'The Blade'

As the days shorten and the northern hemisphere prepares for the hush of the winter solstice, the natural world invites us into a sacred pause. This is the moment where the veil thins, where the quietude of long nights becomes a potent portal for self-reflection and recalibration. Amidst this cosmic stillness, the Oracle card The Blade from the Mystical Shaman Oracle deck emerges as a profound guide for this seasonal threshold.

The Blade: A Symbol of Duality and Precision

The Blade is an archetype laden with symbolism. Representing the sharp edge of discernment, clarity, and decision, it holds the dual power to sever ties that no longer serve us OR to wound when wielded carelessly. In the imagery of the card, the blade gleams with potential: it is neither inherently destructive nor generative but becomes what the wielder intends it to be.

In the Mystical Shaman Oracle Guidebook, Alberto Villoldo writes of the blade as a tool of transformation—a sacred instrument capable of cutting through illusion to reveal truth. It invites us to ask: How do we wield our personal power? Do we act with intention, or do we allow unconscious patterns to dictate our movements? These questions feel especially resonant as we approach the solstice, a time to strip away excess and illuminate our core essence.

The Winter Solstice: A Time for Honoring the Shadow

The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, is a liminal space. It marks both an ending and a beginning, a moment to honor the cyclical nature of life. In many ancient traditions, this day was celebrated as a time to embrace the dark, not as a place of fear but as a fertile void where seeds of new intentions are planted. 

The Blade’s energy aligns seamlessly with this sacred turning point. Just as the solstice calls us to journey inward, the blade asks us to cut through the clutter of distraction and face our innermost truths. It is a tool for pruning, for releasing the old stories and patterns that inhibit growth. What better time to engage with this process than in the deep stillness of winter’s embrace?

Releasing with Intention: The Shadow Side of The Blade

While The Blade offers the gift of clarity, it also warns of its shadow. When wielded without mindfulness, it can harm rather than heal. This is the season to tread carefully, examining not only what we cut away but also the energy with which we approach this act.

The solstice invites us to witness our shadows with compassion. What aspects of ourselves have we avoided? What fears or resistances linger in the corners of our psyche? Instead of rushing to sever these parts, The Blade teaches us the importance of integration. Shadow work—embracing the parts of ourselves we’ve disowned—is a necessary step before any meaningful release can occur.

Rituals for Working with The Blade

As we prepare for the solstice, here are some practices to deepen your connection with The Blade and the transformative power it represents:

1. A Ceremony of Cutting

Traditional Method: Create a sacred space where you can engage in a symbolic act of release. Write down the habits, beliefs, or relationships that no longer align with your highest self on slips of paper. Hold a knife or another blade-like object in your hands and envision it as an extension of your will. With intention, cut or tear the paper, visualizing the ties being severed. Burn the pieces in a fire-safe bowl, offering them to the solstice flames as an act of surrender. 

**See Video for the method I use personally and with clients

2. Meditation on Precision

Sit quietly and imagine yourself holding The Blade. Picture its edge glowing with light, charged with clarity and purpose. Ask yourself: What truth is ready to be revealed? What action must I take to align more fully with my soul’s path? Allow the answers to arise organically, trusting the wisdom of your inner knowing.

Remember that the blade, when held by a skilled and mindful master, becomes a tool of both grace and precision. It can be wielded with a sense of love, reverence, and gratitude, honoring the role that the pattern, circumstance, or individual has played before releasing them with care.

3. Shadow Journaling

Use this season to explore the shadow aspects of The Blade. Reflect on moments when your words or actions may have cut too deeply or when you hesitated to act out of fear.

Write about what you’ve learned from these experiences and how you can approach similar situations with more balance moving forward.

The Light Returns: Welcoming a New Dawn

After the solstice, the days slowly begin to lengthen. This gradual return of light mirrors the rebirth that follows inner transformation. By working with The Blade, we clear the way for new growth and possibilities. The clarity and courage cultivated during this dark season will serve as a foundation for the cycles to come.

 Yet, this isn’t about rushing to fill the void with new intentions. The solstice teaches us to honor the pause. Let the stillness guide you. Allow the space created by The Blade’s work to remain open for a while, trusting that the seeds you plant now will germinate in their own time.

Collective Transformation

As individuals engage with their personal processes, the collective also stands at a precipice. The energy of The Blade invites us to consider what humanity must release to step into a more harmonious future. Systems and structures built on exploitation and separation are being called into question. The solstice offers a collective moment to cut through illusions and plant the seeds of a new paradigm.

What role will you play in this transformation? The Blade reminds us that personal and collective healing are intertwined. By aligning our individual actions with clarity and purpose, we contribute to the greater evolution of humanity.

The Winter Solstice and The Blade share a profound resonance. Both ask us to stand at the edge of what is known, to honor the darkness, and to wield our power with intention and care.

This season, may you embrace the gifts of clarity and discernment that The Blade offers. May you find the courage to release what no longer serves and the wisdom to honor the stillness before the return of the light.

In this sacred pause, remember: you are both the wielder and the blade. Your intentions shape your reality. As you navigate the solstice and beyond, let your actions be guided by the truth of your heart and the precision of your spirit.

By: Rebecca Mohlman.  www.TheReframe.net