Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

A nimble thief or spy steals swords from a military camp. He creeps away from the scene with his loot, a sly grin on his face: success! Tents stand in the background, but there's nobody in sight. The trickster has slipped away unnoticed.

The Seven of Swords can be a warning to watch out for fraud, or advice to use clever tactics and keep a few cards up your sleeve.

Upright, it often means someone around you is secretly working against you, spreading gossip, weaving intrigues, and causing trouble. Perhaps a thief has even set their sights on your belongings. Your task is to identify and expose this person, and protect your home, money, and property.

The card can also appear when you need guidance on your own behavior. Are you being too direct? Try cunning and diplomacy instead of a head-on attack. Adapt to circumstances and outwit your opponents.

Just don't take it too far and slide into outright malice. If you use dishonest methods or shady dealings to carry out your plans, remember that a damaged reputation can lead to disgrace and financial ruin.

Upright Seven of Swords: Key Meanings

• Lies, falseness, betrayal, cowardice, a lack of courage, hypocrisy, and profiting at others' expense.
• A hidden enemy, an opponent, or a dishonest person.
• Illegal acts, theft, and fraud.
• Dexterity, a quick and slippery mind, an indirect approach, diplomacy, hidden information, and things left unsaid.
• Obstacles, complications, and unforeseen circumstances.
• Gossip, carelessness, slander, arrogance, infidelity, and betrayed trust.

The Seven of Swords reversed says a lack of information, deception, and gossip are creating difficulties. But you're handling them skillfully, and they aren't causing significant damage.

Keep being cautious. Don't trust unchecked rumors, and stay out of open conflict. Read every clause carefully before signing anything: the risk of deception is high. Consult an experienced lawyer if necessary. Don't turn your unprotected back on your enemies. Stay alert!

Another meaning is recovering what was lost, vindication, and restoring your reputation and good name. If you were unfairly judged, harmed by slander and scheming, or lost property to fraud, the reversed Seven of Swords promises justice, renewed trust, and the return of everything you lost.

Reversed Seven of Swords: Key Meanings

• Caution, measured action, and foresight.
• Debts repaid or stolen property returned, and justice prevailing.
• Good advice, protection, safety, and patronage.
• Vindication, a restored reputation, and renewed trust.

In a love reading, the Seven of Swords upright points to deception, cunning, and a lack of sincerity. That needn't mean dishonesty or an affair within a couple. It can also describe the clever lengths someone goes to when trying to win a heart.

So take stock of your strengths and weaknesses, and devise a tactic or two for winning over that seemingly unapproachable person. It's an excellent time for a brief, sparkling romance built on conversation and shared interests.

Reversed, the meaning turns around: clever tactics won't get you what you want.

How They Love

Upright, this person is a true heart-stealer! In romance, they're charming, quick-witted, adventurous, and capable of the most surprising, even risky, moves.

Reversed, the card describes someone honorable. They play by the rules, which sometimes leaves them vulnerable to more cunning, resourceful rivals.

In a career reading, the Seven of Swords suggests devising a clever plan for success. Direct, honest methods may not be working now, so deception and manipulation may be needed to win over coworkers or management, secure a higher position, or make a good profit.

Cunning, ingenuity, flexibility, and a sharp mind will help you navigate the difficulties and succeed. There may be plenty of running around and business-related worry, but the right approach will bring a worthwhile reward.

Reversed, the card points to wrongdoing being exposed and a chance to avoid fraud.

Upright, this is someone with their own unusual moral code. They like an indirect approach and can set aside a few principles to get what they want.

Reversed, it describes a clever, adventurous risk-taker who reads situations well, thinks several steps ahead, and acts before anyone else.

Upright, the card advises you to stay alert. You may have hidden forces, intrigue, or secret opponents to contend with.

Reversed, it encourages a clever plan that lets you achieve several things at once. Where you can't push straight through, there are hidden paths around.

Upright, the outcome is uncertain. Gossip, intrigue, and opponents' clever maneuvers could get in your way.

Reversed, the outlook is fairly favorable. You can reach your goals by using inventive, unconventional moves.

Neptune in contact with Mercury, and Mercury in Libra: solving problems, shedding illusions, and building harmonious relationships with society.

The Fool — A sharp wit; a rogue; someone fond of easy money.

The Magician — Cunning in business; politics; dodging work; easy money.

The High Priestess — A cunning idea, a masterful scheme, expecting a large profit.

The Empress — A woman's cunning, a talent for deception, malicious gossip.

The Emperor — A capable adviser, a profitable scheme, a brief chance to get rich.

The Hierophant — Stealing someone's idea, outmaneuvering a competitor, profiting from a high position.

The Lovers — A successful move based on inside information, a promising direction, hidden profit.

The Chariot — Extra opportunities, profit through acquaintances, useful information.

Strength — Being forced to leave or move, adding up profits or losses, stumbling on useful information.

The Hermit — Knowing how to get what you want; people trying to share in your success; freeloaders.

Wheel of Fortune — Unexpected profits; a clever move; running rings around someone.

Justice — Not knowing what to do; a gap in the law; an unclear interpretation.

The Hanged Man — A loss of profitability; bankruptcy or a large waste of money; living on the bare minimum.

Death — Expectations that don't match reality; retreating into the background; publicity for an unflattering reason.

Temperance — Everyone keeping their own views; ending a contract or relationship; misreading a partner's intentions.

The Devil — Hopes with nothing to support them; wasted effort; being the last to know.

The Tower — Total disillusionment; looting; someone profiting from misfortune.

The Star — Accidental success; misleading guidance; unreliable information.

The Moon — The risk of being caught; staying informed; complicated schemes.

The Sun — Notoriety; ill-judged boasting or bravado; exaggerating your achievements.

Judgment — A false accusation or planted evidence; manipulated facts; exposing a swindler.

The World — Escaping trouble in time; staying out of confrontations and arguments; holding on to your own position.

Ace of Wands — Secrecy; advancing by any means; a complicated nature; a lack of principles.

Two of Wands — An escape route; a backup plan; taking precautions just in case.

Three of Wands — A cunning approach; withholding the full truth; petty fraud; compromising your conscience.

Four of Wands — Everyday cunning; obtaining benefits or grants; property schemes or theft.

Five of Wands — An indirect maneuver; a diplomatic approach; manipulating opponents.

Six of Wands — A roundabout route; business on the fringes of crime; a clever move.

Seven of Wands — Changing your mind or position; retreating into the background; slipping away.

Eight of Wands — Keeping your own counsel; starting a scam; omissions or lies.

Nine of Wands — Suspecting a catch; exposing fraudsters; knowledge kept hidden or a habit of keeping quiet.

Ten of Wands — A guilty conscience; the weight of blame; profiting from other people's misfortunes.

Page of Wands — Trickery; a dishonest approach; cleverness that could backfire.

Knight of Wands — Flexible thinking; creativity; looking for a workaround or loophole.

Queen of Wands — Finding an unexpected advantage; ingenuity; a talent for questionable schemes.

King of Wands — Illegal methods; useful experience or knowledge; something to use as pressure.

Ace of Swords — Stealing ideas; learning from others' experience; cleverness and manipulation.

Two of Swords — Using tricks to avoid a quarrel; ignoring something or someone; making empty promises.

Three of Swords — Cheating or being cheated on; clever excuses for bad behavior; laughing it off or inventing a believable story.

Four of Swords — Pretending to be calm and confident; wearing a mask or acting in ways others can't understand; a hidden layer.

Five of Swords — Using cunning to shift blame; profiting from someone else's loss; following your own plan and remaining unnoticed.

Six of Swords — A diversion; deception used as cover; going away for a while or pretending.

Eight of Swords — Reassuring yourself; looking for excuses; quieting your conscience; trapping yourself; frustration.

Nine of Swords — Hiding your distress; a mask of indifference; distrust of others; keeping things from loved ones.

Ten of Swords — Outplaying a powerful enemy; a long-term plan succeeding; removing a competitor; a sham bankruptcy or complaints about hardship.

Page of Swords — Gathering information; secret connections; an informant or infiltrator; working in secret.

Knight of Swords — A carefully planned public stunt; a treacherous attack; a blow from an unexpected direction; things not being what they seem.

Queen of Swords — Moral decline; hypocrisy and flattery; using power for your own interests.

King of Swords — Corruption; compromising information; illegal activity or a charismatic gangster.

Ace of Cups — Hiding feelings or intentions; a hidden meaning; playing at love or relationships; convenience more than affection.

Two of Cups — Broken promises; insincerity; hypocrisy or a marriage of convenience.

Three of Cups — Hidden interests; using friends for your own purposes; useful connections and indirect routes.

Four of Cups — Refusing a shameful offer; firm principles; idealism and rejection of established rules.

Five of Cups — Getting less than expected; being caught lying or cheating; a conscience that won't let you rest.

Six of Cups — A money-minded view of the world; childhood insecurities; not receiving enough love as a child.

Seven of Cups — Sudden luck; gaining useful knowledge; inventing an unusual scheme.

Eight of Cups — Dishonesty; being the first to end a relationship; protecting your own advantage.

Nine of Cups — Using your popularity; exaggerating or downplaying a problem; caring only about yourself and your image.

Ten of Cups — Exploiting trust; trading on your relatives' name; gaining useful information from loved ones.

Page of Cups — An appealing way of working or earning; a sly offer; trying to use someone.

Knight of Cups — A dishonest admirer; a money-minded person; a liar or a treacherous seducer.

Queen of Cups — Envying someone's uninhibited nature; profiting from another person's emotions; gossiping or scheming.

King of Cups — A successful trick; getting more than expected; playing both sides.

Ace of Pentacles — Taking someone else's money or capital; a trophy; an illegal business or a hidden scheme for getting rich.

Two of Pentacles — Hiding financial problems; a clever manipulator or confidence trickster; an extortionist.

Three of Pentacles — Seizing a profitable business; ruining a young company; blocking progress; encountering a thief.

Four of Pentacles — Theft; extortion; a forgery or advice that costs you your savings; extracting someone's last penny.

Five of Pentacles — Illegal property schemes; fraudulent real estate agents; a dishonest deal.

Six of Pentacles — Pretending to be poor; hiding income; pressing for help and sympathy.

Seven of Pentacles — Losing a substantial sum; an ill-considered investment; handing money to fraudsters.

Eight of Pentacles — Inventing something new; ingenuity; improving production; a talented person.

Nine of Pentacles — A con artist; knowing how to confuse someone; a born manipulator.

Ten of Pentacles — Taking family money; playing on family affection; deception within a family.

Page of Pentacles — Exploiting loved ones' trust; a clever scheme involving education; buying a diploma or exam results; an unqualified employee.

Knight of Pentacles — Claiming the benefits for yourself; getting wealthy through others' efforts; a talent for organizing.

Queen of Pentacles — Building up production resources; a clever way to increase profits; keeping your own advantage in sight.

King of Pentacles — Taking a large slice of the pie; a highly profitable investment; buying property at a bargain price; a shrewd, wealthy man.