Three of Swords in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Three of Swords Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Air
The Three of Swords, in its general meaning, is the card of sorrow, betrayal, emotional pain, but also of liberating truth. It speaks of those moments when the heart breaks, not out of weakness, but because it is facing a reality that can no longer be ignored. This card lays bare what hurts, what tears us apart, but also what allows us to truly heal. It is often associated with painful but necessary endings: the end of an illusion, a toxic love, a commitment that no longer respects you. It teaches us that suffering does not always come as punishment, but sometimes as a wake-up call. The Three of Swords is an invitation to stop running away from what hurts, to fully embrace the human experience in all its complexity, and to turn your vulnerability into a force for transformation.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Three of Swords readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Three of Swords
The Three of Swords is one of the most painful cards in the Tarot when it comes to matters of the heart. It symbolises heartbreak, betrayal, breakups, or deep romantic disappointment. It can refer to unrequited love, a love triangle, a difficult separation, or a hurtful revelation. It is a card that highlights a deep emotional wound, often caused by words, harsh truths or things left unsaid that have finally been revealed. For couples, it can indicate a major crisis requiring honest communication, but also a possible healing if both partners are willing to face the pain together. For singles, it signals an old wound that is still active and influencing how you commit to new relationships. It invites you to mourn the past and cry for what needs to be cried for, so that you can love again, freely and without bitterness.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Three of Swords
In the workplace, the Three of Swords heralds conflict, betrayal or major disappointment related to your professional life. You may feel betrayed by a colleague, excluded from a project, or faced with an unfair decision. This card can also symbolise a painful dismissal or an unexpected breach of contract. It pushes you to face reality, even if it is difficult to accept. The emotional shock is often amplified by a feeling of injustice or incomprehension. However, this card also teaches resilience: once the pain has been expressed, it paves the way for a new truth and a fresh start that is more in line with your core values. Sometimes, what was broken needed to be broken in order to free you from an environment that did not fully respect you. It is time to rebuild, with greater clarity and inner strength.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Three of Swords
Financially, the Three of Swords can signal a loss of money, an unpleasant surprise, or a feeling of betrayal regarding a financial agreement. You may discover that someone has not been honest with you about a loan, contract, or investment. This card highlights the emotional impact that certain economic realities can have, especially when they involve people you trusted. It calls for caution, reviewing documents, and not relying solely on promises. If a difficulty arises, it will be painful but temporary: the important thing is to learn a lesson about management, communication, and realistic expectations. Money is emotionally charged, and the healing process involves separating what belongs in your heart from what belongs in your wallet.
Family reading
with the card Three of Swords
In a family context, the Three of Swords indicates tension, painful separations, or unhealed wounds between family members. This could be an open conflict, a disagreement that has broken a relationship, or a heavy silence following an argument. This card also speaks of painful emotional legacies, family secrets, or old resentments resurfacing. You may have to face a difficult choice or cut certain ties to protect your mental health. The Three of Swords invites you to acknowledge the pain without burying it, to put into words what is hurting you, and to begin a process of forgiveness (towards yourself or others), without excusing what is unacceptable. Now is the time to heal family wounds, even if it takes time.
Spiritual reading
with the card Three of Swords
Spiritually, the Three of Swords represents a ‘dark night of the soul,’ a moment of intense inner suffering that leads to profound transformation. It is a card that confronts you with painful truths, sometimes related to loss, rejection or betrayal, but which have the potential to awaken you to a higher consciousness. It pushes you to let go of illusions, to weather the emotional storm and emerge stronger and more authentic. On a spiritual level, this card is a test of purification: it frees you from what no longer serves you, even if it is painful. It teaches you that suffering has meaning if it is experienced consciously. The broken heart then becomes the cradle of a new, more grounded and truer wisdom. The path is difficult, but it brings great inner light.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Three of Swords and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Three of Swords according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Three of Swords in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
