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.

Three of Swords :: Wild Unknown Tarot
Creator’s keywords: heartbreak, betrayal
Carrie’s keywords: mental pain, isolation

Three of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown

Two swords are crossed in an X over the center sword, and the three blades are entangled in blood red bindings. This aptly describes the tightly wound sensation of troubling times. The red drapes down from the blades’ edge like actual blood.

This card in most decks is one that brings up a visceral reaction. It speaks of raw wounds. The Wild Unknown offers the keywords betrayal and heartbreak, and this card is often, undeniably, associated with pain. But as the suit of the mental realm, this card can also speak to the ways we create and deepen pain with our thoughts and words.

When you experience mental pain, you may feel isolated, disconnected from the universe. It is essential to remember that even during difficult times, you are always connected to all that is. You are never really alone, no matter what your thoughts might try to tell you.

In this image, the swords are gathered on a dark background. But notice that there is light beyond the darkness. When I see the Three of Swords, I often think of a quote from Khalil Gibran: “the deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”

Although swords are associated with the mental realm, this card always reminds me of the mind-body connection. When we have painful thoughts, we can feel that pain in our body. This is why we use terms like “heartbreak.” This can be a heavier card, but it is an important card. Pain is not necessarily bad – it only wants to be understood. This willingness to interact with your pain is the first step towards letting in the light.

Three of Swords Tarot Card Meanings in General

 

Of all the imagery in the Wild Unknown, the Three of Swords is the most reminiscent of the Waite-Smith tarot depiction. The Waite-Smith version shows a plump red heart being peirced with three swords. That particular imagery also draws upon something mentioned above: the connection between mind and body.

The imagery in the Waite-Smith version also shows a storm and rain in the background. Unlike the clear mental state shown in the Ace of Swords, the Three of Swords shows what happens when mental energy becomes brooding.

In The Spacious Tarot (above) we took some cues from the Waite-Smith imagery as well. An icey landscape is pierced by swords as a storm brews in the background, but light breaks through on the horizon.

In a reading…

 

This card can represent the worries, struggles, misunderstandings and negative thought patterns that are a natural part of the human experience. If you are experiencing painful thoughts, this card can ask you to consider how your thoughts themselves might be heightening your struggle.

This card also serves as a reminder that we learn from difficult experiences. We can use our reasoning and story-telling skills to make sense of our experiences and lay the groundwork to move beyond the rawness.

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