The Ten of Swords in Tarot

The Ten of Swords immediately presents a tragic and painful image, but it carries an important message that is vital to understand.

Visual description of the card:

The Ten of Swords shows a person lying face down, with ten long swords stuck into their body. A red cloak covers the lower half of their body, while the upper half is left uncovered.
The sky has a dark tone, indicating a general sense of pain, loss, and misfortune.

Despite these grim images, the card also shows some positive aspects: The sea behind the body is still calm, and the sun is rising in the distance, beyond the mountains, symbolizing that the darkness will soon fade away.

Thus, every new beginning must come from an ending, and with every defeat, the seeds of future victory are sown.

Si te interesa profundizar y conocer el significado de Todos los Símbolos del Tarot... ¡DESCARGA MI LIBRO AHORA!

The Ten of Swords upright:

General meaning

There’s no doubt that this ten signifies a very painful moment bursting into your life, in any aspect of your existence.
This tragic failure seems to appear out of nowhere, something you hadn’t anticipated, and it takes you by surprise with little or no chance to defend yourself.

If you could somehow foresee this disaster, maybe you’d have some tools to lessen the blow, but most of the time, this card represents a sudden catastrophe.

In line with the image, this card is associated with betrayal. Someone may play dirty behind your back, stabbing you with a figurative knife, and the pain comes from the fact that this is likely someone you trusted.

This can happen in an emotional, romantic, financial, business, or family context, depending on the rest of the reading, but without a doubt, the surprise brings with it crushing sadness and sorrow.

A central point of this card is that there’s a deep sense of victimhood in you. In fact, you are a victim, but in some ways, you may be amplifying this condition, adopting a permanent victim mindset, seeking sympathy and support from others, asking for pity, and wanting everyone to feel sorry for you.

Certainly, the pain from the betrayal may be overwhelming, but you seem to revel in this suffering, wallowing in self-pity, presenting yourself as a martyr who gave their best but received nothing but undeserved suffering in return.

So, this card urges you to see the reality of the situation: Your pain and suffering are undeniable, they’ve happened, they exist, and they are real, but… where is the fine line between experiencing the impact and playing the victim in everything?

A healthy person suffers when disaster strikes, processes it, and tries to get back on their feet. Meanwhile, some people, full of inner conflict, turn victimhood into a permanent state and use every minor situation to portray themselves as a “poor me” in search of others’ compassion. Which one are you, or which one do you want to be?

There’s no doubt that we are dealing with a complicated situation filled with suffering here. It could be the end of a cycle, the closing of a chapter, the end of a relationship, perhaps an economic failure or professional setback, but whatever the event, it has come into your life with a purpose and a reason.

It’s something you must likely go through to learn and grow, and once you’ve moved past the pain, you’ll be able to see clearly why this happened and perhaps realize that it was for the best.

Healing will come, for just as the sun rises after even the darkest night, it’s inevitable that your recovery will follow the pain. This card reminds you to embrace that reality, to extract the liberating and transformative aspect of the pain, knowing that as you heal, the days will become brighter and clearer for you.

It’s also crucial for you to know that no more pain from this source will come. This is the last suffering caused by that person or that situation, and there will be no more from now on. Therefore, you can plan ahead, regain hope and optimism, knowing that no further disaster will come. The worst is already behind you.

This is a kind of final test for your spirit, and you must cling to this notion of overcoming as you walk through the dark night you’re facing right now. Based on all of this, it’s clear that the Ten of Swords is asking you to accept the bitter pill that life has handed you. Don’t resist the pain; gradually, let go and release it.

There’s little or nothing you can do to stop what’s happening, so the smartest and healthiest thing for your soul is to simply accept it, stop resisting, and let things flow. This will eventually lead to renewal and positive change, even if you can’t see it clearly right now or it seems impossible to you.

The change will come, the healing and regeneration will happen, and time will reveal the purpose behind it all, showing you that your suffering wasn’t in vain.

The key is to use this time of suffering wisely, to understand the causes and reasons behind it, and to reflect on why this situation hit you so hard. Are these causes directly related to you, or are you simply an unjust victim in this event? All of these questions and reflections are essential for your life and will give you valuable answers that will serve you well on your path.

In a very literal sense, this card speaks about trust, warning you to be careful. It’s highly likely that you’ll fall victim to some form of betrayal, which will hurt because it’s so unexpected or incredible.

It can be devastating if this card comes up as an answer when you’re asking whether someone is a good person, or if it concerns a relationship or business partnership. Nobody wants to hear this from a tarot reading, but you must look beyond and understand that when one door closes, another opens, and you must not resist the facts. Trust in yourself and the universe that the best path is the one you’re on, that things happen for a reason, and that this will ultimately benefit you.

This card can also refer to other forms of betrayal, such as someone revealing your secrets or sharing sensitive information, gossiping about you, and breaking the trust you had placed in them.

This ten belongs to the Suit of Swords, with all of its weight of logical and rational analysis and its strong intellectual imprint. So, even in the midst of the painful event that has hit you, you possess the wisdom and intelligence to connect the dots, analyze the situation, break it down, and make sense of it.

And from that understanding, you’ll be able to get back on your feet and move forward again. Learn from your defeats and from the relentless teacher that is pain. Use your wisdom to find the positive, to recover, to rebuild yourself, to be reborn, new, different, more whole, and stronger. This is the lesson of this tough card.

This card shares a similarity with the Major Arcana card Death, which doesn’t signify literal death, but rather a very deep and often sudden change. In the case of the Ten of Swords, it’s a change that is likely unacceptable at first. It’s a dramatic, unexpected, and unwelcome shift. Only with time and the use of your intellect, reason, and logic will you be able to accept it and uncover the truth it brings with it.

In matters of love

The Ten of Swords, unfortunately, is not a good omen. Serious problems may arise in a relationship, often related to infidelity or betrayal, though it may not necessarily be romantic betrayal—it could be someone playing dirty behind your back.
There may be hidden secrets, issues related to business or money within the relationship, moral failings, or past issues that weren’t disclosed, which could threaten the relationship. It’s also possible to expect a romantic betrayal or an unexpected and painful breakup.

The key here is to face reality, not to close your eyes to the truth, and to ask yourself the right questions. Nobody can be forced to love you. Let go, release—there’s no other way forward.

If you’re single and looking for love, be very careful with the people you meet, as they may not be who they say or show themselves to be, and they might make promises they won’t keep.

In terms of work

The Ten of Swords indicates a high possibility that your work situation is coming to an end. There could be sudden layoffs, a denied raise or promotion, someone taking your place, or someone claiming credit for significant work that was rightfully yours.
The potential for workplace betrayal is very high right now, so you should protect yourself, and if it happens, don’t waste time plotting revenge or punishment. Simply accept what has happened and focus your energy on a new horizon.

If you’re looking for work, things might take a bit longer. Jobs that seemed possible and secure may disappear overnight, and people who made promises may betray you, while others could take away opportunities that seemed so certain. It’s a time to wait for the night to pass and for the sun to rise again—there’s no choice but to let time do its work.

In terms of money

The Ten of Swords also brings disappointment, either through people you trusted or due to your own bad decisions or poor investments.
This is not the time to take financial risks of any kind, and above all, avoid lending money, as there’s a high chance you won’t get it back.

Betrayals related to money or financial interests may arise now, especially from people you wouldn’t suspect. Be cautious with inheritances and the division of assets—these are delicate situations where greed and the worst of human nature often take over.

Money itself won’t necessarily be scarce, but you must take care of it. Avoid bad deals, don’t invest or gamble, until the sun rises again.

Regarding your health

In its harshest interpretation, when combined with certain cards, the Ten of Swords could indicate a brutal blow, an unexpected and painful diagnosis, or a sudden and serious illness.
While it doesn’t signify death on its own, other cards are needed to confirm that. However, it certainly points to a distressing health situation.

In its less severe and more common meaning, this ten suggests extreme physical and mental exhaustion. It’s possible that if everything is going wrong in your life, your body and spirit are feeling the toll. You need to rest and try to heal slowly.

In terms of spirituality

The Ten of Swords may signify a deep spiritual crisis, where you either renounce or at least seriously question the beliefs that have guided you up to this point.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Questioning things is healthy, but due to this crisis, you might feel inclined toward other beliefs, and here you need to be careful not to be easily swayed by unscrupulous people.

You may face a period of great anger and disappointment with your beliefs and faith, and that’s also part of the emotional healing process, so don’t let it overwhelm you.

The Ten of Swords reversed:

General meaning

The Suit of Swords is all about the intellect, using reason and logic to solve problems and live in a thoughtful way.
In this sense, this card announces a profound mental transformation, of beliefs, principles, ideas, and convictions, which will be questioned, analyzed, and possibly replaced.

It’s about closely examining your past and present attitudes and realizing that some things must happen, likely painful ones, to bring about a healing transformation.

You are seriously questioning your life because your plans for the future depend on it. And this transformation is so deep that it not only changes you but also affects the real plane of existence, moving things, displacing people and places.

On one hand, the card can indicate that you fear suffering pain. There’s an ending that must occur, a decision to be made, and it’s very hard for you to go through with it because you know it will bring pain, or perhaps it will hurt others.

It could be the case of a relationship (romantic, family, or even professional) that isn’t working anymore, but you haven’t ended it yet, perhaps because you’re not ready to let go, or maybe the other person isn’t ready, and you don’t want to be the one to cause the pain. After all, nobody likes to hurt others.

But despite how painful or traumatic this situation may be, you must understand that it is very positive for you, and you’ll soon see that the decision was the right one.

In another, slightly opposite sense, this ten may indicate that you’re resisting an ending that is both painful and inevitable. You’re not ready for it, and you need to build and prepare your mental and intellectual framework to handle it.

You know that emotions may get out of control, and sometimes the only thing that can effectively stop them is reason. The more you resist, the more it will hurt, and that’s worse for you because there’s nothing you can actually do to stop things. Acting this way will only slow down your personal transformation.

If you’re going through this situation, you need to make a real effort to let go and allow the universe to put everything in its rightful place.

The Ten of Swords reversed may also show that you’re terrified of any kind of ruin or lack, whether emotional, affective, or material. The fear of not having what you need, or what you think you need, paralyzes you. Even if this isn’t a real possibility and is just a product of your imagination, born from your own fear, you’re constantly on the defensive and imagining worst-case scenarios.

You feel like everything bad is going to happen to you, and that if something can go wrong, it will. A little resilience is helpful, as it allows us to prepare and anticipate, but always seeing the glass as half-empty is harmful to your whole life.

What’s the point of living in constant fear, especially when those things haven’t even happened yet or may never happen? This mindset will only create more fear, an all-encompassing panic, and overwhelming anxiety. This card is often associated with people who suffer from anxiety disorders.

Another important aspect this card might indicate is that you’re still struggling with the past. You haven’t closed old wounds, and even though you might act or appear as if you’ve moved on, the truth is that those hurts are still within you, and you haven’t found a way to resolve them yet. It’s crucial that you do so in order to move forward. Confronting old pains may reopen wounds, and that will hurt, but it’s the only way to heal and overcome them once and for all.

Thankfully, in its most positive aspect, the Ten of Swords can indicate that you’re already in the phase of overcoming and releasing any traumatic situation. Some remnants of pain may still remain, but you’re already in the process of emotional healing. You no longer feel as wounded or play the victim.

You’ve managed to intellectually process things. The dawn is finally breaking after a long darkness, and you’re getting ready to feel the sun’s rays on your face once again.

In matters of love

The reversed Ten of Swords indicates that you’ve already taken steps to improve an existing relationship, and that’s a good thing. However, more work may be needed if this relationship is going to survive.
Remember that every relationship has two sides, and problems are almost never entirely one person’s fault. You may need to reassess whether you’re truly ready for a long-term commitment. But the most important thing still relates to the past and the wounds it has caused you.

You need to bring all of that back to the surface to resolve it once and for all, because if you don’t, if you don’t overcome it, fear will keep you from moving forward in any relationship.

In terms of work

The reversed Ten of Swords may indicate that there are serious problems at your workplace. This doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world (or your job), but ignoring these issues won’t make them go away.
You’ve now reached a point where you can see what’s best for you. Your mind is clearer after going through tough times. Take a moment to calmly decide what your next steps should be. Is it really better for you to stay where you are?

If you’re job hunting, you may be looking in the wrong places. Take some time to reconsider your approach.

In terms of finances and money

The reversed Ten of Swords may indicate that you’re taking some constructive and important steps to improve your financial situation. This is a very good sign.
If you’ve failed or made mistakes in the past, you’ve learned from them and know how to apply those lessons now, ensuring things go right this time. You’re slowly coming out of distressing situations, and everything is on its way to getting better.

In terms of your health

The reversed Ten of Swords indicates that you’re taking or considering steps that will improve your health. Try not to worry about the rest of your life—just focus on the present. While it’s good to take care of yourself for the future, worrying unnecessarily about tomorrow’s health won’t help at all.

In terms of spirituality

The reversed Ten of Swords may signify that you’ve finally overcome or are in the process of overcoming some of the most painful parts of your past. Now is the time to look forward. Think about how you want to see yourself in a year, or five, or ten.
Living is a long learning process, but the unfortunate truth is that we often learn only toward the end, when there’s little time left. So, the more we can learn in advance, the earlier we can live a fuller life.

En mi libro “leer el Tarot”, encontrarás una descripción aún más amplia de esta carta y de toda la baraja, así como un resumen de claves y tips de cada carta que te servirán de guía rápida y ayuda memoria.
¡DESCARGA MI LIBRO AHORA!