Three of Swords
The Three of Swords shows three ornate swords piercing a heart-shaped mass formed by a coiled serpent (the Zmey) beneath a storm-darkened sky, symbolizing the tearing away of illusion. Upright, it represents heartbreak, separation, and the sting of truth—hard words, letters, or decisions that cut through deception but also bring clarity and the beginning of healing. The imagery of vines and blood emphasizes how loyalties and stories wrap around the wound even as release and recovery begin. Reversed, the card points to forgiveness, self-compassion, and honest communication while warning against avoiding needed conversations or reopening old hurts, and overall it calls for precise language and brave choices so the heart can mend stronger.
Keywords
Visual Description
Against a storm-darkened sky, three ornate swords pierce a heart-shaped mass formed by a coiled turquoise serpent or dragon. Autumn-colored vines twist around the blades and creature, their leaves curling and encircling the wound. Bright drops of blood fall beneath the heart. The central sword is slightly curved like a sabre, while the other two stand straight with rich golden hilts.
Meaning
The storm gathers as three blades sink into the coiled heart, and with their strike, illusions tear like clouds. In this Slavic-tinged vision, the heart is the Zmey’s, a seductive serpent of passion and false promises, and the swords are the hard words, facts, or decisions that finally cut through. Upright, the card speaks of heartbreak, separation, and the sting of truth revealed—letters, conversations, or verdicts that cannot be unsaid—yet it also promises clarity and clean edges where healing can begin. Pain is not punishment here; it is the lancing of a wound and the end of a bewitchment that kept you entangled. The vines remind you how stories, loyalties, and expectations wrap around the injury, but the blood drops show that release is already underway. Reversed, the storm passes: forgiveness, self-compassion, and honest communication stitch the tear, though there may be a temptation to avoid the needed talk or to reopen an old hurt. Whether upright or reversed, the Three of Swords asks for precise language, brave decisions, and a willingness to feel what is real so the heart, even if dragon-scaled, can mend stronger.
Slavic Legends Tarot
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