Pulling a Seven of Swords card tells you that something is being hidden or the whole picture isn't being shown, according to tarot reader Jennifer Herrera of sea and sea and stone wellness. Deceit and sneakiness are keywords for this card.

For more clues on this card's meaning, you can look at its imagery: A traditional Seven of Swords card depicts a person carrying five swords with their body facing forward but their head looking back at two swords left behind. "It can be read to mean someone is working in their own interest," explains Herrera.

The suit of swords is related to the element of air and is part of the minor arcana. "Swords can be a message to step back from a situation and analyze it from a different perspective," shares Herrera.

So although this card may highlight that you don't have all the information you need, it can also remind you to focus on yourself. "On a positive read, that could mean making yourself a priority," says Herrera.

According to Amy Zerner and Monte Farber, authors of many tarot and oracle decks, "The Seven of Swords is a reminder to try to eliminate your most negative behavior patterns because a great deal of the opposition you are currently encountering is self-created." 

This card's specific interpretation will depend on the question you asked your tarot deck when you pulled it, and any other cards that appeared in your spread.

What does it mean for love & relationships?

When pulled upright: If you pull the Seven of Swords for a love or relationship reading, Herrera tells mbg that this card may represent deception or a secret. "Secrets like cheating are a possibility, but it can also mean that deeper, more honest communication can provide a deeper union," she says. "Swords cut and it may be that one person in a relationship does not want to hurt or 'cut' the other."  Zerner and Farber add that the card might represent opposition in this particular reading. "If you've asked about a specific person's interest in you, then the answer could mean that person is opposed to you having a relationship," explains Zerner and Farber. "It could also mean that circumstances or the influence of one or more people could be opposing you getting together with this other person." For another perspective about love readings, Herrera says, "It can be read as a warning not to settle" and to be more honest with yourself about what you deserve in a relationship.

When pulled in reverse:

Pulled the Seven of Swords reversed in a love meaning? "With the swords [reversed], I always come back to the phrase, 'The sword cuts both ways,'" explains Herrera. This can be a warning not to hurt yourself for the sake of another person in your relationship. Depending on the context, this card could also be a sign that your relationship is coming to a close. If you're asking about the potential for new love, the card may be asking you to reflect on your patterns and how you engage in relationships. "We have seen time and time again that the Seven of Swords reversed means that you have to evaluate what is opposing you in your quest for true love and a lasting relationship, even to the point of asking yourself if you are in some way being your own worst enemy," say Zerner and Farber. "If you are not playing self-defeating games, then the [card] probably means 'know your enemy' and do your best to understand who or what is standing in your way so you can successfully manage the situation."