That person is sneaking away with something right now
Do you like mystery novels? If so, you will find the story of today's card quite entertaining. Even if you do not like them, I highly recommend reading to the end just for today. Because this story might just be about you.
Let us begin. Someone is stealing something. And they are doing it very boldly, in broad daylight.
Witnessing the scene
The Seven of Swords from the Rider-Waite deck. The moment you turn over this card, it feels as if you are looking at CCTV footage of a crime scene.
A man is tiptoeing away, his arms full of five swords. His steps are light, his body is leaning forward, and the way he glances back over his shoulder clearly shows the nervous tension of someone afraid of getting caught. Yet, at the same time, his expression carries a strange mix of excitement and self-satisfaction.
"I did it. No one knows. Aren't I a genius?"
Behind him, two swords are stuck in the ground. Perhaps he chose not to take them, or perhaps he could not. In the far background, a camp and soldiers are visible. In what looks like a military field barracks, the people there seem completely unaware of what has happened. This is the Seven of Swords. It is the card that holds the most cunning, clever, and simultaneously dangerous energy in Tarot.
After the Six of Swords: I thought I had reached calm waters
In the Six of Swords, we left rough waters and crossed over to a calmer place. We boarded the boat carrying our wounds, and with the help of a ferryman, we reached a new riverbank. However, a new kind of challenge waits in this new place.
It is not crashing waves and storms this time, but a much more subtle and insidious form of danger. It is the kind that is invisible, silent, and sometimes approaches with a smile. There are times in this world when people are far more terrifying than the waves. The Seven of Swords is exactly about that.
Is this man a bad person?
Wait a minute! When looking at the Seven of Swords, most people immediately label this man as a villain. A thief? A traitor? A fraud? That is correct. It certainly carries those meanings. But there is an interesting point that Tarot readers have discovered after studying this card for a long time.
What the man is stealing might not necessarily belong to someone else. In some interpretations, this man is seen as a spy, or a warrior making a strategic retreat. Someone sneaking into enemy lines to retrieve their own side's weapons. A person who cleverly chooses a detour when a head-on collision is impossible. Looked at this way, this card is not simply about deceit and betrayal, but also about strategy and resourcefulness.
Because of this, the Seven of Swords is one of the most diversely interpreted cards in Tarot. The very same action can be betrayal or a survival strategy depending on the context. Finding that borderline is the core of this card.
The reason he took five and left two
Let us look closely at the card one more time. Out of seven swords, the man has taken five. He left the remaining two in the ground. Why didn't he take them all?
If he had taken them all at once, it would have been too heavy or too conspicuous. In other words, he restrained his greed. To avoid getting caught, he only took what he could carry. This is the difference between a simple thief and this man. A simple thief sweeps up everything in sight. The man in the Seven of Swords calculates before he moves.
But here, another interpretation emerges. Could the two leftover swords be a sign? A trace indicating that he has not completely severed ties with this place. Leaving room to return. The man is not simply leaving; he is keeping a back door open so he can come back at any time. This is the most complex layer of the Seven of Swords. A person who does not show you everything.
Where is this card in your life?
Now, it is time to return from the mystery novel to reality. When the Seven of Swords appears, we must ask three questions.
First, is that man targeting me? Second, am I that man? Third, am I acting like that man without even realizing it? If these three questions make you uncomfortable, then this card has been placed in exactly the right spot.
If this card appears in your reading
Look around you one more time: Starting with the most direct warning, there may be someone around you right now who is not being fully honest. Someone whose words and actions do not match, someone who does not show the whole picture, or someone who is intentionally hiding information you need to know. If this card appears, now is not the time to easily trust everything. Be especially wary of someone who speaks too smoothly and only tells you good things.
Are you yourself that man?: This is the most uncomfortable question in this card. Are there parts where you are not being completely honest with someone right now? Are you only telling part of the truth? Have you packaged something with good intentions but are actually hiding what the other person needs to know? The Seven of Swords is also a card that tells you to reflect on yourself before doubting others.
Sometimes a strategic detour is necessary: There is also a positive side to this card. In situations where a head-on breakthrough is impossible, or where a clever approach is more effective than direct confrontation, this card grants permission. You do not need to show everything all at once. You do not have to reveal all your plans in advance. Sometimes, strategically managing information is the smart choice. However, you must know for yourself where that boundary lies.
The trap of trying to do everything alone: The man in the Seven of Swords is alone. He does not ask for help. He tries to solve everything with his own wits. This might sometimes look like cleverness, but in reality, it can lead to isolation. True cleverness is not doing everything on your own, but knowing how to receive proper help when needed. If you are trying to handle everything by yourself right now, this card might be telling you to reconsider your approach.
The reason two swords were left behind, the true meaning
Let us return to the card. The two swords stuck in the ground—I believe this is the most hopeful part of this card. The fact that he didn't take everything. The fact that he left a trace. This is proof that some conscience remains somewhere.
A complete fraud leaves no trace. A complete traitor does not look back. But this man looks back. And he leaves two swords behind. Humans are never completely good or completely evil.
The Seven of Swords reveals that gray area. That complex human nature of deceiving while still having a conscience, of stealing while knowing one's limits. If you reflect on yourself in front of this card, those two swords are a sign that you can still turn back.
The message the Seven of Swords conveys
The man is still walking. Holding five swords, muffling his footsteps. It even seems like the murmuring of soldiers can be heard in the distance. And this card speaks quietly but clearly:
"Being clever and being honest are not the same thing. And not getting caught is not the same as doing no wrong. If you are hiding something right now, or if someone is hiding something from you, just remember this. Secrets do not last as long as you think. The two swords stuck in the ground are bound to catch someone's eye eventually. If you abuse your cleverness, it will ultimately become a trap that imprisons you. But if you use your cleverness in the right direction, you can quietly untie knots that no one else could. Which direction are your swords pointing? And how many are you holding as you walk right now?"
To you, who has crossed the calm river and arrived at a new riverbank, the Seven of Swords approaches without a sound and whispers in your ear:
"Here, how honest are you?"