Tarot Tutorial: Three of Swords

Ever notice how some tarot imagery is pretty on the nose? Take a look at the Three of Swords for instance... a big ol’ heart bleeding from the three swords shoved straight into it. You don’t need to be Marie Laveau to know that is card is about emotional pain that cuts to the core of your being. So yeah, not good. But hear us out. Some losses are necessary, to remind us of who we are and who we want to be. And other losses, well, the grief we feel is a testament to how strongly we loved. And being able to love truly is what makes us human.

What is the Meaning of the Three of Swords in a Love Reading?

This is absolutely not the card you want to see turn up if you want to know if your relationship will last. There’s a small chance it might, but not without some sort of separation first, so that the two of you can sort out what it is you really want. The Three of Swords in a love reading points to betrayal, patterns of emotionally (or even physically) hurting each other, and general unhappiness. Your partner may have narcissistic tendencies that leave you feeling gaslit or emotionally manipulated. Nobody should live like this. Please make an exit plan and line up someone to talk to about the trauma you’ve experienced.

If the Three of Swords came up in a position representing you, you probably already knew this relationship was on life support. You may be taking out other hurts in your life out on your partner, which is not fair to them. You need to check yourself before inflicting more harm. Like we mentioned in the paragraph above, a small separation giving you time to handle your -ish (and decide what it is the both of you really want) could be really helpful right now. But if you know in your heart that you’re done, don’t drag out the pain any longer. Just pull the plug.

When the Three of Swords turns up reversed in a love reading, it can indicate you and your boo are moving into a healing stage of your relationship. Neither of you can deny the hurt, but you are both willing to honestly go forward and try again. Alternatively, one (or both of you) is having a hard time forgiving and forgetting. That’s not moving forward as much as its re-entering the cycle of pain. There is no moving to the next stage until you are honest about what you are feeling.

What is the Meaning of the Three of Swords in a Future Reading?

The Three of Swords in a future reading points to a time of grieving. Someone around you might be hit with a heavy loss—a loss of a dream, a loss of a job, or even a loss of someone they love. A loss always leaves some aftershocks in the community surrounding the person. But coming together as a community can also help everyone heal. Make sure to give yourself the support you need if you are supporting someone else too. You can’t get water from an empty well.

If the Three of Swords turns up in a position representing you, expect some disappointing news. You may find you’ll need some self-soothing after hearing the news. And absolutely do so! Give yourself the time you need to grieve before jumping into the next thing in your life. If you find that you are having a hard time dealing with all the big feels from this, you may want to talk to a mental health professional. Another possible meaning of the Three of Swords is an upcoming surgery. This does NOT mean the surgery will go poorly, BTW. But definitely deal with any intense emotions or fears you may have about the surgery.

When the Three of Swords turns up reversed in a future reading it means that there will be resources opening up that will help you heal from a painful situation. Don’t be too proud to take advantage of them! Yeah, healing sometimes feels awkward and it’s not always a pretty or easy process. But you owe it to yourself to address your hurts so you can move on in a productive way.

What is the Meaning of the Three of Swords in a Career Reading?

If you were asking about a new job, the Three of Swords in a Career Reading is a big “no”. Disappointing as that is, don’t give up on finding something new. It’s just that this one isn’t going to come through for you right now. Even if you have a steady job, be ready for not-so-great news. A promotion you hoped for might fall through. Your request for a raise may be denied. An assignment you wanted will go to someone else. We can’t always win big. But we can take the losses with grace and pivot towards something else.

If the Three of Swords came up in a position representing you, you’ve probably been feeling a lot of dissatisfaction with your job lately. They may be asking you to do things that really don’t align with your values or sense of self. You may feel like you are metaphorically cutting off parts of yourself to do your job. If the thought of work leaves you with a feeling of dread, then it’s past time you look for someplace else to be.

If the Three of Swords turns up reversed in a career reading expect a shift in the corporate culture that will make it a more emotionally pleasant place. You might have an internal epiphany that helps you ease through some workplace difficulties. Your focus definitely should be on your emotional healing in any case. Yes, your emotions are still important when it comes to workplace issues. You spend a giant chunk of your time there after all! Respect your limits and err on the side of under-promising while you get your bearings.

Get a Professional Tarot Reading!

Still wondering what kind of big feels the Three of Swords will bring up? We gotchu! Our tarot experts have got the skills to go deep when you need answers about love, career, or anything else that’s been weighing on your mind. See how their insight can have you moving in the right direction to manifest the life of your dreams.