The Seven of Swords tarot card stands for trickery, theft, and dishonesty. You or someone around you might be using deceitful tactics to achieve a goal.
The intention of these actions is deliberate and they are done without thought of how it will affect other people.
If you are the person that needs to make a change, the first step is recognizing that you are headed down the wrong path. Then, you can create a master plan to change those behaviors.
If it is someone else, you won’t be able to force their hand. Be on the alert, someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
Seven of Swords Keywords
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Seven of Swords card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below an overview of some quick facts and the most important words connected to this Minor Arcana Ace card.
| Upright | Dishonesty, deceit, manipulation, cheating, theft |
| Reversed | Taking responsibility, starting fresh, coming clean |
| Number | 7 |
| Element | Air |
| Planet | Uranus |
| Astrological Sign | Aquarius |
Seven of Swords Tarot Card Description
The Seven of Swords Tarot card depicts a man hauling off five swords in his hands, looking behind him to check for any witnesses.
In the background, two swords stand, indicating that this man has stolen the weapons that he possesses. The expression on his face is confident, knowing that he will not be caught.
The yellow background of the card symbolizes consciousness, confirming that the man is fully conscious that he is committing a robbery in broad daylight.
The red color of his boots and head tells us that this is a man with a big ego and energy and that he is willing to act on his ego to get what he wants.
His smugness shows that he is not ashamed of what he is doing and that he is sure he will get away with it.
Further in the background, though, we see a flag being raised to alert the camp of his actions. He will soon be found out.
Seven of Swords Tarot Meaning
The Seven of Swords in the upright position represents lies, scheming behavior, and a lack of conscience. If you pull this card in a reading, you might be using less scrupulous ways to get what you want.
Are you using manipulative behaviors to get the upper hand in a close relationship? This card reminds you that there are other ways of accomplishing what you need.
When the Seven of Swords represents someone else in a reading, it serves as a warning to keep an eye out for someone that might be taking advantage of you.
Look closely at the people that you surround yourself with and determine whether this applies to your situation.
Are you naive to their true intentions? Hidden motives will soon be revealed if you use your instincts and wits.
Money and Career Meaning
When the Seven of Swords appears in a career reading, this could be an indication that there are some improvements you can make with how you handle professional matters.
For example, if you are in a sales position, you might inflate the description of a product to make a sale or make promises that you can’t keep in favor of earning your commission.
The same goes for other business deals and investments. Although ‘get-rich-quick schemes’ might be tempting, they usually end in more loss than gain.
Honesty and transparency will often get you much further with customers and coworkers.
The Seven of Swords doesn’t tell us that you are bound to act one way forever. It simply calls attention to your actions and urges you to make necessary changes to fulfill a happier future.
Love and Relationships Meaning
If the Seven of Swords in a love reading is drawn to represent you, it could denote that you are having thoughts of being unfaithful or deceitful to your partner. Whether or not you act on these thoughts is up to you.
There is no need to cause pain to other people based on your urges. Think of your partner before you make any rash decisions. If you are already having an affair or hiding things from your partner, you might consider coming clean.
If the Seven of Swords is pulled for another person in a love context, it could be foretelling a less than an honest partner. The relationship that you are in now is not all that it seems and you will need to dig deeper under the surface to get the answers that you seek.
This doesn’t always mean that your partner is bound to cheat on you, but they may be being dishonest in other areas such as how they are feeling.
The best way to resolve this is to talk to your partner; make an effort to get everything out in the open so that you can deal with the issue together.
If you are single, this card predicts a deceitful new suitor. You will need to be careful in entertaining this new relationship because this person could be hiding something from you.
It could be as simple as this person not wanting to share the intimate details of their life right away, or it could be something more serious such as a history of abuse.
It is up to you to protect yourself and spend plenty of time getting to know this person before you commit to a long-term relationship.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
In a health spread, the Seven of Swords says you may need to do more testing to find out what the status of your health is.
Perhaps a doctor has waved you off, but the problem is persisting. This reading indicates that you would do well getting a second opinion on the matter.
When it comes to spirituality, these swords suggest that you are not being true to yourself. Your Higher Self knows what is best for you, but you continue down the wrong path.
It’s time to make a U-turn and head in the right direction.
Seven of Swords Reversed
The Seven of Swords in the reversed position stands for turning over a new leaf. Perhaps you have recognized the negative behaviors that you have been displaying, and you want to change.
The Seven of Swords suggests you have all the power. If old habits aren’t serving you, look for ways to build new ones.
On the other hand, someone in your life may come face-to-face with their actions and are ready to start over and change their ways.
Either way, this reversal is a positive one. You are on the right track to the person you are meant to be – keep pushing forward.
Seven of Swords: Yes or No
The Seven of Swords represents negativity, also in a yes or no reading. It calls attention to lying, taking advantage of others and being dishonest or deceitful.
For these reasons, the answer to your question is no or not until some surrounding issues are exposed and cleared.
Important Card Combinations
Dishonesty, trickery, and cheating are also the main themes of the Seven of Swords when combined with other tarot cards. Below we wrote down the most important combinations of this Swords card.
Seven of Swords and The High Priestess
This card combination indicates that someone in your life may be keeping secrets from you. This doesn’t always mean that they are deceptive; they may be doing so to protect your feelings.
Unfortunately, concealing the truth often doesn’t do much to protect another person. Encourage those around you to be honest and open with you regardless of the circumstances. The best way to get to the bottom of this is to communicate.
Seven of Swords and The Hierophant
When the Seven of Swords and the Hierophant appear in reading together, it means someone is breaking the rules. If this person is you, look closely at your actions and decide if the risk is worth the reward.
Good things rarely come from disobeying the law. To protect your future, you would do well to abide by the rules every once in a while.
Seven of Swords and Five of Wands
The duo of the Seven of Swords and the Five of Wands denotes a lack of teamwork. Are you having trouble getting along with your co-workers?
When this reading appears, it serves as a reminder that you can gain peace in your career if you are willing to bend a little to accommodate others.
Sometimes, the end of conflict starts with you. Spark up a conversation about your concerns at work and see what can be done to resolve them.
Seven of Swords and Ten of Wands
If the Seven of Swords and Ten of Wands appear in a spread, you are experiencing troubles rooting from a lack of communication.
In a relationship or friendship, the best way to handle this is to find the root cause of the issue.
What is it that is making it so difficult to talk to one another? If you can figure that out, the rest will be a breeze. No matter how difficult it might be, talk to your partner. You will need to work through this together.
Seven of Swords Tarot Cards
There are a lot of depictions of the card of dishonesty and manipulation. Below you can find a small selection of my favorite Seven of Swords tarot cards.
Is your favorite Seven of Swords not included? Feel free to drop a comment below and I will have a look at it!
Seven of Swords in a Reading
That’s all for this Swords tarot card meaning! Can’t get enough? Learn how to read Tarot in this Tarot Beginners Guide.
If you have pulled the Seven of Swords in your spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life?
Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so please take a minute to let us know in the comments below!
Very well done. I got 7 of swords twice as the final card in a Celtic Cross (no reversals), asking what the results of my MRI biopsy will be. ” In a health spread, the Seven of Swords says you may need to do more testing to find out what the status of your health is.”
It is what it is.
Thank you very much for your kind and helpful answer! 🙂
Vica
Dear Willemijn,
What does Seven of Swords upright mean, if I asked from my cards(in an general best course of action/what to do- spread):
“What is the best course of action/ what is the best I can do for myself at the moment?”
Thanks a lot in advance!
Hi Vica, The upright Seven of Swords represents lies, scheming behavior, and a lack of conscience. Are you using less scrupulous ways to get what you want? If so, this card reminds you that there are other ways of accomplishing what you need. If you’re encountering someone else who is invading your space, the Seven of Swords advises you to protect your belongings and use your instincts and your withs to discover the truth. Hopefully, this makes sense to your situation. Sending you lots of sparks of joy ✨