Disclaimer: Sage & Moon participates in affiliate programs. We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through these links. Any product we choose is based on personal recommendations that we love and trust you will too. By using these links, you are directly supporting us to keep writing + creating. Thank you!
Belonging to the Suit of Swords of the Minor Arcana, the Three of Swords tarot card represents heartbreak, betrayal, and separation, as well as healing, forgiveness, and release.
The Three of Swords card is a powerful symbol of emotional pain, mental anguish, and sadness.
In the Rider Waite-Smith deck, its imagery is a heart pierced by three swords, with a stormy background symbolizing emotional turmoil.
In the Tarot, swords represent the intellect and the mind, while the heart is a symbol of emotions and feelings.
The Three of Swords brings these two aspects together, showing the deep hurt resulting from the sudden realization of betrayal or heartbreak.
Esoterically, this card is often associated with the Kabbalistic concept of “Binah,” which represents the transformative power of pain and suffering.
The Three of Swords card is an invitation to confront painful truths and let go of illusions that no longer serve us.
This process can be painful and difficult, but it’s necessary for our growth and evolution. We can evolve as stronger and wiser by proactively facing and learning from our pain.
Some questions the Three of Swords invites you to ponder…
- Think about a time when you experienced heartbreak or emotional pain. How did you feel? What emotions did you experience?
- Consider a situation where you felt betrayed by someone you trusted. What did you learn from that experience? How have you grown?
- Reflect on the role of the mind and the heart in your life. Do you tend to rely more on your intellect or your emotions? How do these two aspects of yourself interact with each other?
- Consider a situation where you were overthinking or analyzing a situation, to the point where it caused you emotional pain. What can you learn from that experience? How can you find a balance between your mind and your heart?
- Think about the concept of “Binah” and the transformative power of pain and suffering. Can you think of a time when going through a difficult experience led to deeper growth or spiritual understanding?
Three of Swords Keywords
| Upright | Betrayal, sorrow, heartbreak, grief, pain, separation, rejection, sadness, loss, truth, hurt, conflict |
|---|---|
| Reversed | Healing, forgiveness, recovery, closure, acceptance, reconciliation, release, clarity, growth, understanding, renewal, resilience |
| Element | Air |
| Zodiac | Libra |
| Number | 3 (creativity, growth, manifestation) |
| Yes or No | No |
Don’t have time to read? Check out this helpful video for key meanings of the Three of Swords Tarot card!
Three of Swords (Upright)
In a reading, the upright Three of Swords is an indication of heartache, emotional suffering, or a breach of trust.
This card is a sign of deep grief or hurt, whether from a breakup, betrayal, or loss. It can mean that you’re experiencing significant pain and sadness, and may need to take time to heal and process your emotions.
Sometimes, the Three of Swords may show that you’ve been betrayed or let down by someone you trusted. You might be feeling hurt, angry, or resentful, and could need to work through these emotions to move forward.
THREE OF SWORDS ADVICE
If you draw the Three of Swords upright in a reading, it’s important to honor your feelings and give yourself space to process your emotions.
Don’t try to bury your pain or ignore it; instead, allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling, and express it in healthy ways.
Seek out support from loved ones or a trusted therapist, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
The Three of Swords can also be a reminder to find a balance between your mind and your heart — try to connect with your emotions and intuition, rather than relying solely on rational analysis.
Three of Swords (Reversed)
When the Three of Swords appears reversed in your reading, it can be a positive sign of beginning to heal from a period of heartache or distress.
The worst may be over, and you may be starting to feel a sense of closure or resolution.
This reversal can also show that you are learning to let go of painful illusions or beliefs that no longer serve you. You might be starting to feel more positive and hopeful, and could be moving past a difficult period in your life.
The Three of Swords in reverse also speaks of forgiveness and release, whether you’re forgiving yourself or someone else. It can mean that you’re learning to let go of old hurts and resentments, and are moving towards a more peaceful and accepting mindset.
THREE OF SWORDS REVERSED ADVICE
The Three of Swords advises you to continue to take care of yourself as you heal from emotional wounds.
Honor your feelings and process them in healthy ways. Be gentle with yourself, and don’t try to rush the healing process. Let go of illusions or beliefs that are no longer serving you. Be open to new perspectives and ways of thinking, and don’t be afraid to embrace change!
Three of Swords as a Person
The Three of Swords represents someone who is intimately acquainted with pain and loss. So much so, that sorrow has etched itself into their identity.
This card shows a person who has been through betrayal, grief, or trauma and now carries a kind of raw, unshielded honesty about human vulnerability.
They are not usually melodramatic or overly emotional (although they can be). Rather, they are profoundly aware of the impermanence of love and life, as well as the sharp edges of connection and attachment.
There’s a certain gravity to people represented by the Three of Swords.
They have a presence and an unflinching realism that can be both sobering and strangely comforting.
This person can come across as guarded, sharp-tongued, or even cold at times, but underneath is a deeply feeling heart that’s simply been wounded too many times to remain soft.
They might be fiercely intelligent and analytical, using logic as a defense mechanism, yet they often possess a poetic soul.
This is someone who can articulate heartbreak in a way that feels universal. Whether through art, conversation, or quiet presence, they have a way of holding space for other people’s pain because they recognize it so well.
Three of Swords people don’t sugarcoat life, but they don’t run from it either.
Three of Swords (Reversed) as a Person
The reversed Three of Swords shows someone who has survived emotional devastation and is now in the long (often messy) process of healing.
This reversal reveals a person who resists letting pain define or defeat them, even when it lingers quietly beneath the surface. They’re learning to forgive both themselves and others,
They radiate a quiet strength that is rooted in resilience rather than repression. Though they might still flinch at vulnerability, they’re choosing softness again, one brave step at a time.
Three of Swords reversed people are usually incredibly compassionate and introspective, and often become a source of gentle support for others walking through their own recovery.
Three of Swords as Feelings
When it comes to matters of the heart, the Three of Swords is a sign of deep grief, heartache, or sorrow that cuts to the core.
It reflects feelings of betrayal, disappointment, or the sharp sting of separation or loss, whether recent or long-buried.
When it comes to how someone feels about you, this card is an indication of heartbreak tied to that connection. Feelings of loss, regret, or emotional distance could be present.
There might be love still lingering around, but it’s tangled up in hurt, miscommunication, or a painful ending that’s hard to move past.
This card represents the emotional ache of caring deeply, even when it wounds us.
Three of Swords (Reversed) as Feelings
The Three of Swords reversed in regards to feelings means release, healing, and the slow, tender mending of a hurt heart. It shows a hope that is beginning to outshine the pain.
This reversal can be a good sign that someone is moving through grief or pain. Instead of ignoring or avoiding it, there is an active effort to let it go.
As feelings for someone, the Three of Swords in reverse can be a desire to forgive, reconcile, or make peace. Emotions can still be raw, but there’s a softness returning and a readiness to open up again, even if cautiously.
Three of Swords: Yes or No
When the Three of Swords appears as a yes or no, the answer is a firm “no.”
This card is all about loss, mental/emotional pain, so it can suggest that the path in question may lead to disappointment or difficulty. Take it as a sign to protect your heart and consider whether you’re truly ready for what lies ahead.
Three of Swords (Reversed): Yes or No
The Three of Swords reversed in a yes or no reading is a gentle, tentative yes, but with emotional strings attached.
Depending on the nature of the question, it can show that a positive outcome possible, but only if past wounds are acknowledged and worked through. The answer could be yes eventually (once forgiveness, clarity, or closure has taken place).
Key Takeaway
In essence, the Three of Swords is a powerful reminder to us of the transformative power of pain and suffering.
Whether it appears upright or reversed, the Three of Swords invites us to confront our emotions, honor our feelings, and find ways to heal and grow from difficult experiences.
That’s all for the Three of Swords tarot card meanings! To learn more about the Tarot, check out our Tarot Guide for Beginners, or explore the meanings of the rest of the cards!
