Tarot Arcana King of Swords: Power and Dominion

Description: A man sits on a throne, holding a sword in his right hand. Behind him are green trees, and cumulus clouds in the sky.

The main meanings of the card in the upright position:
1.power, responsibility;
2.critical view of things, which as a result will most likely give success;
3.high intellectual and intuitive abilities;
4. the power of subtle reason, ironic audacity;
5. a highly professional approach to work;
6. the temptation to deceive and «lower» everyone around you for the reason that a person can do it;
7. rational analysis;
8. clarity in personal relationships, but the spiritual is likely to be replaced by empty intellectualism;
9. control;
10. aggressiveness, imperiousness;
11. justice;
12. the head works more actively than the heart;
13. loneliness, isolation.

The main meanings of the card in the inverted position:
1. lack of principles;
2. victories in «battles», but likely defeat in the «war»;
3. evil intentions;
4. a lawsuit against you;
5. exploitation;
6. dishonest decision;
7. sarcasm, selfishness;
8.suspiciousness, prejudice;
9.debauchery.

He is also the Pharaoh or the Lord.

He is a man who has earned authority for himself. The sword in his hand is a weapon, not just a symbol. The King of Swords symbolizes all authority: the authority of a father, a boss, a judge, a policeman. He bears the burden of responsibility, and he is fully aware of it.

The sky on this card is covered with rare cumulus clouds, which occur in cold and windy weather. The weather is unfriendly, as is the King of Swords himself: rarely does anyone seek communication with him of their own free will. But this communication cannot be avoided.

In Western literature, he is compared to the cunning Odysseus, who managed to lead the crew of his ship through all the trials — and did not hesitate to resort to violence, deception and other unseemly means for this.

In the upright position, it means a sharp, critical view of things, a habit of not taking anyone at their word, but as a result, most often — success.

In the inverted position — «hypercriticism», unscrupulousness, hence — victories at intermediate stages, but a high probability of defeat in the end. In the most acute cases — death or «hara-kiri», a cruel reprisal against oneself, even in a figurative sense.

(E. Kolesov «Azbuka Tarot»)

DESCRIPTION: The King sits on his throne, looking at us condemningly. In his right hand he has a raised sword. Thunderclouds are gathering in the sky — and some two birds are flying away. Cypresses are visible in the distance. Elements: Air — Air.

EXPLANATION: The King of Swords has obvious power. He is able to command, but at the same time he is cautious and somewhat suspicious of those who appear before him. Before accepting a certain point of view, the king thinks carefully. This card concerns value judgments and legal advice. When you draw it, you are reminded that if your intellectual and intuitive abilities are currently at their peak, you need to continue to rely on their union to continue making sound decisions.

REVERSED MEANING: Evil intentions are indicated. You may be confronted by someone who is malicious or caught up in a costly lawsuit. A judgment has been made against you that does not seem fair.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LESSON: You rely on your own wisdom and are willing to do what needs to be done. If you are entering a new relationship, make sure that your new partner's interests complement your own.

( N. Drewry «Tarot. Step-by-step guide to studying»)

The King of Swords is the masculine manifestation of the element of air. This is the power of a sharp, quick, subtle mind, expressed here both in its creative, versatile and often unpredictable form, and in the form of cunning and ironic audacity. Such a mind is an excellent means of knowledge, understanding, analysis, logical reasoning and abstraction, mathematical and purely practical calculation, solution and comprehensive resolution of any problems. However, where it dominates over all other abilities, its negative sides also appear: extreme intellectualism, coldness of feelings, caustic and cynical criticism, passion for wordplay and «extraordinary ease of thought.»

WORK: Flexibility, reasonableness, sociability and the ability to come to an agreement with anyone. A highly professional, flexible and tactically competent approach to work. Eloquence, charm and the ability to understand hints in communication with colleagues, superiors, partners and clients. However, this can also be a warning against falling into such extremes as cold calculation, the desire to intimidate the interlocutor or talk shit.

CONSCIOUSNESS: Here this card means a period of learning and assimilation. We learn, accumulate information, conduct scientific and methodological work. At this time, we sharpen our minds in order to use them to understand our problems, ourselves and the world around us. The main thing here is to strive for objectivity. We are looking for a certain formula, an idea that underlies everything. Just as in mathematics the correct result is achieved not by enthusiasm or cramming, but only by consistent logical reasoning, so it is not emotion that is required of us, but rational analysis. Often this touches upon the most secret areas of our feelings or faith, which are now subjected to the most careful examination for logical consistency. However, the sharp sword of the intellect requires careful handling. Otherwise, the poison of doubt can easily destroy the most basic values, and instead of the desired clarity, we will receive only a pile of debris of our previous feelings and convictions, remaining empty-handed in front of it.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: This card also brings clarity to personal relationships, but this is often accompanied by alienation. Rational analysis helps to recognize incorrect patterns of behavior and thus achieve healing. And where we feel dependent or are faced with intricate, insoluble problems, the «surgical intervention» of the alienating mind can be, although painful, healing and useful. Where it turns a living human being into an object of anatomical examination, spiritual communication is replaced by empty intellectualism.

Kings in Tarot

The four Kings correspond to the four fixed signs of the Zodiac: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. The Kings can represent both real people in your life and different aspects of your personality. Kings are father figures and usually symbolize mature men, leaders or bosses. Compared to Pages and Knights, Kings represent situations to a lesser extent. When the Kings are interpreted as aspects of a person's personality, they reflect his willpower, initiative, principled actions, and ability to resolve problems. Kings also represent fame, public recognition, honor, awards, and celebrations. Two or more Kings in a spread can sometimes symbolize a meeting of several men.

King of Swords Upright

Keywords and phrases: Truth. Control. Balanced judgment. Correct decisions. Analytical mind. Professionalism. Intelligence. Innovativeness. Ambition. Defending one's own positions. Aggressiveness. Authority. Fast movement. Acute discrimination. Ability to give the right answer. Objectivity. Rationality. Equality. Justice. Arbitration. Law and order. Professionalism. Charm. Cooperation. Confidence. Prudence. Good advice. Logic. Clear thinking. Sharp mind. Analytical skills. Diplomacy. Lofty ideals. Strength of character. Passion. Specialization. The head works more actively than the heart. Not listening to one's own feelings.

Situation and advice:The decision you are expecting will be honest and unbiased. An educated person will give you sound advice on a financial or legal matter. Perhaps your actions are too reasonable and cold-blooded, you should show more warmth towards other people. Now you can be too original. You have a great desire to free yourself from the shackles of conventions that limit your freedom. Perhaps you should think about whether you listen to your feelings enough, whether you are afraid to start new relationships. Some people feel that you do not respect their feelings. The card also describes everything related to the idea of ​​​​the court: power, might, authority, militant reason, law, government positions.

People:People about whom one can say «their own master». People who resist the restrictions imposed on them. A dominant, aggressive person. An outsider, educated, independent, unemotional, analytical, in a leadership position and able to give an impartial assessment and excellent advice. People who do not listen to their own feelings. Those who are wary of entering into close relationships with people they do not know well. People in high positions in government. Military personnel. Politicians. Leaders. Bosses. Lawyers. Doctors. Judges. Arbitrators. Specialists. Civil servants. Professionals. People who can defend your interests. Leaders with high moral principles, but do not pay attention to the feelings and personal problems of others. An educated person who enjoys learning and exploring abstract truths. A person who measures seven times and cuts once. People specializing in social sciences or communications. Those who are able to look at a situation from the outside, not paying attention to emotions. An independent person who takes into account only his own opinion. Your father. The aggressive man you are dating.

King of Swords Reversed

Key words and phrases: Exploitation. Unfair decision. Prejudice. Grandiosity. Sarcasm. Selfishness. Ruthlessness. Inconstancy. Scheming. Inability to draw correct conclusions. Suspicion. Blame. Injustice. Dominant attitude. Dishonesty. Prejudice. Vindictiveness. Over-cautiousness. Cruelty. Harshness. Cynicism. Over-confidence. Manipulative. Tyranny. Lust for power. Legal problems. Intimidation. Sadism. Violence. Aggressiveness.

Situation and advice: You have probably been treated unfairly or have been hurt by someone's words. Perhaps someone is deceiving you, mercilessly intimidating you, plotting against you. Or maybe you yourself are using other people to achieve your own goals, or your sarcastic remarks have offended someone close to you? Perhaps you are a victim of justice and have been given an unfair sentence. If we are talking about a lawsuit, the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome of the litigation is high.

People: Sadists. A ruthless, suspicious, sarcastic, vindictive, cruel man. A provocateur. A person corrupted by power. Overly cautious people. A heartless, soulless, cruel or unfair person prone to betrayal. A cunning, aggressive fanatic.

The meaning and inner meaning of the King of Swords Arcana

The predominant suit of Swords in the layout foretells enemies, struggle and other negative events. This is a very unpleasant and possibly dangerous situation, you are warned that people and/or circumstances are working against you. Be extremely careful.

The King of Swords Tarot represents a lord and ruler or a potentially dangerous situation.

Interpretation in the upright position:

• Judicial, Lawyer, Judge, Advisor, Assessor, Senator, Attorney, Advocate, Prosecutor, Doctor, Physician.
• Lawyer, Jurisprudence.
• Plaintiff, Legal Advisor.

Other meanings of the King of Swords tarot in the upright position:

• power, might, authority, law
• a mature man, imperiousness, self-confidence
• a government position; a person possessing power, authority and intelligence
• a person appointed to make and implement their decisions; perhaps someone with legal authority or political connections, etc.

The King of Swords Tarot in the correct orientation is distinguished by authority, self-confidence and unquestionable professionalism. The card represents a businessman or a servant of the law who will provide the Client with great and reliable assistance in solving a serious life problem. Overly assertive, stubborn to the point of despotism, this person can be cold and aloof when communicating with people, and therefore he is prone to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Reversed Interpretation:

• Malicious, Anger, Debauchery, Treachery, Crime, Cruelty, Ferocity, Inhumanity

Other meanings of the reversed King of Swords Tarot:

• trouble, deceit, cruelty, exploitation, struggle, anger, debauchery, treachery, ferocity
• mistrust, legal complications, cynicism
• bandit, malicious or malicious person, domineering person, distrustful and suspicious, rudeness, willfulness, barbarity
• in fact, the same power, but used for evil and with evil intentions

The appearance of the reversed King of Swords Tarot in the layout warns the Client about an invasion of his life by a bandit who seeks to exploit him, playing on his weak character. If fraudulent tricks and cunning do not work, this person is capable of using force. The client is not recommended to reconcile with him; the best results will be achieved by fighting.

If the Questioner is a man, the King of Swords Tarot can represent an ambitious person who can and will be a dangerous rival either in business or in his personal life.

If the prediction is made for a woman, she should not personally associate herself with this person: at best, he will be useless and inconvenient, at worst — he carries a potential physical threat. The surrounding cards will determine the nature of the danger.

If this card does not represent a specific person, then the situation itself is potentially dangerous. Be prepared for grief, disappointment, even physical danger.

Inner meaning

The King of Swords Tarot is a lord and master, often a rightful authority in the personal or professional life of the Questioner. He is used to giving orders and seeing them obeyed. For the Questioner, his motives are not always clear: sometimes he seems a powerful ally, sometimes a dishonest enemy.

Do not forget, however: no matter what this man says or does, his own interests are above all else, and he will crush anyone who stands in his way. This is a man who passes judgment on both situations and those in his power. However, unlike the symbol of Justice (Justice) of the Major Arcana, the King of Swords Tarot does not hold a balanced scale in his hand. In his eyes, what is right is what is useful to himself.

If the card does not represent a specific person, then this is an indication of an extremely dubious situation; perhaps even a matter of life and death. Try to protect yourself carefully from real and imminent danger.

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