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Leaving the seduction of excuses & getting turned on by progress
Excuses sneak in, we roll around in them, and stagnation reigns. “I don’t know where to begin. I’ll do it tomorrow. I’m too tired. People will judge me. I’m not good enough. I don’t feel like it.” We spend vast amounts of energy showering our excuses with love and devotion.
I know I am CAPABLE of outwitting my own excuses. I’ve soldiered through some major creative, productive accomplishments. I couldn’t have done those things if I let my willpower disintegrate in a sea of evasions. But I haven’t ever been able to get my excuses completely vanquished. They are always lurking, tugging at my consciousness with varying degrees of intensity.
I wish I could be one of those people who has no time for excuses. I wish I could be one of those bad asses who gets shit done, has unfettered confidence, and glows like the north star. Sometimes I feel CLOSE to being one of those bad asses. But even as I’m riding high on a wave of my own magic, I can still sense my excuses hanging out in the background, just waiting to tear me back down.
But I have had one revolutionary mindset shift that helps keep my excuses at bay:
I’ve decided that I WANT to break up with my excuses. I’ve decided I love progress more than I love excuses. I’ve decided that even if my excuses won’t instantly vanish, I won’t shower them with attention.
Anyone can become enslaved by their excuses. Anyone can spend their life frittering away time, living half-heartedly, never even attempting to move towards their creative heart’s desires. Anyone can end up on their deathbed with a logbook of regrets, a laundry list of experiences and achievements that were robbed by indulging in excuses.
I used to think that to avoid being one of those people, I had to find a way to banish my excuses once and for all. It’s taken me a long time to accept that I’m PROBABLY never going to unearth the secret key to permanently dissipating my excuses. You don’t have to terminate your excuses in order to avoid being one of those people. To avoid being one of those people:
Choose to love progress more than you love excuses.
(tweet this)
Decide to face your own bull-honky head on and move in the right direction even when your excuses roar. Choose to shower your love of yesness, creation, and magic with all that energy you COULD be devoting to excuses.
Some of my excuses are probably totally legit, and some of yours probably are, too. But, you know… the people who publish novels and break records and make bank and transform the world into a better place all have as many excuses as you and me. I’m not saying we should quietly accept unfair circumstances. But there comes a time when you either decide to progress regardless… or you don’t.
I am officially OVER my love affair with excuses. It isn’t a glamorous affair. It’s laborious, and it’s a downer. And so I’m breaking up with excuses. I know they won’t go away immediately, but when they show up, I will tell them that they are not welcome. I will no longer give them free room and board.
Instead of succumbing to the seduction of excuses, I will get turned on by progress.
(tweet this)
That’s how it all boils down. You can read every self-help book ever written, you can use affirmations and essential oils and crystals, but if you’re still giving your excuses free room and board they will still hang around. If you want to keep up an unhealthy, draining, pathetic relationship with your excuses, so be it. But that’s not the only option.
You CAN stop harboring your excuses and chase your wild, true love of progress instead. I promise, life is much better this way.
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Six of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: hope at last, travel
Carrie’s keywords: reeling, recovering
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Six of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
Six swords rest in a heap at the bottom of the card. The scene at first glance is dark and dreary, the swords are in the midst of what seems to be a heavy rain. There is some difficulty present, but a rainbow arches high above and a clear sky waits beyond.
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.
Six of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
As mentioned above, the Six of Swords is a sort of regathering after the turmoil of the five. So in The Spacious Tarot we show a sky that seems to be clearing after a storm. The swords huddle together as light breaks through the clouds.
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.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Five of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: self destruction
Carrie’s keywords: criticism, betrayal
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Five of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A worm has been divided, a grim black sword has pierced this creature right through the center. Two additional swords pierce through the top half of the worm, and two through the bottom half. It is am image of maliciousness and ill will.
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.
Five of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
The Spacious Tarot imagery features a vulture. This is inspired by the Waite-Smith tradition in which this card shows a human figure holding three swords. Two more swords are sprawled on the ground behind him, while two other humans are visible in the distance. There is a sense that the person holding the swords has “won” some type of confrontation, but at what cost?
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.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Backsliding in spiritual growth (Dear Tarot Tuesday video)
Buckle your seat belt because it’s DEAR TAROT TUESDAY! This is a sporadic series on my blog where I give advice to viewers like you using tarot. Here’s our question for today:
Dear Tarot,
I have been going through a major amount of personal growth in the past couple of years. Lately I have been getting frustrated because I know I’m maturing as a person but no matter how many life lessons I think I’ve learned, I sometimes find myself backsliding or even sabotaging myself. I am a blogger, I write about spiritual growth, and I see other bloggers who act like they have everything figured out. Then I wonder what is wrong with me? I could use some perspective from tarot on how I can deal with this.
-Anonymous
Check out the video to see the insight the cards and I offered. If you are interested in potentially receiving some tarot guidance in a future video, please reach out to me via email: carrie (at) happyfishtarot.com.
Peace, love and happy fish!
Book a private reading with me here.
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Four of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: stillness, mental power
Carrie’s keywords: reprieve, contemplation
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Four of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
When we look at tarot as a holistic system, the Four of Swords is an appropriate way to follow the previous card. While the Three of Swords showed tightly wound struggles, the Four of Swords shows the the process of integrating things from a more spacious place.
A lamb rests at the bottom of the card, a serene expression on her face. She looks out at us with a peaceful expression. In the center of her forehead (or her third eye) is a luminous orange and yellow sphere. These are colors of concentration and vigor. Her thoughts are centered and powerful.
Four swords are posed over the lamb. They are all different lengths and designs, but their spacing is even. This gives the card a sense of equilibrium. The sky above is clear, suggesting space for a mental repreive. Instead of the tightly wound mental energy at work in the two and three of swords, the four has a sense of spaciousness.
The number four is often associated with stability (as in The Emperor, number four in the major arcana). When you combine that quality with the suit of swords, you find the mental stability we see in this card. The Four of Swords reminds you that it is necessary to take a reprieve from action and make space for contemplation.
Four of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
Traditional depictions of this card show a human figure laying down, often in a church setting. For The Spacious Tarot we have a peaceful nature landscape, with swords resting against a bench. There is a sense of mindfulness in this card, of harnessing your mental energy in more effective ways. Instead of letting your mental energy run unchecked, it is useful to become aware of your thoughts.
This card can also speak to the importance of planning. Instead of rushing into action, it may be necessary to put some deep consideration into what you desire to do next. Let yourself think through all of your options, let yourself explore different perspectives. Do what it takes to feel prepared and ready before taking your next move.
In a reading…
This card can suggest consciously choosing to stabilize your thoughts. It can be useful to do whatever makes you feel the most centered and alert, such as journaling or meditation. Plan, prepare, and quietly stabilize yourself. Treat your mental energy as a precious resource, and do what you need to do to bring it back to full capacity.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Three of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: heartbreak, betrayal
Carrie’s keywords: mental pain, isolation
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Three of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
Two swords are crossed in an X over the center sword, and the three blades are entangled in blood red bindings. This aptly describes the tightly wound sensation of troubling times. The red drapes down from the blades’ edge like actual blood.
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.
Three of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
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.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Beatles & the Major Arcana
I was plodding away on an unrelated project when this idea struck me out of nowhere: I should try to find a song by the Beatles to correlate to each of the Major Arcana! It sounded like too much fun to resist, therefore I immediately abandoned what I was supposed to be doing and began furiously scribbling this list.
There’s something magical about the Beatles and Tarot on their own, and combining them was great fun. Some cards brought to mind a song immediately – others required some thought. A few are a bit of a stretch – but a few fit perfectly.
The Fool :: The Fool on the Hill
“Day after day alone on the hill, the man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still. But nobody wants to know him, they can see that he’s just a fool.”
Reading those first few lines of the song, I can vividly see the Waite-Smith depiction of the Fool. There’s a certain melancholy to this song – being a fool can be lonely.
The Magician :: Magical Mystery Tour
“The magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away.”
There’s a ‘step right up,’ feeling to this song. It’s an invitation to enter a realm that is at once familiar, magical, and utterly inventive – the world of the Magician.
The High Priestess :: Let It Be
“Let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”
Because sometimes the best approach is to simply sit still, receive, and let it be.
The Empress :: Strawberry Fields
“Let me take you down, cause I’m going to strawberry fields… strawberry fields forever.”
This song is lush, sensual, nourishing. It would make a lovely soundtrack to the Empress’ realm.
The Emperor :: Taxman
“I’m the taxman, yeah, and you’re working for nobody but me.”
The Emperor is the Man, keepin’ up structures and systems and making sure you pay your taxes.
The Hierophant :: Eleanor Rigby
“Father Mckenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave…”
I had a nagging feeling there was a song better suited to this card, yet I had a very difficult time thinking of one. What do you think?
The Lovers :: All You Need Is Love
“Love is all you need.”
There are a lot of Beatles songs about love, so I went with the most obvious.
The Chariot :: Baby, You Can Drive My Car
“Beep beep, beep beep, yeah!”
I mean, do I really need to explain this one?
Strength :: Carry That Weight
“You’re gonna carry that weight a long time.”
This was another difficult card to match to a song, but this will do.
The Hermit :: Nowhere Man
“He’s a real nowhere man, sitting in his nowhere land.”
The Hermit might be alone, but I don’t necessarily think he is lonely. He belongs in his nowhere land.
The Wheel of Fortune :: Here, There and Everywhere
“Changing my life with a wave of her hand…”
Yet another difficult pairing. This is rather bland as far as Beatles songs go, but this particular lyric seems appropriate.
Justice :: Help
“Help me if you can, I’m feeling down. Help me get my feet back on the ground.”
Help someone in need of help and when the scales tip, you’ll get the help you deserve, as well.
The Hanged Man :: Hey Jude
“Take a sad song and make it better.”
This song seems to suggest a new perspective, something the Hanged Man easily adapts.
Death :: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
“Bang, bang, Maxwell’s silver hammer came down on her head. Bang, bang, Maxwell’s silver hammer made sure that she was dead.”
I do not enjoy this song, but it does talk about death, so there you go.
Temperance :: Hello, Goodbye
“I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello.”
The feeling of mixing hellos and goodbyes brought to mind the blending we associate with Temperance.
The Devil :: Piggies
“You will find the bigger piggies stirring up the dirt.”
Greedy, dirty, materialistic little piggies.
The Tower :: Revolution
“When you talk about destruction, don’t you know that you can count me out.”
But sometimes you have to tear down existing structures to make room for something new.
The Star :: And I Love Her
“Bright are the stars that shine, dark is the sky.”
This was another pairing that came about simply because of lyrical alignment.
The Moon :: Dig A Pony
“I pick a moon dog. You can radiate everything you are.”
Let’s be honest: this song is fucking weird (as are many Beatles songs). I also thought about choosing I’m Only Sleeping. Or Because. Or Across the Universe. They would all fit in the Moon’s trippy realm.
The Sun :: Here Comes the Sun
“Sun, sun, sun here it comes.”
…this one is pretty obvious, right?
Judgement :: Blackbird
“Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these sunken eyes and learn to see…take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arrive.”
This is one of my favorite Beatles songs. It is simultaneously sweet and powerful. There’s a feeling of gentle rebirth here.
The World :: Come Together
“Come together, right now, over me.”
Everything comes together in the World, yes?
These are, of course, only my ideas. Do you have any additions or changes? Share your thoughts with me!
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Two of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: blocked vision, stalemate
Carrie’s keywords: avoidance, indecision
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Two of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
Two dark swords form an X. At the peak of the blades, the sun has been eclipsed by the moon. Clear light is trying to make its way out from its source, but the light is obscured. There’s a sense of straining in this card. The swords seem to be trying in their own way to impose logic, but instead they are only butting up against each other. Gone is the burst of clarity we saw in the ace!
This can be a card of contradictions. You want to understand things, but you don’t necessarily want to understand things as they actually are. You may be straining to impose your mentally constructed version of reality onto the world instead of easing up and seeing things as they really are.
Psychologists describe a phenomenon known as confirmation bias. This is the tendency human beings have to prioritize information that confirms their existing thoughts and beliefs. When you see the Two of Swords, it may ask you to become aware of where you might only be looking for information that confirms your current thinking.
The Two of Swords also shows that sometimes the harder you think about things, the more convoluted they get. This is represented by the moon obscuring the sun. You may say you WANT to see the full clear light of the sun, but is this really the case? Or, in fact, is it your own thinking that has created this block to clarity?
Two of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
Crossed swords is a theme in many versions of this card, including my deck The Spacious Tarot. In the Waite-Smith tarot, this card shows a blindfolded person sitting in front of a body of water. She holds two swords up against her chest – the swords are also crossed. The blindfold suggests a sort of willful avoidance of the situation at hand. The positioning of the swords seems to be blocking out any potential to shift this energy of avoidance.
The water in the background of this version is also worth mentioning, as water is symbolically associated with intuitive knowing. The fact that the water is there, yet the person remains on the land, suggests relying solely on the head without any input from the heart. This is not to say that your brain is not a powerful tool – but when you try to rely only on your mental prowess, you may find yourself at a stalemate in life.
The Two of Swords often comes up when you are having a difficult time making a decision. That difficulty may be linked to confirmation bias, or relying too heavily on your head without enough input from your heart.
In a reading…
This card might ask you to consider what you are denying, repressing or avoiding. Are you straining to see things as they really are, or are you straining to see things as you WANT them to be? This card often appears when we feel like we are at a standstill.
Avoidance doesn’t make things go away. This card can ask you to ease up on all the mental energy you are spending on avoidance. Make a decision, get out of your head. Trust that the truth will set you free or it will imprison you, you get to decide which perspective to adopt.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Ace of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
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.
Creator’s keywords: truth, mental clarity
Carrie’s keywords: mental energy, clear thinking
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Ace of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
The Ace of Swords ushers into the suit of thought and intellect associated with the air element. As the suit unfolds, we will see the manifestations of this energy that come in the numbered cards. But as with all aces, the Ace of Swords is like a seed, containing the essence of its suit.
This shows the full spectrum possibilities of the mental realm. As the suit unfolds, we will look at these possibilities in detail. The Ace of Swords contains the potential for cleverness, cunning, deceit, understanding, comprehension and more.
The white sword is positioned directly in the center and almost seems to pop out of the card, offering itself to us. The pure white sword is intense and glaring. There is nothing to hide, we are looking upon this sword and seeing it fully, despite the darkness in the background.
White lightning bolts descend from the sky, furthering the electric, charged state of this card. It brings to mind the term ‘bolt of clarity.’ The Ace of Swords is often associated with clarity: those moments when things suddenly seem graspable. However, like lighting, those moments of clarity can be quick and fleeting.
A colorful band of what might be snakeskin is wrapped around the center of the sword in a figure eight. This is a sideways lemniscate, or infinity symbol. It is hued with all the colors of the rainbow, showing that a complex, holistic energy resides here.
Ace of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
The Spacious Tarot imagery feautures clean lines and a sword piercing the clouds (pictured above with the Air card from the Spacious Expansion Pack). In the Waite-Smith tarot version of this card, a hand extends from the sky, grasping a sword. The sky is clear and cloudless, alluding to the mental clarity offered by the Ace of Swords. When you feel besieged by misunderstandings or doubts, the Ace of Swords offers you new perspectives.
It is sometimes said that all aces can be thought of as gifts. The Ace of Swords offers you the gift of intelligence, rationality and clear, firm thinking. The truth, as they say, will set you free, and the Ace of Swords can be just the straightforward burst of truth that you need.
In a reading…
The Ace of Swords can speak of new ideas, fresh perspectives, and the potentials of the mental realm. This card can show times of clarity bursts which seem to be graspable, but are often fleeting. It can also be a card of undisguised honesty. Hidden motivations and beliefs are ready to be excavated, for worse or for better!
This card can also suggest that the best approach in a given situation is to ‘grasp onto’ the qualities in the swords suit. Use your mental facilities to determine how to proceed. Be upfront with yourself and others. Activate your own cleverness to approach the situation at hand.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
20 things I’m glad I did in my 20s (and 30 I want to do in my 30s)
Tomorrow, June 24 2015, I turn thirty. Of course, transitioning from one age decade into another does not have to be a pivotal occurrence. But for me, this shift is lining up with several other shifts and I truly do feel on the verge of a new chapter.
My twenties have been pretty incredible. I wanted to give them their due diligence, and so I am going to share with you twenty things I’m glad I did in my twenties.
And of course, in the midst of appreciating my past, I’m also facing forward (Three of Wands) style. And so after I’ve shown gratitude for my twenties, I’ll muse on things I’d like to experience in my thirties (both lists are in no particular order). Happy birthday to me and here we go!
Discovered tarot
Through the powers of synchronicity, I was led to discover tarot and it felt like magic. Tarot has been an integral part of my own self-discovery. Tarot has helped me understand my own inner-workings and given me a deeper appreciation of the complexity of life and human nature. And, of course, tarot led to this very post that you are now reading!
Quit my job and started my own business
This was one of the most terrifying and liberating decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve learned so much and the learning gets deeper every day. This was the right decision for me, and I’m glad I mustered up the grit and love to make it happen.
Lived alone
I like spending time with myself. I like decorating the way I want to decorate. I like knowing that when the trash stinks, it really is my turn to take it out. Even though Ben is a pretty good husband/roommate to have now, I’m grateful for the years I lived alone.
Adopted cats
All through college, my main plan after graduation was to adopt cats (why plan a career when you can plan CATS?). And so that’s what I did. If you know me at all, you know Nanners and Lulu are the loves of my life.
Went on my first ever international trip
My first visit outside of the good ol’ US of A was to Scotland. Whisky, castles, and close encounters with the Loch Ness monster – not to mention that Scottish accent.
Spent my honeymoon in Italy
Gondola rides in Venice. Gawking at Michelangelo’s David in Florence. A tour of the Colosseum in Rome. And gelato, so much gelato (coconut for me)! My honeymoon was an incredible experience.
Visited Australia
Cruising the Great Ocean Road, watching an opera at the Sydney Opera House, witnessing kangaroos get into a boxing match, and visiting one of my best friends in Adelaide – yeah, this was a pretty neat trip.
Got a bachelor’s degree
It may just be a piece of paper, but it’s a piece of paper I’m glad I earned. I double majored in Human Development & Consumer/Community Studies, in case you were wondering.
My wedding day
Despite this being a cliched thing to say, my wedding day was one of the best days of my entire life. Good food, drinks, dancing, friends, family and love – magical.
Ran a 26.2 mile marathon in Big Sur, California
Sure, the training basically took over my life. And sure, I cried a lot. And sure, I’ll probably never run another full marathon (I find half marathons less terrible for my taste). But this was fucking beautiful and I am incredibly proud that I ran a MARATHON.
Met, dated and married Ben
From our first date watching “Up” to our most recent date watching “Inside Out,” my heart is happy to have a partner and best friend by my side.
Wrote a novel
I participated in NaNoWriMo several times during my 20s. Although my novels are very much still in rough draft form, it’s pretty bad ass to know that I WROTE A NOVEL.
Got a tattoo
A little one, on my ankle, that says “no lies, just love.” Words to live by.
Learned how to cook
Thanks to Isa Chandra Moskowitz, I got bit by the cooking bug, big time. Tofu scrambles, stews, curries…give me a knife and some vegetables and I’m a happy camper.
Met Hanson
Hanson has been my favorite band since I was 12, and thanks to a good friend who won meet and greet tickets, I finally got to meet them a couple of years ago. (Listen to my favorite song from their latest album.)
Had many trips and adventures with my friends
From bachelorette parties in Vegas, to beer festivals in Portland, to sitting around eating ice cream on living room floors; I’m grateful for the adventures I’ve had with my friends.
Donated a chunk of money
I mean, I’m not the next Bill Gates or anything, but I’ve tried to prioritize giving money to causes I care about when I have money to give. No More Homeless Pets in Utah is one of my favorite.
Worked through the Artist’s Way
I talk about this book all the time because it completely cracked me open and changed my life. It also started the trajectory that led me to discover tarot and become a tarot professional.
Learned to live with an open-heart
I used to build walls and present myself with a carefully constructed persona. During my 20s, I’ve learned the power of vulnerability and authenticity. Living with an open-heart is a daily unfolding, and it is beautiful.
Got over the fear of what other people think
Even though I’ve always WANTED to be a confident bad ass, I used to devote WAY too much energy to what people think. I now trust myself first and foremost. If something is really important and a genuine reflection of who I am, I will do it regardless of what tongue-wagging may result.
Finish my novel
I intend to get my baby from rough draft format to readable format.
Write a tarot book
Because writing + tarot = my life.
Visit my great grandparent’s town in Ireland
As I get older, I’m more interested in my ancestry. My great grandparents came to the US from Ireland, and it would be amazing to see their original home.
Go to New York City and eat a (vegetarian) hotdog in Central Park
My dad grew up in NYC, yet I’ve never been there. Gotta get on that sometime this decade. As for the hot dog, I feel like that’s just what you do in NYC and I’m a vegetarian, so there you have it.
Drink a cocktail in Hawaii
Also hike and see volcanos and stuff!
Buy a house
I am a Cancer, I am a homebody, and I am itching to find and settle into my dream home.
Adopt a dog
Probably a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd (I don’t know how Nanners and Lulu will feel about this, though…)
Grow a garden
Kale! Cilantro! Basil! Tomatoes! I want to grow all the things!
Brew my own kombucha
Because it is delicious and makes my tummy happy.
Learn Astrology
Even long before I was sucked head-first into the realm of tarot, I was interested in Astrology. But I still haven’t really gone into the Astrology rabbit hole. Soon.
Foray into public speaking (probably about tarot)
This makes me nervous and excited at the same time. I am a much stronger writer than speaker, yet I have visions of speaking to people about the intersection of tarot, personal growth, and creativity.
Eat at Modern Love Omaha
This is a restaurant owned by my favorite cookbook author, Isa Chandra Moskowitz. She’s basically my culinary hero and I reaalllly want to go to Omaha just to taste this magical food.
Fine-tune my hummus recipe
Okay, this is kind of silly. Hummus is one of the only things I make without using someone else’s recipe, and mine needs a few tweaks to be utterly perfect.
Run a destination half-marathon
I want to go somewhere beautiful and run 13.1 miles because why not?
Go where the wind takes me
Have goals, but be flexible.
Continue to make decisions based on my core desired feelings
I want to feel magical, spacious, connected and solid. That’s how I’ll decide what to do in each moment. I wrote a post about using tarot along with core desired feelings and you can find that here.
Get another tattoo
It’s already being planned.
Dye my hair an unnatural color
I’m thinking purple. Or turquoise. Or fire-engine red.
Nurture old connections, welcome new connections
“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.”
Give more to causes I care about
I want to integrate giving into my business model.
Go on a trip with my niece and sister
I have a seven year old niece and she is a creative, adventurous spirit. I want to go hiking or camping or something otherwise exciting with her and my sister.
Continue to prioritize my relationship with myself
Because the more I connect with me, the more capable I am of showing up fully in all aspects of my life.
Serve as a mentor to others
I have already been taking the initial steps, and soon I will be offering my services as a mentor. I want to help others explore their own answers as they navigate their own creative, spiritual and business paths.
Finish blogging through the Wild Unknown tarot
This has been an enriching experience, and it will be so rewarding when I’ve officially posted each and every card.
Grow my ‘Tarot and the Human Experience’ series
This series has challenged me to dive deeply into my thoughts about tarot and how it pertains to my experiences as a human. I have more installments planned and it’s going to be good stuff.
Be even more ME
Keep letting go of what’s not me. Keep making room for more love and light to shine through.
Write more poetry
I used to write poetry in my teens and early twenties, and my heart yearns to pick this practice up again during the next chapter of my life.
Stand knee deep in the flow of life
Allow myself to feel. Be open to the flow. The goods, the bads, the thrills, the bumps, the currents.
Make my own small contribution to saving the world
Through tarot. Through stories. And likely through other avenues that are making their way to me as we speak.
Show up fully and be unabashedly ALIVE
Throughout it all: be present. Be awake. Be well and truly alive.
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Carrie Mallon
Header art from The Spacious Tarot illustrated by Annie Ruygt
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2014-2019
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