7 of swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Oct 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

quan_yin	29 Oct 2001
I have pulled this card 4 times in the past week in examining a new relationship. It shows up as significator for him, subconscious for me, outcome for us (twice), etc. I am puzzled. The books say this is a Lone Wolf card, or maybe emotional ambivalence. I cannot figure out if it is coming from me or him, both of us, or if I am using the wrong interpretation all together. I never pull this card for other issues. Only the times I have tried to look at this particular budding relationship. I should also note that 2 of cups shows up as card 2 in CC twice for him, and once for us as far as hope and fear. Would appreciate your insights, as I feel like the cards are trying to tell me something. I am half paranoid that my ambivalence towards him is now coming from what I see in the cards, not him! That would be the ultimate self-fulfilling prophecy. Thanks

Thirteen	29 Oct 2001
The 7 of swords is what I call the "Thief" card. It has a double meaning. On the one hand, it can mean someone stealing from you--stealing your honor or your ideas. You tell them something important, they steal it from you. On the other hand (and more likely in this case) it can be a warning/observation about how to approach a situation. The implication of this card is that you can't go forward directly. You have to sneak around. It's a bothersome card because when you get it, you usually have a desire to be truthful, blunt, honorable. To speak out. This card warns you not to do that, not yet. Be tactful, say things in a round-about manner, step lightly. It might not feel good, but it's right for this situation. This, by the way, is where the "lone wolf" part comes in as well. You can't take people into your confidence on this. You have to go it alone. One thought might be that this card *isn't* about the relationship so much as telling others about the relationship. You might want to tell everyone about it, get on the phone with all your friends after a date, but the card might be warning you to keep quiet, hold back, wait, evade. Anything you say about it *might* just spread and get told all over town in ways you don't want it told. Just a thought.

quan_yin	29 Oct 2001
Thank you so much, Thirteen. I was beginning to think I was losing my mind. I went back and counted -- this card has actually surfaced 5 times in 10 days, all related to the relationship (yes, I was dense enough to ask 5 different questions all related to the relationship...). I had assumed Lone Wolf it meant this person was committment-phobic or ambivalent or whatever. He does not think he is. Just like I don't think I am. But then why does this card keep surfacing? I don't feel any theft going on, and no one else seems to care much about me seeing this person. I am afraid I am letting this card get to me in real life with this relationship, and I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but be a bit preoccupied... Thanks again for the input. The card does not make any sense right now. Maybe later.

numbrel	29 Oct 2001
quan-yin, What deck are you using? If it is pictoral deck, have you tried just looking at the card to see what the card is trying to tell you, instead of you trying to put "outside" meanings on it? numbrel

Thirteen	29 Oct 2001
Quote: numbrel (30 Oct, 2001 09:03): quan-yin, What deck are you using? If it is pictoral deck, have you tried just looking at the card to see what the card is trying to tell you, instead of you trying to put "outside" meanings on it? numbrel Damn good advise! Great thought.

numbrel	30 Oct 2001
Quote: Thirteen (30 Oct, 2001 11:24): Damn good advise! Great thought. Ah, shucks! Just beginner's luck. I had just done a reading for myself where the 5 of swords showed up. Betrayal didn't seem to fit the situation, but looking at the picture, I came up with a more helpful interpretation. numbrel

Mojo	30 Oct 2001
My immediate impression was the same as Thirteen... that there were some trust issues here that the cards want you to pay attention to. However, I also get a strong feeling of carelessness here. On the Waite-Smith image, the sneaky fellow is handling that stack of swords by the blades instead of the handles - he is just as likely to slice himself to shreds as he is to disarm his enemy. Perhaps the cards are giving you some advise to proceed cautiously and look at actions of your own that could be making you vulnerable.

quan_yin	30 Oct 2001
I am using Tarot of the Spirit deck. 7 of swords is depicted as multiple snake-like figures, with a text of "Many Tongues." So yes, I am having trouble interpreting. It showed up AGAIN last night in subconscious/position3 when I asked, "Please give me some guidance in when I call this person." 6 times in 6 readings?? I have never seen such a persistent card. And I don't see what the issue is. There is no apparent theft or dishonor going on, and no one else cares if I see him or not.

Thirteen	30 Oct 2001
Quote: quan_yin (31 Oct, 2001 01:27): 6 times in 6 readings?? I have never seen such a persistent card. And I don't see what the issue is. There is no apparent theft or dishonor going on, and no one else cares if I see him or not. It helps to know that the card is called "Many Tongues" and that it's showing up primarily in the "unconscious" position. I think I have an answer for you, and it's a pretty simple one: I think the deck is telling you to stop asking about this relationship because you're just going to start decieving *yourself* Many tongues suggests many different versions of the same story. We can do this to ourselves in relationships. We can start to say, "What did he mean by that?" "Does he really like me?" "Should I have said that?" We analyze, take apart, and make much out of nothing. The person says or does something, and suddenly we make up a thousand different reasons for why they said or did that, most of them causing us undue worry and paranoia. We, in effect, create gossip, lots of stories where there is none. And asking the cards, repeatedly, about the relationship is a really good way to create even more stories and worries about it. I think the deck is telling you to stop trying to analyze, predict, look underneath this relationship and just enjoy it. See it as honest and straightforward, rather than potentially dishonest or filled with hidden meanings. One question, as you keep getting this card, why haven't done a claification? That is, put down another card next to it to try and clarify it's meaning? Oh, and one last mundane thing: it might be time to clean that poor, overworked deck of yours. When you keep getting one card over and over, the deck is usually signaling that it needs to be cleared :)

EveAnna	30 Oct 2001
Hi quan_yin, I use the Rider Waite deck and 7 of Swords in this deck also warns to be vigilant to avoid being deceived. It could be as Thirteen says that your deck needs cleansing, do you have another deck you might be able to do a reading with?

quan_yin	31 Oct 2001
I have not cleansed the deck, but I didn't get the sense it needed it yet. It just feels like it is persistent in telling me about 7 of swords on this particular relationship. I am not getting this card when I ask about other stuff. I also have a Universal Waite deck, and will give it atry. For some reason, the Waite deck does not resonate as much with me as the Tarot of the Spirit deck. It feels more ominous and less encouraging to me. But maybe it's because I am wimp! The Tarot of the Spirit cards are beautiful, but they are also difficult to interpret. If anyone has any input on this deck, would love to hear. Thanks.

purplelady	02 Nov 2001
I too pulled this card a couple of days ago. And it also puzzled me. I really could not relate it particularly to anything I could think of in my life. The card had a sword with 6 wavy lines crossing it , like wagging tounges. This might sound strange but I think sometimes people pull the same card, like something's in the air about that card at the time.

purplelady	04 Nov 2001
The 7 swords I pulled is titled "deciet" (or deception , I can't remember for sure and don't have deck with me at the moment). But the cards don't lie. I actually can relate this and some of the other mentioned meanings to my last few days quite a bit. I did meet with a relative I haven't seen in ages whom I know I must be very guarded with and do not trust, and I know he would gossip behind my back , and probubly not even truthfully! Also , another person lied to me ,it was obvious and provable. And yet when confronted,this person still never admits to lying. Instead he "forgets" or makes a mistake , etc.

quan_yin	05 Nov 2001
ok, now it is nuts fyi, this card has shown up 7 times in 7 readings on the same issue. And I still don't see where the deception, Lone Wolf, or whatever the issue is. All I know is that the energy around this card is very strong and not very positive. But I don't know what I'm supposed to do. It is starting to affect how I see this person, though I know I shouldn't let it.

Thirteen	05 Nov 2001
Quote: quan_yin (06 Nov, 2001 03:43): ok, now it is nuts fyi, this card has shown up 7 times in 7 readings on the same issue. And I still don't see where the deception, Lone Wolf, or whatever the issue is. All I know is that the energy around this card is very strong and not very positive. But I don't know what I'm supposed to do. It is starting to affect how I see this person, though I know I shouldn't let it. Ok, Quan, it's time to lay this damn card to rest. Here's what I want you to do. Take it out of the deck and set it down *as your signifier* Shuffle the deck well. Ask the deck: "What are you trying to tell me with this card that I'm not understanding?" Concentrate hard on this question, then lay out your spread over/around the card and see if that *finally* clears things up.

bec	05 Nov 2001
Iīve been following this thread not knowing what to say about it you using a different deck. But now I see itīs showing it self for the 7th time - wow - now that is defently the most persistent card Iīve ever heard about. I sat down and gave my waite card a good looong look, and to me it says mainly two things: 1) being lazy 2) settle for less This man just stole 7 swords from the tents, but he looses 2 on the way, looking over his his shoulder, he seems to think " hey 5 out 7 is pretty good too ainīt it" -So maybe this could mean, that your relationship is ok, but not great. -Or that you love him, but ainīt inlove with him. -Or maybe the card is stating itīs annoyings about you not trying to your fullest to read the spread. Does it say anything you donīt wanna face? Maybe you fell in love with love instead of eachother .... like the song "2 out of 3 ainīt that bad" Just some suggestions.....

quan_yin	07 Nov 2001
OK, since I thought I was losing my mind, I followed Thirteen's suggestion. I put out 7 of swords, then asked the deck, "Please give me more information on what 7 of Swords is trying to tell me." (Meanwhile, you may find it hilarious that this man that I was hoping about has suddenly stopped calling. Just gone.) I pulled 8 cards, and assigned each with the following questions: 1. "What is the main issue/clarifier/most important thing to know about the main issue here?" I got: 5 of Wands, called "The Struggle." 2. "How has this issue affected me in the past?" I got: The Hermit. 3. "How is this issue affecting me in the present?" I got: King of Pentacles. 4. "How will this issue affect me in the future?" I got: 6 of Cups, called Faith. 5. "Is this wanring about a specific person or me?" I got: The High Priestess. 6. "What is my greatest fear or hope?" I got: 5 of Pentacles, called The Nadir. 7. What action should I take?" I got: 4 of Swords, called Mastery. 8. "What is the outcome?" I got: Ace of Cups, called Open Channel. Well, this is what I've gotten. I still am not sure what 7 of Swords means exactly for me, but obviously it is big. If you all have interpretations to share, would love to hear it. Sorry for the long ramble. This is the first time a card has bothered and and confused me so persistently. 7 times in 7 readings is a bit strange. What I do not understand is why Spirit thinks this warning is more about me than him. He is the one who has disappeared...

cormac	10 May 2005
hi -- ok gonna take a chance and throw this out to see if it floats ;) i see it as a thief card as 13 noted -- but i also drew this not long ago and while musing it over decided that does a thief know what is most valuable to us? do they know that, for example, the battered old, well-used tarot deck in the wooden box with the broken hinge is the one that means the most to us? of course he doesn't -- he is swiping the deck with the gilded edges and the pristine gold and pearl inlay box -- i realize i'm drawing a rather wide berth here but truthfully, if a thief came in and stole your tv, microwave, stereo, etc., he stole those items because he could pawn them the quickest and easiest and they would bring a certain price on the market -- a thief may steal from us but someone who does not know us does not know what is valuable to us ... the thief may just be relieving us of some extemperaneous and unnecessary items that were just dead weight in short, i don't see it as all negative (certainly it would be dependent on the situation) :)

skytwig	10 May 2005
cormac wrote: does a thief know what is most valuable to us? do they know that, for example, the battered old, well-used tarot deck in the wooden box with the broken hinge is the one that means the most to us? of course he doesn't -- he is swiping the deck with the gilded edges and the pristine gold and pearl inlay box ...... a thief may steal from us but someone who does not know us does not know what is valuable to us ... the thief may just be relieving us of some extemperaneous and unnecessary items that were just dead weight :) Very nice observation! Thanx! :)

Pipkin	10 May 2005
My take on your 7 swords, and I believe cards direct us to different things within the image as well as their written meanings, is that this relationship was a weight on your shoulders (or indeed ended up becoming that). This is because I am drawn to the swords weighing down on the shoulders. At the start of a new relationship we often tend to look for signs from another as to how the relationship stands rather than how we truly feel about the other person and relationship from within. I suspect the signs from this guy weren't strong enough to convince you of where this relationship could go and hence you kept asking about it and pulling same card....perpetuating circle because swords often relate to the air signs which are about mental thought processes, the more you pulled this the more confused you became instead of going to your core gut feelings. The High Priestess you pulled (I think I'm right in saying you got that for you in a clarification spread) is asking you to centre yourself and your feelings and that can guide you. 7 Swords is often mental anxiety and that is certainly what you've given yourself!

psychic sue	11 May 2005
I would see this card as telling you to balance things up the relationship. One person would seem to be calling all the shots - it's time to look at the dynamics of the relationship and come to an equilibrium. Just my thoughts. Sue x

Moongold	11 May 2005
Once I was meditating on the Swords in the form of a spiritual journey and had a an insight about the VII Swords. These are my notes for the card at the time: Ah in the spiritual search how many times has the Soul chosen the uncertainty of five and left the wisdom of two?

The 7 of swords thread was originally posted on 29 Oct 2001 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.