Minor Arcana Swords
The Swords of the tarot
Mind, conflict and truth in the tarot
The Swords
The Swords represent the element of air and stand for mental power, clarity of thought and challenges. They symbolize decision-making, justice and truth.
Meaning
They often point to conflicts, changes or moral dilemmas and call for analytical thinking and objectivity.
Light and shadow
Swords reflect inner struggles and outer conflicts. They show the double-edged nature of the mind: the ability to heal, but also to hurt. Their message: true strength lies in mental clarity.
The Minor Arcana at a glance
The Minor Arcana (also: lesser arcanum) consists of four times fourteen cards in four different suits. Each suit contains ten number cards (from Ace (=1) to 10) and four court cards.
All cards
14 cards · tap for the meaning
Ace of Swords
A majestic sword takes command of the realm of air. The suit of Swords is governed by the element of air – the element of clarity, of thinking and of conscious perception.
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Two of Swords
A person in a white robe, blindfolded, holding two swords in the moonlight. This image by the waters of the soul, under the cover of darkness, is the very essence of concentration.
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Three of Swords
A single heart and many tears – the pain runs deep and cannot be ignored. It is a pain of the soul, for no blood flows.
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Four of Swords
Like a cast statue, a person lies seemingly asleep on a pedestal or tomb. But he is not asleep – his hands point to the sky like a sword and form a triangle.
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Five of Swords
Shreds of cloud race across the sky, the sea is restless. The figure holds 3 swords; one figure is leaving the scene, another stands dejected right by the water.
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Six of Swords
Two people whose faces we cannot see cross a wide stretch of water with 6 swords. They leave a lot behind, but they are prepared for any further conflict.
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Seven of Swords
A figure with 5 swords sneaks away from a camp. He had to leave 2 swords behind – they form a boundary between him and the camp.
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Eight of Swords
The young woman stands bound and blindfolded between 8 swords stuck in the ground. This card points to strong blockages, a lack of intuition and powerlessness.
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Nine of Swords
A man wakes from a terrible dream, or cannot fall asleep at all for worry. The hands over his face block his view of the red roses on his blanket.
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Ten of Swords
A figure pierced by 10 swords – he lies there pinned down and powerless. An overly clear image of powerlessness.
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Page of Swords
The Page of Swords whirls his sword through the air, looking out for new tasks and solutions. Light-footed, he turns and is oriented and ready to act in every direction.
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Knight of Swords
The Knight of Swords charges ahead with open visor and raised sword – nothing can stop him. His armor protects his whole body, and a fiery red cloak underlines his strength and power.
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Queen of Swords
The Queen of Swords holds her sword straight up into the clear sky. She has just cut the red ribbon on her hand; her gaze is turned to the future, and on her throne she turns her back on the past.
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King of Swords
With his gaze turned toward us, the King of Swords expresses his firm intentions. With his sword pointed toward the sky at a slight angle, he lets himself be guided by mind and wisdom.
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