Queen of Tarot

The ancient wisdom of the cards

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

Designation

Ten of Swords

About the Deck

Vivid Waite Smith Tarot Deck

These cards are featured in my book, "A Concise Guide to the Tarot" by Loren Lundgren. I took the information for the meanings on these tarot cards from "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Being Fragments of a Secret Tradition Under the Veil of Divination", by A. E. Waite, 1911, now in the public domain. I edited the tarot card descriptions and meanings for clarity and brevity, modernizing the text. I scanned in the original black and white illustrations of the cards drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, from the 1911 book. I digitally retouched and painted those illustrations in detailed color.

Provenance

Loren Lundgren, © 2021

Description

A figure lies on the ground, pierced by the swords of the card.

Meaning of Ten of Swords from the Vivid Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Upright

Violence or backstabbing, as shown by the design; also pain, affliction, tears, sadness, desolation. It is not specifically a card of violent death.

Reversed

Advantage, profit, success, favor, 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.