Ten of Swords definitions

Rider-Waite: 10 of Swords

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

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

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

Reversed Card meanings

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

Additional Meanings: Victory and consequent fortune for a soldier in war.

Book of Thoth: Ruin - Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords is called Ruin. It teaches the lesson which statesmen should have learned, and have not; that if one goes on fighting long enough, all ends in destruction.

Yet this card is not entirely without hope. The Solar influence rules; ruin can never be complete, because disaster is a sthenic disease. As soon as things are bad enough, one begins to build up again. When all the Governments have smashed each other, there still remains the peasant. At the end of Candide's misadventures, he could still cultivate his garden.

The 10 Swords shows a time for sorrow and upset.

More information

Golden Dawn - Lord of Ruin

Succumbing before the onslaught of inevitable forces, perseverance against great odds. Success at great price.

Mathers: 10 of Swords

Tears, Affliction, Grief, Sorrow.

Reversed Card meanings

Passing Success, Momentary Advantage.

Etteilla: 10 of Swords

Affliction, Tears, Crying, Sobs, Groans, Sighs, Moans, Lamentations, Complaints, Ailments, Grief, Sadness, Distress, Jeremiad, Lay, Desolation.

Reversed Card meanings

Advantage, Gain, Profit, Success. Favor, Gift, Kind Deed, Influence, Ability, Empire, Authority, Power, Usurpation.

Thierens: Ten of Swords

TRADITION

Tears, affliction, plaints, complaints, sadness, desolation, sorrow. Reversed: Advantage, profit, favour. "But none of these are permanent," says W. — Power, might, usurpation, authority.

THEORY

The element of Earth on the Tenth house: Capricorn, of course relates to authority and earthy might or power, and we do not see why this should be only in a 'reversed' position. With regard to religion this is the mother-church (compare: Capricorn the 'married woman' or the mother), the materialisation of dogma and creed in a building, a church, chapel, monastery. In the secular line it may be any official building or office and, relating to persons, any official or public authority under the civil law. The card represents material necessity and the limits and corner-stones which it erects. It is ultimately the card of inexorable karmic results, say material karma itself. To the profane this means very often affliction, etc., and the personality may be burdened by the weight of fate. The image of this card seems to suggest this specially. On the other hand tradition is certainly not wrong in stating that it may represent gain and profit, as the card of karma will bring the full measure of material things in general and not only in the way of tragedy. Profit and advantage, however, may also become oppressive and its possibility must be considered here.

CONCLUSION

Karmic results, whether benefic or malific; material limits, physical necessity; authority, official might and power, obedience to the same; official persons. The mother-church, monastery, etc. Affliction, sadness, etc. In good cases due reward and honest profit, merited position. Possession may become a curse. Fate may lay low the personality. The card is not very benefic for the parents of the querent, or he himself does not much esteem them. It relates to his position in the world.

P.S. — The cards of the suit of swords, from the ace up to the ten, relate to the respective 'sins' prohibited by the Ten Commandments.