Western Tarot symbolism
Page of Swords
The Page carries an upright sword in both hands while crossing rugged ground. The account describes an alert look for a possible enemy and associates it with examination, overseeing and secret service. The supplementary list specifically predicts someone prying into the querent's secrets. Its reversed astonishing news differs from the main reversed list of unpreparedness and unforeseen events.
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In the sources
The card account
LiteraryThe Page carries an upright sword in both hands while crossing rugged ground. The account describes an alert look for a possible enemy and associates it with examination, overseeing and secret service.
Comparing the lists
LiteraryThe supplementary list specifically predicts someone prying into the querent's secrets. Its reversed astonishing news differs from the main reversed list of unpreparedness and unforeseen events.
Context & interpretation
The active library scan carries L. W. de Laurence’s name and reproduces material associated with A. E. Waite’s Tarot exposition. This entry follows that supplied edition’s card prose and supplementary lists. Historical divinatory assignments and period character labels are distinguished from the pictured symbolism and from independently supported judgements about people or future events.
Original passages
Source 1
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
the clouds are collocated wildly. He is alert and lithe, looking this way and that, as if an expected enemy might appear at any moment. DivinatoryOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Illustrated Key to the Tarot, supplied de Laurence edition; card description, active reader leaf 123
Exact supplied-edition extracted passage actually read; whitespace-normalised quotation anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Image descriptions attributed to printed prose; no new full-plate visual inspection asserted.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0123
- Original scan leaf
- 129
- Recorded leaf number
- 129
- Current Reader position
- 123
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
Page.—An indiscreet person will pry into the Querent's secrets. Reversed: Astonishing news. Ten.—Followed by Ace and King, imprisonment ; for girl or wife, treason on theOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Illustrated Key to the Tarot, supplied de Laurence edition; additional meanings, active reader leaf 151
Exact supplied-edition extracted passage actually read; whitespace-normalised quotation anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Image descriptions attributed to printed prose; no new full-plate visual inspection asserted.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0151
- Original scan leaf
- 157
- Recorded leaf number
- 157
- Current Reader position
- 151
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Ace of Cups
A cloud-borne cup, water and a descending sacramental emblem give this Ace several symbolic layers.
Shared source pageEight of Cups
A departing figure gives the Eight an image of leaving an earlier concern behind.
Shared source pageEight of Swords
A bound figure surrounded by swords is expressly described as temporarily confined.
Shared source pageFive of Cups
Three fallen cups and two remaining upright make loss and remainder part of one composition.