Ten of Swords Journal Prompts: 15 Questions for Endings & Rising

BY NICOLE LAU

The Ten of Swords: Journaling as Acceptance

The Ten of Swords is the card of rock bottom, complete endings, and painful finality. When you journal with this card's energy, you're not writing to deny the ending—you're writing to accept it, process it, and prepare to rise. This is journaling as grief work, as the practice of acknowledging what's over, honoring what died, and finding the strength to get up. These questions will help you accept, not avoid.

These 15 journal prompts are designed to help you accept endings, process rock bottom, and prepare for new beginnings. They will ask you to acknowledge what's over, grieve what's lost, and see the dawn coming. Some answers will be painful. That's necessary.

Approach these prompts with honesty, self-compassion, and the willingness to accept finality. The rising you seek is on the other side of the acceptance you're avoiding.

How to Use These Prompts

Sacred Preparation

Physical Space:
• Find a safe, quiet place
• Have your journal and pen
• Optional: Tissues, comfort items
• Create space for grief

Mental Preparation:
• Take 10 deep breaths
• Set intention: "I am ready to accept what's over. I am ready to rise."
• Ground yourself

Energetic Activation:
• Say aloud: "I acknowledge this ending. I honor this loss. I am ready to rise."

Writing Guidelines

Be Honest:
Don't sugarcoat the ending. Face it fully.

Allow Grief:
Let yourself feel the loss. Cry if needed.

Accept Finality:
Stop hoping for what's dead. Accept it's over.

Look Forward:
After grief, look toward dawn. New beginning is possible.

The 15 Ten of Swords Journal Prompts

Prompt 1: What Has Ended

The Question:
What has completely ended? What is truly over in my life?

Why This Matters:
Naming what's ended is the first step to accepting it.

Writing Guidance:
List what's over:
• Relationships
• Jobs
• Dreams
• Identities
• Beliefs

Integration:
These things are over. Accept that.

Prompt 2: What I'm Refusing to Accept

The Question:
What ending am I refusing to accept? What am I still hoping will revive?

Why This Matters:
Identifying denial helps you move through it.

Writing Guidance:
Be honest about what you won't let go of and why.

Integration:
Can you accept it's over? What would that take?

Prompt 3: How I Hit Rock Bottom

The Question:
What led me to rock bottom? What patterns, choices, or circumstances brought me here?

Why This Matters:
Understanding how you got here helps you not return.

Writing Guidance:
Trace the path to rock bottom without judgment.

Integration:
What did this teach you?

Prompt 4: What I'm Grieving

The Question:
What am I grieving? What loss am I mourning?

Why This Matters:
Naming grief allows you to process it.

Writing Guidance:
List everything you're grieving. Let yourself feel it.

Integration:
Grief is necessary. Honor it.

Prompt 5: The Betrayals

The Question:
What betrayals led to this ending? Who or what backstabbed me?

Why This Matters:
Acknowledging betrayal helps you process it.

Writing Guidance:
Name the betrayals. Feel the hurt.

Integration:
Can you eventually forgive? (Not now, but eventually?)

Prompt 6: What Died in Me

The Question:
What part of me died with this ending? What identity, belief, or dream is gone?

Why This Matters:
Ego death is real. Acknowledge what died.

Writing Guidance:
Describe what part of you is gone.

Integration:
What new self can be born?

Prompt 7: The Solid Ground

The Question:
Now that I've hit rock bottom, what solid ground have I found? What foundation is here?

Why This Matters:
Rock bottom is foundation. Find it.

Writing Guidance:
What truth is revealed? What's solid here?

Integration:
This is what you build from.

Prompt 8: What I Can't Change

The Question:
What about this ending can I not change? What's final and unchangeable?

Why This Matters:
Accepting what you can't change brings peace.

Writing Guidance:
List what's unchangeable. Accept it.

Integration:
Let go of trying to change the unchangeable.

Prompt 9: The Dawn I See

The Question:
What dawn do I see on the horizon? What new beginning is possible?

Why This Matters:
Seeing dawn gives hope.

Writing Guidance:
Describe the new beginning you can imagine.

Integration:
This is what you're rising toward.

Prompt 10: What I'm Learning

The Question:
What is this rock bottom teaching me? What wisdom am I gaining?

Why This Matters:
Rock bottom has lessons.

Writing Guidance:
List what you're learning from this.

Integration:
This wisdom serves you.

Prompt 11: How I'll Rise

The Question:
How will I rise from this? What's my first step up?

Why This Matters:
Planning to rise makes it real.

Writing Guidance:
Describe your rising. What's step one?

Integration:
Take that first step.

Prompt 12: What I'm Releasing

The Question:
What am I releasing completely? What am I letting go of forever?

Why This Matters:
Conscious release is powerful.

Writing Guidance:
List what you're releasing. Say goodbye.

Integration:
Let it go. It's over.

Prompt 13: The New Beginning

The Question:
What new beginning is now possible because this ended?

Why This Matters:
Endings make room for beginnings.

Writing Guidance:
Describe what's now possible.

Integration:
This is the gift of the ending.

Prompt 14: My Commitment to Rising

The Question:
What am I committing to as I rise? How will I move forward?

Why This Matters:
Commitment creates change.

Writing Guidance:
Write: "I commit to..." List your commitments.

Integration:
Sign it. Live it.

Prompt 15: Gratitude for Rock Bottom

The Question:
What am I grateful for about hitting rock bottom? What gifts did it bring?

Why This Matters:
Gratitude transforms suffering.

Writing Guidance:
Find gratitude even in rock bottom.

Integration:
This gratitude heals.

Integration Ritual: Rising Ceremony

The Rising from Rock Bottom Ritual

You'll need:
• Your journal entries
• Candle
• Paper
• Your courage

The Ceremony:

1. Read Your Endings
Read what you wrote. Witness your rock bottom.

2. Acknowledge
Say: "I have hit rock bottom. I accept this. I am here."

3. Grieve
Let yourself cry, rage, grieve. Feel it all.

4. Find the Ground
Say: "This is solid ground. This is my foundation. I can build from here."

5. Light Candle
Say: "Dawn is breaking. I am rising. I am ready."

6. Stand Up
Physically stand up. Say: "I rise. I am rising. I will rise."

7. First Step
Take one action toward your new beginning today.

Affirmations for Rising

• I accept this ending
• I have hit rock bottom
• I am on solid ground
• I am rising
• Dawn is breaking
• New beginning is possible
• I am stronger than rock bottom
• I will rise

Final Thoughts: Writing Your Way Up

The Ten of Swords asks you to accept the ending, acknowledge rock bottom, and prepare to rise. These journal prompts are tools for that sacred work—they help you face what's over, grieve what's lost, and see the dawn coming.

Journaling won't make the ending less painful. But it will help you accept it, process it, and rise from it. And that's everything.

You've hit rock bottom. You're on solid ground. Dawn is breaking. You are rising.

One honest word, one accepted ending, one step up at a time.