How To Use The Suite Of Swords Tarot Cards In A Reading & What Each One Means
What to know about the intellectual suit in a tarot deck.
pexels There are many different kinds of cards in a tarot card deck. One of these different types of cards is the suit of swords.
The suit of swords corresponds to the mind and intellect.
They represent the balance between intellect and power, as well as the balance between good and evil in regards to it.
This suit is associated with air, which represents knowledge, action, and power.
Since it is associated with air, it's also associated with the air signs in astrology, Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra.
This comes through with high intellectual capacity, communication skills, and logic tendencies.
This suit can also bring about ruthlessness and confrontation.
They can be seen as a warning for mental struggle, conflict, and possible violence in a reading, but it can also mean to be more cautious going forward.
There are fourteen cards in the Suit of Swords. If you get one of these cards in a tarot spread, here’s what they mean.
Ace of Swords
This card shows a hand holding a sword perfectly upright, crowned by a gold crown or a laurel wreath.
This represents the mental resilience needed on your path.
When this card is upright in a spread, it represents new ideas, breakthroughs, mental clarity, and success.
When this card is reversed in a spread, it represents inner clarity, rethinking an idea, and clouded judgment.
Two of Swords
The card shows a blindfolded woman holding two swords in front of a river or body of water.
This usually means that you need to use their heads and their hearts in this situation.
When this card is upright, it represents difficult decisions, weighing up options, an impasse, or some sort of avoidance.
When this card is reversed, it means indecision, confusion, information overload, or a stalemate.
Three of Swords
This card shows a heart pierced by three swords in a storm.
This represents the emotional pain that comes from words and actions, but also the silver lining that will come after the storm.
When this card is upright, it means heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, grief, and hurt.
When this card is reversed, it represents negative self-talk, releasing pain, optimism, and forgiveness.
Four of Swords
This card is represented by a knight laid to rest in a tomb.
One sword lies within the tomb, while the other three are above his head and torso.
This represents the one sole focus you have, as well as the other possible distractions or additions that come along with it.
When this card is upright, it means rest, relaxation, meditation, contemplation, and recuperation.
When this card is reversed, it means exhaustion, burn-out, deep contemplation, and stagnation.
Five of Swords
This sword shows a man picking up three swords from the ground.
Over his shoulder, two more swords lie on the floor as two distraught walk away, possibly from losing a fight.
The sky is stormy as if a conflict isn’t fully resolved.
When this card is upright, it represents conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, and winning at all costs.
When this card is reversed, it represents reconciliation, making amends, and past resentment.
Six of Swords
This card shows a woman and child on a boat, rowing towards dry land.
The woman is covered as if mourning and the boat carry six swords as if representing the baggage they still have.
The sea ahead is tranquil, meaning calmness will come soon.
When this card is upright, it represents transition, change, a rite of passage, and releasing baggage.
When this card is reversed, it means personal transition, resistance to change, and unfinished business.
Seven of Swords
This card shows a man sneaking away from a camp carrying five swords.
He has left two swords behind standing upright, but he looks pleased with himself.
When this card is upright, it represents betrayal, deception, getting away with something, and acting strategically.
When this card is reversed, it means imposter syndrome, self-deceit, and keeping secrets.
Eight of Swords
This card shows a bound and blindfolded woman, and she is surrounded by eight swords standing upright.
It is not impossible to escape from; it is quite easy for her to unbind herself, take off her blindfold, and slip between the swords.
The water represents her intuition.
When the card is upright, it represents negative thoughts, self-imposed restrictions, imprisonment, and a victim mentality.
When this card is reversed, it means self-limiting beliefs, inner critic, releasing negative thoughts, and being open to new perspectives.
Nine of Swords
This card shows a woman in her bed looking distraught.
Over her are nine swords, representing the lingering negative thoughts, possibly from a bad dream.
This can represent inner turmoil, anxiety, and depression.
When this card is upright, it represents anxiety, worry, fear, depression, and nightmares.
When this card is reversed, it represents inner turmoil, deep-seated fears, secrets, and releasing worry.
Ten of Swords
This card depicts a man on the floor with ten swords in his back.
He appears dead, and although it is night, the sun rises in the horizon, representing hope even in very dark times.
When this card is upright it represents painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, and a crisis.
When this card is reversed, it represents recovery, regeneration, and resisting an inevitable end.
Page of Swords
This card shows a young man holding a sword on an open, lush green field.
The card feels dynamic, with the wind and clouds, and the green field represents the fertile ideas the young man has.
When this card is upright, it represents new ideas, curiosity, thirst for knowledge, and new ways of communicating.
When this card is reversed, it represents Self-expression, all talk and no action, haphazard action, and a feeling of haste.
Knight of Swords
This card depicts an armor-clad knight charging on a white horse.
They hold a sword in their hand, representing dedication to a mission, and the white horse represents the purity of intellect.
When this card is upright, it means ambitious, action-oriented, driven to succeed, and being fast-thinking.
When this card is reversed, it means restlessness, unfocused energy, impulsiveness, and feeling burn-out.
Queen of Swords
A queen sits on a throne facing the future. Her left-hand beckons the future forwards, and in her right she holds a sword.
Her throne has cherubs, representing her soft nature, and butterflies, representing transformation.
When this card is upright, it represents independence, unbiased judgment, clear boundaries, and direct communication.
When this card is reversed, it represents overly-emotional feelings, easily influenced, bitchy, and cold-heartedness.
King of Swords
The king sits on a throne, ready to face adversity. His right-hand holds the sword, his left outstretched.
This represents his rational mind but also his flexibility. When this card is upright, it represents mental clarity, intellectual power, authority, and truth.
When this card is reversed, it represents quiet power, inner truth, misuse of power, and manipulation.