Tarot Card Meanings:
Three of Swords
What is "Three of Swords" in Tarot?
The Hermit is card number nine in the Major Arcana. It represents introspection, solitude, and the search for inner wisdom. This card signifies a journey of self-discovery, contemplation, and spiritual guidance.
What are the key symbols in the "Three of Swords" tarot card?
- Heart pierced by three swords: Symbolizes heartbreak, betrayal, and emotional pain.
- Stormy clouds and rain: Represent sorrow, turmoil, and the intensity of the emotions involved.
- Gray background: Reflects sadness, melancholy, and the heavy atmosphere of grief.
These symbols are based on the Rider-Waite Smith tarot. Symbols may differ in other decks!
Three of Swords Tarot Card Meaning
Three of Swords Keywords: Heartbreak, sorrow, emotional pain, loss, betrayal, grief, emotional wounds, sadness.
The Three of Swords in the tarot signifies deep emotional pain and heartbreak, reflecting the experience of loss, betrayal, or sorrow. This card represents the painful realization of a truth or the aftermath of a difficult situation that has left emotional scars. It highlights the need to acknowledge these feelings of grief, allowing yourself the time to process and heal. The Three of Swords encourages you to face your sorrow, understanding that while the pain is real, it also presents an opportunity for personal growth and future emotional resilience.
Three of Swords Reversed Tarot Card Meaning
Three of Swords Reversed Keywords: Healing, forgiveness, release of pain, recovery, moving on, emotional release, acceptance.
When the Three of Swords appears reversed in a tarot reading, it signifies the beginning of healing and the release of past pain, where forgiveness or acceptance starts to bring relief. This card suggests that emotional wounds are beginning to mend, allowing you to move forward with a lighter heart. It reflects a process of letting go, where sadness is acknowledged but no longer holds power over your life. The reversed Three of Swords encourages you to embrace this phase of recovery, release lingering resentment, and find peace as you rebuild emotionally.
El Tarocchi Insight
Three of Swords is a card about grief, and grief deserves space.
In over two decades of tarot reading, my approach with this card has always been to sit with it rather than rush past it. Unlike some of the other difficult cards in the deck, Three of Swords isn’t asking clients to find a silver lining or think about next steps; it’s simply acknowledging that their heartbreak and pain are real. When this card appears, I often find myself reminding my clients that healing shouldn’t be rushed and that their pain is valid. They need time to name their emotions and sit with them before any processing or healing can begin.
Gallery: Three of Swords in Various Tarot Decks
by Corrine Kenner, Pietro Alligo, and
Giulia Francesca Massaglia
