The Seven of Swords tarot card is about betrayal, trickery, and dishonesty. Someone is sneaking around and lying—either yourself or a person in your life.
Remember that even though you may get away with your behavior, the coverup might not be worth it in the end. If people learn your dirty little secret, things could get ugly.
This card can also stand for gossip, spreading lies, and even criminal behavior. If someone is talking behind your back, remember that their behavior is rooted in jealousy, and even though their words hurt, their attitude says more about their pain than your choices.
When you see the Seven of Swords card reversed, it can mean you feel like a fraud or you’re deceiving yourself. Maybe you doubt your abilities or maybe you’re pretending everything is okay even though it’s not.
This reversed card tells you to be honest about the situation and not to fool yourself or anyone else into seeing things in a distorted way. It can also serve as a warning against manipulation and encourages you to come clean about your role in any deception.
The reversed Seven of Swords can also mean you’re keeping secrets from others. Often, this is a dark secret you’re scared of people discovering.
Keeping your secrets hidden can cause stress and feelings of guilt, so it might be time to unburden yourself. Start by forgiving yourself and then reach out to someone you trust. Even telling just one person about your feelings can help take some of the weight off and put things in perspective.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Alright, so let’s jump into how to read your reversed Seven of Swords card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your card this way, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For the Seven of Swords, this means something is blocking any lies or deception in your life. You have honesty and transparency about a situation even if it’s not conventional.
Say you pull the reversed Seven of Swords thinking about your relationship. You and your husband have been together 15 years, and there’s complete trust between the two of you.
About 7 years into your marriage, both of you started craving adventure again, and it led to some lying and sneaking around. But you love each other and wanted to make it work, and since then, you’ve agreed to certain levels of openness.
It works for both of you and the trust between you has never been stronger. Plus you’re both getting what you need to feel fulfilled and keep the passion alive. Even though this isn’t a traditional situation, it’s led to more transparency and support between the two of you than ever before.
Here, the reversed Seven of Swords tells you that being honest with each other is one of the hallmarks of a strong relationship. As long as everyone is safe and on the same page, all kinds of relationships can be healthy and fulfilling.
Keep being honest with your partner and make sure to nurture the special bond that’s unique to you both.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Seven of Swords card is with the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Seven of Swords, instead of deception and betrayal, you have sincerity and loyalty. You may think someone is pulling the wool over your eyes, but maybe it’s paranoia getting the best of you.
Say you pull the reversed Seven of Swords thinking about your job. You work for a small brewery that has recently started taking off.
You’ve always been in charge of marketing the brand, but last month, someone new came on board who has more experience. They’re handing a lot of what you used to do, and now you’re focusing solely on reaching out to partners and vendors.
You’re good at this work, but you can’t help but feel like you’re being replaced. You’re scared there are talks behind your back and maybe they’re thinking of getting rid of your role altogether.
Here, the reversed Seven of Swords tells you not to jump to conclusions. There’s no reason you should think your team is out to get you. If you have concerns about the changes to your role, talk to management about it.
Ask them about the plan for your job as things continue to expand and don’t be afraid to get it in written form. Then you can be sure everyone is on the same page and feel secure about your role in the company.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Seven of Swords card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
For the Seven of Swords, this is no surprise. The deception in your life is becoming a problem and you’ll need to bring things to light to restore peace.
For example, you might pull the reversed Seven of Swords thinking about your love for gambling. You’ve had a bad habit of betting money all your life, and lately, it’s been getting worse.
It started with just a few horse and car races and then escalated to professional sports. After that, you started taking trips to a casino a few hours away to get the thrill in real life.
Your wife knows you enjoy it, but you’ve been lying about just how much you’re investing. You’ve lost several thousand dollars in the past few months, and it feels like you’re drowning. You know the truth will come out eventually, but you’re afraid to face it.
Here, the reversed Seven of Swords tells you the longer you keep up this charade, the worse things will get. Eventually, your wife will notice the missing money, or you’ll end up in real trouble.
Either way, there is no good outcome if you stay on this path. The sooner you tell your wife what’s going on, the sooner she can help you take control of the situation. Coming clean is never easy, but the people in our lives can help us navigate these unsure waters.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can read your reversed Seven of Swords using the “no/not” card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So with the Seven of Swords, this could mean “no lies.” It’s time to be honest with yourself so that you can understand the situation and start moving in the right direction.
Say you pull the reversed Seven of Swords thinking about your struggle with diabetes. You have type 2 diabetes, and lately, things have been getting worse. Last week, you started noticing more numbness in your feet and your vision has been declining.
You’ve had a hard time sticking to your diet, and exercise has been a real challenge too. Lately, you’re just not feeling up to anything, and you’re afraid to go back to the doctor because you know they’ll just give you bad news.
Here, the reversed Seven of Swords card tells you not to think the worst. Your doctors are used to all kinds of patients, and their job is to help you not judge you. The sooner you get in for an appointment, the sooner you’ll understand the situation and have the tools to face it.
Your doctor can give you advice and resources to help your eating and exercise habits. They can also adjust medications and make sure you’re all on the same page about your health.
Avoiding the truth won’t make things easier, and once you understand the situation, you can work to improve it.