King of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The King of Swords shows a male figure seated on a throne. He is holding a sword in one hand, and is looking straight ahead. His face is stern and he is composed.

He wears a grey gown as a symbol of his indifference and willingness to consider both sides of the coin. His front mantle, also known as his royal robe is pale blue. The color is symbolic of peace, serenity and coldness. Behind him, there is the image of the blue sky with a single cloud and two birds which fly in the distance.

Upright Meaning of King of Swords

The King of Swords is a sign for you to embrace your intellectual skills. You have developed your analytical skills to such a degree that you can pick up important information by simply listening and assessing things.

Your decisions are based on logic and you thrive on finding solutions to problems. When it comes to communication, you are able to do so easily and succinctly, you can get your point across with ease, as you engage in factual conversations, you are willing to look at other people’s perspective, and take their insight into account.

One of your strong-points is your ability to detach from your emotions. You are not swayed easily by things that hype up your emotions. In fact, you are rarely moved by emotional experiences unless it is something that is worth investing in.

Reverse Meaning

In reverse, this tarot card is a sign of abusing one’s power in order to get ahead. With a lack of empathy and compassion, you could lack common sense in terms of realizing the pain you could be causing to the people around. You are warned against becoming rigid in your position.

In the negative light, the King of Swords could be prone to multiple personalities. He could show people a professional version of himself, underneath the surface, he could be the complete opposite.

In reverse, the King of Swords could have very negative tendencies such as stalking people using false aliases. He could also be the type of person that is prone to obsessive-compulsive disorders. Since he has a hard time processing his emotions, he can find unhealthy outlets to express himself.

King of Swords in Love & Feelings.

In love, the King of Swords energy thrives on intellectual stimulation. You are naturally attracted to strong, intelligent individuals. You love to talk about things that are interesting. You are put off by boring things or people.

When you date someone, it can come from one of two places. Number one, you are looking for a life partner, someone to have children with, you can overlook their intellect in cases where they would serve their purpose as a good parent.

Number two, you are not looking to settle for someone that serves a purpose. You want your dream person. They have to possess all of the qualities you want from a partner.

The interesting thing about the King of Swords is that he can be very stubborn when he sets his sights on someone. He could struggle to deal with his emotions, especially when it overwhelms him.

Not many people are aware of this, but when the King of Swords falls in love, he falls hard. He loves from a place of deep vulnerability, in fact he is unable to escape his emotions.

Since you value your independence, it can be impossible to tie you down. The King of Swords is warning to not close yourself off from emotional connections.

You could lack clarity at this point, especially if you are placing your intellect above your emotional needs. This energy is also a side of using power without utilizing your empathetic side.

Prone to intellectual bouts of curiosity, you could find yourself tinkering with new technologies or hiding out in your man caves, your loved ones could feel alienated from you as you go off into your own world. This could have far-reaching consequences for your life in the long term.

As feelings, your person is not feeling much emotion. There is a desire for solitude on their part, they would much rather be alone, then have the company of a partner at this point. Luckily, this mood could pass, and they could be preoccupied with their logical mind.

King of Swords in Health

In health, the King of Swords does not play games. He could be a keen sportsman. He is dedicated to keeping his body in good shape. There is a chance that you are seeing a correlation between the King of Swords and yourself.

One thing that people do not know about the King of Swords is that he can be really fussy, orderly and compulsive. Almost as if he has to take his morning vitamin pills at 7:15 am at the same time, everyday.

You are called to be diligent with your health routines. Take it seriously. Also consider your mental health, if you find yourself suppressing your emotions, you could be in denial over something. Dealing with suppressed emotions is no easy task.

King of Swords in Wealth

In Wealth, the King of Swords is a strategic business man. He takes a prudent approach to his financial decisions. As he analyzes investments, he does so from a detached perspective. It is unusual for him to make emotional decisions. You are advised to take a practical approach in managing your resources.

King of Swords as Yes or No.

Its a No.

Questions to ask when you receive the King of Swords in a tarot reading?

  • How can I apply rationality in my current situation?
  • In what ways can I demonstrate leadership in my endeavors?
  • What can I do to enhance my communication skills to be more assertive?
  • Who in my life represents the qualities of the King of Swords, and how can I emulate their ethical standards?
  • What steps can I take to resolve conflicts with impartiality?

Read next: The Queen of Swords 

Complete List of Tarot meanings.

Isabelle
Isabelle

Isabelle has over 20 years experience in reading tarot and has helped millions of people from around the world live an empowered life. She is the creator of three tarot e-books, a few oracle decks and tarot courses too.