Seven of Swords Meaning in Tarot by Avia from Tarot Teachings

About Seven of Swords
Meaning in Tarot

We get the feeling of “in-between-ness” within the seven of swords Tarot card meaning. Not fully grown into adulthood, and not in infancy either. The seven of swords is about learning to behave maturely (especially in social groups) and resisting the urge to act like a child when we don’t get our way.

Traditional Rider-Waite imagery shows the figurehead of the card dancing between two focal points. On his left there is the establishment of a community, where home is. To his right, there is a small cluster of people, seemingly in deep discussion.

A Few Keywords Pertaining to the Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning:

Choice
Stealth
Selfish
Irrational
Hoarding
Duplicity
Instability
Ignorance
Impetuous
Indirection
Indecision
In-between
Immaturity
Juxtaposition
Impulsiveness
Lack of conviction

Note how our figure points his head (the seat of our senses – hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing – although, note the eyes are closed) to the gaily colored tents – where the community is established. Yet, his entire body points in the opposite direction.

Here we see the first interpretive hit leaning towards impulsivity and an unheeding nature. We must ask ourselves, why does the figure walk with eyes closed? And why is he moving in the opposite direction of where his senses are pointed?

Do you get the sense of blind indirection in the seven of swords card? Our figure cannot know where he goes without projecting his senses in that direction first. The message: “There is no hope of finding our true path if we give no consideration to the direction we are taking first.”

I also call your attention to what the swords are doing in the (Rider-Waite version) card. We have a mind divided (swords representing the thought world).

To wit, right-handedness indicates conscious motivation; left-handedness is symbolic of unconsciousness.

Ergo, two swords in the right hand are symbolic of the conscious need to follow traditional orthodoxy. The line of thinking here is “I know 1+1=2. This is logical, and therefore I must purposefully move in the manner in which I’m most familiar.” See also the meaning of number two in Tarot symbolism here.

Three swords in the left hand throw wildness into the once logical equation. Threes speak of creativity, and wielded in the left hand we get this sort of dialogue “The Unknown + Options = Creative potential, but without current proof.” For more clarity in this concept, I invite you to review the meaning of number three in Tarot symbolism here.

Now we begin to understand the juxtaposition. Do we take the path of orthodoxy? The tried and true way? The way yielding expected results? The path we know is safe?

Or, what if we take the dreaming mind’s path? What if we hold the thoughts of hearth and home in our consciousness while closing our psychic eyes and conjuring up creativity to be our sole guide on the journey to exotic realms?

Whichever path we take, when this cards shows up in a reading it is essential to make that clear choice first. The high advice of this card is: “Be not of two minds.“

Some Symbols Surfacing in the Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning:

Cities/Villages: Cities and villages represent centers or gatherings of people, thoughts, energy and ideas. They are a symbol of the culmination of a group that meets for a common goal. They also symbolize protection, harmony, and team-work. When you notice the cities/villages in a reading it indicates a group effort is required, or the querent must tap into some unified energy centers or thought centers to accomplish what he/she must.

Flag: The flag is an announcement to change – something has shifted and a flag makes the world aware of this shift. It is a bright, bold obvious sign that a new day is dawning. This is not about subtle shifts – the flag is about transformation; an event to announce to all who will hear.