Western Tarot symbolism
Suit of Swords
The Ace shows a crowned sword emerging from a cloud and is read through conquest and great force. The text says that force can act in love as well as hatred. The Two balances swords on a blindfolded figure and permits readings of concord, but explicitly qualifies the suit’s favorable meanings. Balance exists alongside the possibility of conflict and deception.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryThe Ace shows a crowned sword emerging from a cloud and is read through conquest and great force. The text says that force can act in love as well as hatred.
Further detail
LiteraryThe Two balances swords on a blindfolded figure and permits readings of concord, but explicitly qualifies the suit’s favorable meanings. Balance exists alongside the possibility of conflict and deception.
Context & interpretation
The active library scan carries L. W. de Laurence’s name and reproduces material associated with A. E. Waite’s Tarot exposition. Its symbolic descriptions and divinatory lists are distinct registers, and neither provides a guaranteed prediction.
Original passages
Source 1
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
great force, in love as well as in hatredOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 133
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0133
- Original scan leaf
- 139
- Recorded leaf number
- 139
- Current Reader position
- 133
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
Swords generally are not symbolical of beneficent forcesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 132
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0132
- Original scan leaf
- 138
- Recorded leaf number
- 138
- Current Reader position
- 132
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Continue exploring
Ace of Swords
A crowned sword represents force whose outcome is not uniformly favourable.
Shared source pageTwo of Swords
Balanced swords accompany an explicitly qualified account of concord.
Same subject and traditionSuit of Cups
Vessels of nourishment, relationship, and emotional exchange.
Same subject and traditionSuit of Pentacles
The coin-like Tarot suit, distinct from ceremonial pentacle talismans.