Seven of Swords
The Seven of Swords, symbolized by the black widow, warns of deceit, betrayal, and covert manipulation. Upright, it points to lies, backstabbing, and the need for caution, sometimes advising self-preservation even at the cost of selfishness, while reminding that fleeing only grants short-term safety and you will eventually have to face consequences head-on. Dark secrets, poisonous thoughts, and unspoken guilt can eat you from the inside out. Reversed, the card highlights imposter syndrome and inner deceit, calling for confession, honesty, and seeking reassurance to heal.
Keywords
Animal
Black Widow
Fun fact
Black widow spiders are venomous, but rarely fatal, a contrast to the usual reputation attributed to them. Male black widows also work hard not to become post-coital meals by seeking out well-fed virgins as mates. A female that has already eaten has no need to kill and consume a mate, and it is thought that a fatter mate likely yields more offspring too.
Keywords
Dishonor, Trickery, Betrayal
Reversed Keywords
Confession, Malevolence, Deception
Meaning — Image
A black widow spider carefully crawls along the length of a blade, her path sharp and her vision clear. Black widows are incredibly poisonous creatures. They devour their mates after sex, thusly and famously representing betrayal and deceit. The Seven of Swords is a card of lies and backstabbing. It reminds us to take care so that we, too, don’t end up victims at the end of a friend’s sword.
Meaning — Upright
When upright, the Seven of Swords indicates that the user is embroiled in a sticky web of lies, deceit, and betrayal. You may be the one sneaking around with bad intentions. If so, you have no guarantee of successfully getting away with it. Take heed and correct your course. If you are the victim in this situation, be wary of those around you who may not have your best intentions at heart. Prioritize yourself over others and, if necessary, consider taking some shortcuts to get closer to your ultimate goal. You may need to be selfish if a situation arises where you are asked to sacrifice one thing for another. Fleeing from adversity to protect yourself at this time will only yield short-term safety. Come to terms with the fact that you will eventually have to face whatever it is head on.
Meaning — Inner Danger
Dark secrets, poisonous thoughts, and unspoken guilt will destroy you from the inside out.
Reversed Meaning
When reversed, the Seven of Swords suggests that you are embroiled in a battle against imposter syndrome. You may feel that you are deceiving others about your skills, capabilities, and/or ability to handle the responsibilities you’ve been given. Don’t allow yourself to become entrenched in these feelings, or they will consume you. Believe in the faith that others have put in you, and if you can, reach out to others for some honesty and reassurance. It can help lift your spirits and/or help you seek your weaknesses in a new, constructive manner. This position also represents inner deceit at its core. Come clean with what’s bothering you. Only confession will bring you the catharsis you so desperately need.
Visual Description
Seven curved swords cross and interlock across a star-speckled, dark background. Each blade glows with iridescent blues and purples and has a wrapped hilt marked by a small diamond motif. A crimson, spider-like creature with glowing orange eyes/claws clutches one of the swords near the center. Wisps of black smoke or cloud weave between the blades and the title 'SEVEN OF SWORDS' appears along the bottom edge.
Oriens tarot
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