Three of Swords as Reconciliation (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Three of Swords is the card of heartbreak, grief, sorrow, loss, trauma, and separation. Three swords pierce a heart, while it rains in the background. The three swords represent the pain inflicted by words, actions, and intent on our emotional and physical selves. Though this may seem dreary and dire, the storm will not last forever, and the sun will come out.  

The Three of Swords reminds us that love and pain are often interconnected. Sometimes we have to experience heartbreak in order for us to learn the difficult lessons that we need to succeed in a future relationship. The Three of Swords also reminds us that the pain we experience is not forever. We can take the swords out, and we will heal. 

Upright Three of Swords as Reconciliation

If you are asking about how your ex feels about reconciling with you, and you draw the Three of Swords, it means they are heartbroken over the breakup with you. They realized that by hurting you, they really only hurt themselves in the process. If there’s a third party involved, they’re torn on how to proceed. The pain from being separated from you torments them. Reconciliation might be on their mind, but they’re wary of getting hurt again.

Three of Swords as reconciliation is a sign of being unable to move from past pain. The relationship is still colored by past hurts. To make reconciliation work, you’d have to have a constructive conversation. Without this open communication, it will be hard to know what needs to be healed. Otherwise this relationship will be filled with resentment. Make sure any third parties can no longer interfere with your relationship.

When your ex thinks about reconciliation with you, they feel deep regret and pain. Your ex is still processing what happened. They haven’t gotten past the issues you had together. They are not optimistic that getting back together will work well for the two of you. There is a lot of sadness about no longer having you in their lives. Your ex fears getting hurt again or hurting you again.

If you’ve recently split up, Three of Swords means that your ex is still in shock over the breakup. They are devastated at how things ended. They are replaying your last interactions with one another before your breakup. If they betrayed you, they instantly regretted it. If a third party is involved, they are struggling to enjoy time with that person. The fact that they lost you makes it seem to this person like it wasn’t worth it. 

If you’ve been in separation for a while, Three of Swords means that your ex still remembers and feels the heartbreak from your breakup. If there were cutting words, they still remember these words years later. Events, arguments, hurtful words run through their head. They are holding on to old events that occurred between the two of you. This person has a lot of “baggage” from their relationship with you. Past experiences are affecting how they go about their relationships after you.

If the two of you are still considering whether or not you should break up, Three of Swords means you need to be open to healing unhealthy patterns. An argument, hurtful words, or a third party could be causing a rift between you. You and your partner need to have an honest discussion on what can be done to resolve issues. Avoid losing your temper, as the pain might translate to sharp words you might regret later on. If neither of you can get over the resentment, taking a break might be beneficial. Give time to each other to heal.

Reversed Three of Swords as Reconciliation

If you are asking about how your ex feels about reconciling with you, and you draw the Three of Swords reversed, it means they’ve slowly healed their heartache. Your ex could be open to reconciliation now that they’ve processed what happened. If a third party was involved, this person’s influence has lessened. The third party could be completely out of the picture. They are hoping to salvage this relationship.

Three of Swords reversed as reconciliation is a sign of healing together. The two of you are looking to release past hurts. Both you and your partner want to forgive and be forgiven. If third parties were involved in the past, both of you are determined to keep those outside influences out. Your partner is determined to do their best to avoid hurting you. This person now understands that hurting those you love only hurts yourself.

When your ex thinks about reconciliation with you, they feel optimistic. They might not seem very excited about getting back together as they might be nervous. But they are determined to do right by you. Your ex wants to heal the relationship. They want things to go back to the way things used to be.

If you’ve recently split up, Three of Swords reversed means your person is finally coming to terms with what happened. They are able to accept the reality of things. They own up to the role they played in the breakup. If you caused the breakup, they are in the process of forgiving you. Your ex may need some time to fully heal, but they are getting there.

If you’ve been in separation for a while, Three of Swords reversed means they’ve gotten over the heartbreak. They’re no longer hung up on what happened between the two of you. They are looking forward to the future. Your ex is making a conscious attempt to not dwell on the past. They have let go of resentments as they realize it was just harming themselves. It might be worth asking if they’d like to reconcile. They might be open to reuniting if they are single.

If the two of you are still considering whether or not you should break up, Three of Swords reversed means they would prefer to stay in the relationship than break up. They would rather let bygones be bygones and start over. Your partner is trying to see past the disagreements. They are making an active effort to see the good in the relationship. Your person wants to heal this relationship.

Conclusion

For relationships and reconciliation, the Three of Swords represents pain and heartbreak. Though no one wants to go through pain and experience grief, it is often a necessary part of growth. Pain is here to teach us valuable lessons, so that we may be more open to receiving true, healthy love. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.