Suspicious Minds: Secretive, Deceptive, or Both? (The 7 of Swords)

Suspicion is defined by The Merriam Webster Dictionary as “the act or an instance of suspecting something wrong without proof or on slight evidence: mistrust”. It causes people to adopt behaviors that are harmful unto themselves and others, creating a cycle of mistrust, which ultimately entraps the mind. This writing aims at understanding these Suspicious Minds - how they came to be, how they impact reality, and how they can be healed and freed.

In the tarot, there is card that expresses this type of attitude, which is the Seven of Swords. On this card, in the Rider Waite Deck, we see the man trying to get away with at least 5 of the 7 swords. He’s sneaky, he’s a thief, he’s secretive, and he’s deceptive. He’s the type of person who will take risks to get what he wants. The type that lives by the motto “the end justifies the means”. So, in the 7 of swords world there’s lying, and betrayal, there’s hiding and concealing.

However, it doesn’t always necessarily stem from a negative intention. In this way, we can say that there are two types of Suspicious Minds: the “light” one, which is secretive and protective of themselves, and the “shadow” one, which is normally both secretive and deceptive, and has lower morals and behavioral standards. The questions are then: What’s the difference between both types? What causes them to act this way? How can we tell them apart? And how can we act, when interacting with this sort of behavior and person? And most importantly, how can we free ourselves if we find out that it applies to us, personally?

Let’s start with the shadow type. He’s the guy who will have a very one-track mind in terms of what his goal is. He sees it clearly and he goes all out for it, but in a sneaky way. It’s not an “all guns blazing” type of moment. He doesn’t want the attention. His goal is to achieve his goal no matter what, as smoothly as possible. And in order to do that he can/might/will be manipulative and very charming.

They are good with their words. They are observant and mostly in control. Usually not good listeners, though. They already know what they want and they don’t really care about what you or anybody else has to say about it. Unless it’s good information strategy-wise for them, something they can use to their advantage.

Since they are charming, what they do comes out of left field and it’s surprising, shocking, and a bit scary. Scary not necessarily because they could harm you in any way, it’s just that their behavior is so baffling that it makes you question everything else - past, present, and future.

They are, deep down, strategists. They are the architects of a plan and they are very protective of it, and thus, secretive about it. They focus on the steps and especially on the target, their end goal. They are way more loyal to the plan and themselves than they are to the other people

involved in it.

This type of person can be a con-artist, for example. A parasite, a vampire. Their end goal, in this case, is to reap the rewards or at least enjoy them without having lifted a finger. The only work they do is that which is part of the plan.

They might be the person who wants to marry rich, so they can avoid the whole work-for-a-living struggle. It cannot be said that there are no feelings involved, for sure. They might be very logical, but that is not to say they are cold-hearted. So, they might be very selective about the people they see and allow into their lives, basing their choice a lot on their prospect partner’s financial accomplishments and wealth (or lack there of). By limiting their options, they could find true love and fulfill their wishes. There is, however, the other possibility as well, of them scheming and lying to secure the bag just for the sake of the bag. In th

at case, they could spend years and maybe even their whole lives in a lie.

Something else about this type of people is that they hate getting caught and they rarely apologize. Why apologize for something that wasn’t a mistake to begin with? The only mistake was someone figuring it out and calling them out along the way. “I should have been more careful,” they might think to themselves.

They might use people to get what they want, not caring much about their feelings, the repercussion of their actions, etc. In that way they are narcissistic and egotistical. On the other hand, as previously mentioned, what they do could be harmless or not. It could be something they do when the going gets tough, as an emergency action. Or it could be their modus operandi.

In turn, in varying levels of intensity as well, they are suspicious people. Especially if they operate from a 7 of swords perspective. Since they act like it, this is how they see the world - through the lens of betrayal. And then, as a result, this is what they expect from others. That is their language and inasmuch as they inflict it, they also protect themselves from it. Being betrayed and lied to, stolen from, etc, might be some of their biggest and worse fears. They could be unconsciously creating this pattern in their lives, this never-ending cycle.

What came first? The chicken or the egg?

The fear of betrayal or betrayal itself?

The root is trauma - most often than not, childhood trauma.

And that is the same for both types. The root is the same, in different ways, and in different levels. It becomes externalized in different manners as well, so one type is more intentionally harmful or deceptive, while the other might harm you unintentionally since they aren’t able to communicate clearly and openly. Thus, when we talk about the light type, the secretive type, this is what damages relationships - an inability to express themselves out of fear.

So, not everything they do is supposed to be aimed outwardly or at another person. What happens is that they project this perspective out of fear only and might not have one bad intention in their souls. Do you know that person who is paranoid and thinks the world is out to get them? They think they are being lied to, played, ridiculed. They think that someone is stealing their swords or might do so, quite possibly the whole time. They might have, obviously, some not very nice tendencies when it comes to their behavior since this is mot likely a deep-rooted mindset, but the biggest victim is themselves, or at least the first one. Since they don’t trust anyone, they then end up hurting the people around them, making them feel like they’re untrustworthy.

Maybe what happens isn’t so much of a big deal. They could be hiding something from you that they think could actually hurt you and that they’re dealing with already, meaning it won’t be a problem much longer - they’ve got it all figured out and they believe “ignorance is bliss”, for you, at least, in this moment.

Say that when you started seeing each other, he already had something going on prior with some other girl(s). So when things start getting serious between the two of you, he needs to deal with the 3rd person(s). He doesn’t want you to know that, so he’ll deal with it and hide it from you. That, though sincere in a way, qualifies as a 7 of swords move. And, therefore, despite the sneakiness, not all his moves are evil and mean.

It’s kind of like when you go to the ophthalmologist and he’s checking your eyes to see if you should wear glasses, and if you do, what degree you need. So, you’re sitting there and he tries one lens, then the other, then another, all the while asking “is it better now?”, “which one do you prefer?”.

When we’re talking about suspicious minds, it’s like they walk around with this lens that they haven’t consciously selected. And while a person who is a romantic might be described as wearing rose-colored glasses, the mistrustful type will probably have glasses on that are dark and make things blurry or they might have some spots on which tarnish and damage what they see. And when they walk around with these glasses on, they not only see others that way, but all of reality, including themselves.

For that reason, they are insecure. They don’t trust you, but most importantly, they don’t trust themselves. They don’t think you’re good enough, but most importantly, they don’t feel they are good enough. And maybe this is where this whole “the end justifies the means” vibe stems from. They have such low standards for themselves, they see themselves in such a bad light, that there is little that they’re not willing to do for the sake of their integrity. What integrity? They lack the self-love for that.

Now, if you’re dealing with a person like this, you should ask yourself first and foremost which type they are. Are they the “shadow” type? Abusive, controlling, lying, manipulative, hurtful? Or are they the “light” type - traumatized, fearful, easily triggered? Once you figure that out objectively you can then decide how to go about it.

The first kind is the hardest to help. Maybe you love them and see the good in them, what leads you to stick around and endure the abuse while you try to show them the light through unconditional love. However, you feel yourself being drained and becoming more and more resentful. You could even get to a point where you don’t recognize yourself anymore and realize that so much has been taken from you. When that’s the case it’s important to understand there’s little to nothing that you can do that will actually be effective. It’s best to get yourself out of the equation and if that’s not possible (if the person is a family member or co-worker, for instance), then you need to set strong boundaries that you care for every day, until you feel they’re solid and you can stop working so hard.

It’s easier said than done, for sure, especially if you have a strong bond with them. But you are worth more than this. And why would they get to decide their lives matter more than yours? Take back your power and free yourself. It will hurt and it will be hard work, but it will be worth it.

There’s this Ben Harper song that says: “And it’s so hard to do and so easy to say, but sometimes, sometimes, you just have to walk away. Walk away and head for the door...”

... head for the door, beautiful soul. Crossing it will liberate you.

However, if your person (whatever relationship you may share) is of the light type, your strategy could be different. It depends on, though, how open and willing to change they are. If they aren’t, head for the door. If they are, then work can be done and they may find freedom within themselves, and ultimately learn new habits and strategies to overcome this type of conditioning. Self-contemplation is of extreme importance. Meditation, therapy, reading, etc, can really help. But you have to understand something if you want to stick around - real change only happens from within and it’s got to be a first-person type of project. You might facilitate and provide insight as well as resources and strategies, but it’s always ultimately up to them to take the steps towards healing. So make sure, if you do decide to stay, that you’re investing your time, energy, and most importantly yourself, into someone that will take positive advantage of all you have to offer and do something good with it. And always keep in mind that they’re not your responsibility and you can change your mind at any time and it is okay.

And now comes the tricky part: what if all of this applies to you? What if you are

the one seeing life and experiencing reality through the lens of deception? What if you have been fooling yourself and the people around you, all the while establishing negative neural connections and patterns, therefore confirming time after time toxic habits and behaviors that directly impact everything?

Yeah. If that is true for you, I ask you to take a deep breath and rejoice in the fact that your eyes are open and you can see. That in itself is so important for without awareness there just isn’t change. But with it comes the power to do just that. Be sure of this: for each shadow aspect you become conscious of you are given the right tools. When you awaken to it, it’s the beginning of a conscious journey where you face it. However, it is the end of an unconscious journey, where you were getting ready for this exact moment, gathering information, learning skills, basically strengthening yourself for when it arrived.

Your soul is always working towards liberation. It doesn’t need your conscious awareness and effort. It fights against the conditioning until it’s released. And there are layers of conditioning that need to be removed before the full release of the soul. And if you are reading this now, you have successfully discovered what at least one of these layers is. Congratulations. Do you feel it? Happiness. Success. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t allow your ego to make you feel guilty about it. We are all on a journey and not one of us is perfect. Truth is, if you are looking to better yourself, you are already walking a beautiful path. It’s an extremely confrontational path and it’s not for the faint of heart. But it is truly beautiful, for what is more beautiful than freedom? And that’s where you are headed. Freedom is guaranteed.

By now, your soul’s done a lot of the work and it’s handing it to you on a silver platter. You have at your disposal the report plus all the tools. It’s obviously different for everyone, as we have different experiences and thus learn other lessons and obtain other tools. What we do have in common though, at this point, is the 7 of swords projection. It can be dealt with and integrated. Yes - integrated. We’re not trying to deny its existence and we are not trying to extinguish it either. In order to be whole we must accept, understand, love, and integrate all aspects of ourselves. This behavior has, I’m sure, been detrimental, but it has also provided comfort and security when you needed it. Because that’s how these toxic traits are born and take roots in our psyche: during moments when we felt powerless and scared, what saved us from reality and being overwhelmed by an assault of feelings was this protective lens that was put over our sight, which directly, but unconsciously, impacts our perception on all levels. If we can’t see something for what it really is, then our entire experience of it means little to nothing. Whatever we get out of it is just wrong - any conclusion, feeling, opinion, idea. It just has no basis in reality.

In a way, when we think about it, this lens works as a filter also. As a lens, it changes what you see. As a filter, it alters your perception. It happens like a synchronistic dance, where there’s give and take, a balance between what goes out and what comes in. And once you’re aware that it is there, you can focus your awareness on figuring out how both the lens and the filter manifest in your life, particularly. How has it really impacted your life? What beliefs do you hold that were not built on a solid ground? What habits and behaviors have you developed based on your skewed vision of the world? What areas of your life have been more affected by your inability to trust? How have you hurt yourself and others? Can you pinpoint the moments where your judgement (of a person, a situation, etc) was off and you felt confused and questioned your own ability to analyze reality?

Ask yourself. Take yourself on a journey. Use your mind as an ally. Question it

and it will provide answers. Ask specific questions (writing helps) and let go. The answers will eventually and undoubtedly arise. They might come as insights when you’re alone or during an interaction, when you’re listening to music, reading a book, or aimlessly browsing through Instagram. Do not worry about timing and getting things done fast. You’re consciously embarking on a journey and journeys take time. So be patient with yourself and accept whatever comes with love. You may be critical, but work on leaving judgement out of it. Look at it from all possible perspectives. Truly observe. And take notes, like an avid student and researcher. Refrain from reaching conclusions. This journey is a case study, a research project. All data must be collected as presented and analyzed objectively, both individually and collectively, as many times as needed.

Also, besides looking to understand how your perception is distorted, look to understand what it is that this lens is trying to cover up, protect, make invisible to yourself and others. The 7 of swords behavior, as previously mentioned, is more often than not rooted in a deep fear of being hurt. So you come up with this attitude as a shield that will protect your innermost precious truth. And what is that truth? What is so beautiful that you’re willing to protect it at all costs? A soft heart? A poet? An artist? An incredibly amazing talent? What is it that you hide? Ask yourself. Go within. Go deep. Breathe. Dive for it and also allow it to come to you: this pearl that you so diligently keep locked up. And notice your bodily sensations and feelings. Do you feel something anywhere in your body? A heaviness, a knot, a burning sensation, or like maybe there are walls around you - walls built with all the swords you’ve been carrying around. Pinpoint this sensation so the next time it comes you’re able to recognize it and master it, instead of being mastered by it.

And the pearl of truth... once you have it, hold it, acknowledge it, observe it, and know that you are precious just like your truth, and that neither nothing nor no one should be able to stop you from sharing it. For how can we be truly free if we are concerned about people’s egoic judgment of us? At this stage, we’re stripping ourselves away from all ego traps and deceptions and this is one that needs to go: our being influenced by people’s egos. We are letting go of our own - why should we interact with someone else’s? I mean, interaction will happen, since we’re not all awake yet, but i can’t be that meaningful to us any longer. We can’t do or not do something based on someone else’s lower self anymore. Because the lower self is the one that bullies and ridicules. But if we’re above it, vibrationally, how can it affect us? By taking a soulful approach to life, we aim to interact with other being’s souls and the soul is loving, supportive, and open. And the souls - yours, mine, ours - need your precious truth. Put down the swords before you’ve entrapped yourself. Share your truth. We will collectively protect it, and you.

Last, but not least (in any way), dive deep into your mind and your body and look for the root cause of the attitude. What made you act this way? When did it start? How was your inner child hurt? What was it that threatened your stability to the point that you felt you needed to protect yourself like this? What do the swords represent for you? How did they materialize in your psyche? What kind of trauma did you suffer? Who hurt you?

Again, with the answers you get - strive to observe and you will thrive. Observe each memory that arises as a third person. Notice everything you can about the scene playing out - even if it doesn’t make sense to your conscious mind, even if you can’t consciously remember it or believe it ever happened. Our unconscious minds speak to us through symbols and record memories differently than our conscious minds. Tell is that you want the very first one. When you have it, when you see it, observe it from all perspectives with love, and when it’s done, join it and join the wounded child you see. Love it, nurture it. Refrain completely from placing blame and/or reaffirming negativity and toxicity. Whoever did you wrong is not your problem at this point. Your goal is to make sure this child - you - is able to walk out of that repeating loop of pain, for that’s where they are stuck. It hasn’t been resolved, so it keeps happening, and the wound keeps getting deeper. You want to heal it, to overcome it. You want to see the scar and not the flesh. So when you interact with your hurt inner child, face him/her in all your power, strength, and maturity, with all your lessons learned and everything you have figured out this far, and talk to them like you wish someone would have. Show them the higher perspective of things and tend to their heart.

Do this as many times and as often as you need, all the while knowing, in your heart, than when you heal your inner child, you heal yourself. When you are healed, you are free from the shackles of illusion and fear.

Truthfully - Love will set us free. Love will set you free.

And it comes first and foremost from within your own self.

I wish that you are brave enough to go on this journey and that you know without a doubt that you are supported. It hurts at first, but the results are mind-blowing. You will see everything change - within and without.

Freedom is beautiful, and so are you.