Future Tarot

“The Ten of Swords is the Dark before the Dawn.” *
Any hardship culminates in an apex of fatigue and horror. One is surrounded by the sense of the insurmountable, faced with what feels like an inevitable failure and crushing defeat. The Ten of Swords embodies this darkness. When all the odds seem turned against you and you cannot see beyond this moment to the brightness beyond.

When I see the Ten of Swords in a reading it reminds me of a great battle. Surrounded by the enemy, the remaining troops are torn between throwing down their swords and ultimately feel that their fight is one that ends in their death and has been for naught. From this perspective, we are the men, gazing into the maniacal faces of our enemy, our muscles heavy, blood seeping, swords an half-height, weary with fatigue and awash in hopelessness.

What we fail to see, hidden from us by the shadows of the army on every flank is the golden gleam of fresh armor, bronzed horses, glimmering swords, and the banners of long awaited reinforcements just cresting the horizon. Here, in the darkness of what seems like imminent defeat we fail to see our salvation.

That, is the Ten of Swords.

Kimberlee Ferrell describes the Ten of Swords as, “hitting rock bottom, being a martyr, or having a “woe is me” attitude. Things couldn’t be worse, but the bright side is that the only way left to go is up.”

This card shares similar qualities to the Major Arcana, Death. The card itself shows that in it’s most literal sense and offers a dark image of hopelessness and defeat. Yet on the horizon is a bright new day and we are reminded that every ending is a new beginning as the circle turns.

In a reading, the Ten of Swords might indicate a need to find acceptance within yourself and to allow change to occur. Often, the greatest pain is caused by attempting to hold back the winds of change. One must create room for new life by letting go of that which no longer aids.

The Ten of Swords portends a difficult experience of loss or release, but a new awareness and a positive sense of relief that the difficulty is finally finished will eventually follow the pain of this experience. Though this card may seem negative at first glance, it is a card of hope and an indication that our troubles will not be permanent. ~

This card might also be telling us that things are not as bad as they seem. The Ten of Swords often appears as melodrama or even hypochondria. It is the making of a mountain out of a molehill. When the card appears in a spread it may be advising us to reevaluate our position and to look at the bare facts without emotional excess.

The Ten of Swords appears to be a card of terrible misfortune, but surprisingly, it often represents troubles that are more melodramatic than real. The man on this card has quite a few swords in his back. Wouldn’t one be enough? Isn’t ten a little excessive? Perhaps this gentleman’s suffering – though sincere – is exaggerated as well. *

On the other hand, it may mean “you need to convince someone that it IS that bad while they are insisting that you are exaggerating.”

What are you letting go of this week? Have you felt hopeless and fatigued by your situation? Perhaps you can see the light of a new dawn on the horizon. What insights do you feel the Ten of Swords brings?

“The Knight of Wands is full of energy and life.” * An adventurous risk-taker, he is eager to get out into the world, to begin a new quest, and to leave behind old ways of doing things. He is vibrant and generous, willing to leap into new opportunities with abandon, and thinks creatively.

“He’s a boisterous, confident card that’s going on a great journey. He may step on some toes, but it’s a wild ride!” ~ Kimberlee Ferrell

This guy has an abundance of confidence and is fearless in the face of adversity. His passionate energy is fantastic when you want to generate momentum and enthusiasm. When he appears he is also a reminder to be aware of details because this fellow is so rambunctious and eager that he hasn’t paused to consider the consequences.

Stacey Graham says, “When I get this card in a spread, I know I’m taking a new turn in my career. He comes in all enthusiasm and excitement so I follow his lead and see where it takes me.”

When the Knight of Wands appears in your life it is the perfect opportunity to do some public speaking, approach investors, share your ideas, embrace social networks, and talk with others. The spark and light you feel toward your project will shine through your voice and demeanor, drawing listeners to you and inspiring them to take action.

As elements go, this knight is “fire of fire.” He is the energy you need to begin a project, or charge forward through an endeavor, but beware because the flame of action he creates burns swiftly. When you’re riding with the Knight of Wands you might only get halfway to your destination. He is easily distracted and sidetracked onto other paths so it is important to use his energy wisely.

This Knight is hasty in all he does and takes action where others would not. He is sudden and impatient, but he is strong and always enthusiastic. He doesn’t like dilly-dallying! ~

The Knight of Wands asks you to leap into adventure. He’s that wild risk-taker who lives on adrenaline but isn’t particularly reliable. When he appears in your spread he often heralds a time of charged action, energy is at its peek, but it is important to temper the flame of this knight to avoid the pitfalls that he commonly stumbles into.

When the Knight of Wands shows up in your reading, it’s time to ask yourself these questions: How am I growing? How much energy am I putting into my own self-growth? Who is radiating creative or sexual energy in my life? How am I changing? What opportunities are entering my life right now that I feel passionate about? *

Jen Nipps says, “I like it when he pops up in a reading because he generally has good news to share.”

Isabel Kliegman’s, “Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana“, tells us that this Knight knows he is not his choices. When he stumbles along his path, makes a mistake, or goes in the wrong direction he takes it in stride and continues moving onward.

When the Knight of Wands appears he may be asking you to stand up for something that matters, and which is unable to defend itself. He is a compassionate soul, deeply engaged and giving, particularly to his family.

What new adventure are you beginning this week? Where can you feel this Knight’s influence in your life? What else do you know about the Knight of Wands?