Readings
Two Cards
If you are trying to make a very important decision in your life and you don’t know which path to follow, if you are really doubtful about the consequences the crossroads tarot spread will help you to find your way.
Ten of Swords
Upright
Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, crisis
The Ten of Swords indicates an unpleasant yet necessary ending. For example, a relationship may get to an unexpected end, your job may be ended. It is as if this conclusion has come out of the sudden and shook your world. You could have never assumed it, but now it has arrived, leaving you thinking as if the world has crashed around you. You are suffering the pain of this unexpected end.
When the Ten of Swords shows up, you may be the victim of another person’s betrayal or dishonesty. You may feel as they stabbed you in the back. The pain is deep not because their behavior is painful, but because this indicates the end of your connection with them.
Even if you have been hurt or deceived, you now have a choice to pick yourself up and move forward with your life, rather than hoping someone will take compassion on you.
Therefore, the Ten of Swords is admitting your current condition. You no longer hold change but let it happen, even if it creates pain. You understand that there must be a difference to help restoration, and you allow it to occur.
The good message is that the Ten of Swords indicates the final difficulty – no more sadness will happen to you from that source. You must feel the full meaning of what has happened before you can move ahead and start again.
Pick yourself up and think about what occurred to you, and what you can acquire from the event. When you do this, the pain will fade, and you will shortly see why all of this required to occur so that you can develop into your whole potential.
Reversed
Recovery, regeneration, resisting an inevitable end
The reversed Ten of Swords shows that you are fighting an undeniable transformation or ending because you are not able to face up to what is occurring. However, the more you hold, the more this situation will continue to hurt you, so it’s time to get this over with so you can start again. Believe that everything is appearing for a purpose.
The reversed Ten of Swords urges you to review and free any perspective of your life that is not helping you. Rather than staying on your hurtful past, it is necessary to look forward and realize how these issues free you up.
Finally, the reversed Ten of Swords can show up as a pleasing sign that the pain and sorrow you have been experiencing is stopping. When this card is upside-down, the swords look to be falling, liberating him of the pain. You are clearing the memories of the past and letting yourself the chance to move forward with hope for the future.
Strength
Upright
Strength, courage, persuasion, influence, compassion
The Strength card represents strength, energy, and power – like the Chariot. However, while the Chariot means outer strength and will, the Strength card symbolizes the inner strength. Strength is about knowing you can handle life’s challenges. You have great stamina and endurance, balanced with great patience. You are committed to what you need to do, and you go for your goals with maturity and inner calmness.
When the Strength Tarot card appears in a reading, you are full of individual power. You do not rule by trying to dominate others; you quietly influence and convince. And this is also an advantage that others may underestimate your power, however, it is so ‘transparent’.
Your strength gives you the confidence to overcome fears, difficulties or uncertainties. You have got what it takes to see this situation through to its final. You’re a loyal friend and a supporter and you might also feel compelled to hold space for someone who needs your power and help.
The Strength card advises you to ‘train’ your animal instincts, and raw emotions, and channel these primary responses constructively. It’s normal for negative feelings such as anger, fear, rage, shame, sadness or guilt to appear in certain circumstances. However, it’s what you do with these feelings that make all the distinction. Now is a time when you need to be alert of your instinctual urges. Overtake your situation from a place of love and compassion.
Reversed
Inner strength, self-doubt, low energy, raw emotion
When the reversed Strength card is shown up in a Tarot reading, it may be time to tune in to your current levels of inner strength. Are you overflowing with self-confidence, or are you exhausted? And how can you take these features back into balance?
You may be lacking in self-confidence if you have lately experienced a setback. Know that your center strength will always be with you and now is as good a time as any to reconnect with this strength. You may hold more strength and flexibility than you have always believed – so, be gentle to yourself.
Check on your energy levels right now. The reversed Strength card is your call to rest and withdraw for a temporary period to restore your energy levels. You must take care of yourself first, so you will be able to take care of other people too.
In its shadow form, the reversed Strength card warns that you are likely to show unstable behavior and becoming aggressive. You may end up doing something you regret later by acting without thinking. The key is not to repress the raw emotions and urges, but to learn how to channel it so it won’t hurt others or yourself.