ORA›The 78 cards›Rider-Waite-Smith›King of Swords
King of Swords, Rider-Waite-Smith
Minor arcana · Swords

King of Swords

The King of Swords carries the mastery of discernment. He decides from the facts, structures and cuts, with the responsibility that this kind of authority supposes.

Rider-Waite-Smith Air Swords See in Tarot de Marseille →

What the card shows

The king sits on a throne adorned with butterflies, his sword raised upright. His gaze goes forward, and the blade held straight stays the dominant line of the frame.

Its light

A structured mind settles a complex file and takes on the consequences: the butterflies of the throne recall that rigour does not rule out change.

Its shadow

The authority of reasoning crushes the rest: you cut off whoever hesitates, and the team applies your decisions without believing in them, under the throne’s butterflies.

Keywords

authoritydiscernmentlogicdecisiongovernance

Notes on the symbolism

RWS. King of Swords. Air carries thought; the patterns on the back of the throne recall it, and the sovereign judges from there, with no stiffness and no excess.

What this card invites you to do

State the criterion your decision rests on before you announce it, then let an objection come and hear it out.

A card does not decide for you.
It shows you where to look.

Draw three cards and get a reading that starts from your question, not from a generic text. The card of the day is free every day.

Ask my question