Queen of Swords
Ah the Queens, I have been anticipating greatly to write about them. And I’ll be starting with my personal favorite, the Queen of Swords. My astrology chart has some heavy Gemini and Capricorn placements so the actions ascribed to this card are very relatable to me as a person that calls it like I see it. (Not always a popular choice as a woman in a patriarchal society.) But what Queen worth her salt cares more about pleasing people than doing what’s best for her people? So, if you’re a feminine presenting individual that has been told all of your life to keep your opinions to yourself, just like me, keep reading. I embrace bitches over here, we might be what saves the world one day.
Swords are associated with air, as you will see in my photo posted with today’s blog the card has feathers rather than swords. Some decks use birds, butterflies, bats, brooms, etc to represent the air element of this suit. Air is also associated with Gemini, Aquarius and Libra astrological signs. Those signs are commonly free thinkers, quit witted, and often times have a lot to express. And if you’re a student of the Ayurvedic Chakra system, expression is associated with the throat, and the color blue. When reading different tarot decks you can look for these different elements to help you navigate the deck. But the OG paintings from the Ryder, Waite, Smith deck uses swords. Swords whip through the air, swords deliver a message, usually something like, “You’re not going to fuck with me or the ones I love.” Cue your favorite romantic action movie with people swinging swords in the name of love and revenge! (Mine is Princess Bride.)
So what makes the Queen different than the King? We are in a non-binary world, right? We can divide the sexes and split hairs if we want, but what I like to think about the Queens is that they are receiving and absorbing, whereas the Kings are putting out the energy to be received. A Yin and Yang approach if you will and like the Yin and Yang they have a little of both in each side. A time to split hairs is contextual upon your reading. Peter Steele from Type O Negative singing in the song, “Be My Druidess,” “I’ll do anything, to make you come.” Over and over again so you get the message, is some King of Wands energy. And the Queen of Swords energy would be receiving that message and then telling him how to make you come.
Oftentimes I associate the Queen of Swords with the High Priestess, they’re like best friends. One is the introvert that is studying everyone’s body language and the other is the outspoken one that calls out everyone’s bullshit. The energy of both cards is a sense of knowing, but the action of speaking or expressing falls on the Queen of Swords. She notices when her best friend has a jealous co-worker and she decides to tell her friend to watch her back around that person. The Queen of Swords is about telling it like it is for the greater good, being courageous enough to recite your poem in front of audience, writing a blog about Tarot (ohp.) She has received her information and she has decided to release it. Now if you are debating on whether or not to say something, and you draw a Temperance card, you may want to hold off for a little while until more information comes through.
Like I said, cards are energetic and the meaning in a reading often depends on the context of the questions being asked. I once did a reading for a young college student that was beginning to challenge her more conservative dad on his dogmas. And she wanted the reading to know what she should do with this intensifying home life. And she drew the High Priestess and the Queen of Swords. So I told her, “You have all of the information, you know how he feels, you know you feel in relation to his opinions. And unfortunately you also know that you need to depend on him for your education. Take that into account when you decide to argue with him. Write out your feelings in a journal, see a counselor, but wait until you are financially independent to really let him have it.” Not all of us have had the privilege this young woman has, we have had to speak our truth a little more aggressively even if it cost us a living situation. But use your words wisely as a Queen would do. When we wield our words without being thoughtful, we can be cruel, we can create hostility in our homes and workplace. An example is a person that gives unsolicited advice and it definitely starts to come off as Regina George antics.
I know as a burlesque performer I have come across other performers that immediately start to criticize my costumes, my facial expressions and my wigs before I even asked their opinion. And then they were confused when I didn’t want to associate with them anymore. Constructive criticism is one thing, but trying to break someone down with criticism is another and I have no room in my life for that noise.
Wield your swords responsibly but also, take no shit. Blessings.
Photo of the Queen of Swords in the Gothic Tarot by Anne Stokes