This week brings a new Major Arcana card and a new energy to our forecasts, dear readers. It’s a welcome change and starts out as a subtle transition out of a thorny period characterized by so. many. swords. cards. The Page of Swords is appearing as both a swan song to this time of critical self-analysis and a softening of our attitudes.
Looking at this figure and its position facing to the left, traditionally the direction of the past in tarot, makes me think that we have a need to say our final farewells to old ways of thinking. Revisit the past few weeks to see how your stance towards connection, vulnerability, and contentment has shifted.
Last month, we were encouraged to step into the authoritative and powerful role of the King of Swords while avoiding the impulsive and dogmatic Knight of Swords. Now, however, we’re in the shoes of the youthful Page: What about your recent growth has gifted you the ability to open up, be more free in your expression, and to dream with the wide-eyed curiosity of someone young?
I love when tarot goes in reverse like this; instead of growing into rigidity and mastery, we’re returning to the source, a place where we’re free, authentic, and in touch with our potential. The Page of Swords encourages us to embrace openhearted curiosity, flexible thinking, and maybe even a healthy dose of idealism. We’re opening up, in other words, and it’s a tender and exhilarating experience after so much effort and intentionality. See what in your life has shifted in order to facilitate this expansion so that you can continue to encourage it moving forward. Has the company you keep changed? The source(s) of information and inspiration? Our central card, The Empress, is big on environment and deriving power and awareness through relationship with our surroundings. The card inhabiting this space last week was, in stark contrast, the austere and forceful Emperor. It’s as if we spend last week clearing space for us to truly settle into our full potential. Celebrate this achievement and the effort it took to complete.
We’re doing all this in service of true emotional fulfillment as shown in our final card, the Ten of Cups. Something about this trio feels particularly grounded. Sometimes, the Ten of Cups can represent an idealized version of life, one that’s all puppies sand rainbows. Yet this week the power of The Empress and the flexible defenses of the Page of Swords seem to set up this potent image as something real. If we trust our newfound optimism and mental clarity to defend us from negative influences (though, notably, not very intense ones) so that we can truly relax into our power via The Empress, we may find an experience of bliss and wholeness.
I’m drawn to The Empress here because it feels like the card with the most personal potential. Touching on themes of abundance and power, I think of The Empress as the unfettered and wild version of The Emperor. This week you may find yourself drawn to nature and feeling most yourself when engaging with the body, emotions, arts, and other nonverbal forms of communication. This is absolutely a time to lean into what makes you feel good: grounded, lush, secure, and expansive. The Empress is powerful because she doesn’t waste time fighting what works for her; in fact, she prioritizes comfort, connection, and ease, knowing that it’s the support of her power. Think her pillowy throne versus the harsh solidity of The Emperor’s stone. How can you transition your environment to reflect The Empress’, how can you call on your magic to work for you and your life?
All of this is bringing me back to The Page of Swords, whose positioning seems more and more like a guard at the edge of The Empress’ domain and, also, the daily abundance and joy of the Ten of Cups. I’m going to be baldly optimistic here. I think that this card is representing a potent breakthrough. We don’t need the harsh rules of The Emperor or the intense analysis of The King and Knight of Swords. We’re in a more hospitable place, and this tender guard is all we need to stay safe. Some of us may need some time to settle into this new reality and, luckily, we have it. Spend the next few days practicing trust in your newfound mental clarity and creativity, watch how it boosts your confidence and self-esteem, and enjoy the bounty that life has to offer.
Potential surprise/reframe:
This reading has an alluring knot at its center that I’m attempting to untie in a very ham-fisted way. What I’m trying to get at is this: The Page of Swords could represent a part of ourselves finding its rightful place. In the swords suit, this has to deal with analysis, reasoning, narrative-making, and communication, and I’m drawn to our larger “swords story” in the past month or so. We’ve seen so many court cards in the suit, inspiring us to find ways to embody this poky and powerful group. This week’s spread is so relaxed and confident it feels like a homecoming. And the youthfulness of the Page feels especially important, like we’ve found a healthy way to channel our thinking so that it supports our power (The Empress) and our fulfillment (Ten of Cups). Look for ways your thinking has softened, you’ve relaxed your desire for control and meaning-making, and that you’ve replaced criticism with self-compassion. There’s a chance that this is also touching on issues from childhood, secret desires, and parts of your personality that haven’t had space to flourish until now.
This week, embrace:
Gentle self-reflection, appreciation for the work you’ve done around healing, reframing self-limiting thinking, and harnessing your mind to work for you
Curiosity, openness, alliance with your true self
Taking things less seriously
Creature comforts, nature, self-expression
Celebrating community, friendships, legacy
This week, avoid:
Overworking the past, “the problem,” your identity
Associating austerity, suffering, difficulty with worth, power, and value
Distrust in good things (let the rainbow be a rainbow!)
Holding onto healing journeys that have already ended
Thank you for the validation! This week I'm leaning into breaking the pattern of thought that I'm unworthy of good things in my life, and it allowed me to stand up for myself just this Sunday!
Whoah! Salient and timely. Thanks Gina, as always ❤️