Tarot - The King of Swords (First Posted Jan. 12, 2011)

A King, like a Queen, is a very powerful figure in our collective psyches.  A King is the absolute father, ruler and protector of his kingdom and, like his Queen, shoulders responsibilities in direct relationship to the privileges he enjoys. Also, like a Queen, a true King is a true servant to his kingdom and, if need be, will give his life to ensure its well-being and its continuation.

The King of Swords, who rules over the realm of air (thought) does so through the power of his great, seasoned, well-honed and balanced mind.  He has matured from the more rash, more mentally aggressive knight he once was and now rules with absolute assurance that his decisions are crystal clear and just.

Both his conscious and his subconscious mind are working together and available to him so he may draw his mental clarity from the totality of his mind.  Yet, in spite of his mind being balanced (left with right, conscious with unconscious) his sword is slightly inclined to his right which points out his inclination to initially begin processing information with the right side of his brain.  This means initially The King of Swords takes in information in a very open, non-judgemental and unstructured manner.

But, because he is who is he, The King of Swords is able to take this information he has so quickly and easily absorbed as a whole through the right side of his brain and apply to it the fierce analytical strength of his left brain when its help is required.  Leading with his right brain means he can't help but love music, art and stories which please and delight his powerful imagination.

Perhaps it is his vast imagination which allows him to sit so comfortably and regally under a golden crown engraved with the face and the wings of an angelic being while sitting on a throne of butterflies that reaches to the sky.  In the realm of air the King's throne thrusts itself up the highest into his native element representing his unsurpassed ability to to see far into the distance; to have a bird's eye view and perspective of life in his kingdom.

There is nothing under the great, blue sky that escapes the attention of the mentally keen King of Swords.
PLEASE NOTE:  This interpretation is based purely on the feelings I experience when I  focus on, and merge with, the images in the card combined with how I understand the Minor Arcana of the Rider-Waite deck dovetails with the Tree of Life in the Qabalah (as taught by Wald and Ruth Ann Amberstone, co-founders of The Tarot School in New York City, NY).