An empty crossroads on a heath at night, a leaning signpost and poppy heads in the verge.

Swords · VIII

Eight of Swords

Lord of Shortened Force

The face of Eight of Swords, engraved in gold on black, with its title, Lord of Shortened Force.

The cords are looser than they feel. Name the fear and step out.

Upright

Restriction, self-limiting belief and feeling trapped.

Reversed

Release, new perspective and freedom.

Show the spirits

The spirit work

In the Goetia, Foras teaches logic and ethics by day; Amdusias makes trees bend and music sound by night. Name the belief, then cut one cord.

Where the card sits

Correspondences

DecanJupiter in Gemini, 0° to 10°, the first face
Tree of LifeHod in Yetzirah
Governing angelsUmabel by day, Iahhel by night
Image of the decanA man with a rod, as one serving another.
Show the spirits
Day spiritForas, president
The seal of Foras

Appears as a strong man. Teaches logic and ethics, gives long life and eloquence, finds treasure and things lost. Goetia 31.

Night spiritAmdusias, duke
The seal of Amdusias

Appears as a unicorn, then a man, with music sounding. Makes trees bend and music sound; gives excellent familiars. Goetia 67.

Eight of Swords in the guidebookAll seventy-eight cards

The Sablerune Tarot

In the making

Seventy-eight cards in fine gold line. Hear when the deck is ready to hold.

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Notes on sources

The meanings, the questions and the correspondences are the guidebook’s own. The paths, letters and astrology follow the Golden Dawn’s attributions; the angels are the Shem ha-Mephorash, as the deck gives them; the spirits, shown only when you ask for them, are the seventy-two of the Goetia. Where each comes from, and what is old and what is modern, is set out in the guidebook’s Notes on sources and seals.