Looking at this card there are two things that struck me immediately.  The first is the image of the 5 of Swords and 5 of Cups combined in the lower right hand corner.  It almost appears as though the man holding the sword is offering it to the seated figure.  My first thought on seeing this is that he was giving her a means by which to take her own life.  But that struck me as too fatalistic.  Then I realized that the hilt of the Ace of Swords is touching the top of the seated figure's head.  Maybe that represents a new idea or new perspective this figure needs to access and the sword being offered is a tool to help her.  Perhaps he is offering her the clarity and clear-headedness needed to move beyond her mourning and loss.  The Page of Wands is just visible behind the Ace of Swords.  It's almost as if he isn't ready yet to handle the sword but his energy is vibrating behind it.  He will be helpful and useful when the time comes to actually put the swords energy into use.

The image the 3 of Cups and The Devil make - contained joy, constrained merriment also seemed especially significant to me.  It is as if this image is telling me that putting restrictions and boundaries might be helpful now to help us reach a place of celebration and joy.  As I'm writing this is struck me that one of the options hubby and I have been talking about with regard to the in-law's is that even if his brother does need to be institutionalized, perhaps we could get a personal home attendant or visiting nurse to help with his mother.  Maybe the truth is that we cannot meet Edward's needs at home anymore and placing him in a controlled setting would be the best thing for him.  It might prove to be the best thing for him and allow us all to feel happier because it will be the right thing to do for him.  Or perhaps it is a message the even if we are forced to place both of them in institutions, we cannot let that ruin our chance for joy and happiness in our own lives.  Their lives are not ending and ours will not be either.  It may be painful and sad, but it is not the end of joy.

I find it especially significant that this card contains elements of both sadness and joy; restriction and clarity.  We are mourning because we realize that the situation has reached a crossroads and we can no longer continue with business as usual.  The positive aspect of this situation is that maybe addressing this issue will prove freeing for all involved and lead to an ability to enjoy and celebrate what remains of our time together.