Stuckness

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Swan:

The tarot's Eight of Swords symbolizes feeling trapped and overwhelmed by outside forces; those embedded swords emphasize our 'stuckness.' Feeling powerless to create change is frightening. Yet the more we focus on our worries, the more tangled in their net we become. What we generally don't pay attention to is the kind of thoughts we're having, and how our emotions have influenced them to the point where they no longer reflect reality. This is not an encouragement to embrace toxic positivity - using false optimism to diminish, ignore, or deny actual problems. But can we take a step back from our spinning mind and simply observe without judgment what actually has happened? The Swan is often used in tales of transformation, where people are turned into these birds or swans are returned to human form. Even The Ugly Duckling is about such a major shift. It is possible to do this with our thoughts, to make the mind more spacious by reminding ourselves that we just don't know. As Kaira Jewel Lingo put it, "When we let ourselves hang out in the space of not-knowing, there is enormous potential, and life could unfold in innumerable ways."

Leading with Grace

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Lord (Emperor); from the Druid Animal Oracle, the Swan:

          The Emperor sits with his legs crossed in the shape of the number four, a symbol of limits and boundaries but also security and stability. With his unwavering gaze and posture, there is no doubt he is a leader who expects others to listen and follow. Other than the green on his gown, there is no green in the background - in other words, no growth. He leaves that concern with his Lady. The Swan, according to the authors, represents the qualities of the soul: love, depth, grace and beauty. These are the qualities that can soften the roughly hewn side of the Emperor. It can make a huge difference as a leader or guide if he or she can listen attentively and respond gently and respectfully. No matter how much knowledge one has, how it is delivered will profoundly affect how it is received. Speak softly, but lose the big stick (unless it's a carrot).

Right Timing, Right Motive

From the Jolanda Tarot, the Knight of Pentacles; from the deck Bird Signs, Swan:

          While this Knight likes to plan things down to the smallest detail, there comes a time when he must put his plan into motion. Looks like he's finally gotten the ox hitched, the field plowed and is now sowing star seeds. The geese flying overhead remind me of the Migration card I drew the other day and made me think of right timing. Often I get caught up in wanting to dive into something without much investigation or work first; other times I'm so obsessed about one thing, other important things slip by without my notice. I must have an equal dose of patience and attentiveness to know when to act. As Willie Nelson once said, "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
          Swan has been assigned the keyword "beauty" as this bird moves in the water with such grace. I must admit that I think of swans in a similar way as the A-list girl clique in the movie Mean Girls - beautiful, but not nice. I've noticed some folks locally have resorted to using swan decoys to keep the Canada geese out of their ponds and lakes. The Knight and Swan together suggest that actions should take into account the effect on others instead of just myself. In the words of Sayyidina Ali, "Beautiful people are not always good, but good people are always beautiful."        

Elegant Agility

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Three of Bolers/Wheels (Pentacles):

Having ancestors who came from Germany as wagon builders, I appreciate the craftsmanship shown in this card. Doing any skill well requires the constant effort of practice and the willingness to listen and learn from those with knowledge. Having the right tools means nothing without the wisdom of experience. My husband found this out when we had a tornado come through some years back that snapped off several massive pine trees like toothpicks. Rednecks with a truck and chainsaw do not necessarily equal tree removal experts (they dropped sections on a dogwood and maple, splitting them in half). The Romani guy might not be a quantum physicist, but I'm sure those two fellows in the foreground feel relieved to have found a craftsman who knows what he's doing.

From the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards comes "Wagle Shun - Swan:"

Though swans are known for their aggressiveness, the authors associate these birds with peace and grace. However their beauty and grace can be seen in the air and on the water, as they smoothly glide through both elements with ease. I'm reminded by the Swan and the Three of Bolers above that expertise in any field looks like elegant agility, as if the craft and person are of one accord. If I want to know where my talents lie, I need to discover what work fills me with such peace and grace.

Clarity with Grace

From the Jolanda Tarot, the Ace of Swords:

The sphinx on the hilt of the sword is connected to the solar Egyptian deities, and it emphasizes the need for clear thinking and honesty.  To be honest with others, I must take the philosopher's challenge to "know thyself."  But this bit of advice had nothing to do with New Age navel-gazing; it means I must be fully aware of my limits and weaknesses, not just my strengths.  So instead of letting my ego speak (See how wise I am?  Don't you want me to share all my knowledge with you?), it will come from a place of shadowless truth.  The roses remind me such frankness does not need to be cruel or disrespectful - yes, it may prick, but the benefit should far outweigh the discomfort.  And then there are the mosquitoes, those folks who love to pick apart whatever doesn't rest well with their opinions.  But the truth is founded on bedrock; no matter how much they try to dig, they won't get past it.

From the Bird Signs deck comes the "Swan:"

The swan is associated with beauty and grace.  If I add the tarot card above to this one, I find I am encouraged to offer honesty with an open palm rather than a fist.  I can't force reality (or my perception of it) on anyone.  But if I present it in a tactful, loving way, they might at least take a quick glance at it.

 

Change by Choice or Necessity

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Tower:

With the intense heat from the flames and the acrid smoke filling his lungs, I can only imagine the sheer terror of this horse.  He's been pushed to the edge of a cliff, and with the wildfire fast approaching, the only way of escape is to jump into the river far below.  Yet when I look at this card, it reminds me of the Fool gleefully stepping over the edge into the unknown.  Life is about change, sometimes drastically and unexpectedly so.  If I can have the trust of the Fool rather than the fear, I will adjust much more readily. 

From the Bird Cards comes the "Swan:"

Above this swan's head is a set of scales, implying that balance is an issue.  The Hindus saw the swan as a symbol of non-attachment (it's feather does not get wet in water) and of discernment.  There is a woman in my neighborhood who has worn a leg brace for years.  She had knee surgery a few months ago, but continued to wear the brace.   The doctors finally told her it would only recreate the same issue she had before if she continued to use it.  I can use "crutches" of my own that lead to unhealthy choices instead of dealing with life head on.  Then it will often require a "Tower" moment to wake me up and change my behavior or ideas.  The fear I may feel in dealing with life won't be nearly as harsh as that knock upside the head to put things back in balance.