King of Swords
The King of Swords represents a strong and just leader who rules fairly and relies on intelligence over emotions. He embodies balance, delivering responsibility with a firm hand, much like a king uses a sword to knight allies or execute foes. However, the inverted King of Swords reveals a darker side, showing qualities of manipulation and abuse, transforming a leader into a figure of fear and intimidation.
Keywords
King of Swords Meaning
Politically, a king is not someone you choose. He’s given to you—even imposed on you. He is a positive figure, however, as it is his job to keep the kingdom running. Part of this is being sure that everyone has food to eat. Another part is throwing down for anyone you’re responsible for. A good king should do both with equal enthusiasm. Think of how kings use their swords: to knight their comrades and to execute their foes. There is a balance here. This king is very similar to Justice. He is very fair, and emotion doesn’t enter into his decisions very much. If you look behind his throne, though, you can see a dense fog bank. In other Basic decks, you’ll see the tiniest stream of water behind him. Both are indicators of the tiniest bit of give-a-damn that he holds for you and your feelings. He is the judge or the policeman. He is intelligent, quick, and sometimes very judgemental. John Wayne. For real. His way or the highway. “Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!”
King of Swords Inverted
You can always tell when someone is a true leader. When a true leader speaks, his people don’t wince. The inverted King of Swords is terrifying, manipulative, sinister, and abusive.
Smith-Waite tarot
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