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Today, I started a new medication for ADHD. I'm over 40 years old and have never taken ADHD medication before, as I wasn't formally diagnosed until earlier last year.
I'm both afraid and interested to see what this medication might do. I have often wondered how "normal" people can just do things - follow routines, organize their house, answer the doorbell, or even just read the mail without getting sidetracked or having a panic attack about every such thing. I'm interested to see if this medication might help me do some of those things. I wonder if, at my age, it's possible to BE normal. This kind of test, where I attempt a new mental health medication intent on freeing myself from the burden of a condition that limits my ability to function, is one of the perfect examples of the reversed eight of swords. It is freeing. It is finding a cure. It is trying something new. Although I've had a wonderful life and have accomplished many things with this condition, it's still interesting to anticipate that I might now be able to do even more. Time will tell. It will take at least four to six weeks to reach full efficacy, so we'll see how I'm doing in mid February. On to more reversed eight of swords wisdom! 
Upright, the Eight of Swords is about breaking free of self-victimization and finding your way out of a bad situation.
Reversed, this could be an incredibly positive card, where one has found their freedom and made an escape from whatever was holding them back. Alternatively, it could be a terribly negative interpretation of the upright card, where one has sunk deeper into despair or found that there is no way out of their situation. Questions answered by the reversed Eight of Swords: Who? Someone standing up to abuse What? Facing your fears Where? On the other side of the fence When? The middle of May; When you are free Why? “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” ~Japanese proverb Yes or No? Possibly The reversed Eight of Swords as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? green, orange …a movie theme? freedom, facing fears
…a new career?
Eight of Swords reversed Before any card: Facing one’s fear of (card) After any card: Escape, freedom For more on the Reversed Eight of Swords, read Applied Tarot Reversed! Free on Kindle Unlimited, and currently on sale on Kindle for $4.99!
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For the holidays, I took almost a month off this website in order to focus on my family. That's a lie! I started new happy pills and took off to the Dominican Republic for a much-needed vacation. My family was there, which was great, of course, but really it was all about unwinding, thinking about my next moves, and imbibing all the bad things I possibly could. It was a very reversed seven of swords vacation. Not only did I get away with lounging by the pool with unlimited pina coladas, but I also took time to figure myself out and maybe reevaluate the direction my life is heading. Speaking of turning over a new leaf, I was worried about my plants while I was away, as I'm on a very strict watering and feeding schedule with them, but they seemed to like the vacation from me. I have a bunch of new spider plant blooms, and my philodendron seems twice as long. The reversed seven of swords might also be about plants (turning over a new leaf), so tend your gardens!  The Seven of Swords upright is about stealth, manipulation, and getting away with something sneaky. Reversed, we’re compelled to confess our sins, turn over a new leaf, or we’ve been caught in a lie. Alternatively, we might dig even deeper into the sneakiness and become a pathological liar, a cheat, or malicious. Questions answered by the reversed Seven of Swords: Who? A pathological liar What? A lie Where? In your own home When? The middle of February; After seven confessions; after seven lies Why? “When a lie is uttered, it naturally brings with it more lies. It is an art, a form of fiction writing.” ~Chaker Khazaal Yes or No? No The reversed Seven of Swords as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Purple; blush …a movie theme? Confession, turning over a new leaf
A new career?
Seven of Swords reversed Before any card: You’re being dishonest about (card) After any card: Lies; confession For more on the Seven, read the Applied Divination series! The reversed six of swords is all about travel delays and an inability to go anywhere. I hope this doesn't apply to me. We have a big family trip planned next week for my partner's 50th birthday. Like others in the world, we haven't been anywhere in two years, so this is a pretty big deal. If it gets cancelled or there are delays and we can't go, I don't want to think about that. Luckily, the reversed six might also mean rocking the boat, which IS something I have done recently. My kid is having an issue in one of his classes, where he and other kids are feeling threatened, so I emailed the principal like an angry bear momma the other day, and accused them of not providing a safe and secure learning environment. They took awhile to get back to me and their email this morning was a simple "we know about this. If your child has any more issues they should come directly to us." It read like a form letter, which only served to make me more livid. Some kids don't feel comfortable going to anyone but their parent, you know. Anyway, I'm pissed and unable to move on from this, which is a very reversed six of swords way to be. I think for lunch I'll have some comfort food and watch Jurassic Park. Seeing dinosaurs eat useless authorities will bring me joy.  The Upright six depicts a gradual change or difficult journey. This is a troublesome trip, and one that is not wanted but is necessary for survival.
Reversed, someone is having trouble making that move forward. Perhaps there is a delay or cancellation of travel plans, someone has “rocked the boat” so to speak, or perhaps the worst has happened, such as a flood or a drowning. Questions answered by the reversed Six of Swords: Who? A submissive person What? An inability to move Where? The water When? The first week in February; Six weeks ago Why? “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” ~Lyndon B. Johnson Yes or No? No The Six of Swords reversed as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Yellow, amber, red …a movie theme? An inability to move on; trapped
…a new career?
The reversed Six of Swords Before any card: An inability to move on from (card) After any card: Slow progress, travel delays
I don't have much to say about the reversed Five of Swords. It's a card about ongoing resentment, rage, and holding a grudge. It could arise after a battle is over but you just can't let go of it, or it comes up during a battle that seemingly never ends. Without getting into personal issues, I'm in one of those situations and yes, I'm holding a grudge about it!
Luckily, a few of the suggestions from the reversed five of swords are right up my alley, including eating a box of chocolates in front of the movie Elf, one of my faves! I think I'll do that. 
Upright, the Five represents the time after a battle or conflict. If it is a victory, it is an empty one. If it's a defeat, it requires a major regroup and re-plan.
Reversed, this card is tricky because there are so many ways to look at it. If we imagine that it has the same meaning as the upright five but that the battle or conflict is ongoing inside ourselves, it becomes a bit easier. This card could mean compromise, sacrifice, or holding on to resentment. Questions answered by reversed Five of Swords: Who? Someone holding a grudge What? The end of a conflict Where? A place where a truce or mediation happened When? The end of January; Five days after a fight Why? “To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.” ~Confucius Yes or No? No The Five of Swords reversed as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Red, seafoam green …a movie theme? Apologies, forgiveness
…a new career?
The reversed Five of Swords Before any card: Holding a grudge about (card) After any card: Apologies, forgiveness
Speaking of people who hold a grudge, have you ever met Satan? Well, in this highly recommended book, the main character Miriam was married to him - how about that for a reversed five of swords battle that seemingly never ends?
Read T.J. Deschamp's Eastside Hedge Witch today! I started some new medication for my brain, and it seems to be working pretty well. Now, rather than lying in bed frozen in worry and angst, I'm able to walk around and do stuff in worry and angst. That's a pretty good first step! I'm trying not to rush things, however. Although I have a ton of stuff to do before the holidays, I'm trying to take recovery fairly slow and methodically, like a positive reversed four of swords. Generally, this card has a negative vibe to it. It often means recovery is stalled or slow, or we're suffering burnout. However, the more rare alternative meaning, that we've taken our rest and are now ready to fight again, is the one I'm channeling. I need to get back to work so I'm glad I'm on the right path - even if I need to pop some pills to be there.  The four of swords upright is about withdrawal and retreat, perhaps temporary, so you can recover.
Reversed, rest and recovery is slow or difficult. There may be burnout or a lack of proper self-care. Alternatively, it could be that moment after a decent rest, when we have the mental strength to fight again. Questions answered by the reversed Four of Swords: Who? An angsty or restless individual What? A slow recovery Where? A school; an office When? The middle of October; Later; After a nap Why? “Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.” ~Barbara Jordan Yes or No? Yes, but later The reversed Four of Swords as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Blue; orange …a movie theme? Awakening; burn-out
…a new career?
Four of Swords reversed Before any card: A recovery from (card) After any card: burn-out; lack of progres
How fitting that today is the three of swords reversed. My family is going through a particularly difficult time, one that we can't talk about, but needless to say it's stressful, and requires a lot of time with my therapist plus some new medications for generalized anxiety disorder - these are all things the three of swords reversed recommends!
As an early October baby, I live a very three of swords life, as that's the card that was prevalent at my birth. It's a constant state of disaster and disaster recovery. Luckily, the reversed three is that recovery period - the bad thing has ended and now we have to learn how to cope after it. Even though it's still a "no" card, it's a positive no - it's a no that requires more time and patience while we deal with the aftermath of terrible things. 
Upright, this three is a card of pain, heartbreak, and sorrow. It could be the end of a job or relationship, an accidental injury or death, or something else causing deep and difficult grief.
Reversed, the terrible events happened but we have overcome - or started to overcome - that pain. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and are optimistic, reconciling differences, or trying to be positive. Questions answered by reversed Three of Swords: Who? Long-divorced couple; an estranged friend What? The light at the end of the tunnel Where? A grief or support group When? The beginning of October; In the past; Three hours Why? “Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.” ~Sharon Salzberg Yes or No? No The Three of Swords reversed as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Ombre, green …a movie theme? Attempting to recover after devastation
…a new career?
The reversed Three of Swords Before any card: Attempting to recover after (card) After any card: Recovery; forgiveness For more on the three of swords reversed, read Applied Tarot Reversed:
I have a lot going on right now, and every day I'm faced with decision after decision and stress after stress. It becomes a little unbearable at times, because I don't know up from down and I'm terrified of choosing the wrong thing and causing myself more stress.
It's this kind of self-imposed hesitancy that the reversed two of swords warns us about. If we're frozen in time because we're afraid to decide something, eventually the decision is made for us and it might not look like anything we wanted. Like last Saturday, I was upset about money and waffling back and forth about whether I should go back to work at a corporate job, or drop out of school to save money, or both, or neither, and I couldn't stop teeter-tottering over all of my options to just decide something. Well, then my insulin pump stopped working, which sent us to the hospital, where our insurance card didn't work so we had to pay $500 for supplies. Would the pump have stopped working had I made a decision about funds? Of course it would, decisions aren't magical. However, if I knew what my future plan was when the pump ultimately stopped working, the hospital event and financial woes might have been a lot less intense. The universe has a strange way of presenting an unwanted third option when we've been too wishy-washy to choose something. In this case, the unwanted third option was the threat of imminent death. When we finally got back home at 3 in the morning, I chose to stay in school and look for freelance work when it comes around. It was an easy decision, but for whatever reason I just didn't think of it before the catastrophe. 
The upright Two of Swords may indicate a dilemma with no clear path forward, a decision with no right or wrong choice, or two paths - neither of which is better than the other.
When reversed, one is unable to make the decision needed to move beyond this two. It could be a postponement of a dream, the discovery of a lie, or some sort of unfair disadvantage when dealing with a choice. Questions answered by the reversed Two of Swords: Who? A liar What? A delay Where? A highway between two cities When? The end of September; After a long delay; when a decision is reached Why? “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” ~Theodore Roosevelt Yes or No? No The reversed Two of Swords as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to Eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Beige or greige …a movie theme? Stalemate; unfairness
…a new career?
Two of Swords reversed Before any card: An unfair disadvantage due to (card) After any card: Delays; lies Love puzzles like the reversed 2 of Swords? You'll love Psychic Word puzzles! Every solution is a message from the universe:
Often, life becomes too much when we're inundated with information, news, media, and situations that are out of our control. It's important to educate ourselves on world issues so that we aren't blind to what's happening around us, but the fact of the matter is there isn't much we can do about it.
When one is depressed or otherwise suffering mental illness, the fact that we can't do anything becomes part of our psychoses and self-blame. I can't personally save anyone in Kashmir, so I feel terrible about myself when I see news about it. It seems ridiculous, but mental health issues are ridiculous. And so we get to the reversed Ace of Swords, which are those ridiculous mental health issues. The brain isn't functioning the way it should, so we beat ourselves (or worse, others) up, we forget simple things, or we're gullible to misinformation or idiocy. It happens to the smartest of us - in fact, one could argue that the smarter a person is, the further they can fall into idiocy when the neurons aren't firing correctly. I'm going to try to stay off the news and watch Zoolander today. It's a good kind of mindless fun. 
This upright Ace represents determination, intelligence, and focus. It may suggest a victory using the mind or one's wits.
Reversed, it’s a lack of ideas or intelligence, hostility, misinformation, or possible memory loss. What are you forgetting? Questions answered by the reversed Ace of Swords: Who? The forgetful person What? A failed exam or test Where? Under the desk When? An unknown time; December through March - The entire season of Winter (Northern Hemisphere) or Summer (Southern Hemisphere) Why? “Forgetfulness is a form of freedom.” ~Kahlil Gibran Yes or No? Probably not The reversed Ace of Swords as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find your missing item?
…a color? Pantone 448 C “Drab dark brown” …a movie theme? Ignorance; stupidity
…a new career?
The reversed Ace of Swords Before any card: A need to learn more about (card) After any card: Ignorance; memory loss Need to exercise your brain matter? Try some word puzzles! Not only will they help your neurons regrow, you'll receive a helpful message from the universe when the puzzle is completed!
It has been a month, I'll tell you. Yes, I know it's only the 24th but I'm ready for November to be over. Without getting into my personal trauma, let's just say it's tricky, sticky, and causing daily panic attacks. I am seeing a therapist, which is a good recommendation for anyone else in a reversed cup court card situation. I am very much looking forward to blogging about reversed swords next week, even though they aren't the best, either. At least they're not so damn emotional.
Sometimes we just have a reversed cup month, where our emotions are overwhelming, we can't control our negative thoughts, and we just need a bit of extra help. That's the reversed King. Upright, he's a very loving and passionate fella, but on a bad day those emotions are flipped and he's sad, mad, and difficult to calm down. My therapist and I are working on the old adage "the best revenge is living well," so I'm going to go do more of that. I will start with a box of cookies and go from there. 
Upright, the King of Cups is a mature person who leads with the heart, not the head. This King appreciates the finer things and is warm-hearted and calm.
Reversed, like the Queen, the King becomes emotionally immature, or overreactive. They may be anxious, uncaring, depressed, or withdrawn, or they might be a cheater. Questions answered by the reversed King of Cups: Who? An unbalanced male What? An overreaction Where? A stone monument When? Mid-February to Mid-March; Mid October to Mid-November; when emotions are dealt with Why? “Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Do better. Much better. Rise above. Become so engulfed in your own success that you forget it ever happened.” ~Unknown Yes or No? No The reversed King of Cups as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Yellow; gray …a movie theme? Immature male
…a new career?
The reversed King of Cups Before any card: Remain calm when confronted with (card) After any card: Anxiety; depression Learn more about this King in Applied Tarot Reversed:
Without getting into my boring personal trauma, I'm currently working with a talk therapist who has now referred me to a psychiatrist for mental health medication. That's all you need to know about that, because that is 100% a reversed Queen of Cups way to be!
This upside-down Queen of love and emotions becomes chaotic, emotional, stressed-out, depressed, angry, frustrated, and all of the worst parts of emotionality magnified by a hundred. She really just needs to sit in front of a sobby movie with a bowl of ice cream, and weep her emotions into a pillow. I might do some of that this week, too. 
The Queen of Cups upright is a virtuous and kind person, protecting all that they have with loyalty, intuition, and wisdom.
Reversed, this card could represent a treacherous or vindictive person, or someone who is insecure and needy. The thing to remember about this queen is that cups are all about emotions, so negative or smothering emotions are generally represented by the reversed card. Questions answered by the reversed Queen of Cups: Who? An enemy What? Blocked creativity Where? A field When? Mid-June to Mid-July; Not any time soon Why? “Sometimes our thoughts are backed with so much insecurity that they create lies we believe.” ~Unknown Yes or No? Uncertain The Queen of Cups reversed as: …an action?
…a place in your house?
…a place in your city?
…a place in the world?
…something to eat?
…something to clean?
…where to find the missing item?
…a color? Yellow; blue …a movie theme? Insecurity, emotional manipulation
A new career?
The reversed Queen of Cups Before any card: Be cautious and reserved with (card) After any card: Insecurity; emotional manipulation
The Queen could also use a silly book to drown her mental energy in. Something like Faye's Fortune, which is currently on sale for just 99 cents!
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