KNIGHT OF SWORDS

You’ve caught sight of The Striking Owl, a powerful bird of prey on a mission. The Knight of Swords is determined to achieve its goals, knowing that the work required to obtain the knowledge necessary (the storm) will pay off dividends later (the blooming desert). The owl’s wings are spread and the sword is perfectly straight, showing determination and expertise, while the owl represents a focused intellectual drive of someone who is ambitious without apologies. This is an action card; you’re quickly moving toward something, not pausing to plan ahead. You can’t tell a Knight of Swords to slow down or to be careful, but a lot can go wrong when you move so fast. Things can change quickly, especially if you come across some unintended consequences of your prior actions or cut corners in the name of speed. Still, the Knight of Swords is a great communicator and can normally take its way out of a jam with ease.

IF YOU’RE FEELING BLOCKED:

The Knight of Swords suggests that you might be facing burnout, or that you might be feeling a bit directionless and restless, struggling with your focus and having your hands in too many activities at once. Maybe you’ve got a lot of pent-up energy and a lot of frustrations about it because something or someone is holding you back from finishing a project or monetizing an idea. You might need to take a step back, or slow down to look at the bigger picture. Focus on something small to finish and cross off your things-to-create list. The more smaller items you can focus on one at a time, the better you’ll get at focusing on the larger picture of where you’re heading and why you’re heading there.

CREATIVITY EXERCISES:

Create something with the theme of Direction

Illustrate a lightning storm

Create a pattern or series of works inspired by the plants and animals of Earth’s deserts

Go for a walk and take photographs of 15 small but permanent items you come across that can act as navigational landmarks; create a map or scavenger hunt for others to follow your path.