I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.

This is the card that I associate with the concept of mental fog. This card shows those times where there seems to be no solution in sight, no matter how hard you try to think of one. The harder you think, the more trapped you believe you are. It’s that sensation of stuckness that can manifest in many challenging ways, and the Eight of Swords can indicate that your thoughts are contributing to your stuckness.

This card shows those times when you feel stuck, and worse yet, you doubt your own ability to disentangle yourself. It can become tempting to give up your personal power and wait for another person or an outside circumstance to offer assistance. But as swords are associated with the mental realm, the first thing you may need to check is your thoughts. Your own limiting beliefs might be the very foundation of your conundrum.

The imagery in the Wild Unknown is somewhat similar to the way this card is depicted in the iconic Waite-Smith tarot. The Waite-Smith version shows a human figure bound up, blindfolded, and surrounded by a fortress of swords. The blindfold hints that there may very well be a way out of this predicament, but that knowledge has not yet penetrated the conscious mind.

In The Spacious Tarot, shown above, has seven swords that are bound but one that is not. A reminder that sometimes all we need is one different thought to get unstuck.

This card tends to show up when you are experiencing stuckness in some area of your life. This could come in the form of blocked creative energy, an unfulfilling work situation, or unconstructive repetitive thoughts. We all have inner narratives about ourselves and our lives. When you see the Eight of Swords, it may be necessary to re-evaluate your narratives.

When I’m reading for clients and this card comes up, I often suggest starting with one simple mental shift. Instead of dwelling on thoughts like “I’m so stuck!” Shift that mental energy to thoughts like “I can figure this out.” Just that small shift can make you more receptive to possibilities.

In a reading

This card can ask you to look at the stories you are telling yourself about your options. If you seem to be stuck or entrenched in mental fog, this card can remind you to take steps towards reclaiming your personal power.

Of course, this is easier said than done! You can begin by changing your thoughts, updating your stories. Instead of focusing on your confusion and lack of clarity, train yourself to look for steps – even small steps – towards freedom. When you consciously choose to loosen your mental constraints, a path forward will begin to emerge.

Book a private reading with me here.

I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.

When we look at this card as the successor to the Five of Swords, a coherent story emerges. The five showed a picture of hostility and battle, and the six shows the aftermath. The healing process has begun, but there is still work to be done on the road to recovery.

There are times when you are surviving more than you are actually thriving, and the Six of Swords is a representation of those times. Stressful events can leave you reeling even once the actual event has passed. It is natural to require some space to to sort yourself out in such instances.

Notice that the swords here are giving themselves that ability to recover. Instead of forcing yourself to just “get over” things, sometimes you need to let yourself lie there in a metaphoric heap for a while! It is inevitable that eventually you will move from where you find yourself now and head towards your own personal rainbow. This card asks you to be patient with yourself as you navigate this tender process.

Decks that draw from the Waite-Smith tarot tradition often depict this card by showing human figures huddled in a boat. One person rows the boat, while two others are huddled over and bundled up in cloaks. The boat carries them forward, but also offers them the opportunity to rest and recover. Soon they will reach new shores, but for now they are still slightly reeling.

This card is usually less associated with major traumas and more associated with the micro-struggles that impact us on a daily basis. It typically shows up during times when you are lacking the mental, physical and spiritual energy to engage deeply with life. Sometimes the best thing you can do during such occasions is to trust that you are moving towards a more holistic awareness.

There is no need to rush yourself, but there is also no need to dwell on the difficulties. Look for ways to expand your perspective of your experiences. You will not always be in this in-between place, you are already moving closer to the awaiting new land.

In a reading

This card can suggest that the climax of a struggle is over, but now we are sheltering ourselves from the storm, hoping that the rains will eventually lead us to salvation.

This card can serve as an affirmation of how far you’ve come. You may still have a way to go, but you are on your way out of the thick. Things might still seem in flux and you may not be able to see your final destination yet, but you can choose to keep traveling in the right direction.

Book a private reading with me here.

I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.

The suit of swords deals with communication, logic and thoughts. In all suits, the fives show challenges or discomforts posited by the suits. In the Five of Swords, we see the way people sometimes cut down others – and themselves – through fighting, hostility and spite.

This card can hint at environments that are wrought with power struggles and questionable ethics. We are all human, and we all succumb to the influences of pettiness, harshness and aggressive behavior from time to time. Being aware of these patterns is necessary, as it is the only way to transcend them.

The Wild Unknown gives the keyword “self destruction” for this card. Although we do sometimes face ugly behavior from outside sources, it is true that many of us dish it out to ourselves. This card can ask you to examine your self-talk and your choices. Pay attention to the influence of your inner critic. If you aren’t treating yourself with respect and honor, that is the place to start.

Humans like to be right, and if you don’t check yourself you might value being “right” over all else. The desire to “win” can cause us to betray our values and principles if we let it. When someone’s main motive is to gain power or to show dominance over someone else, it is a red flag.

The Five of Swords also speaks to one of the harmful effects of the ego, manifesting in the form of sabotage. Sometimes that sabotage is external, projected out onto others. Other times, we sabotage ourselves.

In a reading…

This card can ask you to balance your own needs with the needs of others. Is there a way that everyone can win in this situation? Do not react and lash out in an auto-pilot manner. Instead of becoming your own worst enemy, become aware of destructive tendencies and change your approach.

Book a private reading with me here.

I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.

This card in most decks is one that brings up a visceral reaction. It speaks of raw wounds. The Wild Unknown offers the keywords betrayal and heartbreak, and this card is often, undeniably, associated with pain. But as the suit of the mental realm, this card can also speak to the ways we create and deepen pain with our thoughts and words.

When you experience mental pain, you may feel isolated, disconnected from the universe. It is essential to remember that even during difficult times, you are always connected to all that is. You are never really alone, no matter what your thoughts might try to tell you.

In this image, the swords are gathered on a dark background. But notice that there is light beyond the darkness. When I see the Three of Swords, I often think of a quote from Khalil Gibran: “the deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”

Although swords are associated with the mental realm, this card always reminds me of the mind-body connection. When we have painful thoughts, we can feel that pain in our body. This is why we use terms like “heartbreak.” This can be a heavier card, but it is an important card. Pain is not necessarily bad – it only wants to be understood. This willingness to interact with your pain is the first step towards letting in the light.

Of all the imagery in the Wild Unknown, the Three of Swords is the most reminiscent of the Waite-Smith tarot depiction. The Waite-Smith version shows a plump red heart being peirced with three swords. That particular imagery also draws upon something mentioned above: the connection between mind and body.

The imagery in the Waite-Smith version also shows a storm and rain in the background. Unlike the clear mental state shown in the Ace of Swords, the Three of Swords shows what happens when mental energy becomes brooding.

In The Spacious Tarot (above) we took some cues from the Waite-Smith imagery as well. An icey landscape is pierced by swords as a storm brews in the background, but light breaks through on the horizon.

In a reading…

This card can represent the worries, struggles, misunderstandings and negative thought patterns that are a natural part of the human experience. If you are experiencing painful thoughts, this card can ask you to consider how your thoughts themselves might be heightening your struggle.

This card also serves as a reminder that we learn from difficult experiences. We can use our reasoning and story-telling skills to make sense of our experiences and lay the groundwork to move beyond the rawness.

Book a private reading with me here.