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Powerful Insights from the Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords Tarot card often comes to us when we’ve hit rock bottom or at the end of a powerful cycle of life-death-rebirth, a profound shedding of old identities. It can also represent a sense of betrayal or endings in general.

Overall, the Ten of Swords is a card of change and endings. It may feel challenging but the solace is that the only way is up from here!

Read on for how to transform your life with the Ten of Swords, including its full Tarot card description, Astrological and Numerological correspondences, its meaning reversed, and in a career, love, or general Tarot reading:

The Ten of Swords Tarot Card

The Ten of Swords Minor Arcana completes our spiky journey in the Swords suit, one of the thorny trials and tribulations of the mind. Here we are reminded again of the cutting power of words, of their capacity to both heal and cause pain, and how the things we say shape our beliefs and definition of reality.

If we look at the progress of the Tarot as a storyline, this comes after we didn’t heed the warning of the Nine of Swords to temper our stream-of-consciousness and pay attention to our thought patterns before it’s too late.

Here in the Ten, we may have reached our wits end, a sense that we can truly no longer go on as is. We may feel lost, abandoned, or backstabbed, either by ourselves or others. Either way, it offers the potential to shed outdated identities and rewire old beliefs.

Sometimes, it is simply the realisation that we ourselves have been catastrophising, giving us the opportunity to reframe our mindset! Other times we may receive news that shocks us or challenges our usual narrative.

In the Pamela Colman Smith Tarot deck, we see a person lying prone with ten swords in their back. In the distance, the golden sunrise or sunset is dawning or setting beneath the black clouds of negativity— reminding us that no matter what, a new day always comes.

What is interesting is that they are also making the papal symbol, reiterated in The Hierophant. This again reflects that concept that our thoughts shape our reality and our beliefs system is more powerful than we may give it credit for.

They are also covered in a red robe, colour of power; and by a calm body of water— our emotions can be stabilised now. The mountains in the distance are a reminder that challenges will always present themselves again, but now we will be going into a new level of skill in the Court Cards.

Numerologically 10 is often reduced back down to 1 (1+0=1), representing both endings and completions as well as new beginnings— indeed, one is always inherent in the other. We may have reached a state of exasperation, but at least we can sink no further here.

This also connects it to both Major Arcana Wheel of Fortune Tarot card and The Magician, again reminding us that the only constant is change, and that we have the capacity to create our reality at any moment!

Astrologically, the Ten of Swords is a Sun in Gemini card— the ultimate thinker. Gemini can get lost in the loops of its over-thinking and analysis. Here we are also potentially warned of the effects of continual self-reinvention and mutability, it’s a double-edged sword!

In the Thoth deck this card is quite dramatically called Ruin, while it certainly doesn’t represent our complete and utter downfall every time we pull it of course, this name reflects its challenging nature and how we can sometimes be our own worst enemy!

Ten of Swords Upright Tarot Card Meanings

Generally, the Ten of Swords suggests a sense of betrayal, ending of old identities, surprising revelations, exhaustion, shock, outdated beliefs causing more harm than good, and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. We may feel defeated or hopeless at times, but there is also a chance for renewal and transformation in this card.

Reversed Ten of Swords Tarot Card

If you choose to read reversals, the Ten of Swords reversed can represent a stagnancy or inability to let go, move on, or make/accept change when necessary, hindering our progress, personal growth, and chance for a fresh start. Don’t resist endings or cling onto the past! If someone shows themselves to you, accept what you see (for better or worse).

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Ten of Swords in a Love Reading

As with all Tarot meanings, the actual significations of what the Ten of Swords represents in relationship Tarot readings will depend entirely on the situation at hand, the question asked, the position in the spread it has fallen, the cards surrounding it, and your own intuition.

Overall, however, the Ten of Swords here can suggest something within the relationship coming to an end— either your role in it, a dynamic, or potential the relationship itself. You may have felt let down or betrayed by your partner in some way, or feel like you can’t go on with the way things currently are. Either way, it again offers the chance for a fresh start and to rebuild a new perspective.

Ten of Swords Career Meaning

Again, the true nature of its meaning will depend on the context, but in general in a career Tarot reading the Ten of Swords can suggest a new to let go of an outdated mode of being, perhaps a role or professional identity, or activity you are doing. You may have felt like you were mentally burning the candle at both ends and can no longer go on, or some now information has come to light that shakes the foundations of your being. Perhaps a colleague, partner, or competitor has gone behind your back with something, or it feels like things are getting on top of you.

Either way, it offers the chance to release old layers and start afresh with a new perspective. And remember, no job or career is worth risking your mental health for!

So that’s an overview of what it means when the Ten of Swords appears for you, I hope it’s insightful! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

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