Intuitive Tuesday -- Ten of Swords

Every Tuesday I select one tarot card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for me ?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week."  I selected the Ten of Swords from the Gateway to the Divine Tarot deck by Ciro Marchetti.

Tens represent the end of a cycle and Swords typically symbolize intellect/mental aspects and/or conflict. Just looking at the picture on this card, at first glance, you may assume that this isn't necessarily a "happy" card, but just like all of the tarot cards, it isn't "good" or "bad." It just is...right now.

As you can see on this version of the Ten of Swords, the man looks as though he's reaching up in pain, trying to remove the swords and thus relieve the pain he's been feeling.

The Ten of Swords signifies the end of this (possibly painful) cycle and the feeling of being stabbed in the back (just like what's pictured on the card). 

I have covered the Ten of Swords in its reversed position here and here...which has a LOT different feel than the upright card.

Last week a couple of friends and clients have been dealing with the Ten of Swords energy. Have you too?

What you will notice on this card, is that there is light behind the man, possibly suggesting hope. In her book, "Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings," Rachel Pollack suggests, "The Ten of Swords might mean the ability to perceive a higher reality and how everything fits perfectly together." (page 353)

So the meaning of this card can range from disaster, sadness, grief and pain...all the way to enlightenment and seeing things from a higher perspective.

According to one of my new (to me) favorite reference books, "The Heart of Tarot," by Thomson, Mueller and Echols, the Ten of Swords "represents the necessary 'hitting bottom' before we can face our problems and turn our life around."

On a more hopeful note, the book goes on to say, "The swords are reviving spinal acupressure points, hence activating kundalini or life energy. Our theme is that of gathering our reserves." (page 132)

There's incredible timing in pulling this card today. On a global level, last week's Intuitive Tuesday, which was all about the suit of Pentacles, referred to the people in Japan who have been devastated by the tsunami (which is definitely the energy of the Ten of Swords).

Not coincidentally, this past week I pulled cards for three people who all received some of the important messages of the Ten of Swords, such as, "It's time to face your denial of a potentially painful situation. You can no longer ignore what's staring you in the face."

In addition, LET GO. It's impossible to hold on and try to control everything. Allow Divine guidance to lead you forward and trust that even though things are tough now, you are on your path.

In The Heart of Tarot, it says, "Many believe there is underlying purpose to what seem random events in our lives. The Ten of Swords points out the futility at times of trying to force events, to bend others to our wishes. It signals accepting a new direction and another way of being."  

After pulling and interpreting three tarot cards for a dear friend who is contemplating moving to another state, I closed the email to her by saying, "Stay, go, now, later...LET GO. You don't have to mastermind this. It's ALL in divine order. Your lesson here is to allow it to flow."

Today's card acknowledges your struggle and encourages you to let go and allow flow to happen. Easier said than done...but what have you got to lose by trying?