The symbolism in the 3 of Swords is difficult to miss. When life brings heartbreak or major disappointment, you can be sure that the 3 of Swords will not be far away; here is a heart that has been pierced by 3 swords, and just like this image, you may feel like you have been painfully wounded. This can signify heartbreak over any situation, be it romantic, platonic, or some other sort of life experience that has caused very real pain. If you are indeed asking about a romantic matter, this card can mean that there are three parties involved, and that the current triangle is causing a lot of stress and difficulty for all involved.

The suit of Swords often symbolizes communication and paperwork, so this card could also point to a very gross professional or technical misunderstanding that is causing very real pain. The pierced heart appears in a cloud of rain, reflecting the inherent sense of sadness and gloom; there is no avoiding this bad weather, but it is important to remember that it is not permanent, either. Go through this storm for now, and it will be that much easier to move past it.

When you see this card, you are dealing with trauma, grief, or outright betrayal that could be life-changing, or it may just be a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved. In any case, you need to work through the pain to get past it. Ignoring this one won't make it go away.