Tarot Reading

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Tarot Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords
The Lord of Ruin
Numerical Value: 10

Key Words for Tarot card - Ten of Swords

• Back-stabbed
• Disaster
• Unlucky
• Crisis
• Transformation
• Extreme disappointment
• Disillusionment
• Foreboding about the future
• Defeat
• Catastrophe
• Desolation
• Darkest just before dawn

The tarot ten of swords always appears to be a card of terrible misfortune, but surprisingly, it often represents troubles that are more to be melodramatic than real. The man on this card has quite a few swords up in his back. Wouldn't one be more than enough? Isn't ten a little too excessive? Perhaps this gentleman's suffering - though sincere - is also very well exaggerated.

One meaning of the Ten of Swords is also hitting rock bottom. When one disaster follows another, we feel devastated at first, but eventually we throw up our hands and laugh at it. It's so bad, it's funny! In films, the hero says, "What else more could possibly go wrong?" and we know that's a signal for the pail of water to fall on his head. When you see the Ten of Swords, know that the last bucket has fallen, and you can expect a real turn for the better.

The ten of swords card can also show when you are in victim mentality. You are certain that the whole world is always picking on you just to make your life problematic and difficult. I picture the man lifting his head and saying, "You think you've got it bad...a cut on the finger. I've got ten swords in my back...count them - ten!" Then he vigorously drops his head back down with a sigh. When we're in victim mentality, we think everything is hopeless, horrible and impossibly unfair.

Being a martyr is a favorite Ten of Swords activity. In being a martyr in this sense is not the same as making a sacrifice for another with just no strings attached. With the Ten of Swords, either is possible, but doing a really good turn for someone else is more satisfying without the strings.

Sometimes the ten of swords indicates a very sad event, but you know when this is the case. There is not even a hint of laughter in your heart. Most of the time when this card appears in readings, the Ten of Swords has a lighter side. It is as if your Inner Guide is gently kidding up on you about how you are handling your own personal tale of woe. When you see the Ten of Swords, check your own attitude about yourself and your life and know you've reached the point where things will definitely begin to look up.