Swords Suit
The 14 Swords cards represent wisdom, thinking, and rationality
Ace of Swords
Upright: A single Sword pierces through a crown, with mountains in the background—symbolizing breakthrough and mental clarity. This card represents a moment of sudden insight, new ideas, or the power of truth cutting through confusion. It indicates mental strength, clear communication, and the ability to see through illusions to reach the core of matters.
Reversed: The Sword becomes dull, and the crown falls—symbolizing confused thinking or misuse of mental power. You may be caught in overthinking, or using your intelligence to deceive others or yourself. This position reminds you to return to honest and clear thinking, avoiding the trap of being too clever for your own good.
Two of Swords
Upright: A woman sits with her eyes blindfolded, holding crossed Swords in front of her, with a calm sea in the background—symbolizing rational self-protection and temporary balance. This card shows you are choosing to block out distractions before making an important decision, avoiding impulsive mistakes through inner calm reflection.
Reversed: The blindfold slips off, and the Swords lose balance—symbolizing escapism or escalating conflicts. You may suppress your true thoughts out of fear of conflict, or fall into an either-or mindset when making decisions. Now is the time to open your eyes to face the problem and find a third path.
Three of Swords
Upright: Three Swords pierce a red heart, with a rainstorm in the background symbolizing the pain of a broken heart—representing emotional trauma and betrayal. This card does not deny the reality of pain: the blow of a breakup, the collapse of trust, or the shattering of ideals. However, pain itself is also an opportunity for cleansing and growth.
Reversed: The Swords begin to be pulled out, and the rain eases—symbolizing release through healing. You gradually stand up from the pain; although scars remain, you can now view what happened rationally, understanding that loss is not the end but a starting point for redefining yourself.
Four of Swords
Upright: A man rests his head on a Sword in a church, with three Swords hanging above—symbolizing active rest through reflection. This card advises you to pause amid busyness: not escape, but recover physically and mentally from pressure through solitude, meditation, or rest, to gather energy for the next step.
Reversed: The man wakes up suddenly, and the Sword falls—representing passive escapism or insufficient rest. You may numb yourself with busyness, or be unable to truly relax due to anxiety. At this point, physical and mental exhaustion has issued a warning; forced rest can prevent greater breakdowns.
Five of Swords
Upright: The victor stands holding a Sword, while the defeated hang their heads and leave, with two Swords scattered on the ground—symbolizing the cost of conflict. This card shows you won in competition, but may have won an argument yet lost a relationship, or feel empty amid victory. It reminds you to examine the true meaning of winning.
Reversed: The victor puts down the Sword, and both sides begin to reconcile—symbolizing de-escalating conflict or letting go of obsessions. You realize that continued confrontation will only hurt both sides; choosing to step back is not weakness, but using wisdom to resolve conflicts and seek win-win possibilities.
Six of Swords
Upright: A boatman rows a boat carrying a passenger and six Swords, slowly moving toward a calm shore—symbolizing a healing journey amid hardship. This card means you are going through a transitional period that requires patience: moving on from a breakup, adapting to a new job, or healing trauma. Although progress is slow, the direction is correct.
Reversed: The boat stagnates or drifts off course—symbolizing stagnation or refusal to change. You may stay in pain out of fear of the unknown, or regress repeatedly during healing. Now is the time to trust the necessity of the journey; even slow progress is better than standing still.
Seven of Swords
Upright: A man secretly takes five Swords, leaving two behind—symbolizing strategic gain and avoidance. This card does not encourage deception, but flexible response: finding clever ways when resources are limited, or avoiding head-on confrontation amid conflict to achieve goals with wisdom rather than force.
Reversed: The man is caught stealing, and the Swords scatter—symbolizing exposed deception or excessive calculation. You may suffer consequences due to petty cleverness, or become isolated due to distrusting others. Now is the time to be honest with yourself and others, which can rebuild trust.
Eight of Swords
Upright: A woman is blindfolded, surrounded by eight Swords, yet unaware that the exit is right behind her—symbolizing a predicament of self-imposed limitations. This card reveals you are bound by fear, beliefs, or others' expectations; in reality, freedom is within reach, and you only need to let go of inner shackles to take the first step.
Reversed: The blindfold falls off, and the woman pushes aside the Swords—symbolizing awakening to break free from limitations. You gradually realize that most shackles are self-created, begin to question limiting beliefs, and bravely face what you once feared, regaining freedom of thought and action.
Nine of Swords
Upright: A man lies awake at night, with nine Swords hanging above his bed—symbolizing the pain of anxiety and self-criticism. This card shows you are tormented by negative thoughts: excessive worry about the future, self-blame for past mistakes, or magnification of your flaws, falling into a cycle of rumination.
Reversed: The man begins to wake up, and the light of the Swords fades—symbolizing release from fear or facing the truth. You gradually understand that anxiety stems from imagination rather than reality, and begin to soothe emotions with reason, or solve problems through action rather than staying in worry.
Ten of Swords
Upright: A man lies face down on the ground, with ten Swords piercing his back—symbolizing the end of pain and letting go. This card represents the complete end of a phase: a broken relationship, career failure, or collapsed beliefs. Although the process is painful, only by accepting the end can you embrace renewal.
Reversed: The Swords begin to be pulled out, and the man struggles to get up—symbolizing delayed liberation or resistance to ending. You may cling to the past out of unwillingness, or be unable to let go after the end. Now is the time to acknowledge the irreversibility of reality, allow yourself to let go and start anew.
Page of Swords
Upright: A young person holds a Sword, looking sharply into the distance—symbolizing curious, keen thinking and learning. This card represents the germination of new ideas: learning new knowledge, receiving important news, or beginning to analyze problems rationally. Maintaining an open and questioning attitude will lead to growth.
Reversed: The Sword waves chaotically, and the young person looks frivolous—representing gossip or superficial judgment. You may spread misinformation due to lack of in-depth thinking, or only scratch the surface in learning. Now is the time to cultivate rigorous thinking and responsible expression.
Knight of Swords
Upright: A knight rides a gray horse at full speed, holding a Sword high—symbolizing decisive, rapid action and clear goals. This card shows you can quickly grasp the core of a problem, solving challenges with reason and action. It is suitable for handling urgent matters or promoting plans that require courage.
Reversed: The horse runs out of control, and the Sword accidentally hurts others—symbolizing recklessness due to impatience or hurtful words. You may ignore others' feelings in a rush to achieve results, or use reason as a weapon to attack others in communication. Now is the time to slow down and balance efficiency with empathy.
Queen of Swords
Upright: The Queen sits holding a Sword, with mountains in the background symbolizing calm reason—representing clear boundaries and wise judgment. She can analyze problems objectively while remaining emotionally aware, setting healthy boundaries in relationships, and balancing reason and humanity in decision-making.
Reversed: The Sword is drawn and pointed at others, and the Queen looks cold—symbolizing harsh criticism or excessive judgment. You may isolate yourself emotionally by arming yourself with reason, or criticize yourself and others with high standards. Now is the time to soften your attitude and allow reason and emotion to coexist.
King of Swords
Upright: The King sits upright holding two Swords, with thunderclouds in the background symbolizing authority and wisdom—representing impartial, rational leadership. He can stay calm amid complex situations, making objective decisions while respecting facts and rules, and is the embodiment of reason and responsibility.
Reversed: The King points his Sword at the ground, looking stubborn—symbolizing stubborn bias or abuse of power. You may refuse to listen to different opinions out of arrogance, or suppress others using rules as a weapon. Now is the time to let go of control and reconnect with the humanistic care behind reason.