Card Meaning: King Of Swords
Element: Air.
Astrology:
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
Age: older man.
Appearance: black/dark hair, dark eyes.
General
The airy combination of the Swords suit with logical disposition of the King
card combine in intellectual, objective and authoritative person with sound
reason and active mind. He is leader and judge that people trust. As the other
Kings in other suits, he is not to be taken ligthly, his authority is
unquestioned and if not respected he will show his other, not so tolerant side.
His upright pose with sword held as a symbol of authority suggest his
righteousness and openess for help, he is untained by any scandal or rumour, his
reputation is flawless. Sometimes he might be boring, but he is not here to
inspire you but to give you command or advice, depending on the situation, and
to punish all those who act agains the law. Pay attention how there is no wind
on this card, unlike on the other court cards in Swords suit, obviously here
reason and other traits of the air element are calm and focused; air dominates but
acknowledges others elements.
Reading
Positive: active, analytical, commanding and authorative, fair decision, law,
order, excellent counselor, just.
Negative:
ego, bullying, impersonal, cruel, harsh, judgmental, uncompromising, lacking
compassion, calculating.
He sits in judgment, holding the unsheathed sign of his suit. He recalls, of
course, the conventional Symbol of justice in the Trumps Major, and he may
represent this virtue, but he is rather the power of life and death, in virtue
of his office. Divinatory Meanings: Whatsoever arises out of the idea of
judgment and all its connexions-power, command, authority, militant
intelligence, law, offices of the crown, and so forth. Reversed: Cruelty,
perversity, barbarity, perfidy, evil intention.
— The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, by A.E. Waite