Eight of Swords as Love Outcome (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Eight of Swords is the card of helplessness, powerlessness, imprisonment, victimization, and feeling trapped. This card depicts a woman bound and blindfolded. Eight swords seem to be trapping her in place. However, if she took off her blindfold, she would see that she can walk away free. This is a symbol of limiting mindsets and beliefs. 

The Eight of Swords reminds us that most of our issues around feeling trapped are mental in nature. If you are feeling trapped, open your eyes and look around. There may be another way out, if you just take initiative. This can be overcome. The Eight of Swords is a reminder that our mentality in terms of how we approach our relationships will often influence the success of the relationship.

Upright Eight of Swords as Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Eight of Swords, that means that feeling lost in a relationship. It is astrologically associated with Jupiter in Gemini, a philosophical and cerebral energy. This is the energy of feeling stuck due to self-imposed limiting beliefs. You may feel dissatisfied or unhappy in your relationship because you have a certain idea of what your ideal partner or relationship should look like. Jupiter is a big energy while Gemini is a cerebral energy, it tells us to dream big but realize that whoever you’re dating is only human. Gemini also rules social media, and Gemini exaggerates whatever it touches, indicating that you shouldn’t rely on social media to set the standards in your life.

The Eight of Swords as love outcome is a sign of feeling trapped in a relationship. However, this is also the self-entrapment card. Nobody is forcing you to stay. You have the choice and free will to walk away if that’s what you want, yet you choose to stay. You may be reluctant to leave a situation because you subconsciously consider that your comfort zone. But how “comfortable” are you in this relationship really?

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Eight of Swords as love outcome means potentially missing out on a great opportunity for love due to self-limiting beliefs. These beliefs may have to do with your concept of what an ideal partner or relationship should look like. Stop expecting perfection from yourself and from others. We’re all only human. Sometimes the Eight of Swords can be a card of shyness. This may indicate either you or your person being too afraid to approach the other, making the relationship itself hard to take off.

If you are in a new relationship, the Eight of Swords as love outcome means knowingly self sabotaging. The cards want you to think back on your past relationships. Have you or your person been in a relationship where you were made to feel like you were the problem, even when you know you really wanted the relationship to work out? Have you considered the possibility that you did that to yourself because you don’t believe that you deserve a beautiful relationship? If you think this might be the case with you, find out why you do this to yourself. Tarot is a great way to explore our own subconscious.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Eight of Swords as love outcome means being in denial. Both of you know something needs to be addressed. But neither of you are addressing it, let alone resolving it. You may feel powerless and helpless, as if nothing can be done about it. Remember that even when something is out of your control, you still have choices. The range of choices can vary, but you control the quality of your relationship together with your person. 

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome means feeling stuck in a situation, knowing what needs to be done, but choosing to not take action. If you are separated by distance, you and your person may be indecisive about what your next move should be. You both know that you’re about to make life altering decisions by going ahead with your relationship, and you’re having analysis paralysis about your next move. If you are inquiring about an ex you’re interested in reconciling with, they may be in denial about your breakup or the role they played in the break up. They need to start seeing the situation clearly and accepting what happened. Until they are able and willing to do this, it would not be a wise idea to give this person another chance.

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Reversed Eight of Swords as Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Eight of Swords reversed, that means that as a couple, you’re finally accepting the reality of a situation. The truth sets you free, and now you’re no longer stuck in a situation. You realize you’re not powerless, and that you do have choices. Something may be beyond your control, and your choices may be limited, but ultimately, you make those choices. You have the choice to walk away or reconcile. The best choice for you may not feel easy, but you have the power to make that choice.

The Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome is a sign of seeing things for what they are. This is a positive card to draw in reverse. It indicates self acceptance, and no longer being in denial or looking the other way when it comes to an “elephant in the room”. Traditional depictions of this card typically feature a woman with blindfolds on. Some Tarot readers will interpret a reversal as those blindfolds falling off along with the swords imprisoning the character in the card. There could be a new sense of freedom. 

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome means you will be rewarded for believing in yourself and others. You or your person finally heals that part of yourself that tends to make you self sabotage. Now you have a healthier self esteem, you believe you deserve your partner. You let your person treat you like the deserving person you are. This is a healthy relationship with no codependency or abandonment problems. And best of all: you see clearly in the mirror and you’re accepting of what you see. 

If you are in a new relationship, the Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome means no longer being your worst enemy in a relationship. This is a relationship where you’re open and you’re vulnerable. Your person honors your openness and protects those vulnerabilities. The Eight of Swords is mostly a card of inner self and our own inner workings, rather than external factors in a relationship. You’re emotionally healthy, and your vibration attracts and manifests equally healthy partners. As you project these qualities, you might even inspire your partner to be equally open and vulnerable.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome means finally finding the courage to have a difficult discussion. Address the issue that the two of you have avoided in the past. This card is astrologically associated with Jupiter and Gemini, the energy of having deep conversations. If we decipher the symbolism in this card’s imagery, drawing this card in the reverse may indicate having an eye opener of a discussion. Truths can be hard pills to swallow, but we usually swallow pills to recover. Jupiter and Gemini rule higher learning and early education, this part of your Soul’s lesson in this lifetime. 

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Eight of Swords reversed as love outcome means finally having the courage to move forward in a relationship. If you are separated by distance, you’re accepting the obstacles that come with being in a long-distance relationship as a fact of life. You perhaps have had clear cut, pragmatic discussions about legalities and steps that need to be taken for the relationshipʼs future. Although there are substantial obstacles, you’re both determined to make it work. If you are inquiring about an ex you’re interested in reconciling with, they’re no longer in denial about what happened. They have made peace and accepted the breakup, so whether or not they would be open to reconciliation will depend on whether they believe the relationship is salvageable.

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Conclusion

For love readings, the Eight of Swords represents feeling trapped and suffocated. These feelings are often caused by our own false beliefs that hold us back. The Eight of Swords is a reminder that our attitude and approach is key to the success of the relationships we have with others. 

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.