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What Does the Ten of Swords Mean in Readings?
The 10 of Swords is the Minor Arcana that indicates grief, loss, collapse, tragedy, and dead end. The card is associated with an element Air and a Gemini Zodiac sign. In most readings the 10 of Swords tarot card meaning isn’t positive as it signifies inevitable tragic events, after which the new cycle of hope usually begins.
The Ten of Swords meaning may also indicate that despair and tears sometimes come unexpectedly as well as good luck. In an upside down position, the card may mean empowerment to start a new positive cycle after a failure.
When we look at the picture on the card we see many symbols that ease its interpretation. We see a figure of a man who’s stinging on the ground with his face down. A man’s back is deeply stabbed with swords. We realize that a man wasn’t expecting such a betrayal and tragedy. Around the man we see darkness and the grey sky above symbolizes the lowest point in his life. It seems that it couldn’t get worse as it’s at rock bottom. Far away near the horizon, we see a sunset that interprets as a new beginning after collapse. Life goes on no matter what. Even in the darkest hour, there is hope.
In a yes or no reading, the 10 of Swords meaning is a no as its main interpretation is a failure. It’s better to accept rejection, consider facing a dead end, and move on.
In a reading about how someone sees you the card indicates that you look like a person who’s living through a crisis after betrayal and hopes to move on.
Ten of Swords Upright Meaning Explained
It seems that you have enemies! The Ten of Swords upright in reading embodies betrayal, backstabbing, and badmouthing. It indicates that the situation in your life is getting out of control because of outer factors that influence your decisions and condition.
The Ten of Swords meaning for a relationship outcome and love is not a good sign as it usually indicates breakup or divorce. Mostly, it means that the situation comes to an end, as there were prerequisites for betrayal, infidelity, or constant misunderstanding with your partner. If you are in a relationship with an aggressive or tyrant person, the cards are warning you that you need to be very careful. Another interpretation of the card in an upright position is that you are overdramatizing and suspect your partner without reason.
For career, the card indicates that you’re facing a massive failure at work. Probably because of backstabbing from your colleagues. You may eventually lose your job or experience a crash and collapse in business. Sometimes the card means that you’re getting close to burnout and must stop and take good care of yourself. The card indicates possible financial failure and ruin. Perhaps, bankruptcy.
For health, the card is not a good sign as it embodies mental breakdown and total exhaustion. Perhaps, you were ignoring the signals of help from your body, so now it’s collapsing.
Ten of Swords Reversed Meaning Explained
Climb yourself out! The Ten of Swords reversed is both an embodiment of inevitable tragedy and a sign that you have the power to start a new cycle after defeat. The card indicates that it’s only you who’s responsible and empowered to find new meanings and new directions after the grief and collapse of recent hopes.
The card is often present in a reading upside down indicating that after a failure comes good luck and positive changes.
For career, the card in reverse can have several opposite meanings as a lot depends on other cards in a spread. It may embody that you’ve undergone a massive collapse at work and learned hard lessons. Now you are moving on. Maybe, switching industries and starting over again. The card may also mean that after a failure in business, it starts to come to life renewed.
Ten of Swords tarot meaning in the context of love and a relationship outcome is an indicator of a collapse and breakup. Maybe you are still grieving and can’t recover after losing your significant other. It also may be an embodiment of traumatizing or abusive relationships that you managed to end and start to renew after living in survival mode for a long time.
For finances, the card indicates that despite struggles with money and loans, you are more likely to avoid total bankruptcy. Perhaps, you managed your sources of income and cut spending to start improving your financial situation after mistakes you’ve made in the past.
In the context of health, the card indicates the near-death experience that makes you feel sick and weak. It may also mean recovering from illness.
Final Words on the 10 of Swords Tarot Card Meaning
In our Ten of Swords tarot guide, we provided the main interpretations of this Minor Arcana. The 10 of Swords means loss, betrayal, meeting a dead end, failure, ruin, bitterness, and collapse. The card is present in a reading signifying the inevitable despair that comes after a big tragic loss. At the same time, interpretation of the card includes the ability to focus on the future, move on, and consider the lessons learned from the failure. The card symbolizes that even after the most tragic and unexpected loss, life goes on. The meaning of this Minor Arcana in a yes or no reading would be a no.
In an upright position, the card often indicates backstabbing and betrayal. It may mean having enemies who are making your life harder.
In reverse the card means that after inevitable failure and tragedy, you are the one who has the power to start everything over again. You can cope with a situation and climb yourself out. Lessons are learned and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
