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THE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE AND ARCHETYPE
OF SORROW, NEGATIVE THINKING & MOURNING
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"Without
forms or reason, the mind must give way to a
consciousness higher than itself. The Three of Swords
represents the wondrous trance of sorrow that first
enlightened the Buddha. We should all be so lucky to
draw Sorrow from the deck."
-
Understanding Crowley's Thoth Tarot
(Lon Milo
DuQuette) |
The Three of
Swords is the
Worldly principle and Universal archetype of
Sorrow,
Negative thinking and
mourning. This is the state of
sorrow which is held and re-worked in the
mind,
representative of negative thinking about the past, in particular
dwelling
on past experiences that produced a
sorrowful heart, in
effect mourning for the past.
The
Swords
piercing the lotus blossoms
symbolize sorrow that
has pierced to the very core of our nature, also
symbolized by the petals falling from the stem into the
deep void of
eternity.
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"The
Three of Swords reflects a tendency in the mind
to rework the old bones of the past, and
particularly the parts of the past that contain
sorrow or negativity. This is sorrow that could
have resurfaced in the last three months, or
could go back to three years ago, or could go
back as early as to when you were three years
old. It could also be the first sorrow that was
experienced within the family, the number three
is associated with the original triangle, which
is father-mother-child. How we handled that
first triangle – which is represented by the
three swords – is how we will handle subsequent
triangles, whether they are
friend-co-worker-friend, or friend-sibling-mate
or friend-lover-mate."
- Angeles
Arrien
(The Tarot Handbook) |
Throughout our lives, in whatever triangles we are
involved in, the Three of Swords reminds us to
break old
patterns of sorrow and insecurity as these only lead to
the path of destruction and pain. This is also a
strong
reminder to remove ourselves from
triangles that produce
pain. Examine
your relationships
closely and come to the
decision to distance yourself from
hurtful and
harmful
relationships.
This energy of triangulation is symbolized by the
two
swords bending to meet the
upright sword. The
central
sword represents an event in the past that
bent and
pierced the
receptive and
dynamic sides of the
Beholder of Life's
Nature.
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"The
symbol represents the great Sword of the
Magician, point uppermost; it cuts the junction
of two short curved swords. The impact has
destroyed the rose. In the background, storm
broods under implacable night."
- The Book
of Thoth (Aleister Crowley) |
Astrologically, the Three of
Swords is
Saturn in
Libra.
Saturn reminds us to move forward in life and our
endeavours, step-by-step, bringing
balance, symbolized
by
Libra. The Three of
Swords shows us that we can heal
the memories of the past by taking a
wider view of
events and expanding our view of the past which creates
peace and
balance in the
heart and
mind.
It is important to understand that when you pull this
card, sorrow occurs through
negative thinking of the
mind. This is
reverting back to
old ways of thinking
about the past. This is not sorrow that is held in the
heart or your
eternal being.
This signifies that in the next
three weeks or
three
months, you are ready to change your perspective in
thinking and are no longer willing to be a
slave to old,
outdated modes of negative thought. It is also an
indication that you are ready to
remove yourself from
triangular relationships that
cause pain and
suffering.
With focus and intention towards the good, the
mind can
be taught to learn new ways of thinking
positively and
creatively while
maintaining balance.
The Empress can be drawn to
assist you on this journey
as the number of The Empress is
Three and is the symbol
which represents the aspect which has
already moved
through negative ways of thinking.
The Three of
Swords is also an indication that you are
going to release negative thinking
patterns with
Libra
people in your Life (September 21st
to October 21st).
In the elegant
Animals Divine Companion by
Lisa
Hunt, the symbolic creature that represents the Three of
Swords is the
Vulture, which flows with the essence of
mental turmoil in the mind which in turn equals
sadness
connected to past events in the Heart. This is a symbol
for lack of communication and hints at possible
relationship troubles.
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"After
alighting on top of the tree, the young vulture
casts its gaze upon the three swords that hang
precariously from the branches below. The
vulture is a reminder that we must shed past
negative thoughts before we can proceed with the
birth of new ideas. The old tree is scarred
after weathering countless storms, yet it still
supports the golden swords with its fragile,
brittle branches. The three spirals on each of
the golden hilts are reminders that life is
lived in stages and new ideas are often born out
of old experiences. The crooked branches
exemplify the unpredictability of life and the
potential for misguided dreams. The branches
appear entangled and without direction, yet they
hold the wisdom of having survived adverse
conditions."
-
Animals Divine Companion
(Lisa Hunt) |
When we allow ourselves to be pre-occupied with
past
sorrowful events this can lead to a period of
negativity
and mental turmoil. This will
inhibit the
creation of
new, fresh ideas and
freedoms. This
murky force will
also prevent you from
connecting with people as you will
view anyone who wishes to enter your life as
suspicious
and not to be trusted.
One can learn to be
wiser and
more aware once the
passage through this
darker turmoil is taken. This is
the perfect opportunity to allow
negative burdens to be
empowering, taking you into
stronger and more
fertile
pastures.
The noble
Fantastical Creatures Tarot by
Lisa Hunt and
D.J. Conway
teaches us about the story of
Jenny
Greenteeth, a fearsome creature from
ancient story and
myth who drags unsuspecting people into her
dark, swampy
home, and they are never seen again.
Jenny
has sharp
teeth, green like the slime covering the pool. Vague
images of her victims can be seen in the
dark organic
foliage.
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"The
sword on the bank represents the consciousness.
The upright sword in the water denotes the
subconscious mind. The third sword, dangling
from the tree limb, symbolizes the higher
consciousness, or universal state of mind. None
of the swords attract Jenny Greenteeth, as she
has no conscience."
-
Fantastical Creatures
(Lisa Hunt & D.J. Conway) |
Jenny
Greenteeth
symbolizes an omen of heartache,
sadness,
loss, and
rejection. This card reveals the
pain of separation in a love relationship, however can
be used to great positive gain, to help
let go of emotional losses and
pain.
This
beautifully crafted poem by the
wise and
talented
Robert
Matejko expresses this journey
vividly with
great
clarity and verve.
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Met
at cross purposes,
streams of thought converge,
a current of sorrow,
a current of pain,
a current that rushes through to the other
side,
if elucidation is to be gained.
As
the rapier wit of mind is dulled,
the broadsword to cut through it all is
sheathed,
a scimitar with its broader edge must be
brought to bear,
to bring the mind beyond despair.
Sorrow
is laden upon the beats of a heart,
wounded,
pierced by thoughts saddened by much pain;
to gain the victory of clarity,
the pain must be experienced,
its lessons integrated,
to draw ones mind to the other side,
where peace of mind is once again
experienced
and a greater clarity of mind is gained.
©
Robert Matejko |
The glittering
Shadowscapes Companion Tarot by
Stephanie
Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore tells of the story of the
swan and how its
grand strength and
beauty is brought
down by betrayal, the
wounding of the heart. The
swan
always fights ferociously to
defend herself and her
young although in this case there is
no struggle. She
stepped forth alone and
laid down her defences. This was
a sacrifice of the heart which is
necessary for
cleansing away the old to
give way to the new. This is
alchemy in a
pure and
unadulterated form!
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"There
is grief and heartbreak in the Three of Swords.
There is a feeling of loneliness, separation and
isolation. There is no one to give solace or
lend a hand. Has everyone deserted in this time
of greatest need? The world abandons and betrays
by turning its back on the destruction of beauty
and the rending of a fragile emotional state."
-
Shadowscapes Companion
(Stephanie Pui-Mun Law &
Barbara Moore) |
When there is a wounding of any kind, particularly the
heart, accept the pain to
overcome the pain. When the
heart weeps, this is a
good sign of a
necessary
cleansing, as always there is
purification from the
torment of the
black blood. Lift up your
white wings of
clarity and purity to
dance with the sky once again.
In the most excellent thesis
Learning the Tarot by
Joan
Bunning, which refers to the
Rider-Waite Tarot, the
Three of
Swords symbolizes your world turned upside
down! You’re stunned,
disbelieving and finally
heartbroken! The image of the Three of
Swords describes
the sudden pain you feel, as if someone has taken a
sharp object and stabbed you in the
heart.
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"The
Three of Swords often represents the nasty
little curve balls that life can throw
sometimes; Betrayal, abandonment, rejection,
separation, a reversal of fortune. These hurts
are painful because they hit you when you least
expect them. If you have drawn this card, you
may know what it refers to, but if not, the
Three of Swords is a valuable warning. It is
likely there is something amiss in your life
that you are unaware of or unwilling to
acknowledge. Curve balls hit us when we’re
looking the other way. Examine your situation
carefully. Talk to the people in your life.
Don’t take anything for granted. Listen to your
inner voice; it will help you locate the
problem."
-
Learning the Tarot (Joan Bunning) |
The Three of
Swords in this case may also represent that
you are contemplating hurting someone. Always keep in
heart that if you deal hurt out into the world, you are
only harming yourself, for you are the
world, a
living
breathing part of the beauty around and
inside you. Grab
hold of the goodness and
passion of truth!
The stately
Kleopatra Tarot shows the image of
Epima.
Astrologically this is a symbol of
Mars in Capricorn and
deals with the force of pessimism and the state of play
where illusions are vainly followed. This is
obstinacy
over a question of secondary importance, which produces
the disruption of
unhappiness, sorrow and
tears.
The noble
Haindl Tarot symbolizes the
energy of retreat
(33) from a wound, where a
single tear falls. The water
emerges as a clear bubble, a symbol of the
purification
that comes through suffering. This leads away from
oppressive situations,
mourning and sorrow of the
heart.
The opulent
Book of Thoth by
Aleister Crowley expresses
the Three of
Swords as
Binah, the
Great mother who rules
the realm of Air. Binah is here not the
beneficent
Mother completing the Trinity with
Kether and
Chokmah.
She represents the darkness of the Great Sea. This is
accentuated by the Celestial Lordship of
Saturn in
Libra.
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"This
card is dark and heavy; it is, so to speak, the
womb of Chaos. There is an intense lurking
passion to create, but its children are
monsters. This may mean the supreme
transcendence of the natural order. Secrecy is
here, and Perversion."
-
The Book of Thoth (Aleister Crowley) |
In the splendid work of
Lon Milo DuQuette,
Understanding
Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, the author reminds us
about the astrological nature of the Three of
Swords,
ruling the sky at 10° to 20°
Libra (October 3rd
to
October 12th). In this instance, the Three of
Swords is
also known as the ‘Lord of Sorrow’.
The
Saturn and
Libra connection is expanded upon; the
Four Scales for
Saturn are Indigo;
Black; Blue-black;
Black, rayed Blue and the
Four Scales for
Libra are
Emerald Green; Blue; Deep Blue-Green;
Pale Green.
The remarkable
Lady Frieda Harris writes;
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"I
wrote earlier that, because they reside in the
supernal triad above the Abyss, all the aces,
twos, and threes are happy. Obviously Sorrow
does not sound like a happy card. It is very
difficult for us to understand the nature of
consciousness above the Abyss, where the
actuality of things does not exist. In this
abstract atmosphere, there are no things or even
forms of things – nothing but pure potential.
The “sorrow” of this card is not the same kind
of sorrow evoked by, say, the death of a loved
one or the loss of a lover. It is a profound
state of consciousness that, from our
below-the-abyss point of view, we can only
attempt to describe. Sorrow falls pitifully
short of an accurate description, but it is
probably the best word the English language can
offer us." |
One must remember that the Three of
Swords is a wholly
positive card as it reminds us to
deal with the state of
changing our perception and
eternal consciousness from
outdated
modes of thinking, especially
linked to the past.
Know that the past guides and
empowers us, for our
journey is made up of who we are
(past, present, future),
where we are and
where
we are going. It is your choice whether you want the
past to hold a special place in your heart or if you
wish to dwell on the negative and
destructive forces
stemming from an inability to
learn from the past.
All experiences are to be cherished and
unlabelled.
Feel
blessed on your eternal journey and
know that you have
the power to change your path!
POSITIVE PATH
-
feeling
Heartbreak
-
causing
heartbreak
hurting inside
being disappointed
getting unsettling news
receiving little solace
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- feeling Lonely -
being
separated
wandering far from home
being spurned or rejected
feeling isolated from those you love
feeling lost
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- experiencing Betrayal -
finding
your trust misplaced
letting someone down
getting stabbed in the back
turning against someone
breaking your word
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- experiencing Emotional Pain -
having
your feelings hurt
hurting someone’s feelings
being deserted in time of need
discovering a painful truth
being let down
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WORLD AND
OCCUPATION
- The Path of Destiny Unfolds -
fortitude during difficult times, singing,
bravely moving ahead, confrontation, facing the
worst, speaking regardless of consequences,
revelation, laying it on the line, the natural
cycle will bring renewal, confession,
generosity, breakthrough, mirth in Platonic
pleasures, faithfulness in promises, concern,
honesty in money transactions, the whole
according to dignity |
NEGATIVE
PATH
-
Not heeding Prophets advice -
pessimism, loss of peace, division, gossip,
removal , rupture, suffering, rejection,
unwanted outcomes, absence, disruption,
dispersion, agitation, confusion, doubt, plans
go awry , trouble, frustration, denial,
dissatisfaction, interruption, quarrelling,
worry, trepidation, apprehensiveness, shock,
separation, complexity, delay, spite, false
rumour, antagonism, erratic activity,
manipulation, anxiety, forced separation, malign
intelligence, unwanted confrontation, attack,
haphazard action, mind games, mistrust,
impulsive decisions, ridicule
accusation, deception, past misdeeds,
recrimination, loss of prosperity,
irreconcilable differences, disturbing memories,
insomnia, paranoia, incompatibility, past error,
remorse, guilt, communication breakdown,
inhibition, fear of emotional display,
repression, error, delusion, lack of empathy,
conditional love, bad conscience, masochism,
morbidity, suspicion, self-destructive urges,
grudges, sowing of discord and strife, jealousy,
loss, blackmail, enmity, vendetta,
mischief-making, soliciting sympathy, selfish
and dissipated, deceitful in words and
repetitions, tears |
REVERSED
- Hazard Waypoints in the Wilderness -
denial, improved situation, fear passes,
peace returns, cowardice, composure
regained, greater clarity and insight,
weakness, recriminations cease, remorse
lightens, no fortitude, superficiality,
avoidance, dismissal, hostilities abated,
mental alienation, shallowness, not facing
the dark side, lack of psychological
insight, difficulty accepting loss |
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"The reversal asks to strengthen the positive and
release the negative. Any path will always lead
to both being fulfilled."
- Michael
Tsarion |
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- Opposing
Cards: Some Possibilities -
The Lovers
intimacy, feeling love and being loved
Three of Cups
companionship and trust
The Ten of Cups
joy, peace, love, togetherness
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- Reinforcing
Cards: Some Possibilities -
Five of Cups
separation, loss of love, heartache
Nine of Swords
anguish and heartbreak
The Five of Pentacles
rejection, separation, lack of support
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- Research sources -
Taroscopes
by
Michael Tsarion
Robby Baby Dark Poet by
Robert Matejko
Röhrig
Tarot by
Carl-W. Röhrig
Arcus Arcanum Tarot by
Hager Gunter
The Tarot Handbook by
Angeles Arrien
The Book of Thoth by
Aleister Crowley
Animals Divine Companion
by Lisa Hunt
Fantastical Creatures
by Lisa Hunt
&
D.J. Conway
Thoth
Tarot by
Aleister Crowley &
Lady Frieda Harris
Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot by
Pamela Colman Smith
Shadowscapes
by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
& Barbara Moore
Understanding Crowley’s Thoth Tarot
by Lon Milo DuQuette
Robin Wood Tarot
by Robin Wood
& Michael Short
Kleopatra Tarot
by Etta Stoico
& Silvana Alasia
Connolly Tarot
by Eileen
& Peter Paul
Connolly
Learning the Tarot
by Joan Bunning
Haindl Tarot by
Hermann Haindl
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