The Ten of Swords Tarot Card Meaning Upright and Reversed

When a Ten of Swords Tarot card appears in a reading, it is almost inevitably a harbinger of sadness. The card foreshadows inexorable difficulties, which will bring great lessons and changes to your life. Yes, it is true that you are going through a very difficult time, but it will also bring great transformations.

In addition, it can represent a change, a betrayal, or a failure that cannot be avoided. This forecast is one of the most difficult to give during a Tarot reading because the Ten of Swords Tarot card quickly raises the alarms.

There is more than one reading for this card, however. In some cases, it can represent that the person lives life as a tragedy, with a lot of drama and little reflection.

Ten of Swords Tarot Card Meanings:

Like the Death Major Arcane, the Ten of Swords Tarot card usually means that there are great transformations to deal with. However, all transformations are painful, especially when they are for the best.

Let’s think about this together: the changes you are going through today may be preparing you to enjoy what you have always wanted.

The betrayals and the backstabbing signified by a card like the Ten of Swords come to light. Also, let’s be honest, even if it is painful, it is better to know who the people around us really are.

The change facilitates renewal. As the seasons pass, the leaves fall and the flowers bloom again. We have to keep moving forward.

When the Ten of Swords Tarot card appears in a reading, it means that we must get up from the ground, tend to our wounds, and return to combat.

Learning from experience is the best lesson that this card leaves us with. Behind the morbid scene that is depicted, the Sun appears shining on the horizon.

The Ten of Swords Tarot Card in the Upright Position:

The ability to reason, to do introspection, and to proceed forward is the essence of the suit of swords. Therefore, the Ten of Swords Tarot card asks for a much deeper reflection process than all of the previous cards.

The number ten encompasses all that we learned in the prior lessons. In contrast to the Four of Swords Tarot card, in which there is simply a need for rest, the frustration in this card is overwhelming.

When we come across the Ten of Swords Tarot card, we have generally reached a point where our worries and fears have come true…or at least that is what our mind thinks. The wounds of the past have returned and accumulated.

“Friends” become your worst enemies. Your husband cheats on you. You find yourself playing the role of victim, or at least feeling like you are.

The coming change can occur in any area, but it will take great energy from you to heal and recover.

At this point, it is essential to carefully analyze the cards that surround the Ten of Swords Tarot card. In the company of certain cards, this could announce mourning, serious illness, or death.

The meaning of the Upright Ten of Swords Tarot card when it comes to:

Love

If the Ten of Swords Tarot card appears in a love spread, it is important to ask ourselves about possible infidelities. For singles, it is time to tread carefully. People around you, including friends and counselors, may be pursuing personal interests or wanting to harm you.

Health

Tension and pain have led you to develop psychiatric problems that need urgent attention. Headaches, nerve problems, backaches, and spinal problems are commonly associated with the Ten of Swords Tarot card. Have a general check-up and don’t disregard medical complications. Your health should be your priority at this time.

Work

Take care of your intellectual property. There is a great deal of envy around you, and you could be a victim of plagiarism or robbery in your office. Do not expect recognition for your efforts. You could be targeted for a delay in the promotion you expected or even a layoff. It is not the right time to change jobs or undertake new projects.

Money

Be very careful with lending money or making the investments. It will not be easy to recover the money that comes out of your pocket. You should exercise caution, save money, and avoid waste at all costs. Do not trust any advice. There is someone very greedy who wants to strip you of your wealth.

The Ten of Swords Tarot Card in the Reversed Position:

When the Ten of Swords Tarot card appears reversed, it means that you can take a step forward towards the transformation that your psyche so urgently needs.

As the suit of swords represents the personality, thoughts, and behaviors of the querant, this symbolic death represents a profound change. This moment will be of great mental transformations.

This card indicates that there may be a painful end or a break-up. The attitude of the querant will not be one of defeat or sadness, but of transformation. The Ten of Swords Tarot card reversed means that they now have the maturity and psychological resources to face the changes ahead.

Growth, renewal and positive thinking are some of the keywords for the reversed Ten of Swords. If you look closely at this card reversed, because of the force of gravity, the swords will fall out of the victim’s back.

Little by little, you can recover from this attack. It will not be deadly or paralyzing. It will just be a bump on the road.

The meaning of the Reversed Ten of Swords Tarot card when it comes to:

Love

You must get over your ex once and for all. Dragging your old relationship around has not allowed you to open up to new experiences. The things that have happened in your previous relationships have prepared you to evaluate your new suitors wisely. You no longer want something temporary. You will only accept the real deal.

Health

Focus on the here and now. Worries and anxieties are affecting your mental health and have begun to manifest themselves as physical symptoms. Your health will improve if you manage to work on your inner peace. Think about the future, but don’t forget to live in the present.

Work

There are serious problems in your office that you must face. Disregarding them will only make things worse, so you must take control of your destiny and face it. Choose your words well. Make decisions calmly and do not seek support among your coworkers. At the moment, it is better not to trust them.

Money

You have learned from the mistakes made in the past, which is giving you the necessary push to continue recovering. The financial decisions that you have implemented are bearing fruit.

The Ten of Swords In A Yes Or No Question:

In numerology, the meaning of number 10 is related to the union of the individual with the universe. While the number 1 refers to the individual, zero is nothing and infinity all at once.

Therefore, in Tarot, it is said that the cards with the number 10 incorporate all the wisdom and the lessons of the suit. They are, in some way, the manifestation of the decisions and attitudes we have taken so far.

In this case, the Ten of Swords Tarot card indicates that the aggressiveness, intolerance, and severity of the querant have returned to their source. The querant may play the role of victim or feel that way because they have not known how to balance their thoughts in the past.

This sudden, though foreseeable, negative result is an indication that in a yes or no question, the answer is: A resounding no.

Ten of Swords Tarot Card Keywords:

Upright: Failure, ruin, self-flagellation, loss, defeat, death, sadness, plans that don’t work, submission, backstabbing, being dramatic, depression, extreme loneliness, divorce, breakup, mourning, reproaches, jealousy, tears, desolation.

Reversed: Feeling betrayed, disappointment, sudden changes, violence, attacks, favorable changes, relief, new expectations.

Ten of Swords Imagery and Symbolism:

The image we find in the Ten of Swords Tarot card is terrifying. A man lies on the ground with 10 swords stuck along his body. Blood barely flows from his head. The wounds do not seem to have caused bleeding even if though he seems mortally wounded.

He is wearing yellow with a red cape. In the distance, the Sun rises on the horizon. The sky is dark, and the sea is calm, without life or movement.

The symbols on this card are very powerful. They appeal to our intuition to help us see that the worst is over, we just have to get up again. The swords on his back are many, too many…and unnecessary. You can kill someone with only one; however, it took ten to end the life of this gentleman.

But are these wounds truly indicative of physical death? Not really. They point out that the querant may be exaggerating the impact of the attack he has received. An even more helpful reading is that it has been left behind. The problems are behind the querant like those treacherous swords.

It is not a time for self-pity. It is time to get back on your feet and lick your wounds.

The Sun rising in the middle of the blackened sky is a great omen. It points out that prosperity and clarity will soon return to your life. You will have the energy of before but now you will have removed those who wanted to harm you from your life.

Important Card Combinations:

The Major Arcana are the cards that define the central spirit of a spread. However, the appearance of the Ten of Swords Tarot card is very powerful in terms of understanding the attitude of the querant and the results of their decisions. It is necessary to determine whether the querant is the one who clings to a negative situation, or if their surroundings are loaded with bad intentions.

These are some of the most important combinations with the Ten of Swords Tarot card:

Ten of Swords combined with The Tower:

Hospitalization, accident.

Learn more about The Tower.

Ten of Swords combined with The Moon:

Suicidal thoughts, serious depression, psychiatric admission.

Learn more about The Moon.

Ten of Swords combined with the Two of Cups:

Infidelity, separation.

Learn more about the Two of Cups.

Ten of Swords combined with The Hanged Man:

Self-sacrifice, victimization.

Learn more about The Hanged Man.

Rider-Waite images used with permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems.