Swords

Ace of Swords

• The time to make a choice is now
• Stop wavering and do what you know is best

• logic
• objectivity
• intellect
• choice

Upright

• Making objective decisions
• Applying logic
• Reasoning your way out of a difficult situation
• Solving puzzles
• Thinking things through
• Emphasizing the facts
• Clearing your mind
• Seeking clarity

Reversed

• Applying ruthless or twisted logic
• Gloating over your own superior intellect
• Using quick thinking to deceive or confuse others
• Confusing snap judgments with quick thinking
• Making decisions without thinking through consequences

Two of Swords

• Sometimes, the only way to win is to refuse to fight
• You're stuck for now; let time pass before taking action

• denial
• debate
• impasse
• truce

Upright

• Refusing to make a decision without getting the facts
• Exploring both sides of an argument
• Arguing passionately for what you believe in
• Weighing the issues
• Encouraging the open exchange of ideas
• Discussing political or religious issues without getting "hot under the collar"

Reversed

• Rejecting evidence that conflicts with dearly-held beliefs
• Arguing with others just for the sake of doing so
• Nit-picking
• Putting off a decision because you're afraid to face the consequences
• Preventing others from getting the information they need to make good decisions

Three of Swords

• Breakups and infidelity abound
• What hurts now, though, will turn out to be good for you later on

• variance
• difference
• dissatisfaction
• heartache
• rejection

Upright

• Being brave enough to see things as they really are
• Exercising your critical eye
• Being your own best critic
• Acknowledging that things don't always turn out as planned
• Moving past heartbreak to embrace a painful truth

Reversed

• Wallowing in despair
• Allowing yourself to be completely crushed by the thoughts, words, or deeds of another
• Judging yourself too harshly
• Holding yourself to an unrealistic standard of excellence
• Wearing your heart on your sleeve while carrying a chip on your shoulder

Four of Swords

• Don't make any decision now
• Wait, and you'll be glad you did

• meditation
• contemplation
• perspective
• mindset

Upright

• Thinking over your plans before putting them into action
• Pausing to meditate or clear your mind
• Taking time to understand someone or something before criticizing it
• Resting
• Occupying your thoughts with a healthy distraction

Reversed

• Failing to think things through
• Mistaking procrastination for thoughtfulness
• Adopting a point of view and refusing to reconsider your conclusions, even when presented with refuting evidence
• Allowing chaos and whimsy to dominate your thoughts

Five of Swords

• Someone is stealing from you, financially or romantically
• Be wary of friends who talk behind your back

• selfishness
• hostility
• irrationality
• self-preservation

Upright

• Acting in your own best interest
• Choosing to stand up for yourself
• Not backing down from disagreement and discord
• Taking a stand
• Refusing to go along with an unethical plan
• Knowing when to bend the rules

Reversed

• Taking advantage of others
• Intimidating others
• Acting in an unethical manner
• Picking fights
• Using words to goad others into violence and irrationality
• Ignoring rules you've agreed to abide by
• Looking out for yourself while allowing harm to come to others
• Gloating over victory

Six of Swords

• You'll soon go on a long journey over water
• Actions have unexpected consequences, so be prepared

• adaptation
• adjustments
• science
• travel

Upright

• Making the best of a bad situation
• Recovering from defeat
• Resetting expectations
• Making allowances for unexpected circumstances
• Helping others who find themselves in dire circumstances
• Changing the way you see the world
• Broadening your perspective through study or travel

Reversed

• Refusing to accept that things have changed
• Playing the victim
• Rejecting the idea that your actions have consequences
• Applying scientific criteria to matters of faith, or confusing faith with science
• Believing the whole world should be like your small corner of it

Seven of Swords

• Don't assume people around you are worthy of your trust
• Ask for an accounting of where people have been, and what they've been doing

• dishonesty
• presumption
• sneakiness
• assumptions

Upright

• Refusing to do something dishonest, even when there's no chance of ever being caught
• Handling a difficult situation with finesse
• Pointing out assumptions
• Acting ethically in public and in private
• Living a life that is beyond reproach

Reversed

• Stealing or lying
• Doing whatever you can get away with, simply because you can
• Looking for a way around consequences
• Justifying wicked behavior by focusing on the wickedness of others
• Failing to examine your own motives and prejudices

Eight of Swords

• Get over playing the victim
• Once you realize you are your own biggest obstacle, nothing can hold you back

• restriction
• limitation
• confinement
• helplessness

Upright

• Honoring limits
• Respecting the rules
• Deciding to go on a diet for your health's sake
• Recognizing you cannot always be in control
• Identifying obstacles to further progress
• Refusing to think about unhealthy or unethical options
• Asking for assistance

Reversed

• Feeling trapped
• Being lost in a maze of rules and regulations
• Giving in to despair
• Playing the victim
• Allowing others to dictate what you can and cannot do
• Being rendered helpless
• Having very few options
• Failing to look for a way out

Nine of Swords

• If you take the action you're considering now, you'll be sorry in the future

• remorse
• worry
• distraught
• conclusion

Upright

• Refusing to worry about what you cannot control
• Rejecting anxiety
• Judging your own performance with kindness and gentleness
• Using meditation to quiet a troubled mind
• Confronting nightmares and fears
• Drawing a conclusion and putting an issue out of your mind

Reversed

• Torturing yourself with regrets
• Second-guessing your every move
• Beating yourself up for your mistakes
• Depression
• Obsessing on errors and overlooked details
• Refusing to handle stress in healthy ways
• Ruining your ability to appreciate the present by dwelling on the past
• Debating irreversible decisions

Ten of Swords

• Disaster
• Put off plans and do not take action until omens are better

• exhaustion
• ruin
• disaster
• stamina
• obsession

Upright

• Seeing the signs that you've reached your limits
• Paying attention to what your body is trying to tell you
• Giving in to the need for rest and renewal
• Acknowledging that you've hit bottom
• Committing to a turnaround
• Knowing the worst is over

Reversed

• Accepting defeat prematurely
• Driving yourself to total exhaustion, especially mentally
• Experiencing a mental breakdown
• Obsessing on a problem to the breaking point
• Giving up
• Refusing to move from thought to action
• Deeply unhealthy thoughts

Page of Swords

• This card represents a young man or woman with an airy, intellectual demeanor, likely born a Capricorn, Aquarius, or Pisces, who wants to learn something new from you or have a discussion with you

• student
• apprentice
• scholarship
• information

Upright

• Pursuing a course of study
• Asking good questions
• Investing time in study and practice
• Doing research
• Making a habit of learning new things
• Starting an investigation
• Outlining what you need to know
• Finding a mentor or teacher

Reversed

• Pretending to knowledge or sophistication you do not possess
• Cheating on an exam
• Feigning interest as a way of gaining favor
• Considering only the evidence that supports conclusions you've already drawn
• Rejecting the wise counsel of experienced teachers

Knight of Swords

• A blunder leads someone to say something he or she regrets
• If this was you, be prepared to apologize and move on

• bluntness
• intelligence
• incisiveness
• investigation

Upright

• Speaking your mind
• Making your opinions known
• Offering constructive criticism
• Sharing your knowledge
• Making insightful observations
• Pinpointing the problem
• Clarifying what others have said
• Giving clear direction to others
• Uncovering the truth

Reversed

• Stating your opinions as fact
• Picking fights
• Starting arguments
• Using clever insults to undermine the confidence of others
• Tossing reason out the window
• Speaking without taking the feelings of others into account
• Going on a witch hunt
• Distorting evidence

Queen of Swords

• This card represents a woman with an artistic, intellectual nature, likely born between September 12th and October 12th, who uses clever, positive communication to sway others to her point of view

• grace
• skill
• wit
• charm
• aptitude

Upright

• Exercising tact or using diplomacy
• Defusing a tense situation
• Knowing what to say and how to say it
• Making others feel comfortable and confident
• Bringing out the best in everyone
• Having a way with words
• Telling jokes
• Possessing a knack for music, math, art, or science

Reversed

• Knowing exactly what to say to destroy another person
• Withholding critical information
• Using a barbed tongue to upset others
• Employing sarcasm
• Mimicking others unkindly
• Making light of the less fortunate
• Being disrespectful
• Failing to use the talent you've been given

King of Swords

• This card represents an older man with an insightful, deliberate spirit, likely born between May 11th and June 10th, who is known for his integrity and sharp decision-making ability

• genius
• expertise
• decision
• verdict

Upright

• Expressing yourself with firmness and authority
• Rendering a final decision
• Consulting an expert
• Calling in advisors and consultants
• Coming to a final conclusion
• Reaching a beneficial agreement based on sound information

Reversed

• Insisting on having the last word
• Flaunting your intellectual capability
• Talking "over the heads" of others
• Waffling on an important decision
• Constantly changing your mind
• Refusing to make choices that are in your own best interest
• Wishing in vain you could take back what's been said