As a reminder, the suit of swords is driven by masculine energy and channels the power of the intellect and mind, including all the concepts, knowledge, and beliefs that it holds. Scholars and academics have connected the suit of swords to the classical element of air, and most of the cards from that suit embody the symbolic attributes of this element, one way or another.
The Queen of Swords Tarot Card Keywords
Upright: strategy, careful planning, and detachment
Reversed: stubbornness, cold hearted, and insensitive
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Modern Representations
The soul of the four court cards in the suit of swords, the Queen of Swords is an intelligent and sharp individual, in a position of power and authority. She can feel emotions but usually lets her mind process them before she acts on them.
This double-check can make her appear severe or cold-hearted, but it is just a way to make sure that there will not be any leak or that her plans will not be jeopardized by a sudden burst of emotional foolishness.
The Mythic Tarot (1986/2008)
The Haindl Tarot (1990)
Osho Zen Tarot (1995)
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Law of Attraction Tarot (2011)
Spellcaster Tarot (2016)
Ostara Tarot (2017)
Upright Queen of Swords Meaning
The Queen of Swords in the Rider-Waite Smith tarot deck sits on her royal throne, seen in profile, looking to the right. She holds a sword in her right hand, symbolizing her suit. Her left hand extends, palm up. Clouds behind her highlight her connection with the element of Air (Aquarius sun sign).
Her face can appear stern or severe. She is not a frail and unassuming court member; she is a leader and wants to make the most of it. She has the sharp intellect associated with the suit of Swords and knows how to use it.
As the soul of the suit of swords in the Minor Arcana, the Queen of Swords embodies intellect and wit, encouraged by the essence of Air. Fiercely independent, she makes her own decisions and lets no one, not even the King, decide for her. She knows the world is not fair to women, so to be considered equal, she must be better.
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To that end, she uses her brain and becomes an extremely effective problem solver. She plans ahead and keeps a close eye on relevant matters, even when she cannot be physically present.
To avoid mistakes, she lets her mind pilot every decision. She processes emotional responses through logic and dissociation so that they do not affect her judgment.
In a Question about Love and Relationship
The Queen of Swords is a sharp-witted and efficient young woman, who refuses to limit herself to the position of a companion or be defined by the men around her instead of her own accomplishments.
As such, the Queen of Swords is a rather difficult card to encounter in a love-based tarot spread or reading. It is a woman who will not readily offer her trust, and always have a line of contingencies in case anything might turn bad for her. She would rather stand alone than compromise her position or anything she has fought long and hard for.
In a Question about Career and Work
Career encompasses school and education if that is your current stage, necessary work that is not a career path, and your actual career path. Regardless of your current stage, the Queen of Swords is about mapping out your strategy and planning your moves several steps in advance.
As a student, drawing this card indicates you need to map out your entire academic career. Plan your overall course of study to achieve your degree. Even if you do not follow the path exactly, see the whole process and tweak it accordingly.
For those doing necessary work but not a career, envision your path until retirement and beyond. Even if you are “just working,” take time each year to review your accomplishments, current position, and future goals in work and finances.
In your career, the Queen of Swords urges you to look at or make yearly projections. Determine what you want to achieve in five to ten years. Assess your progress each year. This card might also suggest hiring a consultant or consulting firm to evaluate your company’s strengths and weaknesses.
When the Queen of Swords appears reversed in a reading, her decision to focus on her intellect rather than on her emotions can be pushed to the extreme and make her so blasé about human pain and suffering that she appears rather cold-hearted to an outside observer.
When a reversed Queen of Swords appears in close vicinity to one or more cards from the suit of Cups, it might conversely show that her plans to let logic dictate matters of the heart have failed, and that she is currently overwhelmed by her emotions.
In a Question about Love and Relationship
Reversed, this card indicates that you need to reassess your strategy regarding your relationship. You and your partner may be at cross purposes regarding your plans. Maybe one of you wants to have a child and the other does not, or you both want a child, but you do not share the same timetable. Some aspect of your relationship and your goals needs reassessment.
When this card appears reversed in a question about school, work, or career, then you need to reassess your path and goals. You may need to make some minor or significant adjustments, because this card, when reversed, indicates that the plan is not right or unfolding accordingly. If you ignore the warning, you do so at your peril.
