Make sure you grab the FREE Invictus Tarot TIY (Trust in Yourself!) Tarot workbook, if you haven't already! As a note, I am using the OG Rider-Waite deck for this series of posts, but you absolutely don't have to! Find the deck or decks that speak to you most, the cards you connect to most will always be better for your readings and sharpening your intuitive skills. This is just an example and reference for you to trust in yourself!
Seven of Swords
A tricky card, often viewed with suspicion, and for good reason... It deals with tactics, cunning, and the delicate line between being resourceful and being dishonest. It's about taking what you need, but the -how- is where the intrigue lies.
Keywords: cunning, strategy, stealth, deception, dishonesty, trickery, resourcefulness, hidden motives, theft, getting away with something, self-preservation
General Meaning: Someone is attempting to get away with something, or is acting in a way that is less than straightforward. It can signify an attempt to circumvent rules, avoid responsibility, or take something without direct confrontation. While it can point to outright dishonesty or betrayal, it can also represent a more nuanced situation: a need for discretion, using clever tactics to achieve a goal, or perhaps even a self-preservation instinct where direct engagement would be detrimental. The key is that something is being done on the sly, not openly.
Personal Interpretation: Look at where stealth or a lack of transparency might be at play – either by you or by someone else. Are you trying to cut corners? Are you avoiding a necessary confrontation by taking a backdoor approach? Or perhaps you're being cautioned about someone in your environment who isn't being entirely truthful.
Reversed Meaning: revelations, exposure, facing the consequences, being caught in the act
Affirmation: "I act with integrity and clarity, seeking resourceful solutions that honor truth and respect others. I face situations directly, knowing that honesty is my most powerful tool."
Symbolism: figure sneaking away, swords
Imagery Notes: figure sneaking away - trying to get away with something, but looking back with a bit of fear of getting caught... or maybe with thrill; swords - mental maneuvering as while the figure holds five, there are two still stuck behind which can give them away and result in their ultimate demise
People: spies, con artists, thieves
Places: back alleys, secret hideouts, speakeasies
Media:
Personal Insights & Other Notes: The Seven of Swords is not always about outright malice. Sometimes, it can represent a moment where you feel you must be cunning to survive or achieve a goal, especially if direct methods have failed. However, it's a strong reminder to examine our motivations and the potential long-term damage of dishonesty. True success is rarely built on foundations of deceit. This card prompts us to consider the ethics of our strategies and to ask ourselves: is this truly the only way? And what will be the true cost of this "victory"?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt the need to use cunning or less-than-transparent tactics? What was the outcome, and what did you learn about the line between resourcefulness and dishonesty?
