VII, Suit of SwordsSeven of Swords tarot card meaning
Upright and reversedSeven of Swords in shortIn short
The Seven of Swords is a clever plan, carried out alone. A young man hurries away from a camp with five swords in his arms, glancing back, two swords left in the ground. Smart strategy or sneaking around: be honest about which.
- Deception
- Strategy
- Going alone
Piece oneThe yellow sky
Bright yellow sky, one grey cloud on the left, green and brown fields below. Waite reads design, attempt, hope, confidence, and a plan that may fail. He steals in broad daylight, where anyone could look up and see.
"Design, attempt, wish, hope, confidence; also quarrelling, a plan that may fail, annoyance."Waite, 1911
Why it is hereThe bright sky makes the theft bold. He's stealing in full daylight, in plain view of the camp, so the whole plan rests on nerve. The single grey cloud on the left is the doubt Waite hints at, the plan that may fail. Against that yellow, his red cap and the pale blades stand out.
Piece twoThe camp
Behind him stand the striped tents of a camp, a small flag on top. Two swords stay stuck in the ground. He couldn't take everything, and something always gets left behind.
"...the two others of the card remain stuck in the ground. A camp, is close at hand."Waite, 1911
Why it is hereThe camp is who he's taking from. Its striped tents and small flag sit close behind him, so getting caught is a few steps away. Two swords stay stuck in the ground at its edge: he couldn't carry them all. The camp gives the look back its reason. Someone in there might look up.
Piece threeThe look back
Under a red cap, the young man glances back with a small smile, checking if anyone saw him. Waite admits the card is hard to read: its meanings pull in different directions.
"The design is uncertain in its import, because the significations are widely at variance with each other."Waite, 1911
Why it is hereThe look back is the heart of the card. He walks one way and faces the other, smiling, checking the camp. The smile says he thinks he got away with it. The glance says he isn't sure. Waite says the card's meanings pull in different directions, and this one face carries both.
Piece fourFive stolen swords
He clutches five swords against his body by the blades. An awkward, risky grip, and he's in a hurry. Waite says he carries them away rapidly.
"A man in the act of carrying away five swords rapidly..."Waite, 1911
Why it is hereThe five swords are the loot and the problem. He grips them by the blades, a bundle too big for his arms, so every step is a risk. The two left in the ground show the haul is incomplete. The swords also explain the hurry: held like this, they're no use in a fight, so he runs.
Colour, and where else it appearsEchoes
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The yellow sky
Warm yellow with one soft grey cloud: daylight, nerve, and a hint of doubt. The Fool has the same bright yellow sky, and he too is a young man stepping out light-footed. He walks toward a cliff edge without looking down. This man looks back the whole way. Both take their risk in broad day.
Also in -
The camp
Faded red and blue stripes, a fair or a soldiers' camp: busy and bright, the place he slips away from. In the Four of Wands a crowd gathers by a castle under a garland, holding up flowers in plain view. That card celebrates in the open, everyone together. This camp stays quiet behind him, and he leaves it alone.
Also in -
The look back
A brick red cap on bright yellow sky: broad daylight, and he hopes no one looks. The Five of Swords has a man glancing back too, smiling as two beaten figures walk away. That one won in the open and watches them go. The Page of Swords turns his head as well, alert for an enemy. This man turns to check for witnesses.
Also in -
Five stolen swords
Pale steel on a sand coloured tunic: man and swords merge into one bundle. Carrying too much comes back in the Ten of Wands, where a man hugs ten staffs against his chest on the way to a house. He carries his load in the open. In the Five of Swords the winner holds three swords in plain view of the men he beat. This man takes his in secret.
Also in
Colour notes are ours, read from the picture; Waite does not explain the colours.
Seven of SwordsUpright
A plan carried out alone, sometimes cleverly, sometimes dishonestly. Waite gives design, attempt, wish, hope, confidence, and also quarrelling, a plan that may fail, annoyance.
Maybe you're thinking ahead and acting quietly for yourself. Maybe someone is taking what isn't theirs, from you or by you. Watch your back and keep your hands clean.
Seven of SwordsReversed
Waite's words: good advice, counsel, instruction, and also slander and babbling.
You get offered help instead of going alone. Take the good counsel. Watch out for gossip.
Yes or noMaybe.
Maybe. Waite says the card's meanings pull against each other. The plan may work or fail, and honesty tips it.
Seven of Swords in your lifeIn your life
Love
Secrets and mixed signals. Someone may be holding back. Ask straight out.
Work
Quiet strategy, or someone stealing credit. Keep records. Play it smart.
Money
Guard your things and read the fine print. Skip dishonest shortcuts.
Health
Don't go it alone. A card can't diagnose you; if something's wrong, see a doctor.
Spirituality
Be honest with yourself about what you avoid. Small lies to yourself add up.
Advice
Think ahead and stay honest. Make a plan you can stand behind.
As a person
Clever, independent, a bit secretive. Works alone, keeps plans close.
Past, present, future
Past: a plan made in secret. Present: strategy or deception. Future: a risk that may or may not pay off.
Written by us, from Waite's meanings and the picture.
Symbols and correspondencesAt a glance
- Suit
- Swords
- Element
- Air
- Astrology
- Moon in Aquarius
- Sephira
- Netzach
- Upright
- Design
- Reversed
- Good advice
QuestionsCommon questions
Mixed. Waite says its meanings are widely at odds: hope and confidence on one side, quarrelling and a failed plan on the other. Often it warns of deception.
Secrets, mixed signals, someone hiding part of the truth. Or you keeping your plans to yourself. Talk openly.
Maybe. Honesty decides it.
Waite only says the two others remain stuck in the ground. Many readers see a plan that can't take everything, or a clue that will give the thief away.
The Moon in Aquarius, an air sign, in the Golden Dawn system.
Waite sees a man hurrying off with five swords, two left in the ground near a camp: design, attempt, hope, confidence, and also quarrelling and a plan that may fail.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911Card meanings and quotes: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911. Element, decan and sephira: the Golden Dawn's Book T. Colours, life situations, yes or no and questions: written by us, from Waite's meanings and the picture.
All 14 Swords