Three of Swords Tarot Card Meanings

Three of Swords – The Heart Divided

Keywords (Upright): heartbreak, sorrow, betrayal, emotional pain, truth revealed Keywords (Reversed): healing, release, lingering grief, emotional recovery, forgiveness

Description A heart floats in the sky, pierced by three swords. Rain pours down from stormy clouds, symbolizing sorrow and emotional turbulence. The imagery is direct and raw—there is no distraction from the pain, no illusion of comfort.

The Three of Swords represents emotional wounding—often sudden, often sharp—and the clarity that comes with painful truths.

Upright Meaning This card signals grief, loss, or betrayal. A painful truth may have surfaced, or a wound reopened. It speaks to the deep ache that accompanies separation, disappointment, or emotional rupture. While the pain is real, it also brings clarity. There is no hiding from what has been cut away. Let yourself feel it fully—this is the first step toward healing.

Reversed Meaning Reversed, the Three of Swords suggests the beginning of healing. You may be releasing pain, making peace with the past, or learning to forgive. Alternatively, it can indicate resistance to moving on—clinging to grief or reopening old wounds. Either way, this card invites you to tend to your heart with honesty and care. Let go of what no longer serves your healing.

Summary The Three of Swords is the card of pain that cannot be avoided—but also of truth that clears the way for renewal. Upright, it confronts heartbreak. Reversed, it points toward healing. In both cases, the message is simple: honor your pain, but do not remain in it. The heart, though pierced, will mend.