Three of Swords
The Three of Swords signifies tension, heartbreak, and emotional pain often arising from relationship endings, miscommunication, betrayal, or grief. It reminds the asker that pain is part of the human experience and can crack us open, enabling growth, greater joy, and personal transformation. Upright, it encourages finding meaning, forgiveness (including self-forgiveness), and the recognition that things will be OK; it can also point to medical matters from injections to operations. Reversed, the card urges letting go of lingering hurt, fully feeling and releasing emotions when ready, and addressing negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that contribute to suffering.
Keywords
Three of Swords
Upright Meaning
The Three of Swords is a card carrying tension and heartbreak, perhaps as a result of a relationship ending, a communication failure, a bitter argument or a betrayal. The asker may be carrying grief, emotional pain or feelings of rejection. This card is a reminder that pain and sorrow are an inevitable part of the human experience. It cracks us open and touches us to our core. Without knowing pain, we cannot fully know joy and expansion. It helps us grow and shapes us into the individual we were meant to become.
Message of Control and Forgiveness
The asker is reminded that no matter how much pain we may be feeling, we have control over the meaning we give to an experience. There is an opportunity for transcendence if we look to forgiveness, including self-forgiveness. Everything will be OK.
Medical Meaning
The Three of Swords may carry a medical meaning as well; anything from getting a routine injection to undergoing an operation.
Reversed Meaning
The Three of Swords reversed tells the asker to let go of a painful experience they may be holding on to. Forgiveness is not easy, but this card signifies an opportunity to fully feel and acknowledge their feelings, sit with the discomfort and then release it when they are ready. The asker must remember their heart and soul are strong; everything that happens in life, especially the heartbreaks and challenges, are intended to help us learn and grow toward our destiny.
Reversed: Inner Beliefs
This card reversed can also indicate that negative self-talk and limiting beliefs are at the heart of the asker's suffering. They must pay attention to the stories they are telling themselves about their life and potential. They have everything within them to succeed.
Visual Description
A minimalist pink card depicts three ornate swords arranged to pierce and outline a dotted heart at the center, the central blade vertical while two others angle down on either side. Each sword has a decorative hilt topped with small celestial motifs and circles that suggest orbiting points. Delicate dotted lines form the heart and connect to tiny nodes, and the words "THREE" appear at the top with "OF SWORDS" at the bottom.
Soul Cards Tarot
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