Eight of Swords

Description
A brightly dressed, unhappy looking king looks out of a castle window. His view is blocked by eight crossed swords which impinge on his coat of arms carved into the wall below the window.

Symbolism
Even the finest castle can be confining. Swords in the path (and the violence that goes with them) can impede progress rather than cut a way through the undergrowth of life. Wealth and fine clothes are not everything.

Card Meaning
A king looks out from forced isolation; he is in serious difficulties. Although his eyes are wide open, he simply does not see. All the problems could be overcome if he could see the options open to him, but he isn’t looking for the way out; he is just obsessed with the situation he finds himself in. He sees himself as trapped, and cannot at present see himself in any other light. If he just turned around he could walk away into the rest of his life, but he has to take that step. It will happen if he lets it. It’s the classic case where you can only be helped if you want to be helped. All the things he needs are already there for the taking.
- Aeclectic