The Swords represent the mind and man's decision making abilities. They relate to the air element as the cutting abilities of the wind, or the winds of change. The mind is a double-edged weapon, much like the sword. As much as we can use it to help us, we can also use it to harm ourselves. We are just as capable of controlling ourselves with fear as we are with logic.
Ace of Swords
The Fourth age was an age of Air. Man's intellect had given him abilities to invent, solve, and decide. The Kingdom of Air had long been at war with a nation that attacked from beyond the ocean. Overcoming his physical weakness, man created tools to protect himself. The Sword became man's symbol in this age, not because of a hunger for battle, but because it's double-edge reminded him of both sides of his thoughts and actions.
The Ace of Swords indicates a triumph using our mental abilities that will lead us into a new period of our life. The Swords represent intellect and the appearance of this card can imply prosperity in your new direction as long as you maintain it. The Sword is a tool of the magician and the Ace makes it the number one of the sword suit.
Page of Swords
Each youth who entered into the Kingdom's military was given a large heavy sword to train with. It would be their sword throughout their career. They would have to learn to accept it's weight, become strong enough to pick it up, and smart enough to control it. The Page of the Sword Kingdom was no different, from the day he was given his sword, he swung it wildly at whatever he pleased, desiring adventure.
The Page of Swords is a troublesome young man. He can be the center of many dramas and enjoys making a spectacle of himself. This card can warn of overconfidence in a situation.
Two of Swords
In one of his early battles, the Page faced a blind villain who practiced a two sword technique. He faced her many times, never sure how to defeat her. This was the first time that his training had failed him, nothing about her technique was orthodox. He could not read the eyes of his opponent, and did not know how to read her attacks. Finally he closed his own eyes and the answer became clear. Using his pet crow to distract her with ceaseless sound, he was able to get close enough to best his foe.
The Two of Swords is a spot of stagnation, or a false balance. What we know up to a certain point is not enough, but we may believe that it is. Until we unblind ourself to the situation, we will be held in place by our preconceptions.
Knight of Swords
The Page grew into a Knight and his crow grew into a mighty warbird. He was an asset to his Kingdom as one of the strongest fighters of the entire army. The Sword he once had struggled to lift was not easily swung with great precision. The role of Knight was all that mattered to the young man and he became a symbol of war for his Kingdom, riding at the head of any attack made on the Kingdom's enemies.
The Knight of Swords is a combative character. While more mature than the Page of Swords, he can be known to think with his fists. With this meaning we can become too focused on our intellectuality ignoring everything but our logical side.
Three of Swords
As the Knight strengthened his mind. He gained control over his emotions. He was no longer victim to his own passions and aggressions, he learned that he had constructed those feelings himself and could use his mind to defeat these false feelings. He had seen enough fighting to understand the suffering of both sides.
The Three of Swords is life's harder lessons. This can represent something we don't want to learn because we are afraid it will hurt us to know. In truth, it will only kill something in us that we already know in truth isn't real.
Queen of Swords
The widowed Queen of Swords was the sole ruler of this Kingdom. Her King had been taken from her long ago in battle and she had never replaced him, because none could meet the high standard he had set. She had the strength herself to rule the Kingdom and felt no feelings of incompleteness on her own. Her Kingdom had suffered much war and like it's heart, hers had become as cold as iron.
The Queen of Swords is a strong woman of authority. It can represent facing hardships, poverty and the strong will to deal with such situations.
Four of Swords
For a time, the Knight removed himself from the battlefield. He was unsure of how to approach these new ideas of compassion for the enemy. No longer could he simply obliterate his opponent without thinking of the life he took. As he lay still as a corpse, he let these new ideas sink in.
The Four of Swords marks a period of inactivity for healing. We may not want to face the world as we let some new information register in our mind. We may, in fact, be resistant to the new ideas. Following the pain of the three of swords, the four is the recovery.
King of Swords
One night in his hermitude, the Knight was visited by the dead King. He was flanked by two birds, a black bird of war and a white bird of peace. His sword was no longer over his shoulder, but was sheathed and rested in his lap. He saw how countless battles had left the King with only one eye. The King told the Knight that his kingdom would have to let the grudge between lands go, because spilling blood would no more bring peace than it would bring him back his eye.
The King of Swords is an authority with force to back it up, but is mature enough not to resort to it unless he must. He represents fairness and good advice. When he shows up we know we have to rule our decisions with our mental skillset.
Five of Swords
Inevitably, the Knight's leave of action was over. As he faced off against yet another opponent, all he could see was the man he was fighting, not a soldier to kill. He threw down his own sword and convinced his opponent to do the same. The two walked away from the battlefield, leaving their weapons to scavengers.
The Fives can represent accepting the change brought on by a new perspective. We can no longer with consciousness do what we did so easily in the past. This card can tell us we need to learn from the mistakes of others.
Six of Swords
This gesture set into motion the beginnings of peace between the Kingdoms. The minds that had once created weapons began to create wonders. Mighty airships sailed between the two Kingdoms and exploration of the unknown began. Both Kingdoms were tired of endless war and were ready for something new.
The Six of Swords is letting go of past pain. This is a card of resolution of strife and moving on. It can suggest travel either deeper into our own minds or out farther into the world.
Seven of Swords
The beginnings of peace weren't without difficulties and setbacks. As things improved, there were still underhanded thieves and those who could not live without war. The people learned how to behave both peacefully and cautiously, never acting with imprudence.
The Seven suggests that as we climb the ladder of knowledge we can start to think we know everything. This leads us to miss a few lessons here and there and sometimes find ourselves needing more discretion than our newfound overconfidence allows.
Eight of Swords
The Queen of Swords felt trapped by the road to peace, she did not feel she could travel along it. She had known war for too long and did not see another way. As she resisted the new age, she began to lose her power with the people. She found herself bound in her own dungeon thanks to her inability to change.
The Eight of Swords is when we hold ourselves back. We know we need to change something. We are not blind to it, like we are in the Two of Swords. This card suggests an arrested development of the self because of a refusal to make new choices.
Nine of Swords
The deposed Queen suffered from horrible nightmares in the dungeon, demons would emerge from her head and warp the landscape into destruction and blood. Her beloved Kingdom would fall on it's own sword, and she would be the one to blame. She knew this craving for war would have to end in herself, because if it survived, nothing else would. She promised to draft an official peace treaty, and was released from the dungeon.
The Nine is the situation coming to a head. Whatever we are needing to work out in ourself is coming to us. This can be either as no-longer repressed emotions or nightmares. We may torture ourselves for part of this period if we are refusing to face these demons.
Ten of Swords
As the world shifted into peace, the wrathful began to fall upon their own swords. Understanding how to use their higher intellect to solve difficulties, people did not seek change with conflict. With the greater armies of both Kingdoms united under the banner of peace, the lesser warlords lost their powers over the people and the mind was free to fly to greater heights.
The Ten of Swords is the death of an old way of thinking. Whatever is holding us back must be shed from our lives. It is our regain of the self from any oppressive self-perception. With this card, something is without a doubt, over.