Suit of Swords: Tarot Card Meanings (Air)
The suit of Swords, also called Blades; Spades in playing-card terms, is the air suit of the tarot. Its 14 cards deal with thought, truth, communication, conflict and decisions. Astrologically it corresponds to the air signs Libra, Aquarius, Gemini.
- Many Swords in a reading suggest the question is really about thought and truth.
- The numbered cards (Ace to Ten) tell a story of the element from its first spark to its fullest expression.
- The four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) can describe people, roles or ways of behaving.
Ace of Swordsclarity, breakthroughTwo of Swordsstalemate, difficult choiceThree of Swordsheartbreak, hurtFour of Swordsrest, recoveryFive of Swordsconflict, winning at a costSix of Swordstransition, moving onSeven of Swordsdeception, strategyEight of Swordsfeeling trapped, limiting beliefsNine of Swordsworry, anxietyTen of Swordspainful ending, rock bottomPage of Swordscuriosity, new ideasKnight of Swordsambition, fast actionQueen of Swordshonesty, clear boundariesKing of Swordslogic, truth
How the numbers work in Swords
- 1: beginnings and pure potential. See the Ace of Swords.
- 2: choice, balance and partnership. See the Two of Swords.
- 3: growth, expression and first results. See the Three of Swords.
- 4: stability, structure and foundations. See the Four of Swords.
- 5: disruption, conflict and change. See the Five of Swords.
- 6: harmony, restoration and exchange. See the Six of Swords.
- 7: testing, assessment and inner work. See the Seven of Swords.
- 8: movement, mastery and momentum. See the Eight of Swords.
- 9: culmination and the last step before completion. See the Nine of Swords.
- 10: completion, and the element carried to its fullest (sometimes to excess). See the Ten of Swords.
Correspondences table
| Card | Golden Dawn title | Astrology | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | Root of the Powers of Air | Root of the element (Air) | clarity, breakthrough |
| Two of Swords | Lord of Peace Restored | Moon in Libra | stalemate, difficult choice |
| Three of Swords | Lord of Sorrow | Saturn in Libra | heartbreak, hurt |
| Four of Swords | Lord of Rest from Strife | Jupiter in Libra | rest, recovery |
| Five of Swords | Lord of Defeat | Venus in Aquarius | conflict, winning at a cost |
| Six of Swords | Lord of Earned Success | Mercury in Aquarius | transition, moving on |
| Seven of Swords | Lord of Unstable Effort | Moon in Aquarius | deception, strategy |
| Eight of Swords | Lord of Shortened Force | Jupiter in Gemini | feeling trapped, limiting beliefs |
| Nine of Swords | Lord of Despair and Cruelty | Mars in Gemini | worry, anxiety |
| Ten of Swords | Lord of Ruin | Sun in Gemini | painful ending, rock bottom |
| Page of Swords | — | Earth of Air (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) | curiosity, new ideas |
| Knight of Swords | — | Air of Air (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) | ambition, fast action |
| Queen of Swords | — | Water of Air (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) | honesty, clear boundaries |
| King of Swords | — | Fire of Air (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) | logic, truth |
Back to all 78 tarot card meanings, or practise with a free tarot reading.
Sources and further reading
- Rider–Waite Tarot · Wikipedia
- Major Arcana · Wikipedia
- Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (astrological and elemental correspondences) · Wikipedia
- A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), the companion book to the deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
Reviewed by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 28, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What does the suit of Swords represent?
Swords represent thought, truth, communication, conflict and decisions. It is the suit of air.
What zodiac signs are linked to Swords?
Swords are linked to the air signs: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini.