King of Swords Tarot Card Meaning
Keywords: authority · logic · principles · fair judgement
What you see on the card
A crowned king in a blue robe with a red cloak sits upright on his throne, holding an upright sword. Behind him is a carved, patterned backdrop; trees and birds in flight in the distance.
King of Swords upright
Judgement by fair reason: standards, rules and decisions made on clear principles and intellectual authority
King of Swords reversed
Abusing the power of reason: rigid and unfeeling, using the rules as a weapon
In love and relationships
In love, the King of Swords is a rational, principled partner: honest, fair, sometimes emotionally reserved. It favours clear agreements and mature decisions. Reversed, logic can become cold or controlling.
In career and money
At work and with money, it favours expertise, strategy, legal and professional advice, and decisions based on principle. Rely on facts and fair standards.
As advice
As advice: decide by your principles, not by your mood. Then explain your reasoning with fairness — authority is stronger when it is understood.
In a reading, a card is never read alone: its position, its orientation and the cards beside it change what it says.
Draw three cards for your question