The Kings of Tarot
The four Kings of the tarot are the heads of their suits. They are the rulers of the tarot but they rule in completely different ways. They represent the culmination of the procession that begins with the Ace. They can also reflect real personalities when they appear in a reading. They are complete, yet imperfect, with all the positive and negative attributes that elevate, but at the same time make us fallible... and human.
In this article, we shall take a close look at the King of Swords, without doubt, the most intimidating of the four Kings.
Description
In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the King of Swords sits upon a carved stone throne. The carvings are butterflies, symbols of air, with which the suit of swords is usually associated. He wears gray and blue robes to represent sky colors. He holds a large, heavy-looking sword in his right hand. The King looks sternly ahead, glaring right out at the viewer.
What Does He Mean In a Reading?
When the King of Swords appears in a reading, you know you are dealing with someone in charge. You can tell by its position if this card represents a real person, or, try describing the King's personality and seeing if the seeker recognizes him. Bear in mind that most people are a mix of two or more court card personalities.
Swords are usually associated with air in most tarot decks, though occasionally they are transposed with wands (action). The qualities of air are connected with mental processes – thought and communication.
When the King turns up in a position that is unconnected with a personality, then it means that the seeker may need to take on some of the aspects of his character.
Characteristics
The King of Swords is a logician. He is a problem-solver, often a lawyer, writer, or mathematician. He comes across as lacking emotion and has a steely resolve and strong will. He will not ever relinquish control, except possibly to one person, who I will come to later. Despite this austere and forbidding exterior, he is fair in his dealings and expects the same in return. Once you understand how he operates, you will find him open to ideas, and he will be quick to praise a job well done – although such praise will be rare. If and when you receive it, you will know that you have made an impression.
The King of Swords will never creep or crawl. If he's ever wrong, he will apologize and make amends. He is dignified, authoritative, and honest. He only ever offers the truth as he sees it, and expects complete honesty from people around him.
Typical career paths are law, banking, communications, accountancy, non-fiction writing, analyst, technician, and software developer. He will progress to the highest level in whatever profession he chooses.
Symbolism
Symbol | Meaning | ㅤ | Correspondences |
Sword | Truth, power, justice | ㅤ | Air |
Butterfly | Creature of air and transformation | ㅤ | Spring |
Clouds | Thought, revelation | ㅤ | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius |
Blue sky | Clarity | ㅤ | Birds, flying insects |
Love
This King is not romantic but he is a gentleman. He seeks marriage as though it were a career choice. He is very careful to put his emotions aside when considering a mate. However, once he is married, he makes an excellent husband for a woman who understands his complex personality. Indeed, if he trusts her, then he will trust her implicitly and relies on her for all his practical needs. He can be brusque and quite rude in his manner – outsiders will wonder what she sees in him and why she stays. There may be whispers of gold-digging. However, no one outside of the marriage is aware of how the relationship works.
His wife, if he has chosen well, is able to let all his tirades go right over her head. Only she knows he has a softer side. He may not love her in the beginning but after a few years, she is his touchstone, his rock. If she dies before he does, he is lost.
She is the only one who can tell him what to do. He trusts her judgment and often seeks it out. She is the woman behind this successful man, and she has the most influence over him. Remember, if you are dealing with him, you are very likely to be dealing with her as well. A formidable couple.
Money
The King of Swords is usually good with money, only those in the more academic callings are not so good – only because they are pursuing their real interests with dogged determination. It would be unusual to find a poor King of Swords. They don't chase riches, it's just that they tend toward high-paying professions. If he is unfortunate enough to lose money, he will generally make it again, sheer willpower will ensure his success.
The Reversed King of Swords
If this card appears reversed, then you are dealing with a nasty character. He will be clever, manipulative, and devious. He may be highly intelligent and ambitious but misdirected. He is completely lacking any feelings and could well be a bully. The upright King's positive traits are taken to extremes. However, he is aware of his own failings and is clever enough to hide them or soften them. Beware the narcissist.
Summary
- The King of Swords represents a logical, authoritative figure who rules through intellect and clear judgment.
- As the culmination of the Swords suit, he embodies mental clarity, truth-seeking, and decisive action.
- His symbolism includes butterflies (transformation), clouds (thought), and the sword itself (truth and power).
- In relationships, he appears unemotional but makes a loyal partner who values trust above all else.
- Professionally, he excels in fields requiring analytical thinking such as law, banking, and technology.
- When reversed, his positive traits transform into manipulation, bullying, and emotional detachment.
- Though intimidating, he is fundamentally fair and expects the same treatment in return.
Note: Originally published by the author at HubPages.
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