Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning
The Seven of Swords is a plan carried out quietly — sometimes clever, sometimes sneaky. Upright it is design, attempt and hope, with a risk the plan may fail. Reversed it brings good advice and counsel — or gossip.
Number card · Suit of Swords (thoughts, words and conflict) ·
Upright keywords:
Reversed keywords:
Seven of Swords upright
A man hurries away from a camp carrying five swords, leaving two stuck in the ground. Waite admits the meanings vary widely: design, attempt, wish, hope, confidence — and quarrelling, a plan that may fail. Make sure your strategy is honest and complete.
Seven of Swords reversed
Waite reversed gives good advice, counsel and instruction — and also slander and babbling. Ask a wise person before you act.
A is one drawn upside-down.
Seven of Swords in love
Something is not being said. Honesty beats tactics.
Seven of Swords in career
Strategy and discretion — but do not cut corners.
Seven of Swords in money
Check the plan for gaps; avoid anything that relies on not being noticed.
Is Seven of Swords a yes or no?
Upright: Leans no. Probably not — the plan has holes, or not everyone is being straight.
Reversed: Reversed, Seven of Swords reads as mixed — not a clear yes or no: good advice, counsel, coming clean.
The yes/no lean is BornClock’s reading convention drawn from the card’s meaning — Waite himself did not assign one.
Ask your own question — draw one card →Symbolism in the Seven of Swords card
What appears in the 1909 Rider–Waite–Smith picture, as Waite describes it:
- Man carrying off five swords — a scheme in progress
- Two swords left behind — something not finished — the plan is incomplete
- Camp nearby — others who may notice
In Waite’s own words (paraphrased)
Upright: design, attempt, wish, hope, confidence; also quarrelling, a plan that may fail, annoyance.
Reversed: good advice, counsel, instruction; slander, babbling.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910, public domain). Some of Waite’s 1910 fortune-telling meanings are old-fashioned; the plain-English reading above is ours.
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