Alright folks, let’s get right into today’s experiment. Ever pulled the 7 of Swords reversed and just stared at it feeling kinda lost? Yeah, me too. Happened just last week. Felt like the card was holding back on me, you know? Decided I needed to crack this code for my readings.

First Step: Hitting Reset on What I Thought I Knew

Okay, so before anything, I grabbed my deck – my trusty old Rider-Waite – and deliberately pulled the 7 of Swords reversed again. Sat there, looking at that upside-down image of the guy sneaking away. Instead of rushing to my usual book meanings (stuff like self-deception or avoiding consequences), I tried something different. I ignored the book entirely. Seriously, put it away! I just focused on the picture like it was brand new. That feeling I had? That confusion? I paid attention to that. What was my gut saying seeing this dude stuck upside down? It felt… heavy. Clumsy. Like getting caught in your own messy plan. Big aha moment! I scribbled that down real quick: “Clumsy mess of your own making.” Way more personal than “avoidance.”

Step Two: Putting “My Mess” Into Real Scenarios

Now that I had this sticky-note feeling stuck in my head, I tried applying it to past situations. Not big dramatic ones, but real, small stuff from my life. Like, remember that time I tried to juggle three different online courses simultaneously, swore I could handle it, and then panicked when deadlines collided? Total chaotic scramble! Or that argument where I tried to cover a tiny slip-up with a little fib, only to trip over my own words? Boom. There it was. The reversed 7 of Swords wasn’t some grand villain; it was that everyday, self-inflicted chaos. How does that apply to questions people might ask? Think about it:

• “Why does my project feel stalled?” → Maybe your own messy approach is tying knots in your progress.
• “Why is communication breaking down?” → Could be old half-truths or clumsy attempts to avoid a topic finally catching up.

I practiced asking myself mini-questions like that using my definition. Way less abstract.

Third Step: The “Tell Me More” Game

Felt good so far, but readings aren’t monologues. So, I role-played a bit. I pretended a friend asked, “Why do I keep feeling stuck at work?” I pulled the reversed 7 of Swords for them. Instead of blurting out my messy chaos idea, I paused. Asked them back: “Can you tell me about a time recently where you tried to handle something secretly or kinda rushed? How did that work out?” This isn’t about being psychic! It’s about linking the card’s messy energy to their specific actions. Their answer about trying to hide a small mistake from their boss, leading to bigger delays? Perfect! That “messy scramble” clicked perfectly. My interpretation instantly became relevant and helpful, not some vague label.

Wrapping It Up – Sharper & More Real

So, what did shoving the book aside and just wrestling with the card upside-down give me? Way more usable insight! Now, when that reversed 7 of Swords pops up, it triggers a clear line of thought in my head: Self-made mess → Where’s the clumsy scramble here? → Ask about their specific actions to find it. It feels practical. Less jargon, more “Oh yeah, I get that!” from whoever I’m reading for. Big difference from just staring blankly. Solid win for sharper readings!