Three of Swords

Keywords & Phrases:
Necessary cutting. Wounding. Disbelief. Rejection. Getting to the heart of the matter. Triumph of logic over emotions. Feeling hurt. Discovering a painful truth. Feeling let down. Fear of loss. Reality check. Pain. Alienation. Separation. Creative heartbreak. Disharmony. Heart and mind at odds. Painful miscommunication. Truth hurts. Harsh words. Heartache. A bleeding heart. Quarrels. Conflict. Upheaval. Neurotic behavior. Stress. Tension. Pierced to the quick.

Summary:
The Three of Swords has a variety of meanings, and like any double-edged sword, you must try to apply the interpretation to your current situation with complete emotional honesty. The positive side of this card is that with a clear head, an open mind and acceptance of your feelings you can get to the heart of any situation and sort it out.

Commonly, this card tends to be biased toward its more "negative" interpretations. When we feel let down in love, betrayed and emotionally hurt, our world suddenly seems unjust and we are heartbroken or fearful of losing someone. All these experiences have something in common, and that is that we suffer alone, thinking that we are the only one to feel these feelings, and we believe no one has ever felt what we feel. Good old logic and reason seem to be the last things that would save us. But, if you examine your feelings with care, talk to others, and realize that your pain is someone else's pain, it can lead to a better understanding of yourself and others.

Letting go of what no longer serves your best interests is sometimes the only way to end your pain. You probably feel that all is lost, but remember the adage: "This too shall pass". Then the real healing will begin. Acknowledge your pain, examine it, and work through it. Then let it go and move on.

The Three of words is often interpreted as sorrow or heartbreak. However, this card is in the suit of Swords, which traditionally deals with thought and communications, so there are more layers of meaning to it that should be examined as well. This card can indicate coming to understand our pain and suffering, or expressing our grief in order to be healed.

In readings, the Three of Swords often represents the nasty little curve balls that life can throw sometimes. Betrayal, abandonment, rejection, separation, a reversal of fortune. These wounds are painful because they hit  you when you least expect them. If you have drawn this card, you may know what it refers to, but if not, the Three of Swords is a valuable warning. It is likely that there is something amiss in your life that you are unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge. Examine your situation carefully. Don't take anything for granted. Talk to the people in your life. Listen to your inner voice, it will help you locate the problem.

We are Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld, fate, necessity, and existence. Bare your soul to us. We are the past, present, and future. We are the Norns, powerful Scandinavian goddesses.

When others lose faith in us, we are most vulnerable to attack from within ourselves.

There it is, right there. X marks the spot. Your heart is cut, broken, bleeding. Such exquisite pain. But wait! Whose hand is holding the dagger?

Questions:
In what ways are you suffering? Feeling jealous? Hurt? Has someone hurt your feelings? What are you feeling sorrowful about? Can you look at your relationships with truth and honesty? What do you fear most within your relationships? What do I need to finish so that I can move on? Can I accept reality and focus on solutions?