Two Cards

Have a question? Shuffle now for your reading.

The Three Of Swords Tarot Card
The Empress tarot card

Card reading

The Three of Swords

 
 
 

The Three Of Swords Tarot Meaning

When the Three of Swords is present in your reading you are either experiencing or entering into a transit of difficulties in relation with the heart.

This is a card that is symbolic of heart break, of betrayal and separation. There is a level of quarreling or a general upheaval present in your experience at this time. This is a challenging time of your life.

The Three of Swords depicted in the Rider Waite deck is an image of a heart that has been stabbed by three swords. The sky behind it is a melancholic storm and there is a feeling of unrest as a result of an upheaval in your environment. There is a level of argumentativeness in your life both with your friends and also with a romantic partner. Usually this card will present itself if you are in need of learning the lesson of letting go of that which does not serve you. We all have to deal with a level of heartache in our lives, whether someone has proved to be distrustful or whether you are just growing apart from a longtime friend. Life is nothing if not a cycle, and in this part of your life you are cycling out of something and moving into something else. This change, however, being that we humans tend to be extremely uncomfortable with change causes us to resist. The resistance of a mandatory change in relationship status with someone is inevitable and it is the fight, the resistance to say goodbye that causes the most strive.

Within this card there is wisdom because all things change from birth to death. Consider that your physical self, your internal organs, your skin, your muscles, are all constantly sloughing off and stimulating the new growth of cells in order to form and take the shape of the parts of our body that sustains us. If we had heartache every single time that our body went through this natural cycle, we would constantly be crying. In this, whenever a relationship goes through a big change, one way to think about this is that the change in an interaction or a connection is just as natural as the body’s physical processes. We are rocks, bumping into each other in a tumbler, making it possible for us to develop a shine.

The scratching and cracking against one another may hurt in the process, but in the end you become something deeper, more beautiful, with more sparkle then you would have had you stayed separate and alone in your own little rock garden. In this, the Three of Swords is recognizing the painful situation that you find yourself in and it is also giving you the added perspective that this pain is a natural part of life and you should not allow it to take you over completely. As we all know, the stormy clouds can only thrash about in the sky for so long, inevitably the sun must come out and shine down on us. The rain from the storm, watered the garden enabling more to grow. This is the perspective that must be kept if you feel as though you will never heal from this heart break. This situation is clearing the way for you to allow for bigger and better things. It may be hard for you to acknowledge at this time, so allow yourself to grieve over what you have lost, but come up with a time frame in which you should begin putting yourself back together again and then stick to it. Do not allow yourself to be broken forever.

Now is the time for you to learn how to be receptive to the circumstances that are in existence to change you. While you are in the healing process, you must refrain from participating in anything that makes you feel unhappy or unwell. Negative vibrations will only cause your sorrow to last longer. You must be gentle with yourself right now and do not put yourself in situations that will make you feel worse. Grieving is also a part of life and it is fair and good to honor this process by taking the time that you need to have some time out of your normal every day interactions. You have a strong ability to hone in on creativity at this time. Find a project that makes you feel good, as this will be very therapeutic for you.

The Three of Swords in Love

If you are single there is a possibility that you are still stuck in a perspective regarding a past love, which is making it very difficult for you to move forward into a new relationship. In a love reading the three of swords are associated with fear of loosing a partner, separation, love triangles, jealousy, divorce, arguments, miscarriage, wisdom, conflict and difficulties. As we covered in the paragraphs above the three of swords encompasses the picture of pain and heartbreak, in addition to grief and regret. In the centre of the card we see a beautiful heart which is broken and still pumping blood which implies that the pain of love is alive.

There could be a separation in love or parting of ways if this card is in the future position. Turning back to the image itself we can see the heart suspended in mid air. The rain pouring heavily behind the heart signifies ones tears and destruction. The swords themselves are representations of heartache. But do not lose faith! Even though the three of swords in a love reading is associated with separation and divorce only new beginnings can surface. In regards to love, it is important to analyse the three of swords in the journey of the tarot. Looking back at the two of swords we see either a woman or a man crossing their heart and is blinded to the truth. The two swords is a representation of protecting against heart pain, but in the three of swords we see the perception of pain coming to the surface.

This is a wake-up call card. If we approach life as a closed person, as depicted in the two of swords we will never be truly happy. We need to undertake the wisdom of the three of swords in order to find the foundation of love. Pain should not be feared, without pain we are not able to focus on the happy and content times in life. The separation highlighted in this card is required, the rain seen in the card can not only represent a difficult and challenging time in love but also the fact that with rain comes the necessary nourishment of change is on the horizon. The three of swords is a card that gets right down to the heart of the matter. Applying the card’s interpretation to love suggests that we need to let pain in our hearts, accept feelings and pull the three swords out of our heart and eventually heal. When this card is drawn in connection to your love life it indicates that you will surface as a stronger person emotionally. When you are in a relationship, then there is a level of upheaval present that you could be feeling, the three of swords has also been connected to possible infidelity of a partner. Are you being cheated on?

The key is to try to move through the pain of separation. If you are in a relationship, make sure that you are vocalizing your needs and boundaries, to you partner. Do not let the strife of a break up (if you are in the middle of one) affect your overall life experience. There is a warning in this card to not allow yourself to sink to low levels because you are feeling unhappy. Often, the pain is based on reality but at times the card can appear when we fear loosing a lover.

Three of Swords as Feelings

This is quite an interesting card when it comes to feelings. This can mean that people feel that they will be heartbroken by you. Maybe even they are out of the others league? This card suggests that this person will be anxious about you hurting them and this means you will hurt them. What you have said may have damaged the relationship. This, in a nutshell, is a card that represents hurting someone in communication.

The Three of Swords in Health

When the Three of Swords presents itself in your reading about Health there is going to be a level of disappointment that you are going to have to work through. This is a result of possible ill health. If you examine your health with care, it can lead to a better approach to get yourself back on track. This could be a challenging time because you really need to feel better, or you would like someone in your life to experience wellness. Unfortunately, this card is saying that there is more time required in order to feel healthy again. You need to get to the heart of the matter! Try to look at this from the perspective of a brief moment of life, everything will eventually pass. You must have faith now.

The Three of Swords in Work, Money and Wealth

When the Three of Swords appears in your reading regarding Work and Wealth you will not be get what you expected. You planned on receiving money or pursuing a business relationship and you are stuck in a cycle of perpetual drama which bears no fruit. Now is the time to grieve over the financial losses and come up with a new plan.

The Three Of Swords Reversed

Reversed Meaning - Three Of Swords

When the 3 of Swords can appear in the reversed position, it is time for you to experience what it is like to be the peacemaker. Try not to allow yourself to get too stuck in your pride. If you need to apologize, then do so. Apologizing and righting the wrongs you have inflicted on others is good for your spirit and the 3 of Swords reversed shows that you need to have that experience to better your possibilities for the future.

Upright Three of Swords Meanings in Keywords

  • Separation
  • Heartbreak
  • Loneliness
  • Feeling betrayed
  • Hurting on the inside
  • Hurting innocent souls
  • Emotional pain

Reversed Three of Swords Meanings in Keywords

  • Complete mess
  • Painful breakup
  • Backstabbing
  • Broken promise
  • Asking for forgiveness
  • Accepting the truth
  • Overcoming heartbreak

The Empress

 
 

The Empress Tarot Card Meaning

She stands tall and proud, her eyes filled with the wisdom of ages, her hands holding the moonlight in an eternal embrace. Her dress is adorned with ribbon, a reminder of the wrapped up gifts she offers. The forest behind her whispers of secrets to be revealed - if one listens closely enough. Crows fill the air as they have for centuries because she is the empress; she embodies nature, motherhood and all things creative. She is a reminder that life is precious and can be found in even the smallest of moments. By her side stands a guardian to protect and watch over us in our journeys ahead. Her aura is one of elegance, power, beauty and love - an invitation to explore the possibilities of life. She is the Empress and she stands ready to nurture us all.

The Empress represents mothering love, an authority figure that is looking out for you and is often a kind guardian. She is wise and has attained her place in the hierarchy of the older tarot through her own missteps and finding her way. She has learned her lessons and is now in a position to bestow her wisdom upon you. This is usually a motherly representation in one way or another indicating that you need to look out for someone around you or that someone is looking out for you. She can be represented as an older woman with authority in her own right that has come from wisdom and experience.

The Empress also represents a pure form of extroverted abundance. If you have received this card in your reading, you are going to be well taken care of. You will get everything that you desire and more. The Empress sits on her throne made of cushion and revels in luxury and her station in life. She is depicted in the tarot with a field of wheat outstretched before her which is sacred to the Egyptian Goddess Isis. She wears a crown of twelve stars with six points, illustrating her control over the cosmos.

The Empress card symbolizes the Land of Milk and Honey after a long journey of hard labor and introspection. She is the Universal Goddess: Isis Unveiled, fertile, strong and dynamic. She is also Venus, Goddess of love: plump and curvy, attracting wealth like a magnet. This woman is the epitome of female strength as well as a symbol of ultimate abundance. Your needs will be fulfilled with joy and satisfaction. There is no need to fear. Having the Empress on your side is like having a fierce mother, protecting you always. Receiving this card in your reading means that you are making the right decision, that you are supported, and that there is a vast array of possibility for abundance currently transiting around you. Many rewards are coming your way.

The Empress, governed by so many feminine energies is pure emotion and deep intuitive understanding. The lessons that you have learned in your life will now continue to benefit you. As apply what you learn, you will reap the benefits of emotional rewards. She encourages you to express unfiltered emotions because you have earned the right to do so.

The Empress In Love

When the Empress shows herself in a reading about Love, be prepared to go through a cycle of being worshipped. Love is in the air when you are the Empress; everyone wants to be close to you because you are The God/Goddess of Love. How can they resist you? It is practically impossible. This is your time to say what you want exactly the way that you want it and have others rush to your side to provide it. Take this time to be a little selfish; do not compromise your beliefs or your integrity for anyone that isn’t similar to you. Take this opportunity to attract someone fantastic, that matches your energy, and let it happen. Now is the time.

The Empress As Feelings

If someone feels the empress towards you they adore you. They are going in with an open heart and generous spirit, the Empress tarot card speaks to us of a connection that is deeply honest and honoring. She means to “feel adored” and accepted by another person on a soul level - as if they hold you thought dear, respect and care for each of your needs. Regardless of circumstances or external factors, this tarot card can serve as a powerful reminder to show respect for others. As long as we do not attach any strings, requirements, or conditions to our love, we become an incredible force for healing.

The Empress has meaning that extends beyond just pregnancy, but also the earth by extension and the act of lovemaking, too. In your enquiry of feelings, it points to clear and obvious physical attraction that pulls the person you ask after towards you like a moth to a flame. Tread carefully, lust clouds the head like fog – physical love doesn’t guarantee feelings beyond the surface level. If the attraction is shared, take small steps forward to see if you are also compatible in terms of opinion and lifestyle before going any further with the relationship. 

The Empress Love Reconciliation

Love burning as hot as a welder’s iron and shining as bright as a star, emotional satisfaction permeates your relationship so that your romantic bond is solid and unbreakable. Your life is flooded with the best elements of love: commitment, beauty, happiness, and, of course, the starting of a family. There’s a deepening of feelings, like a submarine sinking into the ocean – now is the time to move towards a new level of commitment, and - yes! - pregnancy. If you are single, a new romance is likely to blossom as beautiful and fresh as pink petals on an apple tree. Keep your eyes open and enjoy every minute, this next love may well be “the one” you’ve always waited for. Remember to stay in tune with the emotional side of any fledgeling relationships, it is not just the physical attraction that matters, but emotional compatibility, too.

The Empress in Health

When the Empress comes up with a reading where health is mentioned, she is telling you that you have been working too hard and it is time stop and smell the roses. You likely are in a place where you can enjoy the rewards of your hard efforts and look upon them from a comfy chair overlooking the ocean and be pleased with what you have been able to accomplish. The act of healing from a busy time is just as important as any other preventative measure one to protect their health.

When stress is allowed to eat at the body, it begins to disintegrate. The Empress informs you that you need to give yourself the time off that you deserve so that you can have the perspective of a job well done. The Empress also weighs in on reproductive health. If you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, this card bodes well for you because you have her support. If you are trying to increase circulation or need to focus on feminine issues, the Empress will help you.

The Empress in Work, Money, Business, Career, and Wealth

Now is the time to invest, to perpetuate stock, and to place a bet on a horse. Anything that brings you peace and relaxation where you can enjoy the fruit of your labor is going to coincide with the energies of the Empress. If your reading is work related and you are trying to figure out whether or not to take your business to another level, the Empress tells you to not make a decision now. In fact, this may be a time to step away from work. Take or plan a vacation and enjoy the moment rather than constantly trying to find ways to make more money.

Often this card will come up when you are at risk of spreading yourself too thin. Do not make large decisions regarding change of employment or financial issues. If you are seeking work, the Empress says that it is going to take time. Even in the most dire situations, there are solutions that can be found and likely others that are willing to help you get on your feet until a more productive air is around you. As the empress is connected to the earth element in work she brings with her a nurturing move on the part of an employer or employee. Something is delicate, almost born. It can mean that you might be aiming high but you need time to develop yourself. The empress also indicates that one must be guided firmly but surely if contemplating a new career path.

The Empress Advice

Arms outstretched, reaching for the stars – it seems starlight might just fall into your hands directly, because opportunities are about to shower down upon you. Womanhood, fertility, rebirth – these are the aspects of the feminine which are bound to come to the forefront of your life with the drawing of The Empress. Where does this beautiful card direct you? Towards the light, where life reigns like royalty – now is the right moment to foster a family, whether literally with your partner or metaphorically with your friends. On the tree of experience, your fruits swell with ripeness, ready to be plucked – it could be your career which is ready to take off or a new love or friendship. See how the empress keeps her eyes closed, these rich opportunities may not be obvious to the naked eye but you’ll be able to sense them with your intuition. Lean into the news aspects of your life and discover the adventures of a life full of prosperity; now is a time to sew your seeds - the harvest is likely to be plentiful. 

The Empress Yes Or No

The question on your lips, you wonder – is your answer yes or no? And this card looks towards the affirmative, just like a call with good news, it seems the answer is ‘yes’. The Empress abounds with positive outcomes and new beginnings which is why she dwells in this positive meaning, now is the time to act on your answer. In questions regarding fertility or pregnancy, this card carries extra conviction; your answer is steadfast, and there is very likely to be a baby in your future. 

The Empress Past

The Empress highlights a significant female figure from your past, she walked through the pages of your history like a leader, leaving her mark and paving the way for you. She might have been maternal, she might have been an equal – whatever the case, she shaped you with the confidence of a sculptor. Did she teach you lessons that you are now ignoring? This card may also appear in your past position when an opportunity you seized in the past has come good in the present. Seeds do not grow overnight but instead, they must be nurtured and watered in order to become something more. The card reminds you that hard work is worth it, even when the rewards lie further down the road than you’d like. 

The Empress Present 

A new start, as fresh as a daisy and as vitalising as the sun, comes your way. This life-changing opportunity, it is like the tide going in and out, gradual, but consistent – don’t doubt its existence in moments of speculation, have faith and hold out. Often when a different chapter in our life is just finishing, we don’t realise a new part of our life is on its way. Taking on a new direction in life is frequently challenging and even scary, considering the maternal strength of this card, now is the time to draw love from the strong female figures in your life and revel in your own feminine aspect; be both gentle and strong, like a beautiful oak tree. This manifestation of womanhood will provide you with the wisdom needed to take the right direction. Remember that variety is the spice of life, and discovering this new period is likely to shape your worldview and make you a better, more confident person in the long run. Welcome this change with open arms and you’re much more likely to get the best out of it. 

The Empress Future and Outcome

The harvest glows golden in the sun, abundance is the headline of the feast, prosperity and reward; your future is adorned with opportunities come to fruition. Just think, pregnancy and new life is linked with joy and self-discovery. Even when the card does not highlight literal pregnancy, it still carries the weight of those positive emotions. You will blossom into something much, much more; it could be a personal ambition about to take flight, a new relationship or stage of commitment with a loved one, or simply a change in location and lifestyle. Whatever the transformation, be happy that you have it all to come - the results will be as beautiful and distinct as a peach coloured sunset over a crystal blue sea.

The Empress As Friendship

Communication flows as freely and transparent as water, cleansing and nourishing – this is the foundation of all great friendships. If you are a woman, you may find you have become the mother of your group of friends, regularly dispensing advice and wisdom to others just like your mother did for you as a child. It can also indicate a sense of harmony within friendships, a delicate balance has been achieved - you and your companions are finding the dynamic emotionally rewarding and beneficial. Certainly, if you are seeing this card, you are an important part of that balance so keep on doing what you’re doing and the happiness within your friendships will continue to fill each of you with gratitude and joy. 

Empress Tarot Reversed

Reversed Empress In A Reading

The Empress in the reversed position is symbolic of infertility, inconclusiveness, lack of abundance and confusion as well as instability and sometimes financial issues. This happens when one is too caught up in attempting to make everything perfect and there is never any rest to gather perspective. This also means that you need to use caution in your spending habits so as to not flitter away financial resources.

Take care to set up a nest egg for yourself so that you might be prepared should something go wrong. Question your poverty mindset and your feelings toward money or abundance. Do you feel worthy of relaxation? Of reaping the benefits that you have sewn after hard work? Do you feel as though it is impossible to catch up? Ask the Empress to help heal your poverty mindset so that you can reap the benefits of the abundance that she has to offer you.

The Empress Reversed - Love and Romance

Aggression reigns, resentment brews, the smallest things tumble into chaotic battles – sound familiar? The Empress reversed carries warnings of a love sourced by hardness and lack of empathy. You and your partner may have been arguing or ignoring opportunities to be tender and loving with one another. This card has feminine energy, and it may be reversed when the delicate balance of masculine and feminine attributes have become unbalanced.  Have you forgotten you are partners, not enemies? You can each counter this by reconnecting with your patient, nurturing side (this applies to both man and woman, as every gender has these qualities within them). If you are single, this reversed card sees promiscuity and a lack of emotional attachment in the dating world - take the time to consider whether you lack emotional availability and how this might be impacting your prospective relationships. 

The Empress reversed - Family and Home

Home is where the heart is, but The Empress and her emotional sensibilities became inverted when reversed and she sings a warning lullaby; there is a loss of harmony and balance in your family, like a ship rocked in a stormy sea. A greater level of conflict than normal and a general sense of unease infects the family relations, this often happens when family members feel that they can’t be honest about their feelings (causing repressed emotions and subsequent anger to go with it, all bubbling up like an overheated pot). It also might occur when the maternal figure of the family has been too busy or occupied to take on her normal role as the carer and nurturer of the family. If this figure is usually you, then it is worth refocussing your attention and lending the other members of the family your ear so that they can work through any problems they are experiencing (via your guidance and advice). Remember that communication and affection are two of the most important things in any happy, healthy family – talking is the oil that keeps the machine working correctly. 

The Empress Reversed - Work and Finances

Your career has become dull and unfulfilling, it may not be terrible, but like bread without butter, it’s far from ideal. Perhaps the pay is good, but the emotional side of things are lacking and leave a hole in your life. The Empress asks if you have put money and status above what you’re truly passionate about? Or maybe you are working hard and enjoying your tasks but not feeling the benefit of appreciation from your colleagues or boss. Now is the time to reassess what you have and see if you can’t find some opportunities that may be hidden to the naked eye. See if there are small adjustments you can make before rushing to jump overboard! Sometimes we can improve things without making huge changes, we just need to look at things in a new light and keep an open mind to see the possibilities before us. 

The Empress Reversed - Health and Wellness

Your body is a temple, it needs an empress to rule it – but where is your monarch? The throne is dusty, the floor is cracked; it seems your health has fallen to the bottom of your to-do list. Remember that the best way to break out of a lull of energy is to force yourself to get more active and reignite your passion for life, through movement and the great outdoors. This card has a connection with nature, and when reversed it may highlight that a person is spending too much time indoors and away from the natural world – are the four walls closing in? For women trying to conceive, this card reversed often suggests complications or issues with infertility. Go to your doctor for a check-up to see what your situation is.  These complications may appear both for women who do want to conceive and for those who may unknowingly be pregnant and so it’s better to be safe than sorry.  

The Empress Reversed - Personal Spirituality

A fork in the road, a signpost which has been switched – The Empress reversed points to a divergence from your true spiritual path. You may have allowed yourself to disconnect from your spiritual journey, sometimes the daily bustle of life gets in the way of the deeper meaning that sits behind everything. This card reversed urges you not to get caught up in the mundane things in everyday life. When upright, this card speaks to the power of the world that surrounds us and is strongly associated with mother earth - you should consider using nature as a route to enlightenment so that you can recentre yourself on your spiritual journey.

The Empress Upright Meanings in Keywords

  • Romance
  • Pregnancy 
  • Birth
  • Growth
  • Motherly

The Empress Reversed Meanings in Keywords

  • Delay
  • Domestic problems
  • Family problems
  • Stuck feminine energy