Tarot cards are a powerful way to self-reflect. Among the various Minor Arcana cards in the Rider-Waite tarot deck, you will come across the Knight of Swords art.
If you’re seeking a morale boost during difficult times, this card can be what you need for a source of energy. Like all cards in the Rider-Waite tarot deck, it’s important to look within so that you can really contextualize what the card is telling you.
As with all of our tarot card guides, we will look at not only the Knight of Swords’ meaning and messages but also guidance on how they may apply to your own life.
Knight of Swords Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Assertive, direct, impatient, intellectual, daring, focused, perfectionist, ambitious
Reversed card (keywords)
Rude, tactless, forceful, bully, aggressive, vicious, ruthless, arrogant
The Knight of Swords Tarot Card Description
Similar to the Page of Swords, the Knight of Swords is depicted in a striking image of raw energy. The card has a Knight donning some extremely heavy-duty armor while charging forward. The Knight sits on top of a powerful white horse as he raises an upright sword with his right hand.
The sky has some stormy clouds and trees that are bending in the strong winds. There is a sense of chaos surrounding the Knight, but he and his horse look prepared and undeterred. His visor is wide open.
The Knight is also wearing red cloth, which is a color to represent passion and energy. The image oozes an air of decisive action for positive change, as the Knight charges forward with a purpose. The horse is laden with butterflies and birds, which are symbols of transformation and freedom. This drops in a touch of intellectual elegance and agility to the image’s otherwise linear dynamism.
The blue sky is also symbolic of intellectual clarity, meaning there is both decisive action and intelligence in the face of this storm.
The Knight of Swords Upright Meaning
On an elementary level, the Knight of Swords upright meaning is simply to not hesitate. Instead, the Knight is leaping forward with courage and conviction, and there is a sense of encouragement that you should too.
However, if we look a bit deeper, there is a haste to what’s going on. Yes, the Knight comes prepared, but there is a subtext that hints at you potentially overlooking details or consequences. These are the downsides of such conviction, but there is ultimately a meaning of being bold and unrelenting.
On balance, the upright Knight of Swords is suggesting that there is a time of action ahead. You should seize the opportunities that come your way with a sharp mind, and it’s a call to trust your instincts.
Love Meaning
If you are interested in the current situation of your love life, like most of us are, the love tarot reading of this card is one of passion and excitement in relationships. If you’re single, you may encounter someone who will sweep you off your feet. But, it’s also a signal that rapid changes or intense communication may lie ahead, be it a positive outcome or negative. There is a lesson here though, that while passion and excitement are expected, we must be careful with being impulsive and full speed with our actions. There’s a right time and a wrong time for being spontaneous.
Career Meaning
Since this card is one of conviction, you may wonder what its career tarot reading is. There is a clear message here about ambition and intellectual pursuits. Perhaps you’re feeling highly motivated to tackle a new project or study hard. The card believes this momentum is necessary in today’s world, but warns about being hasty in decisions that have a lasting impact. Instead, take calculated risks with the bigger picture in mind… Then follow through with conviction.
Finances Meaning
Okay, this appears to be good news in a financial tarot spread—a dominant, leader-like story about our finances… Well, much like the career meaning, there is a duality here, and it calls into question our belief systems around “trusting our gut”. You may be feeling driven to invest or make large purchases, and while this energy can sometimes pay off, it encourages a spout of research before committing to anything risky. But there is a lot you can take away from the ambition of the Knight in an upright position, and the lessons it’s teaching…
The Knight of Swords Reversed Card Meaning
The reversed Knight of Swords tarot goes deeper into the dark side of conviction that we have ever so slightly touched on already. It suggests that your drive may be misdirected and that you may be finding yourself rushed into situations that you didn’t plan for.
In fact, the reversed position goes a step further beyond rash decision-making and warns against a total lack of direction or a shattered energy. Perhaps you’ve decided it was courageous to drop your full-time job to accelerate your side business, for example. The Knight of Swords reversed meaning serves as a warning to slow down and reassess your approach to the big things in life.
Love Meaning
In a love reading, the reversed Knight can indicate that you’ve been impatient or that there’s conflict within your relationship. Or, if single, you may be rushing too quickly into the wrong relationships, or perhaps are too eager to find love in the first place, which could be pushing partners away.
For those dating or in a relationship, the reversed meaning of the card warns against impulsive arguments or hurtful words–you’re not the courageous Knight you think you are if you’re reckless with your communication.
Career Meaning
You may be lacking a clear plan or you’re becoming quite disorganized in your professional life. There may be feelings of being overwhelmed, but this card really wants you to take a step back and prioritize. Acting impulsively can lead to setbacks, so it wants to channel energy with caution so as to not get overworked.
Finances Meaning
You may be feeling hard up at the moment, and there is a temptation towards risky behavior to get you out of the rut. However, the reversed Knight sees this as a profound mistake, and you should instead shake off this pressure and meticulously plan with forward-thinking.
Other Cards With The Knight of Swords
Like much of the Suit of Swords, there are themes of action and intellect. The spiritual energy in tarot card readings when the Knight of Swords is paired with other cards, can be even more insightful–sometimes challenging the Knight’s conviction, other times reinforcing it.
The Knight of Swords and The Chariot
The pairing with the Chariot is a force to be reckoned with. Both cards have a synergy of energy which culminates in unstoppable momentum. These cards give the green light to charge full steam ahead with confidence, letting your willpower guide you to overcome any obstacles. Though there are warnings of being overly aggressive, this is a motivating pairing to receive.
The Knight of Swords and The Knight of Cups
Sometimes, you may feel conflicted between emotion and intellect. This pairing validates that, as the Knight of Swords’ decisive energy meets the emotional depth and romanticism of the Knight of Cups. Together, they give you hope to harmonize logic with feelings, and this is particularly important for your love life.
The Knight of Swords and The Tower
This combination is a blockbuster of big change. The Knight, which has a swift energy, comes together with the disruptive force of the Tower. The result is warning you about a period of radical change or upheaval, but it encourages you that quick thinking and being adaptive will get you through. This is a challenging pairing, but growth can come of this.
The Knight of Swords and The Knight of Pentacles
As you can imagine, it’s a good sign when these two Knights come together. The Knight of Pentacles‘ diligence and forward planning are just what the Knight of Swords needs to balance out his readiness. This combination is exactly the encouragement you need to find a middle ground between immediate results and choosing the right path. This is particularly important for your finances and career.
The Knight of Swords and The Knight of Wands
This is a firework pairing, with both dominant Knights being ambitious and energetic. With both being action-oriented, there is a coming together of direction and passion. You may be confronted with the dangers of being reckless, and the Knight of Wands pairing is a warning against that, but there is a deep sense of unfiltered enthusiasm that should be used as fuel.
The Knight of Swords Card and Its Astrological Sign
The tarot meaning of the Knight of Swords has strong Zodiac sign associations, particularly with the Air signs. This is the astrological element that revolves around intellect and decisive action, making it a clear equivalent. More specifically, Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra all have a deep connection to this card, as all three resonate with its messages.
The connection to Air is all about the Knight’s ability to act decisively when chasing his goals. Of course, like all Suit of Swords, there’s an element of intellect and sharp wit as per Gemini, but the determination to break boundaries is its relevance to Aquarius. And, like Libra, there is a sense of fairness and clarity in the actions.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our tarot guide on the Suit of Swords Knight meaning, you should be more open to its messages—both upright and reversed. The key meanings are clear: keep pushing on with the bigger picture in mind.
Learning tarot card meanings isn’t clear-cut, they often involve interpretation when applying them to your own life. That’s why reading our tarot guides can help you answer your daily questions and head toward spiritual growth!
To grow your mental discipline and understand more about your new job or relationship, claim your free tarot reading or speak to an AI psychic today!
