Eight of Swords Keywords

Upright Keywords	Reversed Keywords
trapped, restricted, victimised, paralysed, helpless, powerless, imprisonment	freedom, release, taking control, survivor, facing fears, empowered, surrender
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Eight of Swords Tarot Card Description

On the Eight of Swords is a woman who is tied up and blindfolded. There are eight swords placed strategically around her in a way that restricts her movement as though she is in some kind of trap or jail. However, it seems as though whoever built the trap was a little lazy or hasty, leaving some open space where she could escape. But because of the blindfold preventing the woman from seeing, she has no way of finding her way out of this trap. The barren land around her might signify a lack of creativity of some sort, while the grey sky in the background can signify despair, since there she feels that there is no hope of her breaking free from the kind of situation that she is bound to. If only she could take the blindfold off, she would see that she could simply just walk out of this situation.

Upright Eight of Swords Meaning

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. This feeling of helplessness that you have, the feeling that you have no agency in your life, has played a major role in making your situation worse.

Surrendering one’s power to an unknown entity, whether it's fate, or God, the government or something else means that you are giving away your own personal responsibility to affect change.

Surrendering one’s power to an unknown entity, whether it's fate, or God, the government or something else means that you are giving away your own personal responsibility to affect change. You have willingly relinquished the driver's seat in the journey of your own life, and it isn't going well for you. It is advisable for you to avoid making an important decision at this time since your judgment is likely clouded.

The good news is that because these traps are things that we create ourselves, we can also leave them if we put our minds to it. It is simply the matter of taking off the blindfold, and seeing beyond the limited perspective that we created for ourselves - to see the possibilities, and to recognize that you have your own internal power.

Upright Love Meaning	Upright Career Meaning	Upright Finances Meaning
feeling trapped, suffocated, smothered, passive in love life	dependence on job, can’t change careers, fear of job changes	anxiety about money, can’t see financial opportunity

Tarot Love Meaning - Upright 8 of Swords

When the 8 of Swords appears in a love tarot reading, you may be feeling trapped; do you feel smothered in a relationship, or in a now stale partnership you cannot leave? You may feel as though you have no choices, but this usually isn’t the case if you look at the bigger picture. We deny ourselves possibilities when we are too scared of doing the hard work of communicating our boundaries or standing up for ourselves. In order to make changes, you must be the one to take action and control. Freedom doesn’t come with passivity. If you’re single, this card can also point to being too passive in your love life. You may be unwilling to venture and meet others, hoping that the solution to your romantic life will be a person that can sweep you off your feet. This often doesn’t yield results.

Career Meaning - Upright 8 of Swords

Your career isn’t quite what you thought it would be. Yet because your job is tied to your means of living, you feel that you can’t leave right now. You may feel you do not have a back up plan, or other positions, jobs or career paths available to you right now. If you’re looking to switch career paths, it may take some education, but this can be difficult without having a steady income. While it may feel like you don’t have options, you may just need to think outside the box. Anxiety may make you feel like you have less options than you actually do. Ask for help, look over your budget, turn a hobby into a business, find a reputable place to get a student loan; there are likely many options, where you don’t have to keep suffering. 

Finances Meaning - Upright 8 of Swords

You may feel like things are closing in on you right now when it comes to your financial situation. Anxiety about the state of your bank account can alter how you perceive the reality of the situation. If you’re looking to make more cash, you may have more tools to do so than you think. Do you have a talent that someone else would pay for? Are you a talented writer? Ask if local businesses need a writer for their blog. Read tarot cards? Start charging for readings at your local cafe. There are so many ways to better your situation, you’ll just need to be a little more creative.

Eight of Swords Reversal Meaning

Getting the reversed Eight of Swords is a good sign, since it shows maturity and self-acceptance, and a recognition of one's own power and responsibility - especially after a long struggle of doubt. It means that one is capable of making conscious decisions because they are confident in who they are, and their power to affect change in both themselves and the world. It's time to free ones self from the past and proverbially clear out their closet, creating room for new things and experiences.

Reversed Love Meaning	Reversed Career Meaning	Reversed Finances Meaning
clearer perspective of relationship, active role in love life	new job to reach potential, freedom from anxiety, continued struggle	lessened anxiety, intensified anxiety, fears clouding truth

Tarot Love Meaning - Reversed 8 of Swords

As you take off the blindfold, take a long clear look at your romantic life. The 8 of Swords tarot love meaning can suggest that your perspective is changing now that you have a more clear and objective understanding of your relationship. Anxieties may be lifted, and it can now be clear to you what needs to be done in order to feel happier in your romantic life. If you’re single, you may find yourself more willing to take your love life into your own hands. Fears and anxieties that have blocked you from truly pursuing romance can be lifted.

Career Meaning - Reversed 8 of Swords

It may have taken a while, but you have finally found release from your anxiety about your career. Things can be a bit easier now, and your vision is less clouded from stress or fear. Sometimes, this card can suggest a new job or position that you have attained, one that allows you to realize your full potential. The reversed 8 of Swords however, can at times also signify just the opposite. You may instead have lost all hope, resigned yourself to the idea that no matter what you do, this is the only path for you. Every day may be a struggle. Remember that you do have the power to change things, so long as you open your eyes to all possibilities, and don’t let fear take over. Nobody will save you except yourself.  

Finances Meaning - Reversed 8 of Swords

The reversed 8 of Swords can signal that your anxieties about money have either lessened, or intensified. You may finally be learning to see all the possibilities that are available to you, or alternatively, your fears and anxieties have just continued to get worse. You will need to address these fears before they continue to do damage to your mental health.

Eight of Swords Tarot Cheat Sheet