Prince of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Saturn/Venus as a symbol of coldness and severity in relationships and contacts, or Mars/Mercury as the personification of a sharp mind and sharp discussions.

PRINCE OF SWORDS The Prince of Swords is always something cold, sharp, insidious, bringing discord and disputes, capable of poisoning even those spheres of life that until now served as your reliable, cozy refuge. The cold he symbolizes can, of course, dispel the fog and bring to God's light everything that has hitherto seemed unclear; however, most often in this card the element of air turns toward us its negative side. This means the chill of estrangement, sharp discussions, harsh and impudent conclusions, a wicked tongue and biting irony. Therefore, the Prince of Swords often foretells quarrels, the breakdown of relationships, furious polemics, and carefully planned villainy.

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

PRINCE OF SWORDS A rather impetuous personality, who furiously rushes forward without reflection, often without particular reason, but with great courage and a desire to accomplish something. By this he often complicates life for himself and those around him. For example, this may be a person of great intellectual potential, who is forever impatient and in a hurry. He gets into nervous discussions, takes on projects without having material resources, without caring about the feelings of those who work with him. If this card describes your partner, there is no point in fussing over him and coddling him. If it points to you, try to relate consciously to the energy overflowing within you. Do not harm yourself.

UPRIGHT POSITION Astrological equivalents: Aries, Taurus, Mars in Aries, Moon in Aries. This is an energetic and dexterous person, however lacking those qualities which would allow him to become a leader. Often he is a lone hero. His sphere of action is concrete and very material affairs. He is quick-witted, but his mind lacks the breadth which is characteristic of the KING OF SWORDS.

REVERSED POSITION Astrological equivalents: Aries, Mars, and Chiron. A person who simply cannot decide whose side he is on and with whom he stands. This is also a sort of noble hooligan-brigand, who passionately (in the depths of his heart, of course) dreams of being reformed (in the role of educators usually appear either the KING OF SWORDS or the QUEEN OF CUPS). This may also be a weak, indecisive person: often appearing in tandem with the QUEEN OF SWORDS, who makes him even more weak and indecisive. A person with criminal inclinations.

If the card signifies an action. A. The upright position of the PRINCE OF SWORDS says that with respect to the event indicated by the subsequent cards, one may say: you are at the midpoint of the path toward the goal. One can already judge what the results will be and whether they correspond to what you originally conceived.

B. The reversed card In a spread it may serve as an indicator that you are only at the stage of a beginning, the results of which it is too early to judge — time will tell.