King of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

King of Swords Keywords

UPRIGHT: authority | truth | mental clarity | intellectual power

REVERSED: inner truth | misuses of power | manipulation

King of Swords Description

The King of Swords is depicted seated on his throne, exuding readiness and authority, with his sword raised in his right hand, indicating his logical and conscious approach to decision-making, yet angled towards the left, suggesting an openness to intuitive insight. This posture embodies his balance between intellectual rigor and intuitive understanding, highlighting his capability for decisive yet adaptable leadership. His attire, consisting of a blue tunic and a purple cape, signifies a quest for spiritual wisdom and a blend of intellectual depth with empathy.

The throne's adornments, including butterflies, crescent moons, and an angel, symbolize transformation, the cyclical nature of life, and divine counsel, respectively. In contrast to the dynamic scenes in earlier Swords cards, the calm trees and settled clouds in the background of this card suggest a state of peace and mental clarity, representing the King's ability to provide stable and clear-headed governance amidst the complexities of life.

NOTE: The tarot card meaning description is based on the Rider-Waite deck and Decoding The Cards

LOVE THIS DECK?
Buy The Modern Hue Tarot Deck Now!

Wishing For A Deeper Tarot Connection?

Decoding The Cards goes further than keywords and traditional interprations by providing exercises for each card in the tarot.

The exercises this book are designed to challenge you to delve deeper into the meanings of each card, as well as consider your own personal experiences in relation to the traditional meanings.

Shop Learn Tarot

King of Swords Upright

The King of Swords embodies a leader who uses his sharp mind to develop effective solutions. He can take an impartial point of view, recognize the truth of any given situation, and deliver fair and balanced judgments. His convictions are strong, and he holds the truth above all else, demanding respect from those around him.

The King of Swords advises you to remain emotionally detached from the situation and think it through with clarity and focus. This will allow you to develop clear-cut solutions or courses of action. He also encourages you to be direct in your communications, ensuring that the message gets across precisely.

When the King of Swords appears in a reading, it indicates that you could benefit from the advice of an expert — someone with vast knowledge in their field who can approach your situation objectively.

King of Swords Reversed

The King of Swords reversed indicates inner truth and a firm belief in self. He is unshakable and follows his course no matter what arises.

This reversed card is often associated with someone very intelligent but also quite boastful about it — he can be overly critical of others, confident that he can do it better.

Sometimes the reversed King of Swords can appear when power is misused. Perhaps the power you have has gone to your head, or you’re manipulating others to fulfill your own needs.

The reversed King of Swords can also indicate scattered thoughts or uncertainty about your options. You may be unable to make decisions about what to do next.

Got questions? Or can't find what you’re looking for?

Contact Us