10 of Swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

fotofile2002	26 Mar 2005
Hi Folks - I'd like to get your opinions on the nature of the 10 of Swords. I generally read it as a things aren't what they seem to be, but they are not as bad as your making them out to be. I see it as the Stop being a drama queen card. I'd like to hear what other people think of it, just to get some perspective. Thanks.

feticeira	26 Mar 2005
I´ve always taken it to be a card that tells of a situation that has gone as far as possible: the man pictured has not one or two but ten swords stuck through him (not a chance of being alive), in the background we see the break of dawn. Whatever was going on, it´s over. I relate it somewhat to Death in that it´s inevitable and necessary for the querent to go through it in order to be able to carry on. I´m fond of both these cards for that reason actually. Your interpretation I would use if the card came up reversed. A drama queen is certainly a person who would feel and act as if everything were this urgent and tragic matter, the worry and frustration of the nine of swords put to practice or happening in the real world, as in the ten. Hope this helps, it´s just my perspective...

rainwolf	26 Mar 2005
Upright i think of it as the worst is over and a cycle is at the end, you are at the bottom, etc. Upright i think of it as things are starting to improve, a new cycle is starting, etc. I think its a pretty good card, it just says that you are at a low. In future positions however...not as good. Coupled with Death, hanged man, 5 cups, 4 swords (three or four), i usually see it as a physical death. I dont think it is wrong or impossible to see it in the cards, its just most people try and blind themselves from the bad in the world to acknowledge the possibility of death. On a literal note, upright it can mean accupuncture could be of help, while reversed says it is unnecessary.

bassetized	26 Mar 2005
I certainly think the 10Sw can have that melodramatic element to it. Sort of the "poor, poor, pitiful me." When I get it, though, I often look for a combination of your reading and feticeira's. Certainly it's something that's over and done, but it may well be something I won't let go of. So there's a need to check to see if I'm "flogging a dead horse"--it's dead but I just won't let go of it. Sort of like little children will stand around poking a piece of roadkill with sticks (sorry for the yucky image). :) And it is good news, because you acknowledge it's gone, grieve and move on. And it may be so long over that you've even done most of the grieving already. Occasionally, I've seen it mean that the querent should watch out for being betrayed, "stabbed in the back," but only if other cards support it. I read for a woman once who got this card in the past position and said, "That's exactly what it felt like when my lover left me--like he had stuck a knife in every chakra point I had." Just my two cents... --bassetized

daveyboy	26 Mar 2005
Hi there, In one of the decks I have (The Celtic Tarot) it's got an image of several people stabbed and killed by the swords and a village on fire in the background. There is one person sat at the front still alive. I take this card as being there being a very painfull situation (from the image of the card - like a war) and has now come to a complete head. I.e. to me the card says just accept something the way it is and now it is time perhaps to move on. Anyone have anything different? Dave

Hazel	26 Mar 2005
I see drama-queen qualities applying to this card, especially when it falls in a position that’s related to perception or personality in some situation. But when the Ten of Swords falls in odd positions such as “advice,” or “something to embrace,” I think that psychological *awakening* qualities of the card can apply. On the RWS, I think of the black sky as a symbol of things hidden in your unconscious mind, and the yellow sky in the distance as a dawning awareness of what was previously hidden.

calligirl	26 Mar 2005
I'm looking at the 10 of Swords of the three decks I own, the Rider, the Hanson-Roberts and the Gilded. Just looking at them, the Rider card says to me the end, it's nighttime, all the swords buried deep, that's it. The HR looks like it's cold and stormy, the fight's over but it was obviously a struggle. The Gilded has the swords floating above the body, glowing as if some magical force is lifting them away and the figure will rise again. Subtle differences but still a different feeling from each. As a beginner, I am SO fascinated.

Michelle	26 Mar 2005
I also see drama queen qualities with this card. Martyr comes to mind, too. So far down the only way to go is up. I have also had it come up as back problems.

psychic sue	27 Mar 2005
I see the Matyr aspect, but there is also the interpretation (more literal) of "back stabbing" - of course surrounding cards would confirm this. Sue x

Cascade	27 Mar 2005
But what about his fingers? Is that the "I'm OK" sign?

psychic sue	27 Mar 2005
Cascade wrote: But what about his fingers? Is that the "I'm OK" sign? In the Rider-Waite deck, the hand to me looks like the position of the hanged man - maybe relating to independence. Stop being such a drama queen and get over it. Be who you are and don't worry what other's think? This is off the top of my head. I wonder what other people think?

bassetized	27 Mar 2005
Cascade wrote: But what about his fingers? Is that the "I'm OK" sign? Interesting question. I've never noticed the hand position before. In my Radiant RW, it looks to me like he's holding onto something, like a small bag. That could reinforce the idea of something that needs to be let go of, or should have let go of before things came to this extreme. But in my regular RWS, the position does look something like the Hanged Man, as psychic sue said. Here are the two versions of the hand, if folks want to compare:

maltee	28 Mar 2005
good perspectives but what about a reversed 10 of sw

Cascade	28 Mar 2005
Well, I found some wonderful threads on this in the "what do the different cards mean" link. The thread from Yarnie explains the fingers from lots of views. Thanks ATF for helping me here.

caridwen	29 Mar 2005
It depends on the surrounding cards. It also reminds me of the Agatha Christie story - Murder on the Orient Express where the victim was stabbed multiple times by many different people in revenge for past betrayals. A card of betrayal, backstabbing, even revenge - sticking the knives in extra hard just to make sure. Kicking someone when they're down. Feeling like a martyr or indeed, being a martyr. It may show these actions have been completed but entail a note of surprise in that you didn't know you were being stabbed in the back or that people were gossiping behind your back. The break in a very long painful night - let the chips fall where they may.

The 10 of Swords thread was originally posted on 26 Mar 2005 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.