The Queen of Swords Tarot Card, A Complete Guide!

The Queen of Swords Card is usually presented as part of the suit of Swords in the Minor Arcana of most Tarot Decks.

In the Rider Waite deck introduced in 1910, the illustration on the card shows an older woman sitting on a throne, a sword in her right hand, wearing a crown of butterflies. The symbolism in this illustration is pretty blatant and is easily understood.

If you look at the card, the Queen holds her hand out as if reaching out but also holds her sword firmly as if to protect herself from any harm coming her way.

Her throne, decorated with a cherub, depicts her softer, feminine side. Her crown, on close inspection, is made of butterflies. Butterflies have often been used as a symbol of positive transformation.

If you look closely, the clouds are of two different shades. The clouds on the bottom right corner of the card are a slightly darker shade than the clouds on top.

This is thought to symbolize the sorrows she has dealt with in the past; this relates to why she has her sword carefully held upright too.

The white clouds on the top part of the card show that while she has faced darker times, she has a clarity of thought that dominates the present moment.

Table of Contents

What does the Queen of Swords Tarot card mean?

The Queen of Swords is generally thought to be a positive card, no matter where it shows up in your reading.

The Queen of Sword represents a combination of mental clarity and maturity. It might also signal changes that are to come into your life shortly.

The Queen of Swords represents a growing maturity in you or the person you are seeking the reading for. This person leads from the head while also balancing the matters of the heart. They prefer to get a complete sense of the situation before making any decisions.

This person is honest and often seeks out the truth before declaring their intentions or judgments. They are determined but have an open mind toward any situation.

This card generally means that one must make decisions with a clear head and not allow emotions to get the better of you. The trees in the bottom left corner seem to be blowing in the wind, which symbolizes a change coming your way.

To get the best out of this changing situation, make a decision based on honest facts instead of worrying about the sentiments of the people involved.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card Upright

The Queen of Swords, in an upright position, is a positive card.

Upright, the Queen of Swords denotes using your intellect to judge a situation, instead of making a decision based on temporary emotions. It represents truth and honesty.

The Queen is sitting on a stable throne, and while she has a softer side, she must also take into consideration the past hurt she has experienced. She is empathetic and yet is able to make balanced decisions that are in the best interests of everyone involved.

The Queen of Swords is also often thought to denote an older woman who might enter the situation to help you make the tough decisions you yourself are finding difficult to make. She is wise because of her life experiences and is there to support you through everything.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card Keywords Upright

Honesty
Truthfulness
Independent
Clarity of Mind
Witty
Fair
Strong
Open-minded
Self-reliant
Transformative

What does the Queen of Swords Tarot card mean reversed?

If the Queen of Swords appears in reverse, during your tarot card reading, it does not always have a negative meaning to it.

The Queen of Swords reversed denotes that you are allowing your emotions to get the better of you. It shows that you may not have all the facts in front of you, and you are leading from your heart instead of your mind.

This may be an indication for you to straighten out your mind to get the best out of the situation.

It can also mean that you have not learned from your past mistakes. The sword in reverse becomes a stick to cause harm to the people around you.

If you have not learned from past experiences and are yet to take accountability for your actions, you might be lashing out at others, instead of growing as an individual.

In reverse, the Queen of Swords could also signify an older woman who is malicious towards you and is attempting to drag you down. She might be bitter and resentful and will not do you any good.

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The Queen of Swords Tarot Card Keywords in Reverse

Toxicity
Resenting
Manipulation
Emotional dependency
Confusion
Disregarding the Facts
Pessimistic
Hurtful
Harsh Behavior
Unclear Mental State

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as How Someone (He/She) Sees You

The Queen of Swords is generally a very positive card to get as to how someone sees you.

The Queen of Swords is placed upright in a position where the person in question sees you as someone who is very balanced and has a strong mind. You are self-reliant, with a strong independent personality.

The Queen is stable and takes rational decisions in the best interests of everyone. This is how you are seen too- Someone who is very clear with what they want and is very discerning in the people you call towards you.

You are generous and have a softer, feminine side, as symbolized by the cherub, but you are also careful to protect yourself from harmful suitors, as symbolized by the upright sword.

You are wise and have learned from your past, whether that is a mistake you have made or something that another person has inflicted on you. Despite the past betrayals you may have experienced, you are willing to give others a chance to earn your trust.

The Queen of Swords Card in Reverse as How Someone (He/She) Sees You

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, is the opposite of everything the card symbolizes in the upright position.

In reverse, the Queen of Swords shows that you are seen as someone who lacks the balance to make sensible decisions. You lead from the heart and are incapable of making wise and intelligent judgments.

You could also be seen as someone who is manipulative and cold. Since you have known trauma and betrayal, you refuse to see the positive in people and use it to be resentful and unforgiving.

You may be seen as someone lacking empathy. Instead, you may be thought of as vengeful and continuously on the lookout for revenge against those who have wronged you.

What Does the Queen of Swords Tarot Mean in Love?

If the Queen of Swords comes up in a love reading, it might mean that either you or the person you are involved with embodies the qualities of the Queen. Whether this is denoting you or your partner, this card talks about intense loyalty and someone who is always going to have your back.

This person also loves their space in a relationship. However, this does not mean that they do not love or care for you. They might be reserved in public but can be very affectionate when it is just the two of you.

The Queen of Swords may also refer to an older woman who is somehow involved in the relationship. This may be a mother-in-law or even an older friend who you can turn to for constructive criticism and advice. This woman is mature and has a wealth of experience for you to draw on.

If you are single at the moment, this card might denote that you are self-reliant and are looking for someone who will add to your life. You will not be dependent on them for your happiness. You are very careful as to who you allow to come close to you and to be fair, that isn’t a bad thing at all!

The Queen of Swords Reversed Meaning in Love?

As with most reversed cards, The Queen of Swords in a reversed position is the opposite of all things positive.

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, talks about someone who does not have a balanced state of mind. This may be you or your partner, but either way, it symbolizes someone who is either too dependent on their partner emotionally or is too protective of their personal space and freedom.

No matter who this card is talking about, the Queen of Sword in reverse is a warning to look at your relationship more closely. One person, or perhaps even both partners, in the relationship, is tilting the balance, resulting in a relationship that does not have much harmony in it.

This card in reverse might also point to an older woman who does not have your best interests at heart. She might be a third party in the relationship, meaning one person is cheating.

She might also be someone who is manipulating either partner, because she has faced hurt in the past, and is now vindictive and resentful.

The Queen of Swords Tarot as How Someone Thinks of You

When the Queen of Swords comes up as the answer to what someone thinks of you, the meaning is a pretty positive one.

The Queen of Swords often symbolizes a person who is wise and balanced in their decisions. Hence, you are thought of as someone mature and intelligent. You are worthy of respect because even though you may have been hurt in the past, you have taken that in your stride and grown into a strong individual.

The Queen of Swords is also someone who isn’t always open about what she is thinking. She is a tad mysterious and is very selective of the people she becomes involved with.

Hence, you might be considered as someone very independent. You are intelligent with your choices, and perhaps this is what makes you so attractive.

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The Queen of Swords Reversed as How Someone Thinks of You

As with most reversed cards, the Queen of Swords in reverse is not very positive.

In reverse, as what someone thinks of you, the Queen of Swords is a mature woman who loves to exact revenge on the world because of how she may have been treated. Thus, you are seen as someone who is manipulative and deceitful, to a certain extent.

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, is also indicative of someone who loves to bring others down, often through gossip and spreading malicious rumors.

You do not have their best interests at heart, because you are too busy serving your own.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as Feelings

The Queen of Swords as a feelings card is often a tricky one to interpret.

In terms of feelings, the Queen of Swords could either mean you or the person you have in mind while doing the reading. You must remember that the cards are only there to point you in the right direction, but that the interpretation of said cards must be made according to the situation.

The Queen of Swords can be interpreted as you being emotionally unavailable because of the past trauma you have experienced. You have reined in your emotions, either because you have been subject to a divorce or heartbreak of some kind.

You are cautious to let others into your life to prevent further emotional pain.

On the flip side, this could also apply to the other person in question. This person does not necessarily have to be a lover or someone in a romantic relationship. They could just as easily be your boss or a co-worker. They may appear to be distant, but it is only because they take their time to trust people.

The appearance of this card could also mean that this person is very clear about their feelings and will not beat about the bush while talking about these emotions. They have a “no-nonsense” kind of attitude but have a softer side too.

They might not tell you how they feel until they know that they can trust you.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as Feelings

The Queen of Swords reversed as a Feelings card, offers you the chance to do some serious introspection.

If this card talks about your feelings, it shows that you aren’t the rational, level-headed person that the Queen of Swords symbolizes in an upright position.

The Queen of Swords reversed denotes feelings of resentment and being overwhelmed by emotions.

You are out of touch with your emotions and feeling lost or exhausted by your feelings. You no longer feel in control and are emotionally unavailable with feelings of bitterness and an unwillingness to forgive and move on.

The Queen of Swords in reverse denotes a lack of positive feelings, and if this is representing how you feel currently, it is a good opportunity to self-analyze the reasons behind why you are unwilling to learn and grow from the past, instead of clinging onto it.

The Queen of Swords Tarot card as A Situation

The Queen of Swords as a situation may perhaps refer to a person or certain emotions.

In the upright position, the Queen of Swords is indicative of a situation involving a mature woman. She is symbolized as a woman who knows her mind and will not sugar-coat her words to save you emotional distress.

She may be divorced or a widow, someone who is alone and single at the moment.

If you are involved in a situation with a woman like the Queen of Swords, prepare yourself because she will not mince her words. She might come across as someone unfeeling, cold, and distant on the outside, but that is only because she is careful and protective of her emotions.

Once she has granted you access to her inner circle, you can expect her to be affectionate and vocal about her feelings.

As a symbol of the situation itself, the card calls on you to make decisions using your head instead of your heart. Do not wear your heart on your sleeve. If faced with a decision to be taken, use logic and intelligence, instead of being emotional.

The Queen of Swords Card Reversed as a Situation

In reverse, a situation involving the Queen of Swords is likely to be a distressful one.

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, situation, involves a mature woman or a person who is not in complete control of her emotions. She has lost touch with what she wants and is reflective of someone who will manipulate you to serve her own interests.

She is a widow or someone going through a divorce and is single. However, she is unable to overcome the betrayal and pain she has faced and is out to get the world, so to speak.

She is unable to accept any accountability and often projects the blame onto others. Be wary of such a person, since there may be deceit and malicious rumors involved.

As a situation, the Queen of Swords is indicative that the situation may involve more than what meets the eye. Do not be ruled by emotion and use your head instead of your heart.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as Intentions / What Someone Wants

A tarot card reading can be beneficial in giving you some indication of what a person intends to do or wants from you.

In the upright position, the Queen of Swords indicates a situation where the person will be very forthcoming with their intentions. The Queen of Swords, while being a ‘head over heart’ card, is also someone who is open about what they want.

If this is for a love reading, you should be assured that the person will not hide what they intend to do. If they are interested in you, you will be told so. The Queen of Swords is not one to mince words when it comes to being honest.

They might have overcome some past trauma and will carefully assess the situation logically before reaching a conclusion.

This person intends to discover who you are, so your best bet would be to be yourself. The Queen of Swords is very intuitive, so any attempt at deception will be seen through.

Be honest and open, and you will gain their respect and trust.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as Intentions / What Someone Wants

In reverse, the Queen of Swords may indicate a couple of things, especially if this card comes up as an intentions card.

To begin with, the person symbolized by the Queen of Swords in reverse does not necessarily know what they want, because they are not in tune with their Higher Self. Hence, be careful in your dealings with this person, because your best interests are not guaranteed.

This person might also be closed to relationships and not intend to get emotionally involved. They might be withdrawn or volatile, both extreme ends of the spectrum, due to past trauma that they have not been able to overcome.

This past pain may have also led them to retaliate and lash out at everyone, so be careful in your dealings with them.

The second alternative is that you are ignoring your feelings in the situation because you have been hurt in the past. You no longer wish to expose yourself to possible pain and hence are unwilling to take a chance on someone, romantic or otherwise.

This is not a sustainable position unless you want to alienate yourself from the world completely.

Is the Queen of Swords Tarot card a Yes or a No?

The Queen of Swords isn’t the easiest card to interpret in a Yes or No reading. Here’s why:

The Queen of Swords upright is someone who guards their emotions carefully. While they have grown from their experiences of past trauma and pain, they can still remember what it felt like.

They would rather stand alone than let the wrong person in. Do not expect them to use their heart while making a decision. They are logical and very intelligent people.

Hence, the Queen of Swords is not a yes or a no, but more a request to you from your Higher Self to be honest and use your intelligence while arriving at a conclusion. At best, this card can be classed as a “Maybe.”

Even in reverse, the card asks you not to go overboard with your emotions. Instead, use logic while deciding what to do. Balancing emotions with rationality is the only way to come out a winner.

The Queen of Swords Card as an Obstacle or Challenge

The Queen of Swords as an obstacle might refer to a person you might be dealing with, or yourself.

The Queen of Swords upright might symbolize an older woman who is emotionally withholding, and distant. She might be someone in your family or a third party, who will somehow intend to influence the situation. She tends to favor logic over emotions, and hence, might not understand the situation correctly.

The obstacle here will be her intense desire to use her mind instead of her heart, even if the situation demands to be dealt with emotionally.

In a more general sense, this might also refer to you being rude and distant while dealing with others. The Queen of Swords may symbolize you and your sharp intellect. You don’t allow others to get too close, and this might be an obstacle to developing a loving relationship with someone else.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as an Obstacle or Challenge

In the reversed position, the Queen of Swords as an obstacle might be internal as well as external.

The Queen of Sword reversed refers to a manipulative older woman who is bitter and resentful of the world.

She has lost touch with her inner self and no longer has your best interests at heart and is capable of spreading vicious lies about you and the situation because she has not let go of the pain she faced in the past.

It could also refer to you being an obstacle to yourself with a lack of control over your emotions. You might appear to others as being bitter and sarcastic.

Because of these qualities, you may be driving others away from you. The appearance of the Queen of Swords reversed is a good opportunity for some self-reflection.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as Action

As a card symbolizing action to be taken, the Queen of Swords upright is pretty straightforward in its meaning.

In an upright position, the Queen of Swords implies head over heart. Thus, as an ‘action’ card, it is asking you to use logic and reasoning, instead of being swayed by your heart and emotions.

For example, if you have recently started dating someone new, the Queen of Swords asks you to look beyond superficial aspects and use your mind instead of being swept away by feelings.

Or if this is a new job or a business opportunity with someone you know, don’t agree just because you are friends with that person.

Evaluate the opportunity with a level-headed approach, instead of giving in to sentimentality.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as Action

The Queen of Swords reversed as an action card can read as a warning.

In reverse, as an action card, the Queen of Swords is telling you that you might lose control of your emotions, but this will not serve you well. It is important that you take accountability for your actions and learn from the opportunity.

The reversed Queen of Swords is asking you to let go of past hurt and pain and be willing to pick up the pieces and grow as an individual. Instead of refusing to get up and dust yourself, you may be stuck in one place.

This will achieve nothing but make you more malicious toward the world.

Drop the stick you are holding tight onto and look around. The world isn’t as horrible as you make it out to be. In fact, the world only mirrors what you hold inside of you. Let go of the grief and hurt.

Use your intellect to protect yourself, but also remember that there is an equal place for emotions in your life.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as Advice

The Queen of Swords is a great card to get as advice.

Symbolizing someone who is strong and has a very balanced personality, the Queen of Swords is asking you to judge the situation using your heart and mind. Do not get swept up by emotion.

The Queen of Swords asks you to be like her. She is clear-minded and completely honest about what she wants. Although she can be perceived as complex and distant, the truth is that she is careful of who she lets into her inner circle.

Perhaps in your given situation, you would benefit from taking a leaf out of her book.

Do not rush into decisions and guard yourself against reckless and rash behavior. This card advises you to be calm and composed like the Queen, so that you may get the best out of the situation.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as Advice

In reverse, the Queen of Swords as an advice card is telling you to learn from past trauma, but not let it overcome your personality and make you vindictive.

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, is often indicative of someone who is struggling to deal with and process emotional turmoil. Thus, they lash out against the world, instead of confronting their own demons.

If the Queen of Swords shows up in reverse, you might be on the same track, and your Higher Self is gently warning you to get off that path before it is too late.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as an Outcome

The Queen of Swords may have multiple indications of a possible outcome in your situation.

The most likely outcome symbolized by the Queen of Swords is that you might very well decide against becoming part of the relationship, whether this is a romantic relationship or something related to work or business.

The Queen of Swords is an analytical person who is wise and intelligent. They aren’t always the warmest and most affectionate, but they will always have your back. Hence this might symbolize a situation where you might seek professional help with a pending situation.

For example, this might be a medical situation where you need to consult a doctor.

The Queen of Swords doesn’t always have to be a woman. They could also be a man with the characteristics of the Queen of Swords- someone who is initially emotionally distant and careful with who they trust.

As an outcome, you may have to deal with or get involved with someone who has these characteristics within themselves.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as an Outcome

As an outcome card in reverse, the Queen of Swords may indicate you are becoming someone who has completely shut off their emotions because you have been hurt. You have not been able to process the pain, or are struggling to do so, and in the process, are alienating the people around you by lashing out.

Again, this is only an indication of the present moment, and you could absolutely change this trajectory by taking accountability and healing from past pain.

Do not shut yourself away and bury these feelings so deep that you cannot reach them anymore.

Alternatively, this could also point to another person who is involved in the situation and will take on characteristics of the Queen of Swords in reverse.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as the Future

The Queen of Swords upright mostly holds positive connotations for the future.

This is someone who is strong and has a very calm and collected personality. They do not easily open up and are wary of trusting the wrong person. However, once they do give you their trust, they are loyal and affectionate.

As a future card, the Queen of Swords may indicate someone like this coming into your life and becoming an important part of the situation. This might also indicate an older woman, who you may come to rely on for advice and help.

Alternatively, this could also symbolize who you will become. You will be wise but will also have empathy for the people around you. You will be approachable as the person who always takes wise decisions.

This is especially good news if you are starting a new job or have been promoted to a higher position at work.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as the Future

The Queen of Swords reversed can be read as a warning from your Higher Self.

As a card indicating the future, the Queen of Swords in reverse is warning you not to close yourself off entirely because you’ve been hurt in the past. It also warns you not to lose your identity and personality, because that is what the Queen in reverse, symbolizes.

In the reverse position, the Queen of Swords is a person who has lost control over their emotions and is highly dependent on others. Do not become this powerless person who does not know what they want.

Alternatively, this could also mean that a person like this will soon enter your life. Do not allow this person to influence you or manipulate you into doing their bidding.

This card in reverse might also mean that either you are no longer able to set your boundaries and other people rush in to take advantage of you, or that you have built too high walls around you, which alienate you from the rest of the world. Both are extremes and are a fry cry from the upright Queen of Swords.

However, because this card has appeared in your reading, you can change yourself if it symbolizes the path you are on.

The Queen of Swords Tarot Card as a Person

The Queen of Swords is the epitome of the modern, independent woman. While she is unafraid to ask for a place at the table, she is also gentle and has a softer side. She is sure of what she wants, and you must earn her trust before she lets you in. She is confident in herself and her abilities to get the job done.

The Queen of Swords is powerful and can be brutally honest about her thoughts and feelings.

This card does not always have to symbolize a woman but often does. This person may have gone through a painful divorce or separation and is now single.

This might also result in them setting up strong boundaries, and they will think twice before giving their heart away.

The Queen of Swords Reversed as a Person

The Queen of Swords reversed, as a person is indicative of someone who is at either extreme of the spectrum. Either they are someone who has built very high walls around themselves, or they are too dependent on their emotions.

Whatever the case may be, they lack the balance of the upright Queen of Swords.

The Queen of Swords, in reverse, might also be someone who prefers to work alone and is a loner. They may often scorn at others offering to help them. They have forgotten that not everything can be tackled alone.

The Queen of Swords upright is witty but respectful. The Queen, in reverse, is exactly the opposite.

This reversed Queen is also deceitful and may have a habit of insulting others with their sarcasm. They would go as far as spreading lies and rumors if it means that they can avoid confronting their own pain and loss.

What zodiac sign is the Queen of Swords?

The Queen of Swords is symbolic of an Air sign. Being a Minor Arcana card, she does not refer to a specific zodiac sign. However, she is often considered to mean an older Libra woman, when this card pops up in a reading.

Nevertheless, all the cards in the suit of Swords denote the Air signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These signs are the symbols of equilibrium in the zodiac.

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Minor Arcana Cards – Swords

King of Swords
Queen of Swords
Knight of Swords
Page of Swords
Ten of Swords
Nine of Swords
Eight of Swords
Seven of Swords
Six of Swords
Five of Swords
Four of Swords
Three of Swords
Two of Swords
Ace of Swords

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