Swords/Spades
Intellect - Thinking
Zodiac Association: Aquarius, Gemini and Libra
Physical Body Associations: The Swords make up the 'center branch and trunk' of the Tree of Life, the heart, stomach, liver, gall bladder, circulatory system, nervous system and issues with reproduction.
Astrological Associations: Brain, lips, tongue, pupils, shoulder, arms, wrist, hands, kidneys, pancreas, haunches, shins, ankles, circulation and blood pressure.
2 of Swords (Spades)
There is a form of denial going on here. You are resting between opposing factors. There are issues that you are aware of but are turning a blind eye toward. You can resist making a decision, but you cannot escape the consequences of resisting. This may be causing discomfort. Are you pretending to the outside world that everything is OK? Settling for less? Afraid to decide, as every decision seems to be laced with uncertainty? Things may be going well enough now, but sooner or later you will have to make a decision. Don't allow others to force you into the negative game of choosing sides. There's no need to force things, especially when confused. To force things may cause more harm than good at this point. There may be incompatibilities in relationships because someone is not opening up and sharing. This kind of stress can leave the other partner feeling lost, invalidated and without recourse, except to walk away. Tension, deceit and dissatisfaction rule when the Two of Swords is reversed.
3 of Swords (Spades)
There is something to cry about here. Your feelings are certainly validated. A third party, a broken heart, a heart problem, dental work or surgery. There may even be unavoidable heartbreak on the horizon. Usually, with this card, pain experienced is more emotional than physical, caused by mental conflict and stress. Swords represent mental conflicts of all kinds that can pierce the heart. Bitter words may have left you unstable. You may be feeling abandoned in some way. Did someone not live up to their promises? Did, or is, someone dying? (Look for the Death or Tower cards in your reading). I am sorry. All you can do is grieve and move on. To mourn and grieve for too long a period can be unhealthy. Whatever the loss, you must eventually let go. Loss can become a distraction that separates you from your friends, family and those who could help you. Guilt will not help the situation. Recognize your contribution, for positive or negative, in the situation and try not to get bogged down in what might have been. Focus on the now. If there are physical heart problems, it should not be too serious. If you need surgery or extensive dental work, seek a second opinion. When the Three of Swords is reversed, it means that things are finally turning back around and recovery is in the beginning
4 of Swords (Spades)
It is time for you to rest, even put yourself in an isolated environment. Don't ignore your soul's cry for rest, lest you rest in peace forever! Take time out, especially if you are suffering from wounds, whether they be mental or physical. This card may symbolize a stay in a hospital or treatment facility, which may be simply for peace of mind (a retreat). If not yourself, then this may be someone you know. In fact, you may be caring for someone and by the time it is over you may need a vacation! You may be doing some reevaluating of plans or some gentle soul searching. Whatever the situation, you need to be alone for a bit to rejuvenate, perhaps spend some time in prayer. A period of many ups and downs may have just passed and it is time to get the inner house in order. Sometimes just getting away from the daily grind can help restore inner peace, sense of direction and lend insight toward making decisions. Once you have rested you can energetically get back to the remains of the day! Without it you may suffer all kinds of calamity (ill health, insurance problems, enforced isolation or confinement, bad dreams, insomnia, etc.) as a result of not taking time out to adjust and recover. Quietness and prayer help in this situation.
5 of Swords (Spades)
There is a negative attitude here! You may be suffering a blow to your self-esteem or feeling slighted in some way. Is someone being mocked, slandered or gossiped about? This card is about all kinds of defeat and trouble. Conflict and criticisms are on the rise. Try not to let another's criticism or negativity lead you to be paranoid or negative. Someone may be acting spitefully and dishing out ill will. There may be verbal attacks and an all out war and hostility may be on the horizon. Weaknesses may have been pointed out. Someone's pride may be at stake. Whatever the situation, negativity abides and you may be wishing to escape. This card suggests that you may have followed an unwise path or taken someone's bad advice. The 5 of Swords also implies a downfall and humiliation. Selfishness and/or intimidation, yours or another's, will only make matters worse. If you are being bullied or degraded it may be time to go even though there may be great loss. It won't help to stay and allow built up hostilities to spiral into a war. Is your focus on what is healthy, loving and right or just on winning? Some agreements may be made in the present, a middle ground of sorts. However, you won't come close to the desired response you had hoped for. It may be time to consider a Plan B for the next attack.
6 of Swords (Spades)
You are finally rowing away from trouble. In previous days you may have felt you were drifting through life listlessly by the skin of your teeth, existing but not really living. Sometimes when we go through tough times we numb ourselves emotionally as a means of shielding ourselves from what we cannot face. The 6 of Swords says that you are beginning to feel again, and move forward in your life, even if some things frighten you. This is the calm after the storm and you are rowing away to a more peaceful place after much turmoil. Water symbolizes emotions. The journey you take may be an emotional or spiritual one where you are moving away from previous attitudes or behaviors and into a more constructive state. You may not have all the facts about where and how, but you know you are heading toward softer waters after much turmoil. Good for you. It is suggested you are blessed and that there is someone watching over you from the other side, an unseen force. Whatever your situation you are entering recovery. Perhaps there has been a 'turn around' of sorts, a coming back rather than a leaving. If you feel you are moving forward but too slowly or in a whirlpool of worry, you must ask yourself why you are procrastinating. The 'waters of life' could get very choppy, even dangerous, if you do not wish to face reality. It is possible that your present situation will continue to make you feel powerless to improve anything. There may be a need to get away to rethink.
7 of Swords (Spades)
Before resorting to doing anything underhanded, daring, sinister or sneaky, make sure you can live with yourself afterwards. This kind of daring may leave you completely independent or worse. It may get you caught red-handed. Are you ready for that? There may be perfectly good intentions here, then again, maybe not. Be careful to whom you share your secrets with. Someone may not keep your confidences and may even slight you in some way, perhaps by stealing something of yours away. Discretion, craftiness and evasiveness are necessary for you to carry out your goal should you care to move forward on this. For now you have the advantage. Sometimes this card refers to the feeling of having made a wrong choice and the wish to pick up and leave the situation, or some aspect of it, entirely behind in order to go it alone to pursue a new direction, purpose or lifestyle. You may be feeling you cannot grow in your present circumstances due to misunderstandings and criticisms of others. Be careful that you are not using some else's criticisms as an excuse to run off and do your own thing. It may be the wrong time to be acting in such an independent manner. You may not have the nerve or the energy to carry out your plans. In fact, you may not be as equipped for success as you think. Are you being realistic or are you about to sabotage yourself? If you are already regretting some of your thoughts or decisions, perhaps it would be better to stick by your obligations and commitments, at least for now.
8 of Swords (Spades)
You feel tied and bound in an unhappy situation or difficulty of your own making that you feel you cannot free yourself from. There is nothing stopping you from taking another trail, except you. Chances are, no one is even watching you. Either they think they have you where they want you or they don't care. You are aware of other choices available, but for whatever reason, you are not choosing to look at them at this time. What started out in the beginning as worthwhile sacrifice, may now be a self-made prison. You are most-likely dealing with self-limiting behaviors. These may be temporary. However, your health may now be involved as a result. Why are you choosing to remain in a painful state? What do you fear? Is it that your situation is at least known to you? Do you believe in it? Maybe you were not prepared. You may be in a situation of disadvantage or abuse where your life force is being drained. Are you passively allowing issues to build up so eventual conflict will change things? This would be a good time to face your fears, deal with issues so that you can progress, otherwise you may hurt or lose those you love in the process. Choose a freer path away from confining attitudes, restrictive relationships. You don't have to be a victim. Be a victor!
9 of Swords (Spades)
This card represents the dark night of the soul. Some say it means that you are estranged from God. It symbolizes extreme anxiety and tension. The 9 of Swords speaks of nightmares, cruelty, misery, feelings of failure and regret. There is warranted suspicion and doubt, loss of hope and despair. You may even feel that you are losing your mind. Are you anguishing over something you feel unsure, guilty or ashamed about? Is there something you are considering doing that you know in your heart is wrong? Are you having female problems or afraid you are going to? Could you be caught up in cyclic negativity? Whatever the issue, it is making it hard for you to get any true rest. You are probably wondering if there is any escaping this situation. If you are battling yourself night and day, find your thoughts racing, have insomnia, depression or terrifying thoughts, you may need to talk to someone. Once you speak up about your situation, the nightmare should begin to recede.
10 of Swords (Spades)
You have reached rock bottom. A situation of intense conflict has gotten as bad as it can get and can only get better from here. Things were taken too far and the old way is being thrown out. You are, no doubt, experiencing sorrow, tears, depression or some other affliction. You are being forced to make things different and it won't help to cry over the matter, or exaggerate things, even though that may be exactly what you feel like doing. You may have to make a complete break with the past by getting a divorce, a new job or by relocating in order in order to get yourself out of this situation. In fact, the reason you ever got yourself in this situation may no longer exist. The 10 of Swords suggests that you have been holding on to what is left of a bad situation, even after crises hit, and there is nothing to salvage. It is time to wrap up loose ends, clear away the rubbish. Tension is affecting you physically because emotions have been hard to deal with. Your chakras may be blocked. Back pain may be an issue, but so may be not living up to who you know yourself to be. Are you wondering if even you know who you are anymore? Stop asking, "Why me?" Brief gains or successes will not last if you keep doing what you are doing. When we continually refuse to defend ourselves against other's negative influences, we are stabbing ourselves in the back. You've been a martyr far too long. Listen to your heart. You have an advantage in this situation, but it will not always exist. Take advantage of options that come your way to break with negative conditions.
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Artwork - Edmund Blair Leighton (1853-1922). ‘The Accolade’.
