8 of Swords as a General ADVICE

[Yola]

Hello friends, how are you? 😊
Could you please collaborate with your personal interpretations?

I use RWS and consider the advice to be "act as the character of this card".

 

With the 8 of swords as general advice, I can think:
- Accept the limitations of that moment or situation.
- Don't act.
- Keep it under control.
- Focus.
- Find the answer within yourself.
- Delimit your space.
- Surround yourself with what you believe in, even if you don't see the circumstances clearly and want to change them.

 

What do you think? Do you have any other ideas? Thank you!

[November]

Yes, it could be ''accept you can't do anything about that now'', but the message could also be to become aware of how anxiety/fear/depression/anguish have become your own cage.

[Jasmine]

As advice I see 8 of Swords as meaning to recognise that you are stuck.  Looking closely at what is  restricting you.   There is a clear way out of the situation you just need to see it. 

[Yola]

I had never connected these emotions to the card. It makes perfect sense when we notice the gray sky, doesn't it? Undoubtedly, they can be extremely limiting... Thank you very much for this valuable contribution, @November!

 

"Recognize your own prisons", wow. This is brilliant, @Jasmine! Thank you!

 

Reflecting on this card, I just remembered a great similarity to Sia's "Elastic Heart" video. Notice the prison, the blindfolds and even some bandages on the hands! It always made me reflect on how this performance can perfectly represent the difficulty of getting out of some prisons.

 

 

[gregory]

Oh. I see it as you THINK you are stuck; you aren't looking at the way out. Not seeing the wood for the trees stuff.

[FindYourSovereignty]

Yes, I see it similar to @gregory. 

[DanielJUK]

What the @gregory said 👆

 

This card is a false situation, it looks like someone has tied up the lady to the swords, blindfolded her and left her. She is isolated and alone and in a prison of those swords. She is left with her own thoughts, thinking that she is a victim and trapped with no way out!

 

But the truth of the card is that she has put herself in this situation. In some card art, you can see the binds are loose and she can easily untie her hands, take off the blindfold and she isn't trapped by the Swords, it's possible for her to progress forwards. She isn't really trapped but she might think she is! Also her feet never touch the water of the barren land, this isn't struggling with her emotions but her thoughts and perspective. She isn't really a victim waiting to be rescued and she is constrained by her own boundaries.

 

As general advice, you may have boxed yourself in a corner in a situation of your life or feel there is no progress ahead, you are trapped! But look for other perspectives. You are not powerless and have options but it takes some inner strength. You have got to deal with the situation and there is a path out of this, it's not quite as bad as you think 🙂 . There are options, they may be difficult and you might not like them, but there are options.

[Yola]

Thinking you're trapped: fits the suit of swords very well, doesn't it? it's the thought that makes this situation false. How interesting! Thank you @gregory and @FindYourSovereignty! 🤩

 

This is a very kind advice, @DanielJUK. Victimhood is something I had never connected to this card. How curious (and dangerous)! It really looks like someone who is waiting for a rescue!

 

However, I still have a doubt: within the perspective of advice such as "act like this character", what can be the bright/positive aspect of this image? If the eyes are blindfolded, is it really necessary to use sight/vision? If your hands are tied, does this situation need them? What is the importance of being "half" trapped? Protection? It feels like "don't look, don't act, stay where you are". Am I making a mistake?

 

As always, your contributions are always very pertinent. Again, thank you so much!

[gregory]

Think.There IS a way out. Don't assume there isn't just because you can't see it. If you are blindfolded - use your other senses. Feel for an opening. Listen. Shout for help. If your hands are tied - maybe your feet aren't. Think outside the box, outside the trap.

[FindYourSovereignty]

Yes, what @gregory said.

 

IMO, the 8oS is recognizing the situation they find themselves in and getting out of it. Like, the first step is becoming aware. Then you can do something about it.

[gregory]

Another thing that occurs to me is gaslighting. This would be a classic card to indicate that, I think. You're trapped by what someone else wants you to believe.

[Yola]

Recognition, awareness, and attention to gaslighting (OMG, now that you mention it, it's clear)... sensational @FindYourSovereignty @gregory!

But what caught my attention the most was "use all your senses" and "don't assume it doesn't exist just because you can't see it".
I really like to relate to pop culture and, once again, I apologize because I remembered this scene from the movie Matrix Revolutions. I quote:
"Neo relied on his natural vision (eyesight), and used his 'matrix vision' as a backup. Losing his eyesight forced him to use his 'matrix vision' instead, which, first, allowed him to win against Smith and second, to see clearly what he had to do. By looking deeply into the 'matrix vision', he was enlightened". 

Losing sight and feeling contained can awaken other senses that may be essential in the face of an issue.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Yola

[Sanchez]

For me it has sometimes meant, “you can in fact get out of this, but you will get cut and covered in mud (assuming it’s mud) on the way out.”

[Aliki]

On 11/14/2022 at 7:41 PM, Yola said:

Hello friends, how are you? 😊
Could you please collaborate with your personal interpretations?

I use RWS and consider the advice to be "act as the character of this card".

 

With the 8 of swords as general advice, I can think:
- Accept the limitations of that moment or situation.
- Don't act.
- Keep it under control.
- Focus.
- Find the answer within yourself.
- Delimit your space.
- Surround yourself with what you believe in, even if you don't see the circumstances clearly and want to change them.

 

What do you think? Do you have any other ideas? Thank you!

I perceive 8 of swords as a meaning of you're at a you think you're stuck but you're not in reality yourself keeps you stuck situation if that makes sense also i refer it as a freedom break free advice card a mental cage meaning self caging cause on the details she's blind folded but if she sees she's not trapped actually she can free herself but also to my opinion after learning the arcanas and basic meanings keywords combinations after connecting to the deck etc its mostly what you feel when looking at the cards intuitively and also how you personally perceive each card will may be more accurate eventually on your reading it's more tricky if you're reading for yourself thought  

[Yola]

This fits this card perfectly, @cardslinger . How important it is to take that first step of recognition! Thank you so much 😊

 

You're absolutely right @Aliki! It's much more slippery to read to yourself, isn't it? this can even be a "mental cage" situation. Fear of getting an answer you don't want, fear of lying to yourself or being biased... I've been through situations like this several times... Thank you so much for your contribution!

[Aliki]

13 hours ago, Yola said:

This fits this card perfectly, @cardslinger . How important it is to take that first step of recognition! Thank you so much 😊

 

You're absolutely right @Aliki! It's much more slippery to read to yourself, isn't it? this can even be a "mental cage" situation. Fear of getting an answer you don't want, fear of lying to yourself or being biased... I've been through situations like this several times... Thank you so much for your contribution!

You're welcome very welcome 😊

[Chariot]

Here is the  Anna K Tarot version of the 8 of Swords, which I think is superb.  The woman is tied up and certainly stuck, but she's a mirror image of a woman who is NOT restricted, but who sees herself as if she is.  This is the essence of the 8 of Swords card, as far as I'm concerned.  A person sees themselves as trapped or stuck or in danger, but in fact, they are not.  I'd say this is the low self esteem card, or the trapped-by-mindset card, or the 'feeling helpless' card.  It's all about how a person sees herself or himself, as well as the situation they are in.  It's interesting that, in this deck, the trapped image does not reflect the physical truth of the situation at all.
 

Edited November 24, 2022 by Chariot

[Raggydoll]

I like that it’s the lace of her own dress that she is tied with. I think it adds to the complexity of this card. I also appreciate the difference in her appearance and the contrast of the wild, free hair with the very neat and dressed up real version of herself. I think it can hint to societal pressure and to female roles. 

[Aliki]

3 hours ago, Chariot said:

Here is the  Anna K Tarot version of the 8 of Swords, which I think is superb.  The woman is tied up and certainly stuck, but she's a mirror image of a woman who is NOT restricted, but who sees herself as if she is.  This is the essence of the 8 of Swords card, as far as I'm concerned.  A person sees themselves as trapped or stuck or in danger, but in fact, they are not.  I'd say this is the low self esteem card, or the trapped-by-mindset card, or the 'feeling helpless' card.  It's all about how a person sees herself or himself, as well as the situation they are in.  It's interesting that, in this deck, the trapped image does not reflect the physical truth of the situation at all.
 

I love this version of it it reflects exactly my point of view for this card such a beautiful deck btw

[Aliki]

3 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I like that it’s the lace of her own dress that she is tied with. I think it adds to the complexity of this card. I also appreciate the difference in her appearance and the contrast of the wild, free hair with the very neat and dressed up real version of herself. I think it can hint to societal pressure and to female roles. 

That's a very interesting point of view on 8 of swords i never thought about and i agree 🤔

[Yola]

Wooow, what a beautiful deck! 😍 I didn't know him, thank you so much for introducing me @Chariot! It is interesting that this card is located in a suit that talks about the search for truth and discernment. Even if the truth is cutting, it can be (and precisely because of that) liberating... Mindblowing!

It's impressive how different images and artistic representations of an arcane can add layers and other meanings! This observation about societal pressure is genius, @Raggydoll! Makes perfect sense, doesn't it @Aliki?! Thank you all!

[Aliki]

5 hours ago, Yola said:

Wooow, what a beautiful deck! 😍 I didn't know him, thank you so much for introducing me @Chariot! It is interesting that this card is located in a suit that talks about the search for truth and discernment. Even if the truth is cutting, it can be (and precisely because of that) liberating... Mindblowing!

It's impressive how different images and artistic representations of an arcane can add layers and other meanings! This observation about societal pressure is genius, @Raggydoll! Makes perfect sense, doesn't it @Aliki?! Thank you all!

Yes it does it's a very interesting point @Raggydoll made

[Chariot]

On 11/25/2022 at 6:30 PM, Yola said:

Wooow, what a beautiful deck! 😍 I didn't know him, thank you so much for introducing me @Chariot! It is interesting that this card is located in a suit that talks about the search for truth and discernment. Even if the truth is cutting, it can be (and precisely because of that) liberating... Mindblowing!

It's impressive how different images and artistic representations of an arcane can add layers and other meanings! This observation about societal pressure is genius, @Raggydoll! Makes perfect sense, doesn't it @Aliki?! Thank you all!

Yes.  One of the eye-opening tricks I've learned since joining this forum is to look carefully at the pictures on each deck I'm using.  While they are all RWS-based decks, there are some startling new insights built into specific cards, and it's a mistake to just automatically apply the standard RWS deck's meanings to all of them.  (The Anna K Tarot is particularly good with this sort of thing.)  As I work to improve my ability to read intuitively, this habit of reading the actual card— rather than the RWS-designated meaning for that card—has become a real bonus trick for me.
 

That being said, nearly every deck has at least one card I don't much like, or don't feel depicts the card the way I would interpret it.  So I try to ignore THAT card's design and just stick with the usual RWS-deck meaning for it.   For example, I don't like the 10 of Cups in the Anna K Tarot—it just depicts a woman with closed eyes and a Mona Lisa smile standing in a flowery meadow surrounded by 10 cups.  No hint of family, home, or any context at all.  There isn't a lot of difference between that image and the 9 of Pentacles, in my opinion.  I think the author/designer missed the boat on that one, but the other cards in that deck are SO good, I just revert to the 'happy home' image that is standard with the 10 of Cups when her version comes up in a reading.

Nothing is ever perfect, although the Anna K Tarot certainly comes close.

[Aliki]

4 hours ago, Chariot said:

Yes.  One of the eye-opening tricks I've learned since joining this forum is to look carefully at the pictures on each deck I'm using.  While they are all RWS-based decks, there are some startling new insights built into specific cards, and it's a mistake to just automatically apply the standard RWS deck's meanings to all of them.  (The Anna K Tarot is particularly good with this sort of thing.)  As I work to improve my ability to read intuitively, this habit of reading the actual card— rather than the RWS-designated meaning for that card—has become a real bonus trick for me.
 

That being said, nearly every deck has at least one card I don't much like, or don't feel depicts the card the way I would interpret it.  So I try to ignore THAT card's design and just stick with the usual RWS-deck meaning for it.   For example, I don't like the 10 of Cups in the Anna K Tarot—it just depicts a woman with closed eyes and a Mona Lisa smile standing in a flowery meadow surrounded by 10 cups.  No hint of family, home, or any context at all.  There isn't a lot of difference between that image and the 9 of Pentacles, in my opinion.  I think the author/designer missed the boat on that one, but the other cards in that deck are SO good, I just revert to the 'happy home' image that is standard with the 10 of Cups when her version comes up in a reading.

Nothing is ever perfect, although the Anna K Tarot certainly comes close.

I believe this too any non rws deck even if it's rws based and those are its core meanings also has different meanings on its cards if not they wouldn't have booklets with each meaning of the cards i think this makes them more interesting though it's fun to spend the time to learn a deck one by one cause every deck is actually different 

[Chariot]

10 hours ago, Aliki said:

I believe this too any non rws deck even if it's rws based and those are its core meanings also has different meanings on its cards if not they wouldn't have booklets with each meaning of the cards i think this makes them more interesting though it's fun to spend the time to learn a deck one by one cause every deck is actually different 

Yeah, it's even more obvious to do the intuitive thing with a non-RWS deck ...especially the new ones ...because they aren't following an established system—they've created one.  You either have to cling to whatever booklet the creator gave you, or strike out on your own and decide the meanings for yourself.  I can understand the fun in that, but it's not for me.  I get enough from the RWS system to keep me on my toes! 😀  However, I'm also starting to pay more attention to the nuances of difference between the depiction on each RWS-based deck.  I don't necessarily subscribe to all of them, but any new idea is worth considering, when it comes to card meanings, I reckon.
 

Edited November 27, 2022 by Chariot