About the "shadow" card, although until now I never knew its name. I hadn't used it until I recently read for a very smart, multi-talented friend who cannot seem to believe in herself.
She's involved in an unpleasant divorce and has been coerced into going to a marriage counselor who's attached to a right wing church. Between the counselor, who boasts that no couple he works with ever divorces, and her emotionally abusive husband she's having a hard time of it. I'm worried that she'll return to the abuser.
Just before one of their sessions I did a 3-card (issue, advice, outcome) reading for her. Sorry but I can't remember the three cards. However, the reading, while encouraging her desire to end the marriage, seemed a little ambivalent. Remembering that ATF members sometimes use the card on the bottom of the deck as a clarifier, I turned the deck over to be confronted by the queen of swords.
In my tarot lexicon, this lady is a subtle, keen and quick-witted leader with a perceptive independent mind. She's liberal minded and profound in her view points......able to think for herself and prefers to work alone. One of my books adds "insightful, strong-willed, capable, self disciplined and strong of character.
That information was all my friend needed to boost her confidence. She zapped off into the night, and into the church to confront and turn the tables on the two men.
She did file for divorce, although road blocks are being thrust at her. I now and again do a reading for her just to keep her encouraged.
As an after thought, I sometimes wonder how many women have been --- well, bullied -- for the right wing minister to keep the "zero divorce rate" of the people he counsels.