Ten of Swords as Love Outcome (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 Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Ten of Swords, that means that a new beginning is on the horizon. Don’t be fooled by the dramatic and devastating imagery on the Ten of Swords card. The “dramatic” vibe in that card is just that: a dramatic scene. That’s not to say that the cards are minimizing your situation. Yes, you 100% have a legitimate reason to be sad, but you’re overly focusing on what’s going wrong, when things are about to go very right in your lives. It is astrologically associated with Sun in Gemini, which embodies the exact opposite of what is depicted in that card: clear communication, cheerful fun, feeling youthful, and humor.

The Ten of Swords as love outcome is a sign of feeling like you’re being stabbed in the back. Your person perhaps did things that you don’t expect a romantic partner to do. This card is astrologically associated with the Sun in Gemini, a strong communicative energy. The advice here is that even if you are devastated, seek information to find clarity about the situation. Ask your person why they did what they did. Especially since Gemini is a sign of gossip and social media, it is extremely important that you have clarity on the truth of the situation, and not a distorted image or misunderstanding.

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Ten of Swords as love outcome means you need to protect your heart. It could indicate that a relationship has potential, yet never reaches that potential because somebody is afraid of getting hurt. The ten swords in the card can be interpreted as an “overkill” symbol. You or your person may be so determined to protect their heart that the relationship never reaches its true potential. Alternatively, this card is telling you that you need to have better standards and boundaries. Perhaps you have a tendency to get involved with individuals who you know are not good for you.

If you are in a new relationship, the Ten of Swords as love outcome means you’re expecting the worst to happen before a relationship even begins. In the Ten of Swords, a person is depicted with ten swords on their back. This image illustrating “overkill” is sometimes interpreted by Tarot readers as being a warning against being overly dramatic, especially if the relationship has barely started. This is not to say that people don’t make grave mistakes during the early stages of a relationship. But unless you have concrete evidence, don’t jump into conclusions as that negative energy will just hinder your manifestation in love.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Ten of Swords as love outcome means you need to prioritize yourself in this relationship. Ask yourself, is this relationship bringing you more happiness or more pain? Are you letting your person get away with the same mistake repeatedly? Your person may feel devastated with what has happened, and they’re also wondering if there’s any way you can heal the situation. However, drawing the Ten of Swords tends to indicate that you’ve reached the last straw. Alternatively, your person feels victimized and betrayed by you, if they feel wronged by you.

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Ten of Swords as love outcome means although things may appear to be devastating at the moment, you are on the precipice of a positive new beginning. If you are separated by distance, your person is drowning in a victim mentality about the challenges of being in a long-distance relationship. The struggles and feelings of hopelessness may be very real, but the two of you also need to realize that when the Ten of Swords appears in a reading, you are on the verge of a beautiful new beginning. In many depictions of this card, there is a sunrise in the background of the main character, symbolizing a beautiful new beginning around the corner. If you are inquiring about an ex you’re interested in reconciling with, your person is absolutely devastated by what happened. They may want you back and they regret the way things ended between the two of you. However, make sure that you have the talk when they’re in a healthy and clear state of mind.

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Reversed Ten of Swords as Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Ten of Swords reversed, that means that you or your person are on a path of healing. It is also the card of letting go of what harms us. Sometimes Tarot readers will interpret the imagery of a reversed Ten of Swords card as the swords literally falling off the character in the card’s back. It’s that relief of realizing that a devastating event turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Maybe what you lost wasn’t healthy for you. Something better is on the horizon.

The Ten of Swords reversed as love outcome is a sign of releasing burdens off your back. This card is also about letting go of past heartbreaks, getting back up, and starting over. This is a somewhat positive card to draw if you’re interested in reconciling with an ex, or you’re trying to heal your current relationship. However, it also advises to give your person time to fully recover from what happened. Don’t rush it, the wound is still fresh! We can’t give healthily to a relationship until we ourselves are fully healed.

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Ten of Swords reversed as love outcome means you’re taking it easy. You or your person have been burned in past relationships, and the relationship will be slow burning but also potentially healing for one or both of you. You’re wise to move slowly. As cliché as it may sound, good things do take time. Make sure you let go of any baggage from your previous relationships. It’s only fair that both of you get to start on a clean slate.

If you are in a new relationship, the Ten of Swords reversed as love outcome means one or both of you have just gotten out of a pretty intense situation. Maybe one of you is fresh out of a messy divorce, or even a bad break up. The advice with these cards is to take things slowly. The tens in the Tarot symbolize the end of a cycle, and being at the precipice of a new beginning. While you may love each other very much, and this relationship can work, there’s a sense that some loose ends need to be tied. Make sure that elements from the past can no longer interfere with your future together.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Ten of Swords reversed as love outcome means getting back up after a painful incident or betrayal. Often when this card is drawn in the reverse, the impact isn’t as great as the energies of this card drawn in the upright. Sometimes drawing this card in the reverse can indicate a blessing in disguise. As the number 10 card in the Tarot represents a transition period, this could mean the loss of a relationship that leads to a better, brighter period in our lives. However, there is a sense of there being “unfinished business”. So, this could either mean needing to heal before entering into a new partnership, or potentially reconciling with your person if you believe that the relationship can still be healed.

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Ten of Swords reversed as love outcome means a painful period in your relationship. If you are separated by distance, you might feel devastated after a hard blow to your long-distance relationship. You may have just gone through a temporary break, an explosive argument, or discovered a betrayal. However, a reversed 10 card in the tarot usually indicates unfinished business, so you either still need to heal from this relationship first, or you may be given the opportunity to heal and reconcile with your person.

If you are inquiring about an ex you’re interested in reconciling with, they’re slowly healing from the devastation of your breakup. There is potential to heal the relationship if you believe it’s salvageable. 

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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.