Move with purpose, not pressure.

Diane Priestley
Jul 14
3 min read

This week’s tarot energy is fierce, focused, and a little frenzied. The Knight of Swords has burst onto the scene like it’s got a dragon to slay, a mission to complete, and zero time for hesitation. If you’ve been feeling pulled in ten directions—or charging forward with sheer willpower and a prayer—you’re right on schedule.

But while the Knight of Swords may be all speed and sharp edges, the real message this week might surprise you: slow down enough to check your foundation.

Whether you're trying to make a big decision, launch a dream, manage deadlines, or simply keep your head above water, this card isn’t just about forward motion. It’s about asking if the direction you're headed is actually the one your soul chose—or the one your stress picked for you.

Spiritual Burnout and the Shadow Side of the Knight of Swords

In its best light, the Knight of Swords represents clarity, ambition, and the kind of mental strength that slices through confusion like butter. You know what you want, and you’re not afraid to go after it. Your sword is your truth, your ideas, your mission.

But here's the catch we often miss: this Knight rides a horse—and that horse needs care.

If you don’t pause to feed it, water it, or let it rest, it collapses beneath you. And in real life? That’s your body. Your nervous system. Your creativity. Your spirit.

The shadow side of this card is all too familiar: burnout, breakdowns, and that bone-deep exhaustion that comes after too many yeses, too many to-do lists, and not enough sleep, water, or boundaries. It’s willpower disconnected from wisdom. Fire without a hearth. Strategy without soul.

We’ve all been there—especially those of us who’ve spent years being everything for everyone.

What Turning 70 Taught Me About Moving With Intention

I’ve lived this card more times than I care to admit.

And now, as I celebrate my 70th birthday this month (can you believe it?!), I find myself reflecting on how easy it is to fall back into those Knight of Swords patterns. I still have that fire inside me—the passion, the ideas, the desire to serve and create and teach—but now I know something I didn’t always understand:

You can’t rush your way into alignment.

You can’t bulldoze through your soul work. You can’t overachieve your way into peace. You’ve got to tend your inner horse. You’ve got to listen to your body, your gut, your magic.

It took me decades to learn that rest is a spiritual practice. That saying no is a sacred act. That clarity comes more easily when I give myself space to breathe, to ground, and to remember why I started.

And honestly? I wish I had learned that a whole lot earlier.

How to Reclaim Your Energy This Week

So this week, I invite you—gently, but firmly—to pause. To get still enough to feel what’s really fueling your forward motion.

Ask yourself:

Am I moving toward something that feeds me, or running from something that drains me?
Am I clear on my next steps, or am I just trying to stay busy?
Am I honoring the part of me that needs rest, or pushing through out of habit?

There’s no shame in needing a break. There’s power in choosing rest before collapse. There’s wisdom in remembering that you are the vessel, and if the vessel breaks down, the mission can’t continue.

This card isn’t telling you to stop. It’s asking you to ride smarter.

To sharpen your focus, protect your energy, and say yes only to what matters.

Because you are the magic, and the world needs you whole—not just productive.

A Birthday Gift From Me to You

To celebrate this milestone birthday of mine, I wanted to do something special. Something personal. So I set aside ten spots for tarot readings at just $70 each—a little nod to my 70th birthday on July 10.

At the time I’m writing this, there are just 5 spots left.

If your path feels muddled, if your energy feels scattered, or if your intuition is whispering, “It’s time for clarity,” I’d love to hold space for you.

Let’s make sure your path is aligned—and that your inner horse is well-fed, well-rested, and ready to carry you wherever your spirit longs to go.

You don’t have to book through my calendar for these. Shoot me an email to granny@grannyd.net. But don’t wait too long—once the 10 spots are gone, that’s that.

With love, fire, and a whole lot of gratitude,

Granny D

Move with purpose, not pressure.

But while the Knight of Swords may be all speed and sharp edges, the real message this week might surprise you: slow down enough to check your foundation.

Whether you're trying to make a big decision, launch a dream, manage deadlines, or simply keep your head above water, this card isn’t just about forward motion. It’s about asking if the direction you're headed is actually the one your soul chose—or the one your stress picked for you.

Spiritual Burnout and the Shadow Side of the Knight of Swords

In its best light, the Knight of Swords represents clarity, ambition, and the kind of mental strength that slices through confusion like butter. You know what you want, and you’re not afraid to go after it. Your sword is your truth, your ideas, your mission.

But here's the catch we often miss: this Knight rides a horse—and that horse needs care.

If you don’t pause to feed it, water it, or let it rest, it collapses beneath you. And in real life? That’s your body. Your nervous system. Your creativity. Your spirit.

The shadow side of this card is all too familiar: burnout, breakdowns, and that bone-deep exhaustion that comes after too many yeses, too many to-do lists, and not enough sleep, water, or boundaries. It’s willpower disconnected from wisdom. Fire without a hearth. Strategy without soul.

We’ve all been there—especially those of us who’ve spent years being everything for everyone.

What Turning 70 Taught Me About Moving With Intention

I’ve lived this card more times than I care to admit.

You can’t rush your way into alignment.

You can’t bulldoze through your soul work. You can’t overachieve your way into peace. You’ve got to tend your inner horse. You’ve got to listen to your body, your gut, your magic.

It took me decades to learn that rest is a spiritual practice. That saying no is a sacred act. That clarity comes more easily when I give myself space to breathe, to ground, and to remember why I started.

And honestly? I wish I had learned that a whole lot earlier.

How to Reclaim Your Energy This Week

So this week, I invite you—gently, but firmly—to pause. To get still enough to feel what’s really fueling your forward motion.

Ask yourself:

Am I moving toward something that feeds me, or running from something that drains me?

Am I clear on my next steps, or am I just trying to stay busy?

Am I honoring the part of me that needs rest, or pushing through out of habit?

There’s no shame in needing a break. There’s power in choosing rest before collapse. There’s wisdom in remembering that you are the vessel, and if the vessel breaks down, the mission can’t continue.

This card isn’t telling you to stop. It’s asking you to ride smarter.

To sharpen your focus, protect your energy, and say yes only to what matters.

Because you are the magic, and the world needs you whole—not just productive.

A Birthday Gift From Me to You

To celebrate this milestone birthday of mine, I wanted to do something special. Something personal. So I set aside ten spots for tarot readings at just $70 each—a little nod to my 70th birthday on July 10.

At the time I’m writing this, there are just 5 spots left.

If your path feels muddled, if your energy feels scattered, or if your intuition is whispering, “It’s time for clarity,” I’d love to hold space for you.

Let’s make sure your path is aligned—and that your inner horse is well-fed, well-rested, and ready to carry you wherever your spirit longs to go.

You don’t have to book through my calendar for these. Shoot me an email to granny@grannyd.net. But don’t wait too long—once the 10 spots are gone, that’s that.

With love, fire, and a whole lot of gratitude,

Granny D

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