Princess of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mars in the 3rd house or in tense aspect with Mercury: seeds of discord, conflict.

PRINCESS OF SWORDS The Princess of Swords, like the other Princesses, personifies a certain chance or opportunity that opens up to us, an external driving impulse. The Princess of the suit of Swords, therefore, often signifies clarification, the elucidation of a situation, a kind of fresh current thanks to which the true meaning of what is happening is suddenly revealed to us, and even the most tangled affair becomes simple and clear. Most often, however, this occurs through conflict, scandal, or a sharp conversation, which the Princess of Swords may indicate. For this reason, it should be perceived as a warning — to prepare for an inevitable fight, or else not to put it off, so that the conflict may finally serve to clarify the essence of the matter.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

PAGE OF SWORDS This person has noble aspirations ahead and a desire to maintain a clear vision. But at the same time, it would be a mistake to expect great accomplishments from him at this moment. He strives for impeccability but has not yet attained it. This is an ideal friend, always ready to help. Someone whom you patronize, or someone who patronizes you. A person with whom you willingly exchange thoughts. An excellent assistant who wants to learn something.

UPRIGHT POSITION Astrological equivalents: Aries. This is a pioneer. Usually the PAGE OF SWORDS represents a young person (regardless of gender) who is discovering the surrounding world and trying to understand the laws by which it lives. The PAGE OF SWORDS is naive, inexperienced; he is often studying somewhere. Most likely, he holds a dependent position. Sometimes this is simply an infantile person. He usually arouses a maternal or paternal instinct in others, and many people willingly take him under their wing.

REVERSED POSITION Astrological equivalents: Mars in water signs. The reversed PAGE OF SWORDS points to an idler, a person without purpose in life, an "eternal student," a person who at the present moment has not yet found his place, but still has time to come to his senses. Sometimes the PAGE OF SWORDS represents a character whose dependence on someone falls as a heavy burden upon his patron. The card may also signify an ordinary parasite or a person who psychologically wears down the one who once and somehow happened to "do a favor" for such a PAGE OF SWORDS.

If the card represents an action. A. In the upright position The card says that at the present moment there is every reason to judge the work performed, or the action accomplished, or the process completed, to which the subsequent cards point. The results have already manifested themselves — be able to see them.

B. The reversed card Says that in relation to the event indicated by the subsequent cards, it is appropriate to ask the question: did it actually take place? Or did we simply very much desire and await this event?