The Fool & Three of Swords Tarot Card Combination and Meaning
- What Does the Fool Tarot Card Signify
- What Does the Three of Swords Tarot Card Signify
- What Do the Upright Fool and the Upright Three of Swords Tell You
- What Do the Reversed Fool and the Reversed Three of Swords Want to Tell You
- What Do Other Combinations of the Fool and Three of Swords Tell You
- How Should You Interpret the Fool and the Three of Swords Combination
- Final Thoughts on the Fool and the Three of Swords Combination

How can new beginnings benefit from past wounds? Is there a way to heal one’s trauma by immersing oneself in some endeavor? If you have a similarly confusing question about such notions as heartbreak and fresh starts, you’ll find answers rather soon. Just make sure to read our take on the Fool and the Three of Swords combination.
What Does the Fool Tarot Card Signify?

Take a look at the zeroth card of the Major Arcana. A young person can be seen all but hovering over a steep drop leading to an abyss. The person does not appear to be discouraged by their dire situation - instead, they look as if they are welcoming the danger and the possibilities that hide behind it.
In its upright position, the Fool card is charged with optimism. The Fool resembles a hopeful child whose heart is still unshackled by burdening beliefs and whose head is free of thoughts that weigh it down. This card promises new beginnings that will be full of excitement and gain. The Fool is not afraid to make a fateful step on a path that is blurry and unfamiliar. After all, what is courage even for?
The reversed Fool knows nothing about courage, though. In its stead, the Fool boasts two extremes. One deals with one’s complete inability to act due to fear or misplaced hesitation. On the other side of the spectrum sits a lack of responsibility and consideration when it comes to one’s actions. Whichever extreme is to blame matters not - they both result in missed opportunities.
What Does the Three of Swords Tarot Card Signify?

The Three of Swords marks a rare instance when a tarot card does not depict a human (or human-like) character. Usually, the card portrays a heart brutally stabbed by three swords. The sky behind this heartbreaking imagery is gray, with pouring rain making the mood of the card even gloomier. The three weapons in the picture represent emotional pain and suffering. One might think that the position of the swords is random. However, their symmetrical position suggests that emotional suffering serves a higher purpose in our lives - that of spiritual development.
In its upright position, the Three of Swords sings a song of suffering heartbreaks and confronting painful truths. The card is a metaphor for the moment when we need to face grief and disappointment head-on. It’s time for us to acknowledge the emotional pain and allow it to lead us to growth. The Three of Swords usually serves as a reminder of the virtue of emotional honesty. Besides, this card urges the querent to process emotional traumas instead of sweeping them under the carpet.
When reversed, the Three of Swords indicates burying one’s pain even deeper and becoming trapped in unprocessed emotions. The upside-down Three of Swords usually represents those situations that lead the querent to deny their emotional wounds rather than address them. This card urges the querent to find healthier ways to process their pain.
What Do the Upright Fool and the Upright Three of Swords Tell You?

Seeing the upright Fool and the upright Three of Swords emerge in a reading might discourage some people. After all, this poignant combination often speaks of new beginnings that either arise or lead through great pain. This pairing gently advises you to embark on a new journey, keeping in mind that emotional turmoil might be ahead (or behind you).
This tarot pair manages to lessen the blow of the Three’s grief by recruiting the Fool’s undying optimism. The cards urge you to remain open to all things new despite the possibility or history of emotional suffering. After all, these two things combined lead to indescribable inner growth.
These two cards usually pop up when the querent needs to regain their taste for taking emotional risks after some disappointment. They urge the querent to acknowledge their pain without actually shutting their heart to new possibilities.
What Do the Reversed Fool and the Reversed Three of Swords Want to Tell You?

The reversed Fool and the reversed Three of Swords meet to tell a tale of one’s paralysis being aggravated by one’s suppressed emotions. According to this tarot pairing, the querent avoids necessary emotional processing by indulging themself in reckless behavior. Alternatively, their new beginnings are impossible because they are firmly stuck in grief mode.
Even though the querent might be aware that emotional healing is in order, they still suppress and deny their emotions or display excessive caution. This weird dynamic wreaks havoc on their life, as they tend to miss opportunities for growth and try their best to escape emotional discomfort.
This combination comes with one clear message - the querent needs to find a balance between emotional honesty (to themself, above everyone else) and forward movement. True healing will never come from avoidance of pain or self-sabotage.
What Do Other Combinations of the Fool and Three of Swords Tell You?

- – The upright Fool in the company of the reversed Three of Swords indicates that the querent is in the presence of new beginnings emerging from their emotional recovery. In other words, the grief process finally gives way to a period of renewal and optimism.
- The best part is that the Fool’s enthusiasm does not overshadow the Three’s emotional wounds and healing. This combination suggests that the lessons from past experiences will be well integrated into the querent’s newest endeavor.
- – The reversed Fool and the upright Three of Swords suggest that the former’s worst tendencies - hesitation or impulsiveness - complicate crucial emotional processing. The Three comes with some genuinely painful but necessary truths, but the Fool either keeps still and inactive or rushes past the necessary work.
- This disquieting combination comes along when the querent needs to find a middle ground between emotional honesty and practical action. According to this combination, pain should not be ignored or denied - these unwise approaches prevent genuine growth and development.
How Should You Interpret the Fool and the Three of Swords Combination?

- – Stumbling upon the Fool and the Three of Swords in a love tarot reading suggests that the querent is about to enter a new relationship that either implies or follows heartbreak. In other words, the querent would be wise to embrace the new connection with both openness and vulnerability. This new union might challenge your past wounds but will ultimately provide emotional healing through new experiences.
- When the cards fall out reversed, they strongly advise against rushing into relationships just for the sake of escaping loneliness. Besides, one should not deny past relationship trauma. Instead, they should heal through their new connections and do it consciously.
- – In a professional context, the Fool-Three of Swords combo points to career transitions born from disappointments. This pairing promises success provided you approach career setbacks as opportunities rather than crises. This success, however, will also require your emotional honesty and innovative thinking.
- If the cards pop up reversed, they warn against those career decisions that are made to escape uncomfortable or painful professional situations. Besides, be sure to keep from making rash career moves without addressing underlying professional issues.
- – Money-wise, the Fool and the Three of Swords speak of new economic endeavors that stem from sufficient financial losses. So be sure to incorporate your lessons from past financial disappointments into your current money-making framework and add a dash of innovative approach to it.
- Should you come across the two cards in their upside-down position, refrain from any financial decisions that would copy your past mistakes that led to your overwhelming financial loss.
Final Thoughts on the Fool and the Three of Swords Combination

The Fool meeting the Three of Swords in one’s reading is no coincidence. This odd combination comes to us to teach us a lesson that is as hard to swallow as it is necessary - heartbreak and emotional suffering are not the end. In truth, they are merely a doorway to a life-changing beginning.
This tarot pairing urges us to blend the Fool’s sparkling enthusiasm and genuine trust with the Three’s emotional honesty and ability to heal from past wounds. When combined, these things morph into wisdom that will guide us forward.