III of Swords and.... love?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Arnnaria	13 Mar 2005
This thread may be a little mushy, so skip ahead if you don't like that stuff... ;-) My boyfriend and I had been going out for a little over two and a half weeks. There is a power to him that I can't label (and I'm a sociologist and LOVE labels). I also refuse to ask the Tarot about him because, frankly, I'm scared at what it will reveal to me,and what I will reveal to myself. Last Saturday he had planned an all-day date in San Francisco. The night before (after midnight) I drew my daily draw... The III of Swords. "Great," I thought to myself, "another heart broken and going down the drain." Since, at the time I did the draw, I was under the influence of a very common drug, I got very sentimental and sad and started to write about all the boys who have broken my heart in the past. The date came and I decided to just be in it. Have a ton of fun and not question anything at all. Finally, it was time for dinner and he took me to a Vietnamese / Chinese / Buddhist all-Vegan restaurant. I was delighted at all the options and he simply smiled the entire time as I sampled all the Vegan delicacies. He revealed that it took him an hour and a half to find the restaurant, but that the fact that I enjoyed it to so much was worth his time. We came back around 9:15 because I had work (I work a night shift from 10 to 3 in the morning), and in my room I did something I have never done before in my entire life. I used the L word. The word that frightens me even now. While he was sitting on my lap I looked into his eyes and said... "I think I'm falling in love with you." He responded by blushing and cuddling with me even more. I went to work and he came with me (I can have friends with me) and we watched a movie while I worked. We came back at 3 in the morning and I flooded out all my emotions to him. How I'm feeling, how I've been hurt in the past; I removed the swords that had been stabbing my heart before I met him. And he listened to everything. And when I was done talking, we slept together. (Nothing dirty, just actual, physical sleeping). So... the III of Swords and Love? What do you think? It's definitley been an eye-opener for me.

graylensman	13 Mar 2005
interesting... I've just been meditating on the Three of Swords, and what cam to me was a Three Musketeers vibe - "all for one, and one for all". I have read that the Threes are influenced by the Empress, which is about planting the seed, as it were, for new things (ideas, relationships, ventures) to come to life. so, the three crossed swords embedded in a heart, standing strong against the storm, coming together for common cause... that's what it said to me. Could also be that the card was telling you to be aware of your pst experiences, but the choice of how you use that knowledge is entirely up to you. sounds like you didn't shy away from that awareness, but put it to good use, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and it looks like it might have paid off for you. Best of everything to you and your boyfriend in the future!

Milamber	13 Mar 2005
I don't think the Three of Swords is a good representative of love, but based on what you've said, it could very well have been representative of the past feelings that were brought out in you -- your own fears. You're certainly going to have to confront those fears at some point if you wish to move on from them. Perhaps you've already begun to do so. Fortune fair well. :)

ros	13 Mar 2005
~ opportunity to heal old wounds ~ exploring unhappy feelings so you can let go of them and move on ~ words coming from ideas or conversations to help heal your heart words - s(words) -ideas conversations or communication - #3

caridwen	13 Mar 2005
I think if the cards wanted to show you falling in love the Two of Cups would have been more apt, don't you think? Without wishing to burst your bubble, but I will anyway;) I would be wary. You haven't known him for very long and are in the first flush as it were - not everything is as it seems, don't fall too hard to quickly or you may end up getting bruised.

firemaiden	14 Mar 2005
Arnnaria, what a beautiful story. I have often felt that the three of swords was a wonderful love card, showing the kind of deep feelings we experience when someone has penetrated clear through to our heart.

psychic sue	14 Mar 2005
He sounds a really nice guy. I think the three of love card here was almost a self-fullfilling prophecy - it made you think back to all the times your heary had been pierced. I think it was saying to you "let go of the hurt in the past" - a kind of "time to move on" card. I wish you much happiness with this man. Love Sue x

caridwen	14 Mar 2005
Quote: it made you think back to all the times your heary had been pierced. Ye gods! That sounds painful;)

The Hierophant	14 Mar 2005
I agree with Caridwen. In this case the three of swords(the sorrow and dissapointment card) is telling you to be aware of past hurts and to proceed a little more cautiously this time. Romance is a tricky thing---been there with both sexes actually. You have to realize that while the feelings you are developing are real so to speak---you do not really know this person, their life circumstances, their past etc., etc. You need I think to call on the High Priestess---listen to your "inner voice" as much as possible. You need it now more than ever to guide you through this experience. I truly believe that the Tarot guides us back to what we all really know to be the truth. You should by all means go with your feelings(I AM a textbook Picses) but keep that Ace of Swords ready!(no pun inteneded!) Good luck---I'm all For lovin'! Hal

Elven	14 Mar 2005
That was a lovely post. Thankyou for your story! May I add though, please take care with that tender romantic blushing heart of yours. Dont be fearful that you may be hurt, incase you do the self fullfilling prophecy thing. Do you think you would have said that you think you were falling in love with this person if the card had not appeared for you? Are your other relationships biting at your heels. Maybe its you who may change your mind at some point. What ever happens enjoy and cherish the good times and the yummy nights out. All the best ... Elven x This is not meant to be a downer post either, I am having trouble explaining myself tonight - I think I've eaten too many chocolate chip biscuits!

Arnnaria	14 Mar 2005
Thanks for all the wonderous replies. Right now I'm bedridden with the flu, been sick since Saturday, and he has been taking care of me and by my side the entire time. I can't label the feelings I feel for him. In fact, I've never felt these feelings before. And as a Libra, it scares me to death when there is something I can't label! Right now my label is love [?]. I'm not sure if this is love, I've never experienced it before. Sure I've loved friends, family, inanimate objects, myself, the God/dess, etc. But never someone like this before. Such a roller coaster ride! Fun and fearful all at the same time!

WolfSpirit	19 Mar 2005
Hi Arnnaria ~ I only just saw this thread. I agree with others who said to be careful and not invest too much into a relationship that is only just developing, you don't know what can happen...but I think that is always good advice (only very difficult to follow), no matter what card you would have drawn. I think the three of swords stands for the daring to be vulnerable, talking about your past hurts. As you have discovered, being in love can also be a scary thing ~ especially in this early stage where there is no stability yet. Hope your relationship will progress favourably - don't let the three of swords scare you, but don't let yourself be too vulnerable either. Good luck to you.

Adjustment	20 Mar 2005
Since the 3 of swords was only your daily card and you did not asked about your relationship it was jus telling you about how you would be feeling that day which was thinking about past heart broken relationships. if you really want to know about the relationship with this guy you should do a reading about it, i thinks is better to know in what foot you are standing with this relationship than no knowing anything at all so that way you know how much you should allow yourself to give in the relationship and prevent or at list lessen your risk of being hurt. here is a very interesting meaning of the 3 of swords that perhaps can give you more inside about the 3 of swords.http://ata-tarot.com/resource/cards/ This is how it reads: Three of Swords The symbolism on the Three of Swords is scant but powerful, almost universal in its depiction on various decks. Three swords are seen piercing a heart, or occasionnally a flower, both of which are symbols of emotion and beauty. Thus the Three of Swords depicts, rather unambiguously, the ability of logic and power to harm the physical body and the emotions of a person. It is not surprising that many people don't like this card because of its associations with pain and suffering. But all of the Swords cards carry a lesson, and the Three of Swords is no different. It lesson may be the most useful of all. So many things can shatter the fragility of the human heart: words, gestures, a turned back or a deaf ear. The Three of Swords is a dark gem that has many faces, none of which are particularly pleasant. There is rejection, sadness, loneliness, heartbreak, betrayal, separation and grief. Such events feel so painful because we don't expect them, and the Three of Swords often serves as a warning sign to show when one or more of these is possible. By preparing for it, the emotional blow can be lessened or even prevented entirely. But that is not the main lesson here. Awful as it may sound, pain is often necessary in your life. If there was no pain there would be no challenge and life would be ultimately pointless. Pain is a great motivator because it encourages you to surmount obstacles and return your life to the way it was before. Such challenges are inevitably opportunities to learn from your mistakes and grow stronger because of their teachings. The pain may cloud your vision for a time, but it the end it will allow you to see clearly, and to put the past behind you. Life will always go on, no matter how bleak it feels. If you can start seeing pain as an opportunity to expand and learn, life will suddenly become a whole lot less painful. The challenges remain but once they are no longer perceived as negative and evil, they lose a lot of their impact and their potency. When the Three of Swords appears and it is not in reference to an event, it is likely telling you that you have the ability to conquer any pain that comes your way. And here's how: see if the pain can help you grow. If someone has betrayed you and you don't think you can ever love again, challenge that belief wholeheartedly. Don't be surprised when your heart emerges from darkness, even more capable of loving than before.

The III of Swords and.... love? thread was originally posted on 13 Mar 2005 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.