King of Swords in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
King of Swords Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Air
Aquarius
In its general meaning, the King of Swords is the archetype of intellectual authority, mental mastery, and impartial justice. He is clear, structured, rational, and capable of making fair decisions in any situation, even the most complex. This is a card of intellectual power in the service of the common good, of a sharp mind in the service of truth. He encourages you to take responsibility with courage and clarity, to express yourself clearly, and to never sacrifice your moral integrity. He reminds you that true power does not lie in domination, but in right thinking and right intentions. The King of Swords says to you: ‘You know what is right. So do it. With firmness, but without violence. With clarity, but without pride.’
RWS Tarot : Arcana King of Swords readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card King of Swords
In matters of the heart, the King of Swords represents an energy of authority, emotional mastery, and mental control. He may refer to a person—often a man or a masculine figure—who loves in a rational, sometimes distant way, but with great intellectual loyalty. He is not a demonstrative partner, but he is reliable, structured, and consistent in his commitments. However, they can also be cold, rigid, or unresponsive to emotional outbursts, which can be frustrating for a more sensitive partner. For single people, this card suggests that you may have built mental walls to protect yourself from pain, to the point of blocking intimacy. The King of Swords invites you to find a balance between heart and mind, not to fear vulnerability, and to build relationships based on clarity, truthful communication and mutual respect.
Professional / Work reading
with the card King of Swords
Professionally, the King of Swords embodies intellectual leadership, fair authority, strategy and mental rigour. He represents a leader, judge, expert or senior executive with strong analytical skills, logic and clear decision-making abilities. If you are in this position, this card confirms that you are able to lead with fairness, enforce rules, or make decisions in complex situations while remaining true to your principles. It encourages you to act with integrity, without letting emotions cloud your judgement. If this King represents a colleague or superior, expect a demanding but fair personality, with whom it is best to be prepared and well-argued. It is also a favourable card for anything related to law, strategy, clear communication, and important decisions.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card King of Swords
In financial matters, the King of Swords calls for structured, rational management, free from emotional impulses. He recommends that you adopt a strategic attitude, surround yourself with expert advice, and carefully analyse your contracts, investments and commitments. This is the card of financial wisdom based on intelligence rather than desire. It indicates potential financial stability, but above all, stability earned through your clarity of mind and discipline. It can also represent serious outside help: a lawyer, accountant, advisor or mentor. If you are facing conflict or doubt, this card tells you that truth, facts and evidence will be your best allies. Remain honest and clear, and avoid making any hasty decisions: you have the tools you need to judge fairly and correctly.
Family reading
with the card King of Swords
In a family context, the King of Swords represents a father figure, authority, or intellectual transmission. He can embody a father, an elder, a guide or a family mentor, someone who prioritises reason over emotions, and who may seem distant but is deeply protective in his own way. This card may also represent you if you need to be a pillar of strength in your family, providing clear decisions, boundaries, or structure in a confusing situation. Be careful not to fall into authoritarianism or coldness: dialogue must remain open, even if you impose a framework. The King of Swords encourages you to speak firmly but fairly, to listen intelligently, and to serve as a clear reference point in the sometimes emotionally charged dynamics of family life.
Spiritual reading
with the card King of Swords
Spiritually, the King of Swords embodies a quest for truth, discernment, and mental clarity on the spiritual path. He represents a person who is advancing in their inner evolution with lucidity, discipline, and intellectual integrity. You may be stripping your spirituality of its illusions, returning to its pure essence, to solid knowledge, to serious study of texts or philosophies. The King of Swords urges you not to believe blindly, but to verify, analyse and understand, while maintaining a deep personal ethic. He teaches you that wisdom comes not only from intuition or feelings, but also from clear and controlled thinking. He may also indicate that you are ready to teach, to pass on your knowledge, to guide others with fairness, embodying the benevolent authority of someone who has passed through the shadows and understood the light.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
King of Swords and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card King of Swords according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card King of Swords in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
