The Tarot Room – Georgianna

8 of Swords

The 8 of Swords is a card of limitations, restrictions, and mental bondage.

The traditional Rider Waite Smith image is of a woman blindfolded and bound, standing among eight swords in a mucky gray landscape.

I’ve often seen the swords surrounding the woman as representative of the 3 of Swords on her right, and the 5 of Swords on her left.

It’s like past sorrows and fears of defeat are holding her back, keeping her from seeing that the ties that bind are loose. She could shake them off with a few good jiggles.

And look how her dress matches the tops of the castle. She belongs up there, not down in the mud.

It’s her own ideas that are holding her back, making her feel like she has nowhere to go. And the wet ground only makes things worse, adding an emotional swampiness to the whole affair.

When this card appears, it often points to an opportunity to break free of limited thinking.

It’s a chance to confront your sadnesses and fears, and stop letting what’s past prevent you from going forward.

The metal band Huntress from LA, just released their new video called 8 of Swords, with lead singer Jill Janus playing the part of the woman bound.

It starts with a spooky Tarot reading and ends with self-illumination. And in true metal fashion, there’s occult imagery throughout.

The music might be a little heavy for some tastes, but the band definitely captures the energy of the card.

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