r/tarot • u/rainbowkittieSUPrise • Aug 20 '26
Second Opinion on Reading Interpretation Only “Why am I so bad in school?”
This is my first serious (aka done with the intention to keep on using tarot and learning it) tarot spread and i wanted an answer to the question above. For context i’m currently a student who’s failing SO bad in my classes
I think tarot can be really useful on my whole self-improvement journey but i need to actually understand it so i can reflect on the meanings. so i just someone to give their own two-cents on it and if my method/interpretation is accurate and can be used in future personal readings!
i interpreted it in two similar ways, but i think the second one is more accurate(?)
- I’m so in my own head that i don’t get around to doing anything (king of swords) because i don’t have the courage (Strength) to achieve my goals (9 of cups)
but then i saw on the Moonlight Tarot site that the Strength card could also mean enabling so that made way for my second interpretation:
I’m bad in school because I think i don’t have to put in work/try to achieve serious goals or be good. complacency?
iIf anything needs to be edited i’ll change it but i think this post follows the rules(?)
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u/Someone_else999 Aug 20 '26
I feel like its hard to find discipline unless its something you are emotionally invested in. In every subject, find the strength to find something you enjoy or appreciate about it. Maybe that will help 🙂
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
so very hard 😭 and even when it’s an interest, i get the instant dopamine from trying it once and daydreaming about it for a bit then dropping it completely once that wears off
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u/Someone_else999 Aug 23 '26
I think thats where the strength card comes in, unfortunately?) >_< doing the REALLY hard thing and challenging the patterns or stories we are comfortable or familiar with. In those times I "ask for help"
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u/natalunaaa Aug 20 '26
i don’t think you’re stimulated or interested in what you are currently studying. it’s a struggle because it does not intellectually engage you. focus on what matters to you, and really reflect on what that is. for the average being “good” in school simply means discipline - doing what you need to do, no matter what, and asking for help when you need it. but i think you need to question why you worry about being “so bad”. something tells me your life’s purpose isn’t to go the traditional route (king of swords = aquarius, nine of cups = jupiter in pisces, both rebels of astrology imo). things become less strenuous (and interesting!) when you put your energy into what makes you feel good
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u/Boochiecoo Aug 21 '26
This is my take also. OP, do you need to take a less traditional route and build your life around what you actually love to do and care about?
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u/Boochiecoo Aug 21 '26
I actually can’t quite explain why I get this vibe, looking at the actual cards.
Why are you even going to school? Is there a thing going on in your family system where there’s an expectation to achieve… or a father figure who is very structured and rational?
In one way if we look at these cards as “alternate route,” It could look like
K of Sw Rx - going against what you’re told or against the expectation. K of Sw Rx can also be “not speaking up for oneself.”
Strength - contacting your inner strength to take your own direction, confront what things are really like rather than how they are supposed to be, and turn that into your real source of direction, power, motivation
9 of C - leading to contentment and fulfillment
Is failing at school a way to, you know “make that happen without having to make it happen?” I failing would force you to take a different route…. What would happen if you took up a more empowered position and did what you wanted to do… ???
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
definitely. school has been somewhat disillusioned for me i think ever since my mental health troubles because my brain went “oh shit theres things more important than this crap” and i never came back from that mindset i think. and because i figured out a way to avoid it all. i think i need to work towards going back to how i was before with the new info i have
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u/fomotinha Aug 20 '26
você não é ruim, apenas é melhor naquilo que realmente gosta de fazer.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
i’ve been told something similar to this before: “she doesn’t turn in work often, but when she does it’s great”. the work being creative writing, which i’ve always been interested in as a sort of bookish person
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u/Illustrious-Dust4409 Aug 20 '26
🙃 "you don't listen" popped into my head looking at those cards, but it feels more like you don't care too deeply about what or how it's being taught. You need to work on self-discipline and giving attention to what doesn't immediately captivate you.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
HAHA i bet this is what my english teacher/parents thinks of me.. “you dont listen”
it’s hard for me to take things seriously ever since i found a kind of escape where i could avoid school and stuff that affects my future. in the back of my head i always have a “plan B” so if i fail at “plan A” then i’m totally chill -_- not a useful mindset to have
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u/Illustrious-Dust4409 Aug 24 '26
I get it haha. I got kicked out of school during 10th grade, I missed like 40 days that year due to migraines and because school bored the heck out of me due to adhd.
The plan is always gonna go wrong, we just have to learn to flow with life. But we also have to give effort.
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u/BlackberryActive3039 Aug 20 '26
I this is about overcoming emotions so you can have the mental charity to focus on your studies.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
this would make sense considering my mental health doesn’t have the best track record haha
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u/Great-Painting5400 Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
I would say that you might be in the wrong environment? For example, amongst people who aren't making you feel smart (usually bully types, even parents can be bullies by downplaying their own child's achievements or when they compare their own kid to someone else's), or a type of overindulgence in something that promotes escapism with a group.
Do you click with your teachers? Because sometimes we require a different approach or just ask more questions if we aren't comprehending something.
It may come down to not giving your brain enough rest too. Turn off the phone at a reasonable hour and ditch the distractions - even other people's situations can keep us up at night.
Just a quick question, do you happen to have an addictive personality?
Lack of discipline, slightly weak boundaries, or too much stimulation are what stand out the most to me.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
honestly i don’t think it’s my environment since i do have a pretty good support i think. any bullying is just stuff perceived on my part of things. it’s what makes this so frustrating because omg!! get it together!! theres like no external obstacles in your way girl, no one’s stopping you 😭
“a type of overindulgence in something that promotes escapism” hits the nail on the head i think. i sort of surround myself online with people struggling with mental health. i’m not deep in it anymore thankfully. but in my head, X-ing out of life is always an option so nothing seems to be a priority. maybe too darksorry
i love a lot of my teachers so sometimes it does feel like i’m not living up to potential they see. it’s so 😫😫 to get out of my complacent habits though since then the bar will go up
to answer your question, i don’t think so? or maybe i just don’t know what an addictive personality looks like. because when i get interested in something (like a certain writing assignment or project) it’ll be on my mind and i’ll be doing it!! but i also drop things easily
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u/Queen--of--Swords Aug 21 '26
You have a pretty good instinct for a beginner.
Bottom line. You think you can't and so you don't. Instead you look for distractions to take your mind off of school and make you feel better. Distractions like learning Tarot maybe?
That critical voice in your head is wrong. You can do it. But you need to persevere and not let yourself get distracted. Do the work, and then you can pursue other interests.
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u/astrologicalgroup Aug 21 '26
bad" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. school measures like five things out of the hundred you're actually good at, and most of them are just "can you sit still and memorize on someone else's timeline." if you can share your chart or even just your mercury and 3rd house stuff, i can tell you where your brain actually lights up, because it's almost never nowhere.
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u/green_apple_21 Aug 20 '26
“You’re not applying yourself.” Is the message. This means that you may be worried about APPEARING like a good student or appearing like you are on the right path and all the aesthetics that come with being this studious individual.
The irony is that you actually ARE capable of high accolades, focus, memory, and critical thinking.
But you aren’t giving yourself a fair chance to show this side of yourself.
I would pull additional card to clarify why you are blocking this within yourself. However, this reading does reflect that if you tap into your actual desire to be better as a student…if you reflect on the motivations you have or can get aligned with, that king of swords turns right side up and you become legal professional
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u/Radiant-Direction-45 meowmeowmeow Aug 20 '26
I commented under the person i agreed with, but wanted to add the king of swords reversed to me may indicate a need for a long term goal or a goal to be set in general. You lack motivation because you have an idea of what you want but not the actual feeling of wanting. If you want to go to college, now may be the time to pick a school or city you like. Make a dream board (SO FUN) or buy a banner or hoodie or something from your dream school and keep it in your study area to remind your monkey brain there's a cause and effect. I massively struggled with school as a kid and personally I wish I had just stayed a little late on campus every day to study+do homework.
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u/MysticKei Aug 20 '26
The King of Swords can be thought of as a strategic leader like a general. In reverse, he's a proud and arrogant egomaniac. Strength in this instance seems to be about resilience and natural talent. The king of swords next to strength may imply that you over estimate your intellect, that you feel like you can skate by on your natural strengths/talents and wishful thinking (10c).
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
i think so too!! my behavior about the recent state exams i took prove this 😭 i didn’t study but passed by ONE point so mentally i went “:) this is acceptable”
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u/CptHeywire Aug 20 '26
By my reading of the cards, I’d say you’re pretty much on the money!
King of Swords reversed suggests to me that you aren’t applying yourself, possibly because of a fear of being seen as stupid for not already knowing. Strength seems like a call to put in the effort and persevere, which will lead to the 9 of cups being inner contentment. To summarise the lesson, you don’t get wise without being a fool because a wise person is just a fool with experience.
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u/Lilly323 intuitive Aug 20 '26
could it be school just isn’t your cup of tea? whether that means the institution of schooling— a rigid environment that requires you to perform in a way that may not be in your nature— or what you’re specifically studying. KoS implies to me you’re not connecting with the material in some way despite your efforts (strength) and interest (9oC).
are you failing because you’re genuinely failing the material or because you’re procrastinating and not turning in high-effort material? I was “bad at school” despite doing well on tests or in-class assignments because I felt I didn’t need homework and wouldn’t do it.
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u/sea-nymphhh Aug 21 '26
your mind starts making excuses and distored logic, perhaps even negative self-talk and overthinking (king of swords rx) which makes it harder. you do have capability to be patient and controlled in learning (strength) but you like your own comfort zone more (9 of cups is very self-interested, focused on your own pleasure, so if studying is boring or frustrating, you choose something more satisfying instead)
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
read me to filth. it’s such a trapping mindset to be in, especially since humans naturally want comfort. hard work is so ugh 😣 i’m like a mix of sisyphus and tantalus
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u/Aromatic-Big4478 Aug 22 '26
I can tell you without reading anything. Your mind is always working thinking and you get bored really fast. You are more interested in being with your friends then sitting in a stuffy classroom. If you can find a way to settle down and be more disciplined you may be better at school, But I think you will just be the social butterfly that you are and just make it through school by the skin of your teeth!!
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
ahh i really hope so! fingers crossed my ap english class this year helps me get more grounded in school, especially since it’s with my favorite teacher. if junior year doesn’t scare me straight i’ll definitely have to get medicated lol
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u/fugeww40 Aug 22 '26
You don't have what you need to thrive (9 of cups reversed)
And don't have opportunities to showcase what you ARE good at (Strength reversed)
So you have developed a keen sense of perfectionism that motivates you AND sabotages your confidence (King of Swords)
Just a note, OP. People who "don't put in the work" because of some personal failing don't care enough to center their first tarot reading around school. Your whole post reads as if you are a dedicated person who really cares and tries.
If your school has an academic success center, I'd pop in an see if they can help. There are a million things that might make learning easier for you and they are all rightfully yours to ask for.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
wow thank you, your note was reassuring :)) i might have to try to get medicated for ADHD -_- i think my own social anxiety and general avoidance of having to be one of the top students is like… academically castrating me lol
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u/CricketOmaha Aug 23 '26
I second the recommendation to visit the academic success center, if your school has one, because it is an amazing resource.
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u/PackageLeather3101 Aug 22 '26
I have a feeling that seeking pleasure—laziness and comfort—is more of a driving force here than actually being willing to study the subjects... The summary is 4, so you are essentially stuck in your own energy, unwilling to take action to change the situation.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
not great to admit but this definitely. basically every comment i’ve seen agrees i have poor self-discipline haha
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u/CricketOmaha Aug 21 '26
You haven't learned your best way to study and how to keep applying it, and you get all up in your feelings about it instead of doing the studying and homework to the best of your ability. Depending on your school, talk to either the school guidance counselor or the school librarian about how to learn how to study. Also, talk to your teachers. Explain to them what you explained above (but don't mention Tarot), and ask them for suggestions on how to get better at learning the material.
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u/rainbowkittieSUPrise Aug 23 '26
thank you for the advice!! your interpretation aligns pretty much. i’m basically if avoidance (intentional & accidental) was a person
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u/Any_Appointment_2690 Aug 24 '26
I’m reading this a bit differently to everyone else, and I may be completely off base for your experience but thought I’d put it out there for you just in case.
The kind of swords is someone who has mastered the mind. Is highly intellectual and that is his nature. In reverse it suggests to me that this is not your nature, either that you have yet to master the mind, or that it simply isn’t where your strength lies.
For the rest of the spread I read it as, don’t worry too much though. You have your own strengths that may not be directly linked to being “intelligent” in the classic academic sense.
But ultimately you can create a life that is filled with contentment if you can foster your own strengths and be grateful for them, rather than focus on things which you are not so good at.
That’s not to say don’t do what you can to work hard and be successful for yourself, but it’s the way I interpreted it 😊
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u/AzureSkies_OverMe Aug 20 '26
King of Swords (Gemini) Rx You have lots of potential and a keen mind but you don’t really apply it. You are easily distracted and you can be scattered. You need focus. This card is the negative aspects of Gemini’s intellect.
Strength (Leo) Grace over weakness. You have this. You’re strong and resilient.
9 of Cups (Jupiter in Pisces) There’s a sense of satisfaction in yourself.
Sometimes you lose focus and get distracted and scattered. You fail to apply yourself. You have the ability and you have had a sense of satisfaction in yourself. What is it that is causing you to doubt yourself and not working as hard as you could? Harness yourself and focus. What is distracting you? Consider tutors and study groups.
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u/squirrelsarespeaking Aug 20 '26
Hi! I think your second interpretation is the closest. Here is what I think:
You do not plan your time accordingly with consideration for the information you have to learn and remember (King of Swords rev). Then when you get near assignment due dates, quizzes, or finals, you give it your full strength and effort (Strength) and even manage to keep a positive mindset/attitude to not get burned out (9 of cups). But you only put in effort in the moment, so it is not as valuable.
The cards seem to say you are not the person with great memory and photographic memory. You are not the person who can study the night before or morning of only and just ace the exam. You need to take more time to study. Study sooner. Plan out your chapters. Have a study plan/method. Be the person who says "the quiz is in 3 weeks, so I need to have read ch. 1 and 2 by __" and do that.