Diploma in Learning the Tarot

Minor arcana:
The Suit of Swords
(Ace to Seven)
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Content
3 Lesson outcomes

3 Ace of Swords

4 Two of Swords

5 Three of Swords

6 Four of Swords

8 Five of Swords

9 Six of Swords

10 Seven of Swords

12 References
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Lesson outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Uncover the symbolism of the Ace of Swords to the Seven of Swords

Understand the upright meaning of the Ace of Swords to the Seven of Swords
Explore the reversed meaning of the Ace of Swords to the Seven of Swords

Practical lesson outcome:

Apply the meaning of the upright Ace of Swords to the Seven of Swords
Apply the meaning of the reversed Ace of Swords to the Seven of Swords

Ace of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

The Ace of Swords shows a hand emerging from the clouds wielding a sword. The upright sword is symbolic of the mind
and the intellect. There is a crown on the tip of the sword draped with a wreath, a sign of victory, success, and great
achievement. The crown is also used as the symbol for both royalty and the power to rule.

There is a dull grey sky in the background and land below the sword, this signifies that the sword will help you conquer all
obstacles if you are willing to fight for what you want but you will need mental resilience to navigate this path.

The sword also has a double-edged blade, implying that it can create and destroy.

The upright Ace of Swords:

• Breakthroughs
• New ideas
• Mental clarity
• Success
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The Ace of Swords represents new ideas, new beginnings, new projects, new plans, and breakthroughs. It also indicates
intellectual ability, mental clarity, logic, insight, clear thinking, and the ability to concentrate. You are about to experience
a moment of breakthrough if you can cut through emotional clouds to get to the core of a matter.

It signifies communication, vision, force, focus and intensity. It represents making correct decisions, being assertive and
pursuing the truth of a matter to find justice. It can indicate good news in relation to legal matters or legal contracts that
may be to your benefit. You have great clarity on the situation and can now argue your point of view with truth and
conviction.

The Reversed Ace of Swords:

• Clouded judgement
• Confusion
• Miscommunication
• Arguments
• Hostility

When the Ace reverses, it can predict conflict and arguments which leads to a hurtful battle of wills. Lies or misinformation
could be at play and you may cross swords with someone. You could be unforgiving, critical, or hurtful. Being unfair
towards another or being treated unfairly. It can also predict a contest that you cannot win at present. The message is to
withdraw and turn your attention elsewhere.

Your thoughts may be confused, unsure and very chaotic. This is not a good time to make decisions as you lack clarity,
therefore the chances of failure can be high.

Two of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

A female figure sits blindfolded, as she balances two swords across her shoulders. The two swords denote a crossroads or
a stalemate. She is having to balance hard choices and make a difficult decision.

The crossed swords point to different possible directions, symbolising the confusion we face when we are forced to make
difficult choices. The swords in each hand show that there are two choices that lead in different directions. This may be
causing some inner turbulence as reflected by the choppy waters.
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The woman's blindfold prevents her from seeing both the problem and the solution with clarity. While the woman is blind
in her situation, she is safe, not unafraid. Her pale robe is monastic in style, which tell us she is taking time out from the
world and keeping her thoughts to herself.

The upright Two of Swords:

• Difficult decision
• Painful choices
• Avoidance
• Inability to see the truth

The Two of Swords represents a stalemate or being at a crossroads. It indicates that you are sitting on the fence or
struggling to make a painful decision or choice. It can also signify being torn between two loyalties, relationships,
situations, offers or people.

It also represents blocked emotions, being in denial, blindness and an inability or unwillingness to see the truth. Like the
woman in the card, you may be choosing to keep the blindfold on, hoping the problem will just go away.

The Reversed Two of Swords:

• Indecision
• Anxiety
• No right choice
• Truth revealed

The Two of Swords reversed represents indecision, delays, or postponement. It indicates that fear, worry, anxiety or stress
is overwhelming you and you may be experiencing emotional or mental turmoil due to your inability to make a decision.

It can also mean that you are finally seeing something for what it is. The Two of Swords can signify being able to see the
truth of a matter after a period of mental fogginess. It can also represent lies being exposed.

Three of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

The Three of Swords shows a floating heart pierced by three swords, representing the emotional pain that has been
inflicted. It is an image of grief, loss, and literal heartbreak.
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There is also a heavy downpour in the background. The symbolism is dire, and the emotional effect is immediate. The
heart is the seat of warmth, affection, and spirit, and the three swords indicate the power to harm, cause pain, and create
suffering to what it pierces.

While the dark clouds in the background mirror this pain, they offer the hope that, just as the storm clouds will disappear,
so too will the pain and hurt you are experiencing.

The upright Three of Swords:

• Heartbreak
• Emotional pain
• Sorrow
• Grief
• Hurt
• Betrayal

The primary meaning of the Three of Swords is heartache.

This is a familiar card for relationship betrayal and can denote affairs or disloyalty in other life areas, such as work
relationships and business dealings.

There is no escaping the fact that the Three of Swords represents sadness. Any tarot reader knows that when this card
makes an appearance, things are going to be difficult due to emotional pain.

The Reversed Three of Swords:

• Healing
• Forgiveness
• Recovery
• Letting go

The Three of Swords reversed indicates that you have faced a recent loss, a break-up or heartbreak. You may be still
recovering from this painful experience, but this card may be a signal that it is time to let go and move forward.

Four of Swords
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The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

The Four of Swords depicts a knight in full armor, lying on top of a tomb with his hands in a position of prayer and rest.

The Four of Swords presents a quiet and calm stillness, a sense of peace that is contrasted so deeply with the pain in the
Three of Swords.

Three swords hang above the knight, pointing down towards his head and torso, are a reminder of the suffering that he
has endured in the earlier card. Another sword is placed parallel to the knight, signaling that the fight has ended.

His body lies in a church, below a stained-glass window depicting a woman and her child together, giving the scene a
sense of warmth.

The upright Four of Swords:

• Rest
• Recuperation
• Sanctuary
• Self-protection
• Rejuvenation

The Four of Swords indicates a moment of rest. Your constant ability to push through the noise and pain call for retreat.
Whether it be your choice to temporarily withdraw from the world, or whether it was forced upon you due to sheer
exhaustion — these moments are crucial for you to continue moving forward.

The Reversed Four of Swords:

• Exhaustion
• Burnout
• Re-entering the world
• Recovery

The Four of Swords reversed can mean one of two things: either you have reached a complete burn-out stage and are on
the verge of a breakdown or you are experiencing an awakening and regaining your mental strength.

The outcome depends on whether you take the time to regroup and reconnect with yourself. Healing is possible. Time-out
is important or you may find yourself on the decline.
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Five of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

In the Five of Swords, a man picks up three swords from the ground. He glances over his shoulder at two men who are
walking away with their shoulders slouched, conveying a sense of sadness and loss. He has managed to conquer these
men. Rather than having dignity in victory, the man appears to be grinning, perhaps taking sadistic pleasure in his
opponents’ defeat.

On his face he has a slight smirk, he watches his defeated opponents stumble off the field. The man in the distance
appears to be weeping. Two more swords are strewn across the grass, suggesting a battle has been fought and lost.

The sky is tumultuous and cloudy, which indicates that not everything is well, even though the battle is already over. The
dark, unshapely clouds remind us that, “there are no winners in war.”

The Five of Swords depicts the aftermath of a quarrel. One man is looking very self-satisfied while the other two have their
backs turned in loss and in defeat.

The upright Five of Swords:

• Conflict
• Competition
• Winning at all costs
• Hostility
• Arguments
• Battles

The Five of Swords is a card of self-sabotage, underhanded behaviour, deception, and lack of communication. It can also
represent serious conflict, stress, and lack of communication.

You are now walking away with a sense of sadness and loss. It is a no-win situation. The Five of Swords suggests that the
prize might not be worth the pursuit. This card advises you to pick your battles wisely. Remember that it is possible to win
the battle and lose the war.
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The Reversed Five of Swords:

• Reconciliation
• Resolution
• Regret
• Remorse
• Solutions to a conflict

The reversed Five of Swords usually suggests a truce after a hard-fought struggle. There are times when both sides realise
that fighting just is not worth it, and the time has come to bury the hatchet.

When Five of Swords references an end to conflict and the beginning of a time of healing and new alliances.

Six of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

The Six of Swords shows a woman and a child in a boat being rowed to dry land. The image suggests that the woman and
the child are leaving something behind, as their backs are faced towards us.

The woman’s head is covered, suggesting sadness or loss as she moves away from something in her past. In the boat stand
six swords, suggesting that the woman and child are still carrying memories or baggage from their past into their future.

The upright Six of Swords:

• Transition
• Moving on
• Calm after the storm
• Escaping
• Emotional journey

The Six of Swords indicates that you are experiencing a transition. It shows you are moving on from a situation or
relationship. It is a necessary move as you are leaving an unhealthy situation. This move may manifest mentally rather
than physically, as you distance yourself from past complications.

The Six of Swords asks you to reflect on any emotional baggage you may still be carrying. While this card depicts feelings
of sadness, the pain will not last forever.
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The Reversed Six of Swords:

• Resistance to change
• Unfinished business
• Stuck in the past
• Returning to trouble
• Trapped

The Six of Swords reversed can indicate that you have been trying to move on, but you are experiencing challenges and
cannot see a way out of your problems.

You are struggling to move on from the past but there may be unfinished business, unresolved conflict, or lessons which
you need to understand before you can wholeheartedly move forward.

Seven of Swords

The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot symbolism:

The Seven of Swords depicts a man sneaking away stealthily with five swords in his arms. He looks over his shoulder at the
two upright swords he has left behind. The smile on his face suggests that he is proud of himself for having slipped away
without being noticed.

The upright Seven of Swords:

• Deceit
• Trickery
• Cheating
• Lying
• Manipulation
• Getting away with something

This card is commonly known as “the thief”. Someone is sneaking around and trying to get away undetected. They are
trying to control a situation through manipulation and their intentions are not pure. Look out for any sneaky behaviour
and listen to your intuition when something does not feel right.
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The Reversed Seven of Swords:

• Confession
• Truth revealed
• Getting caught
• Conscience
• Regret
• Taking responsibility

The Seven of Swords reversed signals returning to a more straightforward practice or revisiting a situation to make things
right. Unburdening of a secret and doing the right thing.

Perhaps you have recognised the negative behaviors that you have been displaying, and you want to change.
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References:

A Little Spark of Joy. 2021. Four of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Love, Health, Money & More. [ONLINE]
Available at: https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/four-of-swords-tarot-card-meaning/

A Little Spark of Joy. 2021. Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Love, Health, Money & More. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/six-of-swords-tarot-card-meaning/

A Little Spark of Joy. 2021. Three of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Love, Health, Money & More. [ONLINE]
Available at: https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/three-of-swords-tarot-card-meaning/

A Little Spark of Joy. 2021. Two of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Love, Health, Money & More. [ONLINE]
Available at: https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/two-of-swords-tarot-card-meaning/

Biddy Tarot. 2021. Ace of Swords Tarot Card Meanings | Biddy Tarot. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-swords/ace-of-swords/

Biddy Tarot. 2021. Four of Swords Tarot Card Meanings | Biddy Tarot. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-swords/four-of-swords/

Biddy Tarot. 2021. Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meanings | Biddy Tarot. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-swords/seven-of-swords/

Building Beautiful Souls. 2021. The Two of Swords Tarot Card Meanings | Tarot Reading. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-swords/the-two-of-
swords-tarot/

Incandescent Tarot. 2021. Incandescent Tarot - Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.incandescenttarot.com/six-of-swords

Labyrinthos. 2021. Five of Swords Meaning - Tarot Card Meanings – Labyrinthos . [ONLINE] Available
at: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/five-of-swords-meaning-tarot-card-meanings

Labyrinthos. 2021. Seven of Swords Meaning - Tarot Card Meanings – Labyrinthos . [ONLINE] Available
at: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/seven-of-swords-meaning-tarot-card-meanings.

Labyrinthos. 2021. Two of Swords Meaning - Tarot Card Meanings – Labyrinthos . [ONLINE] Available
at: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/two-of-swords-meaning-tarot-card-meanings

The Tarot Lady. 2021. Tarot Card by Card - King of Wands - The Tarot Lady. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.thetarotlady.com/tarot-card-by-card-king-of-wands/

Truly Teach Me Tarot. 2021. Ace of Swords – Truly Teach Me Tarot. [ONLINE] Available
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