FIVE OF SWORDS
Cruelty -- Cruelty to others. Jealousy. Superior brute force. Delight in another's demise. Preying on the weak. Acts of cruelty. No accountability. Choose words with care. Think before acting. Stand up for yourself. A strike at someone else is a strike against the self.
SHADOW: What do you dislike most in other people? Make a list of five irritating qualities of anyone you know. Circle the most annoying quality. What you circled is the quality you must integrate into your own personality. Use your projections and feelings about others as a tool for self-awareness. Stop blaming others; look at your own limiting beliefs and behaviors. Accept all aspects of yourself with generosity and compassion; this is the key to freedom. Transform tightly bound negative energy into a powerful force of generation and evolution through healing and self-honesty.
The suit of swords is often the scariest in the tarot deck. Swords reflect the darkest qualities of the mind. Twisted, treacherous thoughts turn active and hurt ourselves and others. You are more powerful than you know. Words are capable of great healing or tremendous pain.
A woman stands with a sword, ready to impale another woman. It is the card of deliberate, cruel, and destructive behavior. Animosity and anger are seductive energies that make a person feel powerful. The inflated ego fills you with a sense of entitlement. Hating on others, tearing people down, inflicting revenge, and jealous rage destroy you as much as they hurt another.
There is more than enough for everyone. Victory is sour when the game is fixed. Integrity is lost. What is your role in the current situation? Wipe off the dust, blood, and tears. Take an honest look at your own behavior. Take responsibility. Make things right. Walk away, make amends, or relinquish your cherished role once and for all. You have the power to make the peace.