The Knight of Swords Tarot CArd Meaning

leading with knowledge

Welcome to Tarot Alley! Sometimes Tarot Alley uses affiliate links, which means we might receive a commission on the sale of some items. This has NO additional cost to you. Visit the policies page to learn more.

Tarot Alley uses the Rider Waite type of deck for our meanings, symbols, interpretations, etc.

When determining the Knight of Swords tarot card meaning, you should consider that it’s a Swords card and a Knight. The Suit of Swords represents knowledge and intellect. Knights represent ambitious, action-oriented leaders.

In this way, we can determine that the Knight of Swords represents leading with knowledge. The Knights of Swords usually represent people who want to lead the way to greater knowledge or mental clarity. However, sometimes they can be too intellectual and lack empathy. The desire to lead can also sometimes become more about lecturing than leading.

Take a look at the Rider-Waite Knight of Swords displayed to the left (or above).

What is your first impression?

What’s the figure’s quest? Where are they rushing off to? What’s the hurry?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, just your interpretation.

Common Symbols

An Upraised Sword: to represent charging ahead into action often without thought or plan.

Keywords & Concepts

Bluntness
Incisiveness

Intelligence
Investigation

The Knight of Swords for Personal Growth

Affirmation: I temper my insights with tact.

Relax! Take criticism constructively instead of defensively. Maturity dictates that you acknowledge your capacity for improvement and accept the observations of others as a useful tool.

Ask Yourself:

What do you really need to know?
To what extent have you imagined the facts behind the situation?
How can you share what you know without alienating others?
How does information impart confidence?
How might getting more information help you be more confident right now?
Who’s an expert for your situation? How can you get them to help or work with you?

Interpreting the Knight of Swords

Generally, the Knight of Swords represents leading with knowledge. The Knight of Swords speaks their mind and makes their opinions known. They offer constructive criticism and typically make insightful observations.

They love to share their knowledge and excel at pinpointing problems. But sometimes they come across a little too strongly when they try to clarify what others have said or when giving directions.

The Reversed Knight of Swords

How you read reversals is a personal choice. You can ignore reversals and read them as if the card is upright (this is what I often choose to do) or you can interpret reversals as variations of what they would mean upright. There are 3 common ways to read reversals: as a negative interpretation, as an opposite interpretation, or as a block on the upright interpretation. Check out How to Read Reversals for more information.

Typically, a reversed Knight of Swords represents a distortion of knowledge. Examples include:

Stating opinions as facts
Starting arguments or fights
Deliberately undermining the confidence of others
Ignoring reason and rationality
Ignoring how others feel
Distorting the evidence

Examples of the Knight of Swords

Specific Interpretations

Specific situations are the general interpretation (from above) used for a specific situation (love, career, etc). There is no need to memorize these (or even look them up) if you understand the general interpretation. However, here are some basic interpretations for some specific situations:

Romantically

Words have power. The power comes not just from what is being said but also from how you’re saying it. Use yours carefully.

Professionally

Give others a chance to share their ideas – even if you’ve heard them before. Don’t correct or try to change or improve them. Be a leader by listening instead of taking over.

Spiritually

Consider all you know and have heard about your spiritual journey. How have the words affected your spirituality? Now is a great time to try and use your own words to describe your spiritual path.