Your Week Ahead: January 7 to 13, 2024 – A Sacred Passage

The theme of rest and restoration continues this week with a deeper attention to something broader in our lives coming to a conclusion. Whenever we’re in a period of recognizing the end of something, we invariably prepare the ground for new life to emerge. That is the message of this week’s reading: the value of allowing things their proper time.

The images of the two women in the first two cards is uncanny and its response is direct (the cards are responding to our reality). It is important then to take these two cards as separate phases and then see how they fit together. The Death card represents the movement from one state to another. Understanding the metaphysical changes will then reflect the metaphoric meaning.

The mood is somber and reflective. We are still within the vibrational landscape of what was, what is ending or has ended. Within this moment also lies the preparation for new life. Nothing stands still, we are always in a state of progression. The view that that progression ends only highlights the mundane definition of death. When we look at things from a higher perspective, a view that is more cosmic or nature based, without the time structure we place on things as seen through our current lifetime, then we might appreciate the transitional and transformative qualities that “death” represents.

The 4 of Swords is an assimilative card. It does represent a retreat from activity, conflict, stress, and mental fatigue. However, since we don’t stay asleep forever, our reemergence is assured. The question becomes, what is taking place before that reemergence? In my view, we are rising from the ashes of the Death card, and allowing ourselves to process what is needed to accept.

The broader themes of a phase of life, a way of doing things or thinking about things has ended. Our response to our previous reality has shifted and we are no longer the same person we were before. But we don’t simply wake up and start new on a dime. Such a response would deny our humanity and our deeply emotional capacity for ourselves and others. We need time to adjust, to reflect, and most importantly, to honour this transitional time. It is a sacred passage.

When a tree has been felled, it slowly rots and decomposes, and thus prepares the ground for the new seedlings that are growing from its nourishment. So it is with this passage. We are becoming a new form with new responses and new desires. But we are launching that new growth from the previous form that is passing away. When we recognize this, is how we honour the gifts of death.

When I compare the 4 of Swords to the 3 of Wands, I see so clearly this reemergence. It is as if those seeds that were planted and were sprouting in our imagination have birthed us into a tangible new place. We may even feel a little nostalgic still, as the woman looks back over the two preceding cards. However, we are no longer defined by the past. Sure, we need time to find our feet and to nourish our new responses to things. That takes time so be gentle, as she is gentle with the flower she holds.

This is a beautiful reading about new life, rebirth, acceptance and appreciation. Let yourself be held by the transformative energy of the universe and allow yourself to be taken to a new place where you can make new choices and new responses. Let the heaviness of what may have passed be released into the stream of Spirit’s cleansing waters. Something new and fresh awaits you and your light heart will heal as you breathe in the fragrant air around you.

Affirmation: I understand that life is in constant motion, moving from one form to another. I love that I am an intrinsic part of this natural transformative process. I gently allow myself the time I need. I know that my time of rejuvenation is a sacred energetic transition to a state of empowerment and health. May the new life that is emerging for me bring about more of what I want and what I love and need. I Am Love. I Love You.

Thanks for reading, and I wish you a wonderful week!

Daniel Palmo

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