Eight of Swords

A bound and blindfolded figure stands among eight swords on wet ground, with a gap in the blades that the figure cannot see. Waite writes of bad news, crisis, censure and power in trammels. Sickness is on his list too, which is no forecast here, so see a doctor about any health worry.

In a job where every option feels closed, test the ropes. List three small actions still open to you, then ask one outsider what they can see from there.

Pressure turns into worry about what might come next. Waite lists disquiet, opposition, accident and the unforeseen. His word fatality need not frighten you, since no card can tell you that.

Some of the blades may be loosening. Deal with the difficulty in front of you and make ordinary preparations, such as a backup plan or a second opinion. Then stop scanning for the next blow.