The Eight of Cups signifies dissatisfaction and it's an expression of a desire to withdraw, to walk away from a situation, to change, as we hear the calling of a new or different future. In some cases the Eight of Cups can even indicate betrayal.The Six of Swords predicts peace after a period of turmoil. It gives a gentle a push towards a new direction, towards a calmer destination. The combination of the Eight of Cups and the Six of Swords indicates a transitory stage.
To understand the elemental relationships between the cards, we should always take into account their actual meaning. The elements of the cards are Water (Eight of Cups) and Air (Six of Swords). The Water in this card is dirty and muddy and shows that our feelings about something/someone have turned sour, while the Air card adds the necessary dose of reason so that we are able to pursue a more balanced situation. And ultimately, the instability the water card has caused is resolving by the intervention of air (reason) and the situation is changing into a more harmonious state.