Knight of Swords
He is riding in full course, as if scattering his enemies. In the design he is really a prototypical hero of romantic chivalry. He might almost be Galahad, whose sword is swift and sure because he is clean of heart. Divinatory Meanings: Skill, bravery, capacity, defence, address, enmity, wrath, war, destruction, opposition, resistance, ruin. There is therefore a sense in which the card signifies death, but it carries this meaning only in its proximity to other cards of fatality. Reversed: Imprudence, incapacity, extravagance.
A. E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911)
It is time for the individual to be prepared for sudden changes; a new idea or vision erupts from within oneself. And the ability to move with this turbulence shows firmness, resoluteness and responsibility. A man who uses mental power and its duality or duplicity throws the old order into chaos, he needs constant mental stimuli in order to avoid becoming bored. This brings conflict and movement and going new ways means often breaking the heart of the beloved. But one cannot spend too long feeling guilty about who might be hurt when the mind abruptly turns and moves in a new directions. Right now victory over moods, communication, exchange of ideas or travel are important and lead to clarity and a broader vision of life.
Knight of Clouds: Fighting
The figure in this card is completely covered in armor. Only his glare of rage is visible, and the whites of the knuckles on his clenched fists. If you look closely at the armor, you can see it's covered with buttons, ready to detonate if anybody so much as brushes up against them. In the background we see the shadowy movie that plays in this man's mind–two figures fighting for a castle. An explosive temper or a smoldering rage often masks a deep feeling of pain.
We think that if we frighten people away, we can avoid being hurt even more. In fact, just the opposite is the case. By covering our wounds with armor we are preventing them from being healed. By lashing out at others we keep ourselves from getting the love and nourishment we need. If this description seems to fit you, it's time to stop fighting. There is so much love available to you if you just let it in. Start by forgiving yourself: you're worth it.
Tarot of the Ages - Mario Garizio ©1988 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
When the diplomacy of the Page of Swords fails to achieve results, the Knight will try it his way, the violent way. Violence in this sense does not refer to physical brutality but to a suddenness and apparent hostility that will threaten most people. And if they do not feel threatened they will almost certainly feel a little wary around the Knight of Swords. He is the essence of the element of Air, almost completely removed from the realm of emotion, and all that is associated with him must be perceived accordingly. He can manifest in the typical three ways: as an event, as a person in your life, or as a part of yourself.
It is rare that the Knight of Swords symbolizes an event, and when he does the event is one of two general possibilities. The first is the sudden going or coming of a matter, a quick departure or an unexpected arrival. Given the association of the Swords to politics, this could manifest as the resignation of a political leader or the start of a new campaign, for example. This is, as described, also a very violent card and the Knight of Swords can thus represent the start or the end of hostility and conflict, usually the former. This may not be a physical conflict, but a debate or an argument. Only in rare cases will it mean the start of war, but that possibility exists.
A person represented by this card will act with almost total emotionlessness. It's not that they have no emotions, just that they suppress them and don't really see the value in having them. The heart is the center of compassion, but it is also the center of fear, and with his heart firmly under his heel, the Knight of Swords is almost totally fearless and never anticipates defeat. He thinks of himself as invincible, and though this is a fault it can also give him bursts of confidence that let him succeed where others fail. Since he never doubts himself or his ability, he is the perfect person to implement new ideas that others shy away from.
Dangerous as it may seem to assume the personality of the Knight of Swords, sometimes it is necessary and even preferable to do so. Whenever you feel afraid or indecisive, call on the Knight of Swords to give you a shot of confidence and clarity. His impartiality is very desirable when making hard choices, though you have to be careful not to act too hastily, or else the effort is wasted. His refusal to back down from fear makes him a pillar of strength. All of his negative qualities - and there are quite a few - must be carefully monitored; otherwise they will start to rage out of control, and that's definitely not what you want.
Tarot of the Dream Enchantress ©2009 Lo Scarabeo