About these meanings: the traditional descriptions and meanings on this public reference page are taken from material associated with the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck. Some of the language is historical, severe, or old-fashioned. Slogit Tarot modernises this terminology and greatly expands the meanings, examples and interpretations inside the Arcana Nexus learning course.

Minor Arcana · Swords

Queen of Swords

Card Code S13

Suit Swords

Rank Queen

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Description & Symbolism

Queen of Swords

Her right-hand raises the weapon vertically and the hilt rests on an arm of her royal chair the left hand is extended, the arm raised her countenance is severe but chastened; it suggests familiarity with sorrow. It does not represent mercy, and, her sword notwithstanding, she is scarcely a symbol of power.

Divinatory Meaning

Upright

Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation.

A widow.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed

Malice, bigotry, artifice, prudery, bale, deceit.

A bad woman, with ill-will towards the Querent.