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King of Swords Tarot Card
Belonging to the Suit of Cups of the Minor Arcana, the King of Swords tarot card represents authority, discipline, intelligence, integrity, mental clarity, morality, and reason.
The King of Swords represents the fiery aspect of Air. It is the mind’s application and mastery at its most potent. Swords represent action, and the King of Swords tarot card is all about taking charge and getting things done.
A representation of intellectual strength and authority, he possesses the guts and intelligence necessary to realize all of his goals. This card frequently represents conflict leaders, competitors, and strong decision-makers who weigh all options before taking a course of action. The King of Swords ensures that action taken is executed efficiently and swiftly, without hesitation.
Confident and decisive, The King of Swords knows what he wants. He’s also not afraid to speak his mind, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. If you’ve drawn this card, it means you’re ready to take charge and make things happen. This card encourages giving every decision due thought before taking action. He also serves as a gentle reminder that speculative thinking rarely succeeds. Action must be taken, and for that action to be successful, it must be supported by sound reasoning and thought. It suggests using a methodical approach and, if necessary, a ruthless strategy and scheme.
When this card emerges in a Tarot reading, you are encouraged to take control and make decisions from a position of authority. Speak with great conviction, and maintain your integrity. People will listen to what you have to say as a result. It is up to you to take the initiative by presenting an unbiased point of view and making decisions based on impartial judgment. The King of Swords promotes mental clarity and the ability to discern the truth.
Some questions the King of Swords invites you to ponder…
- When have you chosen your heart over your mind and then come to regret it?
- What in your life requires you to assert yourself?
- How can the truth either harm or heal?
The King of Swords is a powerful figure, often associated with leadership and authority. But what does this card mean in a tarot reading? In this post, we’ll explore the King of Swords’ Upright and Reversed meanings, as well as the King of Swords as a person (or significator), the King of Swords as feelings, and the King of Swords as a yes or no.
Sometimes awareness of a card’s place in the Tarot and your intuition can be all that’s needed to interpret its message, however, understanding the traditional meanings of the Upright/Reversed King of Swords card, as well as its emotional and personal elements, will help equip you with deeper insight and more comprehensive, perceptive readings.
King of Swords Keywords & Correspondences
| Upright: | authority, reason, discipline, intelligence, integrity, mental clarity, morality, seriousness, high standards |
| Reversed: | dictatorial, domineering, suspicious, unreliable, lacking in courage, cowardly, cynical, egotistical, disrespectful, impatient |
| Elemental: | Fire of Air |
| Zodiac Sign: | Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) |
| Number: | 2: diplomacy, detail, loyalty |
| Timing: | Upright: ~14 days / Reversed: ~21 days |
Don’t have time to read? Check out this helpful video for key meanings of the King of Swords Tarot card!
King of Swords Upright Meaning & Advice
King of Swords Upright Meaning: The King of Swords is a strong intellect with remarkable clarity put in action. It is the detection of dishonesty or incorrect reasoning. A ruthless judge, representative, author, diplomat, or scientist. The King of Swords doesn’t tolerate foolishness well but defends the helpless or those in need. It is about moving with clarity and insight while laser-focused on a certain objective. Being untouched by sentimental pleading. Responding best to ideas that are rational or cerebral. Offering wise advice.
KING OF SWORDS UPRIGHT ADVICE
Be logical, objective, and analytical. Defend what you believe to be true, proper, and reasonable. Do not let sentimental appeals influence you. Be aware of what is right and just. A request to relax the law could be made. Pay attention to mental discipline. Offer wise advice, or receive it.
Now is the moment to use discernment if you need to make a big choice. Leave your feelings at the door. Reason is required. Take charge of the circumstance. The King of Swords is the tough-as-nails leader who charges headlong into combat. Utilize his energies. A simple strategy is required. Always act with integrity and the truth. Stay impartial. Detach when needed to maintain objectivity.
King of Swords Reversed Meaning & Advice
King of Swords Reversed Meaning: The King of Swords Reversed is about using strength to gain control or dominate. It shows harshness, strictness, and a lack of empathy for human frailties. You or another may be using reason to harm, cut, or control. Can be a sign of a bully or abuser. This reversal may also indicate an unfair judgment, decision, or grading.
KING OF SWORDS REVERSED ADVICE
If you see the King of Swords reversed in a tarot reading, it is important to ask yourself what kind of king you want to be. Do you want to be a king who uses his power to help others, or do you want to be a king who uses his power to control others? The choice is up to you.
The advice of the reversed King of Swords is to your blade down and walk away. Stop being overly critical of yourself or other people. Stay still. Allow others to make their own judgments and mistakes without passing judgment on them.
Avoid conversation with an individual right now, or disengage deliberately. Or, speak the truth, but omit the unpleasant details.
The reversed King of Swords might also signal corruption or the abuse of authority. In this situation, you might wish to keep an eye on other people’s behavior—or your own.
Seek advice if you’re having trouble withstanding a challenge or feel inclined to act in a way that is inconsistent with your moral principles. When we are unable to accomplish it on our own, there are instances when we need someone else to guide us in the proper route.
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King of Swords as a Person
As a person, the King of Swords is calm and stoic with a mind of a steel trap.
When it comes to making decisions, the King of Swords isn’t afraid to speak their mind. They know that sometimes the best decision is the unpopular one and that you can’t please everyone all the time.
So if you’re looking for someone who will tell you the truth, even when it’s not what you want to hear, the King of Swords is the one for you! Their minds are logical and analytical by default, and they are pros at weighing the pros and cons of nearly any situation.
People represented by this card are extremely intelligent, disciplined, and mature. Though they are often successful and may be in positions of power, they remain humble and honest.
The King of Swords is also a great teacher. Unafraid to share their knowledge with others, they encourage critical thinking and know that the more people who know how to make fair and just decisions, the better off the world will be. The King of Swords individual can help you learn more about yourself and the world around you.
King of Swords (Reversed) as a Person
One of the critical things to remember about the King of Swords reversed is that he is still a king.
This means that he has all the power and authority that comes with that title, the only difference is that he is using his power in a negative way.
So when the King of Swords Reversed represents a person, this suggests someone who might be abusing their authority or using their intelligence to manipulate others.
You won’t be able to see through the emptiness of their pretentious demeanor unless you catch them off guard. They may behave as though they are the brightest person on the planet and intellectually superior to everyone else.
In their mind, they are always right. Their inclination to dominate the conversation masks deep-seated fears and uncertainty, and constant attacks and attempts to cast doubt on the validity of others serve only to boost their ego.
Wielding their words like weapons, they won’t hesitate to verbally tear someone down if someone gets on their bad side. Such a person might lose their composure over trivial matters or when someone makes a remark that implies they may not be as sharp as they portray themselves to be.
Additionally, the King of Swords Reversed may represent a person who occasionally may have a propensity for duplicity or manipulation. This individual could be aloof and difficult to approach, which makes it challenging to have a sincere and honest conversation with them.
A person who represents this tarot card will need to make some adjustments if they want their life to improve, as the King of Swords’ reversed position frequently denotes the emergence of some form of obstacle or issue. They are urged to take control of their lives and begin acting if they want things to go in a good direction.
King of Swords as Feelings
As a feeling, the King of Swords could be described as sharply intuitive. It’s like when you know something, but you can’t explain how or why you know it. It’s a feeling of certainty, of knowing what’s true without a doubt.
The King of Swords is consciously or unknowingly emotionally disconnected in order to have independence and clarity. It might represent either you or another wise, experienced person in your life. This king indicates a separation from emotions that enables you to have an unbiased perspective on the world. Although you are capable of feeling, the card suggests that you prefer to use reason. It’s not that you ignore feelings; rather, you recognize them for what they are and allow them to come and go while concentrating on logic and practical concepts.
The presence of this card shows that the seeker is aware that letting one’s emotions run wild can skew perception and affect one’s reasoning. Though not the most emotionally expressive, the King of Swords is compassionate and understands how important it is to love and care for people. The King of Swords can also indicate that you are feeling selective about who you let close to you due to past heartbreak. You prefer reason above sentiment due to this fact. It could protect you against disappointment, but you might be depriving yourself of the genuine, profound emotions that lead to happiness.
In the end, the King of Swords might be perceived as being aloof and uncaring, but this is only because they have internally detached themselves from erratic emotions that might otherwise influence their judgment.
THE KING OF SWORDS AS FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE
When the King of Swords is upright, it symbolizes feelings of self-protection and caution.
As for how someone feels for you, the King of Swords can sometimes suggest someone is choosing not to disclose their feelings to you for some reason; they could be keeping an emotional distance. It’s likely that they dislike being out of control since they consider themselves to be tactical and organized individuals. The person in question is probably attracted to you but is trying to keep their genuine sentiments from you out of fear of being harmed.
Before they ultimately give in and confess their feelings for you, it could take some time. The King of Swords frequently comes up for a person who has had some unfavorable love-related encounters in the past. They may have suffered severe emotional or psychological trauma from someone, which has prompted them to remain on guard and refuse to allow anyone close to them in order to not be harmed again. When the King of Swords eventually relaxes and lets their guard down, you will see that they are actually a very romantic person who is incredibly devoted to and respectful of their relationship. This person will feel fiercely guarded over you.
As an alternative, the King of Swords can express neutrality, respect, or careful caution in personal feelings towards someone.
King of Swords (Reversed) as Feelings
When describing your emotions, a reversed King of Swords is not a very good card to receive.
Reversed, the King of Swords represents either an utter disdain for feelings or allowing sadness and resentment to cloud your judgment. This card challenges you to calm your racing thoughts and pay attention to your heart. When reversed, the Air King can indicate that someone is thinking too much and not feeling enough.
Often the King of Swords reversed symbolizes a lack of emotional intelligence. This is because the king is associated with the element of air, which is associated with the mind. In this setting, the King of Swords may assume the characteristics of a brutal oppressor who doesn’t give a damn about others. Because the seeker is solely concerned with themselves and believes they are too important to be affected by other people’s emotions, they may have shut the door to their heart and make decisions based on cold rationality and apathy.
King of Swords: Yes or No
The King of Swords represents logic and reason. This is the kind of knowing that comes from careful analysis and thinking things through. It’s a more slow and more deliberate form of knowing, but it can be just as sure and certain as the intuitive form.
In general, the King of Swords in reversed position answers your inquiry with a “no.” Sometimes, however, it is best understood as neither a full yes nor a full no, and more of a neutral response. When the King of Swords is reversed, it can signify that you are proceeding in the wrong way and would be better suited to alter your approach. You are urged to adhere to your principles. If you must make a choice, follow logic without considering emotional sentiments.
The King of Swords indicates Yes when it is upright. Reversed, it most likely indicates No. Even though the possibility of reasonable doubt should always be taken into account, this card is all about swift, straightforward, and practical fixes. It is safe to assume that the answer is an affirmative “yes” while it is upright and an unfavorable “no” when it is reversed.
New to the Tarot? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Learning & Reading Tarot!
DISCLAIMER:
Sage & Moon is a participant in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through these links. Any product we choose is based on personal recommendations that we love and trust you will too. By using these links you are directly supporting us to keep writing + creating. Thank you!
