Ace of Swords
Creative source of the power of air and intelligence, conception of an idea. Cutting power of the mind towards both terrible suffering and sublime new resolutions. Unexplored potential movement and aggressive action. Awakening of mental power often means collision with old beliefs and patterns. Mind over matter. Initial eruption of a new world-view. The start of a completely new concept. Conquest, outburst, fight, struggle before peace.
Negative: Deliberate lie, a verbal outburst that one regrets, violence.
King of Swords
This card embodies a quality of resolute intellectual leadership which is attractive and dynamic in the world. Also power of attainment, strategy- skills of the human mind, diplomacy, cooperation and capacity to innovate changes on the whole. He also is a persuasive speaker, a catalyst, cool, detached and logical. He is ambitious to dominate others through his own ideas and words. And as a man of principles, although these principles sometimes lack the depth of feeling which might relate to an individual situation rather than a general law, he is a brilliant organizer with high ideals, a clever bargainer who impresses others.
Negative: Manipulates others for his own gain, inner homelessness, a lack of being connected, untrustworthy.
Queen of Swords
She is a strong, idealistic and aloof woman, unmarried, widowed or divorced, a successful career woman with competitive qualities, with shrewdness and intelligence. But she is disappointed in love through having too high ideals. Her father wished for a male child and refused to accept her value as a woman. This fight alongside the man is the effort to prove herself and her pride to a father-god who is ultimately always beyond one's reach, for one is never quite good enough simply because one is made of flesh. This identification with the masculine world of the mind brings her emotional frustration and isolation, because she makes herself untouchable.
Negative: Loneliness, perfection against humanity, controlled emotions.
Knight of Swords
It is time for the individual to be prepared for sudden changes; a new idea or vision erupts from within oneself. And the ability to move with this turbulence shows firmness, resoluteness and responsibility. A man who uses mental power and its duality or duplicity throws the old order into chaos, he needs constant mental stimuli in order to avoid becoming bored. This brings conflict and movement and going new ways means often breaking the heart of the beloved. But one cannot spend too long feeling guilty about who might be hurt when the mind abruptly turns and moves in a new directions. Right now victory over moods, communication, exchange of ideas or travel are important and lead to clarity and a broader vision of life.
Negative: Merciless, self-destruction, victim of his own ideas or gossip, critical and tactless.
Page of Swords
Here we meet the nascent and unformed beginnings of the element of air, to formulate our own ideas and concepts and to express these to others. Yet this original and independent thought seems to be childlike and comes out of curiosity but this use of mental power is important to gain respect. Normally he has been accustomed to accept the views of others but he gets into action when he sees injustice and is devoted to a companion in whom he believes.
Negative: A fanatic or extremist, gossip can wound, spiteful and revengeful.
Ten of Swords
A final ending, it may be painful, but at last the situation is faced truthfully. Disillusionment and disappointment seems like a death but free us from past older than ourselves. War, corruption, collapse and sorrow bring mental desperation through being trapped in a system in which one can no longer believe. The judgment brings reflection and clarity, tranquillity and transformation. Suddenly we see the broken heart, the fear of madness and destructiveness, energy of accumulated anger - all our negative thinking. This shows us the cycle of birth and death of ideas and a new perception can start.
Negative: Discomfort, Out of control.
Nine of Swords
This is the experience of great fear and anxiety, a nightmare where the sheer power of fantasy is frightening and painful. And then there are guilt feelings because of destructive fantasies and expectations of terrible future outcome. This self punishment includes the fear that a loved one will reject us, or die, or leave us for another, terror of loneliness, illness or isolated old age. The frightening visions are also about financial catastrophe or loss or the collapse of a creative project - the break down is endless cause we believe in misfortune and despair, we are enslaved by them. This fanaticism leads towards passion and sacrifice and transforming thinking, the ability to present a meaningful philosophy, it becomes worship of something higher - the enlightenment.
Negative: Agony.
Eight of Swords
The long past of avoidance, of inferiority complex and overestimation leads towards a situation of duplicity and interference. It is a portrait of painful conscience of one's own part in creating the present mess, a situation of bondage through fear and therefore it is a shock. We must respect responsibility and try to understand what we truly want and act once and for all. This enforces a strong willpower and logical thinking, authority and optimism. With mental brilliance we take the probable consequences of any choice and then it is too late to regret even if there is again fear of confrontation to avoid hurting and again there is manipulation...
Negative: Anguish caused by too much reflection, incapable to act because of fear of the consequences, dullness, manic-depressive.
Seven of Swords
Represents the application of mental energy in a cautious, wily and diplomatic way in order to gain the end desire. But one cannot be sure of the rightness or moral integrity of the goal and the mind can be cold and manipulative. Live may require us to develop such attributes like politicians and priests have, even if our nature dislike such obvious cunning. When we loose our ambition through weakness of will we fight difficulties, compromise and betrayal, unintentional or otherwise, we are restless and destructive. All this is about to take a risk in order to get out of a boring situation, regardless of the consequences.
Negative: Opposing convention just to draw attention to oneself.
Six of Swords
Moving away from turbulent, difficult feelings toward a calmer and more serene state - the tranquil mind, the learning intellect, successful mental activity. With openness cognition's come and one has the power to persuade others or to give information. Dignity and self-respect help to balance mental and moral faculties and lead towards a calm peaceful passage. Seeing and understanding, psychology, science, intelligence balanced by humanity. The pleasure of travel, of broadening horizons both mentally and physically.
Negative: Using smooth talk to deceive and manipulate.
Five of Swords
A change of ideas or plans becomes unavoidable. Being forced by circumstances to see things from a different angle. Cause here we have defeat, loss, torments, corruption, treachery and a lack of understanding. It is better to accept these limitations and face one's own inner laws, own believes and also the capabilities to deal with poverty and anxiety. The mind has reached the impasse and tries to come out of it by brainstorm.
Negative: Mental panic, refusal to face the inevitable, fear, complaining, false pride, cowardice.
Four of Swords
A quiet time of withdrawal and contemplation, a period of introversion and reflection, of emotional recuperation after the outbreak of conflict in the Three. It means accept solitude and rest from sorrow so peace of mind and liberation can happen. Here we have conventional thinking, being confident that one's traditional approach will resolve all demanding situations. Dogma, law, truce and compromise for social harmony.
Negative: Isolation, prison, loneliness, rigidity and conformity of mind, inflexible views and ideas, bigotry.
Three of Swords
It is the conflict of the two, consequences of human choice, resentments, pain from separation or heartbreak. There is discord, struggle, doubt and sorrow and out of mind-chaos it is heavy, dark and one is lonely and thinks danger comes from outside. This destructive step from the two leads toward creative separation and with the relief when poison comes out healing is possible.
Negative: "Know it all", personality attacks blindness, secrecy, perversion.
Two of Swords
An idea communicated to another, awaiting response or proposition. A new contact with possibilities, with excitement, interest and uncertainty - a desired movement strength gained from change. It can also be a conflict of opposing principles, a created standstill, a state of tension which demands a choice of some kind. The unpleasant reality must be faced, the conformity, the fight in suspense, the mistrust needs balance and inner peace.
Negative: Period of frustration and impasse in negotiations or discussions.