Can 7 of Swords ever be a good card?

[Lotus Padma]

I have had this card come up several times as meaning stealing from oneself! So, it can indicate a lack of self-confidence, insofar as I have learned from it. So it can be a positive message in the sense that it is telling you that you are not being confident enough, or that you are dissipating your energies in negative ways. And that is a positive, in that it is trying to tell you, so that you can shift your attitude or change your ways and have more confidence in your own abilities.

I also think it more often means be tactful, as Thirteen mentioned.

I have very, very rarely seen it come up as actual material theft of some kind. I think you must take it in the context where it appears - i.e., don't read it as a singular card, but apply what you know of it in context with whatever shows up around it

[poppiesrossi]

Originally Posted by SA12

Good or bad is up to the situation and the context of your other cards to determine -- but in general this card signifies strong mental activity -- planning, scheming or an outright conniving maneuver. On the positive side, this is a great card for reminding you to keep your wits about you and 'think outside the box' for solving a problem. Additionally there are often situations in life that permit or even are more preferable if a little subterfuge is involved. Granted, I've seen this card get a bad rep because of it's appearance signifying cheating or someone unwilling to own up to their end of the bargain....but again, to give you more positive ideas, imagine life without the little white lie or the stealthy surprise? Maybe the "thief" here is acting with honor -- but the rest of the cards will tell the tale.

ps. I've had this card come up reversed/ill-dignified and indicate getting an apology or actual vindication if you've been insulted or wrongfully accused.

Oh thank you! Something else to think about.. so upright.. it can be a covert operation where intentions are good and pure. I like that. I also like the think outside of the box interpretation too.

[poppiesrossi]

Originally Posted by Lotus Padma

I have had this card come up several times as meaning stealing from oneself! So, it can indicate a lack of self-confidence, insofar as I have learned from it. So it can be a positive message in the sense that it is telling you that you are not being confident enough, or that you are dissipating your energies in negative ways. And that is a positive, in that it is trying to tell you, so that you can shift your attitude or change your ways and have more confidence in your own abilities.

I also think it more often means be tactful, as Thirteen mentioned.

I have very, very rarely seen it come up as actual theft of some kind. I think you must take it in the context where it appears - i.e., don't read it as a singular card, but apply what you know of it in context with whatever shows up around it

Yes I do try to do that.. but certain cards come up and a thought automatically pops into my head.. like 7 of swords! Oh no deceit.. betrayal.. someone not being up and up.. that is why I wanted to see what other interpretations I could come up with so I can get past that initial gut reaction. But I also like that you are not being honest with yourself.. or stealing your own energy.

All these interpretations give me more choices to work with so thank you

[Kibeth]

I find 7 of Swords a warning card, sort of like the yellow stripes on a poisonous snake to warn would-be predators. I would draw a 7 of Swords on a person, then I'd be wary of them. Forewarned. When I spoke with them it was with a guarded tongue, then I'd been glad of not revealing enough and when said person wanted to incriminate me afterwards I used the information I didn't reveal to retaliate. The sad thing isn't about the negativity of this card, but the negativity of the world and the need for this card to exist.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by poppiesrossi

but I tend to see cheating, deceiving and hiding things as emotional issues and that is where I got stuck.

You're not wrong that they are emotional issues. As Cups is labeled as "emotions" people often think that means that the other suits are emotionless. Cups really should be titled: "Emotional" Cups are soaring bliss and deep depression, they are poetic love and seething jealousy. Cups are getting teary-eyed during a movie about a puppy. But there are other emotions, not so "emotional" that belong to the other suits. Wands are energy emotions, like temper or passion. Pents are more earthy, like pride or embarrassment. The Swords are emotions that usually have to do with over-thinking things. Anxiety, worry, fear--even paranoia.

When you see cheating, deceiving and hiding things as emotional, you are right. But I think you're reading what *you* feel about someone cheating, deceiving and hiding things into the card. You get emotional about it. Very upset. But that may not be the emotion driving the person to cheat or deceive or hide. Fear, paranoia, insecurity often makes a person do such things. And that is why this card, about *this* sort of cheating, hiding and deceiving is a Sword card rather than a Cup, Wand or Pentacle card (some of which can also be about hiding and deceiving).

Does that help?

[poppiesrossi]

Originally Posted by Thirteen

You're not wrong that they are emotional issues. As Cups is labeled as "emotions" people often think that means that the other suits are emotionless. Cups really should be titled: "Emotional" Cups are soaring bliss and deep depression, they are poetic love and seething jealousy. Cups are getting teary-eyed during a movie about a puppy. But there are other emotions, not so "emotional" that belong to the other suits. Wands are energy emotions, like temper or passion. Pents are more earthy, like pride or embarrassment. The Swords are emotions that usually have to do with over-thinking things. Anxiety, worry, fear--even paranoia.

When you see cheating, deceiving and hiding things as emotional, you are right. But I think you're reading what *you* feel about someone cheating, deceiving and hiding things into the card. You get emotional about it. Very upset. But that may not be the emotion driving the person to cheat or deceive or hide. Fear, paranoia, insecurity often makes a person do such things. And that is why this card, about *this* sort of cheating, hiding and deceiving is a Sword card rather than a Cup, Wand or Pentacle card (some of which can also be about hiding and deceiving).

Does that help?

Wow.. you are so spot on! I do tend to get emotional about it. But yes I can see other factors come into play.. and other emotions/motivations on why someone would cheat, deceive or keep things hidden. This makes perfect sense why 7 of swords is more based on fear, paranoia or insecurity.. thank you.

You definitely gave me a new way of looking at this card. A bit more objectively I should say.

[Cenozoic]

I like the 7 of Swords actually. I see sevens as heavily goal-oriented (since VII Chariot is the card of victory!), but since it's swords it's dealing with the intellectual side of it. They have a knack for figuring things out quickly, planning out things in advance, having incredible timing, and also not to mention that they're hard workers too, but of course these are all just skills they have. It's a different question when it comes to 'intent'.

They could be the Robin Hood that you know, or they can be your worst nightmare that you are not even aware of! That's how different the intentions are. And it could lead to all sorts of dramatic things happening, like thievery, betrayal, loss, grief, you know all that stuff! But also it could be something daring, heroic, and might I say, just?

Since the VII Chariot is under the astrological sign of Cancer, I see that many Cancers will have the thought abilities of the 7 of Swords card. They're not all thieves though! LOL And they might not even like the card at all! But they just have this love of planning just about everything! They'll make list after list, think and revise things for hours on end, to accomplish their goal. It can drive other people nuts too...

But well, you should use your better judgement when looking at the situation surrounding the card. I would say that usually the 7 of Swords does mean someone who is deceitful, or someome who is trying to wrong you. So be careful

[lucky star]

Personally, I see it as a relief from stress. In the RW card, he is carrying off some swords which to me means an alleviation of stress.

I got this from my mum actually. I was job-hunting at the time and got the 7 of Swords together with Queen of Swords. My mum happened to be with me (my mum has no interest in tarot whatsoever) and I asked her take on the cards with regards to my job hunt. My mum said "you will find that you will go to an interview and it will go well because your mind won't be on negatives, you will not feel stressed."

She was right - I got a lovely job not long afterward. Ever since this happening, I actually don't mind drawing the 7 of Swords.

[KMilliron]

Originally Posted by poppiesrossi

I know cards are subjective.. and there's no really good or bad card but when I see 7 of swords.. I think eek! betrayal.. someone is sneaking around.. deception.. even when upright..

I know it could mean to gather intelligence and work behind the scenes.. to be more diplomatic.. but what else could it mean in positive connotation

This has been turning up in my readings a lot.. for myself and others and I am trying to wrap my head around this one..

How can I see past my first impression to find some saving grace in this card?

Thanks

I. LOVE. THIS. CARD.
I'm going to get it tattooed actually. I consider it the card that best represents my personality.

To me this card is a joker. A dedicated joker. Always cracking jokes. There's a deeper meaning behind all of this though. Look at his swords. He's carrying five, and leaving two behind. He's not a bad person. A bad person would take all the swords. He's either pulling a friendly prank or needs those swords for some reason. If he's caught, he'll play it as a prank, as though he never needed them, but in a lot of decks, the person obvious DOES need those swords, and in a lot of decks the person ISN'T so light hearted about it. The seven of swords doesn't have to be a joker, but they always have a goal and purpose for taking what they did.

In a nutshell 7 of swords signifies either a good laugh, or in other cases, taking immoral actions for a moral purpose. That's what I get out of it.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by Cenozoic

They could be the Robin Hood that you know...Since the VII Chariot is under the astrological sign of Cancer, I see that many Cancers will have the thought abilities of the 7 of Swords card. They're not all thieves though!

Love the Robin Hood point. Which kinda gets us back to the primary meaning of the card--sometimes the straight-ahead way (trying to be moral, using the legal system to get justice) isn't the best way to accomplish things. For Robin Hood, the legal system is corrupt and isn't going to help, and the "immorality" of stealing needs to be ignored because this is the only way to get stuff from thieves back into the hands of the real owners.

RE: Cancers--you're right there, too. There is a very Cancer element in the card, and not just the planning. The Crab sign likes to grab things in its claws and hold onto it. Cancers are collectors, guarding their deep sea treasures. So it's not surprising that the "thief" card, a card, a card about grabbing what isn't tied down, would relate obliquely to Cancer the Crab.