@DanielJUK I understand the 9 more now. The stress that the 9 of swords is showing is imagined because it has not happened you. It is just the possibility of it happening. That is why the stress is "imagined" because it has not happened yet. How do you see the progression of the 8 of swords, 9 of swords, and 10 of swords? If the cards appeared in that way, would be it the 8 of swords (feeling trapped) 9 of swords (by worries of the negative possible outcomes from the situation) and 10 of swords (It has happened, the worst is already over. Time to move on).

I had a thought about the 10 of Swords the other day. I see the suit of Swords as 'action,' (as well as thoughts,) so could it be that the 'ruin' exemplified by the 10 of Swords is deliberately brought about by the actions of another person or people?

Not to make folks paranoid or anything, but it seems easy to compare the card to Death. But if you see Death as a natural ending of an event, situation, or person ...maybe the 10 of Swords is an end intentionally caused by the actions of another person or group. (Group might be implied by the number of swords stuck in the person's back.)

In other words, the 10 of Swords may not indicate misfortune, so much as betrayal?

I do buy into the notion that it indicates things have reached their lowest point, and I also believe the reversed card indicates the pain will still go on for a while and has not ended yet. It's the cause of the pain or ruin that has given me food for thought.

3 hours ago, Chariot said:

I see the suit of Swords as 'action,' (as well as thoughts,) so could it be that the 'ruin' exemplified by the 10 of Swords is deliberately brought about by the actions of another person or people? ... In other words, the 10 of Swords may not indicate misfortune, so much as betrayal?

Definitely - the image is a literal stabbing in the back - and we can't stab our own back. Unless we lie down on a bed of nails, which may be the reversed card? So what about if upright is ruin by someone else and reversed is our own making? But we could be led to that choice to lie on a bed of nails too... which is mind-game and manipulation...

I suppose then it's context. What are the other people in the spread, if they don't indicate what's going on with you as a querent, what situations are they in? What mindsets do they have? Is there any indication of colluding, who has the upper hand? Is there anything representing secrecy and hidden motives? The querent knows their own situation, they may not know about others - and others may not tell us what they really think. Indeed, it's the done thing now more often than not.

I do buy into the notion that it indicates things have reached their lowest point, and I also believe the reversed card indicates the pain will still go on for a while and has not ended yet. It's the cause of the pain or ruin that has given me food for thought.

Always something new to consider. Thanks for sharing your snack.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by JoyousGirl

1 hour ago, JoyousGirl said:

Up till the moment my brain had its little philosophical fart, I would always say the 10 of Swords is a 'duration' card. Upright: bad times have reached their worst and will start to improve; reversed: there is still more bad stuff to come. However, the ORIGIN of the bad stuff has now come into play. Bad times deliberately caused by other people, versus random events? I'll see how that idea works in an actual reading.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Chariot