The reversed Eight of Swords represents the limits you have imposed on yourself. It shows our own beliefs can hold us back and cause us to lose opportunities to grow in life. However, the card also represents finally growing past these fears and limitations; the reversed Eight of Swords can be a promise of change and personal growth amidst confusion and struggles.
Reversed Eight of Swords Description
When we take a look at the Eight of Swords we are greeted with a striking and oppressing image. A woman is blindfolded and bound in the plains, while eight swords are firmly planted in the ground surrounding her. The picture looks bleak and yet a closer look reveals that it might not be as bad as it seems at first glance. The swords are loosely placed around her, meaning that there’s plenty of gaps for her to escape. If the woman were to remove her blindfold she would realize escaping is not as hard as it first seems. Last but not least, the water at her feet can be interpreted as either possibility amidst an arid landscape or her intuition warning her of a path to freedom.
Reversed Eight of Swords main Meaning
The upright Eight of Swords is a card that represents feeling bound, restricted and limited by circumstances. While these elements remain when the card is reversed the interpretation does change the overall reading.
The reversed Eight of Swords appears when you are feeling restricted or pressured in your life. You might feel like there’s no way to move forward and overcome your current troubles. However, the card is also telling you that those restrictions and limitations are mostly in your mind. There are countless times where we hold ourselves back due to mistaken beliefs or inner fears. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn how to play an instrument but keep telling yourself you are far too old. Why? Who made that choice? The reversed Eight of Swords is here to remind us that sometimes we are the ones holding ourselves back, and our excuses have no real justification.
Since the card is deeply tied to your own beliefs and self-realization it’s also commonly seen as a card of change. The reversed Eight of Swords often represents that while you might be held back by your beliefs, you are going to overcome them soon. This recent period of self-doubt and limitations it’s going to become a thing of the past.
What does Eight of Swords Reversed Mean for Love?
When it comes to love and romance the reversed Eight of Swords is most commonly interpreted as a change of perspective. Much like the woman in the art, you might have been blinded to the real things that are affecting your relationship, and the bind is soon to come undone. This usually comes in the form of a clearer understanding of your relationship and the areas it needs work in. If before you struggled to keep up with your partner or understand them, you’ll likely emerge with a broader perspective soon. This realization is an incredibly strong asset on its own, but you need to take action. Being able to identify the trouble in your relationship also means that you need to do your best to solve them.
If the other cards in the reading are more negative, or you feel particularly limited the card might bring a darker message. By default the reversed Eight of Swords speaks about being limited by our own beliefs, and this can cause a lot of stress or even depression if not handled properly. If your partner is being a toxic influence they might be the main factor and it needs to be addressed. This can also appear if you are single, in which case your anxieties most likely are the ones keeping you from a successful romantic life.
Reversed Eight of Swords as Feelings
For feelings, there are two main ways to look at the reversed Eight of Swords, and once again it comes down to either liberation or limitation from one’s beliefs.
When it comes to people who act distant from you or your feelings for people you feel conflicted towards the card tends to speak about your boundaries. Just like the swords in the card you have placed self-imposed boundaries in regards to how you treat or interact with this person. However once again like the card these boundaries might be arbitrarily placed and ill-defined. When we meet someone and are interested in them it’s hard to know where to take this spark. Sometimes it’s clear you want to push for a relationship, but this won’t always be the case. The pressure of being able to keep a friendship or the fear of rejection can easily take root. These boundaries are a reflection of this, and ultimately show that you aren’t sure how close or distant you want to be. It’s time to be honest with yourself. You can choose your limitations, but you need to know what your heart desires first.
Alternatively, this card can appear when you are about to solve these doubts. In these situations, the card is a good omen as it shows clarity and perspective. You shouldn’t read the reversed Eight of Swords as a direct confirmation of your feelings, but rather a promise that you are soon to find your answer.
Reversed Eight of Swords as Advice
If we were to sum up the main advice the reversed Eight of Swords offers it’d be as simple as: Don’t allow fear to hold you back, take control of your feelings.
Having fear is something normal in all humans. We all are afraid of something, and a healthy amount of fear can turn into prudence. However just because fear is normal it doesn’t mean we should allow it to control us. We shouldn’t come to fear or hate fear itself, but it shouldn’t be more than that small warning in our head. It’s up to us to control it, not the other way around. Your fear and impose limitations might be keeping you from reaching your full potential, and this means it’s time to gain control of them. You need to find a balance between mind and heart. Have enough rationality to deal with irrational fears. And have enough emotion to overcome all the bad thoughts our head feeds you.
Keep in mind however that the card isn’t telling you to be reckless. There’s a huge difference between acting without restraints and acting without thinking. Not being limited by your own beliefs doesn’t mean everything will work like a miracle. It simply means that you’ll need to make smart choices based on the real facts and not your fears.
Reversed Eight of Swords Meaning for Job and Career
If you got this card in a career reading there’s a heavy possibility you have felt overwhelmed about work recently. This card commonly appears for people who have resigned themselves to their current job or their mood at work. Giving up is not the same as accepting things, and it ultimately means that every day will be a struggle to overcome. The reversed Eight of Swords should be taken as wise advice here. Yes, you might be tired and out of hope right now. But your mind is the greatest tool at your disposal. Your ideas and feelings are the ones that determine how you feel towards a particular goal. So don’t let your emotions control you and find a way to turn this situation around.
Often the reversed Eight of Swords represents exactly that: Change is about to come. You have found the path to overcome this slog, or something is about to change for the better. If you were feeling particularly taxed by a project or rough set of weeks at work then the situation is probably going to defuse soon. If your problem is your job itself, then a new work opportunity might be in your future. The blindfold is about to drop, and you’ll come face to face with endless opportunities for your career.
Reversed Eight of Swords Meaning for Money and Finance
The reversed Eight of Swords is an incredibly interesting card in financial readings. More often than not cards tell us about the current reality of our finances and how to take control of them, however, the reversed Eight of Swords is a different story altogether. This is a card that talks about how you feel about money, regardless of how well your finances are doing or not.
The reversed Eight of Swords represents anxiety, financial anxiety to be exact. We all worry about money, it’s something we need for all aspects of life. But sometimes we worry about money for the sake of money. It’s important to remember that money is a means to an end. What do we need money for? On their own bills are just paper. The importance of money lies in the things they allow us to acquire: Food, housing, entertainment, and goods. If you are enjoying a comfortable life why are you so worried? If your current life grants you all you need then your financial worries are unfounded, never forget that money has meaning for what it offers, not for itself.
On the other hand, if you are struggling with your finances it’s important to turn this into an opportunity to improve. Find new ways to save, cut down on certain expenses or find an alternate job. If there’s a real reason to be concerned it’s important to be proactive and find solutions, stress on its own won’t solve anything but it will take a toll on your health.
Silver Wanderer
One Sword. One Heart. One Spirit.
You, me, and countless others have searched for answers all of our lives.
