Eight of Swords
Upright Meaning
Imprisonment, entrapment, self-imposed restriction, victim mentality.
Reversed Meaning
Self-acceptance, new perspective, freedom, release.
Eight of Swords in love, career and health
Love & Relationships
Upright Meaning
Entrapment feeling in relationship, fear of choice, helplessness in love.
Reversed Meaning
Regaining freedom, end of victim feeling, new look at relation.
Career & Work
Upright Meaning
No faith in promotion, feeling of being in professional trap, stress.
Reversed Meaning
Exit from professional trap, finding a way out, end of stagnation.
Health & Wellness
Upright Meaning
Psychic blocks, fear of illness, no faith in recovery.
Reversed Meaning
Overcoming fears, end of decision paralysis, health improvement.
Is Eight of Swords a yes or no card?
No
Upright, Eight of Swords is usually read as a no: it points to an obstacle, a loss or an ending worth respecting. Reversed, the answer tends to weaken or turn into "not yet", so read it together with the rest of the spread.
Advice
Remove the blindfold and see that the exit is close. Your limits are only in your head.
Warning
Don't give in to helplessness. You have strength in you to free yourself.
Symbolism
- A bound and blindfolded woman stands surrounded by eight swords.
Interpretation
You are not as trapped as you think. The barriers are mostly in your mind. Open your eyes to see the way out.
Numerology
8 (Restriction)
Frequently asked questions
What does Eight of Swords mean in tarot?
Imprisonment, entrapment, self-imposed restriction, victim mentality. You are not as trapped as you think. The barriers are mostly in your mind. Open your eyes to see the way out.
What does Eight of Swords reversed mean?
Self-acceptance, new perspective, freedom, release.
What does Eight of Swords mean in love?
Entrapment feeling in relationship, fear of choice, helplessness in love. Reversed Meaning: Regaining freedom, end of victim feeling, new look at relation.
What does Eight of Swords mean for career and work?
No faith in promotion, feeling of being in professional trap, stress. Reversed Meaning: Exit from professional trap, finding a way out, end of stagnation.
Is Eight of Swords a yes or no card?
No. Upright, Eight of Swords is usually read as a no: it points to an obstacle, a loss or an ending worth respecting. Reversed, the answer tends to weaken or turn into "not yet", so read it together with the rest of the spread.
What advice does Eight of Swords give?
Remove the blindfold and see that the exit is close. Your limits are only in your head.