King of Swords - When The Student Is Ready The Teacher Will Appear

Truth? I am little intimidated by the King of Swords, or the folks with this personality type. When I really dig into the reason why, I think it is because I immediately begin to compare myself intellectually, and presume I am not on the same intellectual level as this person. Comparing ourselves to others is a basic common human character defect. The more insecure within ourselves, the more we compare.This is not a healthy out look I know, but it's true. It is futile to compare ourselves to another. It will always leave us feeling less than, that we just don't nor can we ever measure up to an unachievable standard, that really is an image that exists in our minds.

The King of Swords can be greatly admired for his creative intellect, and attractive, dynamic leadership qualities, but not so much for his lack of ability to respond to his own emotion, or for considering the feelings of another. He appears to be emotionally cut off, relying on his intellect for success, as opposed to his heart, although his ideals, and sense of fairness are very lofty and well intended.

He appears to be in harmony or perhaps likes harmony in his environment. No one is perfect I know, but he sure can give off that impression, as he is Odysseus, crafty, guileless, known as the Wiley one. Fact is, this King is a wanderer, not rooted is his heart, nor in his relationships. He's not big on empathy and compassion, but is known for his decency and fairness. He's a bit of an enigma and a contradiction. 

We all have contradicting traits. The message here for me is to be aware of these traits, and to be compassionate toward others, and toward myself for these shortcomings, and character defects. No one including myself should be intimidated by another's personality, and I certainly hope no one is intimidated by mine.
There is so much to learn, from people we admire and  love, and sometimes especially from those we do not love or admire, they have much to teach us. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Five of Swords - Acceptance

I have hairy toes! I've never admitted this publically, but I've come to accept it, and no, I am not a hobbit. But even if I was a hobbit, I'd have to accept this too.

We all have to accept our limitations of what we can and cannot do. This is what the Five of Swords represents.
It can be difficult to understand or empathize with another person's struggle in life, unless we have had a similar experience, or unless we have walked their path, or seen the world through their eyes.

 Many of us experience rejection for one reason or another. It may be for the way we look, how much money we make, our race or religion, who we are related to, or what side of the tracks we grew up on.
The worst form of rejection I would say, is not being able to accept ourselves, the positive and the negative aspects of our personality and circumstance.

I have come to believe that acceptance is the key happiness. It enables us to understand, and to come to terms with people, places and things. When we can accept, and love ourselves, we become real like the Velveteen Rabbit.


 “Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.

'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'

'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'

'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
― Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit