Eight of Swords - What is Your Value and Worth?

Orestes is once again being taunted and tormented by the Furies on one side and Apollo looks none to happy either. Orestes feels frozen, but he knows all too well what the consequences of his actions will be. He needs to make a decision, ask himself what he really wants, and needs to act once and for all.

Oh boy, some times there are certain cards, you will draw over and over in a short space of time. You could almost feel like your are being really bugged or stalked by a particular card that you keep drawing. Truth is, there is an important message needing to be heard. Much like in life, we will often keep making the same mistakes over and over, and we can't figure out why. It's because we haven't learned the lesson yet.

I really gave this card some thought today. Then it came to me, and I figured this one out. I know it directly relates to my own attitude and the part I play in shaping others attitudes toward me personally and professionally. Of course I acknowledge that there are some rotten tomatoes posing as well intended folks out there, but they also have to take responsibility for their own behaviours. I try hard to avoid those folks completely.

At the same time I also have to take responsibility for my own behaviour, happiness and success. If people don't like that, well I say tough tat-tats! I don't have to live life as a victim, nor allow myself to be taken advantage of personally or professionally.

This is often a hard and long lesson learned, especially for many women because we don't want to, God forbid, piss any one off, and we don't want to be seen as being not a 'nice' person. Too much of the time women are willing to settle for less, which is a big price just not worth paying for in the long run. We devalue ourselves and are left feeling less than, undeserving and unworthy. This is absolute BULL CRAP! We are more than, deserving and very worthy. It's been said, and I believe it to be true, that our value and worth is our sacred capital.

I always remember something Dr. Phil said many years ago when he first came on TV. " You teach people how to treat you. " This is not a blaming the victim kind of statement. I am not talking about the cycle of violence that is present in abusive situations. I am simply talking about talking responsibility for our own behaviour. It 's about taking charge of our own selves in order to elicit and enable real positive change. We don't have to take the path of least resistance. This is not the way to happiness.

We don't need to fear confrontation, we don't need to avoid, nor to be duplicitous or blind. What we need is to be honest with ourselves and with others, to take responsibility for our actions and get proactive.

Knight of Wands - The Explorer

We all need to take risks in life, follow our bliss, and challenge ourselves, as this is what enables us develop our self-confidence. When we challenge ourselves, we can learn what are capacities are, and develop our human potential as human beings, fully engaged in living, and experience personal growth.

When I reflect on taking risks in life, I think of the book I read many years ago by Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. Standing on the sidelines of life,  or simply being a bystander, may seem like a safe and best place to be, but it is not the path to happiness or fulfillment. Having a proactive attitude and being a participator is what leads to living life to the fullest.

 This is the card and sign of the explorer, who is energetic and who yearns for new adventure. A change is as good as a rest it has been said, and the craving for new challenges is indicated. Possibly in the form of a change in residence, or a traveling adventure is likely, due to the feeling of being stifled by one's environment.

A very charming figure is the Knight of Wands, and very attractive to the opposite sex; however don't expect to hold this individual back, when the call of the wild strikes, as they can not be counted on to stay put, and will be moving on. The ability to follow through on ideas and intentions is a weakness. Fickle and hot headed would be adjectives to describe this person, with their head in the clouds instead of reality. This person can be boastful and talk a great story, that people are often ready to believe.

However, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, no matter how loveable, high spirited, naive, and imaginative and well-meaning this individual may be, the ability to follow through on ideas, and intentions are not all actualized into reality.
The Knight of Wands is neither a follower nor a leader.
He or she is self-absorbed, and boredom soon overtakes them, with no interest or desire to be responsible toward another, particularly in a relationship.


Often we can get addicted to excitement and even to crisis, drawn to being in a constant a state of hyper-vigilance. We loose sight of what is important to us, and are carried away by the moment. Then we become bored with our circumstance, and seek another kind of excitement, which can lead to a superficial and rather chaotic lifestyle, that is briefly satisfying, but does not sustain any kind of real happiness.  

Discernment and caution is strongly suggested if you are involved with this person. Although if you are aware and accepting of these character defects, then you are more likely to enjoy them, without having the unrealistic expectations of someone, who either can not, or will not give you what you want. There is nothing that is more crazy making, especially if you are in a love relationship with this kind of person.


The Knight of Wands can signify that these qualities mentioned, are trying to emerge from the self, or the Knight's positive attributes, such as meeting new challenges, need to be developed within one's own personality. The message is get out and explore. Go on a personal pilgrimage and follow your heart. You might unexpectedly find yourself!

“The geographical pilgrimage is the symbolic acting out an inner journey. The inner journey is the interpolation of the meanings and signs of the outer pilgrimage. One can have one without the other. It is best to have both.” - Thomas Merton