Hitting Rock Bottom

"Fall down seven times, get up eight." – Japanese proverb

The channeled reading for November is grim. The card that came forward is the 10 of Swords, a card that represents hitting rock bottom. In the card, a figure lays slain with not one but 10 swords running down the length of their back. It's a melodramatic image – an exaggerated one that plays on our fears and emotions.

In the tarot, the Swords suit relates to the realm of the mind, beliefs, and ideology. The 10 of Swords is a card many of us recognize instinctively. It speaks of hopelessness and utter defeat – though that defeat often lives more in our perception than in external reality. Or maybe it's the turning point, the "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" moment.

And let's be clear, the external reality isn't pretty. Here in the US, one in eight Americans receives federal assistance for food expenses through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Individuals receive approximately $6 per day which, obviously, doesn't go very far. Yesterday, a judge ordered the administration to use emergency funds to partially cover the cost of November SNAP benefits which otherwise ran out yesterday under the government shutdown. On social media, President Trump responded, "If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the court, it will be my honor to provide funding, just like I did with military and law enforcement pay."

In 1789 or thereabouts, upon learning her French subjects had no bread to eat, the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, is said to have responded coldly, "Let them eat cake." The callous remark, symbolic of the decadence of the monarchy, helped to fuel a revolution. Historians say the attribution to Marie Antoinette is false, but the phrase resonated nonetheless.

In 2025, the United States has the highest nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in the world, and yet one in eight people needs food assistance. It's not a "let them eat cake moment," but the parallels to today, including Trump's $300 million White House ballroom, are hard to ignore. The 90,000 square foot ballroom will be funded with donations from wealthy individuals, as well as tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, HP, Meta, Microsoft, and Palantir.

Americans love a comeback, and it's high time for one. After all, those swords in our back are symbolic, not literal and we can – and will – move forward. As individuals, can we take the fears, losses, and setbacks (major and minor) we've experienced in our lives and refuse to give up? How do our challenges and adversities reveal our true strength?

Monthly Guidance for Sun and Rising Signs

♈ Aries

Affirmation: I rise stronger each time I fall.
Reflection: How can I turn frustration or defeat into fuel for bold action?

♉ Taurus

Affirmation: My strength lies in my ability to bend, not break.
Reflection: Where can I release resistance and discover power in flow?

♊ Gemini

Affirmation: I choose thoughts that empower and uplift me.
Reflection: Can I recognize when my inner critic is speaking—and gently change the channel?

♋ Cancer

Affirmation: I release the past and open to what’s ahead.
Reflection: How can I turn my attention forward and shape the future with intention?

♌ Leo

Affirmation: My courage burns brighter than any setback.
Reflection: How can I use my fire and heart to lead with joy?

♍ Virgo

Affirmation: I am enough, exactly as I am.
Reflection: How can I practice being a better friend to myself?

♎ Libra

Affirmation: I stand in my truth.
Reflection: Where do I need hold firm over keeping the peace?

♏ Scorpio

Affirmation: Every challenge reveals my strength.
Reflection: What if everything is unfolding for my highest good?

♐ Sagittarius

Affirmation: I trust my instincts.
Reflection: Am I listening to what my gut is telling me?

♑ Capricorn

Affirmation: I rebuild with wisdom and purpose.
Reflection: Where might I realign to match who I’m becoming?

♒ Aquarius

Affirmation: I will find the way forward.
Reflection: How can I use my unique vision to inspire hope and progress?

♓ Pisces

Affirmation: I am healing and I am whole.
Reflection: Where can I offer myself the compassion I so easily give others?

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