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Exploration of Tarot - 10 of Swords

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I'm beginning a new series of my own personal exploration of Tarot cards. These views are a combination of the more popular interpretations, my decks that slightly differ, and my own personal 30+ years of reading and learning Divination and Tarot.

It's been my experience that reading cards is a mix of natural inclination, practiced skill, intuitive art, and understanding perception and how it works. It's with this opinion that I interrupt cards and dive into their meaning.

While tarot cards of give multiple interpretations and explanations to one card. This doesn’t mean that everytime every single word applies. This is where intuitive art comes in. It's the ability to feel the cards and situation to determine which meaning is actually being conveyed through the card.

I will not being going in a specific order with these cards because when you read - they don't fall in order. And I feel certain cards take priority over others as there are a few that are most commonly either misunderstood or misinterpreted.

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And that point leads me to the first of this series - the ten of swords. The ten of swords is actually a multi level card. Meaning depending upon the spread or situation it can mean a plethora of different things. Unfortunately, the most common takeaway is 'being backstabbed or betrayed' and while this is possible. There are also other possibilities as well.

In my own personal reading experience the actual most common reason the ten of swords appears in a spread. Is when the one making the inquiry is insisting on playing the victim. And refuses to accept either a situation or the role to which they have played in creating the situation. Or that simply they only perceive a betrayal that in fact does not exist. This makes me believe. That this card is really a card of reflection to one's own perception on a matter. That the one inquiring needs to reflect on themselves and accept their situation and the role they have played.

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Below are 4 separate interpretations of the ten of swords. Two are the most common. The third is from the Steampunk Tarot. And the fourth is The Enchanted Forest Tarot which is almost entirely different all together. As you read. Pay attention to how many different ways these interpretations can be taken. And don't focus on merely 1 keyword or interpretation. Instead, dissect these interpretations and reflect on past readings to which this card appeared and which parts were actually applicable and which parts were mere perceptions that prevented the actual interpretations to actually surface:

Ten Of Swords Keywords

UPRIGHT: Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, crisis

REVERSED: Recovery, regeneration, resisting an inevitable end

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Labyrinthos

Another one of the most striking and ominous cards in the deck, the Ten of Swords shows a man lying flat on the ground with his face facing the dirt. He is covered with a red cloth from the chest down to his legs. Ten long swords are stabbed into his back, he may not have seen this end coming. There is a terrible stillness in the air: the sky above him is black and cloudy indicating the fear and negativity associated with death. The waters in front of him are still, with no ripples - adding to the eerie stillness and finality of this card. Looking into the horizon, in the east, the sun is rising, and the weather seems very calm despite the darkness. The Ten of Swords seems to intimate that this is the lowest point in one's life, and it cannot get worse than this. At least, even in this state, the sun is rising.

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Rider - Waite/Biddy Tarot

The Ten of Swords shows a man lying face down, apparently dead, with ten swords in his back. A red cape drapes over the lower half of his body as a sign of dignity as he leaves this world. While the dark sky is ominous, the sun is rising on the horizon, bringing a renewed sense of hope and opportunity. The calm sea in the background also brings solace, suggesting that even in times of darkness, there is a sense of peace and calm to be found.

The Ten of Swords marks a painful yet inevitable ending. For example, a relationship may come to an abrupt end, your job may be cut, or a contract is broken. It is as if this ending has come out of the blue and rocked your world. You could have never expected it, but now it has happened, cutting to the core and leaving you feeling as if the world has crumbled in around you. You are grieving the pain of this shocking loss and wonder if you will ever love or find work or trust again.

When the Ten of Swords appears in a Tarot reading, you may be the victim of another person’s betrayal or deceit. You feel as if you have been stabbed in the back and are reeling from someone else’s actions. Your partner may have cheated on you, a colleague may spread nasty rumours about you, or a family member has betrayed your trust. The pain inflicted runs deep not because what they have done is hurtful, but because you know deep down that this marks the end of your relationship as you know it with them. Along with feeling the pain, you may grieve the loss of the relationship.

The Ten of Swords can suggest that you are taking on the role of ‘victim’ hoping others will pity you and save you from despair. You cannot change the actions of another person, but you can change how you respond. Even if you have been harmed or betrayed, you now have a choice to pick yourself up and move forward with your life, rather than falling down in a heap hoping someone will take pity on you.

In that way, the Ten of Swords is about letting go and accepting your current circumstances. You no longer resist change but allow it to happen, even if it causes initial pain and hurt to you. You recognise that there must be a change to facilitate renewal, and you allow it to occur rather than fighting it.

The good news is that the Ten of Swords marks the final ordeal – no more pain will come to you from that source. The hour is darkest before dawn, and you must experience the full impact of what has happened before you can move forward and start over. Is it going to be easy? No. But, will this ordeal last forever? No.

Pick yourself up off the ground and reflect upon what happened to you and why, and what you can learn from the experience. When you do this, the hurt and pain will fade, and you will soon see why all of this needed to happen so that you can evolve into your fullest potential. The pain and hurt you have endured have not gone without purpose. Use the positive power within you to learn from your pain and draw wisdom from defeat.

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Steampunk Tarot

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The Enchanted Forest Tarot

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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Now that we have covered the multiple interpretations and the variable uses thereof. Let's look at the cards themselves. In tarot. Each card contains symbolism. And it's important to not only understand the symbolism. But how to apply it as well.

Here are a few examples:

Ten of Challenges - The Enchanted Forest Tarot:

Here you see there are no predominant use of swords. Just 1. Laying to the side. To give the perception of surrender or giving up. His head hangs low. And his last ally has left him leaving only a slight memory (the feather) of itself. Bit what else do you see? He's in armor. But why? Was it necessary to suit up for battle? Why would such a loyal ally leave? This leave the impression of self inflicted loss and struggle. That unnecessary conflict can lead to real, deep loss. Even the horse hangs it's head. Unable to carry the weight of his master's shame. But as with all things. This was a choice. He chose to suit up. He chose to ride into battle sword in hand. And he can also chose to shed the armor. Stand up. And carry on with a new perspective.

Ten of Swords - Steampunk Tarot

Here we see a close traditional depiction. All ten swords. In the back. Lying face down. But at a closer look. What else do you see? Aside from the obvious depiction in front of you. It's a beautiful day all around. And the sun is up. Offering hope for those who look for it. This leads to the indication that this may not be an actual betrayal but more a perceived betrayal. That one person feels. Moreover. How did he get on the roof? He went there - willingly. Which means. He had a hand in his own destruction.

Ten of Swords - Celtic Tarot

Here is another close to traditional explanation with the same surrounding sun and circumstances discussed above. But also here. This one lays naked. Vulnerable. All there defenses stripped and nothing left to protect them. They are in an isolated baron place. One they could only of gotten to on their own. Again. The pattern of a need for personal responsibility shows itself.

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When interpreting cards. It's important to understand not only every aspect of the cards and interpretations themselves. But also the perception of the situation at hand. Often times cards are misinterpreted because the perception of the one inquiring isn't fully being understood or seen. When reading cards it's important to understand that each card is made to have multiple meanings so that they may be interpreted according to individual situations. And that the same meaning doesn't apply to every single situation in the same way. I hope this helped! :grinning:

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Sources & Links

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Rider - Waite/Biddy Tarot Source

Labyrinthos Source

Celtic Tarot

Steampunk Tarot

Enchanted Forest Tarot