XIII – Queen of Swords♠
Tree of Life Path:
Click to enlargeZodiac
Element
World
Yetzirah (World of Formation)
Keywords
Independence, Clear Boundaries, Direct, Perceptive
Other decks
Tarot de Marseille
Queen of Swords is perceptive and independent, valuing logic and clarity above all. In the Golden Dawn system, the Queen represents the watery part of Air—the receptive understanding of mental force, the intuitive perception that grasps truth through insight rather than analysis alone.
The Queen of Swords cuts through confusion with wisdom, speaks her truth, and upholds her boundaries. She sits upon her throne among the clouds, sword raised, her gaze clear and penetrating. Often associated with one who has known sorrow and emerged wiser, the Queen has learned to value truth over comfort, clarity over pleasant illusion. Her crown is adorned with butterflies, symbols of the soul's transformation through suffering.
As Water of Air, the Queen represents the marriage of intellect and intuition, the wisdom that comes from combining logical analysis with emotional understanding. The Queen of Swords invites you to use discernment and approach challenges with reason. She teaches that setting clear boundaries and speaking difficult truths is itself a form of love, and that the sharpest clarity often comes from those who have learned through pain.

Upright
Objectivity, independence, perception, complexity, honesty, clear boundaries, wise counsel.

Reversed
Coldness, bitterness, harsh judgment, emotional distance, cruelty in speech.