Death; decease; last sigh; end; finish; extinction; annihilation; destruction; utter ruin; abjection; humiliation; prostration; depression; alteration; poisoning; corruption; putrefaction; paralysis; lethargy. Still in all these sinister aspects the influence of this card can be materially modified, but never counteracted, through intervention of bright cards. EIGHT OF SPADES--_Upright._ This card is ordinarily of bad import, as its primary signification is _sickness_, although it is more generally interpreted as _bad news_. This is its acceptation when preceded by the _knave of spades_ or the _knave of diamonds_, or when accompanied by the _ace of diamonds_, and sometimes by the _eight of hearts_, reversed. When this card signifies _sickness_, its synonyms are: Illness of the body, soul or mind; bad condition of health or of business; derangement; infirmity; epidemic; gangrene; agony; displeasure; damage; mishap; accidental injury; disaster; indisposition; head-ache; heart-ache; inquietude; melancholy; medicine; remedy; charlatan; empiric; physician; quack; languor. Sometimes, however, this card is employed to designate _prudence_, whence we have as secondary significations: Wisdom; reserve; circumspection; reticence; discernment; foresight; presentiment; prediction; divination; prophecy; horoscope; second sight; clairvoyance. EIGHT OF SPADES--_Reversed._ Unlike other cards, the reversal of this one brings with it a modification of its primary significations. Hence, when coming out reversed, it most generally signifies _ambition_, a passion for which we have synonyms as follows: Desire; wish for; search after; cupidity; jealousy; aspiration; onward; higher; illusion; pride. Another primary signification bestowed upon this card when emerging reversed, is that of a _nun_ or pious woman, whence we derive the secondary signification usually applied to this card and expressed in the synonyms: Inaction; peace; tranquillity; repose; apathy; inertia; stagnation; rest from labor; pastime, recreation; nonchalance; free from care; idleness; supineness; lethargy; torpidity. SEVEN OF SPADES--_Upright._ As a general exponent of current events, this card is taken to forewarn the consultant of the loss of a valuable friend, whose death will be a source of a great deal of misery. On this account many interpret this card to signify a _coffin_, which may be the case when coming out in close proximity to the _ace of spades_ or the _nine of spades_. Its most accepted primary signification, however, among practical cartomancists, is that of _hope_, whence are derived the secondary ones, expressed in the terms: Trust; confidence; expectation; desire; inclination; longing after; wish; taste for; whim; humor; fancy. SEVEN OF SPADES--_Reversed._ This card takes a wider and an apparently contradictory scope in its primary significations, when emerging in this manner, being _good advice_, _friendship_, and _indecision_.