Swan Song
In the traditional Rider-Waite, judgment is the last thing that comes to us in this life as we die and move on to the next world, where everything is fixed and perfect all the time. I’m fonder of other decks’ interpretations, where judgment is an act that can occur at any time while lacking the finality of the Christian version. It does mean we don’t get to be absolved forever and never have to worry about slipping up again, but it also means that judgment serves as much of a beginning as it does an ending.
Take a look inside and ask what it is that you need to let go of. Letting go may involve forgiving yourself or others, in which case you can move unburdened to the next task. Or it may involve acknowledging that a mistake was made and resolving to do better next time. In this case, it may not be time to move to the next thing quite yet, but it does free you from being bogged down by unproductive emotions like guilt, anger, or sadness. These can be clues to what needs to be fixed, but they aren’t meant to be lived in — use them as guides to identify what needs to be released and what needs work, and then allow yourself to move forward to doing that, leaving the negativity behind.
Dr. Turner’s Notebooks are a reader-supported publication. Although all our posts are free, your generous support makes this possible.
