The King of Swords

UPRIGHT KEY

Analytical

REVERSE KEY

Judgemental

TREE OF LIFE ENGLISH

Chokmah in Yetzirah

TREE OF LIFE HEBREW

הריצי - המכח

ASTRAL SIGNATURE

2/3rds Gemini, 1/3rd Taurus / Fiery aspect of Air

KEYWORDS

Active, Skill, Fierce, Courage, Extravert, Mental, Thoughtful yet Unreflective, Observative

MICRO DESCRIPTION

The King of Swords rushes down from on high riding on Pegasus, sword drawn and ready to strike. He unites the fiery and airy elements with wind and storm, and applies courageous action and focused word to his spirited thoughts. Lacking Water and Earth however, he can be quite unreflective in his keen observations, and when expressing an opinion he can be brutal.

MICRO READING

When you draw The King of Swords, it speaks to authority and truth as principal meanings. This card highlights the portion of your personality that has a tenacity for quickly engaging with whatever thoughts occupy your mind while maintaining spiritual focus and enlightened logic. Here you bear no scales, unlike the Balance card, but you do attempt to serve justice by fairly observing all sides of the equation.

EXPANDED DESCRIPTION

The King of Swords is all about the intellect, mental power, courage, authority, and truth. This card calls for the seeking of truth through intellect and rational thinking and also denotes a quick mental action or logical approach to any given scenario. It is a time to push emotions to the side so you can see as clearly and objectively as possible. It calls you to be "on your game" mentally so that you can take action effectively and decisively at any moment. 

The figure this card represents is someone with the energy like that of a lawyer, commander or some sort of judge; known for their stern ability to seek out the facts and make logical decisions as such. They are not preoccupied with the waters of emotion or even the tangibility of the earth, but rather the swift mental pathways that the swords cut through. 

This card may suggest it's time to take on a more stern role in your life to properly complete your objective. Have you been allowing people to walk over you? Do you feel like you've lost your voice or aren't fully being heard? The swift energy of the King of Swords reminds you to step into your power. It's a time to use logic rather than feeling, and while both are important, the rationale is what is needed at the moment. 

If you are in need of some advice, this card is a perfect indication that you should seek it out. It's important to ask for help sometimes, and this card stresses the importance of receiving some solid logical support from someone who is more experienced. This can look like anything from legal advice, to the analytical support of a friend, but generally speaks towards receiving more logical and rational support, rather than emotional support. 

The King of Swords is just in his ways, or at least he believes himself to be. He operates by following the rules and his logical moral compass and expects others to operate by the same set of orders and structures. If he is proven to be wrong, then he easily adapts and changes his flow to match the new truth revealed. In this, he can take on the role of a father figure or someone in a position of authority. 

Judgment is key with this card, though not the same judgment as Major Arcana card Balance, nor The Aeon, but rather; a logical sense of fairness by observing all sides of an equation. In this, The King of Swords reminds us of the importance of taking in all of the information possible before casting judgments, but once we're sure - not to second guess ourselves. This king is fair and responsible, understanding the need to act as a mentor when those around him need help.

REVERSED DESCRIPTION

In his reversed state, The King of Swords embodies the energy of believing he has all of the information, and making rash decisions and in essence - judging others, whether it's fair or not. In this, there are so many thoughts running through his mind that they overwhelm him. With his scattered thoughts, he represents the aspects of us which becomes subject to ambiguity; inexactness, the opposite of what this character is normally all about. He is then subject to making decisions with apathy, or while being uncertain - and this can lead to persecuting communication that is degrading towards others, if not completely hypocritical to boot. At his worst, he can be tremendously cruel, or at the very least cause himself a great deal of confusion by making mental connections that bear no influence on anything which is happening in the present moment. 

To turn this reversed card upright, understand that the King of Swords prides himself in communication, but if we don't have much to say, it would be best to allow these thoughts to circulate in the mind first before we express our thoughts as words. Our words are a sacred gift which can be used for great good, or great evil and depends entirely on the intention or consciousness of the one wielding them. Therefore, if we are able to allow our minds to comprehend fully what is happening before speaking, and making sure that we fully know what is going on; we can step into a much greater version of ourselves, and a much better leader for those around us. 

"Speak only if it improves upon the silence." - Mahatma Gandhi

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