The 8 of Swords is such an ominous card. A woman tied, blindfolded and surrounded by a prison of swords.

Upright

Swords often represent matters of the mind and thought.In the upright position this card indicates a mental prison. Problems of fear, confusion and not knowing which way to turn. The person is likely looking for answers. The fear and doubts may or may not be warranted.

Reversed

Reversed the card can indicate that better days are on the horizon. Freedom from fear and doubt are possible. It's time to breathe, relax and let go. Breaking free of this mental prison is possible and the issues may not be as bad as you're making them out to be.

Imagery

I love the imagery of this deck. In the distance we have the castle representing strength, success, prosperity. It's hard to see beneath the haze or fog representing the thoughts of mind. The water or lake represents the subconscious mind. The flowers show growth is possible. Eights almost always represent possibilities and swords are more about the mental attributes of the mind in the physical world.

A Quick Interpretation

In relationship to the first tarot pull of 2021, this seems like a very fitting card. So many of us had a rough time in 2020. Politics, health, and bizarre economic behavior have left a lot of us scratching our head. In this sense it's time to let go of all that, and look forward to the future. Take a deep breath and look ahead with a clear mind. Look forward to bright prospects in the future. Let go of self doubt and unease. Breathe, this too shall pass. Beneath the haze of uncertainty a brighter future resides.