Swords

Ace of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Breakthrough, clarity, truth, intellect, new ideas, justice.

Reversed Meaning:

Confusion, misinformation, mental blocks, dishonesty, miscommunication.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Hand holding sword from cloud: Divine gift of truth and clarity.
• Crown and laurel wreath: Victory, honor, and enlightenment.
• Mountains: Challenges that sharpen understanding.
• White sky: Illumination and purity of thought.

Two of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Indecision, stalemate, difficult choices, weighing options, blocked emotions.

Reversed Meaning:

Clarity returns, decision made, tension released, emotional overwhelm.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Blindfolded woman with crossed swords: Inner conflict, refusal to see truth.
• Moon in sky: Hidden emotions and intuition.
• Still water: Suppressed feelings.
• White robe: Purity and neutrality in decision-making.

Three of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Heartbreak, grief, sorrow, betrayal, emotional pain, separation.

Reversed Meaning:

Healing, forgiveness, moving on, recovery, release from pain.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Heart pierced by three swords: Deep emotional wounds and sorrow.
• Rainy gray background: Grief and mourning.
• No figures: Universal emotional experience.
• Floating heart: Pain transcending the physical world.

Four of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Rest, recovery, meditation, contemplation, restoration.

Reversed Meaning:

Restlessness, burnout, forced inactivity, mental overload.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Figure lying on tomb: Symbol of retreat and recuperation.
• Stained glass window: Spiritual reflection and sanctuary.
• Three swords above: Lingering pain or concerns.
• One sword below: Mental focus and potential clarity.

Five of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Conflict, betrayal, defeat, self-interest, tension.

Reversed Meaning:

Resolution, forgiveness, moving on, learning from loss.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Figure holding swords: Victory at a cost or hollow success.
• Discarded weapons: Surrender and aftermath of conflict.
• Fleeing figures: Loss, retreat, or emotional impact.
• Stormy sky: Turmoil and tension in relationships.

Six of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Transition, moving on, healing, leaving difficulties behind, rite of passage.

Reversed Meaning:

Stagnation, unresolved issues, resistance to change, stuck in the past.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Boat crossing water: Movement toward calm and healing.
• Figures in boat: Support and companionship through transition.
• Six swords in boat: Bringing lessons or burdens from the past.
• Water—choppy and smooth: Contrast between struggle and peace.

Seven of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Deception, strategy, betrayal, stealth, acting alone, cunning.

Reversed Meaning:

Coming clean, accountability, self-deceit, turning over a new leaf.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Man sneaking away with swords: Theft, secrecy, and evasion.
• Camp in the background: Risk and surveillance.
• Two swords left behind: Incomplete theft, potential exposure.
• Yellow sky: Calculated intention and alertness.

Eight of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Restriction, fear, self-imposed limitation, feeling trapped, paralysis.

Reversed Meaning:

Release, freedom, seeing clearly, breaking cycles, empowered choices.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Blindfolded, bound woman surrounded by swords: Entrapment by fear or belief.
• Water at feet: Suppressed emotions needing attention.
• Open landscape behind: Possibility of escape and clarity.
• Gray sky: Mental gloom or confusion.

Nine of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Anxiety, nightmares, guilt, worry, fear, mental anguish.

Reversed Meaning:

Hope, healing, facing fears, easing stress, recovery from despair.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Figure sitting up in bed: Sleeplessness and mental torment.
• Nine swords on wall: Overwhelming thoughts and worries.
• Quilt with astrological designs: Cosmic connection and fate.
• Darkness of night: Isolation and inner turmoil.

Ten of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Ruin, betrayal, painful endings, loss, hitting rock bottom.

Reversed Meaning:

Recovery, regeneration, release from suffering, new hope.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Figure lying with ten swords: Total defeat or dramatic ending.
• Golden sky: Hope and renewal after pain.
• Red cloth: Life force not fully extinguished.
• Calm water: Emotional healing on the horizon.

Page of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Curiosity, new ideas, mental agility, vigilance, communication.

Reversed Meaning:

Deception, manipulation, gossip, hasty conclusions.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Youth holding sword: Eagerness to explore ideas.
• Wind-blown hair and sky: Restlessness and mental energy.
• Hills behind: Challenges to intellectual growth.
• Defensive posture: Readiness to speak or act.

Knight of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Action, ambition, focus, drive, swift decisions.

Reversed Meaning:

Impulsiveness, haste, recklessness, unfocused energy.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Charging knight: Determined pursuit of goals.
• Stormy clouds and trees: Mental intensity and upheaval.
• White horse: Purity of purpose and speed.
• Raised sword: Readiness to confront challenges.

Queen of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Perceptiveness, clear boundaries, independence, intellect, truth.

Reversed Meaning:

Bitterness, coldness, harsh judgment, emotional detachment.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Throne above clouds: Intellectual clarity above emotion.
• Outstretched hand: Openness and discernment.
• Butterflies on crown: Transformation through thought.
• Single sword upright: Truth, precision, and decisiveness.

King of Swords

Upright Meaning:

Authority, integrity, analytical thinking, clarity, truth.

Reversed Meaning:

Abuse of power, manipulation, bias, cruel intellect.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:

• Throne with butterflies and moons: Balance of logic and subconscious insight.
• Blue tunic: Rational, calm authority.
• Upright sword: Clear thinking and justice.
• Windswept clouds: Dynamic intellect and discernment.