Eight of Swords Reversed

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Tabby	13 Jun 2004
Hi; I've gone through all the posts on the Eight of Swords, but none of them really go into the reversed aspect of it. In the 98 Degrees of Wisdom it is "Liberation from oppressive situation" and Gnostic Tarot has it as "Isolation that is self-created, crisis that is perpetuated for its own sake, to revel in one's misfortunes. Acting in a stubborn and inflexible manner. Poor decisions that the querant is unwilling to face". I know it depends on which books you read and how it pertains to the other cards in a reading. But, I thought it would make good food for thought if I could get a little feedback and see other opinions on the subject. That and reversals can be a little tricky...lol

HudsonGray	13 Jun 2004
For the Robin Wood deck her LWB says "Respite from fear, new beginnings, freedom & release". I look at it as a sort of unbinding of whatever was constricting in the upright.

Thirteen	14 Jun 2004
Reversals are very tricky. It really depends on WHERE the card appears in the spread and the QUESTION that the spread is answering. On the one hand, this reversal could signal a positive--the upright is being trapped in an impossible situation, often of your own making. Unable to move--or unable to avoid getting cut if you do move. Reverse the card and it could signal release, freedom, immunity from the cutting swords because you're now faced with the "handles" rather than the blade. On the other hand, reversals can signal a blockage of energy. In this instance, the energy is all about a halt in communications. Reverse it and the card suggests that everyone is talking (or may just one person talking to a lot of people). The energy of "no communication" is, well, not happening. So we can assume, instead, that communication is chaotic, unfocused chatter. Where, with the upright, the person might have been afraid to say anything (energy of fear = paralyzed), now, with the reversed, and communication runs wild. But, once again, it's very hard to say without knowing the context of the card in it's spread.

Sillanza	14 Jun 2004
I agree with Thirteen in that the 8 of Swords reversed may signal an escape from a seemingly impossible situation of your own making. I also think that it means that your mind has been freed in essence, that the truth has set you free. Have you experienced an "ah ha" moment lately? Sometimes those situations we think are ruled by absolutes turn out not to be so.

Thirteen	14 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Sillanza Have you experienced an "ah ha" moment lately? I think the 8/Swords RX would be an ambiguous way for the cards to express this. IMHO, the Six/Swords is far more apt and clear in trying to indicate an "Ah HA!" or Eureka! moment when things which were unclear suddenly come clear or come together. That is, if that's the kind of "ah-ha!" moment you're talking about.

The Eight of Swords Reversed thread was originally posted on 13 Jun 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.