King of Swords Tarot Card

Card Name: King of Swords, King of Blades, Lord of Air

Category: Minor Arcana, Suit of Swords

Position: 14

Keywords: Leadership, Confidence

Active element: Air 💨 (suit) & Fire 🔥 (rank)

The King of Swords is a very controversial card in the Tarot deck. On the one hand, it denotes a manifestation of willpower, vitality. This is an iron grip, the ability to keep everything under control. The hero of the Arcana influences the minds of his subjects, he knows how to lead. But the same leader can become a real barbarian on the throne. In the opposite sense, the wise Lord becomes Caligula. Now cruelty and the desire to have unlimited power rule the ball. The inverted King of Swords personifies the dark manifestations of the essence of man, his animal nature. From love to hate is just one step. In this case, there is only one solution from power to despotism.

Symbolism and Key Ideas of the King of Swords

In the classic Rider-Waite Tarot, the King of Swords card shows a man seated on a gray throne. The throne is almost the same as that of the heroine of the Queen of Blades – the same decorations in the form of butterflies. However, there are no curls and smooth lines on this throne. On the back there is a bas-relief – the figures of a man and a woman. The Lord is dressed in a blue mantle and a scarlet cape. The head is also covered with a red hood. The golden crown is decorated with an image of an angel with wings. The left hand rests on the knee, the right hand holds the sword point up. The throne itself is located on a mountainous area. Behind you can see the outlines of coniferous trees. The sky is blue, with several large clouds. Two birds are flying in the air.

The hero of the Arcana King of Swords looks directly at the viewer. If you place the Queen of Air card next to it, then it turns out that the heroine is turned away from her partner, sitting with her back to him. Oddly enough, a man is more partner-oriented than his lady. A pair of birds, the outlines of people on the back of the throne – all this indicates an alliance, the ability to communicate and act together. The Lord of Air seems to be sitting on the very peak of the mountain. It is a symbol of impregnability, distance. The sword shows a sharp mind, curiosity and intellectual superiority. The angel on the crown represents protection, and the butterflies represent the ephemeral nature of thoughts, isolation from reality. Most of the hero’s body is closed, which indicates isolation, unwillingness to open up.

Meaning of the Upright King of Swords Card

The patronage of an imperious man in years – father, grandfather, husband.
Meeting with a politician, a doctor, a judge or a policeman and a lawyer.
Difficult situations that require the manifestation of restraint, calmness.
Obstacles on the way that will temper the character in the future tense.

In the upright position, the King of Swords symbolizes a specific person in years, or the essence of the situation, the case. The card denotes something serious that requires the attention of the questioner. An interesting detail on the Arcana is the absence of a belt on the dress. This indicates unscrupulousness and permissiveness. Therefore, the King of Blades often falls under difficult circumstances. Most often they are associated with the court, or medicine. The hero of the card personifies impartiality, coupled with great strength and power. By suit, the Arcana belongs to the element Air, but in rank – to Fire. This is a hot dry energy, constantly holding in suspense.

The King of Swords characterizes the stage of life when it is necessary to show perseverance and perseverance. Behavior should be diplomatic but confident. The card can show some person who will greatly influence the fate of the fortuneteller. The Arcana also speaks of going to court or a medical facility. There are also political debates, appeals to higher authorities for help. In any case, the appearance of the Lord of Swords will not go unnoticed. The card always shows difficult circumstances, which then lead to the learning of a lesson. After such situations, the questioning person only becomes stronger. All obstacles build character.

Love and Relationships (Upright)

A partner you can always rely on, loyalty.
A very long relationship that survived not a single problem.
Acquaintance with a man older in age or status.
For guys, this is not the time to make a serious connection.

In a love spread, the King of Swords denotes a reliable partner. Such a man is very restrained in behavior, not too generous with emotions. But he is true to his own choice, honest and decent. For these people, stability comes first. The partner is perceived as a kind of fighting friend. The beloved must feel that he is understood and obeyed. He is the undisputed leader in relationships. As a significator of the situation, the Arcana also symbolizes a calm period in personal life, when everything is clear and predetermined.

For single girls, the appearance of the King of Swords card predicts a meeting with some powerful man. His methods of conquest may surprise – he will not beat around the bush for a long time. Rather, a potential lover will directly state his intentions. If the guy is guessing, then the card shows the questioner himself. In this case, the Arcana speaks of the wrong time to establish a personal life. Now the querent is better to focus on solving pressing issues.

Career and Finance (Upright)

Work as a police officer, medical officer or politician.
The need to exercise diplomacy in dealing with colleagues.
Focus on respect and development, growth, not money itself.
Implementation of certain ideas and plans regarding finances, income.

The King of Swords shows activities related to the police, court, jurisprudence. It is also medical practice, teaching, philosophy. The querent may work in some kind of rigid structure that obeys established rules. The appearance of this court card in the Tarot spread indicates the presence of a respected high position. As a characteristic of the situation, the King of Swords indicates the need to appear in one’s place, in the team. The querent will have a stage of negotiations, which will lead to the conquest of new heights.

In terms of finances, the King of Swords does not symbolize an interest in money directly. Rather, the questioner works for the sake of a higher idea, some end result. For a fortuneteller, status and respect in the eyes of others are important. If the questioning person works in the field of science or teaching, then often his salary is not so high. However, the last card of the suit of Blades still speaks of satisfaction with the current state of affairs. There is enough money for things that are really important for a fortuneteller.

Health and Spirit (Upright)

Rapid reaction of the body to the appearance of viruses, microbes.
Hardened body, thinness, tall, also a strong skeleton.
The habit of hiding true feelings or keeping a distance.
Detachment, while self-confidence, their qualities.

In the context of health, the King of Swords symbolizes the movement of oxygen and white blood cells through the bloodstream. In the upright position, the card shows excellent health, a well-developed strong body. The person is not prone to frequent colds or infections. The body copes with viruses in a very short time. The card also speaks of a serious attitude to one’s own health. The querent can adhere to a certain diet, regularly walk in the fresh air. Also, the Arcana shows a mature age and at the same time the absence of excess weight.

Mental state of the King of Swords characterizes as satisfactory. The person is very calm, restrained in gestures and facial expressions. It is often difficult to guess from his behavior what is happening in the soul right now. The questioner perfectly masks both positive and negative emotions. But behind this mask of indifference lies a vigilant observer who controls everything and everyone. Even if a person pretends not to notice anything, this means that it is so beneficial for her. Such a person can make thoughtful decisions and then strictly follow them to the very end.

Situations and Questions (Upright)

The absence of any fears and doubts, steadfastness.
Confidence in your own choice and striving forward.
Strength of mind, the ability to present one’s own ideas and desires.
Authority, while focusing on the opinions of others.

If we consider the Arcana from the position of spirituality, then the meaning of the King of Swords takes on a positive one. A person is confident in himself, so he is not afraid to step on any path. Even in terms of development, personal growth, he perceives the goal in a complex way. To achieve it, a person is ready to limit himself somewhere, to refuse something. Often, feelings and experiences become deductible. But there is a plus here – if there is no joy, then there is no grief. Positively, the Arcana speaks of learning new information, the desire to move forward.

The King of Swords asks questions: "Where do I want to go?" and “How to choose the right path?”. The energy of the card is not as cold as that of the Lady of Blades. Rather, the vibrations are like warm, dry air. A stream of wind blows over a tired traveler, but in the meantime, it warms the soul a little. He gives hope for future accomplishments. If the querent is able to learn life lessons now, then in the future he will become a real protector of the weak. Such a leader will certainly have a retinue of loyal subjects.

Meaning of the Reversed King of Swords Tarot

Be guided by the principle of force, out of the context of the situation.
Rudeness or aggressive behavior, cruel heart, ignorance.
Hatred of showing kindness, weakness, or helping others.
Orientation to the conquest of the desired by any means and method.

If the King of Swords is rolled upside down, then the card changes its meaning. This is leadership in the red – that is, tyranny, despotism. The hero of the Arcana turns from a wise politician into a cruel conqueror. Ideas about democracy, honor and valor are alien to him. This King is guided only by his selfish desires, ideas. The appearance of this reversed card marks the presence of a serious enemy, ready to lynch the questioner. A certain man plots against a fortuneteller. But also the King of Swords in the opposite form falls on the issues of life and death, difficult events. These are barriers that cannot be overcome.

The reversed King of Swords loses all positive manifestations. Now it means brute force, the inability to hear the voice of reason. The querent is acting unwisely and knows it himself. But selfishness does not allow admitting a mistake. Therefore, the questioner continues to bend his line, forgetting about goodness and light. Sometimes the reversed Arcana falls on a situation where a person destroys himself, engages in self-blame. Everything bad that he did to others begins to come back in the form of a boomerang. In general, the position of the card shows distrust of oneself and the world, defense and attack.

Love and Relationships (Reversed)

A tyrant partner who wants to protect a soul mate from society.
Abnormal relationships, attempts to humiliate or punish.
The appearance of a former lover, his intrigues or scandals.
Unwillingness to show weakness, feelings or trust in people.

In terms of love, the reversed King of Swords shows an abusive relationship. The partner goes too far, treats his beloved as a slave. A man may use intimidation as a method of punishment. Next to such a husband or boyfriend, a woman will always be depressed, unhappy. Any manifestation of will, one’s own opinion will be strictly suppressed. In such a pair there is no place for true love, mutual trust, tenderness. Also, the position of the card symbolizes strong jealousy, an attempt to completely protect the partner from communication with others.

For lonely girls, the King of Swords inverted promises the appearance of a former lover. At the same time, a man will try not so much to return love as to avenge past grievances. He will try to catch the woman on the hook of his charm again. But this is just a bait, followed by inevitable drama. For guys, the reversed Arcana predicts a difficult period. In the near future, the opposite sex will not pay attention to the personality of the questioner. Perhaps the person is too closed, goes into his own thoughts.

Career and Finance (Reversed)

"Dirty" money, criminal fraud, black income.
Negligence, failure to perform duties in the proper form.
Large debts, huge monetary losses, unemployment.
Undermined authority, dismissal under any article.

In the context of the work, the King of Swords in the opposite position shows dishonest labor. These are dishonest politicians, doctors who do not perform their duties. A person can sincerely hate his position and the field of activity in general. This fact will definitely affect communication with clients and colleagues. Also, sometimes bandits, criminals pass by the position of the Arcana. Money is obtained sometimes by cruel methods. In terms of characterizing the situation, the King of Swords reversed shows a working conflict with an authoritative person.

The financial situation is very bad. Perhaps the querent owes a large sum to dangerous people. The King of Swords in the opposite sense symbolizes unjustified hopes, outright lies. The questioner made a promise and simply did not cope with the situation. In the near future, he will face huge losses and undermined confidence in his own person. The position of the card can signal a complete collapse, bankruptcy.

Health and Spirit (Reversed)

Irreversible changes in the body and serious illnesses.
A disease that affects the lungs or liver; infection.
Immoral behavior and unwillingness to obey the law.
Protest or self-destruction through addictions.

In terms of health, the reversed King of Swords symbolizes serious conditions or diseases. It’s cancer, immune problems. Also, the position of the Arcana can talk about alcohol addiction, liver problems, tuberculosis. Often, on the reversed card, the ailments of the jailers pass – hepatitis, cirrhosis. Due to an unhealthy lifestyle, the face acquires a bluish tint, a significant underweight may appear. Sometimes the reversed card shows drug addiction and its consequences.

The mental state is extremely unfavorable. The King of Swords in the opposite sense indicates the presence of psychotrauma. The personality is degrading and does not want to change anything. The person is accustomed to lead an immoral way of life. Perhaps he was brought up in a similar environment. Now everything bad has become a part of character forever. A person does not see problems in his behavior and perception of the world. Often the inverted card falls on hardened criminals, misanthropes.

Situations and Questions (Reversed)

A very painful experience that affected the worldview.
Broken spirit, loss of direction and meaning to live on.
Anger at the whole world, hatred for everything on the planet.
Satanism and devil worship, dark death cults.

In the context of spirituality, the reversed King of Swords falls on complex personalities. These are people who have experienced and seen a lot. However, they failed to correctly sublimate their own experience. As a result, the seeker is disappointed in life. The accumulated negativity is looking for a way out, so a person begins to do things that are not quite right. According to the position of the card, various dark cults and religions pass – Satanism, Voodoo, vampirism. A person accepts evil within himself and becomes like those who once offended him.

The reversed King of Swords asks questions: "What attracts me to Darkness?" and "How to use evil for good?". Even negative energy can be "melted" into a huge potential. You just need to remove the labels. The same anger becomes an excellent motivation for development. Anger and tears can be directed in a peaceful direction – for example, splash out with the help of creativity. Thus, even the most evil person in this world has a chance to change. It doesn’t matter which incarnation it will be in, but change is inevitable. Sooner or later, the anger will pass, the meaning will disappear to continue to accumulate negativity.

King of Swords as a Significator of a Person

The King of Swords in upright form can mean a wise man in years. The card also shows smart people, philosophers. Such individuals are able to correctly convey information to the interlocutor. They are interesting to listen to. The Arcana has an astrological correspondence with the zodiac sign Aquarius. George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev – all these people were excellent speakers and diplomats. Such individuals easily gain the trust of others, are not afraid to take responsibility.

However, when reversed, the King of Swords shows despots and tyrants. Carried away by a certain idea, such people can sweep away everything in their path. A striking example is Hitler or Benito Mussolini. These are tormentors, reveling in their own power. They firmly believed in perverted ideas about the world and their uniqueness. At the same time, those around him went to this call, obeyed and idolized nonhumans. The reversed Arcana shows strength in the red, a negative manifestation of an inflated ego.

King of Swords: Combination with other Tarot Cards

Advice and Warning of the King of Swords Card

If the card lay upright, then the King of Swords advises to take power into your own hands. You need to control everything and try to pay attention to your own person. People around are waiting for instructions from the querent, and therefore you need to use the moment. Now the influence of the questioner on the situation is greater than ever. It is worth acting quickly and very actively. In terms of warning, the card says that you should always be at the moment. Only attention to details and conversations will help the querent not to lose the thread of control. If you give up slack, show excessive understanding, then people can take advantage of the hitch and overthrow the fortuneteller from the throne.

The reversed King of Swords advises to be very strict. No need to hold back and soften the corners. Perhaps only in this way the message of the questioner will reach those around him. It is worth thinking about how you can teach enemies a lesson. But as a warning, the inverted lasso shows the danger of aggressive behavior. If a fortuneteller acts unreasonably, allows himself too much in his statements, then things are bad. The closest people may turn away. Enemies will only rejoice at the miss of the querent. Everything that is now done will then return a hundredfold to the questioner himself.

King of Swords: Daily Card Meaning

The Tarot King of Swords in the spread for the card of day gives the meaning of strength and power. Today, the querent will feel the desire to achieve something, to follow the dream. In this case, the plan will be well-developed for further implementation. Also, the card can show an appeal to higher authorities, to a judge or a doctor. It is possible to meet with an elderly relative, receive practical advice from him. On this day, smart thoughts, brilliant ideas will visit. The answer to a pressing question may arise by itself, as if out of nowhere. A day is suitable for some calculations, analytics of the available information.

But if the King of Swords is reversed, then the energy of the day changes. Today there will be unreasonable irritation for any reason. It will be difficult to find a common language with others, to agree even on trifling things. The querent will be dissatisfied with something. This wave of aggression and anger will not give you the opportunity to calm down. Against the general background of discord, conflicts with loved ones and loved ones may appear. These days, it is better not to try to solve serious problems. It is better to give yourself time to rest, unload the nervous system. Sometimes the Arcana in the opposite form will promise a loss of protection and respect from an important person. Today it will not be possible to correct the situation, it is better to simply accept what is happening.

Suit of Swords

King of Swords