Readings
Three Cards
The three card tarot spread is one of the oldest methods. You can get to the heart of your question with a simple three-card Tarot reading. In this spread, there are three different positions which can be changed by to your preference, Past – Present – Future (or Situation – Action – Outcome, Situation – Obstacle – Advice and etc.).
The meaning of the card you choose varies according to it’s position.
This opening provides a GENERAL perspective to the period you are in. Or you can evaluate the comments in the frame of your question.
Seven of Wands
Upright
Challenge, competition, protection, perseverance
After the victory of the Six of Wands, you are now in an enviable position and are being protested by others who want to take your position. You worked hard to get to where you are, but some people desire what you have and try to fight you for it. It makes for tense and aggressive conditions because you need to preserve what you won and must constantly explain yourself.
When the Seven of Wands shows up in a Tarot reading, wait to see an increase in ‘enemies’, trolls and people who oppose you. You will need to defend your area and fight for what you stand for.
The Seven of Wands may appear when you hold a controversial viewpoint or wish to voice your idea in a public discussion. Be ready to defend your argument. Stand firm in your opinion of what you believe so that others do not plunge you from your peak of self-confidence.
Sometimes, this competition may catch you by surprise, and you feel insufficiently prepared for such a conflict. Just like the man in the card has hurried to put his footwear on and ended up with an incompatible pair, you must struggle to compete.
Establish clear boundaries and then protect your dreams so that others could not mess with you. Hold your territory and defend your position at all charges. Keep battling for what you believe in and face those who may attack or abuse you.
Reversed
Exhaustion, giving up, overwhelmed
The reversed Seven of Wands hints that external stress is pulling you down, making you doubt yourself and whether everything is worth it. You could feel that you are under continuous opposition. At first, you could keep firm, but after a constant struggle, you are now tired and ready to give up completely. Be strong, don’t change who you are just to make other people happy.
The Reversed Seven of Wands can also mean you think others are permanently analyzing you. Your family or friends are doubting your preferences, such as staying in a difficult relationship or an unfulfilling job, and you desire that they could just keep their mouths shut and let you be!
The Reversed Seven of Wands may affirm that you are confused by the difficulties and duties in your life, finding yourself quickly covered under and unable to look at the greater picture. You may have taken on too many responsibilities. You may also worry that you must fight against others, leaving you feeling somewhat weak and helpless. Rebuild your confidence and believe that you can accomplish what you set out to do.
Lastly, the Reversed Seven of Wands can arrive when you are trying to avoid disagreement wherever possible and, as a result, you are backing down from your viewpoint easily. Is being affirmed and liked by others more mattering than competing for what you believe in?
The Emperor
Upright
Authority, establishment, structure, a father figure
The Emperor is the father figure of the Tarot deck, suggests that you are adopting this protective role (regardless of whether you are male or female), affording for your family, and protecting your loved ones.
Similarly, the Emperor represents a strong and charismatic leader. Status and power are necessary to you, and you are most comfortable in a leadership role where you can direct others. You have a clear vision of what you want to manifest, and you arrange those around you to manifest your goal. You listen to the advice of others, but you prefer to make the final decision.
The Emperor reflects a system defined by rules and regulations. You create law and order by applying policies or guidelines to a specific situation. Be strategic and highly organized in your approach by sticking to your plan until the end.
The Emperor card also implies world knowledge and expertise. You have gained valuable wisdom and living experience, and now you enjoy offering guidance to someone who might benefit from it. You may be a teacher, coach, boss, or just a good friend who likes to take the knowledge and pass it on so that others can be as wise and powerful as you.
Reversed
Domination, excessive control, lack of discipline, inflexibility
The reversed Emperor requests you to assess your relationships with responsibility and discipline. Are you expressing too much or too little of these in your life right now? Are they serving for you or against you?
In the reversed position, the Emperor can be bossy and inflexible in his thoughts. The card can suggest an over-use of authoritative power. It could be you or another person, often a boss, partner or family member. And it may be because of deep insecurities and self-doubts.
Recognize the position of power in your life. Are you declaring your power and dominance in a way that leaves others feeling weak? Or are you giving away much of your personal power to please others? Try to find a solution where you start from a place of personal power and enable others to do the same. Power can be equally distributed – you don’t need to take it from others, nor do you need to give yours away.
Sometimes, the reversed Emperor asks you to stand up to authority. You may feel fed up with an oppressive boss or a hierarchical organization and feel forced to enter a more flexible and adaptive environment. Maybe you aspire to be your own boss and work independently by starting up your own business.
In a love reading, the reversed Emperor hints that you may be in an unbalanced relationship and it‘s making you unhappy. Your partner has become overbearing, possessive and dominating. This dynamic is putting tension on the relationship and blocking the flow of energies between you.
Eight of Swords
Upright
Negative thoughts, self-imposed restriction, imprisonment, victim mentality
The Eight of Swords shows that you feel limited and trapped in your situation. You believe your choices are restricted with no open way out. You are now caught between a rock and a hard place, with no solution possible. However, be aware that the woman in the card is not completely held by the eight swords surrounding her, and if she wanted to leave, she could. She only needs to lift the blindfold and release herself from the ties.
When the Eight of Swords arrives in a Tarot reading, it comes as a notice that your thoughts and beliefs are no longer serving you. You may be thinking too much, forming negative thought patterns and making the worst scenario. The more you think about the circumstances, the more you feel puzzled and without any decisions. It is time to go out of your head and let go of those beliefs holding you back. Try to change negative perceptions, and you will start to build more desirable circumstances for yourself.
You already possess the resources you need, you just need to gain a new perspective and use your resources. Others may be suggesting you help, or there may be another resolution you haven’t yet fully explored.
The Eight of Swords is often connected with victim psychology. You may be feeling that it isn’t your guilt – you have been put here against your wish. You may be waiting to be saved.
This card is asking you to stop thinking and drop down into your heart so you can hear your inner guidance. Your mind is not helping you right now, but your feeling is.
Reversed
Self-limiting beliefs, inner critic, releasing negative thoughts, open to new perspectives
The reversed Eight of Swords implies that restricting beliefs weaken you, stopping you from moving ahead. You may think that you do not earn to be rich, limiting yourself from getting abundance even if it’s granted to you. The opinions you hold about yourself are stopping you from obtaining your private goals. In the knowledge of this, switch your belief system. Detect when you are thinking negatively and break the cycle.
On the positive view, when the Eight of Swords arrives reversed, it can tell that you are freeing yourself from pessimistic thought patterns and beliefs. You can create a wonderful reality for yourself by letting go of those limiting faiths. You made it through a hard time, and you are more open to transformation and self-acceptance. Think about what helped in the past and improved your viewpoint and strategy. Declare the opportunities in front of you and stop playing the role of the victim by taking higher responsibility for your life.