Thoth Tarot · Minor Arcana
Seven of Swords — Futility
Futility
futility · instability · vain effort · compromise · cunning
A reflective starting point
What is Seven of Swords — Futility asking you to look at?
Meaning changes with the position, the surrounding cards and your question. Take what follows as a language, not a verdict.
Upright
Do not scatter your energies: check whether your efforts hit the right target and whether the strategy is truly honest.
At first sight
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.
Within you
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.
On the path
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
Ill-dignified, it signals deceit, cowardice, theft, betrayal, efforts scattered in a thousand directions.
Reversed
In the Thoth tradition a reversed card is read through its dignity with the neighbouring cards; this is its shadow side.
Vain efforts finally stopping; or a cunning that is discovered, a deception that comes to light.
In love, work and spirit
Love. An unstable relationship, little sincerity, vain attempts to change the other person.
Work. Inconclusive projects, weak plans, a need for a more direct strategy.
Spirit. Recognising the futility of effort that does not spring from the True Will.
Correspondences
Netzach · Air · Moon in Aquarius
Crowley's note
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.
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