Three swords pierce a red heart under a sky of grey rain. It is heartbreak, grief and painful truth: a wound that hurts, but one that is clean and can heal.
The pierced heart: sorrow, separation, a painful truth.
Waite’s keywords (1911): Removal, absence, delay, division, rupture, dispersion: all that the pierced heart shows.
Reversed
Reversed, the wound begins to heal: release of pain, forgiveness; or pain that is kept inside and festers.
A wound beginning to heal, grief released.
Waite’s keywords (1911): Mental alienation, error, loss, distraction, disorder, confusion.
In love
Upright Heartbreak, betrayal, a painful separation or a hurtful truth.
Reversed Healing after heartbreak; forgiveness slowly comes.
In work
Upright Painful news at work; criticism that hurts.
Reversed You recover from a professional disappointment.
In money
Upright A financial loss that hurts.
Reversed Recovery after a loss.
At home and in the family
Upright Sadness in the family; painful words.
Reversed Healing old family wounds.
On your path
Upright Pain that teaches; the soul grows through grief.
Reversed Release the pain you are still holding.
Its counsel
Upright Let yourself grieve. Tears clean the wound.
Reversed Forgive, so that the wound can close.
Correspondences
- Arcana
- Minor Arcana, suit of Swords
- Element
- Air
- Rank
- Threes: growth, and the work of many hands
Dreams that carry this card
Swords
Ace of Swords · Two of Swords · Four of Swords · Five of Swords · Six of Swords · Seven of Swords · Eight of Swords · Nine of Swords · Ten of Swords · Page of Swords · Knight of Swords · Queen of Swords · King of Swords