Hardships that come from the outside are usually less unfavorable than internal regrets and mental anguish that we feel inside. At least that is what this card is telling us. Problems from our surroundings often can be avoided by just moving outside of their reach, and sometimes all we need to do to elevate our situation is to keep calm and have a sharp mind. Internal problems on the other hand are going with us wherever we go and usually drains out our energy to the level where we can't even think about exiting the vicious circle of constant disquieting. We can see this described on this card. Even in its own bed this person just can get the peace of mind. Constant regret about the things that can't be changed, things that we've done or haven't done, worries about the future and depression about the past, why not just living in the present, get some sleep and be ready for the next day? But this is not how the air element operates, when disturbed it has a dangerous feature of being extremly hard to tranquilize. Mind's constant monologue can torture person that has windy and troublesome mind. Just see how swords are interlocked, one worry after the other in the endless chain. Mind was described as a monkey that can never stop in the eastern philosophy. It has his value of course in the everyday life, but the trick is that he is a slave not a master to the man.

Positive: none.

Negative: despair, regret, mental anguish, concern, suffering, shame, suspicion, infidelity, hoplesness, anxiety.

  One seated on her couch in lamentation, with the swords over her. She is as one who knows no sorrow which is like unto hers. It is a card of utter desolation. Divinatory Meanings: Death, failure, miscarriage, delay, deception, disappointment, despair. Reversed: Imprisonment, suspicion, doubt, reasonable fear, shame.

— The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, by A.E. Waite