Reflections on Swords in the Negative: 7 of Swords - DECEIT

One of the trickiest Swords minors I find, most people see this card and think deceit and betrayal and yes it can be that but oh so much more too. And I found this out by seeing it come out in readings where the usual meaning really did not apply. Let's look at some of the most common keywords:

• Sneaking
• Deceiving
• Stealing
• Avoidance
• Lying
• Being alone
• Betrayal

 

This card affects others in different ways. Looking at the mental state of the 7 of Swords we have someone that is highly intelligent but uses this as a tool to manipulate and deceive others. Depending on the reading if this is representing a person then it could be someone close that is cheating on you, has stolen from you or has not very good intentions towards you.  

In love this could be someone having an affair, doing something behind your back or a two sided personality.

In career it could be a partner deceiving you or a colleague bad mouthing you.

In yes or no questions it is always a NO.

This is someone that will avoid dealing with a problem and would rather run away than face it, even if it means others may be hurt or worse off because of their behaviour. As a person it could also represent someone self centered and egotistical. 

There is no pain or mental anguish here, except for the one that is inflicted by the 7 of Swords. It is an intentional, non depressive kind of pain. And they are very well aware of it. 

Counteracting a 7 of Swords situation would mean opening your eyes and see things for what they really are. If you think or feel something is not quite right, then it probably isn't. 

You would want to take action before this person runs away with the Swords, leaving you empty. It can be painful but in the end it is going to get rid of something that is negative. 

If you get this card as an outcome or it keeps coming out repeatedly and you are not sure why, I would suggest you draw more cards to get clarity. Some examples of what you could ask:

- What do I need to get rid of?

- Who is the 7 of Swords?

- How do I deal with the situation?

- What can help me with this?

Reflections on Swords in the Negative: 10 of Swords - erm...F**k it...

I am saving my favourites for when I am really and truly "in the mood". Ha.
Image wise I love the Anna K Tarot, best 10 of Swords ever, as you can see the figure walking away from the Swords and the blood, he's wounded but the first time I saw this card I thought it looked like he was saying: sod it am going anwyay.

This card can be a mini (or not so mini) Tower moment. Let's look at this in terms of keywords, these I am penning down myself from the "feeling" and meaning of the card:

• Breakdown (mental or literal)
• Ending
• Collapse
• Anguish
• Pain (again mental or physical)
• Exhaustion
• Hitting rock bottom
• Restart
• Self destruction (as in self harm or related self destructive behaviours)

Yes of course it is a 10 so there is a new beginning ahead, but what? And how? Since I am looking at these also from a psychological point of view, I'd say that this would be the darkest side of depression (as if it isn't dark enough), the point reached where "f**k it" could mean going in either direction: beginning or end.
I have seen this card come out to represent someone in spirit that passed by means of suicide (the client told me afterwards), and I would say that this is very much a turning point card. Since it cannot get any worse (really?) where do I go from here? Well the choice would be mine or yours to make. In a spread of course you would have to look at the surrounding cards for the whole story.
Drawing this card as an outcome for a love reading could be an ending or a complete (and not pleasant) rehaul. For career an ending and if you were to look at physical or health matters then this could be indicative of the person being overwhelmed and exhausted. But there are so many combinations that it is difficult to try and be general.

The 10 of Swords is telling you that hey, you know this pain? It ain't going to go away, Not yet. Not unless, like in the Anna K Tarot deck,  you pick yourself up, buy some bandages and move on. Or you'll bleed to death if you choose to stay on the floor.

“Be the flame, not the moth.”
― Giacomo Casanova