IX of Swords
Today's card is the IX of Swords. This is, shall we say, one of the unhappier cards in Tarot. We equate this card with worry, anxiety, fear, regret, and guilt - the things that can certainly keep you up at night
Happy Friday! Things are beginning to unwrinkle now that we are through that ass-clinch of a Mercury Retrograde. I feel lighter and the energies in the household have calmed down. Our son's medication seems like a good fit (praise jeebus), and we're returning to some modicum of peace in the house.
Today's card is the IX of Swords. This is, shall we say, one of the unhappier cards in Tarot. We equate this card with worry, anxiety, fear, regret, and guilt - the things that can certainly keep you up at night, which is just what we see in the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith visuals. It's certainly a downer of a card, but also has its place in our lives. (It's also certainly an interesting mindfuck when you think about our card yesterday, the III of Wands, in the perspective of what we can and can't control in conjunction with today's card of panic attacks. See how Tarot can tell a story?)
Our Nine of Swords playlist is available on Spotify.
Message of the Day: Today's card is a doozy, and not just from the heaviness of the card, but also how to internalize this card without just saying "get some help, bruh." I mean, yes, "get some help, bruh," but there are still things we can talk about and consider.
I was having a talk with a friend yesterday about tough times and how I'm here if they want to unload. I came to the realization that as we get thrown into the rigamarole of adulthood (especially parenthood), we often lose that close social circle that we had when we were young and oh-so-carefree. Sure, you got your spouse or regular friends you see and hang out with, but when was the last time you called a friend because you were really upset and just needed to talk or vent? When was the last time someone held you as you cried to them about the hardships in life? When was the last time someone held your hand just because they care and can see that you're going through some shit?
When we DON'T have that kind of relationship with someone, those feelings have nowhere to go but up, and up they go to your mind where you think about them at the most inopportune times, and they fester and stink and grow into this unescapable mess that you feel like you'll never be free of. Sure, they sink back down for a bit, but they'll come back with a vengeance that can be physically debilitating. Headaches, stomach ulcers, nausea, the shits, not to mention the impact on sleep and diet, which then impacts everything else. Vicious circle.
If you take the opportunity to sit with your shadows and try to understand them and where they come from and try to write them out in a private journal, you may begin to loosen their hold on you. I strongly suggest an actual written journal (compared to something digital); there is something much more cathartic when you take the time to actually write something out than just type away. I understand privacy can be a concern, so do what you can, where you can, even if means burning or destroying your words when you're done.
If your woes are as severe as the IX of Swords can sometimes illustrate, then you should strongly consider finding a therapist to speak with. While I don't want to be morose or overly dark about it, there is now a suicide/crisis hotline available by dialing 988 (in the US). If you happen to be a kiddo in the LGBTQIA+ community, there is The Trevor Project which is a great resource as well. The point is to find the help you need, because there IS someone out there who can help.
As we flip this card on its side, there is also the perspective of you as "the friend," reaching out to help someone who's struggling and being available to be that support. Sometimes you have to be ballsy and say "HEY. I'M HERE. TALK TO ME CUZ I CAN SEE YOU'RE STRUGGLING." They may say no because they don't want to intrude or be a burden. But when you care about someone, you tell them to fuck right off, that you're not going anywhere, and you're there whether they like it or not. #toughlove.
While we all have these moments in our lives, it is up to us to decide how the stress and hardship affect us. If you keep it in, you may suffer in silence for a long time until your body gives you the middle finger and forces you to deal with it. But if you can take the steps necessary to talk and confide in someone, things can only get better.
(As a note, I am not a therapist or doctor, and this is not intended to replace therapeutic or psychological treatment. Legally, this is for "entertainment" purposes only.)
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