I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Creator’s keywords: secrecy, self-interest
Carrie’s keywords: sneaky, aloof
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A fox peeks out with one eye from her curled up perch atop a sword. Six more swords are suspended above in a horizontal line. The card is entirely black and white, the background lines are diagonal and meet in the center of the card, leading our eyes to the fox. The lines reiterate that even though she may seem relaxed, she is very much aware of her surroundings, she is using her mental power to size up the situation.
The fox is huddled up in a ball, her bushy tail wrapped around her gives her an air of aloofness. Perhaps this is because she’s doing something shady, or perhaps it’s because she’d simply rather act alone. She can take care of her own business, and it would be foolish to underestimate her aptitude.
The Seven of Swords in most decks is often associated with cleverness at best, deception at worst. This card can draw your attention to some of your more slippery mental tendencies such as procrastination, avoidance, cynicism and dispassion.
However, this does not need to be written off as a negative card. This card reminds you that sometimes it is useful to find cognitive distance from a situation. There are times when your best approach is to sneak away and watch out for yourself. It is up to you to discern when this approach is helpful – and when it is hurtful.
Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General
One of my favorite takes on this card comes from one of my favorite tarot books, Learning The Tarot by Joan Bunning. Bunning describes the Seven of Swords as being associated with “hidden dishonor” whereas the Five of Swords is associated with “open dishonor.” In my deck, The Spacious Tarot we have six swords who appear to travel on the straight and narrow. The seventh sword, as we can see on the path behind them, takes a more jagged approach.
The Seven of Swords often shows up when you are doing something you know deep down isn’t that great, but you’re trying to justify your actions to yourself. It can be a representation of the mind games we play to try to avoid guilt, shame and accountability.
That said, sometimes it is okay to be secretive. It is a fine line to walk, and this card asks you to be totally honest with yourself about how and why you are navigating this line.
In a reading
This card can ask you to take an honest assessment of any secrets you are keeping. Where are your intentions? Are you acting out of self-preservation or have your thought cycles become overly wry? If you really need to watch out for yourself, so be it. But if you are dodging responsibilities, it is time to re-evaluate your approach.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Dear Carrie,
This is the best interpretation I have found in the whole web about the 7 swords card. Most card meanings online are for the Raider White tarot which I don’t like very much. And this description of the card is exactly how it should sound to me. Thanks for your work.
Al the best
Dan
Love your interpretation! Just how I feel now. I just got this as an outcome card and I am kind of confused. I need to meditate on it. I don’t believe this card is negative, sometimes you have to be kind of guarded, especially in this day and age. Thanks!
Hi Carrie,
Thank you for your guidance and interpretations with this deck!
At this time in my life I have been personally drawn to this card. I keep a copy of it on my desk as a daily reminder to not give all I emotionally have away to others, to not always leave myself open and vulnerable. I see this as “keeping something to yourself”. Not so much in the spirit of being sneaky or shady, but in the spirit of self-preservation.
Thank you for all the knowledge you share with others!
Thank you SO MUCH. I have been getting this card super often. It has been incredibly frustrating since I have definitely not been hiding anything but cleverness and acting alone was the perfect interpretation. I’m for sure in a phase of my life where I need to look out for myself, not in a phase where I’m hiding. This blog has helped me get acquainted with this deck in so many spreads. Thank you!!