Three (III) of Swords –
Heartbreak, Tears, Angry Words
Keywords
Heartbreak, Tears, Deep Sadness, Trauma, Grief Expressed, Emotional Release, Pour Your Heart Out, Time to Talk and Cry, Love Triangle, Deep Issues, Getting to The Heart of The Matter, Communication Breakdown, Gross Misunderstandings, Arguments, Angry Words, Painful Growth, Hard Lessons to Learn, Surgery
FOR CARD MEANING AND KEYWORDS ONLY –CLICK HERE
The imagery on this card speaks for itself. Three Swords pierce a dark red heart while rain pours down from a grey stormy sky. The dark threatening skies symbolise the dreadful stress, pain and conflict this card is known to bring with it. There is no getting away from it, the Three of Swords suggests heartache, loss, hurt feelings, loneliness and despondency. The pain experienced by this Three causes confusion and bewilderment (symbolised by the grey clouds) as it can take people unaware.
The stressful situation of the Two has developed and now there is no getting away from pain and suffering. Hiding behind a blindfold, refusing to take sides or make a decision is no longer effective in shielding you from an unpleasant situation. Three Swords have been plunged deep into the heart and to where it hurts the most. The intensity of the heartache can literally feel as if someone has just plunged a dagger through your heart.
The torrential rain in the background symbolises the flow of tears we find impossible to stem when our heart is broken. Rain, however, is a powerful cleanser. The downpour during a thunderstorm clears the air and washes away all unnecessary debris so that we can breathe once more. The earth looks renewed and refreshed after a thunderstorm. Tears, like rain have incredible cleansing abilities and can greatly assist in washing away our sorrows. As the rain bursts forth from the clouds it triggers a huge emotional release.
We must remember that we are dealing with the Swords Suit in this instance, so with this Three of Swords there is a good chance that these tears may not be travelling alone. They will more than likely be accompanied by angry words and vicious arguments. If conflict and stress have been building then this Three will indicate that the situation has become a pressure pot of pent-up emotions and anger. The number Three brings growth and development so if a row is brewing, then it is likely to blow.
Each of the Three Swords represents a painful truth or hard lesson that has to be learned and endured. The longer the Swords stay embedded in the Heart, the more entrenched they become and the more bitter and hardened it becomes. The Swords must be pulled out one after another to allow the blood/emotions flow so that healing can begin. This may not be an easy thing to do because the very act of pulling those Swords out may involve having to forgive someone, ask for forgiveness of another or even forgive yourself
As we know, The Suit of Swords deal with communication, so one of the messages in this card is to talk about your pain or loss and not keep it bottled up inside. A problem shared is a problem halved. When we keep things to ourselves our perception becomes very narrow. We can become fixed in our opinion and views. When communication breaks down, great misunderstandings can occur. Our mind can create all kinds of nasty scenarios, complete with villains and victims which we instantly believe. We can waste years nursing our pain and blaming others based on pure speculation or presumption alone. We may have it all wrong. Seeking the help of a counsellor or just a good friend can throw light on the dark areas of our mind and soul. It can help us see things in a different light and the unnecessary damage we are doing to ourselves. The Three of Swords advises you to open up and let it go.
The Threes generally indicate growth but the Swords approach this in the most difficult manner suggesting that there is “no gain without pain”. Often after we have healed we find ourselves stronger and wiser. We can thus experience a growth in our personality and character even if we have gone about it the hard way.
We will all encounter the energies of the Three of Swords at some stage in our life for we will all experience loss, sadness or disappointment on some level. How we deal with it will determine whether we grow in spirit and character or whether we let it wither and embitter us.
This card is also depicted in other versions of the Rider-Waite-Smith with grey clouds building on a black sky. At the very bottom of the card the first signs of dawn appear on the horizon suggesting that although everything seems dark and depressing at the moment, light will come back into your life once again
Three (III) of Swords
Keywords
Heartbreak, Tears, Deep Sadness, Trauma, Grief Expressed, Emotional Release, Pour Your Heart Out, Time to Talk and Cry, Love Triangle, Deep Issues, Getting to The Heart of The Matter, Communication Breakdown, Gross Misunderstandings, Arguments, Angry Words, Painful Growth, Hard Lessons to Learn, Surgery
Meaning
When the Three of Swords appears in a reading heartbreak, grief, sadness and pain are suggested. The pain may be so intense you might feel as though someone has stuck a dagger through your heart. The suffering represented by this card is not confined to one area of your life so its presence can suggest anything and everything that cuts you to the core. It could be the loss of a loved one, illness, a separation or divorce, a broken friendship, family disloyalty, betrayal, a job loss, exam failure or even the loss of a legal case. In order to come out of this a better person it is important not to deny the pain or suffering represented by this card. Instead, you must live through it, experience the sharpness of it, let it wash over you and be patient with it. By living through the pain, only then will you know when you are beginning to heal. Time heals and this time of suffering will surely pass.
As the Suit of Swords deals with communication this card can suggest a vicious argument or conflict between three or more people. It can also suggest a falling out between friends. Hurtful words from pent-up feelings and anger may leave you regretting what you said or you may be on the receiving end of insults and spitting remarks. There is bound to be a highly-charged stormy atmosphere and all involved will be tense and easily provoked.
The Three of Swords can suggest that malicious rumours or gossip is spreading about you and you may be surprised to find out where it is coming from. Look for the reversed Three of Cups as those who are meant to be your friends could be happily sticking daggers in your back. The Three of Swords asks you to speak up and get to the heart of the matter for all may not be what it seems or what you think. Act now before you say something you might regret and before the situation gets any worse. If friends are involved then you are bound to be feeling very shocked and betrayed.
Release is key with The Three of Swords. A great sorrow, usually rooted in the past, is often indicated with this card. Painful memories can be heavily repressed. The Three of Swords highlights the need to let go of old pains and hurts as they are bound to be affecting the present. It is a time to talk about them. Let all the associated sorrow flow through the tears that you have been holding onto for such a long time. It is important to experience the pain and grief of your loss or sadness. Express it, not repress it. You must open up and let it out before it poisons you from within. Allow yourself to forgive and be forgiven. Whatever is the nature of your pain, understanding and acceptance will come in time. It is The Swords Suit who live by the saying “What does not break me will strengthen me” for they have much experience of it. Patience is required of you now.
The Three of Swords is traditionally associated with surgery or injury due to sharp instruments. This card also represented a nun.
In a relationship reading The Three of Swords suggests heartbreak and conflict. Separation and despair could leave your heart torn apart. Partners, spouses or lovers part company under a tirade of abuse and hurtful accusations. Angry words and bitterness cause tears and great unhappiness. Years of pent-up grudges, bitterness and resentment spew forth in a tirade of ugly scenes. Communication may have broken down and dreadful misunderstandings may be at the root of the whole situation. There is an urgent need to be open with each other and to speak honestly and calmly about the grievances on both sides. Shouting and roaring will get you nowhere and you are bound to say things you do not mean in the heat of the moment. It may be hard to take back hurtful words and accusations once they have left their sting behind. There may however, be a third-party sticking their nose into a relationship by interfering and passing remarks. This could easily be a friend or family member who is jealous, possessive or just has a bone to pick.
The Three of Swords can represent the legal battle in a separation or divorce. The third Sword can symbolise the Family Courts or Legal System. The third Sword can also symbolise a custody battle but look for supporting cards such as Justice XI in the Major Arcana and any of the Pages.
The Three of Swords in a relationship reading can sometimes suggest an affair or love triangle but one must look to surrounding cards for supporting evidence. The Three of Cups reversed, the Seven of Swords, The Moon, Lovers Reversed or Reversed Court Cards may hint at such a situation but tread carefully.
Maybe you are grieving for a an affair that did not work out. Maybe he or she told you they would leave their partner and it has taken a long time to come to the conclusion that they won’t. The disillusionment and waste of time may be overwhelming and a tirade of abusive angry slagging matches may ensue. The affair may also have been discovered (check for Seven of Swords reversed and The Tower) and is now out in the open. You may lose the support of family and friends. Your lover’s spouse may turn up on your doorstep and dramatic emotional scenes are likely to occur. Don’t do anything stupid.
In a career spread The Three of Swords indicates unhappiness in the workplace or the shock of losing a job. Strikes and protests may have brought everything to a stop. There is bound to be a lack of communication between opposing parties which will lead to strife and recriminations.
This card can suggest that you are caught up in vicious office politics and pettiness. Your workplace may be hostile with arguments and conflict among workers causing problems all round. Try to stay out of it all but be on the look-out for bully type behaviour. You may need to speak to someone in charge who has the power to restore order.
Work can be a stressful place to be when this card appears. You may dread getting out of the bed each day. You might feel that you have to watch your back at work as colleagues put you down in order to self-promote. Great unhappiness in your chosen career may be indicated. Maybe your heart is no longer in your work and it is time to move on.
The Three of Swords in a career reading can also suggest working in a cardiac unit, grief-counselling, mediation and even acupuncture. With the traditional Nun association, it can also represent entering a religious order.
Reversed
Keywords
Healing, Sharing Your Problems/Repressing Your Problems, Suppressing Painful Memories, Loneliness, Mental Confusion, Violence, Aggression, Bullying, Refusing to Let Go, The Worst is Nearly Over, Storm is Passing, Compromise, Reconciliation, Surgery Avoided
In the reversed Three of Swords, the heart reverses and the Swords begin to fall out allowing much-needed healing to take place. The potential heartbreak suggested in the upright may not have materialised as a result of taking action. Through communication and compromise an unhappy situation may have turned around.
As storms are known to clear the air, the clouds no longer dominate the background when this card reverses so hang on in there as you are nearly over the worst of it. You must be patient with yourself as you still have some way to go but it is a very positive indication that clearer skies are only just beyond the horizon. It may be hard to see any progress at the moment or you may feel that you do not have the strength to keep going but sometimes ‘the darkest hour is just before dawn’. Your situation is beginning to improve when this card appears reversed. The pain that has been acute for so long will weaken and the constant flow of tears will soon be a trickle for you have allowed your heart to heal. You have endured your suffering and now you can begin the process of recovery.
When the Three of Swords reverses, quarrels and disputes between families and friends should begin to settle. You may have to accept your share of the responsibility and apologise. The door to communication opens and all involved are prepared to talk instead of shout. You may learn some hard lessons as a result of all the bitterness and anger. However, with the reversed, the other extreme can be experienced. The battle may intensify and there is a worry that things could really get out of hand. Emotional overload and explosive anger may trigger aggression or violence. Family feuds may become more intense and prolonged.
The surgery needed in the upright may not be necessary, an alternative treatment may be found or spontaneous healing naturally occurs.
The flip side to this card is instead of allowing healing to take place one suppresses their pain and grief. Although you are engulfed with hurt, grief and sadness you may find it impossible to cry. The sadness and despair are internalised where they lie dormant inside, festering and deepening over time. These suppressions need energy to survive and they take this energy from the energy we have to live. This can result in depression, physical illness or even a breakdown. The pain eats us up inside as we deny our sorrow and can easily be projected onto others as we blame them for everything bad in our life. Counselling or therapy may be needed in order to open and release suppressed feelings and emotions.
When this Three reverses, great loneliness can be evident and one can feel cut off from normal life. Mental confusion, and in extreme cases, mental disorders may be suggested. You may feel blighted with one trauma after another in your life. You may believe that someone has it in for you or that you have been cursed.
In relationships, The Three of Swords reversed can bring reconciliation to a warring couple. Tired of battle and possibly on the brink of separation, the door to communication finally opens encouraging honesty, compromise and understanding. A rocky marriage or relationship can stabilise as partners learn to communicate their needs, likes and dislikes to each other.
On the other hand you may be refusing to let the past go and are nursing old wounds. This reversed Three of Swords can suggest a separated or divorced person who refuses to move on preferring to stay in the past where they keep all the hurt and bitterness fresh. Nasty recriminating remarks that have gone well past their sell-by date continue unabated. Friends and family retreat, adding to the feelings of isolation and victimisation. The Swords are deeply embedded now and there is a refusal to move on.
Unexpressed grief from the past may be causing problems for you in your relationship. This may result in you bringing unresolved issues and negativity from a previous relationship into your current one. If you have been badly hurt in the past this reversed card could suggest that you are avoiding relationships for fear of drawing further pain and disappointment to yourself. You must understand that not every relationship will dissolve into pain and hurt. You must learn to trust again and speak about your concerns.
In relation to career all-out strike may occur if talks fail. Each side digs the Sword into the other where it will hurt the most. No one is happy in this situation. An unhappy working environment can become oppressive. There may be nasty comments from work colleagues and possible bullying going on in the workplace. Someone may have it in for you in work and is deliberately trying to make your life difficult. They may argue with you over every issue or pick holes in your work in front of others.
Alternatively, an ongoing stressful situation begins to ease as workers drop their Swords and weapons and come to the table for talks. There is eventually an understanding that battle is futile and that compromises will have to be made on both sides.
An unhappy working environment can change for the better due to the departure of a trouble-maker or the arrival of some fresh blood, releasing new energy all round.
*When we re-join the Swords on their journey in Card IV we will see how well they are coping with such levels of stress and discover where it will ultimately lead them.
Ace of Swords 2 of Swords 3 of Swords 4 of Swords 5 of Swords 6 of Swords 7 Swords 8 of Swords 9 of Swords 10 of Swords
Aces Intro Twos Intro Threes Intro Fours Intro Fives Intro Sixes Intro Sevens Intro Eights Intro Nines Intro Tens Intro
The 78 Cards – Detailed Study Version (Card Description, Keywords, Upright & Reversed Meanings)
The 78 Cards – Shortened Version (Keywords, Upright & Reversed Meanings)
Truly Teach Me Tarot 
Thank you for this. Very helpful in my reading
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Hi Melissa,
Thank you for your lovely comment and glad you found the interpretation useful.
Blessings,
Vivien
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Can you elaborate on why/ how this card represents a nun?
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Hi Nick, In answer to your question about the Three of Swords being associated with a nun, I am not exaclty clear. It is an old association. Many of the traditional associations for certain cards are no longer relevant as they have become obsolete in modern times. There must be a connection with sorrow in here. Perhaps as a bride of Jesus, a nun had to live with the sorrow of never having proper relationship in the physical sense. Or we must also remember that very few nuns signed up to become nuns in the past but were forced in by family. They had to give up their life, their name, their identity and all hope of having a relationship. This must have been a dreadful sorrow to bear. Nuns also renounced all creature comforts and lived frugally. Theirs must not have been a happy lot. I must do some investigation into this. Perhaps other readers may be able to throw some light on this for us.
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Hi Vivien,
Thank you for creating this blog, it has helped me when the tarot was a big part of my sanity and now that I am looking into it again, after a year long hiatus. I find it very complete and enjoyable, specially the stories.
Do you have any idea of why are the cards so compelling? I have been drawn to them since I was very little and I have the overwhelming feeling that they always speak so loudly… that is why I ran away from them. Maybe I shouldn’t, maybe I should.
Any tips to deal with these overwhelming feelings?
Best,
Ivonne
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Thank for your lovely comments. Yes, I think most people who have spent time with tarot will also tell you they have spent some time away from it too. Usually it is because it can be overwhelming at times, especially when it is being brutally honest. I think many underestimate the effect on our energy bodies when we begin to study tarot. Any study of metaphysics, or indeed holistic therapies open the chakras and increases our psychic awareness whether we are aware of it or not. When we pick up the tarot it is with the intention of accessing hidden or reluctant information from within ourselves or from others who seek a reading from us. By doing so we activate the brow (third eye) chakra and our dowsing skills. Both the brow and dowsing ability may have lain dormant for years or has be under-utilised. In some people the sudden activation can be quite strong while in others it can take a bit more effort and is therefore less obvious. Sudden activation can sometimes lead to feeling fearful of the cards as if they have a strong independent power. The power is generating from you, not the cards. The tarot cards simply act as a trigger or catalyst. It can be crystals that does it for another person, Reiki, rune stones, aromatherapy etc. When the third eye and dowsing skills activate rapidly they can cause a rush of impulses and flashes of insight, images, colour and increase our awareness of energy fields around us.
If you have been drawn to the cards since childhood, then it is likely the images triggered the response in you and have ever since. All you need to do is pick up the cards and whoop, everything opens wide and you get an onslaught. This can be wonderful when we are trying to get to the bottom of an issue and when clarity is hoped for. Most readers actively want the cards to speak loudly to them and work towards that end. You may find their directness a little scary but if it is the truth they are offering you then you should not be concerned. That is unless you are opting for a negative association all the time. Are you interpreting their messages in a constructive or destructive manner?
If you are experiencing overwhelming feelings when you work with tarot, it is probably an indication that you are too open, as in your chakras are flying wide open. This will exhaust and wear you down. It will be the reason you put the cards aside. I am not sure if you practice any form of psychic or energy protection before and after reading. If you don’t then it might be a good idea to start there. You need your chakras open during a reading to channel information, but no so open as to overwhelm you. Practice chakra exercises that teach you to expand and contract your chakras and energy fields.
An easy method is to stand in a relaxed state of even breathing. Visualise your root chakra and inhale deeply. As you inhale visualise your root chakra contracting as if controlled by a muscle. On the exhale, do the reverse by expanding the chakra. Repeat this several times until you get a strong sense of contraction and expansion. When you feel comfortable with it, set the intention that you are going to expand your root chakra and then contract it to just the right balance, not too open and definitely not too closed down, so that you are in control of your energy field.
When you get a sense of that, do the same contraction and expansion exercise on all the remaining chakras until you feel control. This will put you in the driving seat as to the level of incoming and outgoing information you are comfortable with in any given situation. When reading, you should aim to open your chakras more than you would on a normal basis as you are dowsing or divining for information. However, it is very important that you contract them back once the reading is over. Before you pull your chakras back into normal operating position, you need to cleanse them of any psychic debris or unwanted energy contamination from a reading. You can cleanse your chakras by visualising white light or the violet flaming pouring down through the chakras. This can again be done by inhaling the light through the chakras and then exhaling the debris for cleansing. When you are finished visualise white light being sucked in through your crown chakra. Inhale it all the way down to the soles of your feet and allow it to pass through the floor beneath you which will help with grounding. Grounding is essential for anyone with brow chakras that tend to fly open at the sight of a tarot card! The more you practice this, the more your energy field will become accustomed to opening and closing as needed. You should cleanse and protect your reading space too. Here are some links to pages on my site with information on psychic protection, cleansing and grounding.
I hope this helps.
Vivien
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Hi Vivien,
Thanks a lot for the super quick response! And to be honest, I only said the truth. I haven’t read all your blog because it is HUGE. I know you have invested a lot of work and love in it, and it is one of the reasons why I love it. You know, I started looking for the meanings of the cards individually and after a few cards, found myself coming directly to your site and no other. And I am positive I am not the only one, I really don’t know why it is not the first option in google search.
Anyway, you are completely right, it is brutally honest. And to be honest, I got scared. It was telling me a lot of things that I was not prepared to (consciously) know. And every time I read the cards, it went a bit further into any situation I was asking about. Right now, for example. I have taken up your advice and started a daily simple reading, and they are just downright accurate. And from just a simple two card reading! The other day I was sick and decided to stay home. I drew two cards and got the five of pentacles reversed and the 4 of wands reversed. I found it so descriptive and encouraging. Something like “It’s good that you are staying home today, you will feel better. You need to stay home”. Maybe I was reading too much into it. But well, to be honest I haven’t tried more complicated spreads, mine are pretty simple.
And what do you mean by interpreting it in a destructive or constructive manner? I don’t think I completely understand that point. I have an example about a recent reading but it is really kind of personal to post it in the eternity of internet. Can I send you an email?
To be honest (and this embarrasses me a bit) I had not taken grounding techniques or the chakras very seriously, it was for me a bit like buying into the juju and I resisted it, the same way I resisted the cards and the images. Thanks for the links, they are very informative.
One question: when you say you visualize violet light is it because it is supposed to flow from the crown chakra?
Also, I don’t know how to visualize, it is very hard for me. Is it like imagining that your arm is moving while it is not? Or saying things without emiting any sound? how can I visualize things?
Again, thanks a lot!
Ivonne
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Hi lvonne,
Yes, the violet flame, or light comes in through the crown chakra and is washed down through the other chakras before flowing out into the ground below. If you cannot visualise, then just think the word violet or white repeatedly in your mind and also think as if you are standing under a waterfall of of this light which not only runs down over your body in a cleansing manner, but also through your body. You are right, not everyone is good at visualisation and it can be quite hard. Some people respond better when using other methods. When you need to learn something or concentrate, which way do you normally approach it? You are picking up on the subtleties of tarot so you are using other senses. Are you feeling the information rather than visualising it?
Re the manner in which you are reading constructive v destructive I ask this because over the years I have taught tarot, it is quite common in the early stages for students to rush to the more intense meanings of the cards when interpreting. This can cause alarm. I had a student some years ago who caused quite a stir at the end of class each night when the group did practice readings on each other. For instance when the Three of Swords was drawn she would immediately ask if the seeker had heart problems or ever had a heart attack? When she saw the Devil, she would issue dire warning of the seeker being surrounded by evil people. The class used to divert their eyes or slink into corners when I paired them up for exchange readings as they were all afraid of her predictions. She was a great sport and used to aplogise to everyone after their reading. From your comment above that does not seem to be the case for you, but rather they seem to be truly reflecting your current circumstances.
It will all settle down in a while but seriously do try some of the cleansing, grounding and protection methods. Anything else is probably juju alright and I am right behind you on that one. The odd crystal or two is fine but really you need very few trappings to do a reading other than the cards and yourself. The rest is just theatrics. It wasn’t until I became a Reiki Healer and Reiki Teacher that I became aware of energy and how it can contaminate you. I feel energy around me in a very physical manner. It hits me like a blast of static electricity and can fill my head like a leaden balloon. If I move my hands around the area when the energy is coming from, depending on its weight, it feels like cobwebs. I struggled all the time, still do, with keeping grounded. After a day of healings I would feel top heavy in my head and totally spaced out. My balance was dreadfully affected and I felt as if someone had pulled the plug on me and drained me of energy. I was doing my cleansing, grounding and psychic protection but it still got to me. When I was first attuned to Reiki in 2005, my Reiki Master warned me about grounding as I had a very strong reaction to the attunement. I felt nauseated for days and couldn’t stand beside people without the hairs on the back of my neck raising and tingles down my spine. I hated travelling on buses or in cars with others as I thought I would implode with the pressure of energy in my skull. Standing in queues was another challenge as it would bore through the back of my skull too. It was both incredible and overwhelming all at the same time. So cleansing, grounding and psychic protection are the first things I teach in class so we can all start out on the right foot.
Another example of the importance of the above is when I attended a psychic fair as a tarot reader some years back. There were two tarot readers including myself and three angel card readers. Before I set up my table, I did my cleansing, grounding and psychic protection. The other tarot reader acknowledged what I was doing and agreed she should do it but had become lazy. The angel card readers told me they didn’t need to do any form of protection as they had the angels looking out for them. I didn’t agree but said nothing as it was not my business to do so. It was a very busy day and I ended up staying over the time as there were so many people to get through. In the end I announced I was finishing up as I could no longer offer readings due to burn out. There was a negative reaction from the people queuing for readings but I honestly could do no more. The organisers did not book enough readers and we are not machines that can keep going.
One of the angel card readers said she would stay on a further hour to do the extra readings and this appeased some, but others wanted tarot and not angel cards. The other tarot reader had gone home at the appointed time as she had a taxi booked. The following week I bumped into the angel card reader and I asked her how she got on after I left and what time she got out at. She said that everything had gone well and all were happy but when she got home she had a terrible night and following day. She had the worst headache of her life and had to stay in bed for a day with the curtains closed. She said she felt exhausted for the rest of the week.
The thing is, be it angel cards or tarot, they both involve opening of the chakras for they are divination tools. The switch is flicked and you end up wide open. When I teach, either Reiki or Tarot, I compare it to leaving your front and back door wide open all day and all night, even when you go to bed. With the doors open, anyone and anything can traipse through your house and leave a mess, or their baggage behind. They can also sit in your house and invade your personal space. So clean up before the visitors arrive, tidy up again and air the room after they go, and then remember to lock up.
Yes, send me the other reading and I will get back to you about it over the next week.
Hope this helped.
Vivien
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hey i want to ask you about tarot reading i have got 10 of penti, reverse 5 of penti ,ace of wands, 3 of swords reverse, ace of panti reverse and ace of cups reverse.
i am so cinfused about them and so much negativity and its a love reading could you guide me
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Hi Zara,
That’s a lot of Reversed Cards altogether and to be honest I would not be able to advise on them without discussing with you. However, I am suspicious of such a number of cards coming together. Is there a chance you reversed too many cards at the one time or too many in total? Only a few cards should be reversed randomly. So many leads me to believe you reversed too many. I would completely clear my deck and upright all cards. Leave the reading for another day and clear again before shuffling. This time, just reverse a few throughout the deck and then draw the cards. If all the reversed cards come out again, then you need to pay attention as either you know something deep down about the love reading that is negative or you are being warned. I doubt it is either as you would not be so confused about it. It certainly can be interpreted but I would rather you did the reading again asking a very similar question. The only thing that would spring to mind is that money, career, status or family stand in the way of this relationship. One may not be considered a right or appropriate match, a love that cannot be because of personal circumstances. Let me know when you next draw the cards pertaining to this.
Blessings,
Vivien
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Hi Viven
I tried to read tarot for my friend for looking for love. The card 5 was three of swords to indicate where to find love. I can’t exactly know where would that be based on the meaning of the card. I now come up a question. How to interpret tarot card for when and where? I’ve read couple tarot books, they don’t exactly tell the interpretations for where and when. How in a way to figure out the where and when in cards?
Thank you Vivien.
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Hi FanFan,
Yes this is always a tricky area when tarot reading. When and where in tarot require applying a number of approaches when interpreting. The first thing one needs to do is forget about trying to interpret the cards on a literal basis as rarely will tarot oblige you in such a manner. This is the mistake many readers, especially new readers, make. They are looking for precise details for cards that when you think about it cannot oblige. If one asks where they will meet their partner and let’s say it turns out to be while sitting on a bus or train, how will any tarot card actually show you this in their imagery or association alone. Of course it is wonderful when the cards are easier to read such as ‘Two/Three of Cups’, ‘Four of Wands’ suggesting meeting at a social occasion, or The Sun, Three/Eight of Wands possibly suggesting while on vacation or travelling. These are quite easy to read even if they may not be accurate as personally I do not hold any deep trust in tarot giving such exact details, especially with timing. There are too many variables at play. When asking tarot for the ‘whens’ and ‘wheres’ of things, it is not a good idea to read the cards literally or take them at face value. Typically taking a figurative or subjective approach yields more options. Look for metaphors in the card meaning or imagery. Use imagination too. Also asking ‘When’ does not always equate any particular time-span. The answer to when one will find love may come down to ‘when’ they have achieved something, dealt with something such as a previous relationship, when their life is less complicated, when they have grieved, when they take the pressure off looking for love etc. Asking ‘Where’ is similarly loaded. To be honest the when and where positions in looking for love spreads or other relationship readings often turn up the strangest cards. When they are totally off, I take it to mean that it is no where on the agenda at present. I find people often seek out relationships and love at the worst times and wonder how they expect to be successful in their endeavors. Seeking love when one is not yet over a previous relationship – when it is too recent, when they are up to their tonsils in exams and study, when their career consumes their life, when they are struggling to cope with a baby or young children, when their finances are in tatters, when they are in debt, very bad health etc does not augur well. In these cases a strange or apparent negative card may simply be pointing this out. Looking for love when your life is in a heap is not the best time. So when in these cases could mean when you have sorted things out, when you have more time, when you are less stressed. The Fool appearing could be telling you that love will be found when you are free to pursue or give yourself over to it – the time is not right. In the meantime it may all be wishful thinking.
I would find the Three of Swords turning up as where to find love might be acting as a warning about heading into a potentially hurtful situation. Yes, love may be found but will it be worth it? You might not interpret this card in such a glowing manner. I recall a client who was asking about a particular person they were interested in. In the ‘Where’ would they meet position she too got the Three of Swords. I took it as a warning and told her to tread carefully. She came back to me some time later to enquire about the future of the relationship she had embarked on. The Three of Swords came out again alongside the Moon. This alerted me to secrecy. Something wasn’t right. When the Seven of Swords was drawn for further clarification on the Moon, I decided to ask her out straight if the person she was involved with was in a relationship with another or even married. I was right, he was married with three young children. When she asked about whether he would leave his wife and family for her, the two cards drawn were the Seven and Ten of Cups. I took this as a sign she was delusional about her situation. The Upright Ten of Cups suggested he would stay with his wife as he had too much to give up while the Seven of Cups saw her building castles in the sky and totally out of touch with reality. I reminded her of the Three of Swords from her previous reading as where she would find love. She found love, what she believed to be love, a possible one-sided love, by getting involved in a love triangle that was bound to end in tears. She became quite insistent that he would leave his wife and that she was happy to be a step mother to his children. Her Outcome card was drawn as the High Priestess. To me this implied that she would maintain her status as the ‘other woman’.
So applying the figurative and subjective rather than the literal may yield better options to work with. Take the Two of Cups in the Where Position. Literally, this could mean at a party, wedding, or social occasion. Ignoring the literal approach we might see the Two of Cups as someone handing something to someone, possible serving them. Could it be the guy or girl who works behind the bar you frequent, the person who chats to you on the bus or train you think just being nice and friendly but in truth have grown to look forward to seeing you each day? The Eight of Swords could be suggesting that ‘where’ is the train or subway you cram into like sardines each day in your effort to get to work. Could this be where you will find love?
Timing is also dealt with in a similar manner. Depending on the system you follow and which side of the equator you live on, Wands can mean Spring, Cups -summer, Swords – Autumn and Pentacles- Winter (this varies from system to system). The number on the card can mean days, weeks, months. Ace of Wands could mean the first day/Week/Month of Spring for example. Pages could mean the early stage of a season, the Knight – early to mid, The Queen Mid to Late and the King Late season. There are several other methods which you will find by doing a bit of research online. Remember When does not always return a literal response.
It is always best to read the spread overall rather than on a card by card basis. The cards will not always fall in the correct sequence or where you think they should. Even with the best will in the world, they can end up disjointed and scattered. If it all looks very strange or if one card seems to be out of place, a good idea is to draw a couple of extra cards to flank the ambiguous one setting the intention you are looking for greater insight into its meaning and relevancy in the spread. These cards should clear up matters, but if not, use the uncooperative card as the basis for a further reading.
I do hope the above has helped in some way.
Vivien
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