Divination for the World: 8 of Swords from Our Tarot

I drew a card as a reading for the world using Our Tarot, a deck that depicts real women from history. It seems to me we are living in a time when the voices and messages of women are vitally important and should be listened to, which is why I picked this tarot set to use now.

The card I drew was the Eight of Swords, which depicts Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, and I write about her later in this post. Traditionally this card is about feeling trapped and in a hopeless situation. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck the image is a woman who is tied and blindfolded, standing on a beach where the tide seems to be coming in. Swords are positioned like a barrier on either side of her. Her head is bowed and she doesn’t know which way to go.

I think many of us are feeling a bit like that at the moment. However, in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck picture, it’s worth noting that the path directly in front of the bound woman is clear. She has a way out, and a route forward, but she hasn’t been able to see it. 

Georgiana Spencer Cavendish was born into a wealthy artistocratic family and was the ancestor of Princess Diana. Like Diana, Georgiana found herself in a loveless and troubled marriage. Both women tried to do good in the world and to make it a better place. Georgiana engaged in politics and threw parties to champion the Whig Party, which later became the Liberal Party. 

However, Georgiana also tried to escape the entrapment of her unhappy marriage in more self-destructive ways. She became addicted to gambling and got into terrible debt. The Eight of Swords reflects this aspect too. It shows us that we can sometimes trap ourselves in harmful behaviour or limiting beliefs. 

The message of this card is to think carefully before acting. Go cautiously. Is there someone you can trust to ask for guidance to help you find your way out of whatever difficult situation you find yourself? Your position is not as hopeless as it might seem, but you might need to find a path you haven’t yet considered.

All the cards in Our Tarot: A Guidebook and Deck Featuring Notable Women in History depict real women rather than goddesses or figures from mythology. The book that comes with the set includes pages of information about them and their importance in the world. 

Our Tarot is by Sarah Shipman and is published by Harper Design.

You can view the deck on Amazon. (Note: I earn commission for some links.)

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http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/womens-day-tarot-bessie-coleman-ace-of.html
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http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/02/a-dragon-and-divination-for-lunar-new.html

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