Ten of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Depicting a man lying on the ground with ten swords stabbed into his back, the Ten of Swords sounds like a bad sign. It’s a striking card no one wants to see, as it shows death. But if you look far into the horizon, the weather looks much better there.

From many points of view, this card tells you that you’re at the lowest point in life. Things can only get better from this point on. But let’s go through all of its interpretations to help you determine what works for you at this moment in life.

Meaning of Upright Ten of Swords

In an upright position, the Ten of Swords shows a disaster. The bad news is you’re not expecting it, hence the swords stabbed in the back, rather than the front. On the same note, backstabbing may also indicate some sort of betrayal. There are certain things in life we have no control over.

When seen as part of the swords, the Ten of Swords is the low point. The person in action has made numerous mistakes despite having the wisdom and power to do things better. At this point, running away from the drama will no longer be an option.

From a different point of view, since you’re at your lowest, things can only get better from this point.

Upright Ten of Swords in Love & Relationships

In a love and relationship reading, the Ten of Swords shows that something is about to end. It’s most likely a relationship that was pressured by bitterness, disagreements, pain and conflicts. The relationship has gone in this direction for far too long, so it’s ending now.

Given the backstabbing, the card may also show infidelity and betrayal. It’s an inevitable end, and there’s not much work you can do to improve your relationship.

If you’re single, it means you’ve already been through this. Your relationship has finished a while ago, but feelings of pain and bitterness still linger around. Apart from accepting it as it is, you can’t do too much. You’ve already been through the worst part, so things will only improve from this point on.

Tarotoo card

Upright Ten of Swords in Career

Your career isn’t going through a great moment either. Since the Ten of Swords indicates cutting connections, you’ll probably end your current job anytime now. It’s not always the case though. Sometimes, it might be the end of a project or perhaps some drama that’s reaching an end now.

With a slight inclination towards your health, the upright Ten of Swords could indicate a burnout. You’ve worked too hard, so you need some rest in order to keep growing. Again, no matter what it is, there’s a lesson to learn there, which you can apply in the future.

Upright Ten of Swords in Money

Your finances are grim at the moment. You might’ve tried an investment or an idea. Unfortunately, it failed, or you’re still waiting for results. Either way, the situation isn’t great. And things won’t improve either unless you do something about your situation.

The best advice in this situation is to take a realistic look at your finances. If you can cut some expenses, do it. Be cautious about what resources you have. Taking more risks will most likely cause even more problems.

Upright Ten of Swords in Health

You’ve definitely hit a wall in terms of health. You can’t go any further, and things are likely to worsen if you don’t stop for a moment to deal with your problems. It could be anything, from chronic tiredness to a nervous breakdown.

If you’re getting a health reading, the card tells you that you need to focus on your well-being before anything else.

From a different point of view, the ten swords in a body may also indicate needles, a sign that acupuncture could help out.

In terms of pregnancy, the Ten of Swords upright indicates a new beginning. You’ve tried to conceive for a long time, unsuccessfully. Once your problems are sorted, you can start again, and chances are you’ll be successful.

Want to know more about someone’s feelings? The upright Ten of Swords tells you that they’re in pain. They feel like they’ve failed, so they’re down and could use a hand.

Intentions aren’t great. That person is thinking about ending the connection with you, whether it’s a personal or a professional one.

If you ask how they see you, they’re afraid that you might be the one ending the relationship. They don’t want to go in that direction and they try hard to get things back on track, but they feel like the end is near.

For you, it’s time to acknowledge what you’ve been through. Your suffering is about to end now, so you need to get ready for a new beginning.

Meaning of Reversed Ten of Swords

The reversed Ten of Swords is just as powerful in interpretations and meanings. It also relates to a final show, as well as defeat. Again, you just cannot avoid this type of tragedy, especially since it’s been unfolding for a long time.

If the upright position doesn’t always indicate rock bottom, the reversed position does. You know you’re there. There’s literally nothing else left to fight for. You’re right at the beginning of a new cycle, so you need to adjust your mindset and focus on better things now.

You’ve been through a horrible situation, but you can’t change the past now, so move on.

Reversed Ten of Swords in Love & Relationships

Given your current situation, your heart is seriously scarred. The healing process starts now. According to the reversed Ten of Swords, if you’re in a relationship, things between you and your partner are getting better. You’ve worked to cope with the stress, and now you’re getting back on track.

In a different interpretation, the card tells you that your relationship has already gone down the drain. However, you’ve managed to ignite the spark. Sure, there’s still some anger involved, but this heartbreak has taught you a few valuable lessons.

Reversed Ten of Swords in Career

The reversed Ten of Swords indicates pretty much the same things in your career. You’ve been stressed with all the conflicts and disagreements, but things are settling now.

If you’ve just changed careers, the card tells you that you’ve made a good decision. You’ve left behind a job that brought you anger and frustration.

The reversed Ten of Swords doesn’t always indicate a new beginning. In a career reading, it may also tell you that things could get even worse if you don’t change something about them. You’ll need to assess the situation from a more professional point of view in order to make a good decision.

Reversed Ten of Swords in Money

In a financial reading, the reversed Ten of Swords means you’ve been close to bankruptcy. You’ve barely managed to avoid it. It was a tough call, but you’ve made it. Sure, things could go wrong, but at least you have a decent foundation now. Just be cautious and keep working to rebuild your savings.

The financial issue could’ve been caused by more factors. It might’ve been the result of poor choices or maybe you’ve been through a divorce. Either way, you’re relatively stable now and things will keep improving if you put the work in.

Reversed Ten of Swords in Health

When it comes to your health, the reversed Ten of Swords shows some improvements in health. You’ve been through a serious illness, maybe even close to death. You’re alright now, but you still feel weak and fragile.

The near-death experience isn’t always associated with an illness or accident. It might’ve been your own mental state causing suicidal thoughts. Such an overwhelming experience can be determined with support cards in the spread, too.

If you still think you have such issues or you believe they may come back, seek help from a professional.

For a pregnancy, the reversed Ten of Swords could indicate the fact that infertility is reaching an end. Your health is improving, and your fertility goes back on track, so you can try again soon.

If you ask about someone’s feelings, you should know their pain is nearly gone, and they’re on the path to recovery. They’re ready to let the past go and apply the lessons they’ve learned in the future.

Intentions aren’t bad. That person is ready to accept the situation and find closure. They’ll work on their connection with you and things will get better.

People also see you as someone who’s finally healing. They know you’ve been through a lot, so they appreciate your willingness to fight for better.

When it comes to actions, this is a good time to heal. Seek help if you need it, and don’t look back; it’s as simple as that. You can only move forward, but you have to put in a bit of work.

Numerological Meaning of Ten of Swords

Associated with the number 10, the Ten of Swords indicates strong relationships with those around. People under this number are also charismatic and can draw people towards them with their attitude about life. People like to be around you, and you know it.

Communication skills are spot on as well. You can emphasize with those around you and you make a good friend. After all, the card tells you that you’ve been through a lot, so you do have some experience to share with your loved ones.

Astrological Meaning of Ten of Swords

From an astrological point of view, the Ten of Swords is associated with Uranus. This association shares many of the above mentioned interpretations, so it’s not the most positive one. Uranus could indicate abrupt changes in life, as well as surprises, many of them unpleasant.

In most interpretations of the Ten of Swords, people seeing this card fail to see the ending. They failed to see the drama unfolding, hence the backstabbing representation. Uranus shares a few similarities here as well. After all, no one really likes an abrupt surprise out of nowhere.

Zodiac Correspondence of the Ten of Swords

Swords in the tarot deck normally relate to the air element, so they reflect on zodiac signs like Gemini, Libra or Aquarius. The signs tend to make things move, but they also have good energy. They’re good at communication as well and they love connecting to others.

Most interpretations indicate a stronger connection with Gemini. Given the experience in communication, this association shows the power of one’s mind to go through painful emotions. Mental anguish is a common result of this natural behavior for those in the Gemini sign.

Yes or No Meaning for the Ten of Swords

When asking a yes or no question, pay attention to the position of the card.

In an upright position, the Ten of Swords is a solid no. While you’re close to rock bottom, you don’t fully acknowledge it yet. The situation is close to reaching an end. You have to understand that and let it unfold fully before you can take some action. No matter what plans you have in mind, delay them for now.

In a reversed position, the Ten of Swords suggests a turning point. In this case, it’s a yes, but with caution and hope. The worst is over. You’re still fragile, but you need to move forward. You can’t progress without a great deal of effort, though.

Key Actions for the Ten of Swords

In terms of actions, acknowledgement is extremely important. You have to accept it before you can move on, regardless of how painful it is. This is the first step in healing.

The reversed position is a bit more positive and indicates some opportunities as well, so the healing process could be much faster. Pay attention to what’s going on around you and start the process right away.

Full list of swords cards: