The Eight of Swords represents feeling stuck in a rut or repeating a cycle. The obstacles ahead of you may seem insurmountable, but there is always a way out. The Eight of Swords tells us that this exit path may not be easy, but it is still available.

Are you feeling stagnant in any area of your life? The cards can prompt you to look for ways forward and identify what support is available.

Eight of Swords Key Words#

Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Eight of Swords card meaning, and its connection to love, career, and life, below is a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Minor Arcana card.

Upright: feeling stuck, unproductive, feeling trapped, hopeless, helplessReversed: being productive, finding a way out, taking control, a light at the end of the tunnel, freedom

Eight of Swords Card Description#

The Eight of Swords illustrates a blindfolded woman surrounded by eight swords. Her arms are tied behind her and bound to her body with the same bandage she is blinded with.

Eight of Swords tarot card, Spark Bloom Edition
Eight of Swords tarot card, Rider–Waite–Smith deck
Eight of Swords tarot card, upright

The swords around her seem to serve as a prison, but there is enough space in front of her to escape. It seems as if she is too focused on the painful past that is behind her, leaving her unable to see that there is a way out.

Looking forward can help you consider a next step, but the card cannot promise the result or say what inaction will cause.

Eight of Swords Meaning#

The Eight of Swords in the upright position stands for feeling stuck in a repeated cycle or feeling bound by outside forces. You might feel surrounded by danger and this could make you hesitant to make a move. A lot of times when we feel ‘trapped’ in a situation, the emotion we are actually experiencing is fear. What is it that you are afraid of? Could it be a fear of lack, failure, being alone, or being abandoned?

It is important to remember that there is always a way to overcome what binds you. Whether this is relationship problems, financial issues, or health declining, you can turn things around. However, you can only fix what you acknowledge.

Money and Career Meaning#

In a career reading, the Eight of Swords might show that you are feeling stuck at the job you are in. Perhaps the current position you hold doesn’t offer much room for advancement or doesn’t offer enough pay. The Eight of Swords can prompt you to examine whether the job still fits. Before leaving, assess your options and financial runway; the card cannot predict the effect of quitting.

If you see the Eight of Swords in a financial reading denotes that you are feeling trapped by current debt or lack of resources. You may need to change your spending habits or stop taking on debt. Are there ways you can be more frugal? What are you currently paying for that you could do without?

If lack of money is causing you problems, get creative! There are many ways such as babysitting, tutoring, or lawn care that you can do to make some extra cash. It may take a bit of an emotional toll on you at first to be doing so much to make money, but you will adjust and be better of because of it.

Love and Relationships Meaning#

If the Eight of Swords appears in a love reading, it could mean that someone is feeling stuck in the relationship. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to break up, though.

The stagnation felt in the relationship could be in a variety of areas, such as communication or intimacy. It may be difficult for you and your partner to decipher what the root cause of the issue is, and resolving the issue may take difficult conversations, and the result is not guaranteed. You might consider talking to a therapist or mentor.

If you are single, the Eight of Swords might represent the fact that you are waiting for a partner to come along and take all your hurt away. You must remember that true happiness and self-love comes from within.

There is no one else that can fulfill you if you don’t realize that you have the power to do so yourself. No knight in shining armor is coming to rescue you. Put care into yourself without treating a future partner as something your mindset will attract.

Health and Spirituality Meaning#

In a health reading, the Eight of Swords cannot identify depression, anxiety, blindness, migraines, or the cause of a medical problem. Seek qualified care for symptoms or concerns; stress management may support wellbeing but is not a diagnosis or treatment.

Eight of Swords reversed#

Like the Nine and Ten of Swords, the Eight of Swords reversed has more positive implications than upright. It stands for overcoming obstacles, letting go of negativity and moving forward.

Eight of Swords tarot card, Spark Bloom Edition, reversed
Eight of Swords tarot card, Rider–Waite–Smith deck, reversed
Eight of Swords tarot card, reversed

You have come face-to-face with your demons and you have fought them well. The struggle is over: now is the time to enjoy what you have built! Take an inventory of your life and acknowledge anything that is keeping you tied to your past. What will it take to unbind yourself?

In a love context, the reversed Eight can symbolize releasing fear or seeking freedom. A card cannot determine whether a relationship is abusive or promise escape; if you feel unsafe, contact appropriate support.

Are you single? In that case, the Eight of Swords reversed advises you to let go of any anxiety or fear. This is holding you back from finding love! Instead, try to show some self-love and feel empowered. This may help you approach dating with greater self-awareness, but it cannot guarantee a partner.

Eight of Swords: Yes or No#

The Eight of Swords in a yes or no reading symbolizes being restricted, powerless and unheard. It is also a warning of bad fortune and serious obstacles. For all these reasons, the answer to your question is no. Reversed, the card is also read as a no, because it points to disquiet, difficulty and opposition.

Important Card Combinations#

The Eight of Swords is the card of feeling stuck, being unproductive, and feeling trapped. In combination with other cards, the meaning of the Eight of Swords can slightly change. Here you can find the most common Eight of Swords card combinations.

The Eight of Swords and The Magician#

The Eight of Swords and the Magician in a spread together means you are receiving mixed messages. Are you interested in starting a new romance with someone, but aren’t sure if they feel the same way? Is there a friend or coworker who is confusing you?

Perhaps this person is warm and inviting one minute and cold the next. Don’t let your someone else’s issue keep you wrapped up in negative emotions. Express how you feel to this person and see if they reciprocate the same!

The Eight of Swords and The Hanged Man#

If this duo appears in a reading, it tells a story of feeling afraid of upsetting others. Are you in a situation where the best thing for you will upset or anger another person? Remind yourself that your first priority should always be yourself.

At the end of the day, the only person who you can always count on to put you first is you. You cannot predict another person's response or recovery from a decision. Avoid putting your life on hold for the sake of others.

The Eight of Swords and Four of Wands#

The Eight of Swords and Four of Wands combination reminds you to try not to care so much what other people think. In a world where social media has prevailed, the comments of others are more out in the open than ever before.

It isn’t always the easiest task to live your life regardless of the opinion of others, but it is necessary. Avoid the tendency to seek validation. Otherwise, your happiness will always be in the hands of others.

The Eight of Swords and Two of Cups#

If your reading contains the Eight of Swords and the Two of Cups, it warns of miscommunication in your relationship. Perhaps you have been struggling to see eye to eye with your spouse or significant other.

This card combination tells you that the problem comes down to a lack of effective communication. Take the time to sit down and discuss the problems you are experiencing in your partnership. The conversation may clarify the issue, but it cannot guarantee a happy ending.

Eight of Swords Cards#

Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, it doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. And there are so many beautiful decks out there! I can lose myself browsing and searching the web for beautiful tarot cards. Below you can find a small selection of beautiful Eight of Swords tarot cards. If you drew Swords or other cards yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!

  • eight of swords modern way tarot deck
    The Modern Way Tarot
  • eight swords love
    Sara Kipin via Behance.net
  • eight of swords feelings
    Elisabeth Alba via Behance.net

The Eight of Swords card: some final words#

That’s all for the Eight of Swords Tarot card meaning! If you have pulled this tarot card in your spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life?

Frequently asked questions about Eight of Swords

The response and questions I received from my readers (you!) are overwhelming. I am extremely grateful to have this interaction and while I try to respond to every message I get, I’ll also answer the most frequently asked tarot questions about the Eight of Swords card meanings and general tarot card questions here.

Is the Eight of Swords a Yes or No card?

In ASOJ's yes-or-no convention, the Eight of Swords leans no or not yet because perceived constraints may be limiting the available choices. It is not a warning of bad fortune, and drawing another card does not replace checking the facts.

What does the Eight of Swords mean in a love context?

In love, the Eight of Swords can point to a relationship story in which the available choices feel narrower than they are. Check practical options, consent and support without treating the card as evidence that someone is trapped; a qualified professional may help when the situation involves safety or significant distress.

What is the general meaning of the EIght of Swords?

The Eight of Swords represents restricted perspective, constrained movement and assumptions that make alternatives difficult to see. It does not establish that the reader is surrounded by danger or secretly fears abandonment.

Have a question about Eight of Swords?

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