For me, one of the many joys of travel has been to spend time in open or low-building places that offer an expanse of wild, unframed, unobstructed sky.
I could easily watch the natural cycles of dark and light and exquisite color; the flights of birds; drifting, shapeshifting clouds; the ominous birthing and approach of heavy weather. That mercurial, sometimes terrifying power of the sky inspired ancient humans to imagine deities who ruled Earth and all life from somewhere high up above.
Tarot’s Court of Swords—a realm of Air and light—might inspire us as we commune with Sky as a source of:
mental clarity and critical thinking
steely focus
fresh air and new information
discernment and decisiveness
self-determination, self-assertion, and expressiveness
dedication to truth
As with any power image we engage with here at Tarot in the Wild and Whispers in the Wild, how you encounter and relate to Sky will be determined by your specific nature and needs. So, I encourage you to pay attention to the way Sky presents itself to you.
For today, I suggest you find an open stretch of skyscape you can watch for a fair amount of time—even five minutes might do the trick, for now, if you are pressed for time—and observe what Sky is doing:
Is it clear? Or partially- or heavily-clouded? Or uniformly overcast?
What particular color is your sky at this moment? Can you detect that color gradually changing with the changing light of day?
If cloudy, do clouds dominate the sky? Or are they scattered here and there?
Are they puffy? Or wispy? Or dark, hinting at coming rain or snow?
What are their shapes? Do these shapes remind you of anything?*
Are they moving slowly or driven fast by wind?
(*Please indulge a short digression: A few days ago, returning home from a museum, I watched two small, roundish clouds, shaped like eyes, hover above a third which resembled a pair of ample, smiling lips. As I gazed in amazement, wind slowly transformed the lips into the unmistakable shape of a dragon. In the novel I’ve been writing since late 2023, some of my characters shapeshift from dragon to human and vice versa!)
Next, please focus on time of day and the specific hue of your sky.
Gazing on that color, identify it by name, if you can. For example, at times, I have enjoyed skies of lavender, rosy pink, periwinkle blue, or some blending combination.
Now, breathe that color in, absorbing its energy.
How does that color make you feel in body, mind, and spirit?
What information does it offer you?
When you are satisfied that you and Sky have shared and concluded your communication, release the energy of the sky’s color by inhaling deeply and intentionally releasing that energy through strong exhalations from your mouth. Do this cycle of breath at least three times, and don’t forget to express your gratitude to Sky.
It’s my daily practice to say good morning and good night to the sky—and whatever features and conditions I find there—as I look out my kitchen window. At times, I have felt intuitively drawn to that window and discovered a lovely color, the Moon and/or a visible planet, or some other gift of Sky, and I always express fond admiration and gratitude for whatever’s there.
In the desert the sky rules. Like how the vast and continuously shifting expanse of the ocean mesmerizes and dominates when you're on a shore or in a boat. The sky here has that effect. I've received texts like "go outside now" and know it's the sky again, impossible to shrug off, even when inside. In a still land whose earthly seasons are distinguished by subtle shades of silver, brown and olive green, it's the sky that brings on the frenzied colors. Or roaring, rolling layers of clouds. Or unflinching blue for days. Whenever I find myself conversing with someone outside, our eyes stay on the sky while we talk. We stand there, scanning the sky the same way we breathe its air. Like we have to stay aware to stay afloat lest we somehow drown. In the sky. I know it doesn't make sense. But that is how it feels. Like someday, any day now, there's going to be something we really, really need to know. And it's going to come from the sky.