Minor — Swords

King of Swords

The King of Swords has made the gesture no one else makes: he has placed the open Book on the ground, offered to anyone who wishes to read. He is the accomplished mastery of the mind — the kind that has nothing left to keep.

Symbolic reading

From the centre of the open Book rise three broad green leaves: knowledge returned to everyone carries life — thought, at its summit, becomes nourishing again. His crystal throne with its scrolls of air, without swords, answers the Queen's: the same realm, another aspect. On the armrests, the engraved magpies keep watch — the memory of the entire journey, from the altar of clouds to the Book offered here. The King does not brandish the truth: he makes it available, and that is his final authority. The suit of Swords ends on this quiet paradox: the mind is never so powerful as when it ceases to possess.

Reversed reading

Authority closes in on itself: judgement without appeal, knowledge taken back, intelligence placed at the service of control. The Book leaves the ground and returns under the arm.

• mastery
• authority
• justice
• clarity
• offering
• transcendence