Seven of Swords — Futility is a card of the Minor Arcana, suit of Swords in the Thoth Tarot. In a reading it speaks of futility, instability, vain effort and compromise. In the Golden Dawn system it corresponds to the sephirah Netzach, the element Air and Moon in Aquarius in astrology.
futility · instability · vain effort · compromise · cunning
What does Seven of Swords mean?
Do not scatter your energies: check whether your efforts hit the right target and whether the strategy is truly honest.
Everyday meaning
Useless efforts, unstable plans, attempts that fail for lack of strength. It points to weak compromises, strategies that bear no fruit and at times deceit.
Psychological meaning
The mind that tries to win by cunning or compromise what it does not dare to face directly; the tiredness that leads you to give way just when firmness would be needed.
Initiatic meaning
Air in Netzach, unstable Victory, with the Moon in Aquarius in the third decan: lunar fickleness undermines the strength of the mind. Futility is the intellect that loses the support of the will.
The shadow side
Ill-dignified, it signals deceit, cowardice, theft, betrayal, efforts scattered in a thousand directions.
Seven of Swords reversed
The Thoth Tarot is traditionally read without reversed cards: the reader judges from the cards around it whether a card is well or ill dignified. This is its ill-dignified or blocked reading:
Vain efforts finally stopping; or a cunning that is discovered, a deception that comes to light.
Seven of Swords in love, work and spirit
In love
An unstable relationship, little sincerity, vain attempts to change the other person.
At work and career
Inconclusive projects, weak plans, a need for a more direct strategy.
In spiritual practice
Recognising the futility of effort that does not spring from the True Will.
Kabbalah, astrology and the Hebrew letter of Seven of Swords
Netzach · Air · Moon in Aquarius
Crowley on Seven of Swords
In the Thoth deck six swords arranged in a crescent point against the blade of a larger central sword: many small wills wearing down a single force.
Frequently asked questions
What does Seven of Swords mean in the Thoth Tarot?
Do not scatter your energies: check whether your efforts hit the right target and whether the strategy is truly honest.
What does Seven of Swords mean in love?
An unstable relationship, little sincerity, vain attempts to change the other person.
What does Seven of Swords mean for work and career?
Inconclusive projects, weak plans, a need for a more direct strategy.
What does Seven of Swords mean reversed?
The Thoth Tarot is traditionally read without reversed cards: the reader judges from the cards around it whether a card is well or ill dignified. This is its ill-dignified or blocked reading: Vain efforts finally stopping; or a cunning that is discovered, a deception that comes to light.
What are the Kabbalah and astrology correspondences of Seven of Swords?
In the Golden Dawn system Seven of Swords corresponds to the sephirah Netzach, the element Air and Moon in Aquarius in astrology.
