Swords Flashcards
Ace of Swords
Right Side: double-edged sword, burst of raw energy related to the mind and new world views, collision of new with previous beliefs, the old order is threatened, resolution is available after inevitable conflict and struggle, potential for immense power and success, victory, raw strength, sharp mind
Reversed: confusion, brutality, chaos
Two of Swords
Right Side: a state of tense balance where there is a refusal to face an impending situation or conflict, unpleasant reality must be faced instead of ignoring it, choices, indecision, stalemate
Reversed: lesser of two evils, no right choice, confusion
Three of Swords
Right Side: heartbreak, suffering, separation, grief all stemming from loneliness, rejection and betrayal, perhaps relief (breaking of an abscess) because it finally happened and now healing can occur
Reversed: recovery, forgiveness, cultivating hope and moving on
Four of Swords
Right Side: rest after intense struggle or heartbreak, restoration, pause and look within, emotional recuperation, building up strength through introversion and contemplation, withdrawal as opposed to filling one’s time with activities to get thoughts and plans in order
Reversed: restlessness, burnout, stress, need to allow yourself to rest, feeling like you don’t want life to defeat you so you don’t allow yourself rest
Five of Swords
Right Side: the necessity of facing one’s own limits, might have taken on too much and need to back off, face honestly what is possible before moving forward, ambition that has led to others resenting you
Reversed: lingering resentment, exhaustion from conflict leading to a desire to reconcile and desire to forgive, something following you preventing you from moving on
Six of Swords
Right Side: the mind’s capacity for understanding helps to ease a difficult/anxiety provoking time, peace from understanding, insight soothing storm clouds, transition, leaving behind, moving on
Reversed: emotional baggage, unresolved issues, resisting transition
Seven of Swords
Right Side: necessary to use guile, tact, wit, and diplomacy to achieve one’s ends, may leave an uncomfortable feeling of falseness but may be required, deception, trickery, turning a blind eye
Reversed: turn a new leaf, desire to reform, desire to change
Eight of Swords
Right Side: paralyzing indecision which comes from awareness of how one got into the situation, unable to act because of fear of consequences, decision is necessary but either choice leads to trouble, one has created the problem for oneself through avoidance/duplicity/blindness/fear of confrontation to avoid hurting someone, face honestly one’s part in the problem, imprisonment, powerlessness, self-victimization
Reversed: self-acceptance, new perspective, freedom, having felt trapped and victimized by your own thoughts and perceptions and now feeling free
Nine of Swords
Right Side: anxiety and foreboding about the future, hopelessness, nightmares, believing there is a horrible future outcome with no justification for it, important to examine where guilt about the past contributes to these fears
Reversed: fear, enslaved by fears and anxiety, lack of objectivity, despair
Ten of Swords
Right Side: the final ending of a difficult situation, the ending may be painful but a new future with fewer conflicts can begin, betrayal, back-stabbing, defeat, victim of circumstances
Reversed: reviving, rejuvenation, inevitable end
Page of Swords
Right Side: curiosity, nurturing this curiosity about life/people/the world, first stirrings off true independent thinking from one who has been accustomed to accepting the views of others, eager to discuss their thoughts, potential for gossip, victim of another’s gossip, restlessness, mental energy, new mental adventure or idea
Reversed: hastiness, rushing through, all talk, planning poorly leading to setbacks, promises not living up to expectations, annoying people with your curiosity
Knight of Swords
Right Side: sudden changes that break apart the ordinary pattern of life, catapulting one forward through disruption, being suddenly possessed by an idea and hurting others in the process of pursuing it, vision of an idea, moving with changes and turbulence to a broader view of life, action, speed, ambition
Reversed: no direction, scattered energies with no coherent plan, disregard for consequences, unpredictability
Queen of Swords
Right Side: clinging unwsayingly to faith in high ideals, sharp of mind and wit, independent, complexity, perceptive, clear mindedness, strong/idealistic/aloof woman
Reversed: cold-hearted, cruel, bitterness, focus that leaves others by the wayside, emotional isolation and frustration due to high ideals, demanding perfection from others, removing oneself from life due to fear of vulnerability
King of Swords
Right Side: intellectual leadership and strategy, high ideals and principles, innovating change, power, truth, clarity and calm of mind
Reversed: a lack of connectedness, dissociation from feeling, manipulative, guile used for idealistic aims, cruel, criticism, selfish aims
