The Eights call our faith and beliefs into question. The Eights are the achievements we reach from the instability of the Sevens– it represents the release from setbacks we’ve experienced prior. So, the question is “Are we still on the right track?”

Qualities of the Eights

The Eights are action-oriented cards and clear in their call to action. These cards could be the wind in your sails or the intense feeling that things must push forward but you don’t know how. Either way, when the Eights show up in a reading, you are being told to open your eyes.

Galvanizing energy is a major theme with the Eights. Depending on the suit, there’s an area in your life that’s begging for progress to unfold. The Eight of Wands is the most obvious being a card of swift change and fast movement. The Eight of Cups may ask us to move on from what no longer serves us based on our newfound values and philosophy. This number in tarot can also show us the release of what feels like an immense amount of pressure. The Eight of Swords gives a harsh display of the suit’s double-edged quality, since this weapon –the mind– can hurt you or free your from the shackles of worry. The Eight of Pentacles illustrates the fruits of one’s tedious labor. Made to perfection, the artisan creates identical pentacles each displaying the prowess of his craft. But none of it would have happened with out the patience and diligence of the previous endeavor.

Additionally, the Eights reminds us of our own philosophical autonomy. In the midst of questioning “what is the best course of action for my life?”, the Eights asks to gather our inner fortitude and leave behind the warm clutches of the past into a better more spiritually resounding future.

Some major themes of the Eights are change, rebirth, inner fortitude, movement, and progress.

Numerology of the Eight

The Eight in numerology is a special number because it describes an unmatched strength the other numbers do not have. The number 4 is doubled, indicating a great focus and goal-oriented attitude. It is the number of success as well, which makes it a fantastic number to appear in business or financial readings.

The mission of this number is about breaking free from limiting circumstances and beliefs, which corresponds to the firm balance coming from this number’s energy. Speaking of balance, this number also represents harmony between the spiritual and material worlds. This is strong grounded number, so “manifestation” is a good word to associate with the Eights.

Leading Your Life: Strength

The Strength card (VIII) in tarot speaks to self-belief. In order to believe in yourself, you must cultivate an inner fortitude and the will to overcome obstacles. The Eights in any suit illustrate the themes of the Strength card thoroughly, and speaks to one’s adherence to personal principles.

Inner fortitude signaled by Strength has to do with you acknowledging your own sovereignty and your ability to make choices for your life, despite your compulsions. There are themes of influence and power here; are you going to succumb to the impulsive thoughts or feelings, or are you going to embody the mature and composed version of yourself needed to see your goals through?

The lion in the card always represents our animal instincts, acknowledging that we crave to satisfy our urges. But if we want to get our way in the real world, we need diplomacy from time to time, and must choose our battles wisely. Feeling our feelings is great but at the public stage, or in the grander scheme of life, we must channel those feelings constructively.

The Eights represent what it looks like when we choose to adhere to our principles rather than our impulses, and give us a peek into how we should carve out our own future.

Keywords for the Eights in Tarot

Upright Meanings:

• Progress
• Change
• Swiftness
• Movement
• An ending
• Moving towards spiritual alignment
• Adhering to one’s principles
• Autonomy

Reversed Meanings:

• Refusing change
• Delays
• Feeling stuck
• Making choices against one’s values
• Lack of patience
• Lack of discipline
• Giving your power away

Eights in Tarot Overview

Eight of Wands

The wands in the illustration fly fast through the air, signaling something’s fast approaching. This card is about moving while the target’s in your line of sight. Things will change quickly and soon, so if you see an opportunity, take it. It can also indicate “small karma”: Events will move so quickly you will have no choice but to go with the flow.

Eight of Cups

Disillusioned by the options in the Seven of Cups, the figure walks away and leaves on a spiritual quest to find what truly makes his heart full. This card is about material dissatisfaction and closing a chapter on the things –material or otherwise– that no longer belong in your life. This is about withdrawing from the material world to gain an inner perspective on where your life’s headed. This card asks that you acknowledge your disappointments, your current environment, or internal conflicts and address them accordingly. You do not need to dwell in a place that doesn’t make you feel seen.

Eight of Swords

The swords in this card represent negative thought forms that create a warped sense of reality. With enough negativity, it’s possible to believe these limiting beliefs to be true about yourself. Do not succumb to the victim mentality, and realize that you just need to step away from the negativity. Your thoughts may be validated by the negative circumstance, but it’s important not to let the ideas get to you. There is still hope. The Eight of Swords can also represent indecision. You could be in your head about it and need to start using your gut–what do you want?

Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles can represent mastery, and the patience and diligence it took to get there. This card can also be about master artisans or craftspeople. This card is a call to acknowledge the effort it took for you to get to where you are now, and perhaps on ways you can improve. If you are learning something, concentration will be key here, and tasks will not be very exciting, but with the necessary dedication you will become like the master in the image. On another note, this card could be asking you to take a closer look at the finer details and question how you can make it better.

Deck used: Linestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson