The image in the Three of Swords is stark and simple – three swords cross through a large red heart with a cluster of gray clouds and a gently falling rain in the background. The image of the heart first appeared around the 1250s in a French manuscript called "Roman de la poire" or Romance of the Pear in which a lover is depicted kneeling and handing his heart to his beloved, with the shape appearing similar to a stylized, upside-down pear. This well-known symbol then gained popularity in the 14th century, often associated with Saint Valentine, Cupid or in religious contexts, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During this time, it was believed that the heart was a place of stored memories and heart-shaped books were also popular. The familiar shape does somewhat resemble the four chambers of an actual human heart and our association with the symbol and that of giving our heart to our beloved has remained, even after our discovery of basic human anatomy, such as the brain, which it could be argued is where true feelings of affection are released and memories are stored.
The fact that this symbol has remained so prevalent in our culture speaks to the mysteries of the human experience. Often when we fall in love, regardless of what we’ve read about regarding neurotransmitters and brain chemistry, it is our heart that accelerates and we are made breathless with the anticipation of sharing such tender feelings with another person. There is a warmth that spreads within our chest, a giddy feeling that heats our blood and seems to begin in the area of our heart organ. The opposite is also true – that the end of a true love can feel like our heart has literally been ripped out of our chest, leaving a gaping hole behind. The loss of love can actually bring pain to our heart region, and the word heartbreak aptly describes what it feels like to see a passionate relationship end. This happens to almost all of us – at one point in our lives, we will experience the end of a loving relationship.
It is one of the tools that the Divine uses to sculpt us. We love. We lose. We fall. We rise again. Joy, affection, pain and loss define us like a sculptor defines clay – from it we are refined, made stronger and yet more human, more fallible and yet resilient. All at the same time. It is the magic of our humanity. It is our tragedy. Yet it is also our greatest glory. “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain,” Kahlil Gibran writes in his book The Prophet.
The Three of Swords is saying the same thing. We see pain and loss illustrated as three swords plunging their way through a tender red heart. But we also see courage and strength. The heart is not torn in two. It remains whole as it tastes the force of the blade. Heartbreak is one of Life’s greatest lessons – we learn about others and most importantly, we learn about ourselves. At the time, the loss seems unbearable. Later we look back and see how our mettle was tested, how we rose to that test, how our world view ultimately changed, and how we somehow learned to bear the loss. What is the secret to surviving heartbreak? It is different for every person, but it starts with reserving love for ourselves.
To help heal a broken heart, let Linden (Tilia cordata) be our companion, for in ancient Slavic, Baltic, and German traditions, it was considered a sacred, protective tree linked to goddesses of love (Freyja) and fate (Laima). Found throughout Europe, Western Siberia, Iran, and widely planted in North America, it is also commonly known as basswood or lime tree. This deciduous tree has heart shaped leaves, but it is the flowers, that bloom in bursts of yellow during late June or early July, which are most commonly used medicinally. Loaded with antioxidants, specifically the flavonoids tiliroside, quercetin, and kaempferol, Linden flowers promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and insomnia, as well as alleviate stress. Researchers have discovered that the extract of Linden mimics the activity of gaba-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that inhibits excitability in the human nervous system, thus promoting a sense of calm. Besides bringing on a sense of wellbeing, it helps the heart by lowering blood pressure and acting as a diuretic. And according to recent studies, its powerful antioxidants have also been associated with a reduction in inflammation and pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Love is all around us. If we have the courage to remain open, even after heartbreak, we are warriors. Warriors of the heart. It is possible to experience heartbreak and to move forward – given enough time. It is possible to eventually receive joy and love, to rise from where we have fallen, scarred but surviving. Less naive but still hopeful. Together the Three of Swords and Linden teach us that to live a full life, loss is part of the experience. Let us be carved. Let us taste the blade. We are strong enough. We will rise again.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Davis, Ben. “How Did the Heart Become a Symbol of Love? The Clues Lie in This Medieval French Illustration.” Artnet, 13 February 2019. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/heart-as-symbol-love-medieval-illustration-1464961
Gibran, Kahlil. The Prophet. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, February 1992. P29-30
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. San Francisco, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2007. P227-228
Wartenberg, Lisa, RD, LD. “8 Surprising Benefits of Linden Tea.” Healthline, 24 July 2023. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/linden-tea
Waxman, Olivia B. “How the Valentine’s Day Heart Got Its Shape.” Time, 14 February 2017. https://time.com/4662675/valentines-day-heart-shape-origins/