Seven of Swords
Sneaking off with what you can carry. Strategy can help, but deception costs.
- Card
- Minor Arcana · Swords (Air)
- Upright keywords
- Strategy, Cunning, Evasion, Secrets
- Reversed keywords
- Exposure, Honesty, Reflection, Rethinking a plan
- Yes or no
- Leans no
Traditional correspondences Golden Dawn: Lord of Unstable Effort / Thoth: Futility / 3rd decan of Aquarius · the Moon / Sephirah: Netzach (Victory)
Upright meaning
Strategy or sneakiness. Be careful about hidden agendas.
A man tiptoes away from a camp carrying five swords, glancing back, while two remain behind. The Seven of Swords is cunning: strategy, evasion and sometimes deception. Upright, it can mean being smart and resourceful, or getting away with something. Watch for dishonesty, yours or others’.
Reversed meaning
Things come to light. Time for honesty.
Reversed, secrets come out, or you decide to come clean. Rethink plans that rely on avoiding the truth.
For ways of reading reversed cards, see how to read reversals.
Love
Secrets or someone not being honest.
Truth coming out.
Work
Clever strategy, or office politics.
Exposure or rethinking a plan.
Money
Be careful of scams or shortcuts.
Coming clean about money.
Relationships
Someone not being straight.
Honesty restored.
Health
Avoiding a health issue.
Facing it honestly.
Tarot does not diagnose physical conditions. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor.
Mind and spirit
Self-deception.
Honesty with yourself.
As a person
Someone sly or strategic.
Someone confessing.
Timing
Hidden things come out within weeks. In the calendar, mid February is also a guide (roughly February 9–18).
Advice
Be strategic but honest.
Come clean and rethink.
Questions to ask yourself
- What am I avoiding?
- Is someone not telling the whole truth?
- Is my plan honest?
A common misreading
The Seven of Swords isn’t always theft. It can also be clever strategy.
The story of this card
Seven tests the mind’s integrity. Cleverness can serve or betray.
The Waite deck’s picture and symbols
In the Waite deck a man sneaks away from a military camp carrying five swords, leaving two behind, glancing over his shoulder.
History and differences between traditions
The Golden Dawn named it Lord of Unstable Effort. Crowley called it Futility.
Words for today
I choose honesty.
I can rethink my plans.