The Suit of Swords - Thoughts & Ideas
The Suit of Swords is the realm of the mind: Our thoughts, our ideas and our mental health. It's also the suit of the spoken and written word, of philosophy and abstract
concepts. It represents intellectuals, debaters, scientists, writers, cerebral artists, free thinkers and non-dogmatic, humanistic spirituality and is ruled by the Element of Air.
ACE OF SWORDS - A Burst of Ideas
KEYWORDS
New ideas. Intellectual creativity. Clarity of mind. Sharp thoughts. Abstract concepts. Literary inspiration. Philosophical breakthroughs. Logic. Reason. Intelligence. Curiosity.
THE LIGHT
This Ace represents intellectual breakthroughs, a curious mind and an awakening of the spirit. It provides literary inspiration, sparks new ideas in matters of science, philosophy and personal spirituality; it encourages creative writing and artistic or intellectual concepts; it inspires new theories and ideologies. The mind is
clear and focused, alive with creative energy.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Ace can represent a lack of inspiration, a clouded mind, writer's block and muddled thoughts. It indicates a tendency to reject logic and reason. It can also represent a lack of confidence, a person susceptible to self-sabotage and impostor syndrome. It can also signal a conservative personality, closed to new ideas.
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TWO OF SWORDS - Stalemate
KEYWORDS
Truce. Stalemate. Impasse. Pause in negotiations. Weighing two options. Inner confidence. Wait and see mode. Temporary acceptance of a situation. Peace.
THE LIGHT
This
card indicates a stalemate, a temporary truce that provides fleeting, but necessary peace. It also represents reluctant acceptance of momentary inadequate circumstances. We're in 'wait and
see' mode for now. This card can also indicate that we're calmly
weighing two equally appealing options. It marks a thoughtful pause in negotiations, a refusal to debate or engage any further for now. It points to inner calm and quiet confidence.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Two of Swords represents an inability to find common ground. We're confused and unable to decide what to do next. It exposes a struggle with keeping other people from influencing our judgment. It indicates weakness of mind and lack of independent thought.
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THREE OF SWORDS - A Broken Heart
KEYWORDS
Heartbreak. Sorrow. Grief. Tears. Emotional trauma. Misery. Anguish. Pain. Pity. Strong empathy.
THE LIGHT
The
Suit of Swords contains a few unwelcome, traumatic cards and this is the first one. The Three of Swords brings heartbreak, suffering, sadness, sorrow, pain and a lot of tears. It can also indicate that very painful decisions must be
made, leaving our mind and heart in shambles. This is the card of grief, trauma, misery and anguish. It can also represent an empathetic personality, acutely attuned to the feelings of others.
The Three of Swords teaches us that the only thing to do is to allow the pain to take over and to work
through it as best we can, knowing that the experience gained will serve us in the
future. We grow stronger through adversity and learn to build better defenses.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Three of Swords represents healing from a painful experience, forgiveness and acceptance. It can indicate emotional strength and overcoming hardship. It can also represent an emotionally detached personality devoid of empathy.
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FOUR OF SWORDS - Quiet the Mind, Heal the Body
KEYWORDS
Rest. Convalescence. Healing. Meditation. Relaxation. Self-isolation. Self-care. Retreat. Recovery. A Funeral. A crypt, tomb or grave.
THE LIGHT
After the pain we experienced in the Three of Swords this card tells us to slow down and to take the time to begin the process of healing our minds by first resting our bodies. Meditation; rest; recuperation; healing; convalescence are all associated with this card. No other card reflects the importance of simultaneously treating both the mind and body better than the Four of Swords.
This card calls for self-care, isolation from others and a lot of peace and quiet. It underscores the need to avoid all stress and take the time to fully recover.
The Four of Swords can also represent a tomb or a grave. Some Tarot readers look for combinations of the Four of Swords with traumatic cards like the Three and Ten of Swords, The Tower or Death as an indication of actual physical death. Be very cautious when attempting to predict this sort of thing. It can be done, but it's exceedingly rare and difficult to be able to see someone's passing in a reading.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Four of Swords indicates an inability to slow down and rest. It can signal exhaustion, burnout and chronic fatigue. It can also find us in a state of deep regression, extreme meditation or even a coma. The condition of sleep paralysis is also associated with this card.
It can represent a situation where we're physically or mentally unable to intervene. We find ourselves witnessing events as they play out and we can't do anything about it.
In a more literal, humorous sense, this card, when negatively aspected, can represent very fidgety sleep, sleepwalking and even falling out of bed.
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FIVE OF SWORDS - A Vicious Spat
KEYWORDS
Arguments. Feuds. Verbal conflict. Aggressive debate. Refusal to concede. Words as weapons. Hurtful statements. Winning. Competitiveness. Rivalry. Opposition. Enmity.
THE LIGHT
The Five of Swords indicates feuds, verbal spats, arguments and disagreements. It represents hostility, aggressiveness, confrontational debate and refusal to concede even a single point. Hurtful words will be said that can't
be taken back, belying the saying that only sticks and stones can cause
pain. Words are swords that slice through our hearts and minds as easily as a sharp
knife slices through our bodies. The damage is unseen, but no less real and deeply wounding.
This card can also represent a sore loser, an individual that must win at all costs, regardless of who they destroy in the process. This is also the card of competitiveness, cut-throat ambition and rivalry.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Five of Swords is about conflict resolution or conflict avoidance. It seeks peace, reconciliation, calm discussion, cooperation and diplomacy. It tells us that it's time to concede the point and to be mindful of the power of our words. It can mean that we've lost a debate or competition. It can also indicate repressed anger and latent aggressive feelings.
The shadow side of this card can also represent a self-effacing person, incapable of harm, sometimes prone to become a pushover.
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SIX OF SWORDS - I Need Some Distance
KEYWORDS
Passage. Transition. Travel over water. Distancing oneself. A journey. Leaving troubled waters. Moving away. Migration. Seeking refuge in another land.
THE LIGHT
In my readings the Six of Swords most often indicates travel, especially over water. It can also mean putting some physical or emotional distance between us and our recent troubles. It can represent a physical or spiritual journey away from familiar surroundings. In the Crowley-Harris Thoth deck this card is titled 'Science' and underscores the need to return to logical, concrete thought processes devoid of the volatility of emotional involvement.
This card's symbolism is very interesting. It traditionally depicts a woman and a small child sitting in a boat and facing resolutely ahead. On the boat alongside them we see six swords, representing the painful baggage they're unable to let go of. The water behind the boat is turbulent, while the water ahead is calm and serene. This scene is very reminiscent of the many images of asylum seekers and human migration we see on the news on a daily basis. This is an important aspect to keep in mind when interpreting this card.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Six of Swords represents an inability to remove ourselves from difficult situations. There's a stubborn resistance to change that creates anxiety and hopelessness. Time is standing still, there's no evolution, no clear path ahead and we're literally lost in a sea of negativity.
This can also be a warning to put off travel plans for the foreseeable future and to look inward for the change that we seek.
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SEVEN OF SWORDS - A Traitor Among Us
KEYWORDS
Treason. Deceit. Betrayal. Theft. Taking advantage of others. Selfishness. Cheating. Scheming. Strategic move. Unorthodox methods.
THE LIGHT
The Seven of Swords is a sneaky, conniving card. It warns of all sorts of underhanded tactics like duplicity, treason, theft, back-stabbing, lies and betrayal. It can represent cheating, scheming and taking advantage of other people's innocence. It indicates selfishness, looking out for number one and a complete lack of respect for others, their feelings or their property.
This card can also represent strategic thinking and planning. It calls for analyzing a situation and realizing that the only way forward may involve some rather unorthodox methods.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Seven of Swords can be very contradictory. On the one hand it's about altruism and restraint, about being fair and mindful of others. It encourages the sharing of resources and knowledge with our community.
On the other hand, it can reflect the need for a little selfishness and assertiveness. This will give us the courage to reach for what's rightfully ours, even if it may adversely affect others.
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EIGHT OF SWORDS - I Can't Move
KEYWORDS
Confinement. Feeling tied down. Bondage. Imprisonment. Feeling trapped in our own mind. Submissive. Afraid. Victim mentality. Passiveness. Claustrophobia. Oppression. Enslavement. Captivity.
THE LIGHT
The Eight of Swords is the card of mental or physical bondage. It leaves us feeling trapped, tied down, prisoners inside our own minds, our own lives. We're cornered by fate and held captive in a situation we can't begin to disentangle ourselves from. It can also indicate actual physical confinement in a prison or similar environment.
Most of the time this card represents a prison of our own making. We created these bonds and put ourselves in this paralyzing situation. This card can indicate a form of victim mentality, where we're unable to see a way out, become convinced that we don't deserve any better and therefore stop fighting.
On a different note, this card can represent voluntary submission, such as in a consensual BDSM dynamic. It can also indicate feelings of claustrophobia and oppression, as well as enslavement and captivity.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Eight of Swords represents liberation. We're releasing the chains that used to restrict our movements. We finally see the truth, the actual reality of our situation and we're able to free ourselves. This card can indicate a dominant, independent personality that refuses to be tied down in any way.
Alternatively, it can mean that we need to restrain ourselves in certain situations. Sometimes, our need for freedom can be temporarily impeded and we need to learn to adapt to that restricting feeling.
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NINE OF SWORDS - What a Nightmare
KEYWORDS
Insomnia. Nightmares. Bad dreams. Night terrors. Anxiety. Worry. Disquiet. Stress. Dread. Fear. Depression. Panic attack. Migraine.
THE LIGHT
The Nine of Swords is yet another unwelcome card in this suit. It represents insomnia, sleep deprivation, nightmares, anxiety and depression. It can also indicate self-inflicted mental cruelty and self-harm. If these negative feelings aren't dealt with in due course, we run
the risk of falling deeper into despair and into the horrors of the
next card.
This card brings along feelings of panic and dread that can trigger anxiety attacks. It can indicate headaches and migraines. It exposes a wide range of visible symptoms that can give an indication on what may be severe underlying issues and trauma.
THE SHADOW
The shadow Nine of Swords calls for calm and control over our deep-seated fears. It urges us to wake up and face our worst nightmares head on. It indicates that we have the mental strength to fight our demons.
It can represent a night-owl personality, someone who functions best when others are sleeping, or someone who gets little sleep and is still able to function. It can also indicate the need to spend less time lazying around in bed, to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak.
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TEN OF SWORDS - Rock Bottom
KEYWORDS
Extreme suffering. Painful endings. Loss. Mental pain. Physical pain. Personal destruction. Hitting rock bottom. Tragedy. Crisis. Breakdown. Betrayal. Being repeatedly stabbed in the back. Severe injury. Painful wounds. Torture. Murder. Agony. Death. The End.
THE LIGHT
To the uninitiated, the appearance of the 'Death' card in a Tarot reading instinctively triggers feelings of fear. If they only knew how benign the 'Death' card actually is when compared to the Ten of Swords. In my experience, this card is without a doubt the absolute worst you can possibly get in a reading. In the Crowley-Harris Thoth deck it is titled 'Ruin' and there truly is no better word to express its core essence. It represents the lowest and most devastating moments of our lives. It can indicate a complete mental or physical breakdown; excruciating mental or physical pain; severe injury and painful wounds.
This card can also represent a traumatic and unexpected betrayal; being stabbed repeatedly in the back by someone we trusted. We're faced with great personal tragedy that leaves us in agony and too stunned by grief to even move. At its most destructive, this card can also represent physical or mental torture.
When paired with other catastrophic cards like 'The Tower', 'Death' and the 'Three of Swords', the Ten of Swords can represent murder, manslaughter or natural death. Once again, seeing actual physical death in a spread is exceedingly rare and difficult to interpret. Be very careful with this particular issue as there is a high risk of misinterpretation. I've personally, and thankfully, never experienced it and I don't ever want to.
The Ten of Swords signals that we've hit rock bottom; things could not get any worse. To me this is and always will be the real 'Death' card. On the upside, since we find ourselves at the lowest point of our existence, our situation can only get better from here on out. That's something to keep in mind when we're blinded by the pain and are unable to see a way out of it.
THE SHADOW
The good news is that even the absolute worst card in the Tarot can have a relatively positive side. The shadow Ten of Swords speaks of survival, of overcoming abysmal odds. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. This card is about confronting our pain, accepting our misfortune and exposing our scars. We've endured untold suffering and our scars, be they physical or emotional, are a mark of honor. They remind us that we're survivors, that we're brave, resilient and strong.
This card can also represent healing and recovery from physical or mental trauma. The pain is still present but it's fading. Time heals all wounds, and the shadow Ten of Swords is a reminder that no matter how terrible our circumstances may have been, or how deep our scars are, things eventually improve. Give it time, hang in there and have faith that everything happens for a reason.
All pictures in this post feature the Suit of Swords from the 'Ellis Deck' by Taylor Ellis.