Suit: Suit of Swords
Card Type: Minor Arcana
Tarot Element: Air
Star Sign: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
Planet: Saturn
Angel: Archangel Michael
Key Meaning: Full Steam Ahead
When the Knight of Swords charges into your reading, it means full steam ahead. This card brings energy, movement and speedy action.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
Knight Swords Keywords
🥰 Upright: Action, energy, learning, chaos
😒 Reversed: Carelessness, holding back, blocks
Knight of Swords Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. A knight in armor, visor up, charges on his white horse into the wind. His sword is drawn indicating that he ready for action. He is the classic romantic hero, the knight who rescues the damsel in distress. He gives no thought for his own safety and is driven by purpose and a sense of adventure.
As the swords suit represent mind and communication, this Knight can herald the start of intellectual adventures – such as learning, creating or inventing, as well as finding a suitable way to communicate your thoughts and visions.
If you are waiting for an event to happen, the Knight heralds movement on the issue – but be prepared – things could move much more swiftly than you anticipated. It may even be chaotic. Let’s say, forewarned is forearmed.
While all Knights herald movement, there is a difference in the pace of movement.
Knight of Swords – rushes into action, events come suddenly and swiftly.
Knight of Wands – fast, but not as fast as the Knight of Swords.
Knight of Cups – slower than the Knight of Wands.
Knight of Pentacles – the slowest of all Knights, movement is very gradual.
Court Card Personality Traits
When this Knight refers to a person, he is a young man under 30 who is sporty and full of energy. He can be assertive, witty and very competitive. As a lover, he is confident and not shy about saying how he feels or what he wants. If the card falls in reverse, he lacks staying power and quickly loses interest – think more, one-night stand or friends with benefits. On the downside, he has a sharp tongue. He is the type who will cut to the chase and tell you the truth, even if the truth is not pleasant. This card is associated with sun signs Aquarius, Gemini and Libra. See also: Tarot court cards
LOVE: What does The Knight of Swords Mean when You Ask About Love?
When the Knight of Swords turns up in a love reading, the meaning will depend on whether or not you are in a relationship.
❤️ If you asked will I find love? – the answer is Yes, and quite soon. This card predicts a whirl-wind romance that knocks your socks off! Your new love is likely to be an Air Sign, that is Aquarius, Gemini or Libra. Regardless of gender, they will embrace some of this court card’s personality traits (see above).
❤️ If you have just met someone – I bet your heart is beating, right? This guy (or gal) is a special catch, no doubt about it. You will need to rise to the occasion and be the best version of yourself to seal this deal. This person has the potential to inspire you to live a greater life.
❤️ This Knight has a big ego, and you must be careful with your words, particularly if he is your romantic partner. It is important that he feels respected, which is why he does not respond well to direct criticism. If you want him to change his behavior, don’t tell him why his actions make you feel bad. Rather, tell him how doing the opposite thing makes you feel great. For example, if you want him to mow the lawn, don’t tell him how annoying it to see overgrown grass. Instead, tell him how lovely you feel when the lawn is cut. Note: The same advice applies if your partner is female.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify When You Ask About Work?
If your question relates to work, business, career or study and you receive the Knight of Swords, then:
⭕ This card can predict big changes in the career and work area. Full steam ahead into a new job, project, business or industry.
⭕ You may be diving into a new area of study or college course which really stimulates you. This is what passion feels like, enjoy it.
⭕ Do you feel the need to defend someone, to stand up to a bully? You are the knight in shining armor.
Jobs & Careers
This Knight is associated with the world of the mind. It is his duty to explore this world, to understand how it works and then work in the area. For this reason, suitable jobs include: psychology, counseling, minister, wedding officiant, research, teacher, professor, scientist, consultant and inventor.
The Knight is also associated with problem solving, analysing and creating logical arguments. Other suitable jobs include: lawyer, programmer, public relations, defence forces and linguistics.
MONEY: What is the Meaning of Knight of Swords in a Money Reading?
💲 If you asked the Tarot about money and finances, and you receive this card, it means don’t waste time. Now is the time to make money or acquire the skills to make money. Push yourself in whatever direction is needed to achieve this.
💲 If you asked about a significant purchase or sale, like a house – this card means everything is likely to happen very quickly.
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
Knight of Swords combined with:
“The Lovers” – The romance of a lifetime.
“The Tower” – Change comes quickly, first the lows and then the highs.
“The World” – Your wish fulfilled.
HEALTH: What does The Knight of Swords Mean When You Ask About Health?
If the Knight of Swords turns up and you are worried about your health, it can mean a sudden improvement, or a big leap forward in a health matter.
Health conditions associated with this card include: cancer, blood pressure, seizures, TMJ and eye problems.
YES/NO: Does The Knight of Swords Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and this card turns up, then the answer is YES.
TIMING: Does The Knight of Swords Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 This Tarot card is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 Using my timing method, the Knight of Swords is about 12 days. If the card is reversed, timing will be slightly longer – so up to 18 days.
Karina’s Timing Method:
Swords are days. Wands are weeks. Cups are months and Pentacles are years. Please note this is my personal timing method. Feel free to adopt it (or not).
What is the Meaning of The Knight of Swords Reversed?
The Knight is thrown off his horse, when the card is reversed. This means:
✔️ You experience delays or issues crop up that block your progress.
✔️ Being careless: Are you being careless with your job, clients or business? Or maybe you are spending recklessly?
✔️ Are you talking about doing something, but not actually doing it? Remember action speak louder than words.
✔️Other keywords associated a reversal include: impatience, indecision, not picking your battles wisely, overthinking, scattered attention, superficial, lacking principles.
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Knight of Swords Symbolism
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Previous Card: Page of Swords | Next Tarot Card: Queen of Swords
Complete List: Tarot Card Meanings
Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.