Grief with Teeth

In my post today, I spoke about the 3 of Swords in its reversed position. It’s a card most people don’t like to see in their readings, and that’s fair — upright, it can speak to heartbreak, betrayal, or emotional pain. But when reversed, it can feel even more uncomfortable. Why? Because it suggests pain that hasn’t been properly dealt with. It’s not always fresh — just unresolved. We carry it, sometimes quietly, without ever really tending to it.

In that post, I shared something personal. Years ago, I fell out with a close friend — someone I’d known for over twenty years. We hadn’t spoken in four years when I found out she had died.

She could be difficult, and I won’t sugarcoat that. At the root of our fall-out was a pattern: when she didn’t get her own way, she would throw tantrums. A lot of people danced around that behaviour, but I didn’t. I called it out — and eventually, I walked away.

That said, our friendship wasn’t all conflict. We laughed a lot. There was affection, history, real tenderness. Underneath everything, I think she was insecure — and that often showed up in entitled or explosive ways. The last thing she said to me was cruel, and I don’t regret creating distance. But still, I wish I’d seen her before she died. I wish I’d had the chance to say: I loved you, despite everything.

That’s the 3 of Swords reversed — the pain you carry even after you’ve moved on. It’s grief with teeth. Not just mourning a person, but mourning the version of them you needed and didn’t get. Mourning the version of the relationship you hoped it could be.

Why is this coming up now? Because I can feel the presence of resentment in other areas of my life — situations and people who have hurt me, and where I’m still quietly holding on to that ache. The card invites me to ask: Do I confront that pain? Do I make peace with it? Or do I let it live in me, festering beneath the surface?

For many of us, the reversed 3 of Swords isn’t just about heartbreak. It’s about wounds we’ve buried. The dull ache we’ve stopped acknowledging. The pain that no longer bleeds, but never really healed.

© Steven Bright, 2025

Riding the Spark

We’ve all experienced a moment — a rush, a feeling — when we just know something is calling us. Your chest expands. Your mind races with ideas. You want to get started immediately, because whatever it is, it has you.

That moment? That’s the Knight of Wands.

This card is all fire and forward motion. He’s the creative spark in human form — energising, expressive, a little wild. When this Knight appears, we’re often being invited to embrace our enthusiasm, chase what excites us, and let our passions lead the way.

Wands are all about action. They’re not about overthinking, but doing. This card is about acting on something before you talk yourself out of it. The Knight of Wands does not hesitate, he takes a leap. 

We often feel we need to have everything figured out before we begin. But the Knight of Wands reminds us that there’s real power in simply starting — because if you wait for certainty, you might never move at all. This card is about trusting momentum, even when the full path hasn’t revealed itself yet. It invites you to ask: Where’s the fire right now? In a connection, a project, a place? And then to follow it — not because you know exactly where it will lead, but because it feels alive and moves you. 

So, what’s the downside of this card? There’s got to be one, right?

Even the brightest flames need tending. And this is where the Knight can get tricky. If you’re someone who starts with great excitement but loses steam when the novelty wears off, you’re not alone. This Knight burns hot, but not always long. So, how might we keep the flame alive, if that is even possible? 

One simple way to keep the flame alive is to work in short, focused bursts — give yourself a clear goal and a time frame, then take a break before the burnout hits. Let your excitement lead, but build in pauses to check in with yourself. You don’t have to stay at full speed — sometimes, shifting to a steady pace is what helps the fire last.

If you’re a creative person, it can help to design lighter projects with clear, manageable endings. For example, you might create a short social media series with just six posts — enough to channel your enthusiasm without overwhelming yourself. Having an endpoint gives you something to aim for and can keep you engaged before burnout sets in. Once it’s done, you might find that same creative spark returns, ready to fuel the next wave. These short bursts of focused effort let you ride your passion without running yourself into the ground or losing momentum.

The Knight of Wands is a burst of fire — thrilling, magnetic, and hard to ignore. But just as quickly as it flares up, it can burn out. The key is to make the most of that energy while it’s burning bright, accepting from the start that the momentum might not last forever. When we recognise this, we can harness the spark without expecting it to stay longtime and enjoy the ride.

© Steven Bright, 2025