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Three of Swords, Rider-Waite-Smith deck

Tarot card meaning

Three of Swords as feelings

This person may feel hurt, or may be causing hurt through painful honesty.

  • heartache
  • sorrow
  • honesty

How our meanings are written

▲Upright

This person may feel hurt, or may be causing hurt through painful honesty. Their feelings include sorrow or disappointment. Something unsaid is weighing on them.

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▼Reversed

This person is healing from hurt and may be ready to let go of old pain. Alternatively they are still holding onto a grievance. Their feelings are softening slowly.

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Advice

Let yourself feel the hurt and speak about it with someone you trust. Honesty with yourself is the first step towards healing.

Reversed: Gently put the pain down. Forgive where you can, and notice whether you are clinging to the hurt out of habit.

A question to reflect on

What hurt am I ready to look at honestly?

Reversed: What would healing from this look like?

Three of Swords: common questions

What does Three of Swords mean as feelings?

This person may feel hurt, or may be causing hurt through painful honesty. Their feelings include sorrow or disappointment. Something unsaid is weighing on them.

What does Three of Swords reversed mean as feelings?

This person is healing from hurt and may be ready to let go of old pain. Alternatively they are still holding onto a grievance. Their feelings are softening slowly.

What advice does Three of Swords give?

Let yourself feel the hurt and speak about it with someone you trust. Honesty with yourself is the first step towards healing.

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