three of swords meanings?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tepia	22 Aug 2003
Hi I am new here, and I have just started reading tarot cards, its a lot of fun! Anyway, a card I have been seeing way to much of lately is the three of swords. I get it for myself and for others. I haven't had enough experience to find a whole lot of potential readings for this card, but I have found that it means heart break, and hurtful things to be said and so on. However, a lot of the people that I read for are in the hard sciences, including myself. So I was wondering what other kind of meanings people have found for this card. For myself and my friends, it doesn't seem that wierd to get swords all the time... tepia

Umbrae	22 Aug 2003
The Three of Swords can be a very positive card. It is a card that is more about the concept of pain, than pain itself. This is a card about putting ourselves into positions where we blame others for our actions. It is a card about accepting losses, regrouping and moving on…unless – we are prone to creating our own repetitive errors…

zorya	22 Aug 2003
when i see the 3 of swords, i often think of the kind of sadness that beautiful or good things can grow from. ...and it doesn't have to represent heartbreak or sadness at all. it can be about the growth, expansion or development of something intellectual, like an idea.

tepia	22 Aug 2003
I was wondering if I see this card a lot for certain people (including myself) because we are very involved in our careers (conservation), and that this often infringes on other parts of our lives that maybe that we should pay more attention to (love life, family, spirituallity). Kind of a card for workaholics, but ones that are very passionate about their work... tepia

firemaiden	22 Aug 2003
Hi tepia, I like this card too. I think of it as the card not so much of heartbreak, but of grieving, and letting the pain out, like a wonderful rainstorm that washes the world.

Elle	22 Aug 2003
I had heard of the meaning (don't remember where I heard/read this) of the Three of Swords as putting the blame on others and often it is a misconception. Hmmm...if that is the case - which card denotes true heartbreak? The Five of Cups? (which is often called the "real" Death Card). Warmest, Elle

firemaiden	22 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Elle Hmmm...if that is the case - which card denotes true heartbreak? The Five of Cups? (which is often called the "real" Death Card). The Nine of Swords?

Inana	23 Aug 2003
Not nine of swords. At least to me that one is when you are worrying too much about something that hurts or annoys you. I mean is about suffering, but more like when you are fooling yourself thinking about the same all the time. Five of cups, is more close, plus is in the cups suit, the one of the heart issues. True pain is emotional, not mental.

firemaiden	23 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Inana True pain is emotional, not mental. hmmm.. Mental pain *is* emotional pain, and vice versa. How are you going to separate them? Perhaps the 5 of cups shows some kind of definitive loss and acceptance of it (which allows the kind of grief which heals) -- whereas the 9 of cups shows the anguish of non-acceptance.

Keslynn	23 Aug 2003
For me, the best explanation of the 3 of Swords was given by Angeles Arrien in The Tarot Handbook. She says that the 3 of Swords is the kind of pain that you run over and over in your head. For me, it makes me think of that just broken up phase where you hurt and sit around trying to analyze what went wrong. Eventually you realize that it's not going to do any good, but at the time, it just replays in your thoughts. :) Kes

Inana	25 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden hmmm.. Mental pain *is* emotional pain, and vice versa. How are you going to separate them? Perhaps the 5 of cups shows some kind of definitive loss and acceptance of it (which allows the kind of grief which heals) -- whereas the 9 of cups shows the anguish of non-acceptance. I've expressed myself pretty bad. What I meant is: With nine of swords the pain is usually amplified by ourselves thinking a matter over and over. Thats what i meant with mental. Your worries are bigger than the real pain. So, maybe the word i was trying to express is tribulation or concern instead of pain. With five of cups one feels the pain, loss, or regret. No matter if one thinks about it or not. The feeling is there, in your stomach and your chest, even if you are trying to concentrate in other things. So, your point about acceptance and denial makes lot of sense if you apply it here. And about the three of swords: Its more as unexpected pain. When you discover something that hurts, and you feel betrayed (your heart is stabbed). Contrary to what i've read here, I think this kind of pain comes from outside, not like the nine that comes from inside. I mean, ok, dont blame ONLY the others, but they have their part of fault. The sky is stormy, cause the situation is that way, maybe that doesnt allow to see clearly at that time, but thats valid for everyone involved. By the way this heart reminds me that Sacred Jesus heart (is this the name?), that one in flames showed in the catholic prints. Anyone else has thought about it?

Mimers	25 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by tepia I was wondering if I see this card a lot for certain people (including myself) because we are very involved in our careers (conservation), and that this often infringes on other parts of our lives that maybe that we should pay more attention to (love life, family, spirituallity). Kind of a card for workaholics, but ones that are very passionate about their work... tepia Hi Tepia, I find that when a card appears over and over it is usually something that I have to pay attention too. There was a time when I repeatedly got the Fool in readings. It was trying to tell me to loosen up and have some fun. Stop worrying about the consequences of everything I do, and just have fun. I also think that if you are getting an abundance of swords in a reading that there could be an imbalance. Perhaps you need to look at the suits that are missing and see if you can bring a little of them into your life. For instance, the 3 of wands might mean putting some new ideas into action, rather than what seems logical. 3 of cups(or lack of) might say that you are not spending any time with your friends and family, enjoying their company. Take a Saturday off and have a backyard BBQ with them. Don't think, just enjoy the company. Lack of a 3 of Pentacles might mean that it is time to let others contribute to the project, what ever it is. Stop trying to do it yourself. Do you find any of the above perhaps missing in your lives right now? These are questions to ask yourself when other suits are missing entirely. Mimers

stangall	25 Aug 2003
....... tell me more about it....

Aun	25 Aug 2003
It kinda bugs me the fact that sometimes the numerological / suit combination doesnt seem to have anything to do with the images of some cards. In my opinion the 3 of swords has something to do with pain at the Intellectual level... now how it comes to play, it depends on the question, position on spread and relation to other cards as well... peace, Aun

tepia	25 Aug 2003
Hi everyone thank you for your posts, it gave me a lot to think about...especially withthe comparisions with the three of swords to other similar cards, like the five of cups...helped me understand them a little better, or atleast way that I can come to understand the cards... I wish I had something else to add to the thread, but I am really new to tarot.. so I'll just think about everything :) Thanks again tepia

jog1118	26 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by tepia I was wondering if I see this card a lot for certain people (including myself) because we are very involved in our careers (conservation), and that this often infringes on other parts of our lives that maybe that we should pay more attention to (love life, family, spirituallity). Kind of a card for workaholics, but ones that are very passionate about their work... tepia i think you are going to be quite a tarot reader tepia... your words are exactly what came to my mind when i read your post... :smoker:

Diana	26 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Aun It kinda bugs me the fact that sometimes the numerological / suit combination doesnt seem to have anything to do with the images of some cards. In my opinion the 3 of swords has something to do with pain at the Intellectual level... now how it comes to play, it depends on the question, position on spread and relation to other cards as well... peace, Aun Aun: you're lucky that it only bugs you. It makes me want to start a new Crusade..... Reclaim Jerusalem (or rather Tarot.....). Yes, I really agree that the 3 of Swords can have something to do with pain on the intellectual level. It can also mean cutting remarks, lack of diplomacy, downright meanness. But!!! There are always two sides to a card. ALWAYS. There is no such thing as a card that means only bad stuff or good stuff. The three of Swords can mean also wise words, comforting ideas. Ideas that help us get out of our problems and into a more comfortable zone. Don't forget: the Empress is a III. That picture with a heart pierced by three swords has done a lot of harm.... people don't THINK about threes, about swords. About the Air element and what a Three can do to an Air element. They just look at a picture and say "oh! Heartache!". But WHY is it heartache, they do not ask.... just accept it. Makes me sometimes lose my patience. Sigh..... (edited for spelling mistakes)

Aun	26 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Diana But!!! There are always two sides to a card. ALWAYS. There is not such thing as a card that means only bad stuff or good stuff. The three of Swords can mean also wise words, comforting ideas. Ideas that help us get out of our problems and into a more comfortable zone. Don't forget: the Empress is a III. Great Insight. It gave me a better understanding of the concept of this card (...and all the other cards as well...) Peace, Aun

Aerin	26 Aug 2003
This thread is really helpful to me. I have realised that while I find it relatively easy to see the full spectrum of most cards, the 3 of Swords I have had more difficulty with since there is the pierced heart in front of me. But if I turn the card upside down in my mind, the swords slide out and Diana's comforting words and ideas come to the fore. Aerin

Adjustment	26 Aug 2003
To me this card is about grief, it might be telling you to express or name what is closest to your heart, express what is bodering you get it out of your heart, speak frankly and don't get trapped in love or hate, pain, rage, revenge and envy need to be expressed as do love and passion, you will feel a big relief when your heart is again free.

anjocoxo	26 Aug 2003
I have a different view on the 3 of swords (although I also agree with much of what has been said). I always see the 3 of swords as verbal arguments, when we have an argument with someone and the worng words are said, in a way that the other person gets more hurt than you thought s/he would be. On the other hand, someone may get on a fight with you, and s/he may say pretty nasty things, that shake (and shock) you and make you feel really low (and I think that either way we don't admit that we also had our share of guilt in the fight...) That's my view of the 3 of swords Anjo

Scarletpeaches	28 Aug 2003
The feeling I get from the three of swords is inevitable pain. Something you have to go through for the sake of your situation having a chance of improving. As the Mythic Tarot puts it - like an abscess bursting. (Sorry for being disgusting)! Something that hurts like hell but makes you feel better in the end. I'm not a great fan of the swords myself, although I've been getting the 4 of Swords showing up quite a bit in personal readings!

The three of swords meanings? thread was originally posted on 22 Aug 2003 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.