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Lessons from the Seven of Swords

The Seven of Swords Tarot card often comes to us when we feel deceived, either by others or when we’re fooling ourselves.

It’s an invitation to get real and assess how many swords we actually need, and if we’re really stealing from ourselves in the long-run.

Read on for how to stop self-deception with the Seven of Swords, including its full Tarot card description, Astrological and Numerological correspondences, what it means reversed, and in a career, love, or general reading:

The Seven of Swords Tarot Card

The Seven of Swords Minor Arcana card represents a sense of betrayal, lies, theft, deception, or distraction. It can come to us when we get caught in comparison or try to take on more than we should, basically it’s an invitation to stop lying to yourself!

Whereas in the Six of Swords we were embracing new mindset shifts, now here in the Seven those are being put to the test.

Do you really need seven swords? Where are you taking them from? Are you head and feet pointing in different directions like the person on the card? How are you holding them? It’s time to stop burying your head in the sand— if your health, mind, or intuition are giving you warning signs, pay attention!

In the Pamela Colman Smith Tarot deck, we see a furtive figure seemingly stealing swords from a fairground or circus. They are also dressed in travelling clothes or a costume, and so essentially stealing from their own!

This can come from a sense of betrayal, when someone close to us lets us down or goes behind our back; or when we ourselves short-change ourselves. That mindless scroll on social media is stealing our precious time; trying to do all the things and wear all the hats steals our focussed attention; pretending we’re something we’re not or doing something we’re not truly invested in steals from our capacity for authentic living.

This is emphasised in the fact that this is a so-called stage card, where it appears they are standing on a page. How often have you spend time “researching” online only to realise you’ve really been wasting your time or falling victim to comparison and imposter syndrome. The figure is trying to steal five swords, surely that’s more than we need— and they’re also looking back at the last two!

When this card shows up for us it’s time to get real. Are you having the wool pulled over your eyes or looking the other way in a relationship dynamic you know isn’t good for you? Are you doing things because you think you “should” rather than actually wanting to? Does your gut tell you something about someone but you try to logic your way out of it?

Numerologically 7 is considered a number of spiritual questioning and growth. We are starting to approach to the end of the numbered cycle here, it is a chance to fine-tuning and course-correction.

This also connects it to the Major Arcana Chariot card, one of perseverance, grit, determination, and seeing things through to the end. It can be hard to take the blinkers off and see things as they truly are, but the Chariot says we have the strength to endure!

Astrologically, this is a Moon in Aquarius card, emotionally detached. This can suggest the need for looking at a situation coolly and impartially, with the realism of Saturn (its ruler). The Moon in Aquarius is the independent loner marching to the beat of their own drum, it makes its own rules in life. Don’t play somebody else’s game— own yours.

In the Thoth deck this card is simply called Futility, as in the futility of trying to take on too many things at once, be something you’re not, or save a sinking ship (or relationship/situation). There’s only so long we can pretend. Listen to your inner voice of reason.

On a mundane level, as the wonderful T. Susan Change says— the pips like to count. I personally use the Thoth deck which has six swords pointing into a central one, it looks a bit like a rudimentary ribcage or spikes pointing towards a spine and I always pull it when I get acupuncture!

Seven of Swords Upright Tarot Card Meanings

Generally, the Seven of Swords suggests a sense of betrayal, loss, theft, lies, deceit— from ourselves or others. It can be an invitation to take an open, honest look at yourself and those around you and get real with what’s going on.

Reversed Seven of Swords Tarot Card

If you choose to read reversals, the Seven of Swords reversed can be an even stronger message to not let yourself have the wool pulled over your eyes! Don’t trick yourself into thinking a situation is any different, be honest with yourself and others.

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Seven of Swords in a Love Reading

As with all Tarot meanings, the actual significations of what the Seven of Swords represents in relationship Tarot readings will depend entirely on the situation at hand, the question asked, the position in the spread it has fallen, the cards surrounding it, and your own intuition.

Overall, however, the Seven of Swords can suggest a feeling of betrayal, whether real or imagined. It can be important to communicate openly and honestly with your partner about the situation and how you feel, whatever the outcome— coming clean is necessary.

Seven of Swords Card in a Career Reading

Again, the true nature of its meaning will depend on the context, but in general in a career Tarot reading the Seven of Swords can suggest you stop fooling yourself with something, whether that’s a something that’s not working, or a role you’ve taken on, it’s time to be honest. It can also be wise to pay close attention to those around you and their true motivations, as well as the intentions of your competitors!

So that’s an overview of the Seven of Swords Tarot card, I hope it’s insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

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