When the Knight of Swords shows up in a reading, we often need to do what I like to call the ‘heart drop.’ I.e. we need to connect more with our feeling selves. This guy is all about the mental realm, ideas and concepts. But before we get to know him more in-depth, let’s take a look at some of the common tarot card meanings associated with him:
- Action and Energy: The Knight of Swords signifies a time of action, movement, and swift progress. It suggests a need to pursue goals with determination and vigour.
- Intellectual Pursuits: This card represents intellectual endeavours, critical thinking, and the pursuit of knowledge. It signifies a focus on ideas, concepts, and mental stimulation.
- Ambition and Determination: The Knight of Swords symbolizes ambition, drive, and a strong will to succeed. It encourages you to be assertive, confident, and persistent in your endeavours.
- Communication and Assertiveness: This card highlights the importance of clear and direct communication. It suggests expressing your thoughts, ideas, and opinions assertively, yet tactfully.
- Conflict and Challenges: The Knight of Swords can also indicate conflicts, disagreements, or obstacles that may arise. It advises you to handle challenges with bravery, resilience, and consideration for others.
- Impulsiveness and Haste: Be cautious of acting impulsively or rushing into decisions without careful consideration. The Knight of Swords reminds you to balance your swift actions with thoughtful reflection.
- Independence and Self-Reliance: This card signifies independence, self-reliance, and a strong sense of individuality. It encourages you to trust your abilities and make decisions based on your own judgment.
- Protection and Defense: The Knight of Swords represents protection and defence of your beliefs, values, and ideals. It urges you to stand up for what you believe in and defend your principles.
Remember, these are general interpretations, and the specific meaning of the Knight of Swords may vary depending on the context of a reading or the spread being used.
Getting to Know the Knight of Swords
All the Knights are on a quest for something. The Knight of Swords is on a quest for the Truth (yes, capital T). He dwells in his head more often than not and imagines himself willing to defend his favourite concepts with his life. He can be quite argumentative in other words. Online trolling is not beyond the shadowy side of this guy.
Learning to look within
But would he really be willing to die for what he believes to be true? Maybe. But he can just as well change his mind on a dime if he finds that the idea he cherished is no longer useful. The ultimate Truth is always ‘out there’ until he learns to look within.
The ultimate idealist
The quick wit of this Knight can be his enemy as well as his greatest ally. He does his best work when he manages to channel his inherent idealism constructively. He frequently needs grounding and checking in with his heart.
As he grows older he could quite easily turn to cynicism as a defence if he fails to find emotional balance. But once he learns to be self-directed (acting from the heart) rather than latching on to some bizarre fad, he can mature into the ultimate idealist. Then he becomes someone who is able to lead and inspire others.
“Cynics are – beneath it all – only idealists with awkwardly high standards.”
~ Alain de Botton
This Knight will always be on a quest for truth and knowledge. Without cynicism, this can be quite a beautiful journey to be on, with profound truths uncovered along the way. However, as soon as this Knight makes cynicism his travel companion, he will have nothing to show for his quest but scars – his own and those of people he did battle with.
Affirmation: “I allow kindness and compassion to guide my quest for the truth.”
Knight of Swords Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, thank you for my thirst for truth and Holy Spirit guidance on my quest for it. Save me from cynicism and remind me that being kind is more important by far than being right. Amen and so it is!
Correspondences for the Knight of Swords
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius – For timing purposes, the first two decans of Aquarius and the final decan of Capricorn
Element: Air of Air
Archangel: Raphael (Ruler of the Element of Air)
Gemstone: Sugilite, Yellow calcite, Brown jasper
Scent: Rosemary, peppermint
The Knight of Swords in Love and Relationships
“Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.“
~ Albert Einstein
All the Knights are on a quest for something and this one is on a quest for THE Truth. He has an Aquarian feel to him but could embody either of the Air Signs. If he finds something to ring true, he latches on to it for dear life but if a new (and possibly completely opposed) theory makes more sense, I promise you’ll never see anyone make a quicker 180-degree turnaround and cling to this newfound truth more forcefully.
So what if his friends or family can’t keep up? Let’s face it, they will never matter as much as The Truth to this guy.
He may be an arrogant pain in the backside sometimes but if you know this guy and he is mostly well-meaning then he’s worth keeping around. You have a partner by your side who will continue to inspire and surprise you. He’s often drawn to the bizarre side of life. Maybe the Truth is hiding there because normality rarely makes sense to him.
Pros
If he finds a worthy cause that he believes in, he will be a staunch ally and advocate for that cause. He is not emotionally manipulative and jealousy doesn’t float his boat.
He has a genuine interest in the bigger picture and doesn’t mind putting the footwork into researching things to get to the heart of the matter.
Having a sharp, analytical mind, he’s often found in the IT industry where he earns a good living. The money is rarely what motivates him though.
He’s not afraid to experiment and try new things in the bedroom. Did I mention he quite likes bizarre things?
Cons
The whole dating and romance game often seems silly and like a waste of time to him. He’s also quite quick to pick faults with things… and people. So if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, you’re probably better off with someone who’s a bit softer.
Even though he often demands complete freedom for himself in the relationship, he can be oddly possessive about his partner.
Sexually, he may be more interested in technique than intimacy.
In his old age, you can find him pondering the evils of Christmas on ‘Grumpy Old Men.’
Type of date he prefers: The cinema (preferably SciFi) or simply a game of chess. Why complicate things?
Knight of Swords as Situation, Challenge, Opportunity and Action Advice
Situation: Clashing ideals are at the root of the situation at hand
Challenge: Remember that it is more important to be kind than to be right
Opportunity: A new point of view may be gained if you are willing to listen
Action Advice: Stand up for your beliefs
Take me to the Angelic Tarot Card Meanings Index