Lessons in release : Ace of Swords, Son of Wands, & The Tower
I wrote on IG the other day about being in the in-between, liminal space, that place where you are past an ending but not quite in the next beginning.
We humans, and especially those of us with trauma (ie all of us), can struggle in the between space. We tend to like things to be concrete, absolute. We like to clearly see where we’ve been and where we’re going and move as quickly as possible from one to the other. We like to be in the doing, and avoid the (not so simply) being.
And.
A thing about life is there needs to be that between space. The space of integration, quiet gestation. Plants don’t sprout out of the ground the moment we plant a seed, children don’t come out of the womb moments after fertilization, rough rocks don’t immediately become smooth by running water over them for two minutes. Conversely, plant and animal matter are not instantly decomposed the moment they fall to the ground.
Learning to be in the discomfort of the between is a process. It invites us to come into our body, to reconnect with the earth, water, air, fire, to the cycles of the sun and moon and seasons. It asks us to slow down, to let go of attempting to control, manipulate, maneuver to fit our will. It begs us to be in this moment right here, to notice the pleasure and pain, beauty and ugliness of this right now and not focus on the past or the future.
All of this is in moderation, of course. There can be great benefit in looking back as well as planning forward. The key is to not stay entirely in the past or future, and to spend equal amounts of time in the present, in the resting, in the being.
We don’t have to like our present moment. We can see the ways it is lacking, what we wish was different AND simultaneously be with the snippets of beauty we notice when we slow down and pay attention.
Which brings us to the Ace of Swords.
The Ace of Swords traditionally represents clarity, truth, and not always in a gentle fashion. As an ace it represents beginnings. As a sword, intellect and communication. It also represents letting go of delusions, fantasies, and (self) deceit. Often this card is interpreted to mean a message is coming (giving clarity), and we can’t rush this card or its incoming message.
Which circles us back to being able to be in the between. To be in the discomfort of not having an answer and also releasing any made up narratives about the situation we may have (including any stories about ourselves or others involved). It invites us to be in the curiosity of exploring why we may have false narratives and the discomfort or even pain of dislodging them from our mind, body, and or soul. It is a reminder that things are not always what we think and that things become clear in their own time.
The Son (or Knight) of Wands reminds us that perfection is an illusion. It also invites us to be in the both and of passion and action while also letting go of any attachments to a specific outcome. This card invites us to be present in the now and stop focusing on the past (that we cannot change) and the future (which we cannot control). Sons (Knights) may represent specific persons or specific attributes of our own. As wands have the element of fire, this card is about action, the doing. But the doing doesn’t need to be big nor dramatic, the doing can be as quiet as tuning into your breath right now, noticing its heat leaving on the exhale and how it warms on the inhale. This card can be brash and impulsive, which can be part of living in the moment. And looking at it through a lens of release it invites us to look within to determine if we are being too brash and impulsive or not brash and impulsive enough. What would push at our edges, expand our world view, window of tolerance, and or healing? Regardless of which way we determine we need to go, it is always rooted in the being in the now, in the between, not on the take off or destination points.
When we look at the Tower through a lens of release, it invites us to allow the destruction of the binding and harmful structures that keep us from connecting to our Core Self and to ultimately build something entirely new. While the Devil invites us to consider the behaviors we have that harm us, the Tower invites us to look behind the behaviors to the why and what narratives and systems encouraged (or even demanded or required) those behaviors. The Tower tends to represent swift, sudden, and unexpected change and it also, again, invites us to rest for a moment in the between of tearing down before building up.
This card can also represent letting go of structure all together. To view the dogma, routines, and even rituals that have become rote and no longer feed us and to discard them completely, creating space to move into the dreamy hope and open possibility of the Star.
Each of these cards can represent a different way into release, into letting go of control and being too focused on what has been or what is to come. They each invite us to be in the discomfort of the in between, however I also believe each invites us to learn to be comfortable in the not knowing, in being neither at the end or the beginning of a process, event, relationship. They each invite us to be present to what is right now and (especially the Ace of Swords and the Tower) to give space for what will be to unfold in its own rhythm and time.
Learning to be in the now is a forever practice and as I said above, it is important to also be in this practice in moderation. And even in the times when we need to look back or plan forward, we can be present to what we are feeling about it in the now, to savor what is to be savored and do grieve what needs to be grieved, and allow ourselves to be all in, with ourselves, with this moment, with letting go of attachment of what we believe “should” be and let life, our relationships, and ourselves unfold as and when ready.
Some questions to explore…
If you practice Tarot, what do the Ace of Swords, Son (Knight) of Wands, and the Tower mean to you?
How does your mind respond to liminal or in-between space? Your body? Your spirit? Your soul?
What does it mean to you to let go of attachment to outcome?
What do you currently feel called to release?
What are the blocks you can currently perceive that are stopping this release?
What is one small practice you can do to help you be in the now?
Simple somatic practice to help with being present
Neck Turn
Sit or stand and *slowly* move your head (so that your neck moves too) from left to right, as well as up (towards the ceiling/sky) and down (towards the floor/ground) and back again, noticing and commenting on (either in your head or out loud) everything you see. Comment on colors, textures, how the light or shadows are, etc. It is important to move your head and neck and not just scan with your eyes.
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Very helpful. I’m not familiar with the uses of the tarot. Thank you.