This is a card of…

Dishonesty

Avoiding conflict

Pranks

Covert action

Hidden agendas

“The truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.”

-Francois de La Rochefoucauld

This is one the most evocative (and humorous) RWS illustrations. The Seven of Swords has to do with trickery and mind games of all kinds, from friendly pranks to malicious gaslighting and everything in between.

A pause in attention or a blind spot is being taken advantage of (the best tricks involve misdirection.) While activities like this can have serious consequences, the card has a feel of mischief and pranksterism that make a lighter interpretation more likely. There is an implication that there was not enough planning or forethought- if this coup succeeds luck will have a lot to do with it.

The Seven of Swords can also indicate a skillful disarming of the opposition, often through humor or clever language. When somebody who’s been spoiling for a fight gets outmaneuvered so subtly that they’re not even sure how it happened, the Seven of Swords is at play.

The less pleasant connotation of this card is deceiving oneself. Imagine that sneaky fellow looking over his shoulder doesn’t realize the people he’s trying to trick are right in front of him. In this case the card is whispering you’re not fooling anybody but yourself.