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More Tarot Swords Cards:
Ace of Swords
2 of Swords
3 of Swords
4 of Swords
5 of Swords
6 of Swords
7 of Swords
8 of Swords
9 of Swords
10 of Swords
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords
King of Swords

Other Tarot Cards:
Major Arcana Cards
Suit of Cups
Suit of Pentacles
Suit of Swords
Suit of Wands

 

Three of Swords

The "Threes" in the Tarot Deck generally suggest a family unit of mother, father and child. This represents the resolution of the tension inherent in the number "two" (to due to opposition of oppposite extremes). However, this numerical "theme" is one of the least apparent of such themes as the "Threes" vary widely from suit to suit.

In many decks The Three of Swords is one of the most difficult and sorrowful cards of all. (Both the Rider-Waite and the Robin Wood Decks depict a heart pierced by three swords. Obviously, this image is sometimes interpreted as a painful romantic triangle - with the inherent pain and betrayal.)

When this card appears in a reading, the interpretation may be as dire as the images suggest. However, there are other possible interpretations as well: One of which is that the seeker should "Get to the heart of the matter."

 

Keywords and phrases summarising the possible meanings of this card include:

  • Emotional Pain
  • End of a romantic affair
  • Grief, Loss, Tears
  • Separation
  • Sorrow
  • Three is a crowd.

Remember that all of the Swords cards in the Tarot Deck have some energies in common. These include, for example, the overall association of the suit of Swords with academic or philosophical thought, intellectual pursuits, truth, and clarity. For further information, also read about the Suit of Swords in general.

Some texts include meanings for "reversed cards", which apply when the cards are shuffled in both order and orientation. This doubles the number of possible "cards" in the deck from 78 to 156. (In terms of the probabilities of obtaining results by chance alone, it is not a simple doubling as once a card has been drawn it cannot be selected again in the opposite orientation in the same reading.)

Why doesn't this page include a picture of this Tarot Card ?