Tarot Tuesday

The Ten of Swords represents an ending and utter despair. This card signifies the "victim" mentality. It's time for an attitude change, you were at bottom but that can change.

This is the card of despair, mental anguish, ruin and pain. It usually represents an end of something because of treachery, backstabbing, and/or misfortune. The loss seems particularly bad because you didn't see it coming and it takes away something you were counting on.

On this card, we see a man dead with ten swords in him, a bit of overkill. It is a frightening looking card and sometimes everything just... goes... wrong. This is a card that lets the person having their cards read know that, yes, things are as bad as he fears but as the man on the card shows us, the swords have done their worse. It is over.

Although something is coming to an end according to this card, the Ten of Swords suggests that this won't be easy but deep down they know that certain things must happen so that new chapters can begin. They've been through some difficult times and although it won't be an overnight change, things can only get better from here. The number ten represents hope and out of the ashes, the phoenix will rise. New beginnings will be built on firm foundations as they'll have learned through the benefit of experience.

Breathing Exercise

This exercise is utterly simple... takes almost no time.... requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Although you can do the exercise in any position, sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward.

• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
• Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
• Hold your breath for a count of seven.
• Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
• This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.

Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4:7:8 is important. If you have trouble holding your breath, speed the exercise up but keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With practice you can slow it all down and get used to inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply.

Once you develop this technique by practicing it every day, it will be a very useful tool that you will always have with you. Use it whenever anything upsetting happens - before you react. Use it whenever you are aware of internal tension. Use it to help you fall asleep. This exercise cannot be recommended too highly. Everyone can benefit from it.