Swords · Minor Arcana
King of Swords
mental clarityintellectual powerauthoritytruth
A stern king sits on a throne of stone butterflies, sword raised vertically. He is the embodiment of pure intellect and unbending principle.
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Upright Meaning
Mental clarity, intellectual power, authority, truth, clear thinking.
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Reversed Meaning
Quiet power, inner truth, misuse of power, manipulation.
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Symbolism
Butterflies and sylphs carved into the king's stone throne — transformation through thought, the airy realm he rules. His sword points straight upward: absolute principle, vertical, uncompromising, identical from every angle.
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Numerology
14
King — Command
The fullest expression of the suit's power — mature, certain, sovereign.
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Element
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Air
Thought, communication, truth, the cutting of illusion