“In the Name of Pride”

This week we highlight the word Pride and its ability to display either Shadow or Light aspects depending on the context, consciousness & intent of its owner.  It can be a charged sort of word, holding the power to be either a vice or desirable quality; a characteristic that many find off-putting or something of value we seek to attain for ourselves.  It can be both a strength & a weakness, a reward or an obstacle, a trait admired or a repellant flaw.  In the Tarot of Oppositions, I can find no other prime example of this dichotomy than in its 6 of Wands. Here we see the positive side of pride: authentic expression, strong self-esteem, possessing dignity, embracing victories to your heart and taking pleasure in these achievements. On the flip side we see the shadowy expression of pride: arrogance, egotism, hubris and attitude. This knight’s success has gone to his head and there’s no one there to celebrate because of it. His pride has become his weakness but Petrified Wood (Ancestors) appears as a way to overcome his grandiosity and lack of grace. Perhaps he thinks he got to the top all on his own steam and is forgetting the sacrifice of others who helped pave the way for his success. He shouldn’t forget where he came from but have some humility & appreciation for those who walked before him. He may be rigid & set in his own way of thinking disregarding their advice as old fashioned or out of touch. They hold a wealth of wisdom gathered from their life experiences & he should be open to guidance from them because in fact, this high & mighty knight does not know it all. If he embraced the advice of Hiddenite he could lean into the strength of pride with gratitude since this is the energetic key to receiving more to be thankful for. This knight recognizes & acknowledges all the beautiful people & blessings in his world giving thanks for how they supported and encouraged him & are now here to celebrate the successes close to his heart. He can honor himself for how far he’s come & forgive himself for any mistakes or wrong choices made. He knows these challenges helped him build character and strengthened his resolve making any victory won that much sweeter.