Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The Seven of Swords symbolizes mental agility, liberation, and the power of the mind. On the other hand, it also forebodes personal betrayal and disloyalty.

• Element: Air
• Planet: Moon
• Astrological sign: Aquarius
• Key dates: the 9th to the 18th of February

Visual Elements and Symbolism

The Seven of Swords tarot card depicts a man holding five sharp swords, tiptoeing silently away from a camp, possibly breaking ties with those who remain. He leaves behind two swords to ensure the remaining party won’t be totally helpless against whatever foes they may face. This shows that while he wants to cut ties with the ones he’s leaving behind, he also doesn’t want to cause them unnecessary harm.

The man is dressed in a colorful yellow tunic that matches the tents in the background. His peaceful expression, and the warm yellow skies, create a picture that represents a mix of nostalgia from his past and excitement for things to come. The card is also associated with the element Air, which is symbolized by the wispy clouds visible in the sky.

The last visual element on the card is the number seven, which is featured prominently in the upper right corner of the card.

The Seven of Swords as a Person

This card has several meanings and possible interpretations, which vary from self-preservation to treachery. You may think of the individual in the card as being sneaky, operating in the shadows, and gathering information to prepare for future situations. It’s possible that they may be plotting to betray someone for their own gain.

Conversely, this person may be trying to better themselves. The party they have been traveling with might be standing in the way of their progress and causing them untold misery. Their escape, in this instance, would be interpreted as liberation without hurting or insulting the people in their circle.

The Seven of Swords doesn’t have clear-cut motives. This makes them complicated and unpredictable characters, especially to strangers. As a result, they are often mysterious and seem difficult to approach. Some may even consider them intimidating.

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The Seven of Swords Upright: Positive Meanings

This card has lots of positive meanings, including great transformation. It’s a sign that you are mobilizing your forces. There are things happening around you, but you refuse to be controlled by the situation.

Whatever changes you may be facing, you are taking some steps to ensure you emerge victorious in the end. Some people may interpret this kind of approach as opportunistic and selfish. Though you are capable of acting in a way that advances your self-interest, you choose to view yourself as independent and practical. Even though others may fail to understand your motives and actions, you always have a plan in place.

The people in your life generally misunderstand you, even if it’s never your intention to hurt anyone. It’s possible that you have figuratively stolen their swords and are being judged for it. However, your motives are always righteous.

Maybe you disarmed them in an attempt to save yourself or as a way of breaking out of a toxic relationship. Regardless of why you did it, people will always find their own interpretation. Fortunately, you will be understood by the ones closest to you.

Love and Relationships

If you are single and looking to get into a relationship, the two-sided nature of this card is an indication that you may need to hold off for a while. While you may feel like you need someone in your life, it’s probably for the wrong reasons. For instance, maybe you feel the need to increase your social standing within your circles.

If you are just fresh out of a relationship, and you don’t feel like you can be on your own, you should take a pause. Avoid jumping into other relationships prematurely. Instead, try to find ways to gain some independence and explore the world on your own.

For those who are in a relationship, this card is a sign that you might be feeling like it’s time to end things. Please note that this may not mean that you don’t care for your partner anymore. Holding on is a sign that they still have a place in your heart. However, this might be a confusing time. While you don’t want to hurt your partner, you may also feel like it’s time to free yourself from the current situation.

Maybe you are just not in love anymore. It’s also possible that you feel like your partner is stopping you from fully exploring your life and its possibilities.

If this is how you feel, sit with your partner and make your concerns known to them. Another good idea would be to go for counseling if you still want to be in the relationship. If not, resist the temptation to just disappear without warning. It’s always important to communicate effectively if you feel like breaking things off. That way, you won’t end up hurting your partner and leaving them confused at the same time.

Career

In career tarot readings, this card is a sign that a colleague may be working against you. It’s also possible that they may be plotting to betray you. This places you as one of the people whose swords have been stolen by a companion.

Instead of starting to accuse those around you, just keep an eye out and know that a partner or associate is thinking about quitting and leaving you to handle things on your own.

You might also find yourself thinking about moving on. Even though you love many things about your current workplace, you feel like you aren’t growing. But because you have lots of memories of good times with your colleagues, it may feel like you are letting them down. This is definitely a difficult process and a tough decision to make. However, you must remember that you are holding the steering wheel as far as your life is concerned. Be open and honest with your colleagues. After all, changing jobs doesn’t mean you stop socializing with them from time to time.

Finances

Are you feeling bold and lucky? While that has its benefits, don’t let those feelings prevent you from seeing the reality of your situation.

Drawing the Seven of Swords in a tarot reading indicates that you are getting the things that you wished for without having to part with any money. Maybe you are using your lover’s credit card without them knowing or making major decisions with their money individually. This will not only hurt your finances but also cause serious relationship problems.

There’s a flip side to this. You may be the one being taken advantage of. For instance, the person managing your finances may be charging you excessively or taking a larger percentage than agreed upon.

If you suspect something is out of place, you can always contact another professional to run the numbers and verify.

Health

Drawing the Seven of Swords in a health tarot reading means you are in great shape. However, it may also be that your social environment is causing you lots of stress, and this is impacting your mental health. This can lead to depression and insomnia.

You may be feeling trapped, probably because you know that no matter what you do in a given situation, you’ll still end up unhappy. If this persists, seek professional help as soon as possible. A psychologist can help you organize your thoughts and provide a way out of the misery you are experiencing.

The Seven of Swords: Negative Meanings

The meaning of the reversed Seven of Swords is ambiguous. However, it’s almost always a sign that something is out of place. You have a constant feeling that you are going about things the wrong way.

It may also be a sign that you are stuck in certain spaces physically or socially. For one reason or the other, you don’t seem to have the power to start the process of departing. It’s also possible that you start but are unable to go through with the decision and leave for good.

In some instances, the Seven of Swords can signify self-betrayal. Maybe you are trying hard to deceive yourself into believing that you have achieved what you set out to do. It’s also possible that you are failing to be honest with yourself, so you can justify your failures. In both cases, you will be lying to yourself, so you can feel good despite failing to achieve your goals.

Love and Relationships

Drawing the Reversed Seven of Swords in a love reading is a sign that you are desperate for love. You may even have gone on multiple unsuccessful dates in an attempt to find a partner.

It’s possible that you eventually settled on someone you don’t fully appreciate so you can prove something to yourself.

Maybe you feel the need to prove that you are desirable to others. Whatever it is that landed you in your current position, it certainly won’t lead to a healthy relationship. It’s better to end things and invest some time into working on yourself before putting yourself out there again.

Don’t worry, and you will find the right person soon enough.

If you are in a stable relationship, it may be time to think about how you have been behaving lately. This will help establish whether you are paying enough attention to your partner’s needs. Set aside your pride and be honest about how your actions might have been affecting your relationship. If you find that you have been doing something wrong, don’t be afraid to communicate with your partner. This is the first step to bettering yourself and improving things in your relationship.

Career

A reversed Seven of Swords in a career reading is a sign that your career may be suffering because of insecurities. For some reason, you are suffering from imposter syndrome.

These feelings may be normal when you are getting into a new role or job. However, it’s important to work hard to overcome this self-consciousness if you are to thrive. One of the best ways to go about things when faced with such a situation is to adjust the tone of your inner dialogue. Start by facing the fact that you don’t feel at home, and work as hard as possible to move forward.

If you constantly outperform your colleagues, that shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable. Leaders and employees are constantly looking for uniquely talented individuals. Therefore, you should embrace your abilities.

Finances

In a money reading, the reversed Seven of Swords is a sign that you are struggling to change your financial situation. For some reason, things don’t seem to want to go your way, regardless of how much effort and time you put into it. It’s almost as if money is running away from you.

While increasing how much you earn may seem like the wise thing to do, you will probably get better results from correcting your spending habits. In most instances, people spend a lot of money unnecessarily. Look at your budget and find things to remove. It’s also a good idea to become more thrifty. Reuse things and find better ways to shop for necessities.

If you don’t have a set monthly budget, now is a great time to come up with one. This will help you figure out where your money is disappearing to. Start taking note of everything you spend money on. This alone will force you to see where you are going wrong.

Health

In a health tarot reading, the reversed Seven of Swords is a sign that you are unwell, but you won’t accept it. Lying to yourself like this is not safe, and it won’t fix your current health problems. Instead, you should seek medical help and air your concerns to a doctor.

If you have received some not-so-good news from the doctor, you may be feeling reluctant to share with those close to you. While the details of your health are private and personal matters, sharing them with your loved ones may be the first step to getting the support you need. It can go a long way in helping to lower stress levels.

Your Past, Present, and Future

When drawn in the past position, this card is a sign that whatever you are going through now is a result of your decision to leave. For instance, maybe you went through a career change, a breakup, or you moved to a new location. Regardless of what led you here, you are in a better position as a result.

Conversely, this card may also signify a negative event. Maybe you lost your job, or a loved one left you. In any case, this experience contributed to your growth. Therefore, you must consider it a trial that you overcame rather than a betrayal.

In the present position, this card represents change. However, it doesn’t specify how the change is coming about. For instance, someone in your life may make a change for you, or you may decide to make some important life changes. If you have been hesitating, this is the time to take action. If you don’t feel the need to change anything, someone in your life might be struggling with such a choice.

When drawn in the future positive, the Seven of Swords points to you and your actions rather than the actions of your partner or another person in your life. It’s a sign that you are about to make a difficult choice that will benefit you greatly. This doesn’t mean that you will become a selfish or cruel person suddenly. Instead, an opportunity is coming your way, and you won’t hesitate to seize it to better your current situation.

To avoid making others feel betrayed, make sure you communicate your intentions clearly before you make any moves.

Important Card Combinations

Shrewd, crafty, extricate — any card paired with the Seven of Swords is modified to include these traits. The new meanings usually dig deep into your past, revealing particular decisions and characters that may have deeply affected you.

The Seven of Swords and a Fool

This pair indicated great potential in you. It also shows that you may be offensively bold at times.

On the one hand, drawing this pair could be a sign that you have made a random decision that will eventually result in freedom and great happiness. This may be a result of the fool’s childlike moves. On the other hand, it’s also possible that you have made a rash decision that may negatively affect your relationship with those close to you.

The Seven of Swords and Lovers

This pair is a sign that you have made a choice driven by how you care for and love someone. While you may be turning away from something, possibly a career opportunity, ex-lover, or family, you are doing so with no regrets.

Drawing The Lovers card is an indication that you are highly confident about your love-influenced decision. No matter what happens, you know that you are about to experience great satisfaction and happiness.

Seven of Swords and Strength

When combined, these two are a sign that you will make certain decisions that will save you from trouble. You may have been feeling a profound sense of uncertainty lately, yet you can’t really tell where it’s coming from.

It’s possible that you are being forced or forcing yourself to support someone who has values that go against yours. This can be a boss, or political leader, which explains why you feel obligated to stand by them.

Drawing these cards is a sign that you are about to find a way to free yourself from this person. An opportunity will present itself, and you’ll have a window to free yourself from feeling morally bankrupt.

Seven of Swords: Yes or No

This card usually requires a “no” response. While it symbolizes freedom, it may also be a sign that you will face some negative consequences due to your past decisions.