10 of Swords from the Rider-Waite deck
You’re doing a Tarot reading for yourself. Let’s say it’s a timeline spread. In the “3 months from now” position you pull the 10 of Swords. Hate that…nothing makes your stomach drop like seeing the card of ultimate endings.
Is it really going to be that bad? Not always. Because here’s the thing about Tarot cards: they reflect your perspective. The 10 of Swords can mean anything from the end of a relationship to you feeling martyred because someone forgot your birthday. Seriously. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this card (or the 3 of Swords…heartbreak) lurking in the future, only to get there and discover it wasn’t all that bad. You feel lousy in the moment, but the world has not ended.
Now, sometimes the “ugly” cards can signify something truly painful. But there are ways to clarify exactly what the card is pointing to. Is it your overreaction to a minor event? Or a serious complication?
To clarify, try this: take the offending card and put it at the end of a cause and effect line. Pull three more cards. The first card symbolizes what sets the events (that lead to the ugly card) in motion. The second and third cards describe the chain of events leading to the dreaded card.
Great suggestion for a spread!
Thanks.
This is great reassurance for the card’s message… makes my heart plunge whenever it pops up. Thanks!
This is kind of interesting because it is in fact the card I pulled recently in a Tarot reading, and yes – the relationship had ended.