Four of Swords

The tragic Three of Swords shattered the peace we'd arrived at in the Two; while the Four certainly smooths things over and establishes a truce, it's obvious that we have ourselves a regular little arms race going on in this suit. With higher stakes and greater pressure behind every thought and deed, it feels disingenuous to refer to this state as "peaceful," but that's often what passes for peace in this life and this world.

Yesterday President-Elect Barack Obama met with soon-to-be-retired President George W. Bush for the first time since last week's historic election. Each of these men has a pretty good idea of the other's opinion of him, especially since their first meeting in 2005 wound up rubbing them both the wrong way. Obama posted his gut reaction to the encounter online, saying, "It wasn't until he had left the room that I realized I had briefly put my arm over his shoulder as we talked -- an unconscious habit of mine, but one that I suspected might have made many of my friends, not to mention the Secret Service agents in the room, more than a little uneasy." When Bush was informed of those remarks, he was miffed. "I thought I was actually showing some kindness... And out of that he came with this belief?" Bushed asked, adding: "He doesn't know me very well."

Their relationship has probably only gotten queasier over the course of Obama's campaign, as he's made it very clear who he thinks is to blame for the shape our country's in. And now after a stunning victory that can't help but usher in a new political era, the most popular man in America and the most unpopular man in America both have to endure this delicate dance as the power is transferred.

In this real-life example, there's no real threat of a fight breaking out -- but in our own everyday lives, escalation is incredibly easy. How often do you wind up brushing aside your own peace accords in order to assert yourself, whether or not you can really afford to lose? The Four of Swords presents one last appeal to sanity and rationality, a period of reflection and negotiation. Whether you're secretly really looking forward to getting your hands dirty or would honestly prefer to cool things down, you'll definitely benefit from being prepared.