Six of Swords

Guiding words/ideas:

Healing from trauma; swords representing all the healing work that has occurred and all that still remains; water is capable of absorbing your pain; healing as a lifelong (or multiple life time) process; reassurance that you are indeed healing and all your hard work has been worth it; healing as sacred; encouragement to allow yourself to be illuminated by the healing process and share your light with others.

Channeled guidance:

The human in this card is backlit with the beautiful glow of a setting sun. They have traveled far. They have been through so much. And in this moment, with their paddle gently paused, they are drifting forward into an illuminated time in their life, a time in which the sun etches a halo around their whole being. For they are healing. In fact, they have healed so much already.

There are six swords depicted. Three swords are on the boat, delicately balanced but ready to fall down into the water at any moment. And three swords have already fallen off the boat and are drifting in the wake behind, gently detoxing all of the pain, all of the trauma, and all of the hardship that these swords represent. The water is willing to absorb all of this pain, for the earth is generous and willing to help us in our hardships.

The momentum is forward. This human has already gone so far that there is really no turning back. There is only the sweet movement into and towards a more healed self. And healing for humans is a lifelong pursuit, possibly even a multiple lifetime pursuit; for the spirit ages at a different pace than the human body, and sometimes it takes more than one lifetime to heal the pain and trauma that a person has experienced. So this card is full of loving and gentle reassurance that you are healing. All the work that you have done is worth it, and you are moving towards light, promise, and fulfillment.

The remaining swords on the boat that do still need to fall will do so in response to the forward momentum of the boat and to the work that you continue to do. And as each sword drops, the boat becomes lighter, the path becomes easier, and the less resistance you will feel. Healing is a sacred process and not to be rushed. As your healing continues, you will become illuminated; you will shine in such a way that your true light can radiate out and make the world brighter for other beings as well.

Plant and metal guidance:

Coreopsis (golden orange of sky, mountain and glow around human): We are here to smooth out any sharp edges and to aid in opening hearts.

Logwood (dark blue of water): Our color connects outwardly but its source lies deep within. We help you reach inside yourself to find strength and beauty.

Copper oxide (with Coreopsis creating dark orange of sun and wake of boat, with logwood creating light blue of water): I magnify the properties of whatever plants I touch or impact.

Acorn cap (brown and grey of boat, paddle and swords): Like a gentle pat on the head, we offer up slow-moving energy to open the senses and awaken the mind.