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Welcome to part 10 of my 40 part series Minor Arcana Meanings Deep Dives – each week or so we’ll hang out with ONE Tarot card and dive deeply into it’s symbols, meanings and messages – I’ll even give you some journalling questions to help you contemplate and connect with each card. This is similar to my Major Arcana Meanings Deep Dive series and my Meet the Court Cards series.
Today we’re diving into the Three of Swords – a card that illustrates the violent intersection of mind and heart, where thoughts create feelings. Painful clarity about a situation and a heart that needs healing are the themes of this complex Tarot chapter.
Suit = Swords
Element = Air (mind, intellect, thoughts, communication)
Number 3 – triad, trinity, harmony, coming together, working together, things taking form
Keywords:
heartbreak, mental anguish, emotional pain, realization, mourning
Meaning (Upright):
The Three of Swords indicates a heart that is in need of healing. Perhaps you’ve experienced a major loss or disappointment and need to grieve and process any difficult emotions. This card reminds you that your thoughts and feelings are intimately connected!
This card can come up when we finally take off the rose coloured glasses and see things as they are and not just how we want to see them. You finally have clarity, although maybe you wish you didn’t!
Symbols:
Heart with 3 swords piercing it = intersection of mind (swords) with emotion (heart, water)
Your thoughts causing pain and suffering
rain = water/emotion, release, cleansing, emotional storm
clouds = a gloomy mental state
Advice & Messages
The Three of Swords tells you to look at a situation clearly and take off the rose coloured glasses. Be willing to see things as they are and not just how you want to see them! This might be difficult to do, but do your best to accept the facts and process and release any emotional pain.
The Three of Swords reminds you to notice how your thoughts often create your moods and emotions and be gentle with yourself if you’re going through some mental and emotional suffering. Your heart is in need of healing right now.
External vs Internal meanings
External = being betrayed, disappointed and/or heartbroken by a person or situation
Internal = thoughts causing emotional pain
Reversed
If the Three of Swords appears reversed, it can indicate that you’re refusing to see things clearly and/or that you’re crafting a story in your head that doesn’t exactly match reality and is only causing more pain. It suggests you may even be amping up your negative emotions with your own inner monologue.
Alternatively, a reversed Three of Swords can show difficulty letting go of heartbreak and processing and releasing the associated emotions.
Journalling Questions:
♥ How does this card show up in your life right now?
♥ How are your current thoughts affecting your feelings?
♥ When it comes to heartbreak and emotional anguish – what story are you telling yourself? Does that narrative create healing or more pain?
♥ When was the last time you shifted from seeing things how you wanted to, to how they actually were?
Join me next time…
Join me next time as I dive into the Three of Cups – the most FUN card in the Tarot deck! It’s all about laughter, play, party time and maybe even some boozy shenanigans…. Hop on my mailing list so you won’t miss out!
***Grab your FREE Minor Arcana Cheatsheet right HERE!***
You may also enjoy…
Court Card Tarot Meanings
Tarot Meanings Deep Dive series (Major Arcana)