Queen of Tarot

The ancient wisdom of the cards

Ten of Swords Tarot Card Meaning and Art Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Designation

Ten of Swords

About the Deck

Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Pivotal and canonical, this deck defined a new pattern that would be followed up to the present. I made a digitally retouched and painted version of this deck, which I call the "Vivid Waite Smith Tarot Deck". The cards from that deck, as well as a modern English translation of the romantic English descriptions by Arthur Edward Waite (as appear on the Waite Smith Tarot deck) appear in a cross-referenced format in my book, "A Concise Guide to the Tarot: In Vivid Color"

Provenance

Designed by A.E. Waite and Illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. England, 1911.

Tags

swords-10, ten-of-swords, ten, swords

Description

A prostrate figure, pierced by all the swords belonging to the card.

Meaning of Ten of Swords from the Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Upright

Whatsoever is intimated by the design; also pain, affliction, tears, sadness, desolation. It is not especially a card of violent death.

Reversed

Advantage, profit, success, favour, but none of these are permanent; also power and authority.

According to Many Schools of Thought

Papus's Divinatory Meanings

Uncertainty in the hatred.

A. E. Waite's Secondary Meanings

Upright

Followed by Ace and King, imprisonment; for girl or wife, treason on the part of friends.

Reversed

Victory and consequent fortune for a soldier in war.

Mme. Le Normand's Divinatory Meanings

Inherited wealth. Business. Fortune. Journey on account of business. Travel.

S. L. MacGregor Mathers's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

Tears, Affliction, Grief, Sorrow

Reversed

Passing Success, Momentary Advantage.

P.R.S. Foli's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

Grief, loss of freedom

Reversed

passing trouble or illness.

Mme. Le Marchand's Divinatory Meanings

good fortune in marriage; ill fortune at the gaming table. You will lose much money at gaming; at last you will give up the practice, and in ripe old age you will be blessed by the birth of a daughter, whom you will name Fortuna.