Ten of Swords -- Diez de Espadas

Upright: Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, crisis

Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, resisting an inevitable end

Ten of Swords usually symbolizes a sudden and unexpected failure or disaster that crushes you

without warning or mercy. Most times this situation is out of your control. This card can also indicate a

time when you have been back-stabbed or betrayed by someone you thought you could trust. Ten

of Swords indicates a difficult experience of endings, loss, pain or release. This can be in the physical

or the metaphysical body. However, the saving grace is that you have a new awareness. Soon the pain

will be over and will evolve into something new. As with all endings, there will be a new beginning-a

rebirth and a rejuvenation of the spirit. You need to surrender yourself in order to start anew.

In the Tarot Muertos, Ten of Swords shows bones painted on her back and shoulder, forming her

backbone or spine. She has been betrayed or stabbed in the back with the Mexican-styled daggers or

swords. She is forced to come to terms with her situation. On her face, she has an accusatory

look of pain as she gazes back over her shoulder. The two rib cage-shaped hearts, one trapped in a bird

cage and one on her sleeve, indicate a broken heart. But the door to the cage is open, representing

hope. The flying sparrows circling, representing her soul, illustrate her longing to be set free and to

experience release.

The Zodiac sign of Libra interplays with this card. The Libra symbol of the scales lies over her

"broken heart" which she wears on her sleeve. Intelligent, kind, and always willing to put others before

themselves, Libras value harmony in all forms. Libra, attached to the element of air, is justice and

balance seeking. The color white indicates an inherently pure intent: clarity, possibility, protection, and

beginnings. Be on the lookout for ways to fold these things back into your life.

Zodiac: Libra

Element: Air

Color: White