Knight 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
Knight of Swords Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Air
Gemini
In its general meaning, the Knight of Swords represents quick, incisive, combative and determined mental energy. He is an agent of change, someone who does not shy away from conflict and who moves forward with clear and assertive logic. He is a symbol of movement, decision-making and the fight for truth, sometimes at the expense of gentleness. This card can herald rapid news, sudden upheaval or confrontation, but always with the aim of bringing out what needs to be said or done. It invites you to act with courage, to assert your thoughts, but also not to lock yourself into mental rigidity. The Knight of Swords is powerful, but he gains from learning moderation. He tells you: ‘Speak, act, move… but don’t forget to listen.’
RWS Tarot : Arcana Knight of Swords readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Knight of Swords
In matters of the heart, the Knight of Swords symbolises passionate, direct, sometimes impulsive energy that can be both seductive and unsettling. It often represents a relationship where communication is intense, where one or both partners seek to impose their ideas, be right, or clarify things very quickly. This can lead to arguments if this energy is not controlled. This card may herald the sudden arrival of a quick-witted, frank person who is difficult to follow emotionally. For couples, it highlights a need for frank discussions, or even confrontation, to get things moving. It encourages telling the truth… but also to be careful with hurtful words. Love is not built on mental haste, but on a balance between heart and reason. The Knight of Swords can be a catalyst, but you have to know when to slow down.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Knight of Swords
Professionally, the Knight of Swords indicates a period of intense activity, quick decision-making, or intellectual combat. You are ready to defend your ideas, argue your case, and take decisive action. This card is very favourable for public speaking, presentations, negotiations, or any situation where quick thinking and firmness are required. However, it also warns against impatience, impulsiveness, or rushing into things without checking all the details. You have powerful mental energy: use it to move forward effectively without crushing others. Sometimes this card heralds a conflict or heated debate, where you will need to keep your cool in order to be heard. The Knight of Swords is a force of movement… but the real victory is to convince without hurting.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Knight of Swords
In the financial realm, the Knight of Swords evokes quick decisions, brisk transactions, and even sudden movements of money. This could be a sudden investment, an unexpected expense, or an opportunity that requires an immediate response. This card urges you to react quickly… but not without thinking. It encourages you to gather information quickly, seek advice if necessary, and avoid any impulsiveness that could cost you dearly. You are in a dynamic period where your ability to analyse and make quick decisions is valuable. However, don’t let stress or urgency take over: a hasty decision may lack clarity. Use the energy of this card to move forward with mental clarity, but with a minimum of strategic distance.
Family reading
with the card Knight of Swords
In a family context, the Knight of Swords can represent verbal tensions, frank disagreements, or a need to say what has long been left unsaid. He embodies a desire for truth, but sometimes expressed too abruptly. A family member (or yourself) may want to get things out in the open, even if it causes a shock. This card invites you to express your thoughts without aggression, to defend your boundaries without seeking to dominate. The Knight of Swords can also symbolise a rebellious teenager, unfiltered speech, or an atmosphere where everyone wants to have the last word. A balance must be found between clarity and kindness. Sometimes this card represents a sudden change in the family structure (departure, radical decision), carried out with confidence. The key will be to keep the dialogue open, even if the tone is heated.
Spiritual reading
with the card Knight of Swords
Spiritually, the Knight of Swords embodies a relentless quest for truth, a fierce desire to understand, to demystify, to access the deeper meaning of existence. You may be in a phase where you are questioning everything: beliefs, dogmas, teachings. This card indicates an awakening spiritual intelligence, capable of discerning illusion from truth, but which can also become too sharp, even rigid. It invites you to channel this energy into active meditation, philosophical inquiry, or structured study. The danger here is to confuse lucidity with spiritual pride. The Knight of Swords urges you not to settle for ready-made truths, but also to respect the pace of inner evolution. Awakening cannot be forced: it is refined through experience, not just analysis.
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
Knight of Swords and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Knight 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 Knight of Swords in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
