All Tied Up?

This week’s Tarot card is the Eight of Swords, and I chose it to go along with Frida’s state of bondage. If you observe the woman in this card, she is blindfolded, tied up, and surrounded by swords: a pretty dire situation. But your reader asks you to take a closer look: the woman is not tied to anything, such as a tree or a chair, and with a little wiggle, she can probably get out of those bindings; then, the blindfold can easily come off. And as for the swords, whose are they? By themselves, they can do no harm. So in reality, the woman is guarded by no one, and impeded by her own fear. She can get away, and perhaps even grab a sword for her own protection. Many of us find ourselves in situations from which we feel there is no escape, and yet, with a change in perspective, we may discover that we are not really stuck where we thought we were.

Feeling like you’re at a dead end in your job or relationship? Wiggle around a little, change your stance, and you may find that you are able to release whatever has been holding you back. If you get this card in a reading, know that it’s time to take off the blindfold and look in a new direction. Don’t wait for someone else to “rescue” you…Time to grow up and rescue yourself from whatever mess you have gotten into. Frida was stuck in her body, tormented by physical ailments, and she became a victim of the time in which she lived, unable to change her marriage or Mexican traditions. She poured her anguish into her art, and created works that are unique and expressive. One can only wonder what she would have been able to do as a healthy, free woman.

Believe me when I tell you that the bindings, the blindfold, even the swords are all representations of your own fears. Once you realize that, you can step away from them, and start to really live your life. Go on, take the first step.