For more clues on this card’s meaning, you can look at its imagery: A traditional Seven of Swords card depicts a person carrying five swords with their body facing forward but their head looking back at two swords left behind. “It can be read to mean someone is working in their own interest,” explains Herrera. The suit of swords is related to the element of air and is part of the minor arcana. “Swords can be a message to step back from a situation and analyze it from a different perspective,” shares Herrera. So although this card may highlight that you don’t have all the information you need, it can also remind you to focus on yourself. “On a positive read, that could mean making yourself a priority,” says Herrera. According to Amy Zerner and Monte Farber, authors of many tarot and oracle decks, “The Seven of Swords is a reminder to try to eliminate your most negative behavior patterns because a great deal of the opposition you are currently encountering is self-created.” This card’s specific interpretation will depend on the question you asked your tarot deck when you pulled it, and any other cards that appeared in your spread. Zerner and Farber add that the card might represent opposition in this particular reading. “If you’ve asked about a specific person’s interest in you, then the answer could mean that person is opposed to you having a relationship,” explains Zerner and Farber. “It could also mean that circumstances or the influence of one or more people could be opposing you getting together with this other person.” For another perspective about love readings, Herrera says, “It can be read as a warning not to settle” and to be more honest with yourself about what you deserve in a relationship. If you’re asking about the potential for new love, the card may be asking you to reflect on your patterns and how you engage in relationships. “We have seen time and time again that the Seven of Swords reversed means that you have to evaluate what is opposing you in your quest for true love and a lasting relationship, even to the point of asking yourself if you are in some way being your own worst enemy,” say Zerner and Farber. “If you are not playing self-defeating games, then the [card] probably means ‘know your enemy’ and do your best to understand who or what is standing in your way so you can successfully manage the situation.” And be warned: “The Seven of Swords can indicate an upcoming failure, negativity in the thinking of those you are involved with, or harsh words or deeds directed toward whatever you asked about as you drew the card,” explain Zerner and Farber. According to Herrera, this card can speak to doubts you have about a business partnership or investment opportunity and remind you to proceed with caution and do some more self-assessment. If you pull this card in a reading about challenges that lie ahead, Herrera recommends asking yourself if things in your life are being divided fairly of if there’s too much for you to take on alone. If you feel overwhelmed, the card is an invitation to lighten your load and prioritize. According to Zerner and Farber, “We see the Seven of Swords reversed as a reminder not to berate yourself or work against your own best interests so that you can best deal with the challenges that lie ahead.” They say that doesn’t mean forgetting the mistakes you’ve made, but it’s important to “get back to living your life as best you can.” When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time in her garden, experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen, or spending time by the ocean. See her portfolio on her website.
