The Suit of Swords is one of the four suits of the

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in a 78-card cartomantic

tarot The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, ...

deck. It is derived from the suit used in Latin suited

playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a fi ...

s, such Spanish, Italian and Latin-suited tarot decks. Like the other tarot suits, it contains fourteen cards:

ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

(one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king. Occultists claim that the suit represents the Second Estate (The Nobles). While Tarot cards are used throughout much of

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

to play

Tarot card games Tarot games are card games played with tarot decks, that is, decks with numbered permanent Trump (card games), trumps parallel to the Playing card suit, suit cards. The games and decks which English-speakers call by the French name Tarot are cal ...

, in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came much later to be utilized primarily for

divinatory Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout histor ...

purposes.

Divinatory and occult meanings

In divination, the suit of Swords is associated with masculinity and intellect, but also sorrow and misfortune. The element of

air The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...

has been associated with the suit. Etteilla and

Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers Samuel Liddell (or Liddel) MacGregor Mathers (8 or 11 January 1854 – 5 or 20 November 1918), born Samuel Liddell Mathers, was a British occultist. He is primarily known as one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a cerem ...

equated Swords to the suit of Spades in the

French pack French-suited playing cards or French-suited cards are cards that use the French suits of (clovers or clubs ), (tiles or diamonds ), (hearts ), and (pikes or spades ). Each suit contains three or four face/court cards. I ...

.Huson 2004, p. 200 *The

Ace of Swords Ace of Swords is a card used in Latin suited playing cards (Italian, Spanish and tarot decks). It is the ace from the suit of swords A sword is a cutting and/or thrusting weapon. Sword, Swords, or The Sword may also refer to: Places * Swo ...

Indicates decisive ability. Cutting through confusion. Taking a radical decision or standpoint. The ability to see through deception, and expose it. *The Two of Swords The two of swords indicates doubt over decisions. A sense of powerlessness and apathy giving way to fear. If the other cards in the spread are favourable, then the Two of Swords can indicate lack of bias and even mindedness. *The

Three of Swords Three of Swords is the third card of the suit of swords. The suit is present in Italian, Spanish and tarot The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the ...

This card represents the aspect of the mind which is overly critical, especially of itself. The perverse impulse to dissect a problem beyond the point of usefulness. The three swords are often depicted piercing a bleeding heart. The swords symbolize the intellect, and the heart, the emotions which always suffer under this treatment. *The Four of Swords The four of swords symbolizes avoidance. Setting problems to the side, (the swords on the wall), while one prays for deliverance. This card can also represent surrender, or in some cases, pacifism. *The

Five of Swords Five of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games. In English language, English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primari ...

This card symbolizes victory by betrayal. The emptiness which descends after a harsh struggle. The alienation of others through belligerence. *The

Six of Swords Six of Swords is a card used in Latin suited playing cards which include tarot, tarot decks. It is part of what tarot reading, tarot card readers call the "Minor Arcana" Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games. ...

A dangerous journey. Readers do not always agree on the alignment of this card. It can indicate a doomed endeavor, or conversely, moving out of troubled waters. It also indicates responsibility for others. *The

Seven of Swords Seven of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play Tarot card games. In English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: ...

This card represents covert activities. The attempt to get away with too much, and being compromised as a result. If the reading is favourable, the card may represent making sacrifices to move ahead. Simplifying. It can also mean manipulative or dishonest behavior at play. *The

Eight of Swords Eight of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play Tarot card games Tarot games are card games played with tarot decks, that is, decks with numbered permanent Trump (card games), trumps paralle ...

Feeling trapped and oppressed by others, and powerless to change. Often the condition is self-imposed, but the cause is attributed to external influences. This card can also indicate the stubborn adherence to an ideal. *The

Nine of Swords The Nine of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card, also known as the Lord of Cruelty. In many countries around Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and ...

Tarot readers do not generally like to categorize cards as bad or good but the Nine of Swords is probably the most dreaded card in the deck. However, it can indicate the process of letting go of grief and, in combination with healing cards like the Queen of Wands, it can be highly beneficial. *The

Ten of Swords Ten of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games. In English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory pur ...

The nightmare in The Nine of Swords comes to an end in The Ten. There may be exhaustion, and the result may not be ideal but the ordeal is over and the truth has been outed. The Ten of Swords can also indicate the end of a repetitious cycle. Divorce. *The

Page of Swords Page of Swords (or Jack or Knave of Swords) is a card used in Latin suited playing cards which include tarot decks. It is part of what tarot card readers call the "Minor Arcana" Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card ...

The ability to observe others keenly, while concealing one's own nature. The talent for keeping secrets. Keeping one's head in the face of danger. The ability to endure suspense. *The

Knight of Swords Knight of Swords is a card used in Latin suited playing cards which include tarot decks. It is part of what tarot card readers call the "Minor Arcana". Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games. In English-speak ...

Wrath. Impatience. Fanaticism. Blind addiction to action as opposed to thought. Also may indicate initiative and courage. *The

Queen of Swords The Queen of Swords is a card in the Suit of Swords, part of the Minor Arcana set of the Tarot. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games. In English-speaking countries, Tarot cards are utilized primarily for div ...

This card symbolizes independence, at its best. Power, intelligence, tactical thinking. The ability to streamline a problem, and find the solution without fuss. At worst, The Queen of Swords can represent isolation, depression and cruelty. *The

King of Swords King of Swords is a card used in Latin suited playing cards which include tarot decks. It is part of what tarot card readers call the "Minor Arcana". Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play Tarot card games. In English-speak ...

Discipline with passion. Power and insight. Can symbolize tyranny.

Card images in the Rider–Waite tarot deck

image:Swords01.jpg,

image:Swords02.jpg, Two of Swords image:Swords03.jpg,

image:Swords04.jpg, Four of Swords image:Swords05.jpg,

image:Swords06.jpg,

image:Swords07.jpg,

image:Swords08.jpg,

image:Swords09.jpg,

image:Swords10.jpg,

image:Swords11.jpg,

image:Swords12.jpg,

image:Swords13.jpg,

image:Swords14.jpg,

References

Citations

{{Minor Arcana *

Divinatory and occult meanings

Card images in the Rider–Waite tarot deck

See also

References

Citations