The Eight of swords often represents a mental prison. Under its influence, we feel trapped, bullied, powerless and misunderstood. The good news is that in most cases, the Eight of Swords describes a temporary situation that will soon shift and change. 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 Swords and the Six of Swords shows a shift for the better, a release of difficult energies and blockages.
To understand the elemental relationships between the cards, we should always take into account their actual meanings. The elements of the cards in this case are Air (Eight of Swords) and Air (Six of Swords). Two Air cards can generate quite a powerful and intense combination. In their negative expression, these two cards will bring feelings of restlessness, failure, futility. In most cases the strong air of these two cards cards shows a dynamic situation that's subject to change.