Hello!? Are you listening? *sigh*…nevermind, just keep going and let me know how that works out for you. -Matt’ s Guides

We all have those times when we walk into a situation with an overwhelming feeling that we just shouldn’t be there. Usually it get’s dismissed as anxiety, nerves or just a case of butterflies. Sometimes it is, many times it is not. I think it is safe to say that almost all of us have had times where we amazed ourselves that we seemed to know something in a precognitive or even psychic way. Maybe it was knowing who was calling before you even picked up the phone or getting a “gut feeling” about a situation and then having it confirmed undeniably.

Our human intuition is stronger than most of us give it credit for. Some say it is guides, some angels, still others say it is just a higher awareness of ourselves. However you choose to see it, it is there and it can help you in so many ways. Well, if you choose to let it.

Too often, we make the concious choice not to listen to these little nudges and suggestions. After dismissing them, we then find ourselves facing the exact concerns that we were being warned about. So what can we do about this? How can we avoid putting ourselves in these frustrating situations? Well…listen.

In the Tarot, the Six of Swords embodies this mindset. In the Spiral Tarot, a figure is guided by an angel from rough, choppy waters to a smooth and gentle bay. There are no paddles, motors or sails in this boat. The figure must sit back and let the guidance of the angel steer him towards safe harbor. When we begin to get those messages of guidance and instruction we need to stop and just simply listen. There is amazing wisdom in those little messages and if we open ourselves up to them we can navigate some of the most troubling waters in our lives.

We get the help we ask for everyday. All we need to do is listen to it.

 Yesterday, the death of a local political figure was announced. Over the past twenty four hours, there has been a lot of speculation as to what happened and why. In the latest news brief it was stated that the cause of death was a self inflicted gun shot wound. I am sure that there will be much continued speculation as to why he chose this path, but it is sufficient to say that he no longer saw any other alternative to his current situation. We hear about suicides regularly. From celebrities to young children and everyone in between; there is no group of people that is untouched by this tragedy. So what does this have to do with Tarot, you ask? Well, it just got me thinking, what responsibility do we have as readers and light workers to those that may come to us when they are seeking knowledge of any other alternative to suicide? We all have our disclaimers and statements that our messages are not to be substituted for proper medical advice. But what do we do when the person sitting in front of us drops a bomb like that on us? I asked the Deviant Moon Tarot to see what advice it could give.

     10 of Swords- When a person gets to the point of planning suicide, they honestly and completely feel that there is no other viable way out of their situation. They are boxed in, skewered and afraid that life in this manner will be more painful and tormenting than death could ever be. This is not a passing feeling and there is no easy way out for them. We must understand this as readers so that we can grasp the sheer gravity of the situation. This is quite literally, life and death.

     King of Swords- This King is not a man of sugar coated words. He is not going to beat around the bush and tell you that things will get better if you just light a candle or say a few prayers. He will instead give you the truth you need to hear. That there is help for you and you need it. We need to be straight and honest with our clients in every reading, this is true. But, in this type of scenario, we cannot afford to dance around the subject. We must let our clients know that professional help is available and that we can help them get it. I’m not saying that we need to drive them to the hospital ourselves and check them in. But, I do feel that as humans, light workers and as people that are in the profession of giving advice, we need to be willing to contact family and/or appropriate authorities should the situation be that dire.

      Four of Coins- Is there any advice we can offer? Yes, that whatever the situation may be, it is the blind fear that is leading them down this path. A fear that the repercussions of their actions or the continued torment of their situation will never cease. If it is a fear of repercussion, they already know they did something wrong. They don’t need us to tell them that. If it is a continued torment, a pat on the back isn’t going to soothe their fear. What they need is for us to light another path. To plant the seed that there is light on the other side and that they are not alone. To light up alternative outcomes that they have not seen.

      I do not see our role as one of savior or healer in this case. We can offer all the healing we have, but so much more is needed. Should we find ourselves in such a situation, I see our role as one of getting them connected to the professional help they need and letting them know that there is always another option. I can thankfully say that I have not been in this position yet and Spirit willing, I hope I never am. However, should the situation arise, I trust that Spirit will guide me with the truth and honesty that is needed to help the soul that has come to me in such gravity.

I welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on this topic.  If you have ever been placed in this situation, please share with us your story.

I have been exchanging messages lately with someone that I graduated from high school with. As “K” and I have been interacting, I began to feel a shift in my perspective. This is not the person I went to school with, is it? Did she change, or did I? I was not a very extroverted person in high school and never really sought out a lot of friends. I knew K (we graduated from a class of about 35 ppl, how could I not know her…lol), but I never really got to know her as more than the persona I placed on her as a fellow class mate. It got me thinking about the rest of my class mates. Were they more than the personas I placed on them? Was I more than the persona they placed on me? I know that we all grow up and that we are not all that we are to become when we are in school. But how do we gauge this growth when the growth we see within ourselves is so slow? How do we step back and see who we were, who we are now and even who we have the ability to become? I decided to see what the Tarot had to say about this topic.

Who was I then? I was the Queen of Swords…

I’ve never been a big fan of this card. She is aloof, cold and can be pretty bitter. Oh, wait…so was I. Damn. Most of adolescent and early adulthood was about keeping up the shield and not letting in those that might case me pain. I had my soft and tender times; I am an emotional person and sought out things that made me feel all warm and fuzzy too. But I seemed to have a very low tolerance for people and situations that I did not feel were in line with my perception of truth and reality. If you made it past my guard, I would defend you to the end. If not, I wanted nothing to do with you. I still don’t really like this card and I’m not a big fan of who I was then either.

Who am I now? I am Death…

I am the Reaper? The Rock and Roller in me loves this, but is it a good thing to be the harvester of souls? I think so… First off, this card is ruled by Scorpio my sun and rising sign. This tells me that I am coming into who I am supposed to be. The Death card is a harbinger of change and transformation. If the last few years have taught me nothing else, they have at least taught me that I can go through massive personal, emotional and mental change without going postal or losing my mind. My past contains skeletons that I am not proud of but I have been pulled out of that Sea of Death and allowed a chance at transformation. Now it is my turn to be that agent of change and use my gifts to show other’s they have the same opportunities for rebirth. I am the Reaper, no need to fear me.

Who do I have the potential to become? The Emperor…

Hello again, Sir. I have been seeing the Emperor in almost every spread that I have done for myslef lately. He is the guardian, the defender and the warrior monarch of the Tarot. In this, I see that I have the potential to become the leader and protector that I day-dreamed about when I was a kid. This is a role I have asked for spiritually and yet I have no idea how I am supposed to get there. What this card tells me is that I need to fight for what I see around me. I cannot be a passive leader that hopes for the best and gets frustrated when things don’t turn out the way I wanted. I need to take charge, I need to speak for those who cannot speak, fight for those who cannot fight. The role of the Emperor is not given to you on a whim, it is earned. Earned through communication, empathy, understanding, courage, wisdom, knowledge and bravery. These are the qualities that I need to focus on to fill these shoes.

When I look back at my life in this abbreviated aspect, the change is easy to see. I have grown and matured since school (Thank Spirit!!) and I still have much room left to grow. I know that K has grown as well and I look forward to learning more about who she is as a person and not just as a persona. This is part of our challenge in life, to constantly peel back the layers of who we think we see and discover who we all truly are. It begins with ourselves, but it must continue into everyone we encounter.

I am thankful for who I was, but I am excited to become who I will be.

It’s a battle for my attention and it is going to be a big one.  Two strong forces locked in combat and eager to win.  Each has their strengths, each has their vulnerabilities.  Who will emerge victorious?

This Knight of Swords is all about the action.  Have an idea?  Do it.  Got something to say? Say it.  Don’t worry about the consequences of your actions, just execute with the best intentions and all will be ok, right?  He is the hero that rushes in with sword swinging.  He will slash his targets to shreds in a heartbeat.  However, he rarely notices the collateral damage he creates in his wake until it is too late.  This is the side of me that says, “Damn the torpedos!” and rushes into things headlong without planning or preparing.  I am convinced that I know what I am doing and I can be the hero all while flying by the seat of my pants.  I like this guy, he helps me get stuff accomplished in my life.  However, his flailing sword had cut me quite often too.

On the other side of the ring is the Knight of Pentacles, the strategizer.  “Put your ducks in a row.”  “Have your game plan ready before you start playing the game.”  These are his mantras and they work for him.  He is gifted with seeing the big picture better than any of the other Knights.  He can see the growth of the flower before he even plants the seed.  But that vision often leads him to refrain from planting experimental seeds.  If he is unsure of what the outcome might be, he is hesitant to act.  This is my “practical” side.  The part of me that wants to be sure of the outcome before I even start the project.  I still believe that I know what I am doing, but I am cautious of setbacks and stumbling blocks.  I look at every possible action and outcome before setting foot on the path.  I have saved myself from many possible tragedies and embarrasments by listening to this Knight.  I have also missed out on many growth opportunites as well.

I have been feeling these two battle since I decided to ramp up my professional efforts with the Tarot.  I want to rush in and make this business successful.  I know I have the tools and the skill to accomplish this.  I also want to set the ground work properly to make sure that I am successful for years to come.  I don’t want to dive in unprepared and be plagued with pitfalls and traps along the way.  My skills as a moderator will be put to the ultimate test with these two contenders.  I will need both of them in order to build a truly sucessful business.  I cannot do it alone.

What do you say, guys?  Can we call it a draw and start working together?