Eight of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Eight swords stand upright in the ground, surrounding a woman dressed in red, who is bound and blindfolded. (Similar to the Two of Swords)

Five swords are positioned in front of the castle on the right side of the image, and the other three are to the woman's right, with two at her side and one in front of her.

The woman is dressed in a V-neck red robe, standing upright, wrapped in several white cloth bands, with her hands tied behind her back.

The woman's stance is quite unique; her right foot is on the ground, while her left is in the water, resembling the imagery of the Temperance card. Both cards touch upon the balance between consciousness and the subconscious, straddling the realms of reality and the spiritual. The ground is muddy, with red soil and water pooled in the low-lying areas, brought in from afar.

The woman is dressed entirely in red, symbolizing a passionate nature, yet she is bound by the quiet white bindings, indicating a sense of restraint. The contrast of red clothing and white bandages, along with the overall red and white color scheme of the scene, is striking with few other colors. In the background, there is a castle, predominantly grey with a red top, representing heightened spirit and contrasting with the woman's colors.

The sky and the castle walls are grey, and the distant mountains indicate the higher terrain, explaining the source of the water flow here.

The woman is bound and blindfolded, surrounded by swords, in a terrifying situation, but the danger has passed, and she can step out again. Although she has encountered obstacles in the past and is now hesitant to move forward or break free, there is a sense of self-imposed restraint. However, she can open her eyes to the shackles and step out of the predicament if she wishes. This is a temporary restraint, not a permanent imprisonment.

The image of the Eight of Swords is well-known, highly original in the Waite Tarot, and has almost become a classic image. It is also an important pictorial indicator in psychology and the arts and literature.

Blindfolded Woman

The woman in the Eight of Swords is blindfolded, symbolizing ignorance or a lack of clarity. This represents the querent’s feelings of powerlessness and limitation. It’s an internal prison more than an external one.

Encircling Swords

The eight swords surrounding the woman denote obstacles or problems that seem almost insurmountable. These swords, however, are planted in the ground and not touching her, indicating that these limitations are more mental or self-imposed than real.

Bounded Hands

The woman’s hands are bound, reinforcing the concept of restriction but also showing that she has some ability to free herself. The limitation is not total; it is rather a state of mind or a set of circumstances that can be changed with effort.

Pooling Water and Rocky Terrain

The water and the rocky terrain behind the woman symbolize emotional turmoil and unstable ground, respectively. They point to the challenges faced but also to the potential for change; water is always in motion and rocks can be climbed or traversed.

Castle in the Background

A castle is faintly visible in the distance, suggesting that there is a way out of her present situation; liberation and a more prosperous circumstance are within reach, but likely require some strategic maneuvering.