The Seven of Swords and the Moon at Work: I Got Played by a Fake Client
What The Moon obscured, the Seven of Swords took.
Some tarot cards hit harder when life imitates them.
Recently, I found myself caught up in something that at first looked like ordinary business. The truth is, it turned out to be a slow-burning nightmare.
Looking back, two cards immediately came to mind: The Seven of Swords and The Moon.
These aren’t just “bad omen” cards. They’re deeper than that. They’re about what hides in the cracks, what manipulates behind the curtain, what can’t be seen clearly until it’s almost too late.
They’re the archetypes of quiet deceit and creeping doubt. Those are the two forces you’re bound to face if you live honestly in a world that isn’t always. And let’s face it, it is just not at all an honest world we live in.
Alright now, let’s take a deeper look at each of them before I tell you how they showed up for me.
The Seven of Swords: The Mask of Strategy
The Seven of Swords doesn’t scream. It whispers. It’s the card of strategy, concealment, and subterfuge. It is sometimes clever, sometimes cowardly.
It’s not inherently evil, but it is inherently self-serving. It asks: “What am I taking that I haven’t earned? What am I hiding?” And maybe more importantly: “What is being taken from me while I’m not looking?”
In the hands of a scammer or manipulator, this card becomes a red flag. It signals an energy that lies, distracts, and cloaks its intentions.
Someone might be wearing a suit and smiling while they orchestrate a con. Seven of Swords is that suit.
But it can also point back at us, as readers or creators or freelancers, asking whether we’re being too trusting or too quiet.
The Seven of Swords invites critical thinking, not just intuition. It’s a reminder to lift the curtain and ask the uncomfortable questions. The problem is that no one wants to ask those uncomfortable questions, which is why we often get duped.
Now, let’s cover the Moon.
The Moon: The Terrain of Confusion
The Moon is where clarity goes to drown. This is the card of mystery, illusion, half-truths, and the subconscious.
It rules the dreamworld and the nightmare. It’s where things aren’t what they seem, and where you’re left walking by instinct because your usual compass is scrambled.
Under The Moon, reality warps as you doubt your own judgment. Gut feelings come up, but the rational mind lags behind.
This is the emotional fog that tells you something is off before you can explain why.
The Moon also speaks to manipulation but not loud, direct deception like The Devil might show.
Instead, The Moon clouds your vision, leaving you second-guessing.
In personal experience, this can feel like gaslighting both external and internal. It’s the card that appears when your instincts are screaming but you haven’t yet found “proof.”
It’s a challenge to trust yourself especially in a culture where truth is blurred, where lies wear makeup, and where calling out a scam can be more controversial than running one.
The Real-Life Spread: A Cautionary Tale
So here’s how these cards showed up for me, not on the table, but in life.
I recently decided to offer a free one-week trial of my social media management services. Yup, no credit card, no commitment.
Just value upfront as I believe in transparency, and I believe in proving my worth with real results.
Soon after, I was contacted by a man claiming to be a realtor in downtown Toronto. He wanted help promoting a rental listing so I said okay as I had no reason to doubt him.
He gave me instructions, asked for the ad to be placed on Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace.
I mean, the rent seemed a little low for Toronto, but I rationalized it. Maybe it was a basement unit. Maybe he just wanted it filled quickly. I mean I did not look into it carefully and just did what I was asked.
And let’s just say that the ad blew up as I received tons of messages, lots of interest. I sent him the leads.
But something started to feel off. He kept saying he “hadn’t found the right person,” even with dozens of interested renters who were ready to request a showing.
Then, someone messaged me and said they’d received a strange email from this “realtor.” He was asking them for a deposit before they could even view the property.
That’s when The Moon cracked wide open.
I flat out asked him directly: “Is this legit?” I received no clear answer and only evasive nonsense. That’s when the Seven of Swords moved front and center.
I cut ties immediately and I warned every person who had reached out to me. I reported him on every platform. And when I checked Craigslist again?
He was already running new ads, looking for more freelancers to use just like he used me!!! Holy hell!!
Truth Is Not Always Comfortable
This is why I will always fight for free speech and unfiltered storytelling, especially in spiritual spaces.
I mean, if we can’t talk about manipulation in the tarot world, in the online world, in our worlds we are just spiritual wallpaper for scammers. That’s it!!
Therefore, truth doesn’t always look polite. Sometimes it’s messy, raw, and deeply uncomfortable.
But that’s exactly where the Seven of Swords and The Moon shine their strange, flickering light.
So if you’ve drawn these cards lately, don’t dismiss them as just “bad vibes.” Ask yourself:
Where is the deception?
Who is wearing the mask?
What am I sensing that I don’t yet understand?
And what is it costing me not to speak up?
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is call a scam what it is — and walk away with your head held high.
TL;DR: The Seven of Swords is the scammer. The Moon is the fog you feel before you realize you’re being scammed. But you? You are the sword of clarity once you choose to trust yourself.
Ugh that sucks! I’ve been on the other end of a scam just like this when trying to find an apartment- so glad you reported him!
I like the questions you're suggesting. I'm not a skeptic at heart, so I often miss the subtexts in the cards. I hope you'll keep sharing your insights that way.