Overview: We have an L-for-Love spread with only one cup in the reading, which indicates that you are approaching romance with an analytical mind. Two Major Arcanas in this reading, however, tell Miss Michele that your current relationship might be “the big one.” There is significance here beyond just a fling!

Your past experience in love: Five of Swords: When we look at your past experience, revealed by the Five of Swords, it makes sense why you’re approaching romance in such a philosophical manner. You have been tricked in the past—hurt—when things were not what you expected and your lover turned out to be much more selfish and cunning than you imagined. Now, you are always counting the cards in the game of love, afraid to trust.

Your current experience in love: Seven of Cups: You are currently in the beginning stages of a very happy romance, one that seems almost too good to be true. Or, you may be involved in a romantic fantasy, perhaps with an Internet acquaintance, with dreams of something more. Either way, right now you are floating on clouds, heady with the possibilities in your future. However, because of your past experience, you are waiting for it all to come crashing down. Remember the Law of Attraction; you attract what you fear. In the sentence, “I don’t want him to leave me,” the Universe hears only the word “leave.”

What you want from a love relationship: Two of Swords: At first, this card seemed an odd draw for this position. Why would someone want to close their eyes, to not see things as they are? But the Two of Swords has dual meanings and both apply. You want to continue living in your fantasy land of the Seven of Cups… you want everything to remain perfect, even if it means keeping your eyes closed to your lover’s flaws. (While at the same time, you worry that he will be like your past lover and deceive you.) On the other end of the spectrum, what you seek in this relationship is balance, plain and simple. Someone who compliments your best traits and adds to your life without allowing you to lose yourself in the relationship.

What you need from a love relationship: The High Priestess: The High Priestess represents, once again, the number two, a need for balance. You need someone who will match you intellectually. Since the High Priestess represents a platonic relationship, friendship, trust and a strong partnership are much more important to you right now than carnal pleasures.

What you have to give your lover: Death: This is another card that seems unusual at first glance, but as we put the pieces of the puzzle together, it makes sense. You have it in yourself to give your lover a new beginning in life; the Death card, more so than a sad goodbye, welcomes a new beginning—a position, frame of mind, or life event. For this relationship to work, you must let go of your past, your fears, your relationship baggage. You have this potential. What you have to give your lover, quite literally, is a “new you!”

Possible future experience in love: Page of Wands: The outlook is good as Wands reveal action and pages are messengers, so we see a future relationship with a man who will make you feel “young at heart.” As indicated by the Seven of Cups you have jumped into the relationship head-on and it just feels right. Enjoy this time. The tarot does not want to reveal anything further than the start of your relationship, which could mean that you will have the feeling of “young love” for a long time before it transforms into a more mature relationship.

Remember, Melissa, let go of the past to manifest this great future!

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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?

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