Ten of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Exploring the Ten of Swords Tarot Card Image

The Ten of Swords Tarot card features a man lying face down on the ground with ten swords stuck in his back. He’s wearing a red shirt that looks like it’s soaked in blood. The sky is covered in dark clouds that seem to swallow up all the sunlight.

Diving Deep into the Ten of Swords Tarot Card

Considering the medieval times when Tarot cards were created, the swords aren’t just ordinary blades. They represent social status and the achievements he’s attained so far. The number of swords shows how hard he worked to get where he is. Naturally, he fought many battles and defeated numerous enemies along the way. Because of this, he gained status and honor, but he also made many enemies in the process.

At first glance, this card might seem to signify death like The Death Tarot Card. However, while the Death Card suggests a chance to prepare for death, the Ten of Swords speaks of literal death. His achievements have become sharp blades that have turned against him. This didn’t happen overnight; it built up over a long period, culminating in a situation he couldn’t handle. That’s why he’s caught defenseless, without even wearing armor.

It’s easier to understand this by thinking about The Emperor Tarot Card. The Emperor rose to power through exceptional leadership, political savvy, and military strength. His expression is always stern, constantly on guard against his enemies. He can’t afford to let his guard down for even a moment. Although he wears a red cloak and tunic, he has armor underneath. He lives each day with the anxiety that even his closest allies might betray him. In contrast, the man in the Ten of Swords card has no crown symbolizing his status, and no armor is visible on his lower body. There’s no one left to protect him, and he faces his death in a pitiful state.

Exploring the Ten of Swords in Tarot Readings

In a Tarot reading, if this card comes up, it can be interpreted like this: A project you’re working on or a relationship you’re in is about to come to a dramatic end. This ending will bring you significant harm, and the pain will be indescribable. There’s no way for you to handle it; you just have to accept it. Your enemy might be within your circle. Someone you trusted might betray you due to long-standing mistrust. That’s why you need to treat those around you with kindness. However, not everyone will feel the same way you do. Out of ten people, at most two or three might genuinely like you. So, if you find yourself at odds with someone, your enemies could quickly multiply.

Remember the story told by the Swords cards from 1 to 10. Standing at a crossroads, you made a wrong choice that hurt you deeply. Needing a break, you stepped back from the situation. After gathering your strength, you took on a big challenge, but your abilities still fell short. So, with new hope, you set off to a new place. However, there you were careless and got accused by the people around you. As a result, you ended up in a situation where your hands were tied, unable to move. If these nightmares continue, what you feared the most will become reality, leading to your downfall.

I came up with a brief story using the Swords Tarot cards. Of course, the Swords cards don’t only have negative meanings. Even in tough situations, there’s advice we can take from them, so it’s important to look at them with a broad perspective. While there are many interpretations, the main lesson from the Swords cards is to beware of arrogance. The things you have now can disappear at any moment. That’s why it’s crucial to always look at yourself objectively and understand your abilities. Nothing is more important than this, and if you can manage it, you’ll be able to live a peaceful life.

Keywords

• Death, the end, despair, the conclusion of everything.
• Faint hope, the chance to start again.