Ten of Swords as a Person (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Ten of Swords is the card of betrayal, ruin, failure, pain, loss, crisis, and endings. This card shows a man lying face down, apparently dead, with ten swords sticking out of his back. He has been stabbed to death. Though this is a dark scene, the sun is rising above the horizon, indicating that with one ending comes a new beginning.

The Ten of Swords reminds us that endings are natural in life. When one thing ends, it gives space for something else to begin. When one door closes, another opens. The end of one cycle is the beginning of another. The Ten of Swords reminds us that it is okay to release what is no longer serving us. 

Upright Ten of Swords as a Person

If the Ten of Swords appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person has hit rock bottom. You might meet this person at a time of their life where perhaps they have lost a job, broke up with a partner, lost a loved one, or become ill. They likely need emotional support. It is astrologically associated with the Sun in Gemini. Because the Sun in Gemini our bodies are very masculine energy within a masculine sign, this card carries very active, assertive energies. We all have a little bit of both energies expressed in a balanced way, regardless of which gender we identify as.

For physical characteristics, the Ten of Swords as a person represents someone who has self esteem and self image issues. This person has a victim mentality. They blame others for their faults, rather than taking a good look at how they can improve themselves. This person tries hard to keep up with the Joneses, even if it hurts their finances and leaves them in debt. They may end up injuring themselves following workout trends or diet fads. This person is hard on both themselves and others. 

For emotional characteristics, the Ten of Swords as a person represents someone who thrives on drama. They are prone to overreactions over perceived slights. They over-exaggerate their own suffering. They like to portray themselves as the victim–someone who has been betrayed and backstabbed. They wear their hurt on their sleeve, and they have a hard time seeing the positives in any given situation. 

For careers, the Ten of Swords can represent someone who works as someone who eases the suffering of others. They assist those in need when they have reached rock bottom. They may work at a substance abuse rehab facility or assist mental health patients. First responders, such as law enforcement, the fire department, EMTs, and emergency room doctors and nurses, would also fall under this category. They may be trauma counselors. Or, to interpret this card in a more literal way, they could be a surgeon.

The Ten of Swords as a person represents someone who makes you feel betrayed. Alternatively, this person might turn against you and accuse you of backstabbing them at some point of your relationship. This person can be very selfish, to the point of being narcissistic. On top of that, the Gemini energy of this card can make them two-faced. They often like to play the victim when they are the abuser. 

Reversed Ten of Swords as a Person

If the Ten of Swords reversed appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is someone who has seen the worst of life and humanity, yet still chooses to be optimistic. You’re always looking forward to the silver lining. Because this is a Minor Arcana card, some of these traits will not be inherent aspects of their identity. If they are behaving unfavorably, they might just be going through a temporary phase. It may be a behavioral pattern that they can still unlearn, if they choose to. Good or bad, nobody is perfect, and people can use their free will to change for the better.

For physical characteristics, the Ten of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who has freed themselves from past traumas. They have healed from their past experiences. This may indicate somebody who is very happy with the results of any work that they’ve had done, because it’s helped them heal their emotional wounds. They could be covered in tattoos with great emotional significance. They have also learned not to push themselves too hard physically, so they avoid strict diets or overly strenuous workouts.

For emotional characteristics, the Ten of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who has made the difficult choice to let go of a painful situation. They forgive those who have wronged them for their own inner peace. In the reverse, the swords fall out of the person’s back. One motif that is sometimes overlooked by Tarot readers is the sunrise on the horizon in the background. This person may have been hurt in the past, but they are now focused on the future. 

For careers, the Ten of Swords reversed can represent someone who works in similar fields to their upright counterpart. The only difference is, while the upright Ten of Swords deals with the actual crisis, the reverse energy deals with the aftermath of the crisis. Their focus is more on the healing and recovery of those in their care. They’re always trying to learn a lesson, or find a solution to past failures. They could work in quality assurance, working to troubleshoot and fix bugs. They could be a university professor who teaches case studies of past crises. 

The Ten of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who makes you feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They are inspiring, and anyone would be lucky to have them as a friend or a mentor. They know their boundaries, and they are quick to let go of situations and things that no longer serve them. They are positive, and they are focused on the future. This person understands how short life can be. They may have lost a loved one or had a near-death experience. 

Conclusion

For love readings, the Ten of Swords represents endings. While endings can be sad, they also represent the potential for something new and better to take its place. With an ending comes release. We can start anew. This card is a reminder that it is okay for us to release what is no longer serving us. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.