When the Eight of Swords shows up, this is a sign that you are having too many negative thoughts to the point that you are holding your mind and yourself captive.

This is also a sign of having a victim mentality, and you think there is no way out of a terrible situation.

However, the reality is you can get yourself out of it even though it seems impossible.

It may not be easy to do, but it is doable.

By the way, I want to stress that struggling with trauma or having a horrible time because your mental illness is not balanced correctly is not being in the victim mentality.

Some, times are very hard, and most of those who struggle with mental illness are doing their best.

For example, sometimes getting out of bed alone is an achievement, so never confuse someone unable to work because of their mental illness with being in the victim mentality.

I just wanted to stress that. Before getting into it too much, let's go over the history and the appearance of the Eight of Swords tarot card.

The History And Appearance of The Eight of Swords Tarot Card

The Eight of Swords is a tarot card that has been used for centuries to represent many things.

It can mean a journey, an obstacle, or a challenge.

It can also represent a lost person who needs help finding their way.

The history of the Eight of Swords is full of mystery and intrigue.

The Eight of Swords first appeared in Europe during the 14th century.

It was often used as a symbol of death or bad luck.

The Eight of Swords was also associated with the eight deadly sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride, and Covetousness.

However, over time the meaning of the Eight of Swords changed, and it came to represent more positive things.

During the 15th century, the Eight of Swords began to be associated with change and transformation.

It was seen as a symbol of new beginnings and growth.

The Eight of Swords also came to represent wisdom and knowledge.

Now, if you look at the card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a blindfolded and trapped woman with eight swords surrounding her.

Those swords surrounding her represent her limiting thoughts and beliefs, which prevent her from moving forward with her life.

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However, you see that she can always remove her blindfold, which would help her see more clearly, such as finding a method to break away from those limiting thoughts and beliefs.

She also has water pooled around her feet, which represents her intuition, as she should go with what she feels deep down instead of what she can only see.

Now, let's talk about what it means to get the Eight of Swords in a reading.

The Eight of Swords Tarot Card In A Reading

Getting the Eight of Swords tarot card in a reading typically means feeling trapped or restricted.

The Eight of Swords can represent feeling hemmed in by your circumstances, or it can indicate that you're unable to make any progress.

This card can also suggest that you are stuck in a negative thought pattern and that it's time to break free.

If you face any challenges in your life, the Eight of Swords suggests that it's time to take action and make some changes.

Trust your intuition, and don't be afraid to take risks - this is the only way to move forward.

Even though letting go of the past is highly challenging if you have C-PTSD or PTSD, the best advice I need to take myself is to keep it compartmentalized as you do your day-to-day stuff and do your best to make the most of what you have and what you can.

I will never be the one to tell you to let go of the past because, as I said, as someone who has C-PTSD, that advice sounds like nothing more than toxic positivity.

If those who have the condition could, they would.

So the next best thing is to focus on what you want and need and keep everything else compartmentalized.

And if you have to find a therapist to help you do that, then that is the best thing to do.

Now, let's go over some numerology here. Seven is about being creative, making assessments, and problem-solving.

The eight is about action, accomplishment, and mastery.

I am reminding you now if you don't remember that from the Eight of Wands episode. Now, about that aspiring writer.

They might have thought about thinking outside of the box regarding how they would deliver their message if they could not publish the book represented by the Seven of Swords.

Or maybe they thought about finding a method to convince a publisher to take them.

However, suddenly it hits the writer.

If their manuscript was rejected and their friend did not like it, they start crying because they don't think they'll ever be successful with getting their message out, so their thought is, "what is the point?".

That is the Eight of Swords. They are giving up before even trying other methods.

And I don't even have to look too deeply at how this card relates to Risa Green's life.

She feels as if she is permanently in victim mode and trapped.

But once again, is she truly not able to change her situation?

We have been through this before.

She has the power to make those changes in her life, but she is so profoundly in the victim mindset that she will keep staying that way unless she hits her breaking point.

And I will say this.

She is a victim of abuse and bullying and is a victim of not getting the proper support she needs.

So that is where she is a victim, the same way I was in similar cases.

But here is the thing. There are options, and some may be harder to find than others, but there is help out there.

And you have to go after it, which is how I broke out of my echoism.

I was in a desperate situation and did everything I could to seek a solution for what I had previously dealt with.

But at the same token, I reject terms such as "warrior" and "survivor" because I also think those terms can place us on a high pedestal the same way being told you are strong does.

And I know I am not the only one who feels that way.

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Why do you have to be either a victim, survivor, or warrior, though?

When you think about it, are those labels truly necessary?

I think it does a lot more harm than good to someone battling mental health and trauma who is doing their best to get through each day.

So that is my take on it. And let's now look at the Eight of Swords reversed.

Eight Of Swords Reversed

When the Eight of Swords is in reverse, it can mean that you have finally released those negative thoughts and victim mentality.

It can also mean that you are open to new perspectives, but you have an inner critic deep down in your subconscious even though you don't realize it.

So therefore, when you finally have had enough of being trapped in a situation where you no longer need to be trapped, and you are going out there searching frantically for a solution, that is the Eight of Swords reversed.

However, if your inner critic is the reason you are not getting out of the victim mode, then that is also the Eight of Swords reversed.

That would be Risa's situation, which was my situation for a long time.

So how can you apply this card to your life?

How To Apply The Eight of Swords To Your Life

You are probably asking why you would want to apply this card to your life since it represents being trapped.

Of course, you can apply it in reverse, but this card will help remind you that if you think you are in a terrible situation that you cannot get out of, it is a reminder to you to look for solutions.

An example is feeling trapped in a job you hate.

Do you need to be stuck there? You may have to make some sacrifices to find a new job, such as a longer commute from home or a bit of a pay cut.

However, if your current job situation is so bad, this card will remind you that it is time to start looking for a solution.

The next card I will go over is the nightmare card, the Nine of Swords.