Lesson 6 - The numbered cards 1-10 of the Suit of Swords

The third suit of the Minor Arcana is the Swords.

This suit is associated with the element Air, representing light, intellect, and clear, rational thought.

Positive attitudes associated with this suit are justice, truth, ethical priciples and decisiveness.

Negative attitudes associated with Swords are disharmony, conflict, animosity, unhappiness and sometimes illness.

Take out from your deck the numbered cards 1-10 of Swords and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your cloth.

Like you did in previous lessons, focus on the first card, the Ace of Swords, and try to memorise some of the key words associated with the card. Make notes of any words or symbols you get from the card before moving onto the next one. Do this until you have done all 10.

Ace of Swords

- Air
- positive: victory, mental clarity, necessary change
- negative: injustice, misuse of power, destruction

2 of Swords

- Peace restored
- positive: friendship in adversity, peace of mind, equilibrium
- negative: tension, deceit, disharmony

3 of Swords

- Sorrow
- positive: new beginnings
- negative: heartache, discord, acrimony

4 of Swords

- Rest from Strife
- positive: healing peace, withdrawal
- negative: exile, isolation, depression

5 of Swords

- Defeat
- positive: acceptance
- negative: treachery, spite, deceit

6 of Swords

- Earned Success
- positive: brighter future, respite, a journey
- negative: procrastination, failure to face up to problems

7 of Swords

- Unstable effort
- positive: diligence
- negative: lack of nerve, indecision, confusion

8 of Swords

- Shortened Force
- positive: patience
- negative: depression, hard work with little reward, restriction

9 of Swords

- Despair & anxiety
- positive: none
- negative: deception, disappointment, misery, isolation

10 of Swords

- Ruin
- positive: none
- negative: desolation, ruin, continued suffering

Spend some time with these cards and think about how you would convey negative messages to someone without knocking their confidence. How you can be truthful yet always convey hope and encouragement.

Practical Exercise for this week

Now extract the Major Arcana from your deck and then add the 10 cards of the Wands, Cups and Swords. Shuffle well and pick 3 cards - guess what's next ... Practice the reading with these extra cards, and again write your reading in your notebook.

Until next week,

Alison

Click Here to Visit the Forum to Discuss:

what the suit of Swords represents in a reading, perhaps focusing on a card or cards you are drawn to or have difficulty with.

For this weeks multiple choice test, click on the link below:

[click here to take the test]