Three of Swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Little Baron	08 Sep 2004
Have been studying the 'Three of Swords' today as a daily draw. I have been using th Enoil Gavat, which has non-scenic minors. In my studies, I was wondering if any of you look at this card in a possitive way, because in the deck I am currently studying, it doesn't appear to be all doom and gloom. I remember someone saying (it may have been Diana, so correct me if I am wrong) that each tarot key has a light and dark side. It seems that often, there is little light in the interpretation of this card. I have just done a search on the web and have come up with a lot of negative responses to it - "The Lord of Sorrow", "Sorrow and Extreme pain", "Broken Heart", "Pain and Distress", "Emotional Storm", "Suffering" ... the list goes on, and the reversed definitions are even worse. I can see why a reversed card may have such a bleak interpretation but not both possitions. Also, I see my three swords to be active and quite possitive. Why is there such emotion linked to the swords? Would it not be better placed in a reversed 'Three of Cups'. Was wondering also, where the image of the 'bleeding heart' originated from. Maybe the Marseilles readers can shed some light on how they read the imagery as the peirced heart is not there. Hope nobody feels that I am attacking the 'heart' imagery; I just want to be able to understand the levels of this card better. Thanks Yaboot

Fulgour	08 Sep 2004
The card drawn is: Three of Swords Keywords/theme: "true blue through thick and thin" My interpretation: Your card today is often associated with sorrow, but remember, this is the 3 of Swords, and Swords represent intellectual activity. Three is the number of creative and expressive imagination, even considered joyous by many. So what do we have? Sorrow or a great, exciting new idea? I see your card as being symbolic of "Loyalty." There is a price that comes with being true blue, sticking by our commitments and loved ones no matter what, and this card seems to me to be showing us just that. Really, heartbreak and sorrow is Cups territory, and here we're in the mental realm ~ hard fought for, real commitments. more private hereafter...

Little Baron	08 Sep 2004
Thanks Fulgour - Yes, I see exactly what you mean; and very well put. There seems to me to be enough cards in the cups suit that speak of emotional loss and when grouped with other cards, such as the 'fives' can illustrate heartbreak and upsets quite well. I can see this card as being, as you said, exciting new ideas working together. Thanks for sharing. Yaboot

Fulgour	08 Sep 2004
from the Sola Busca card deck: III SWORDS from the late fifteenth century possibly Ferrara or Venice complete deck in Palazzo Sola, Milan and 'impressions' in British Museum

Rusty Neon	08 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Yaboot001 "The Lord of Sorrow", "Sorrow and Extreme pain", "Broken Heart", "Pain and Distress", "Emotional Storm", "Suffering" ... the list goes on, and the reversed definitions are even worse. I can see why a reversed card may have such a bleak interpretation but not both possitions. Despite the Golden Dawn keyword for the 3 of Swords (Sorrow), the GD divinatory meanings for the 3 of Swords aren't all doom and gloom. The GD's _Book T_ list of divinatory meanings for the 3 of Swords gives some positive meanings too: - faithfulness in promises - honesty in money transactions These might have been derived from pre-GD divinatory meanings from cartomancy/taromancy. Certainly not from the Etteilla deck though, which has negative keywords for both upright (Éloignement/Estrangement) and reversed (Égarement/Distraction).

ros	08 Sep 2004
I sometimes feel this card means the healing point. Mentally choosing to overcome your situation instead of emotionally. Once you know exactly how you feel the healing begins mentally. Just 2 cents

Apollonia	08 Sep 2004
I use the Universal Waite, and for me the 3 of Swords often seems to be saying, "Open your heart." It seems to come up a lot in my readings for people who have been sorely wounded in some way, and who have put a shield around their heart so as not to get hurt again. In those cases, I tend to see it as a sign that it is now time to examine those wounded areas, even if they’re still painful, in order to start the healing process and get ready to love again.

Wisp Wings	08 Sep 2004
Hi Ros and Coatl: I really like what you both had to say about this card. Mentally you know, yet you have to endure and even when as Fulgour wrote "of true blue, through thick and thin", it takes it's toll on you. Which is the follow-up and the need for respite and a recovery period, (the need to recharge yourself) as seen in the Four of Swords. To speak to why the traditional meaning of seeing this card as "sorrow", I remembered reading this and went to dig it out to share. I thought it was quite a strong agruement in viewing the negative meaning of why this card has it as such. This is from "The Big Little Book of Tarot" by Rachel Pollack. In part of a paragraph on page 204, titled "Threes - Binah (Understanding)", she writes "One + two = three. The fundamental numbers produce a child, this is, a basic fulfillment of energy. One and two exist in a kind of tension. Three resolves that tension by producing something." Then about the three in the suit of swords, "The Swords, with their theme of Sorrow, might seem the opposite of fulfillment. But if we think of Swords as instruments of conflict and (emotional) pain, what would fulfill them more than Sorrow?"

Wisp Wings	08 Sep 2004
Also think back to the Two of Swords, you have a lady sitting or perched, balanced and blindfolded in front of the sea with her carefully balancing two swords cross-armed. She is closing her eyes to a situation and with balancing these swords is like "walking on egg shells". She is trying to ignore tension and strife in her life balancing it as best she can. I believe with the Three, she has finally removed the blindfold and faced the harsh truth of a bad situation. Positive view = seeing it as it is and knowing she has to move on. So perphaps mentally she "creatived" the strength to view this situation for exactly what it is. Again on a positive spin on the Three of Swords (as others wrote in this thread) maybe healing can now start, as it starts mentally. I see this as having still to go through a lot of mud and mire before stepping out of it. Kind of like while in the dark, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Cerulean	08 Sep 2004
I'm glad the study is working out. For Italian Etteilla styles, the meanings are the same in the following decks Egyptian Tarot of Laura Tuan, De Vecchi editions. Italian Cartomancy, 18th Century, Il Solleone The design is three raised, upright swords. For similar design of three swords in a triangle, the following modern decks, one Italian, one Spanish and there's a slight similarity in the LWB meanings: Crystal Tarots, Lo Scarabeo Gran Esoterico, Fournier However the design is different than the Tavaglione (Enoil Gavat) deck, as the triangle of swords is placed in water-style designs in the Crystal and Gran Esoterico. That is what I see so far. Best wishes! Cerulean

SFGMaster	08 Sep 2004
I'm still a bit green, but if I may... If I were to sum up the 3s (Rider-Waite style) into a keyword phrase, to me it would be the card of "brutal honesty". The Swords represent the truth, and the pierced heart reminds us that the truth used as a weapon can wound more deeply than any falsehood. The difference that sets the 3s apart from other "emotional loss" cards is that the truth that causes the heartbreak is also generally something the querent *needs* to hear, in order to end a deception, or stop "living a lie". The truth pierces the heart, but the truth sets us free.

Ace	09 Sep 2004
I like your interp, SFGMaster, I will keep it in mind. For myself, up until now, I have never been able to take the 3 of Swords seriously. I see the cards as a progression from Ace to 10 and 3 just isn't that bad, but you make out that it is. So I see the 3 as soap operas: "oh, me, poor me! Woe is me!" but it really isn't that bad.

Ravenswing	09 Sep 2004
The three of swords is associated with the emanation Understanding on the tree of life. Its spiritual 'gift' is the Vision of Sorrow. The sorrow comes from the restriction of unbound energy (Wisdom) by creation of form (Understanding). But all forms change-- nothing is static. And so we come to realize that there is no life without death. fly well Raven

mehndigirl	09 Sep 2004
This one reminds me of pulling out a splinter. Really painful, but it has to be done to heal.

starhermit	10 Sep 2004
I use the RWS and I still wince away when I get the 3 of Swords. I think it's because it came up in a relationship reading I did once and it just summed up my feelings completely... heartbreak, sorrow, all that melodramatic stuff about feeling like you'd never be able to live again :) I have to remind myself that there's a positive to the card too, because after you face up to sorrow/heartbreak etc, that means you are no longer in denial. You've accepted the situation, and you can then begin to heal. Every cloud has a silver lining I guess...

ihcoyc	10 Sep 2004
I don't usually look at the card as meaning heartbreak and sorrow, at least not unless it's reversed. My basic concept for the Three of Swords is "a thought worth keeping." In the Aces, you reap a windfall, an unexpected beginning; the Twos represent balance, contradiction, or opposites. The Threes resolve that opposition, or use the balance to build on: a decision is made, a synthesis arrived at. Applying that to the business of Swords, you basically have an idea that's developed enough to at least be worth a try. I can see how you'd get the concept of a commitment or contract from this: an agreement has been given shape. A meeting of minds has taken place. Reversed, it isn't so much heartbreak and sorrow, as much as "I let myself get talked into this" or, "I talked myself into this."

Little Baron	10 Sep 2004
Ihcoyk - I very much like your ideas here. I think this is the way I am looking at this card these days. It seems that a lot of the perceptions I have read about in books only find possitives from something awful happening in the first place. My original question was whether this was the original idea of the card or is it just a lot of interpretations grown from one perception of the card. Did that make sense? When I look back at the non-scenic pips, I see nothing of the broken heart. If the card is reversed, I can see that negative connotations could come to mind; pretty much in the way that you have described it. Thanks for that Yaboot

dolphinprincess	10 Sep 2004
This is my least favorite card in the entire deck. It always produces such a strong reaction for me when it pops up in a reading.... This card is one of the main reasons I sometimes react to the tarot with fear... the fear is just an instinctual reaction to that heart being pierced by three swords. I suppose this card is worse for me than the 10 of swords bc I am very emotional..and the idea of my heart being pierced is far worse (ie. emotional pain can be worse than physical pain)... However, this card never made sense to me. The traditional meaning always screamed of "cups" to me. I have read this thread with much interest bc I struggle with finding a meaning for this card that works for me.. one that "jives" with the picture, yet satisfies my thoughts on Swords. I try not view this card as "heartbreak" or reltionship break-up. I try to view it more as words or thoughts that cause pain, maybe self inflicted..... or perhaps allowing words or thoughts more power than they deserve.

Moonbow*	10 Sep 2004
This is probably the only card that I dispute (with myself) over. When I read from a RWS type deck I may interpret this entirely different from say...... a marseilles deck or some other decks such as Tarocchi Di Vetro (or Stairs of Gold - when I get it :D) To me the number three means the coming together of one and two to produce three. It's a conception or a will to act, and together with the swords..... is recognition, the mental decider (or as Wispwings said "facing the harsh truth") I much prefer this to the sorrow, heartbreak meaning because I find it far more positive and relevant to the suit of swords.

Moonbow*	10 Sep 2004
I think that what Marion says here about the Thoth swords may be of help too. I hope she does not mind me quoting her in this thread also: The 'shards of glass' are triangles. If you ever watch the A&E series, Hercule Poirot, they are used in the introductory sequence. In fact the sequence ends showing a stylized sword card. I believe they stand for the mental process. Also note the use of butterflies in the RWS swords cards. In some Thoth cards the triangles are drawn to sort of make stylized butterflies. The thought process, or even thoughts again. Later in the swords suit the triangles get rather grim and disorganized, showing disorganized thinking or thinking that has lost its focus. Interesting that in the Tarocchi Di Vetro the three of swords are three swords in a triangle shape. Since Marion's post I now see triangles as mental ability.

ihcoyc	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Moonbow* I much prefer this to the sorrow, heartbreak meaning because I find it far more positive and relevant to the suit of swords. This is one of the main reasons why I prefer pip card decks. The RWS tradition mixes sorrow, anguish, and nightmares (for me, Cups business), violence and defeat (Wands business) and immobility and repose (Coins business) in the Swords. For me, heartbreak and sorrow in a 3 would come chiefly from the 5 of cups, and the 3 reversed. The 5 of cups is the card that calls for judgment whether a matter of the heart should be continued or ended. The 3 reversed is the negative side of "hearts together," which I remember reading somewhere was the literal translation of a Japanese phrase for "lovers' murder/suicide."

Diana	10 Sep 2004
The Three is exalted in the Air Element. It reaches heights that it cannot reach in any of the other elements. It is a card that points to great clarity of mind and inventiveness. Creativity and new ideas. It is dynamic and energetic. It can move mountains. Never forget that it is a three. It is the first number that in geometry forms a figure. You cannot join up a 1 or a 2, but with the three, here you have a perfect figure which has a point that reaches up to the heavens (unless you reverse it, of course, and then we start getting into this card's reversed meaning which is not necessarily negative at all - it just means it is reaching to the earth and not to the sky which is a bit more awkward for a three in the Air element and it will require more effort to achieve what one wants to achieve. But it is not impossible and can even be most rewarding in the long run because effort helps us to grow and to learn who we are and why we are.) A most wonderful card, and can point to great success in one's endeavours. (Of course, I am not referring here to that morbid bleeding heart image. I am referring to a THREE OF SWORDS. Punkt.)

Macavity	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Yaboot001 Have been studying the 'Three of Swords' today as a daily draw. I have been using th Enoil Gavat, which has non-scenic minors. As I see it, the negative connotation of the Three of swords, in Golden Dawn decks, is a consequence of the astrological attribution of their Decan to SATURN? Saturn likes to "sit on things" (real astrologers wince at my naivity) - So we have a series of relative party poopers... Seven of Pents. Saturn/Taurus Five of Wands: Saturn/Leo Three of Swords: Saturn/Libra Ten of Wands: Saturn/Sagittarius Eight of Cups: Saturn/Pisces Though it might be noted that Saturn is exalted in Libra - so there is perhaps relief from the "sorrow" in prospect? Or simply a case of "mind over matter" - Which is generally how I interpret this card. But I do concede, with such a convolution of contributory ideas (you might also include the Qabalistic) it seems possible to choose almost ANY attribution... }) But, since we've established that Tavaglione is NOT using Golden Dawn astrological attributions (we decided these were due to Papus?) you are free to use the "correct" astrological combinations, which would make the Three of Swords: Jupiter in Libra - which (apparently) speaks of "peace and justice..." :D See: http://tarot.org.il/Images/Papus%20Decans.png Macavity

Cerulean	10 Sep 2004
3- of Swords (#61) Other glyphs, will fill in later: Rehael...Goot...191 Degrees - 196 Degrees Distancing. Pygmalion, Symbol of Revenge and of Man's Irascibility, Ire, Dominion Indicates distancing, separation and breaking-off. A departure or an absence, also removal. Dispersion. Detour. Opposition, lateness, Contempt, Repugnanc, Hatred, Avesion, Disgust, Asociality, Misanthropy, Incivility. The design is one central sword, the handle toward a circle of signs, with two smaller swords on either side pointing the opposite direction. I'll have to check to see which position is upright.

Fulgour	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean For similar design of three swords in a triangle, the following modern decks, one Italian, one Spanish and there's a slight similarity in the LWB meanings: Crystal Tarots, Lo Scarabeo Gran Esoterico, Fournier Decks such as [/color], or any by Fournier reflect the Spanish School attributions (kabbalah). This is why the correspondence for Swords is Water. There's a thread languishing in the Marseille forum: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28346 :OL :TQW :OL

SongDeva	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ros I sometimes feel this card means the healing point. Mentally choosing to overcome your situation instead of emotionally. Once you know exactly how you feel the healing begins mentally. Just 2 cents Indeed, sometimes the intention to heal, or to 'get through' triggers the actual healing itself. It can be paramount.

Moonbow*	10 Sep 2004
Don't you all think that this is why we should read intuitively? I have always been touched by artwork, and I read what 'I' see in art. To me it is the same with tarot...... I think that some of the best readings I have had or read about have been the intuitive ones. I had the Sun card in my Daily Thoth yesterday. To me it said.... Solar Plexus because of the picture, and my reasons were given in the post. I also read Crowley's description of the card in the Book of Thoth - but if I read with this deck then I read what 'I' see.

Macavity	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Moonbow* Don't you all think that this is why we should read intuitively? In this case, I think it might be valuable to explore the how and why of (even author's LWB) meanings as derived from the card symbolism and correspondences rather than choose from a (lengthening?) list of intuitive meanings for the Three of Swords. But I concede my likely minority opinion... ;) Macavity

ihcoyc	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Fulgour Decks such as [/color] This is why the correspondence for Swords is Water. There's a thread languishing in the Marseille forum: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28346 IIRC, Gareth Knight points out that the Bleeding Heart is quite properly a Binah symbol, which is right for 3. I remember seeing that Roman Catholics venerate a symbol of Mary in which her heart is pierced by seven swords, symbols of the 7 Deadly Sins.

Diana	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ihcoyc IIRC, Gareth Knight points out that the Bleeding Heart is quite properly a Binah symbol, which is right for 3. I remember seeing that Roman Catholics venerate a symbol of Mary in which her heart is pierced by seven swords, symbols of the 7 Deadly Sins. No, not the 7 Sins. The 7 Sorrows (or the 7 Dolors). 1. The Prophecy of Simeon. 2. The Flight into Egypt. 3. The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. 4. Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary. 5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. 6. Jesus Taken Down from the Cross. 7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb. It is a tradition that started in the 12th or 13th Century. It is celebrated on September 15th.

Cerulean	10 Sep 2004
Perhaps because of the illustrations in the Porta Celeste and the Enoil Gavat, the intuitive approach could be very helpful. But I found myself enjoying the words and learning more of the Italian and deciphering the bits and pieces of language. If the Tavaglione Stairs of Gold that you ordered feels intuitively easy for you, Moonbow, that is wonderful. I found that it looks great when I do layouts, but I don't read it intuitively--I don't respond to it as if was my traditional Milanese decks yet. More later--a kayaking buddy is throwing TP rolls at me so we can go eat...I'll post... Thanks. Macavity's suggestion: In this case, I think it might be valuable to explore the how and why of (even author's LWB) meanings as derived from the card symbolism and correspondences rather than choose from a (lengthening?) list of intuitive meanings for the Three of Swords.

ihcoyc	10 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana No, not the 7 Sins. The 7 Sorrows. . . I'm sure you're right. I'm probably thinking of the poem by Baudelaire, A une madone. This is what I get for memorizing so much Baudelaire in college. . . .

The Three of Swords thread was originally posted on 08 Sep 2004 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.