Guiding words/ideas:
Healing from trauma; facing ones past; heaviness of burdens allowing for a grounded experience of the world; finding freedom and dignity through healing; finding lightness through acknowledging difficulty.
Channeled guidance:
The Ancestor of Swords is part air and part metal, and thus is the embodiment both of the element of this suit and the material that actual swords are made from. From the waist up, they appear to be dissipating into particles; they are relaxed, open, and connected with all that is. From the waist down, they are heavy, sharp, and rusted by their experiences. They have been through a lot.
This card is a beautiful card for survivors of any kind of trauma. This Ancestor can be an inspiration, for they have found lightness, openness, and expansiveness by allowing the heaviness of their life out into the open so they can explore and heal. They show us that the goal is not to be rid of one’s past but to allow those lessons, and even the hurt and turmoil guide us towards being our most expensive and liberated selves.
The Ancestor does not deny that things have been hard. They wear a skirt of swords. The sword artwork is created with ink made from rust: iron that has aged and been changed by water and air. These swords are heavy, and at times it might feel difficult to bear the burden of all that has come before. But this weight in the skirt actually grounds the ancestor and allows them to be still, centered, and present. Their acknowledgement of the past allows them to be present in each moment. To feel the sun and the wind. To allow each particle to shine and vibrate in its own unique way, insignificant yet still so very important and necessary.
This Ancestor will help you to heal by encouraging you to face the truth and by being an example of one who has found freedom and dignity through engaging in the difficult practice of healing from trauma.
Plant and metal guidance:
Acorn cap sediment (speckled grey/brown of background and body): Like a gentle pat on the head, we offer up slow-moving energy to open the senses and awaken the mind.
Goldenrod (light yellow in background): Our tiny, golden blossoms create needed halos around fields and open spaces. You can allow our energy to bring divine energy to your open spaces as well, to rest in your auras and to bring you light and hope.
Black walnut sediment (dark brown speckles in skirt of swords): The strength of our magic lies in our ability to clear space and provide opportunities for recharging and resetting.
Iron oxide/ rust (orange/brown in skirt of swords): I connect you to the core of the planet from whence you come. My energy is strong and solid.
Magical Nature Tarot 
