Eight of Swords - Meaning of Eight of Swords in Tarot Cards

The woman on The Eight of Swords is lost and alone. She can not see because she is blindfolded. She can not reach out because she is bound. She can not move freely because she is caught in a prison of swords. It seems she has wandered far from home - her place of security far away on the hill. She does not even know which way to go. The Eight of Swords stands for those times when we feel lost, confused and powerless. Help and relief seem very far away. The Eight of Swords is about being fenced in by obstacles. It is also about staying in a limited situation. A person with The Eight of Swords feels trapped by circumstances. Such a person experiences few options and is usually blind to freedom. A person with this card feels persecuted. He is unable to break the chains of dependence and depends on others.

Sometimes we feel restricted by circumstances. We wake up one day in an impossible situation : a dead end job, a troubled relationship or a mountain of debt. We usually have no idea how this happened. Even little problems can make us feel trapped. There just doesn’t seem to be a way out. Sometimes life seems fine - on the surface. We are usually confused and sure. The Eight of Swords is about being unsure which way to turn. It is about feeling at a loss and lacking direction. A person with this card feels overwhelmed and keeps floundering around. Such a person often needs guidance and clarity. A person with The Eight of Swords does not understand what is happening around him.

In readings, The Eight of Swords is often a sign that you are heading toward a situation in which you will feel a lack of freedom and choice. Such situations are tricky because the more you get into them, the more restricted you feel. At each step, your options seem to narrow until you feel completely stuck. The Eight of Swords is about waiting for outside rescue. A person with The Eight of Swords usually doubts that anything he does would help him. Such a person keeps waiting for others to help him. He usually avoids responsibility and keeps looking for a white Knight. A person with this card feels victimized and accepts inaction.

When you see this card, remember that you do have choices, and you do have power. No matter how trapped you feel, you can find a way out if you believe it is possible. The young girl in the picture could free herself. She could wriggle free, tear off the blindfold, and kick down those swords. Solutions are not always easy, but they exist. Find your clarity of thought and purpose and use them to take that first step toward home.

The following can be associated with The Eight of Swords :

• Restriction
• Confusion
• Powerlessness