Ace Of Swords
[intepretation]
Powerful forces have come to play which will bring swift change in life for anew
[reversed]
Stress and tension plague life as the point of the sword bears down
[symbols+images]
The ideas of air and movement play in the background while the sword firmly gleams in the forefront.
The golden crown and laurel leaves are symbols for wisdom and thought which is associated with the suit.
Two Of Swords
[intepretation]
He balances somewhat gracefully his heavy sword as well as himself on a wire high above the clouds.
[reversed]
The situation becomes difficult as he loses his confidence. The wind shakes his act as he can barely keep the sword on his palm, much less himself on the rope
[symbols+images]
The card balance with the literal idea of balance and tension. The man on the rope performs a difficult task of balancing himself and his sword as he progresses from one end of the line to another. The sword representing his thoughts are just as important as himself in this journey.
The reversed side shows the man trying to gain some balance in a vicarious journey along the line. The winds around him, representing outside influences, contribute to the difficulty of the situation.
Colour: pastels, rose, blues – associated with Libra
Three Of Swords
[intepretation]
He lays there in does his crying in the rain. He wallows in the sorrow of his heart ache
[reversed]
He cries out to the skies from his anxiety. His mind is a playing field for chaos. He suffers extreme anguish from mental and emotional stress.
[symbols+images]
The card depicts two different ways of dealing with heartache and sorrow. One lies in defeat upon a sword, the feeling of self pity clouding judgment as he runs his arm along the edge of the sword. He lays there feeling sorry for himself, lost in his own anguish.
The reverse is a focused image on the unleashing of great sorrow and anger which comes form the stresses within. The scream a released which frees the body of all it’s tension.
Colour: rose, rich purples – associated with Libra
Four Of Swords
[intepretation]
He finds rest for recuperation
[reversed]
Rest is enforced upon him as he did not heed to do so in the first instance
[symbols+images]
The card plays on the notion of rest – of the mental kind. Here stress from life, situation or the environment may require one to take some time out and rest. In the case of the reversed side, rest was not taken when required which has led to enforced rest.
Colour: electric blues, turquoise – associated with Aquarius
Five Of Swords
[intepretation]
He performs the ritual of suicide as a result of his failure.
[reversed]
Great sorrow is wept from her eyes as she grieves a great loss and failure of her own accord.
[symbols+images]
The Japanese themed images reflect upon the magnitude of which failure can cause upon ones psyche.
The “hara kiri”-esque ritual of suicide through dishonor or failure adds a certain dimension of a mental process which had to be played out before performing the actual act. It is calculated and planned, and not merely an emotional reaction.
The reversed side shows a Japanese woman in deep mournful sorrow. Here her despair is related to the death of the man on the upside.
Colour: electric blues, turquoise – associated with Aquarius
Six Of Swords
[intepretation]
He pushes through waters of life taking with him only his wits. He is on a journey away from a place where his skills were not utilized
[reversed]
The journey is difficult, the waters are rough – he pushes through as hard as he can manage.
[symbols+images]
The card is about a journey away. The swords represent a mental journey. A condition of the mind which may need to change internally or with the help of external influence.
The transparent vessel is meant to indicate the delicate nature of the transition. A fragile boat of glass requires skillful and slow movement to prevent its bow from breaking against a crashing rock.
The reversed side man experiences difficulty through the could of fog and the torrent of waves. The journey will be difficult as he attempts to stay anchored with his oar to prevent himself from being swept astray.
Colour: electric + deep blues – associated with Aquarius
Seven Of Swords
[intepretation]
He chuckles at his victim\’s stupidity as he walks away with yet another bundle of stolen goods.
[reversed]
He is crafty with his words and clever with his lies. He hides under a mask of sincerity. Represents all things superficial and false.
[symbols+images]
Because the card is one of swords, both images represent the theft or lies associated with thought and the mind. The swords may represent ideas which are stolen or the wasting or effort and mental capacity with the situation.
The reversed side has the man covered or flanked by swords, representing the shallow use of thought or ideas to project the wrong image or concept.
His hands in a mock prayer as he bows forward with his superficial smile. He aims to please, but only for his own gain.
Colour: bi-coloured, warm hues, yellows – associated with Gemini
Eight Of Swords
[intepretation]
She binds herself in a velvet rope. She feigns entrapment of her own accord.
[reversed]
She frees herself only to see the error of her ways.
[symbols+images]
The swords she lays upon pose no direct threat to her. Here the swords represent issues which torment her mind – the lay in the background, a threat to her, but indirectly.
She holds on to the ropes as she tries to bind herself harder. The ropes are holding her back from dealing with the situation, but she chooses to hold on to them.
The blindfold is her excuse from seeing situation as it is.
The reversed image shows her freeing herself from the binding and the blindfold. She has liberated herself without the help of others.
Colour: bi-coloured, warm hues – associated with Gemini’
Nine Of Swords
[intepretation]
She suffers mental anguish from oppression, fear and stress. She cannot sleep and is haunted by nightmares.
[reversed]
There is escape but at a price as he pushes through the barriers of the swords to free himself.
[symbols+images]
The image of the swords surrounding the two individuals represents a closing of mental threat. Being swords, the threat is in the mind and both react to the situation differently.
Colour: bi-coloured, warm hues – associated with Gemini
Ten Of Swords
[intepretation]
He lies in a pool of blood from being stabbed ten times. He now knows of a defeat so extreme or as definite
[reversed]
He remains defiant even till his end, always looking upwards for hope
[symbols+images]
The idea of being taken down by swords represents the metaphor of being ruined by slander and by bad reputation – pain inflicted by words or ideas.
His pale green skin has lost its colour, as he has long accepted this fate. His faced covered to hide his shame.
The card does pose a positive side to it though – once you’ve hit rock bottom, the only way is up.
The reversed side shows a man pierced as well, but his fists are clenched and his head turned upwards-indicating defiance against the situation.
The warning there is takes the situation and to turn it on it’s head and keep fighting back.