Queen of Swords Tarot Card Meaning & Interpretations

Court cards, like the Queen of Swords, are unnumbered which makes using numerology to unlock their basic symbology a challenging exercise. On the surface we have the female ruler of the elemental domain of Air but not much else to go on. We can, however, link Tarot's Queens to their supreme ruler and card number 3 of the Major Arcana, The Empress, which would give any Queen a numerological attribute of 3 by proxy. Cards in the suit of Swords tend towards the negative aspects of their element and numerology. The same element and numerology is found in the 3 of Swords. With it's themes of emotional pain, suffering, loss, heart break and unhappiness, it is difficult to see anything positive in the basic symbology of the Queen of Swords.

The Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck changed the position of the Queen of Swords from facing left or backward, as she had been depicted in traditional decks like the Marseille, to facing directly forward. The artist, Pamela, C. Smith, also gave this Queen a severe appearance. The right corner of her mouth turned slightly downward and a discernible frown can be seen from the sloping of her right eye brow. This is not a happy woman.

The RWS Queen of Swords emphasises the importance of where the Queen's attention is focused with her left hand gesturing in the direction in which she stares. Whatever is upsetting her, making her angry, worried or critical, is in front of her, in the east or in the future. The raised sword in the right hand could be either defensive or offensive. What may first have appeared to be a simple image with little symbolical detail now offers a wide range of possibilities for interpretation. For example this could be paranoia, gossiping, criticism, speculation, scheming, manipulation, ambition or drama. The central theme is one of unhappiness from focusing entirely on the future and forgetting about the present moment. This is a person who is looking for trouble.

The Queen of Swords maybe a cold, unpleasant, cynical, unfairly critical or bitter person. She maybe highly intelligent with one or many professional or academic qualifications. She may command respect and have authority over those around her. Her vocation in life may be related to the element of air. She could be an air stewardess, meteorologist, teacher, academic, scientist, lawyer, judge, dentist, surgeon or policewoman. The Swords offer a great range of possibilities of vocation in their symbolism.

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THE PICTORIAL KEY TO THE TAROT

By Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

Her right hand raises the weapon vertically and the hilt rests on an arm of her royal chair the left hand is extended, the arm raised her countenance is severe but chastened; it suggests familiarity with sorrow. It does not represent mercy, and, her sword notwithstanding, she is scarcely a symbol of power. Divinatory Meanings: Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation. Reversed: Malice, bigotry, artifice, prudery, bale, deceit.

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© Phuture Me Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.