3 of Swords as situation card

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Alice23	08 Apr 2005
Hi everyone! I know the 3 of Swords is traditionally a card for loss and heartbreak...and this may not be the best place to put this question...so apologies now, but when the question of what the impression is that you're giving to another person(romantically) is the 3 of swords, what does this mean? I know the traditional interpretation is that you are facing the loss of a relationship but in terms of the impression you give to someone else..I'm a little confused! Any help would be great, thanks a lot! Alicexx

firemaiden	08 Apr 2005
Perhaps it could mean, that you are giving the impression of still suffering over a previous break up. Or, it could mean, you give the impression of wanting to be reached emotionally, very deeply.

Gwynne	08 Apr 2005
It could also mean they view the person in question as someone who has the potential to hurt them emotionally, to break their heart so to speak. This may or may not be a true assessment, lack of trust and pain from the past often makes people view others as a threat.

Thirteen	09 Apr 2005
Alice23 wrote: in terms of the impression you give to someone else..I'm a little confused! Swords are traditionally about the mind and communications. 3/Swords is about heartbreak, yes, but usually over what was said or not said--lies, miscommunication, false impressions, unexpressed thoughts--usually hurtful thoughts suddenly given voice. The impression could be, as said, that you're hurting, bleeding from a past relationship, OR, that you require, well, too much maintance (sic). That is, that you require a lot of verbal reassurance. The sort of person who asks "Do you really like me? Are you happy? Did I do all right? Is that okay?" Contrariwise, it could also give the impression of a heartbreaker--of someone who will callously stab you in the heart one day. In any case, I wouldn't say that this card would give anyone a very good impression of you. The impression will be that you're either a cold-minded, sharp-tongued sword who can't be trusted, or a damaged heart one harsh word away from utter collapse.

Elven	09 Apr 2005
Hi Alice23 This could also mean the need for 'acknowledgement' of a pain of mind and heart that is yet not healed, or cannot heal. Just another impression to add.. Blessings Elven. x

Fudugazi	09 Apr 2005
It could be the other person is not yet healed from a heartbreak and projects onto you his painful mind-constructs, rather than seeing the real you. His impressions are entirely taken up by his own heartbreak. He could be projecting things onto you that remind him of the lost one that hurt him - and instead of looking at Alice without prejudice, filters you through the lens of a still vivid pain.

caridwen	09 Apr 2005
just to add to the original question. If you laid a card in the 'does he fancy me' position and you received the three of swords what would that mean??lol

Thirteen	09 Apr 2005
caridwen wrote: just to add to the original question. If you laid a card in the 'does he fancy me' position and you received the three of swords what would that mean?? Oh, ouch! I see three possible answers with this one: 1) He fancies you--but is sure you're going to really hurt him and so he'd keeping away. 2) He fancies you...as someone who's heart he can toy with. There are guys and girls out there who like to hurt people emotionally, get them to love 'em, then stab them through the heart. This person may fancy only those they can verbally abuse. 3) He may fancy you--but he's not going to leave his wife (perhaps the most oft-asked question a reader will get). He's lying to you if he implies he might. I'd be especially wary of getting this card in the "does he fancy me" position if I was reading about a guy I met on the internet. It would indicate to me that he's lying in his e-mails and chats--that if he ever told me the truth it would devistate me. Not a good card for the "does he fancy me" position. Even if he's just afraid you're going to hurt him, he's going to be hard to deal with.

caridwen	11 Apr 2005
Thirteen wrote: Oh, ouch! I see three possible answers with this one: 1) He fancies you--but is sure you're going to really hurt him and so he'd keeping away. 2) He fancies you...as someone who's heart he can toy with. There are guys and girls out there who like to hurt people emotionally, get them to love 'em, then stab them through the heart. This person may fancy only those they can verbally abuse. 3) He may fancy you--but he's not going to leave his wife (perhaps the most oft-asked question a reader will get). He's lying to you if he implies he might. I'd be especially wary of getting this card in the "does he fancy me" position if I was reading about a guy I met on the internet. It would indicate to me that he's lying in his e-mails and chats--that if he ever told me the truth it would devistate me. Not a good card for the "does he fancy me" position. Even if he's just afraid you're going to hurt him, he's going to be hard to deal with. Thank you Thirteen - very ominous indeed. A fair warning:)

Metaclematis	11 Apr 2005
I agree with all thats written above - and would add - forgive me if this has already been posted - but in the does he fancy me position - I agree with beware - but generally this would indicate for me a person with a hurt background who hasnt been able to move on from previous bad relationships, wounded and negative feelings that is still significant in his aura.

Alice23	11 Apr 2005
Hi everyone and thanks for all of your replies - very interesting! Have been thinking about this one and when speaking to him the other night he agreed that I do come across quite differently and he still feels nervous and curious..I did point out to him that how I came across was completely different from how I was feeling!! The heartbreak bit may also be true....he hasnt long split up from his girlfriend and as he put it has only ever been in long term relationships..so maybe because I do like him he thinks he'll hurt me or I'm going to hurt him because I do come across as quite strong! This one has definetely made me think! The outcome card was the lovers...so we shal see! Thanks again for all your replies!! xx

cormac	11 Apr 2005
i just drew this card this morning as my day card and it is the second time in two weeks the tarot has shown me it ... still can't see where this is pointin however ... my wife and i have a great relationship (at least i'm 99.9% sure we do ;) ) ... i do see my supervisor at work in this to an extent in that he's the passive-aggressive type and doesn't exactly lie about somethings but tries to please everyone which means that there is a twist very close to a lie (if that makes any sense -- he was the son of an alcoholic and he is still living as if his father is there ready to take a swing if something goes wrong -- and this i understand to a degree since my mother is an alcoholic) -- perhaps it is my youngest brother who new wife has eased us back together after not speaking for some years -- perhaps it's the mistrust that this time the other shoe won't drop however i'm waiting for it -- i would ask tho that since this card is in the minor arcada, does it carry less weight of "heartbreak" so to speak? (i'm thinking no but would like to hear from you more experienced tarotists :) ) i'm looking tho and thanks for all the replies to the original question -- very helpful :)

tmgrl2	11 Apr 2005
I think of swords as air/Intellect here and see the triple whammy of "overthinking" which can lead to causing our own "heartbreak." Although we can't control situations or other people, I do believe that how we choose to "think" about what happens, steers how much pain we suffer as a result of any situation. Also, body, mind/spirt and soul...triple swords, as if to say... Do you get it?? Now, all aspects of my self are being affected by this!! terri

Pipistrelle	11 Apr 2005
tmgrl2 wrote: I think of swords as air/Intellect here and see the triple whammy of "overthinking" which can lead to causing our own "heartbreak." I agree..with the swords piercing the heart, there is a sense of over-intellectualising emotions, thinking rather than feeling. Taken further, you can see how this may express itself as denial (of emotions) etc. I feel this is particularly resonant in our therapy-obsessed age - the tendency is to analyse emotions and why we feel what we feel, instead of just letting ourselves feel. Pip

memries	14 Apr 2005
this may be off but for me it is real. broke my shoulder lots of pain.. a bit better now... cloudy sky in cards.. a bad time .. separation all right but in reality... keep getting the card.. separation of friends.. things you do.. things u love to do..mental challenge to stay encouraged..isolation. I have lots of loving care so dont worry but for me explains card exactly.

tmgrl2	14 Apr 2005
memries wrote: this may be off but for me it is real. broke my shoulder lots of pain.. a bit better now... cloudy sky in cards.. a bad time .. separation all right but in reality... keep getting the card.. separation of friends.. things you do.. things u love to do..mental challenge to stay encouraged..isolation. I have lots of loving care so dont worry but for me explains card exactly. Yes...could fit quite appropriately for your situation...and that is what I believe is so important...that a card be read within a context...a particular sitter...within a spread...so meanings change depending on many factors. terri

Bosorka	15 Apr 2005
cormac wrote: i just drew this card this morning as my day card and it is the second time in two weeks the tarot has shown me it ... still can't see where this is pointin however ... This happened to my friend, when she asked about relationship. Really good one, she was thinking about baby that time. Anyway, the 3 of swords meant for her (as she told me next week we met) that there was something between them with what they weren't both satisfied, but they just didn't talk about it. Though she wasn't unhappy when we did reading (actually she didn't see any problems), she felt much better after talking with her boyfriend. cormac wrote: i would ask tho that since this card is in the minor arcada, does it carry less weight of "heartbreak" so to speak? (i'm thinking no but would like to hear from you more experienced tarotists ) Well, there are people who are much more experienced than me, but I would say that it depends according to question. Usually daily cards doesn't have so strong weight as when you do specific reading for longer period.

The 3 of Swords as situation card thread was originally posted on 08 Apr 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.