Readings
Three Cards
The three card tarot spread is one of the oldest methods. You can get to the heart of your question with a simple three-card Tarot reading. In this spread, there are three different positions which can be changed by to your preference, Past – Present – Future (or Situation – Action – Outcome, Situation – Obstacle – Advice and etc.).
The meaning of the card you choose varies according to it’s position.
This opening provides a GENERAL perspective to the period you are in. Or you can evaluate the comments in the frame of your question.
Five of Swords
Upright
Conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, winning at all costs
The Five of Swords card shows up when you have had an argument or conflict, and you are stepping away with sadness and feeling lost. You may be upset over the fiery words you said and you wish they could be taken back.
Even if you won the debate or came out the obvious winner, you understand that you have suffered as much as your opponent. This battle has cost you confidence, respect or honor, and detached you. As you try to pick up the parts and leave the struggle behind you, you find it‘s more complicated than you thought; others have lost trust in you.
The advice of the Five of Swords is to pick your actions. You may be motivated to fight every battle to guarantee you get your way, to prove that you are correct, or to protect yourself when you are feeling threatened. Picking your battles carefully is much better than fighting in every disagreement. Not only will it lead to a more quiet life, but your relationships are likely to come out more powerful.
If you have been involved in a conflict and can see it taking its price, the Five of Swords is a call for an apology. Be ready to say you were mistaken and make amends. There’s no reason to justify your actions; just let go and move on. Look for a common spot with those you have been supporting with, or ask forgiveness so you can put this behind.
The Five of Swords may also show the breakdown. Despite your best attempts, you are likely to come out as the loser. Accept your defeat, and learn from it. Be smarter and wiser next time.
Reversed
Reconciliation, making amends, past resentment
The Five of Swords speaks for those times when you’ve fought to the end, only to recognize that you’ll fail no matter what. You’ve been pushing, but your opponent is not listening. And when you’re in this opposite position, you end up feeling terrible – win or no win.
You want this period of struggle to be finished so you can forgive and release, and then direct your energies on more productive activities. You know that there can only be losers in this fight.
Sometimes, the reversed Five of Swords can represent conflict in your life that you have tried to be away from. Furthermore, the reversed Five of Swords can imply that an old wound has been re-opened and you are experiencing the anxiety connected with that memory. You may be especially worried that the past might repeat itself and you could be hurt again.
The reversed Five of Swords hints that after a phase of the battle, you are ready to move forward and create positive transformation. Bring your energy back inside. It may mean an agreement, or it might be time to move on. This is your chance to ask for forgiveness so you can build a more fruitful ground for new ideas.
Eight of Pentacles
Upright
Apprenticeship, repetitive tasks, mastery, skill development
The Eight of Pentacles is a card of ability and mastery. When this card appears in a Tarot reading, you are working vigorously to develop your abilities and become a leader at what you do. You may have recently replaced your work, study or economic conditions, and now you are utilizing your pure energy and strength to master the new profession that you are studying. You are busy and you are connecting yourself completely to whatever is at the core of your attention.
The Eight of Pentacles may symbolize additional training in order to sharpen your skills. You know that it will demand a lot of focus and commitment to your education, but you are ready to work hard. You are prepared for the route towards becoming a leader in your preferred field.
Furthermore, the Eight of Pentacles implies you are working away at the more precise aspects of your life, attempting to continuously develop your position. You may be troubled with your current situation, and you know you need to make some significant modifications in your life to improve your overall comfort. This card is a good sign that you are started to make those adjustments. Overall, this is a very accomplishing and principled energy that is already in your life.
The Eight of Pentacles is a message to continue doing what you are doing as it will ultimately guide to prosperity. It may not be as obvious as you wish but results are revealing that you are in the true path.
If you find this card in a reading and are not involved in the active pursuance of your purposes, question what you could create to make your life better.
Reversed
Self-development, perfectionism, misdirected activity
The reversed Eight of Pentacles can show up in a Tarot reading when you are dedicated to personal development. You are very disciplined when it comes to your ideas and actions, and you are committed to becoming the greatest version of yourself. You are willing to do things repeatedly until you see outcomes with your health and overall happiness.
Alternatively, the reversed Eight of Pentacles may symbolize that you are focused on achieving completion, however, it causes damage more than help. You lose perception of the bigger picture because of focusing on small details.
The reversed Eight of Pentacles implies that you are working very laboriously, but you can’t get the result you were longing. You’re seeming frustrated and exhausted by the lack of progress instead. It is time to evaluate whether you are really concentrated on the best things, or if you need to change your focus to bring your actions back in arrangement with your larger purposes.
Five of Cups
Upright
Regret, failure, disappointment, pessimism
Being one of the most pessimist cards in deck, The Five of Cups card often shows up in a Tarot reading when the events haven’t turned out the way you assumed, and you are sad and depressed. Instead of moving on, you are choosing to be lost in your self-pity. All you can focus on right now is what went crazy and how you failed.
The Five of Cups hints you’re lost in the past. Your wounds and painful memories overwhelm your mind as you think about what occurred. You may criticize yourself or think you’re a victim of life’s events. These negative thoughts are holding you back from your complete potential – clear them so you can move on.
If someone has failed you, find it within your heart to forgive that person, freeing yourself from the frustration. And if you are disappointed with yourself, know that you did the best you could under the conditions and have now received life experience from your errors.
Think about what took you to this point and realize what important teachings you can take from the practice. Even when things go wrong, you can always find something positive by thinking about the experiences you got.
The Five of Cups card represents that new possibilities are in your way, even though things aren’t going according to your plan right now. It’s time to change your mindset and concentrate on where else you can go from this point. Be open to the deeper side of life and know many graces are in disguise.
Reversed
Personal setbacks, self-forgiveness, moving on
The reversed Five of Cups implies that you have recently experienced a personal disappointment. You may think that you are a ‘loser’ and don’t want to let others know you’ve taken the wrong path. Or you may not be ready to communicate it to others and are keeping your emotions to yourself instead. But, now could be time to admit and share. People around you may not understand how much agony you’re in right now, so don’t be scared to talk with people you trust.
If you feel guilty about what occurred, criticizing yourself for the errors you made, the reversed Five of Cups asks you to forgive yourself.
When this card shows up in a reading, you are realizing the meanings of the past, and you recognize the things learned from the adventure. You may even realize the value of the unpleasant event in the wider view of everything.
The reversed Five of Cups helps as a note that you cannot undo the yesterday. It is now time to release what no longer serves you, and open to the new possibilities available to you. If you have experienced difficulties, you will find that you will be more confident about tomorrow and join the exciting side of life again.