Ten of Swords
The Ten of Swords depicts three vultures above the mangled corpse of a fox, conveying tragic finality yet an odd peace that comes with an ending. It signifies the end of a cycle and often follows painful loss, betrayal, or reaching the lowest point. The card suggests that while suffering has been severe, that pain can nourish future growth if wounds are addressed—the metaphorical swords must be removed and left behind for healing to begin. Ultimately it advises acceptance of necessary endings, recognition of true allies, and preparation for recovery and renewal.
Keywords
Poem
Your true allies will stand by you in bloody battles to the end. While others, you may find, are simply playing pretend.
Meaning
Three vultures stand above the mangled corpse of a fox. Though the scene is tragic, there is an air of peace in its finality. The battle was indeed brutal, but the worst is behind you. Like all Tens, the Ten of Swords represents the end of a cycle and the start of a new one. You may have recently suffered a painful end or an unexpected betrayal, yet just as the death of the fox nourishes the vultures, so too will your own suffering nourish your growth. Still, for the flesh to heal, the swords must first be removed, discarded, and left behind.
Upright keywords
pain, loss, misfortune, bitter ends, betrayal, overkill, inevitability, fatalism, desolation, breakdown, lowest point, emotional exhaustion, giving up
Reversed keywords
recovery, new growth, necessary ends, calm after the storm, final rest, nowhere to go but up
Visual Description
Framed in an oval, a large pale moon and starry night sky form the backdrop while three scavenger birds bend over a fallen animal. Ten white swords are plunged into the carcass, their blades radiating upward like harsh spokes. The colors are deep blues, purples and muted earth tones, and a thin rectangular border with the Roman numeral X sits at the top.
Children of Litha tarot
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