Dignified:     The Ten of Swords represents a physical end.  Generally speaking the Ten of Swords can represent the end of a relationship, a business partnership, a career, an end to health problems, or it can even signify an end to physical life.  The Ten of Swords differs from the Death card in that Death represents a change to a higher state of being while the Ten of Swords represents a concrete and deliberate end.  Unlike the transformational aspect of the Death card, the Ten of Swords also heralds a new start or new beginning to balance out that which has been lost.  Similar to Death, the Ten of Swords can also signify change but in this case the change is not always easily accepted.  The Ten of Swords signifies a difficult passage or period of adjustment that will inevitably come to pass no matter how much we fight.  It can also represent being stabbed in the back, being taken advantage of, or it can imply the possibility of physical threats being made.  The Ten is a card of hardship and while we may not like having to deal with difficult situations the more we experience them the more balanced our view of life will become.

Ill-Dignified:     In a reversed position the Ten of Swords represents reawakening, reincarnation, and the opportunity of a second chance.  It can also represent backward thinking or backward progression on an issue already assumed to be dead.  Reversed it can also signify a lack of acceptance to put things to rest.