Ten of Swords in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Ten of Swords Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Air
In its general meaning, the Ten of Swords is the card of absolute endings, of collapse, of the breakdown of a system of thought, a situation, or a relationship. It represents a point of no return, extreme pain, but also a profound act of liberation. Yes, this card is difficult — it speaks of betrayal, loss, defeat… But it is also the promise of renewal. Once you have lost everything, you are finally free to rebuild everything differently. The Ten of Swords is a symbol of necessary chaos, the last storm before the calm. It tells you: ‘You can’t go back. But you can be reborn. And you will be reborn stronger, more lucid, more aligned.’ It is a card of endings. But above all, it is the first breath of a new beginning.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Ten of Swords readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Ten of Swords
In matters of the heart, the Ten of Swords is one of the most radical and painful cards, often indicating a sudden end, betrayal, or an irreversible breakup. It may refer to a relationship that ended in suffering, or a significant event (infidelity, a shocking revelation, abandonment) that puts an end to an emotional bond. This card represents the culmination of emotional pain, but also the moment when you can’t sink any lower — which also means that a new cycle can begin. For single people, it may indicate that they are still grieving over a lost love and that it is time to let go of the past in order to be reborn with a new capacity for love. The Ten of Swords is tough, but necessary: it marks the end of an illusion and the possibility of a new, more authentic beginning.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Ten of Swords
Professionally, the Ten of Swords heralds the sudden or painful end of a professional cycle. This can manifest itself in the form of dismissal, loss of status, a significant failure, or betrayal in the workplace. This card speaks of a time when everything seems to be falling apart, and when you may feel like you have been ‘stabbed in the back.’ It highlights a necessary crisis, even if it is difficult to go through. This ending, however harsh, is meant to free you from an environment or role that was no longer aligned with your inner growth. It is time to mourn what no longer works, so that you can start again on a new, more solid foundation that is more in line with your deepest aspirations. The Ten of Swords reminds you that every fall is also a rebirth, even if it begins in darkness.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Ten of Swords
In the financial realm, the Ten of Swords signals a significant loss, a material crisis, or symbolic bankruptcy. It is the card of economic collapse, of a costly management error, or of an unexpected event that upsets your material balance. It can also represent a sudden loss of income, financial betrayal or a project that falls apart. The message here is harsh but clear: the cycle is over, and it is time to face reality with courage and honesty. However, this card also brings liberation: what had to fall apart had to fall apart. Only after hitting rock bottom will you be able to rebuild something more stable and fairer. It encourages you not to run away from the truth, to ask for help if necessary, and to see this fall as a new beginning.
Family reading
with the card Ten of Swords
In the family sphere, the Ten of Swords evokes a painful breakup, rejection, or a radical severing of ties. This card can refer to family betrayals, old wounds resurfacing, or an event that abruptly ends a family relationship (irreversible conflict, exclusion, bereavement, destructive revelation). The atmosphere is one of pain, loss, and sometimes humiliation. But this card urges you to break free from destructive dynamics, even if they are family-related. Sometimes you have to accept ‘dying symbolically’ to a toxic family system in order to be reborn as yourself. The Ten of Swords can also signal an end to a situation of abuse or chronic misunderstanding. It is a difficult card, but deeply liberating if you accept that some ties must be transformed or broken in order to regain your integrity.
Spiritual reading
with the card Ten of Swords
Spiritually, the Ten of Swords is a card of symbolic death, profound rebirth, and total stripping away of the ego. It is a time when everything you thought you were or believed can come crashing down. You may be going through a major spiritual crisis, a loss of faith, or a brutal disillusionment with your old beliefs. This card is a sign that the old you must die so that a new, more authentic and aligned being can emerge. It evokes a phase of purification through pain, but also of profound awakening if you accept to let go of what no longer serves you. The Ten of Swords teaches you that light is found at the end of darkness — that collapse is sometimes necessary to reach the naked truth, the truth of the soul. It is time to let go of illusion… to make way for what is essential.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Ten of Swords and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Ten of Swords according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Ten of Swords in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
