Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords card shows a man in deep pain. He is naked and must surrender to his situation. His spine is impaled by ten swords. These swords have no handles. This implies, that nothing specific, and no personified enemy is at work here. Whatever it is, that causes so much pain, it wasn’t meant as a revenge or punishment. It may not even be a karmic event, regarding this present life. There is nobody to blame, not even we, even if it doesn’t seem this way at first sight. If betrayal or backstabbing is involved, it has probably been a series of events that were meant to happen in a certain way and could not be averted. If faith itself strikes, it often invokes a conflict within us and higher powers, we tend to blame. It is natural to do so and part of the process of growing and healing.
The man on the card is trapped in square, which means, that there is no escape into the spiritual world or a quick way out. The mind is caged by grief, pain, or mourning. The man is drowning in a sea of sorrow. Often it is loss or a final ending, which marks the time, that this card is relevant.
The lilies, flowers of the dark aspect of femininity indicate the purity, of that which is lost. They are also a symbol for resurrection, which gives hope and grants a way out. But only time will heal those deep wounds.
There is one positive aspect thought – that’s it. It is not likely, that something worse will happen – the deepest point of the personal abyss is reached. There is only the way up now, even if it takes time to find out of the darkness.
To finally heal it is necessary to dissolve the own self. Our path may even lead to the death of the ego. We will emerge as a changed person, mostly for the better. It is a time where everything uncovers. This counts for hidden parts of ourselves as secrets as well. These times will show, if we can count on family, friends, and colleagues. Merely, the pure truths and relationships remain. The closet will be cleaned out, not necessarily by choice though. This seems to be a small relief, regarded from the present situation, but times will be better from now on, slowly but steady. The semicircle can be interpreted as the rising sun, promising hope, and emergence from this deep and dark night of the soul.