Minor arcana · Swords (Air)
Eight of Swords
Feeling trapped in a prison that is mostly in your mind.
- Keywords
- Restriction · Fear · Feeling trapped · Self-limitation · Powerlessness
- Yes or no
- No
- Element
- Air
AdviceNotice that the path is open.
What it means
A blindfolded, bound woman is surrounded by eight swords stuck in the ground, but the path is open. The Eight of Swords is fear and the feeling that there is no way out. The card shows that many of the ties are thoughts: freedom begins with changing how you see the situation.
In love
Feeling trapped in a relationship or in your own fears of moving forward.
At work and with money
A feeling of being blocked. There are more options than it seems.
Do you have a question for the cards?
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Frequently asked questions
What does Eight of Swords mean in tarot?
Feeling trapped in a prison that is mostly in your mind. Notice that the path is open.
What does Eight of Swords mean in love?
Feeling trapped in a relationship or in your own fears of moving forward.
What does Eight of Swords mean for work?
A feeling of being blocked. There are more options than it seems.
Is Eight of Swords a yes or a no?
In a yes or no question, Eight of Swords usually says no, or not now. Feeling trapped in a prison that is mostly in your mind.
The illustrations come from My Daily Oracle’s own deck, drawn with the help of AI from the symbolism of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Tarot is a tool for reflection and self-knowledge, not for predicting the future.
Other cards of Swords
Ace of SwordsTwo of SwordsThree of SwordsFour of SwordsFive of SwordsSix of SwordsSeven of SwordsNine of SwordsTen of SwordsPage of SwordsKnight of SwordsQueen of SwordsKing of Swords