King of Swords Keywords

Upright Keywords	Reversed Keywords
reason, authority, discipline, integrity, morality, serious, high standards, strict	irrational, dictator, oppressive, inhumane, controlling, cold, ruthless, dishonest
Skip to Upright Meaning	Skip to Reversed Meaning

King of Swords Tarot Card Description

The King of Swords tarot card shows a king who sits on his throne while holding a double-edged sword that points upwards in his right hand. The King of Swords radiates intellectual power, clear thinking, truth, and authority. He understands that power holds great responsibility.

The blue tunic that the king wears is a symbol of his spiritual understanding. The butterflies on the back of his throne are indicative of transformation. 

Upright King of Swords Meaning

The King of Swords appearing in a reading suggests that you should remain objective in your current situation - you must establish truth by sticking to the facts. The King of Swords and his intellectual power implies that you will need to use your intellect to make your point known and attain your goals. Besides your experience and education, you should be sharp and observant, to see deeply into problems that come your way.

Because he rules over the suit of swords, he has a special connection to rules, laws, and diplomacy, which are systems of logical thought applied and manifest on earth.

The King of Swords meaning also shows that you need to be stern in your role while ensuring that you have clarity of mind at all times. When judging a situation, you need to consider all the possible consequences to make an appropriate judgment. You will need to leave your emotions out of the judgment so as to maintain rational thinking at all times. The King of Swords meaning suggests that you should take time to reason with others and be candid with the observations that you have made.

As far as your personal life goes, the King of Swords urges you to use your intellect and logic to maneuver the path that lies ahead. You will need to confront the issue at hand and make a sober decision. The King of Swords implies that you should be able to look at any situation and make a decision with complete impartiality. He can also be an indicator of the high ethical standards that the King of Swords demonstrates.

Upright Love Meaning	Upright Career Meaning	Upright Finances Meaning
high standards for love, controlled emotions	stern but righteous mentor, challenged to do your best	being disciplined with finances, acting logically

Tarot Love Meaning - Upright King of Swords

The King of Swords is someone who is cool, controlled, as well as ambitious. Though they have emotions, they can be very restrained. They instead rely on their intelligence and their logic. In romance, they approach their relationships ethically and respectfully. They may not be very romantic, and are likely to express themselves very bluntly. Should this card not represent a person, the King of Swords tarot love meaning can simply indicate high standards when it comes to romantic partners, especially intellectually. You and your partner at the moment can also be challenging and pushing each other to be their very best.

Career Meaning - Upright King of Swords

The King of Swords is someone with high standards, and demonstrates them in his own work. Though they may seem a bit stern, this person acts this way to make sure you achieve your career goals. They challenge you to be your best self, while remaining true to their own principles. Should you choose to take his advice, you’ll be able to progress far in your career. Alternatively, this person may also represent you, or a point in your career path. Give yourself and others high standards, and push yourself to be the best that you can be. Having some routines and processes can also be beneficial for your work right now.

Finances Meaning - Upright King of Swords

The King of Swords pushes you to challenge yourself and be very disciplined when it comes to your finances. Are you really doing all that you can in order to save for that nice car you wanted in the future? All good things come with sacrifice, and your financial goals are no different. Look at your finances logically; do the research before you make any big financial decisions.

King of Swords Reversal Meaning

The King of Swords in reversed shows tyrannical, abusive and manipulative habits. It may indicate the misuse of one’s mental power, drive, and authority. This is an illustration of persuasion and manipulation, so as to fulfill selfish desires. The King of Swords reversal meaning may also imply that you are showing off your level of intelligence by using big words when discussing ordinary topics. Another interpretation is that you may also be a loose cannon, especially where there are angry outbursts and impulses.

Reversed Love Meaning	Reversed Career Meaning	Reversed Finances Meaning
selfish, abusive lover, low standards for love	dominating, power-hungry colleague, irrational work decisions	irrational financial decisions, lack of financial discipline

Tarot Love Meaning - Reversed King of Swords 

Reversed, the King of Swords can use their sharp intellect for selfishness. The wisdom and morality that guided his actions in the upright position is gone, and they can instead be frightfully selfish, and even abusive. This person also allows his emotions to run uncontrolled, flipping quickly from being cold and distant, into fits of rage. As characteristics or qualities, the reversed King of Swords tarot love meaning can signal that you may be exhibiting these qualities in your relationships. You may need to show more restraint and forgiveness to your partner, or else you may lose them. This card can also suggest low standards when it comes to potential relationships; try not to be swept away by feeling, but use some logic to evaluate whether someone is a good partner for you. 

Career Meaning - Reversed King of Swords

Your workplace may not be a very pleasant place to be right now. The reversed King of Swords signals a person at your job who is dominating, aggressive, and power-hungry. They may be in a place of power, and they can use that power for all the wrong reasons. If this doesn’t represent a person in your workplace, you may have to take a closer look at your own behavior. You may find that it is easier to lose your cool, and fail to act with as much integrity or logic as you usually do. At this time, you may also be suffering from lack of self-discipline; not just losing your cool, but your motivation and energy. 

Finances Meaning - Reversed King of Swords

You may not have been very disciplined with your finances lately, and have overspent, purchased many useless things, or have invested in things that are not producing returns for you. This may make you a bit desperate, but make sure you’re not tempted to recoup your losses through lazy or scheming methods. 

King of Swords Tarot Cheat Sheet