The Meaning of
the "Seven of Swords" Tarot Card

A thief is pictured on the Seven of Swords, sneaking away with his stolen loot.

He slinks from an encampment of colorful tents, tiptoeing away while looking back over his shoulder. His expression, a mix of pride and smugness.

His hands are full with the five swords he has stolen — all pointing downwards. Another two swords remain behind, planted vertically in the ground.

His hands are full with the five swords he has stolen — all pointing downwards.

As with other cards in the suit of Swords, the downward direction of the swords suggests something negative is underway.

On the left of the card, a group of soldiers raises a flag or a polearm in the distance. Has he been spotted?

The Seven of Swords typically means that something isn't as it seems, or that something has escaped attention.

In more extreme cases, it may reference something sneaky or decptive. Some betrayal or trickery may have already happened, or the card may herald some current or intended deception.

It encourages us to look more closesly at a current situation. Is all as it seems?

When the Seven of Swords appears in a reading, it encourages us to look more closesly at a current situation. Analyze things with a more critical eye: Is all as it seems? Has something been misrepresented?

In the simplest cases, the card may be a gentle suggestion that something trivial has been overlooked.

In other cases, the card may reference an untraditional or unconventional approach to a situation — such as the use of a short cut or backdoor.

In more serious cases, the card may suggest that something major is not as it seems.

If you need better insight into exactly what's escaping attention, look to the surrounding cards in the spread. Drawing a clarifying card can also help.

There are times when we convince ourselves that something is wrong. We think we're being cheated, or we think corners are being cut. We might even start thinking that something is a scam, or that someone can't be trusted.

It's easy to get into a distrustful mindset and conclude that the entire world is out to deceive us in one way or another.

... sometimes things really are the way they're presented to us. The situation isn't complicated. It's really quite simple.

When the reversed Seven of Swords appears in a reading it's a reminder that sometimes things really are the way they're presented to us. The situation isn't complicated. It's really quite simple.

All that doubt might just be in our heads. And maybe we're the ones not asking the right questions.

In other cases, the inverted Seven of Swords may be a reminder to be more open; Perhaps we are the ones doing the misrepresenting? If so, the reversed Seven of Swords reminds us that communication and clarity are always easier in the long run.