card.

Finally, the Ace of Cups reinforces that where we begin matters. If we choose a self-centered focus, our interactions may become selfish or oppressive in nature, while a choice to engage with others in harmony and joy results in love that is overflowing and abundant.

Life just works better when we come together in harmony. It’s sad that the so-called new guy doesn’t understand this basic life-affirming concept. Instead he wants to build walls to keep people out and become the biggest nuclear power on the planet.

So while he’s headed off the rails, we’ll keep focusing on a better outcome than he’s capable of creating. A better outcome takes compassion for others and a willingness to work together in perfect love and perfect trust. And while he might not be able to summon the integrity to do right by us, like the Ace of Cups, our own integrity is overflowing. And it will sustain us and give us strength in the days to come.

Blessings to all!