King

King of Swords

Suit of Swords · air

The King of Swords is the mastery of intellect in service of principle — sound judgment, ethical clarity, and authority grounded in reason rather than impulse. He stands for fair, dispassionate decision-making, reminding us that true power of mind is wielded with integrity and restraint.

The image

A king sits frontally on a throne carved with butterflies and crescents, holding an upright sword slightly tilted; he wears blue and a stern expression, with two birds and trees beneath a clear sky behind him.

Upright

intellectual authorityclear judgmentethical reasonobjectivityprincipled leadershiptruth

Reversed

tyrannycold rationalitymanipulationabuse of powerrigid thinkingjudgmental