The Stories of Swords

A suit ofpower, conflict,

courage and force;

it may lead one to victory

but also remorse.

Mind sharp, actions swift,

tongue curt;

a double-edged sword

as likely to help as to hurt.

The Suit of Swords represents the

element ofair,the season ofautumn,

and deals with time in increments

of days.

An analytical suit that rules the mind

and represents the air signs of Libra,

Gemini, and Aquarius.

The themes of this suit are power,

intellect, conflict, courage, change,

action, and force.

The Ace of Swords

From the North, to the South,

the East, and the West

the breath of victory

now bursts from my chest.

The Ace of Swords represents supreme

mental clarity. As the clouds ofobscurity

begin to part, the face of truth and

righteousness is revealed.The sword is

upright,a sign ofvictory, and points to

her lips, indicating that the querent

should be unafraid to speak their truth.

Reversed,this realization can be the

sudden discovery of a dark and

unnerving secret, the exposure ofa

betrayal, or that your eyes have finally

been opened to your own follies. May

indicate that the truth is still unclear

and ambiguous, but perhaps only

because you are hesitant to see it.

Upright: raw power·victory·clarity

ofmind·progress·breakthroughs

thoughtful plans·vision·force

·truth·communication·bravery

Reversed:failure·lack of focus

confusion·cowardicememory loss

·hostilitypoor choicespoor

planning·ambiguity

Two of Swords

If I?fight will I?fail?

Ifl take flight will I?fall?

As I worry about these questions

my monsters loom tall.

The humble mouse stands trapped

between two swords, as two owls stalk

him from above.This is a card of

duality and confinement. The querent

has approached a fork in the road where

neither option seems to bode well for

them. Though swords are the most

logical of all the suits, the Two of

Swords reminds us that difficult choices

often require reason and faith.

In reversed position, logic yields to

confusion and indecision trumps faith.

You may become paralyzed by

overanalyzing your situation.

Upright: pensive·a standstill·hard

choices·blocked or repressed emotion

*avoidance of problems·neglecting

responsibilities·denial·facing one's

fears ·between a rock and a hard place

·divided loyalties

Reversed: indecisivenessconfusion

·mental overload·psychotic breaks

stressworryover cautiousness

·overanalyzing

Three of Swords

My bleeding heart,

my broken wings

through the pain,

my soul still sings.

The bleeding heart,the tortuous love, the

Three of Swords harkens times of

heartbreak, painful separation, and

extreme loss.The innocence and

romance of the swan is brutally

destroyed as the swords pierce her flesh,

in the same way we feel eviscerated

after opening our heart only to be

rejected. There is hope.Despite her

wounds, the swan's face is serene.

The reverse of this card signifies the

swords falling out as one begins to heal

and forgive after times of hardship and

heartbreak.

Upright: heartbreak·rejection·painful

separation·grief·disillusionment

*severe emotional distress

Reversed: overcoming heartbreak

·catharsis·optimism·closure

·repressed feelings· moving on

·forgiveness

Four of Swords

The day may be wiser

than the night,

but in the dark

one finds true sight.

A lunar moth rests upon a skull in a bed

of morning glory,the flower of duality,

mortality and love.The Four of Swords

similarly,is a card about rest and

mediation in preparation for the battles

ahead. After the heartbreak of the Three

of Swordsthe Four of Swords indicates

that you should dedicate this time to

your healing. Because once a new day

finally dawns so too will new challenges

arise and you must be prepared to face

them.

In reverse, this card suggests that rather

than restorative reflection, you are

restless and anxious to take action,

which may cause you to ignore your

need for recovery.

Upright: time for rest·recuperation

passivity·meditation·self-care

contemplation

Reversed:time for action·restlessness

*anxiety*needless worryemotional

or mental burnout·neglecting self-care

Five of Swords

I?play for victory

and I?need no dice

as long as l win

I don't care who?I?slice.

Unlike the quiet respite of the Four of

Swords,the Five of Swords is a card of

intense conflict and tension. Often this

tension can stem from an ideological

difference and is likely to escalate

quickly out of hand. In the heat of battle,

it is easy to lose sight ofone's core

values and beliefs.The Five therefore

serves as a reminder to ask ourselves is

this the hill 1 wish to die upon? 1s this

battle worth wreaking such irreparable

damage on a friend or loved one?

Reversed,the Five of Swords indicates

that you are holding on to past

resentment, perhaps stewing in your real

or perceived defeat.

Upright: conflict·victory at all costs

·betrayal·cut-throatpower hungry

·bullying*overcompensation

Reversed:reconciliation·compromise

past resentmentsgiving uprolling

over·accepting defeat·unwilling to

stand your ground·being taken

advantage of

Six of Swords

As I leave this place,

here a piece of me stays

but l must follow the sun

and bask in its rays.

As the monarch butterfly emerges from

his cocoon, he leaves a piece of himself

behind.Likewise,the Six of the Swords

is about moving on from past troubles.

Just as the butterfly will follow the sun

on his migration, so too will you leave

behind your pain in search of brighter

days. However traumatic your past, it is

still a part of you. As such, you may feel

lost without the weight of the chains

that held you back. Like the Monarch,

you are capable of following the winds

of change to discover your higher self.

In its reversed position, this card

suggests that you feel so weighed down

by your emotional burdens that you

cannot get past them.

Upright: transition·moving on

*overcoming past traumas

·melancholy·regretful

Reversed:stagnation·refusal to move

on ·weighed down by past troubles

·stunted growth·regressingrelying

on a crutch·hindered actualization

Seven of Swords

You think you've the world,

at your own beck and call

but if you weave a web of lies

a single truth may undo them all.

Two love birds gaze dreamily into each

other's eyes, meanwhile a sneaky

serpent makes offwith their precious

eggs.The Seven of Swords suggests a

sticky situation where the result could

easily backfire. You may be the birds

being taken advantage of by someone

close to you or neglecting things which

should be obvious priorities.

Conversely, you could also be the

serpent, who better have an exit strategy

if she hopes to have her cake and eat it

too. Whatever the casebe discerning of

the company you keep.

Upright: deceit·lies·thievery

·betrayal·manipulation·keeping

your cards close to your chestsnake in

the grasspredatory behavior

Reversed: lies exposed·blissful

ignorancecowardice·wrongful

accusation·being taken advantage of

naiveté·showing your hand

* counting your chickens before they

hatch·neglecting the nest

Eight of Swords

Trapped and troubled

by the ties that bind

but the hardest chains to break

are those of the mind.

A single blue jay sits dejected in his

cage. However,this a cage ofhis own

construction.The Eight of Swords is a

card of isolation,but often of a self-

imposed nature. Notice how the bird can

poke his entire head out between the

swords. He could escape his

imprisonment if he so chose. But either

the thought does not occur to him or he

has convinced himself that he is

undeserving of such freedom.The Eight

of Swords therefore asks us to consider

ifwe are truly as trapped as we feel.

In reverse, this card could indicate that

you feel a sudden release; you are finally

able to escape mental imprisonment.

Upright: self-imposed isolation·fear of

changeperpetually questioning

happinessself-pitypessimism

Reverse: an open-mind·release from

mental imprisonment·afresh

perspectiveopen to new opportunities

·breakthroughs·optimism

Nine of Swords

That which in darkness

may appear in disarray

finds order and harmony

in the fresh light of day.

The Nine of Swords represents the deep

psychological anxieties that keep us from

peaceful slumber.Three ravens attempt

to dodge flying swords behind a surreal

nightmare.The first raven reflects the

reality of the situation. Though his

obstacles are stressful and dangerous, he

avoids destruction. The second raven

represents the intense emotional impact

ofour anxieties. Finally,the last raven

depicts how we continue to carry these

psychic burdens as if they were physical

While upright,the Nine ofSwords

indicates spiraling towards hysteria;

when reversed it may suggest you are

beginning to see or respond to the

situation more logically. It may also just

mean you need a good night's sleep.

Upright: nightmares·anxiety

·insomnia·depression·mental stress

spiralingparanoia·hysteria

Reversed:renewed perspective

*overreacting·overcoming anxieties

*realizing it's darkest before the dawn

Ten of Swords

Your true allies will stand by you

in bloody battles to the end.

While others, you may find,

are simply playing pretend.

Three vultures stand above the mangled

corpse of a fox.Though the scene is

tragic, there is an air of peace in its

finality. The battle was indeed brutal,

but the worst is behind you. Like all

Tens, the Ten of Swords represents the

end of a cycle and the start of a new

one. You may have recently suffered a

painful end or an unexpected betrayal

yet just as the death of the fox nourishes

the vultures, so too will your own

suffering nourish your growth. Still, for

the flesh to heal the swords must first be

removed, discarded, and left behind.

Upright:pain·loss·misfortune

·bitter ends·betrayal·overkill

·inevitability·fatalism·desolation

·breakdown·lowest point·emotional

exhaustion·giving up

Reversed: recovery·new growth

*necessary endscalm after the storm

·final rest·nowhere to go but up

Page of Swords

I wander for words

and for knowledge l lust

yet in my haste for the truth

I must learn to distrust.

The Page of Swords is a younger

feminine energy that basks in their own

curiosity and intellect.The Page is likely

a student or apprentice, eager to learn

and share their knowledge with others.

However, while they are undeniably

gifted, the Page is still at the beginning

of their journey, and as such has much

to learn. If the Page appears in a

reading, it is likely that you or someone

close to you is taking on new challenges.

Reversed,this card may indicate

someone who is either too gullible

regurgitating false information, or

refusing to listen to others perspectives.

Upright: a younger feminine energy who

is either a Gemini,Libra, Aquarius.

Curious·intellectual·talkative·alert

·silver tonged·open-minded

·searching for truth

Reversed:all talk,no action·unreliable

narrator·intellectual posturingprone

to exaggerationpretentiousness

·overanalyzing·con man

Knight of Swords

I will have my victory,

this beast will be slain

I care not for its suffering,

its life or its pain.

The Knight of Swords is a strong

masculine presence who is steadfast in

all their pursuits.They rush hell-bent

towards the beast,unafraid,as failure is

not an option. If the Knight of Swords

represents a person you know, they are

likely someone who wields their

intelligence as a weapon and who is not

only ready, but eager for a fight.

Reversed, this card suggests someone

who is overly confrontational or

downright savage. They are passionate

and idealistic, likely to take things too

far.

Upright: a younger more masculine

energy who is either a Gemini,Libra, or

Aquarius.·Opinionated·action-

orientated·intelligent·seizing the

moment·rebellious·ambitious

Reversed: out of control·lack of focus

·overstimulated·overly aggressive

disregard for consequences

·confusing victory for truth·unwilling

to compromise

Queen of Swords

With a tongue sharp as steel

yet a much sharper wit

I fit is lies that you tell

then your throat, I?shall slit.

The Queen of Swords is a mature

feminine energy who has no tolerance

for deceit and no patience for ignorance.

While their intentions are usually pure,

they do not mince words nor spare

feelings.They are likely to examine

problems from every possible angle and

never act before doing so.Though they

can appear hyper-critical and harsh,

their wisdom should never be dismissed.

ln the reverse, the Queen of Swords uses

their power and influence for nefarious

means, are overly controlling and

needlessly critical.

Upright: a more mature,feminine

energy who is a Gemini,Libra, or

Aquarius·forthright·intolerant oflies

or ignorancediscerning·wise

·confident·devil's advocate

Reversed:judgmental·critical

*untrusting*cold hearted·self

righteous·intense·unsympathetic

·impatient

King of Swords

Win my favor and awe

and see your obstacles shift

but if your loyalty falters

my wrath shall be swifl.

The King of Swords is a mature,

masculine energy known for their

intelligence, eloquence, and

righteousness.They are likely to appear

stern and analytical, but their judgement

is always precise.He makes a valuable

ally as well as a devastating foe, so

choose your words wisely.

A reversed King of Swords indicates

someone of authority who is cutthroat

bossy, and unwilling to negotiate or

compromise.

Upright: a more mature, masculine

energy who is a Gemini,Libra, or

Aquarius·lntelligent·calculating

·successful·decisivementor·wise

·firm but fair·high standards·just

but uncompromisingsomeone worth

trying to impressgood judgement

Reversed:cold and calculating·overly

demanding·cannot be pleased·hyper

critical·uncaring·bossy·tyrannical

·uncharitable·cut-throat