Tarot Card Symbolism: The Eight of Swords of the Minor Arcana

The Eight of Swords of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot is the eighth card of the Suit of Swords. It follows the Seven of Swords. It is the embodiment of fear and restraint, and a of seemingly impossible situation.

The Symbolism of the Eight of Swords Tarot Card

This card is represented by a woman who is both tied and blindfolded. Unlike the Two of Swords, this woman has very obviously not willingly entered into this situation. She is surrounded by a cage made up of eight swords; this cage appears inescapable. The woman is obviously afraid to move, and perhaps afraid to stay where she is.

She can see no way out of her present situation without experiencing pain. As she is unwilling to do this, she stays exactly where she is, paralyzed by her own fear.

The General Interpretation of the Eight of Swords Card

When appearing in a spread, this card implies a situation where the individual is afraid move, afraid to act. This is because, if they move, they’ll be cut to pieces by the cage of swords. However, staying put is not an option either, for this only prolongs the agony.

This card, the Eight of Swords, is the very representation of a position "between a rock and a hard place." Of all the cards of the Tarot, this is the one that describes an impossible situation, where there is no good or right choice. It may be that the individual must choose between the lesser of two evils.

The Inner Meaning of the Eight of Swords in Tarot

The Eight of Swords is the image of being held prisoner by overwhelming fear. It is important to realize that the ropes that bind and the blindfold are not truly imposed by some outside force. Instead, they represent one’s own fear. It is this fear that keeps the individual still and immobile.

The longer an individual stays in this situation, the worse it becomes, the more restrained the individual is, and the harder it is to break free. This is the card that represents those times when one is in a situation where they are afraid to speak or act, but by not speaking or acting they only constrain themselves further.

This card is a message to the individual who draws it. It suggests that one must have the strength to endure the cuts, or they will remain within the cage forever. They must act or speak, for the longer they let the situation continue, the worse it will become.

The Nine of Swords follows this card.