Suit of Swords
The tarot card meanings on this website are based on the fundamental building blocks of tarot:
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Elements/Suits
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Numbers
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Astrological Attributions
Tarot images are from an Original Pam B Rider Waite tarot deck created by Arthur Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, published by Rider & Co. circa 1930 - 1939.
Seven of Swords
Element: Air
Polarity: Active
Astrological Attributions: Moon in Aquarius
Golden Dawn: Lord of Unstable Effort
Tree of Life: Netzach
7 of Swords
The Positive Aspects and Characteristics
Astrological Attributions: Moon in Aquarius
Written by Wray Dansereau
The Moon relates to our mother, moods, deeper emotions, intuition, instincts, home and our general domestic sphere. The Moon also represents very personal and internalized emotional experiences, particularly feelings that we hold from the past. The Moon has a connection to the subconscious, therefore, it represents underlying behaviours and habitual patterns that may re-surface. Additionally, it can provide a glimpse into private aspects of ourselves that we prefer to keep hidden. Lastly, the Moon has a relationship to the element of water, therefore, it tends to be very sensitive with a focus on inner reflection, comfort, self-nurturing and a need for security.
Aquarius is an air sign, ruled by the planet Uranus, with characteristics that are quite different from the Moon! Aquarians are less emotional with a focus on logic, intellectual ideas and rational thought. They lean toward being inventive, independent but unpredictable, at times. Typically, they are the most unconventional of the zodiac signs and prefer to walk to the beat of their own drum. Yet, they often have an idealistic view of how they think community and society should run and the rights of humanity. They love freedom, fairness and equity, therefore, you might find them rebelling against societal norms and authority, at times. Aquarians have a keen intellect and tend to be future-oriented, especially when it comes to innovation and technology.
The Moon and Aquarius combination in the 7 of Swords
Given the Moon’s influence, you can certainly see how emotions and motives could be hidden or actions indirectly expressed with the 7 of Swords. I think that’s why we see a lack of transparency, secrecy and deception, at times, with this card. There may be a desire to conceal one’s true feelings or vulnerabilities in various circumstances and there could be unpredictability with regard to actions taken. On a positive note, the Moon relates to intuition, therefore, the person in the 7 of Swords might act alone, preferring to follow personal instincts or a gut feeling, rather than following group ideas or social norms.
The Aquarian characteristics expressed in the 7 of Swords, include cleverness, thinking quickly on your feet and mental agility. So, we see the person in this card acting strategically (or even rebelliously), especially if there is an advantage to be gained. He’s known for creating plans that are often executed in a very evasive way. Hence, why we see the individual in this card slipping away from the group (depicted in the background), or acting shrewdly in some way. Certainly, the mental agility and keen intellect that we see displayed in the 7 of Swords relates to the sign of Aquarius. It’s a matter of how those skills are expressed, in conjunction with the Moon.
Many tarot readers are quite familiar with the typical meanings of this card which can be quite negative such as cunning acts, deception, trickery, theft, sneakiness, or betrayal! Those are definitely potential meanings of the 7 of Swords, especially when we see other cards in the reading that bolster those interpretations. However, there are also several positive or constructive ways that the 7 of Swords can be expressed and interpreted in a reading. We have outlined some the positive card meanings below, along with suggested card combinations, to get you thinking about possible interpretations in readings.
A. Stealth and secrecy – using discretion or keeping something private for personal reasons
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A person may be planning a surprise birthday party (7 of Swords + 3 of Cups).
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A surprise marriage proposal (7 of Swords + Knight of Cups + Two of Cups)
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Keeping innovative ideas or plans for an upcoming project private, especially in the early stages of development (7 of Swords + 2 of Wands OR 7 of Swords + Ace of Wands OR 7 of Swords + Page of Wands)
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Keeping a pregnancy secret until you are further along OR planning a secret gender reveal (7 of Swords + Ace of Cups OR 7 of Swords + Empress + 3 of Cups)
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Elopement – a desire to keep marriage/wedding plans secret and private (7 of Swords + 4 of Wands + Justice OR Lovers + 7 of Swords + Hierophant)
B. Being clever, tactical or strategic (using your intellect in positive ways)
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Coming up with very clever or ingenious ways to solve a problem or use mental agility, when dealing with an ever-changing situation. (7 of Swords + Magician OR 7 of Swords + Page of Swords)
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Using strategic ideas or tactics to cut unnecessary corners (7 of Swords + Ace of Swords + Chariot OR 7 of Swords + Knight of Swords )
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Perform tasks more efficiently than others at work - “working smarter, not harder.” (7 of Swords + 8 of Pentacles OR 7 of Swords + 3 of Pentacles + 8 of Wands).
C. Sleuthing – seeking information to gain knowledge
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Legally researching or investigating details about a person or business, in order to gain knowledge and stay one step ahead. Or, collecting data through savvy research for a project. (7 of Swords + 8 of Pentacles + Queen of Swords)
D. Solitary Behaviours - leaving the group, in order to be self-reliant and act individually
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This is a lone-wolf card. So, it could be about going your own way and trusting your instincts or intellectual capabilities, instead of following the group. (7 of Swords + The Hermit or 7 of Swords + The Fool).
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Being self-reliant or using critical thinking skills rather than getting caught up in “group think.” (7 of Swords + King of Swords OR 7 of Swords + Ace of Swords).
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Leaving or escaping a party early because you discover your ex has attended. So, you make up an excuse to leave early, in order to protect your emotions or mental health. (7 of Swords + 8 of Cups OR 7 of Swords + 6 of Swords)
E. Tact & Diplomacy
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Dealing with sticky or challenging situations by using very tactful, diplomatic or subtle verbal skills (7 of Swords + King of Cups OR 7 of Swords + Temperance OR 7 of Swords + High Priestess + The Star)
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Using diplomacy during business negotiation or trade deals in a very skillful way, thereby disarming the other party or opposition (7 of Swords + Three of Wands + Strength OR 7 of Swords + 2 of Cups + King of Pentacles). Note: 2 of Cups can relate to business negotiations or trade because of the Caduceus symbol.
F. Call to action
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This card can be a warning that someone else may be acting deceptively or has a hidden agenda. Therefore, it can be a message to take heed of the actions of someone around you.
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Or, it can be a card that suggests it’s important to act with honesty and have good intentions. In other words, it’s a call to action to watch your own behaviour in certain situations and avoid being sneaky or deceptive, which may not help you get ahead in the long-run (or thwart your chances of success). The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn called this card: “Lord of Unstable Effort.” In other words, a plan that will fail or may not work out very well in the end.
G. Positive career ideas
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Military or policing careers that require undercover detective work or reconnaissance missions
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Corporate or legal careers, that require shrewdness, in order to stay one step ahead of opponents (ie: having sharp judgment)
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Careers that require quick thinking, good communication, diplomacy or negotiation when dealing with very difficult situations
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Magician who keeps his tricks a secret
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True Crime Sleuth who works to uncover information
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Professional Chess Player (++strategy required!)
Positive Characteristics and Card Combinations
Written by Wray Dansereau and Natalie Winters
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