Deception, Sabotage, and Strategies: Meditations on the Seven of Swords

A flush of high numbered swords card in a reading (or ill-advised card game using a tarot deck) would certainly talk about some of life’s difficult challenges, and that stretch of high-octane obstacles could definitely start with the seven of swords.

Traditionally, the art of the card focuses on a person sneaking away with five swords, leaving only two behind.

Don’t be fooled by those lovely pastels, this is an image of deception and betrayal. In the original Rider Waite version of the stealth of the thief is emphasized as he tiptoes away. It emphasizes some of the meanings of the card that someone is betraying you, or perhaps you are betraying someone. The Zombie Tarot, the deck I drew from, has a different connotation, focusing more on the sabotage and external aspects of the conflict by focusing on a woman kicking a fellow living being down the stairs and into the waiting horde.

The card serves as a warning that something is sketchy as fuck. In Barbara Walker’s deck, the word focus of the card is Opposition, and in the Thoth Deck the word is ‘futility.’ The betrayal and deceit shown in this card is so utterly complete that any efforts are futile in the face of it.

The swords are the suit of the intellect, and as such they often unveil the double edged aspects of intellect and power. Swords often represent mental conflicts. Sevens manifest what happens when imbalance hit the suit. Sevens represent cosmic mysteries within their suits, and are often focused on, let’s call it, ‘challenge areas.’

Regardless of if you are the perpetrator or victim of the onslaught shown in the seven of swords, the situation is going to necessitate a high level of strategic thinking. How are you going to break into that camp and steal those swords? How are you going to stop someone beloved from stealing all your battle swords from your camp? BOTH of these situations require strategic thinking.

When reversed, as the card was when I drew it today, the seven of swords directs all of that deceit and manipulation internally warning of self-delusion and secrets.

I’ve seen this card come up for people who are having affairs and badly need to come clean. I’ve also seen this card come up when someone was engaging in deceptive business practices with someone else.