Hello, Creatives!
Creation is the theme of this week’s Tarot for Creatives reading. With Summer nearing and the season of Beltane upon us, thoughts turn to abundance, passion, and growth. What are you hoping to create this season? Are you looking inward for growth, or have you a new project in the pot? Today’s spread asks: What energy should I tap into as I create? What obstacles may I face? How can I overcome them?
The 10 of Swords opens our spread this week. A card of endings, betrayal, and loss, quite frankly, it’s the opposite of inspiring when it comes to starting a new project. But sliding it back into the deck and reshuffling for a nicer card is the coward’s way out, so let’s pull on our grown-up pants and see what it has to say.
Considering the raw emotion behind this card, the immediate vibe is of pouring heart and soul into a new project; warts ‘n all. The 10 of Swords speaks of an almost primitive mindset, where there’s no filter. Instead, you open up entirely and allow every emotion—light and dark—to form the bones of your work. Could this offer healing? What might you purge if creating from such an emotional state?
Another aspect of this card is that of a sudden and disappointing end. Perhaps a project is not shaping up the way you wished, or you’ve been working with others and sense it’s falling apart. The 10 of Swords asks you to examine what’s not working right now, and to consider if the best course of action might be a termination. There may well be hurt, perhaps even a sense of betrayal, and with tens cards of completion, the chances are the project is already fairly advanced, but by accepting the raw emotion of this card and taking action upon it, a necessary shift will come.
“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.” – August Wilson
The Devil appears next, yet another prickly card. In indicates obstacles are ‘binds of your own making’; believing you’re trapped in place by something, often because the work to haul yourself out seems too daunting. Echoes of a failing project appear here again. With the influence of the 10 of Swords, perhaps you'll find yourself toiling on something that’s not serving your better good, but the thought of ending it seems impossible. What are you most fearful of right now? Perhaps you’re in a golden handcuffs situation, where you keep telling yourself the payoff will be worth the current binds. Either way, the devil asks you to face your fear and remove your self-inflicted chains. Watch out too for creating merely for the glory. Check in with your authenticity as you move through the process.
Temperance calls for patience. Find your Zen Zone!
Temperance brings a message of balance to help overcome the betrayal and binds. Patience, purpose and moderation are the themes of this card, which suggests being patient with yourself as you navigate the rocky creative process. While the 10 of Swords is a stormy, violent card, Temperance calls for moderation, a balance of emotion. It’s okay to feel the fire, but don’t let it burn out of control; use it to inspire—not destroy. Temperance encourages long-term planning, something which may have been missing in previous projects, and which in turn brings about the 10 of Swords and Devil energy, so as you progress, form a long-term plan. Comfort will be found in this, as it will help to shift the feeling of being trapped instigated by the Devil.
Overall, the forecast is for a stormy week, where a tough situation comes to a head, and we’re forced to take action to break its binds. Acknowledge the emotion, but avoid extremes as you push through.
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