Three of Swords
Minor Arcana · Suit of Swords
Upright
- heartbreak
- grief
- painful truth
- sorrow
- recovery
- forgiveness
- releasing pain
- moving on
In the picture
Three swords pierce a red heart against a grey sky full of clouds and falling rain.
Upright meaning
The Three of Swords is a hurt that is hard to miss: heartbreak, grief, a painful truth or a betrayal. The card doesn't soften it, but naming the pain is the first step toward getting past it.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the healing starts. You let go of old pain, forgive or begin to feel better. Sometimes it can also mean pushing hurt down instead of dealing with it.
About the suit of Swords
Swords are the suit of air: thoughts, words, decisions and conflict. Swords cards can be sharp, because they deal with truth, worry and the hard choices made in the head.
