Minor Arcana: Swords

Question 1

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Ace of Swords

Answer 1

• Victory and triumph over difficulties.
• Great reserves of inner strength and clarity of thought are required now.
• Usually indicates your mind is feeling sharper, clearer.
• You have the ability to overcome setbacks/adversity through your own actions.

Question 2

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Two of Swords

Answer 2

• Feeling that a decision needs to be made but confusion is keeping you from moving one way or another.
• Consider new approaches to the deadlock.
• May need to compromise for the time being.
• Take an active part in your own destiny.

Question 3

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Three of Swords

Answer 3

• Possible upheaval in family situations, but there is hope for the future.
• Compromises don’t always last.
• Possibly hurtful words/emotions that have been held in are now coming out; this can ultimately resolve to good from knowing the truth.
• May represent physical or emotional separation between people in couples but not necessarily a relationship split, such as separation by work or military service.

Question 4

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Four of Swords

Answer 4

• Rest, recovery, recharging one’s batteries after a time of struggle, strain, or stress.
• May be experiencing a need to retreat inward for comfort or just too weary to participate for now.
• Time for rejuvenation is needed.
• May also indicate actual convalescence depending on other circumstances.

Question 5

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Five of Swords

Answer 5

• Deceit may be involved.
• Someone may have a hidden agenda.
• May indicate dishonor, defeat, or loss – be careful.
• You may be in an unwinnable argument with someone. Best course may be walking away, “cut your losses”.

Question 6

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Six of Swords

Answer 6

• Moving out of “stormy weather” into calmer times.
• Remember that our experiences become part of who we are and shape how we move forward.

Question 7

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Seven of Swords

Answer 7

• Situations that don’t go as expected.
• Plain bad luck.
• Forewarned is forearmed.
• May indicate the possible need for diplomacy and tact to successfully deal with heavy-handed methods.

Question 8

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Eight of Swords

Answer 8

• Feeling restricted.
• Fear is stopping you from moving forward.
• Your self-confidence may be shaken.
• Important to stay calm and remain strong, not to give in to the paralysis you may be feeling.
• It might be time to look at a situation differently.

Question 9

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Nine of Swords

Answer 9

• Feelings of suffering, disappointment, despair, but note that the swords are not actually touching the person on the card.
• Fear may be making more problems for you than the thing/person/circumstance you’re afraid of.
• Negative emotions can be self-perpetuating.
• Our fears can blind us, making what might happen appear worse than the situation actually is.

Question 10

Name the key concepts
associated with this card:

Ten of Swords

Answer 10

• Possible feeling of loss due to the end of a difficult situation.
• Remember that a loss can be a release and a time to consider new beginnings.
• Remember that life moves in cycles.
• Can warn about ruined plans but, even if so, consider the possibility that they weren’t “meant to be” in the grand scheme of things.
• If in a “future” position, usually acts as a warning – the outcome is dependent on the actions you take to avoid the problem.