Exploring the Queen of Swords

Welcome to Tarot Thursdays! This week we will be exploring the Queen of Swords and how it can be used as a prompt or brainstorming in our writing.

Tarot is an interesting thing. It’s based upon symbolism and metaphors through imagery. With these images the subconscious mind is tapped into through the story provided. Not everyone gets the same thing from a piece of art. Each piece will influence each person in a slightly different way.

Introduction of the Card

The Queen of Swords is card number 62 in the deck, the thirteenth card of the Swords Suit, and the third card of Swords’ Court in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot.

Let’s take a look at the following examples of this card below.

Card Examples

Notice the similarities between them and take note of their differences. Do any of these move you more than the others? Take your time and allow these cards to tell you their story.

My Analysis of These Cards

Here in each of these cards we have different depictions of queens with her swords. In all of these cards she appears noble, intelligent, and just. I also have no doubt that each of them wouldn’t hesitate to smite an evildoer if necessary.

Themes of the Card

Each card has a set of keywords associated with it that serve as themes for its image. These keywords will vary somewhat depending on who you ask.

According to the Learning the Tarot website, the keywords associated with the card are:

HONEST
ASTUTE
FORTHRIGHT
WITTY
EXPERIENCED

You can learn more about what this site has to say about this card here.

According to the Biddy Tarot website, the keywords associated with the card are:

QUICK THINKER
ORGANIZED
PERCEPTIVE
INDEPENDENT

You can learn more about what this site has to say about this card here.

What this Card Means to Me

Over on the Chaos Pen, I spoke on this card how I felt it represented the way hypomania felt to me. I still feel that way, but this card means more than that.

Queens are the mature feminine aspects of their suit. So here in the Swords we have the feminine expression of the mind. It’s the way we interact with others on an intellectual level. It’s how we communicate and listen to people.

If you’re familiar with the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series, I believe that Fluttershy demonstrates these qualities often. She even has “The Stare” which in families we often call the “Mom Look” or “The Evil Eye” so I’m sure if you haven’t seen the show, you’ll know what I’m talking about here. But Fluttershy has the gift to understand and communicate with all creatures in her world. Despite her shyness, she quite often proves herself to be more than capable for the task at hand.

The key phrase I choose for this card is: MOTHER OF THE MIND.

Music Playlist

In this spirit of all this, these are the songs I have picked out for this card.

The Writing Exercise

This exercise is a free write. Permit yourself to write whatever comes to mind based upon the theme of this card. Choose a keyword or key phrase and run with it to see what you come up with.

I would love it if you linked or pinged back what you wrote so I could see where you went with this.

Happy writing!

Mythic Tarot by Liz Greene (Author), Juliet Sharman-Burke (Author), Tricia Newell (Illustrator) © 1989
Dragon Tarot by Terry Donaldson (Author), Peter Pracownik (Author) © 1996
Universal Tarot by Lo Scarabeo (Author), R. De Angelis (Illustrator), A. E. Waite (Designer) © 2001
Tarot of Dreams by Ciro Marchetti (Author), Lee Bursten (Author) © 2015