Your state of mind.
The Swords suit addresses your mindset and what predominant thoughts are currently at work. As such, they are associated with the element of Air, which is linked to logic, intellect, reason, and thoughts. Some of the most difficult cards in the tarot appear in this suit. This is because our minds are repositories of information. All the good and bad things that have ever happened to you are stored away in your brain. These thoughts eventually sink in to the unconscious where they dictate your perspective, whether you are aware of your thoughts or not. Sword cards reveal how your thinking has been affected by past experiences, especially trauma. When Swords appear, do not be afraid or feel defeated. Important issues are being worked out in your mind. An abundance of Swords in a reading does not necessarily mean that you will have only bad things on the horizon. The Swords suit is where some of the most meaningful pathways toward healing can be found. Each of the Court cards in the Swords suit reveals an intelligent figure.
Before you can achieve anything, your mind must be made up to do so. The Swords suit can help you regain dispassionate clarity, thereby giving you the ability to achieve your goals in a sensible manner. Swords also highlight the negative thoughts you harbor, which could be blocking your progress.
Some people fear that the scary images of the Swords suit will signify terrible calamities that could happen to them. Tarot is a collection of images that symbolically reflect real-world situations and attitudes. Some of the images are meant to be jarring. They serve as psychic wake-up calls to alert you to harmful or destructive thought forms. Mastering the lessons embodied in the Swords suit is extremely empowering. Its archetypes and symbols can arm you with the ability to defeat mental shadows, thereby reclaiming the power and potential of your brilliant mind.
Reclaiming your personal power.
The Ace of Swords symbolizes reclaiming your personal power by taking charge of your life. Like all Aces, it symbolizes that a new beginning is at hand. Your personal power is much like a sword, waiting to be drawn from a scabbard. When you grasp what makes you powerful, you can transform your energy from victim to victor. The Ace of Swords cuts through trancelike states of mind. It flashes with dazzling light, awakening your self-confidence.
Do you feel your personal power has been depleted somehow? Are you avoiding something that you know will make things better if you just get the ball rolling? Are you overwhelmed by anxiety, causing you to feel uncomfortable with confronting an area of your life?
A mighty hand grasps the flashing sword. Six sparks crackle from its blade. In numerology, sixes represent an ideal balance and the restoration of harmony. The sword represents your vitality, life force, and personal power. The sword is crowned. This symbolizes that when you grasp your power, you become fit to rule your life. You are the king or queen of your own world, vested with the divine authority to make it as successful as you dare. The mountains symbolize the great heights you will ascend to—if you decide to act.
An olive branch dangles from the left side of the crown. This symbolizes that your life will feel more at peace when you act. This seems counterintuitive to our fears, which tell us to avoid things that might create stress. However, inner turmoil comes from the avoidance of confrontation, not from taking responsibility.
A palm branch graces the right side of the crown. Palm trees are primordial, tough, and hearty. They can endure desertlike heat and torrential hurricanes. The palm branch symbolizes your resilience. You can endure much more than you may be giving yourself credit for.
Today, a new beginning is at hand. Don’t dwell on yesterday, last year, or what might lie ahead. Your personal power is crackling in the present, right now. Where will you send that energy? Channel this energy toward the place in your mind where your power resides. Act on something that you have been avoiding. This will restore confidence in your mind and its ability to make better decisions.
Ace of Swords Reversed
If the Ace of Swords appears reversed, it represents defending positive new ways of thinking that are still in their infancy. When the blade of a sword is depicted upright, it symbolizes that it is at the ready. When a sword is upraised, it is ready to fight or to act. An upraised sword can respond to any anticipated action. When a sword is depicted with its blade lowered (as in this case), it symbolizes that the sword is in a state of peace, rest, and that it is guarding something.
When the Ace of Swords appears reversed, it can mean that you need to stay vigilant and protect something that is just getting its start. This could be new habits, a new mind frame, a new perspective, or a new creative project. Aces always represent new beginnings, and the Ace of Swords reversed can indicate that you need to take special care of something fragile that is still in its beginning phase. This card could also mean that you need to protect yourself during a sensitive time of change. For these positive new developments to take root, you must protect them until they are strong enough to stand on their own. The Ace of Swords reversed can also symbolize the need to protect yourself from the negative thoughts, comments, and actions of others.
The Ace of Swords (upright or reversed) indicates the necessity to change your perspective from feeling powerless to feeling powerful. You can indeed triumph, but first you must rediscover confidence in yourself and your abilities. Like the palm branch, you are far more resilient than you think. Have courage and protect the empowered person you are becoming.
Making peace with “in-between.”
The Two of Swords symbolizes making peace with the feeling of being “in between.” In between life stages, in between jobs, in between relationships, in between projects, in between moving situations, in between friendships, in between career goals, in between big plans, and so on. This card advises you to find your center amid the transformations swirling around you. The truth is, we are always in a state of in-between somewhere in our lives. The Two of Swords illuminates that the place in your life that feels unresolved is precisely where life’s greatest magic is happening.
What feels uneasy or unresolved in your life? Is this in-between situation making you anxious about the future? Can you be at peace with not having everything completely figured out right now?
The figure on the Two of Swords is also in between. She is in between the land and the sea. In between the new moon and the full moon. In between the two swords she is holding. Yet, she is in a pose of complete balance. The Two of Swords is the Minor Arcana complement to the Major Arcana’s Justice card. However, the woman depicted here is blindfolded. This symbolizes that she can’t see what is coming and may not possess all the facts yet. But look how calm and centered she is. She has accepted not seeing with her eyes because she is at peace with her center, with the core of who she really is. She’s okay with not having everything figured out. She’s accepted being between the worlds. She knows that the in-between times are when the magic of the natural world happens.16 Symbolism of distance and isolation pervade this card. The woman confidently wields the powers of her own inner sight.
In nature, the in-between time is at dusk or dawn, and it is magical. At dusk, all the animals get ready for the transition to night. The birds excitedly chirp for their companions to come roost for the night. The quiet deer come out of hiding to drink at the pond. The owls rise and call to one another. The light in the sky transforms. The atmosphere at sunset stirs and the winds begin to gust. The clouds glow in shades of violet-pink and golden-orange. If you witness this, there is an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility during this in-between time. This is how nature illustrates in-between. Nature guides us to experience serenity amid transition.
The Two of Swords asks you to make peace with the area of your life that is still in-between. This card reflects nature, where twilight leads to night, which is then followed by dawn. The in-between time is where your Higher Self is most alert. The lessons you are currently learning are making you wiser, stronger, and more aligned with the center of who you really are. Your best potential is manifesting.
You are exactly where you need to be, and everything is transitioning perfectly.
Two of Swords Reversed
If the Two of Swords appears reversed, it is time to boldly step out of limbo. If an aspect of your life has been suspended for too long, then it’s time to get things moving again. The Two of Swords reversed usually appears after a period of incubation, a time spent making peace with yourself. It is a card of precarious balances between the needs of the world and the needs of the self. Now that a truce has been made with your deepest creative self, it is time to act. Commit your energy to completing projects, tasks, and goals. Step out of indecision and reveal your vision.
This card is always a reminder that we are all in a perpetual state of in-
between. Once you have found peace within yourself, it is time to engage with the world. After stillness, action must follow. Take the blindfold off and see how things in your world have magically transformed. Step out of limbo and seek closure.
Forgiveness.
As you might imagine, the Three of Swords symbolizes the wounded heart. Everyone experiences betrayals, cruelty, unkindness, and even abuse to varying degrees. These traumatic events can feel like swords driven into the heart. Like any penetrating trauma, the shrapnel must be extracted for the injury to heal. Likewise, the swords pictured on this card need to be drawn out and released from the heart so that it can heal. Sounds easy, right? Well it’s not! This is because the only thing that can give you the power to release the sword from the wound is forgiveness. What?! Forgive that bastard?! Never!
Are you unable to forgive individuals from the past who betrayed you? Do you still get angry and feel victimized? What emotions do you feel when you conjure up the image of this person … hatred, revenge, rage, sadness?
The heart on the card is the victim of a devastating injury. Three large swords symbolize wounds inflicted by three past traumatic events. The swords are weighing the heart down beneath gray clouds. There are three complete clouds depicted in the image, yet one cloud in the background is incomplete. The three completed clouds could refer to the negative thoughts brought on by the three swords. The incomplete cloud could symbolize future thoughts—still unformed, but potentially influenced by past trauma. Perhaps it’s time to at least think of the possibility of future happiness instead of being defeated by the same old tragedies of the past.
Rain continuously pelts down on the sunken heart. And yet, look at the proportions. The floating heart is quite large when compared to the swords. This symbolizes that the heart is stronger and more resilient than any wound to it. It also symbolizes that the wounds can weigh down a normally buoyant heart. This negative energy prevents the heart from rising above the clouds to bask in joyful sunlight.
The Three of Swords reminds us that even though another may have put a metaphorical sword in our heart through a past betrayal, we perpetually betray ourselves by not letting go and releasing the resentment. So, if the only thing that will unburden the heart is forgiveness, then why is there such resistance to letting the swords go?
Swords represent power. Righteous indignation is seductive and can give a false sense of empowerment. The heart may want to hold on to the swords because it feels that somehow it now possesses more power. Although it gives an immediate illusion of being the moral victor (we are not the bad one, after all), it also leaves us feeling hollow and empty. This sense of power is held on to for dear life so that we aren’t suckers caught off guard again! And yet, the heart remains heavy and isolated, and we miss the joy of the sunlight above the clouds.
Practicing forgiveness allows for releasing the negative energy within so that you are not carrying it with you everywhere. Each day you refuse to forgive, you are deciding to continue carrying all that toxic poison within you for another day. There is an anonymous quote that says, “Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to drop dead!” Think about our world affairs and how lack of forgiveness perpetuates war, hatred, and conflict.
Forgiveness does not mean condoning the reprehensible behavior of another. It doesn’t mean that you need to call your abuser over for tea and pretend nothing happened. Forgiveness is less about them and more about you. The wound happened, but it’s not still happening today unless we choose to hurt ourselves with it. This means that you also must forgive yourself for holding on to this garbage for so long. Forgiveness gives you the power to let the painful past go, allowing you to move on with your life unencumbered and free.
The Three of Swords indicates that it’s time to let go of any painful people or things that are weighing your heart down. Forgiveness often doesn’t come overnight! It takes time and continual affirmation before the swords are released. An opportunity for major healing is being presented to you now. Like the rising phoenix, let your heart ascend above the rain clouds and into the realm of light.
Three of Swords Reversed
If the Three of Swords appears reversed, it calls your attention to any self-
inflicted wounds that are being perpetuated through negative thinking. Holding on to negative expectations is a form of self-betrayal. The clouds that appeared in the sky are now on the base of the card. Clouds symbolize the element of Air, and Air represents your thoughts. The Three of Swords reversed can indicate that the negative thoughts you are holding on to are affecting your outlook. This includes thoughts that project catastrophes into a future that hasn’t even happened yet or replaying past traumas mentally and anticipating that they will happen again. Your anxieties aren’t harbingers of disasters to come. They are merely fears, and they rarely resemble the future that will actually come to pass.
When the Three of Swords reversed appears, it’s best to avoid “borrowing trouble.” Negative projections into the future will cause you to miss out on being joyful in this moment. If you are anxious about what hasn’t even happened yet, then you are harming yourself with your thinking. Catch yourself when you notice you are falling into this. Release harmful thoughts and know them for what they are: thoughts. Choose to focus your thinking on something that really interests you or brings you joy. Remember, the heart on this card is much larger and stronger than any wound it’s experienced. Your heart is stronger than your fears and wounds from the past. Transcendent love is always a viable answer when this card appears.
Restoring inner peace.
The Four of Swords symbolizes our need for inner peace. It encourages rest and recuperation. The appearance of the Four of Swords gently reminds you to call your attention to your body and any areas where tension has been building up. You may need to give yourself some peace and quiet to rejuvenate your body, mind, and Spirit. You could also find that it’s time to let go of whatever is preventing a sense of peace and causing inner suffering.
Do you feel inner peace, or have you been suffering? When is the last time you gave yourself a relaxing midday nap? Do you need a break from the stress that’s built up?
Hidden in the upper left corner of the stained glass window in the Four of Swords is the word pax (Latin for “peace”). Aside from encouraging rest, this card asks if you are feeling inner peace. Often the cause for suffering in our lives is the attachment to things that need to be surrendered. Trying to control outcomes and hanging on to a path that no longer brings rewards are examples of this. Identify anything that is interfering with your inner peace. Is it a life path that you honestly aren’t happy with? Is it a fixed attachment to a specific outcome? Wouldn’t it be a relief to finally let the source of your suffering go and see what new wonders await you? We are often very good at rationalizing why we need to suffer, but there is no real rationalization for it. You can choose inner peace and let go of whatever you’ve outgrown that keeps preventing you from being at peace within yourself.
Prayer imagery is also prevalent on this card. The figures in the stained glass are praying, as is the effigy on the sarcophagus. The scene depicted takes place in a church. This reminds us of the Hierophant card and the rebalancing that occurs when seeking assistance from the Divine. Perhaps the peace you are seeking will be obtained through reconnecting with what is most sacred to you. Feel your stress dissipate as you ask Spirit for what you need.
Another way to bring a sense of inner peace is deep breathing. Secure ten minutes for yourself when you won’t be disturbed. Sit back and relax in a comfy chair. Bring your awareness to your body. With your mind, slowly scan the sensations of your body from head to toe. Is there an area with tightness built up? Find the area of tightness and relax the muscles surrounding this area as much as you can. When you identify where the tension has built up, it’s time to breathe into that area. Empty all the air from your lungs. Take a deep breath, slowly inhaling through your nostrils over an eight-second count. Fill your body with revitalizing air. Let your stomach expand with the inhalation. Inhale the revitalizing oxygen into the place of tension. Hold the air there for eight seconds, right in the tense spot. While holding the air, purse your lips as if you were about to drink from a small straw. Exhale all the air over eight counts through this aperture slowly. It should sound like a dolphin’s exhalation (PPHHHHHHHHH). Use your abdomen to press all the old air out of your body. Let all the tension escape with the breath. Feel the muscles around the tense spot relax even further. Repeat this breath exercise with two more healing inhalations and exhalations (eight counts in, hold eight counts in the stressed spot, release through pursed lips over eight counts). With each exhalation, allow your body to let go of all the accumulated stress of the week.
People in Western culture often need to be reminded to breathe, relax, and let go. Modern humans are always being stimulated by tasks, media, and demands. Breathing is the easiest way to release tension, but there are so many other ways to relax. Take a nice hot bath with candles and scented water. Sip a cool refreshing drink or soothing herbal tea. Take a relaxing nap for an hour just to rest your brow. Read your favorite book with snuggly blankets and a cup of cocoa. Take a breather in a cool, darkened room.
When the Four of Swords appears, you must allow yourself rest and recuperation. Perhaps it’s time to plan a vacation or even a walk in nature. You don’t need to suffer. Blessings will always come to those who are at peace within themselves.
Four of Swords Reversed
If the Four of Swords appears reversed, it indicates that there is a restless energy about. Restless energy is not always bad. It can motivate you to accomplish goals and get events moving again. It can also indicate excitement and motivation toward action. Restlessness becomes unhelpful when it turns into anxiety. The Four of Swords reversed may indicate that you may have to stop the flurry of rapid thoughts barraging your mind and remember to breathe.
This card encourages you to reject frantic thinking. Take a time-out. Remember to breathe. Take a break from problem-solving. If you allow yourself some time to rejuvenate your mind, you will be able to return to the task at hand with clear perspective. Everything is falling into place. Like the word “pax” on the stained glass suggests, allow yourself peace of mind. There is no need to get anxious, tight, or stressed. Tune in to your body as a barometer for what you currently need. Avoid excess and extremes today. Strive for inner peace.
If there is still accumulated restless energy, channel it into something constructive. Don’t ruminate. Let your restlessness become fuel for your greatest goals.
Know your limits.
The Five of Swords warns you to not take on more than you can handle. Its message is that of pacing yourself. Less gets accomplished (not more) when you are spread too thin. Procrastinating will not help you manifest your dreams, but neither will inundating yourself with the present task (which is the opposite extreme). The Five of Swords encourages you to get organized in your thinking and break down your larger task into smaller achievable pieces that can be accomplished over time. This will aid you in replenishing self-esteem and personal power.
Is there a huge issue looming in your mind that is giving you anxiety? Are you already so overwhelmed with current tasks and to-do lists that it’s hard to see how it will all get done? Do you feel spread too thin?
The Five of Swords depicts three squires all trying to secure the job of assisting a brave knight. The two squires in the background are defeated. They are focused on the sea, the element of Water, which is a symbol for their feelings. They couldn’t lift all five heavy swords at once, and the knight’s horse, and the knight’s armor, and the knight’s demands, and, and, and …
Aggghh! It’s just too stressful! They quit!
A fresh breeze blows through the red hair of the squire in the foreground. The red hair can symbolize the element of Fire, which is fueled by Air. The squire initiates action (Fire), as a result of the idea brought by the fresh breeze (Air). The brisk winds are dispersing the gray clouds in the sky above. This symbolizes the element of Air, which in turn represents reason, logic, and intelligence. This redheaded squire finds that he can easily complete the tasks required by taking the initiative. Instead of seizing all the swords at once, he will collect only the amount he can carry. He can come back to the other two heavy swords lying on the ground once he gets the first task completed. In this way, he will do each task well. The reds and oranges depicted on this card symbolize the element of Fire and taking initiative. It’s time to start—wherever you are.
The Five of Swords advises you to not waste another minute resisting your tasks with avoidance, exasperation, or procrastination. Get organized in your thinking! Pull out your calendar. Partition off one sacred hour a day, for seven days, to plug away at the task. Keep your commitment to yourself. Once it’s in the calendar, it must be done! This is a sacred contract with your integrity and will systematically help you regain self-esteem. If something comes up in life (as sometimes happens), schedule a makeup hour to keep your commitment to yourself. Open yourself to the fresh breezes of action to break up the gray clouds of indecision.
As you keep your commitment to yourself, a strange thing will happen. You will look forward to working on your task, because confronting it will continue to make you feel powerful. You can achieve your dreams, but first you must schedule the time to work on them.
The Five of Swords also warns you not to take on too much of other people’s issues. You may have to let others do their own work without coming to their rescue. Maintain healthy boundaries.
Five of Swords Reversed
If the Five of Swords appears reversed, it carries a similar meaning to the upright position but to an even greater degree. Often this card appears when there is a looming deadline or heavy expectation placed on the self to succeed. This card also appears when you have been pushing hard for something over and over, only to feel like you are hitting a wall. Events may feel overwhelming, so you must pace the tasks in front of you to avoid burnout. Learn from the mistake of the discouraged squires in the background of the card. They tried to collect all the swords at once and were quickly overwhelmed by the weight. Instead, do a bit of the task now, leave it, and schedule consistent times to come back to finish the task gradually. Patience and consistency will help you win; don’t get flustered or overwhelmed.
The Five of Swords reversed can also represent times when your energy feels scattered and unfocused. Perhaps you’ve been getting burnt-out lately. What can you do to restore a sense of calm and clarity? What could you give yourself at this time to feel better?
The Five of Swords reversed asks you to take control of your stress level by taking control of your time. Be patient with yourself and stop cracking the whip over your own back. Break up larger tasks into smaller ones. Often, our best work emerges from taking breaks, taking our time, and returning to projects rested and clear-minded. If your thoughts are muddled, then there may be emotions that need to be heard right now.
The task before you will not prove to be as overwhelming as the other big trials you’ve faced in life if you approach it systematically.
Moving on.
The Six of Swords represents moving on from one place in your life to another. This card can indicate travel, changing careers, leaving relationships, or even moving. The Six of Swords can also signify an elevation to the next level in your professional life. When this card appears, the changes you are experiencing are for the best. The Six of Swords suggests that you go with the flow rather than fight the current. If you surrender to where life’s momentum is currently flowing, you will speedily arrive at a safe harbor.
Where is the energy of change flowing in your life? What destination do you have in mind? What must you leave behind?
The ferryman is guiding two refugees—a mother and her child—to a new life. Ferrymen represent situations that carry us from one life to the next. Ferrymen are harbingers of change. The skies are gray, and the mood is somber. The mother’s first duty is to protect her child. The refugees are leaving behind the past for the promise of a brighter future. The waters behind them are rough, but the waters ahead are smooth. In order to reach the safe shores, they must leave behind past troubles. Although the boat is not very comfortable, it promises to lead them toward a happier life.
Change is happening in your life, too, and this change is usually accompanied by temporary discomfort. You may be unsure of your footing, and simple challenges may seem magnified. A small inconvenience can seem like a momentous stress when navigating life’s transitions. However, know that the changes occurring in your life right now are truly for the better. Don’t fight to stay in the old lands, for the metaphorical boat is taking you to new shores. The Six of Swords heralds an exciting time of movement. This card can also herald a trip or a journey. Distance will aid you in acquiring perspective and awareness of your new opportunities.
Any discomfort you feel during these current transitions is normal and will soon pass. A better life is opening to you now. Try not to fixate on the discomfort you are experiencing. Channel any feelings of anxiety into excitement instead. Ride the waves toward progress. Go with the flow.
Six of Swords Reversed
If the Six of Swords appears reversed, it directs your attention to what currently feels stuck. People get stuck when they habitually avoid the discomfort that naturally accompanies change. Don’t allow the discomfort of growing pains trick you into avoiding changes and taking risks toward your goals. Discomfort does not mean something is wrong, it means something is growing or changing.
Imagine that you are the ferryman in the card. On your journey, you need to propel the boat forward by placing your oar into the river. Anticipate moments when the oar will periodically feel stuck in the mud. Your strength and determination can pull the oar free, allowing you to propel the boat forward. Getting the boat moving again after being stuck is the tough part. However, once it gains momentum, the journey becomes easier.
The Six of Swords reversed urges you to pull your oar free. It may feel like things are stuck, but this is an illusion. Stop fighting the waves and allow your best transformation. Sail over the temporary choppy waters. The promise of a safe harbor lies ahead. Anything in your life that feels stuck can become unstuck. However, you must accept the temporary discomfort of change.
Outwitting your obstacles.
The Seven of Swords represents using your wits to overcome obstacles in your path. It suggests that you not fight life’s challenges, but instead use your intelligence to bypass what appears fixed or immovable. The Seven of Swords reminds you that it’s not over until it’s over. There is usually a way to succeed if you don’t give up. You are cleverer than your current challenges, but you must think smarter and not work harder!
Do you give up easily when life sends you setbacks, or do you find a way around them? Have you used your wits to outsmart a situation that looked hopeless? Are you tired of fighting against one life barrier after another?
Don’t get mad—get smart!
The thief depicted on the Seven of Swords is a brilliant tactician. In the background, you see an army has invaded his homeland. They have set up camps and are conferring with one another about how they will divide the invaded territory. Instead of fighting the whole army by himself, the trickster on the card uses his wits to outsmart them. While the troops are distracted, he creeps in and steals five of their seven weapons, greatly diminishing their strength. Instead of fighting or retreating, he uses his mind to find a brilliant solution to the present impasse. The Seven of Swords also depicts a golden sky. In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, golden skies usually appear on cards that imply eventual success or joy. However, the thief is grasping the sharp ends of the swords while tiptoeing, indicating that you must handle this situation with care.
Not every challenge in life needs to be approached with the fight-or-flight instinct. Sometimes all that is required is to use your mind and systematically review the challenge from all angles. Often you can find a way around the obstacle with much less frustration and angst.
The Seven of Swords suggests that you apply a different perspective to what currently appears hopeless. Ask experts for advice. Get more information. Really know the details of the situation you are grappling with. Understanding the challenge in its entirety will give you power over it. Use the internet! Everything you need to know is at your fingertips. Are you arming yourself with enough knowledge, or are you just hoping everything will work out?
Sometimes we avoid the solution because it means we must commit to our decision and risk change. New can feel scary. The man on the card is taking a risk by invading the enemy camp. There is a risk involved, but he knows that being proactive is better than futilely hoping the army might retreat.
The Seven of Swords suggests that rather than aggressively ramming your head into a current life challenge, you can choose to be smarter than it. Apply strategic thinking and do some research. Don’t give up when life screams, “NO YOU CAN’T!” Respond with, “Hmm, I bet I can find a way around that!”
Using your wits will give you immense power over any obstacle you are currently confronting.
Seven of Swords Reversed
If the Seven of Swords appears reversed, it represents changes in luck. If an unlucky black rain cloud has been following you around, then this card could indicate that it is finally dissipating. The trickster on the card announces that unexpected events are currently swirling around you. Lucky meetings and encounters may take place. However, you may also need to be on guard for unscrupulous individuals. Read between the lines in any agreements; there is always an unpredictable (and sneaky) quality to this card.
When the Seven of Swords appears reversed, it also suggests you can change your own luck. A former teacher of mine used to recite a well-known saying: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets with opportunity.” Think ahead and prepare for what you are trying to accomplish. Use your resilient wits, and good luck will find you.
The Seven of Swords reversed asks that you pay attention to details. The thief on the card could indicate the need to review current payment plans to ensure that you aren’t being robbed by a corporation or even another individual. Upright or reversed, the Seven of Swords asks you to get smarter. Preparation of the details will give you the ability to change your luck and overcome your challenges.
Freedom from fear that binds and blinds.
The Eight of Swords illustrates the kind of fear that blinds us, causing us to not see the present. It paralyzes us as we wait for bad things to come to pass. The Eight of Swords symbolizes fear that relies on past evidence to validate it. Something traumatic happened to the woman in the card. She was blindfolded, bound up, and abandoned. The people who brought her to this place are gone. Her fear that she is worthless has convinced her that all that remains is to wait for the tide to come and swallow her whole. She has been shunned.
Has a traumatic experience from your past made you feel damaged or worthless? Is fear blinding and binding you somehow? Are you so focused on potential catastrophes that you can’t see your many opportunities? Do you rationalize your fears, using past traumas to validate their existence?
The Eight of Swords uses gray imagery that makes the woman’s situation look hopeless and bleak. But always with the tarot, you must look closer …
She can free herself ! So easily!
Wait—what?!
She could use any one of the abandoned swords that flank her to cut the ties around her hands. With her hands free, she could quickly remove the blindfold. Her legs obviously work, so she could still run for safety. Perhaps she could seek sanctuary in the large castle behind her. Why is she not focused on fighting for herself or her survival? Why is she accepting the shame cast on her by others without fighting?
It’s because she really believes she is worthless.
Feelings of worthlessness are lies that will keep you scared and bound. Today you must see your worth! If you are having trouble seeing your worth, look at the people who love you most. How would they feel without you in their lives? How sad would they be if they never experienced the special memories you made together? Reflect on your irreplaceable light today. Your light is so special, so uniquely you. In the whole cosmos, there is only one like it.
The Eight of Swords challenges you to see if there’s still some fight left in you. Cut away the fears that bind you, and rip away the blindfold! The tide depicted in the card could symbolize the turning of the tide. How are you going to turn the tide toward empowerment? Stand up to what is scaring you. Feel your mighty worth. The past can’t get you now, so don’t let it continue to overthrow your mind. Do not give in to the illusion that you are trapped.
You are a survivor. You are worthy. It is time to turn the tide.
Eight of Swords Reversed
If the Eight of Swords appears reversed, it means you are escaping from once powerful self-limiting thoughts. Old fears that once had a great hold over your life are now losing their grip. Reversed cards can indicate that inwardly directed healing is occurring around the issues that the symbols of the card portray. In the case of the Eight of Swords, its reversal indicates that the metaphorical blindfold is coming off, allowing you to see your true self with clearer perspective. You can choose to see the whole you as opposed to only seeing the worries, fears, or limitations that surround just a small part of you. The Eight of Swords reversed represents escape. Like Harry Houdini, you are wriggling out of the mental traps that used to bind and blind you. You are becoming more adept at seeing yourself clearly, without the outworn blindfold. You can see more of your opportunities and gifts. You can begin to see what really makes you happy in this life. Without the blindfold, you can see the light and your worth again. You can see that you are so much more than your worries.
What are all the various roles you play in life? Are you an artist? Lover? Mother? Writer? Musician? Brother? Sister? Teacher? Wise One? Healer? Collector? Best friend? Scholar? Expert? Gardener? Father? Daughter? Tarot reader? Your roles change depending on who it is you are interacting with. Also, each role is only one small piece of all that you embody. Don’t feel trapped by limiting yourself to only one role, blindly worrying about one aspect of your life that fails to encapsulate the whole you. You are not one-dimensional. Look at all the complex roles you play in this life. Write them down. Remember all that you encompass. Take off the blindfold and cut away your bonds. See the value of the whole you with eyes wide open. This will cause the fears surrounding only one part of your life to look small by comparison to your totality. Reclaim the gift of perspective. You will be free whenever you choose to be.
Transcending your inner shadows.
The Nine of Swords has been called the “worst card in the deck.” 17 Although the imagery isn’t as jolting as some of the other cards, it is called the “worst” because it represents the potential of mental shadows to attack you from within. Fear, shame, guilt, feeling utterly alone—these are all tools our inner shadow uses to sabotage us. The brighter the light you shine, the greater the shadow you cast. Sensitive, kind, and creative people who bring light into the world must be especially strong when facing their shadows. Inner shadows are like nightmares: they are scary, but they don’t really exist. You are stronger than your inner saboteur, but you must stand up to it when it tries to overtake your mind.
Have you ever encountered your inner saboteur? Have people ever told you that you are a talented, amazing person, and yet you can’t believe it? Have you been letting your shadow sabotage you and thwart what you think is possible for your future?
The man on the card just can’t sleep. His mind has been overthrown by shadow thinking. He’s in the dark—the realm of anxiety. His mind has been racing all night, cycling from fear about the future, to guilt about his past, to self-loathing for not having control in the present. His shadow is holding him hostage, making him forget his light and how valuable he is.
Look closely at the paneling on the bed. He is submitting to his attacking inner saboteur. But even now, there is still hope. He just can’t see it because he is covering his eyes. The pointed, sharp ends of the swords are cut off at the edge of the image, neutralizing their threat. Also, look closely at his quilt.
Blankets are shields. They can comfort us and remind us that we are safe. His blanket is covered with roses. The roses symbolize that he is still vital and still has a wonderful life ahead of him, despite what the shadow tells him. His quilt is also covered with the signs of the zodiac: the star patterns of the Universe. This symbolizes that he can free himself from fear if he remembers to view himself in the context of Spirit. The man pictured here is a thread in a greater universal tapestry. He is a vital part of a bigger (universal) plan. To escape the fear, he must view himself from a higher, universal perspective. This card reminds you that you do deserve to live and thrive, but you must know yourself and see the truth of your light that exists beyond your shadow.
Everyone is given a security blanket when they’re born. It’s also the first thing they pass out to aid in disaster relief. Hold on to the knowledge that you are not alone and are a vital part of a greater design. You wouldn’t exist if there weren’t something important that you were here to do. Life is school for the soul. You are not garbage and never will be.
The inner saboteur is like anything—it wants to survive and continue to exist. The more you affirm it with self-loathing, guilt, shame, and fear, the more it thrives. Turn off the spigot and transfer your attention to loving yourself and respecting how far you’ve come. Affirm your value to yourself, and the shadow will lose all power.
Today, stand up to shadow thinking. When your inner saboteur says you can’t do something, you do it anyway. When it says you should feel like crap, do something good for someone. If it seizes you in the shadows, light a candle and go to a mirror. Remind yourself that you are luminous, loving, and have a life purpose that doesn’t include shooting yourself in the foot.
If you periodically struggle with shadows, it’s just proof that your Spirit radiates a unique and luminous light.
Nine of Swords Reversed
If the Nine of Swords appears reversed, it indicates that you are waking up from the nightmare of thinking you are less than you are. Life has been presenting you with challenges that have tested your faith in yourself. You may have had to accept that it’s okay to walk away from something that is toxic and be true to your path. Fears and nightmares aren’t facts. They do not rule you, and neither do superstitions and omens.
Free yourself and shift your perspective. Remember the Sun card with the child on it? To escape the dread of fear, look on life with the wondrous eyes of a child. See the magic in existing at this moment in time. Remember the vastness of the Universe and all its wonders. It is so much bigger than what you are afraid of. See the radiant light and love that protect and assist you every day. Switch mental gears. If you can’t sleep, get up and shift your thoughts for a bit. Read something that always brings you comfort. Remember your source of joy. There are even more joyful times to come. The light always returns. Day always follows night. Every time you choose to stand up to fear, you become more aligned with the light of your Authentic Self. Everything is going to turn out better than you fear. It always does.
Face the source of your anxiety.
Help! The Ten of Swords looks scary! Are we all going to die?!
Absolutely not! The tarot has done it again, using potent symbolism to get us to wake up and pay attention to something very important.
The man on the card is facedown. All the swords are in his back. Whatever got him was chasing from behind. He was running away. The swords in his back symbolize his irrational fears. They finally caught up with him. But look closer. In his last moment, he finally learned to surrender his fears to Spirit. This is symbolized by his right hand signaling a gesture of blessing, just like the Hierophant. Whereas the Hierophant represents rites of passage you choose to undergo, the Ten of Swords represents challenging rites of passage that you may not have chosen. The gesture of blessing on both cards indicates that the transformation you are undergoing is meant to be. This rite of passage will serve to make your Spirit stronger; its sacred meaning has yet to be revealed. It is time to stop avoiding the threshold you must cross. Surrender and have faith.
What fears are you constantly trying to keep ahead of ? Is your day filled with thoughts of terrible things that might happen? Do you try to just keep busy so you don’t have to face the source of your unease?
Ignoring fear is the same as running from it. It’s still there. Lurking about as usual. Often the thing we fear (horrible illnesses, death, poverty, loss) is a distraction from going deeper and listening to our Inner Self. Spirit does not want suffering for you. But the only way to be free from needless suffering is to surrender. You aren’t surrendering to fear, you are surrendering the fear. Surrender to feeling the fear and then let it go.
The Ten of Swords asks that you turn around and face the fears coming from behind. The spilled blood could represent that a sacrifice is needed. Where would your blood, sweat, and tears be better spent? Certainly not on more anxiety. When you show up in life as a victim, you will be doomed to be victimized. This card asks you to sacrifice and surrender the parts of your identity linked to victimhood.
Although black clouds may have gathered, the light will return. Tell your fear, “I’m not running from you today.” Give yourself five minutes to feel all the scary things fear is trying spook you with (illness, aloneness, poverty, loss, failure). Set a timer. When the alarm goes off, that’s it. The fear doesn’t get any more of your energy today; it’s already taken five valuable minutes. Let go of amorphous fears and enjoy something about being alive at this moment. Focus on the colors around you. Witness something beautiful. Fear is like the dog who chases the car. When the car stops, the dog doesn’t know what to do. Fear thrives when you ruminate. Switch mental gears. Reach out to a trusted loved one. Speak your fear aloud. Sometimes speaking the fear to someone who supports you is the first step toward truly letting it go. Take your fears out of the shadows and into the light. Sometimes bad things do happen, and we have no control over them. However, you do get to choose if you face your challenges with courage or run away only to become a victim. Running away from problems never works. Just look at the man on the card. If you can face your challenges, you can finally surrender them. Remember the gesture of blessing on this card. The darkest times are when Spirit will help you, making Itself known.
Ten of Swords Reversed
If the Ten of Swords appears reversed, the sunlight now appears at the top of the card. The clouds are parting, and light is returning once again. This card reminds you that the light will always return, no matter how many dark days you’ve experienced. There is a quality of resignation to this card. When it appears, life will no longer feel like a breathless sprint to avoid difficult inevitabilities. The storm has happened, and now it is time to assess where to go from here. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and stand tall once again. The Ten of Swords reversed symbolizes that you have accepted reality instead of rationalizing it away.
Challenges in life do not present themselves to destroy you, but rather to motivate you to grow beyond your current limitations. Look on challenges from a different perspective, with the wise eyes of Spirit. You will always see the way out of the maze when viewing it from high above.
When the Ten of Swords reversed appears, you’re learning that the source of your anxiety is merely a puzzle to solve. Stop avoiding your growth by keeping busy. The Ten of Swords (upright or reversed) asks you to accept truth so that you can finally be released from feeling metaphorically chased. The light on this card symbolizes that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Raise your shadows into the light, and they will no longer haunt you.
Lowering unnecessary defenses.
The Page of Swords represents unnecessary defensiveness. These defenses guard a wounded area of the heart that needs healing. The Page of Swords guards himself from the feedback others give, which stunts his development. He often pretends that he is fine, and that it’s everyone else who has the issue. If the Page of Swords could lower his unneeded defenses, he would experience a huge breakthrough. His openness would get him past the blockages he keeps experiencing. He would then ascend to the next level.
Do you ever get defensive? (If you rush to say “No!” then this card is for you!) Is it difficult to hear honest critical feedback from others? Is fear of people seeing your vulnerabilities causing you to shut down or detach?
The Page of Swords is often misunderstood and has been described as dishonest. However, this really isn’t a fair assessment. He is not a “liar,” because he has no awareness of his dishonesty. He is a poser. He is unable to assess himself accurately. His ego gets in the way. The Page of Swords is not a bad person. He is in denial about some difficult feelings. He also has more maturing to do.
Maturing?! He doesn’t agree! He is never wrong. He is always the best at what he does. He’s read the most books, won the most games, and has the most achievements. He is cleverer than the other Pages. He says, “They think I need to mature?! They’re crazy! Look at how stupid they are. I’m smarter than them anyway!” Notice the haphazard flock of birds. They are not flying in a unified, cohesive formation. The Page of Swords does not work well with others, and this ensures disharmony in organizations. It does not bode well for cooperation in relationships either.
Look closely at the Page of Swords’ position in the picture. He is guarding himself. The sword is raised to swing at any incomer. It is difficult to hug this Page. You just can’t seem to get close. He is in a totally defensive position. Even the biting winds of his words warn you to keep distant. The cold winds upset the birds above and lash at the trees. All this defensiveness is a mask for hurt. A feeling of vulnerability that others will discover the Page of Swords doesn’t feel 100 percent confident about what he is doing. If he could open himself to taking honest feedback and admit that he doesn’t know everything, he would experience a huge breakthrough.
The Page of Swords represents the part of us that resists having vulnerabilities seen. He shows up in ourselves when we lash out in defense of our pride. He also appears in the form of other individuals in our day-to-day interactions who have no self-awareness. When the Page of Swords comes in the form of another person, he will often trigger your own inner Page-of-Swords reaction. This is why he can be so irritating when he appears in the behaviors of people at work or of family members you are struggling with. Don’t get irritated or triggered when the Page of Swords appears. Thank him! For he is revealing the resistant part of you that needs to be more vulnerable and open in order to improve. Pages can represent the young-at-heart of any gender.
Page of Swords Reversed
If the Page of Swords appears reversed, he reminds you to be aware of how you are communicating with those around you. Bring resolution to conflicts with others through respectful communication. The Page of Swords is a master communicator. He can be witty and mercurial, and yet he also has been known to lash out with a sarcastic tongue. Your words are very powerful, and they can immediately transform the energy of your environment. Don’t engage in speaking that depresses the energy around you. Use your voice in a manner that empowers yourself and others.
Also, watch the “temperature” of your communication today. Your words are like the winds. Are your words kind and warm like a summer breeze? Or are they biting and chilly? You can choose the voice you speak with. There are enough nasty things said, drifting over the airwaves and on the winds. Don’t add to the pollution. Elevate the energy with positive words.
The Page of Swords (upright or reversed) appears when it’s time to find the place within that feels most defensive. This is where a fear of vulnerability is residing. Openly facing this fear and being honest with yourself will make it possible to grow. It is so easy to detach, deny, and forget your vulnerabilities. If you are a smart person like the Page of Swords, you might have rationalized your best areas for growth away. Release the need to prove you are correct today. Don’t insist on running to your own defense. If the feedback you are hearing isn’t valid, then you’ll know it. No need to react in an unseemly manner.
If the Page of Swords reversed represents another person, maintain an appropriate amount of distance. This individual may lash out at others and refuse to take responsibility for their own issues. Don’t take this behavior personally. It’s about them and not you.
Slow down.
The Knight of Swords is an ambitious man. He is always striving to prove that he is a successful adult. No matter how much he achieves, he can’t seem to be happy or rest. The only thing he knows how to do is push ahead. Once he has completed his objective, he doesn’t even know how to absorb it. With his red plume and cloak, he is already rushing ahead to the next task, driving himself mercilessly to win, hoping that someone will acknowledge his value through deeds.
Are you rushing through life? Do you stop to savor successes you’ve already achieved, or do you race ahead toward the next task? Do you feel guilty about resting when there’s so much to do? Do you cram your day with so much activity that you feel drained and depressed?
The Knight of Swords reminds us that this is no way to go through life. In fact, this is downright harmful to your health. In this card’s imagery, the horse represents our physical body. The horse is uneasy, anxious, tight, and trying to outrun his rider. The horse looks back at his master with an expression that says, “Seriously, you want me to run faster?!” The Knight brandishing the sword represents the cruel taskmaster within. That nasty voice that tells us to shut up and keep going, even when we feel we are going to drop.
Western culture glorifies suffering through work. When someone in America says you are a hard worker, that’s almost as good as being one of the troops! “She worked until the day she died,” is another one of our highest honors. But is your tombstone really going to be inscribed with all the hours you heroically put into your job? Is that really an authentic encapsulation of what you amount to? Why don’t Americans allow themselves a siesta like other countries? Is it a sin to have more vacation time than one paltry week a year?
Today, you must take responsibility for your own health and wellness by scheduling relaxation. No one is going to say, “Boy, he needs a break, let’s make him take one!” Working toward an achievement is marvelous, but as with everything, it needs balance. The Oracle at Delphi had a saying that guaranteed a satisfying life: “Nothing too much.” 18 That includes work, activity, play, food, drinking … everything!
Slow down today. Turn off the phone and take a relaxing walk or sit in the yard for twenty minutes. Stop being a slave to clocks, demands, emails, texts, televisions, and social media updates. You aren’t living a full life if you are constantly cracking the whip across your own back. Balance work with rest today, and your body will thank you.
The Knight of Swords can also represent another person who is rushing through life. He is often so fixated on his own goals and destinations that he does not care whom he is running over to succeed. He is not a bad person, but he can be very self-absorbed. Knights can represent youngish adults of any gender. Knights are usually people who are phasing out of one way of life and into another.
Knight of Swords Reversed
If the Knight of Swords appears reversed, he calls your attention to how you are managing increasing external demands in your life. The horse on the card is a symbol for your physical body while the Knight is the taskmaster within. The Knight of Swords reversed usually appears as a warning to slow down and replenish yourself. Stress is a fact of life. However, just because there is stress, that does not mean that you should be cruel to yourself while confronting it. The main critique of the Knight of Swords is that he is so focused on accomplishing his goal that he forgets to be present. When reversed, this can indicate that he is also unknowingly hurting himself in the process. Ask yourself, “How does my body feel while I am getting these tasks done? Have I been getting enough rest, nutrition and water? Is there a way I can be kinder to myself as I get all of this done? Is there a way I can make this stressful task more fun or enjoyable?”
The Knight of Swords reversed can also represent obsessive thinking. If you are noticing that you are exhibiting tunnel vision at this time, you may need to consciously choose to place your thoughts on something else for a while. Restore your personal balance and look around you. Take the time to appreciate something beautiful. Have your lunch in the park today. Consciously let go of your tasks for a moment and give yourself a break. The Knight of Swords reversed asks you to be your own best advocate and to realize that your mind and your body are on the same team. Each part of yourself needs to be kind to the other. Take a deep breath in and exhale all the tension and the stress. Slow down and allow yourself to feel at peace with certain areas of your life still being works in progress. Give yourself a little gift today to show your appreciation to your body and mind and all that they do for you each day. The present is where beauty and magic are happening. Restore yourself now, not later.
When the Knight of Swords reversed represents another person, he can be obsessive and compulsive. He may also inadvertently cause damage to his relationships by being thoughtless or selfish. He doesn’t always think before he speaks. You will often have to be the bigger person with this individual.
Personal authority.
The Queen of Swords symbolizes bringing order to chaos through clarity and boundaries. She is also an archetype that does not apologize for her right to have a place at the table. The Queen of Swords stands up to bullies and societal pressures. She questions the legitimacy of structures and rules that do not make logical sense. She keeps an eagle eye on maintaining her strength, integrity, and personal authority.
Are you uncomfortable with setting up boundaries with others because you might look mean? Is your career path in harmony with your Authentic Self ? Is it difficult for you to stand up to the pressures of what others think you should be or do?
The Queen of Swords gets a lot of bad press. This is because she is not a docile, submissive, or objectified woman. She is too powerful to be minimized by mindless societal roles and conventions. She uses her sword to cut through the hypocrisy of others’ assumptions concerning how she should act and what she should be. She knows that if she bows down to the demands of what others want her to be, she is selling herself short. She places strong boundaries because this is how people and organizations become healthy and grow. She is a master of transforming the energy from victimhood to being victorious (look at her butterfly crown). She commands respect because she respects herself first. The Queen’s cloak is decorated with clouds. She protects herself with her mind. The head of the sylph on her throne represents that this Queen lives in a world of ideas. However, even she will eventually have to contend with the awareness that occurs below her neck. One solitary bird can be seen flying above the Queen. She often prefers to go it alone, and yet the frown on her face shows what prolonged isolation can do to her mood.
Even our modern society still seems to have problems with women exhibiting intellectual leadership. Early on, we are taught that women should be likable and selfless rather than strong, powerful, or ambitious. Women who embody the energy of the Queen of Swords are sometimes ostracized, despised, and ridiculed for no other reason than, “I just think she’s a bitch.” No wonder this Queen isolates herself ! However, some of the best rulers history ever produced were strong women like Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, Queen Elizabeth I of England, and Empress Catherine the Great of Russia.
Whether you are male or female, the Queen of Swords appears to reacquaint you with your personal authority, strength, and power. You may also need to be more self-disciplined or create some much-needed boundaries. Don’t worry about being liked as much as being honest with yourself. Speak up and solve present issues and problems. You are strong and capable.
Do not apologize for your strength, power, or Authentic Self. Own it.
The Queen of Swords can also represent a person who is direct, capable, and extremely intelligent. She may not exude the softer qualities of the other Queens. However, if she is offering you practical counsel, listen to her. Queens can be mature individuals of any gender who wield strong feminine power.
Queen of Swords Reversed
If the Queen of Swords appears reversed, she warns you to not become too isolated from others. There is a remote quality to the Queen of Swords reversed. She would rather do everything by herself. Boundaries and self-respect are important, but equally important is allowing for vulnerability and connection. The Queen of Swords reversed sees herself as a loner. Like the Page of Swords, she keeps herself isolated with a sharp tongue, and her appearance warns against speaking harshly or without tact.
Even the most powerful people do not ascend to great heights all by themselves. The Queen of Swords reversed reminds us that we need other people. Success is much easier when collaboration is happening. Use your voice to speak up for yourself, but with respectfulness. Also use your words to open more to life around you. It’s time to reconnect again.
Be mindful of the dignity of every human being. Speak with your best voice today. Use your powerful words to encourage others, create healthy boundaries, and bring clarity to miscommunications. Avoid using your voice as a weapon to inject toxicity into personal relationships. Show your fearlessness with an open heart.
When the Queen of Swords reversed represents another person, she could be a loner or appear to have a chip on her shoulder. She may also bark orders or seem combative. This is usually a mask for a deep insecurity. Don’t get into a war of words with this individual. Silence is golden.
Challenge your assumptions.
The King of Swords appears to be a stern man. In fact, for many, he is the archetype of the Man (the societal structures that unconsciously direct us to assume our place). The King of Swords asks us to examine how we might be limiting ourselves based on our own assumptions. The King is concerned with hierarchy, balance, and structure. Even the two birds in the distance fly with one clearly being on top.
Are you unconsciously allowing old, fixed views to color your perception of yourself or others? Do you feel like you are limited or can’t get ahead because you’re a woman, a minority, gay, poor, or disabled, or do you just feel like the deck is stacked against you? Do you look at others who are different than you with assumptions before you really get to know them?
All of us are raised in a world of assumptions. As children, we are unconsciously presented with attitudes of racism, sexism, and phobias that color our eventual view of the world. People fear what they don’t understand. People also find it uncomfortable to question a conclusion they arrived at long ago. When the King of Swords appears, he places you in contact with your own assumptions. Every now and then, we need to challenge our assumptions in order to grow. Sometimes the assumptions that need to be released are narratives that you have unconsciously absorbed from external society about how far you can go and how much you can achieve.
The King of Swords is not an evil king. His real interest is preserving the security of “the System.” He argues that established precedent is far better than change. Sometimes the King of Swords symbolizes a difficulty with changing your mind about something that seems settled. Although the King looks fixed, look closer. There are butterflies covering his throne. This represents that systems can be changed, assumptions can be transformed, and old divisions can be healed through understanding. The King of Swords can change his mind! Here’s the biggest secret: the King of Swords is part of us. The part that needs to lose its rigidity.
What part of you feels rigid? Are you dismissing whole groups of people simply because they have a different viewpoint, politics, ethnicity, or other social identifier? What calcified attitudes in the world would you like to see changed? Are you encountering these traits in someone else around you?
In order to change fixed attitudes, you must understand them. The King of Swords represents understanding things more acutely so that you can make reasoned arguments and arrive at conclusions that are evidence-based. The King of Swords is at his best when he applies critical thinking and logical arguments. Sometimes the King of Swords appears in the form of a loved one who challenges your viewpoints and assumptions. They may say the craziest things and may be incorrect with the facts, but they do serve in making you question your own conclusions.
You will never win a full-on battle with the King of Swords. He’s heavily entrenched and armored. He can be a fixed personality, or he may represent an institution or organization that is set in its ways. When the King of Swords appears, win him over with clarity, evidence, and reason. This King can change his mind, but only if it makes logical sense to do so. The King of Swords can represent a rigid authority figure who is slow to change. Kings can be mature people of any gender who are leaders or figures of authority.
King of Swords Reversed
If the King of Swords appears reversed, he is offering you knowledge to overcome something that is keeping you stuck. Many times, we remain entrenched in something that is not working because we lack more information about what is truly possible. The King of Swords reversed may be calling your attention to fixed attitudes or opinions that need questioning. The butterflies on his throne now appear at the base of the card. This signifies that you have begun the process of discarding outdated, self-limiting thinking.
The King of Swords reversed is challenging you to resist reverting to fixed assumptions about yourself or your possibilities without questioning them. Reach out and open yourself to perspectives that may not be aligned with your comfort zone. Walk in another’s shoes for a day. Look at challenging issues with another’s perspective instead of dismissing them outright. Instead of avoiding what you don’t understand, dive in and learn more! Engage in reasoned, dispassionate debate. Arm yourself with knowledge. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” 19 We must all occasionally question our beliefs, especially about other people, in order to attain wisdom. When this card appears reversed, it indicates once-fixed perspectives are shifting. New possibilities are opening. Allow yourself to be flexible enough to invite an evolution to your own perspective.
If the King of Swords reversed represents another person, he may represent someone who questions everything. This may be a bit annoying to be around because everything that is accepted as reality is challenged by him. He may also represent someone who believes conspiracy theories or can even come across as impractical or paranoid. The King of Swords reversed may also appear dogmatic or off-balance.
16. Andrews, Enchantment of the Faerie Realm, 24. Ted Andrews often wrote about the magic that occurs during what he called the “’tween times.” These include dawn, dusk, noon, midnight, equinoxes, and solstices.
17. Hollander, Tarot for Beginners, 191.
18. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 4:507.
19. Plato, The Apology, 133.