
Seven of Swords Tarot Card
The Tarot Suit of Swords

The Tarot Suit of Swords is associated with the suit of Spades in standard playing cards - both have sharp edges. Although many tarot decks use the term swords to refer to this suit, it also has other names (that is, for the equivalent suit in other decks), which include daggers, blades or knives.
There are meanings associated with each of the suits in a tarot deck, as well as the more specific interpretations associated with each individual card - and yet more precise meanings pertaining to particular cards in particular locations within spreads.
The suit of swords is associated with the element of air (as in air signs of the zodiac). It is also associated with the season of spring and the direction East. The suit of swords concerns academic or philosophical thought, intellectual pursuits, truth, and clarity.
The Sevens in the Tarot Deck are associated with experimentation, courage, and risks. The nature of the risk may vary and can be positive or negative.
The 7 of Swords is generally considered to be a 'negative card' because it is associated with sneaky and deceitful actions. It has several titles (also called 'themes') which vary between decks and include, for example, "change of conciousness", "unstable effort", and "self-sabotage".
The 7 of Swords has a particulary sinister image in the Robin Wood tarot deck where it shows a thief, a dark shadowy figure who appears to be stealing the seven swords underneath this cloak ... escaping from an encampment by climbing over a wall. This may imply a crisis of personal honour, or taking risks within oneself.
Not surprisingly, the 7 of Swords is not a comfortable card to appear in a reading but it can provide useful insight. If there are untrustworthy or weak elements around, perhaps it is better to be aware of them. The 7 of Swords can alert the querent to the aspects of the situation or of his or her life in general where extra vigilance may be useful.
Keywords for possible meanings of the 7 of Swords Tarot Card include:
- Betrayal
- Deception - something to hide
- Spying on others - for personal, business, state, or other purposes
- Stealth
- Thief
What about the Seven of Swords Reversed ?
Some interpretations of the meaning of the 7 of Swords reversed include:
- Return of lost or stolen possessions
- Help in the form of constructive criticism
- Apologies may be offered for unfair or unkind words or actions against the querent
The Tarot Suit of Swords
The Tarot Suit of Swords is associated with the suit of Spades in standard playing cards - both have sharp edges. Although many tarot decks use the term swords to refer to this suit, it also has other names (that is, for the equivalent suit in other decks), which include daggers, blades or knives.
There are meanings associated with each of the suits in a tarot deck, as well as the more specific interpretations associated with each individual card - and yet more precise meanings pertaining to particular cards in particular locations within spreads.
The suit of swords is associated with the element of air (as in air signs of the zodiac). It is also associated with the season "Spring", and with the direction "East". The suit of swords concerns academic or philosophical thought, intellectual pursuits, truth, and clarity.