Minor Arcana - Swords
A guide to interpreting the Suit of Swords, as well as insight into the imagery in In The Queer Witch Tarot Deck.
ACE of SWORDS
Upright:
Breakthroughs, Clarity, New Ideas, Sharp Mind,
Reversed:
Confusion, Chaos, Clouded Judgement, Overthinking
TWO of SWORDS
Upright:
Difficult Choices, Indecision, Stalemate, Avoiding Hard Decisions
Reversed:
Lesser of two evils, Information Overload, Confusion
THREE of SWORDS
Upright:
Heartbreak, Suffering, Grief, Sorrow
Reversed:
Recovery, Forgiveness, Moving On, Negative Self-Talk
FOUR of SWORDS
Upright:
Rest, Contemplation, Recuperation, Meditation
Reversed:
Restlessness, Burnout, Stress, Exhaustion, Stagnation
FIVE of SWORDS
Upright:
Winning at All Costs, Sneakiness, Destructive Ambition, Conflict, Defeat
Reversed:
Lingering Resentment, Reconciliation, Making Amends
This card shows the cold, quiet aftermath of a couple’s fight. It’s a fight we’re all familiar with - where pent up negative energy finally overflows, and months’ worth of grievances are aired in a matter of minutes. The man in front harnessed every rhetorical tool in his arsenal and won the argument, but at great cost to the relationship. He looks down at the sword in his hands, focusing on the power and energy he held in the moment, but turns his back to the collateral damage.
SIX of SWORDS
Upright:
Transition, Leaving Something Behind, Moving On, Rite of Passage
Reversed:
Emotional Baggage, Unresolved Issues, Resistance to Change
SEVEN of SWORDS
Upright:
Deception, Trickery, Strategy, Betrayal, Getting Away with Something
Reversed:
Coming Clean, Rethinking your Approach, Imposter Syndrome, Secretiveness
EIGHT of SWORDS
Upright:
Imprisonment, Barriers, Restriction, Self-Imposed Restraints
Reversed:
Self-Acceptance, Releasing Negative Thoughts, Inner Critic
This card invites you to reflect on what’s holding you back:
Did you tie the restraints yourself? Are they holding you back from growth, or allowing you a needful moment of stillness and reflection? Do you feel restrained or held? How does comfort itself become a limitation?
NINE of SWORDS
Upright:
Anxiety, Hopelessness, Trauma, Nightmares, Insomnia
Reversed:
Cries for Help, Reaching Out, Releasing Worry
TEN of SWORDS
Upright:
Failure, Collapse, Defeat, Painful Endings, Loss, Deep Wounds
Reversed:
Rock Bottom, All Uphill From Here, Recovery, Regeneration, Delaying the Inevitable
PAGE of SWORDS
Upright:
Creativity, Curiosity, New Ways of Communicating, Mental Energy
Reversed:
Deception, ‘All Talk’, Hastiness, Self-Expression
KNIGHT of SWORDS
Upright:
Action, Impulsiveness, Ambitious, Daring,
Reversed:
Aggression, Restlessness, Arrogance, Lack of Focus
QUEEN of SWORDS
Upright:
Complexity, Perceptiveness, Clear Mind, Unbiased Judgement, Independence, Boundaries, Direct Communication
Reversed:
Cold Heartedness, Bitterness, Cruelty, Overly-Emotional, Easily Influenced
KING of SWORDS
Upright:
Head over Heart, Discipline, Logic, Mental Clarity, Intellectual Power
Reversed:
Manipulation, Cruelty, Weakness, Quiet Power
