Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (2024)

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Eight of Swords tarot card meaning

  • Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (1)
  • UPRIGHT

    doubt, loneliness, confinement, limitation, sadness,

    REVERSED

    new perspectives, understanding, development, relief, hope,

Are you interested in the world of the Tarot and want to learn about the influence that the Eight of Swords is likely to exert on your life? On this page you'll find all the information you need to get a better understanding of the card.

Before I go into more detail about the analysis of the Eight of Swords, keep in mind that the suit of Swords is always associated with the world of thought, intellect and ideas. In numerology, the number 8 is linked to the idea of perfection, to the spiritual quest that, sooner or later, every human being undertakes. The Eight of Swords can only be interpreted by bearing these characteristics in mind.

In the most used version of the divinatory tarot, the Eight of Swords is represented by two sets of four arcs forming an oval. Inside this structure is a small blue flower with several petals. The oval is of course a representation of the world of thought, from which ideas come. The flower is reminiscent of the lotus, known on the spiritual level as the third eye that allows you to observe and grasp situations from a new angle. The open petals of the lotus convey the idea of spiritual fulfillment, as if the flower is completely open to the beauty of the divine.

The message conveyed by the arcana couldn't be clearer: to evolve, the seeker must first of all accept the need to plunge into their inner world, so as to access spiritual wisdom more quickly.

Influence

  • Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (3)

    short-term

    In the short term, the Eight of Swords bears witness to the period of transition that you are currently experiencing. Aware of your problems, you can't, for the moment, find the solution that would allow you to move forward. Maybe you're just not looking in the right direction! By accepting the need to question your beliefs, new perspectives will be offered to you.

  • Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (4)

    long-term

    When analyzing its influence over the long term, the Eight of Swords is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to make personal developments. Your value system has built you as much as it limits you. It is often a question of looking in a new direction in order to see riches too long ignored.

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Eight of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Eight of Swords upright

Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (5)

In the most frequent interpretation of the card, the Eight of Swords testifies to the period of isolation and the doubts that are taking hold of the seeker. What's more, the seeker is really unhappy with this situation, which isn't the result of external action, but simply the result of their limiting beliefs. Therefore, it will be up to the seeker to agree to question these beliefs and address their problems from a new angle.

It could be said that for the moment the seeker is trapped in their value system. Their mind is a chaos of clashing ideas that really don't help them to achieve clarification. This blockage means several things. It teaches that, on the one hand, intellect and a critical spirit are not always enough to get you out of a difficult situation. The seeker will also have to listen to their instinct and emotions to better understand the implications of the problem. However, on the other hand, these difficulties encourage them not to give in to impulsiveness. Taking a decision in this context could be very unproductive or even dangerous.

For the seeker the most important thing is to calm their mind and give the clouds time to clear away. Only then will they really be able to determine their course of action, by pushing aside as far as possible the beliefs that constrain them. The Eight of Swords thus resembles the arcana of The Hanged Man, in that it asks you to accept to the idea of transforming your perception of the situation.

Eight of Swords reversed

Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (6)

When it appears reversed, the Eight of Swords has a very beneficial connotation, deeply favorable to the seeker's development. It means that they have finally become aware of the limits they set on themselves, whether with regard to their education, their value system or their behavior. When faced with a problem, they were looking for solutions in a closed and restricted world.

But the seeker is now able to look at their difficulties from a new angle. They accepted the need to break free of their self-limiting barriers. They are becoming progressively more insightful, developing their knowledge of their psyche and discovering other tools of personal development. They can once again start confidently down their life path, fully aware of their value and their ability to change.

Pair Eight of Swords with a card of your choice...

  • Eight of Swords

    Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (7)

    doubt
    loneliness
    confinement
    limitation
    sadness

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All Tarot Cards

Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (9)

22 MAJOR ARCANA

Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (10)

Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (11)

56 MINOR ARCANA
  • CUPS
  • SWORDS
  • WANDS
  • PENTACLES
Eight of Swords meaning in the tarot (2024)

FAQs

What does the 8 of swords mean in tarot? ›

In its upright position, the Eight of Swords signifies a feeling of being trapped, restricted, and backed into a corner. It represents negative thoughts, self-imposed limitations, and a victim mentality. You may find yourself imprisoned by your own beliefs and unable to see the possibilities for change.

What does the 8 of swords in the future mean? ›

All of the things that you are putting up with in the present can lead you into a position where suddenly you are kept from all the possibilities of life outside a narrow scope. Seeing the Eight of Swords in the future position warns you that current comforts may become tomorrow's ties that bind.

Is the 8 of swords a yes or no love card? ›

In reading for love and relationship, the Eight of Swords is considered inauspicious if you are in a relationship because it can indicate feeling backed into a corner or stuck in your relationship. Even if it may seem as though there is no way out, that is only how you perceive things.

What is the general of the 8 of swords? ›

The general meaning in the Eight of Swords is that of a feeling of being trapped and victimized. You may feel powerless because, in your mind, you feel that changing the situation might be beyond you.

What is the advice of the Eight of Swords in Tarot cards? ›

The Eight of Swords is an invitation to reach in and find solidarity with your sense of self. It asks you to take a look at your mindsets, belief systems and communication and find your way to trusting those things completely. Stop doubting your mind and start being your own support system.

What do Swords symbolize in Tarot? ›

The swords symbolize the intellect, and the heart, the emotions which always suffer under this treatment. The Four of Swords symbolizes avoidance. Setting problems to the side, (the swords on the wall), while one prays for deliverance. This card can also represent surrender, or in some cases, pacifism.

What is the motivation of the Eight of Swords? ›

The Eight of Swords is exactly that. It is what happens when you try to put limitations on words or thought. The motivation behind this may be lofty, to not hurt feelings or keep thoughts on divine rather than base matters.

What is the spiritual meaning of the sword? ›

The sword symbolizes power, protection, authority, strength, and courage; metaphysically, it represents discrimination and the penetrating power of the intellect. The sword is phallic, with the sheath being yonic.

What zodiac is Swords Tarot? ›

The air signs of the zodiac are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius; they correspond with the suite of Swords in the Tarot, which is also the suite of Spades in a deck of regular playing cards.

What do the 8 cards mean in Tarot? ›

The number Eight in the Tarot deck describes boundaries, limitations and situations that are inherently intractable.

What do the swords mean in Tarot yes or no? ›

YES OR NO TAROT - SWORDS

ACE OF SWORDS Answer: Yes, if it concerns the approval of the official authorities, a breakthrough in a situation, or release from it. A map of sharpness, tremendous power will accompany your question.

What cards mean love in Tarot? ›

Tarot cards for love

You might know that there are cards in the tarot deck that signify relationships. There's the Two of Cups and, of course, the Lovers card. Whenever those cards show up in a reading, it's a strong indication of a healthy relationship.

What does the 8 of swords mean in a relationship? ›

In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship the Eight of Swords is not a great omen as it can represent feeling trapped, confined or backed into a corner in your relationship. You may be feeling like you cannot escape but that is only your perception!

What is the 8 of strength in tarot? ›

8. FORTITUDE. —Power, energy, action, courage, magnanimity; also complete success and honours. Reversed: Despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord, sometimes even disgrace.

What does sword energy mean? ›

It is powerful yet refreshing and cleansing. Symbolically, the air element relates to knowledge, action, power, and change. It is a masculine energy that can lead by force and power, even though it remains unseen. In a deck of playing cards, Swords corresponds to Spades.

What does the 8 card mean in Tarot cards? ›

8. FORTITUDE. —Power, energy, action, courage, magnanimity; also complete success and honours. Reversed: Despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord, sometimes even disgrace. In astrology, the Strength card is associated with the masculine, fixed-fire sign of Leo and its ruling planetary body, the Sun.

What does the 8 of wands mean in Tarot? ›

In conclusion, the Eight of Wands is a card of momentum, progress, and excitement. It urges us to embrace opportunities, trust our instincts, and take decisive action towards our goals. By harnessing the energy of the universe and aligning our desires with our actions, we can manifest our dreams into reality.

What is the 8 number card in Tarot? ›

What does the Number 8 Mean in Tarot Cards? The number 8 has a special significance in tarot cards and is associated with strength, energy, and determination.

What is the 8th tarot card strength? ›

Strength is the loving determination to live, to love, to be wholeheartedly ourselves and create space for others to do the same. This card celebrates emotional labour and shines a light on how powerful that often unsung, unglamorous work can be. To my mind, it's the biggest challenge presented in the tarot.

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