What a horrible image - picked at and scratched and pinched by harsh scaly claws, living in a grey, dirty, cloudy landscape and unable to see the bright new blossoms over our head because we can only concentrate on our own agony of mind. Guilt does indeed colour everything else we do and feel, but punishing ourselves all the time does no good whatsoever.
It is one of the big arguments against the more organised religions - that they load feelings of guilt on their followers. It is one of the reasons I feel buddhism is so liberating - no such thing as sin, or sinful people, or original sin, only thoughts / deeds done that are not good.
The traditional RWS card is the woman bound and blindfolded, partly surrounded by upright swords. It can represent giving up or examining the past and learning to trust the future. Leaving our guilt behind and looking forward certainly matches that.