The number 10 indicates that something is over but not finished and about to begin again - completion and perfection. The suit of Swords is associated with reason, thought, logic, will, courage, verbal skill, matters pertaining to the mind, communication and the element of air.  The 10 of Swords can be something of a harsh card, an experience which may help us move forward but leaves scars.  

"Reversed:  You have reached a point where you feel comfortable with your beliefs, attitudes and values.  This may lead to a lack of growth to stick with the belief system that you've already established and re-commit to it on a deeper level.  You could also choose to start over with a whole new set of  values.  For the moment, you may not clearly know what your choice will be so you're hesitating while you make up your mind." - Gail Fairfield.

Today I read a few blog posts by James Ricklef explaining a new technique he has developed called contra-positive cards.  In his entry, James explains that a contra-positive card is a way to explore multiple layers of a cards meaning.  James originally developed this technique to work with "negative" cards and eventually expanded it to work for all Minor Arcana cards, including court cards, and Major Arcana cards.  To learn more about his brilliant concept visit James' blog jamesricklef.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/contra-positive-cards/ />
Anyway, after reading about James' technique and considering my card for today I realized that the Ace of Pentacles would be the contra-positive card for the 10 of Swords.  That really does open up a deeper layer into the 10 of Swords meaning.  If the 10 of Swords indicates a symbolic death, the end of a road or the final act of a play then the Ace of Pentacles may be what is over the hill awaiting me.  Actually looking at the question I posed (which I got from looking at various interpretations for the reversed 10 of Swords) it occurs to me that what I need to renew is my connection to my own body.  For so long I have lived almost entirely in my head.  My body was simply a mechanism for moving my mind from place to place.  As a result I have eschewed the physical.  I would take an intellectuals approach to the physical - acting as though I was above such things as concern about physical appearance.  Of course I've always had an interest in fashion and style as well as makeup but it's never been a driving issue in my life.  As a result I managed to alienate myself from my own body.  Maybe what I need to expose to the light of day is my dislike of my own body.  I need to let the sun burn it away and create dust from its ashes.

Looking at the 10 of Knives from the Vampire Tarot I am struck by the skeleton pinned beneath the knives.  Perhaps I need to get to the bare bones of the matter; strip it down to its core and then build it back up.  I could also be reminding me that at the end of the day, all we are is bones and dust.  No matter how beautiful or attractive or fit we might be in this life, eventually everyone dies.  Before that occurs however we have the opportunity to live a rich, full, vibrant life and right now what I've been doing is existing.  I've been a skeleton. It's as though I've been stripped bare and let all those extra things that I enjoyed so much just sort of fall by the wayside.  In some respects, I have been dead inside.  This is another part of me that needs to be renewed.

I need to add color and light and beauty back into my life; to flesh things out again.  Looking at the simple yet beautiful pattern created by the swords on the Artists Inner Vision card, I realize that's what I need to bring back into my life - complexity and beauty.  I need to find my discipline and get started towards being a complex line instead of an undisciplined, lazy squiggle (check out Norton Juster's tale for the reference - youtu.be/OGh97__-uLA). />
Looking at my mother-in-law over the past few months has made me realize that part of the reason she is in this position now is because over the last few years she isolated herself.  I'm sure she had her reasons and at one point she did have a small support network but they are gone now.  And she is isolated, lonely and wasting away.  I don't want that to happen in my life.  I may not have children but I do have friends.  And I need to cultivate friends and interests in order to keep growing.  I need to plant those seeds now so that they will bloom and flourish in the years to come and help me grow too.

So am I willing to be renewed?  You betcha!