Seven of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mercury as a symbol of cunning, deception, baseness and insincerity.

SEVEN OF SWORDS The Seven of Swords shows the reverse side of the Magician, with which it shares the golden background of both cards. The power of cognition, the clear, sharp mind, are here transformed into cunning and intrigue, baseness and deception. In a milder form this can be a wicked tongue, intellectual arrogance, or the "it's not my problem" attitude — an unwillingness to notice certain things, the habit of dodging, evading, slacking off, and so on. At the same time it is unclear who is deceiving whom here, who we are — the swindler or the victim. But more often than not it turns out that we are harming ourselves.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

SEVEN OF SWORDS Futility, Melancholy The third decan of Aquarius from February 9 to February 18. Astrological equivalents: Libra, Aquarius, Venus in Pisces. The third decan of Aquarius is ruled by the Moon and Neptune, the planets of Faith and mysticism, symbolizing the flight of thought into the transcendent spheres of utopia. In this decan the mind gives itself over to the service of the soul and accepts its yearnings, hopes and illusions: it tears itself away from reality and experiences astonishment and bewilderment before those qualities of its own which it had not previously even suspected. This decan is characterized by withdrawal into reverie and a melancholy detachment from sober assessment of practical life. Human fantasy can paint beautiful worlds — yet it is unable to bring these worlds to life, which is why this decan is called — "Futility." That which is created by thought is ephemeral, and the mind doubts the very reality of its own ideas. The TAROT card depicts a temporarily pitched tent encampment. A man uncertainly carries five swords and looks back at two more which he has not taken, apparently forgotten by him through absent-mindedness. Or perhaps he simply cannot carry away with him all the weapons he discovered in the enemy camp. The tents symbolize instability: in the realm of the unknown, consciousness feels itself a thief who has stolen up on the enemy — it is capable of rejecting and losing all its past achievements. In this situation it is important to determine the bearings of thought by recalling one's former goals: this will give support and a more confident movement going forward. Turning to the past can become a "remembrance of the future," and the secrets of the depths of the soul — the future heights of thought: provided, of course, that they do not remain secrets. The essence of this decan is reflected in the saying that laziness is the engine of progress, and in the Aquarian image of Ivanushka the Fool, who miraculously became a tsar — but only because, doing nothing superfluous, without hesitation, he walked toward his appointed goal. The SEVEN — this is the most perfect of numbers. At its stage the striving toward perfection manifests itself, and therefore actions on the level of the SEVEN OF SWORDS are distinguished by refinement, subtlety, although at times even excessive. Neptune gives the SEVEN OF SWORDS illusions. He (Neptune) prompts one to perceive the desired as the actual, and in fact the Path to the appointed Goal turns out to be more difficult and longer. At the same time, this card combines the idealism of Aquarius and the half-measure of Libra. (The partiality of achievement of what is intended also presupposes the presence of a certain amount of the unattained.) But the SEVEN is not as maximalist as the THREE or the FIVE. Therefore it is able to be satisfied with a partial result as well. If one speaks of art, then the SEVEN OF SWORDS symbolizes the development of skills and abilities. Its metaphysical forces are realized as an act of creation on the level of sufficiently subtle planes. This is energy directed toward the creation of plans, projects. The card can also mean the overcoming of difficulties, victory over routine through the most scrupulous mastery of it, it is success after long feverish activity (troubles and bustle). On the whole, the SEVEN OF SWORDS is a good card.

UPRIGHT POSITION In the upright position it indicates the action of the subject of the card. These are — new plans, desire, persistence, patience, charm, hope, faith, fantasy, partial success. In the theme of the SEVEN OF SWORDS, Venus, Neptune, and Uranus sound distinctly.

REVERSED POSITION In the reversed position the card appeals more to the surrounding environment: advice, directions, ideas, remarks, corrections, that is — adjustment. At the same time, the reversed SEVEN OF SWORDS can also indicate a lack of energy to achieve what is intended (Libra), as well as non-recognition by those around one (Aquarius). In addition, this card means disarmament (including psychological — being weak, helpless), incompleteness. For example, a person, having barely reached a certain point, instead of moving further, frightened by the trials and renouncing the already close goal, — runs away.

Another aspect of the reversed SEVEN OF SWORDS is the ability to act covertly (the man in the picture may also be a thief, secretly carrying off another's weapons); the ability to escape from danger, not to conflict openly with an adversary, to act through cunning. The card can also indicate something hidden within a person, unconscious, suppressed.