Seven of Swords

An unsettling card, to say the least.  The traditional image of this card is of a maleficent looking figure stealing away with five of seven swords in the dark, and the usual interpretation is to watch out for secrecy, theft and deceit, either in ourselves or at the hand of someone else.. Though this narrow interpretation of the card may apply in some situations, it isn't all there is to it.

The number seven represents creative challenge and swords represent the mental element.  A wider interpretation would be using our wit and applying our instinct, intelligence and cunning to the issue at hand.  Since the seven represents challenge, we may find ourselves in a situation where it is necessary to take a calculated risk. It could also represent a situation where one finds a way to "level the playing field" when faced with a stronger opponent.

There are times when it is necessary to keep certain things to ourselves.  The real challenge then is an ethical one.  When faced with this sort of situation, we must examine our motives.  Are they purely selfish, or based on what is the best for all concerned?  There is a fine line between secrecy and deceit, and we must be careful not to compromise our integrity no matter what the outcome may be.  Openness is usually the better choice, but we must take into consideration whether that openness will cause greater harm to others, and if so, weigh those consequences seriously.

Whatever our situation may be when this card appears, it does represent choices that are less than optimal and it may be wise to consider this famous quote when considering our strategy:

"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive." 
- Sir Walter Scott

Micki

Image:  Robin Wood Tarot 7 of Swords