The INDIAN TAROTS – Three of Swords

The Three of Swords illustrates what swords can do against you. By their very nature, swords can hurt us and cause trauma. The Three of Swords suggests working through that trauma in order to come out stronger.

The Three of Swords is one of those rare cards that doesn’t depict a human figure in it. Instead, we get a close-up view of the most important part inside a human, the heart. The heart is the centre of our emotions. Its gigantic size in the card illustrates the power and authority of the organ. Its depiction also indicates the necessary combination of emotional strength and intellectual strength. The three swords depicted in the card, pierce the heart without making it bleed. This can be interpreted in a few ways. Positively, it could be interpreted as the union between the intellect and emotions, as described above. Negatively, it could be interpreted as the pain one feels when others use their intellect against us. In this interpretation, there is however hope in that the heart remains intact even after being stabbed. Whatever pain we may feel, it cannot break us.

Behind the stabbed heart, there are storm clouds and streaks of rain. The melancholy atmosphere reflects the pain of a heart stabbed. Some scholars have also noted that the streaks of rain appear similar to streaks of a mirror, make the card a reflection of ourselves.

Upright meaning

This card often represents heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. It suggests that you’re experiencing emotional pain or disappointment, and that you may need to confront the truth of a situation. The card encourages you to acknowledge your feelings and to work through your emotions in a healthy way.

Reverse meaning

This card can indicate healing, forgiveness, or a release of pain. You may be finding ways to cope with your loss or to let go of past hurts. The card suggests that you may need to focus on finding closure or moving forward in a positive direction.