When the iconic Three of Swords shows up in a tarot reading, it means that we need to face the reality of the pain of our current situation. Yes, you need to feel every single feeling! The only way out is through, as they say. The only way to heal is to move through the grief, sadness, disappointment, rage and whatever else comes up.
This tarot card shouldn’t make you panic that something tragic is going to happen—it’s simply acknowledging that you need to heal. If you keep pushing stuff away, you can’t deal with it. More and more piles up on top of it, which only makes things worse.
Consider this your invitation to begin healing. This is your opportunity to sift through a heartbreak, layer by layer, in order to let it go. Sometimes the best first step is to simply acknowledge that something feels bad. Keep in mind that this too shall pass.
Three of Swords Keywords
Heartbreak, grief, sorrow, loss, healing, recovery, repressed emotions, forgiveness
Three of Swords Upright Meaning
Life can’t be all sunshine, joy, and rainbows all the time, and the more challenging moments allow us to appreciate the good stuff. Pain, sorrow, and heartbreak are powerful teachers that provide supportive lessons. If a relationship ends without pain, was it really that meaningful to you anyway? You should never let the fear of pain and rejection keep you from putting yourself out there and trying new things.
These feelings can help you discover what works and what doesn’t so you can make different choices, change paths, and put yourself in better situations. These types of experiences help you grow as you learn yourself ourselves and discover the depth of your inner strength. Pain has the power to transform! Experiences of sorrow and anguish can provide wonderful inspiration: Consider how many expressive, emotive, and powerful love songs have been written to alchemize heartbreak into something transcendental. Sadness, disappointment, and grief are all a necessary part of life. They show you that you have deep emotions. We all get knocked down at some point, but what truly matters is how we rise again.
Three of Swords Reversed Meaning
Recovery from a painful experience takes time, but it’s important to remain cognizant of how much time you’re giving to your sorrow. It’s important to forgive yourself for whatever it is you’re experiencing and to feel every emotion free of judgment. Grief is never linear; there are often ups and downs and turnarounds. But if you find yourself stuck in the agony of your past, it’s going to be incredibly challenging to move forward.
It’s important to remember that pain and trauma doesn’t have to define you. Yes, it may remain a part of your story, but it is not the sole aspect of who you are or how you got here. This burden isn’t yours to carry forever, and maybe it’s time to start letting go. It’s important to acknowledge what you can release so you can look to the future with hope and renewal. When times are tough, it can be hard to remember that it gets better, but it always does. There WILL be new experiences ahead for you to enjoy.














