Into the Shadows: Three of Swords Symbolism

Three of Swords Meaning

The Three of Swords is a layered card. At the foundation it symbolizes heartbreak, loss, turmoil, sorrow, emotional betrayal, and strife. Through its imagery, the heart symbolizes intense emotion, and the swords symbolize the mental and rational mind. 

An experience, situation or person has caused great pain, and betrayal causing immense emotional suffering, sorrow and loss. This could be a recent experience, or something related to the past. There is a clog in the emotional plane as this memory is trapped in the mental plane. There is an inability to release the situation and find a path forward. The wounds from the experience are too painful to address, even though it’s the emotional pain causing a storm within. 

The swords represent our logical and rational mind, at times like this we can tap into this energy to cut through the clutter of our minds to get to the root cause of our struggles. 

Emotional, mental and physical pain can manifest in many ways. For some, they may retreat inward, becoming despondent or overwrought with sadness. For others the pain may run even deeper causing feelings of guilt, shame or depression. 

While for others, they may choose to outwardly express their pain through acts of aggression and anger. Taking the pain out on others as a way to subconsciously attack the one who harmed you. Although in the moment, hostility may feel like a release, it is not. A true release is acknowledging the experience and releasing the pain and its hold.

Another depiction of the Three of Swords is the suffering that comes from a difficult decision. It could be a big change that needs to take place in our lives, an unforeseen loss of a relationship or job that clearly needs to end. When there are heavy emotions it can cloud our judgement making it difficult to find a clear path forward. 

Although the swords depicted on the card are piercing the heart, all wounds can heal, and nothing lasts forever. We have the inner power to pull out the swords and cut through the emotional and mental blockages and find a path to healing.

Although the Three of Swords represents intense emotions, it still represents detached and pathological tendencies. With this specific card it could reflect our intention to harm others. It is important to remember that we all have a dark side, our shadow side. When our shadows are left unchecked, we can make mistakes in judgement, at times, with serious consequences.  

Getting to know the deeper parts of ourselves can shine a light on our shadow side. Acknowledging the darker parts of ourselves leads to profound healing and growth.  

Three of Swords Symbolic Keywords

Card: Heartbreak, loss, turmoil, sorrow, emotional betrayal, and strife

Upright: Sadness, suffering, rejection, abandonment, separation

Reversed: Hope, optimism, release, support, forgiveness 

Elements: Air/Swords

Three of Swords Symbolism 

The Three of Swords tarot card depicts the image of a large red heart being pierced by three large, metal swords. There is a storm brewing in the background with grey sky and storm clouds covering most of the sky. 

Emotion 

Although the suit of Swords symbolizes the mental plane, and many cards depict detached or pathological temperaments, the Three of Swords is the only card in the suit to represent vivid emotion. Although there is intense pain, there is also intense, passionate emotion.

The storm depicted on the card is the storm that is going on in the background. The heartbreak or betrayal has already taken place, and the storm raging is within. This could be a recent experience or something that has been held onto from the past. 

The pain depicted from the card could be mental, emotional or physical pain but at the root is an experience that needs to be addressed. Until the pain is felt and released the clouds will not give light, they will continue to rage causing conflict and strife between the inner and outer landscape. 

Heart

The heart symbolizes love, beauty and represents the source of our thoughts, actions and intentions. It also represents our emotional, moral and spiritual center. It gives us the emotional intelligence to work through our challenges while maintaining balance between the heart and the mind. 

The longer we stay stuck in our pain and traumas the storm will continue to rage on within. Although in the Three of Swords, the swords represent the pain of the experience, swords also represent how our thoughts and words can harm our emotions and physical body. 

Whether we compulsively ruminate or continuously speak about the hate and injustice of the experience, we are creating an emotional, mental and physical imbalance dwelling in this negative state. The path forward is working through the pain and learning the lesson the experience is teaching us. This will lead to inner strength, healing and growth. 

Color Grey 

The color Grey is a combination of black and white, representing that things are not always what they seem. Grey symbolizes neutrality, balance, and calmness and can also represent transition, reflection, personal and spiritual growth. 

Color Red

The color Red symbolizes power, passion, love, anger, creativity, survival, energy, action, assertion, and dominance. Red can represent passionate love or uncontrolled anger, creative action and energetic movement, it is the color of power.

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