Three of Swords
Three of Swords — Upright
This is one of the most emotionally charged cards in the Tarot deck. It represents a deep wound inflicted upon our sensitive and emotional essence. Sometimes, losses and misfortunes contribute to spiritual growth.
Although the card foretells unlikely salvation, even in such sorrow, you can find a glimmer of hope because after destruction comes a new stage of growth. It is a time for the querent to take decisive actions. It is necessary to let go of something outdated – whether it be people, places, or things.
If the card is surrounded by positive cards, it may signify letting go of the old for the sake of the new, sadness, separation, or an inevitable decision. It's time to cut away outdated beliefs, perspectives, and situations in favor of new ones. This card can represent separation or divorce.
It can also signify amputation, as in surgery – a positive sign, as necessary removal can solve a long-standing problem.
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Three of Swords — Reversed
Reversed Three of Swords still symbolizes a break, but its intensity diminishes. The rupture remains a rupture. The interpretation is similar to the upright position of the card.
Often, the person's suffering is milder – either due to previous experience (such as recurring arguments and reconciliations) or because the break or surgery is not as severe.
Astrology
The Three of Swords is linked to Saturn in Libra, blending sorrow with lessons in balance. Saturn brings hardship and reality, while Libra reflects love and connection. This card symbolizes emotional pain that leads to personal growth.
Numerology
Number 3 symbolizes growth, expansion, and collaboration. It reveals the card’s role in the progression of the Wands suit, showing a stage of 3. The reduced number 3 emphasizes recurring life themes in creative or passionate pursuits.
Symbolism & Archetypes
Explore the symbolism — open a section to read more.
On the backdrop of stormy clouds and pouring rain, there is an image of a heart pierced by three swords.
Prophetic meanings: Removal, inaccessibility, delay, separation, conflicts, dispersion, and everything that can be implied by such an image, too clear and unambiguous to list in detail.
Reversed card: Alienation, deception, loss, distraction, disorder, confusion.
In the Golden Dawn tradition, this card is named the Lord of Sorrow. Waite accurately conveys its esoteric meaning by depicting a heart pierced by swords in the foreground (sorrow), and in the background, dark clouds and rain (tears).
The card has its roots in Christian iconography – the emblem of the heart pierced by a sword. The upper part of the sword resembles a cross, and the lower part enters the heart.
This symbolism illustrates a verse from the Gospel: And a sword will pierce through your own soul also (Luke 2:35), where the heart represents the Sacred Heart of Mary, reflecting maternal sorrow.
In this sorrow lies the energy associated with the third Sephirah on the Tree of Life, Binah, which is similar to the Two of Swords. The heart representing Binah, most interpreters associate with the sixth Sephirah, Tiferet.
However, Kabbalistic diagrams by Kircher (17th century) and Masonic tradition (19th century) place the heart in Binah.
Astrologically, the symbol is linked to the second decan of Libra, where Saturn is in Libra. The Saturnine nature is expressed through the sorrow symbolized by the pierced heart and the gloomy rainy sky. The planet Saturn is also associated with Binah.
The nature of Libra is represented by the three swords, symbolizing the Air element.
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