EXPLORING THE QUEEN OF SWORDS
TODAY'S CARD is "The Queen of Swords," the version below is from The Druidcraft Tarot and is one of my favorites:
This second version is another version I'm very fond of (will say more about it later below), and is from The Thoth Tarot:
And for COMPARISON, here's The Queen of Swords in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck (RWS):
THE QUEENS OF SWORDS has been an on-going presence in my life for a long time now. Not so much in the readings I do for myself, as in the sense of what's being required of me in my life. Of course not literally beheading someone, as in The Thoth Tarot above. (This has been said to represent the Bible story in which Judith beheads the invading Holofernes to save her people.) But in being direct and strong -- fierce even -- and cutting to the point, while not giving up even if I stand totally alone. (Loneliness and widowhood are often seen in this "Lady of Sorrows" as I used to think of Her.) A few months back I asked the deck for an image to keep in mind as my life issues demanded ever more determination and strength. I pulled this Queen at random after shuffling. So I then took The Queen of Swords from four widely different decks in my collection: Bohemian Gothic Tarot, Tarot of Transformation, Manga Tarot, and Universal Waite Tarot and attached them to a piece of black cardboard. They have been overlooking my living room computer desk ever since, each standing guard in Her unique way and reminding me that I can do the necessary, no matter how daunting it may all appear. As a whole I find that the Court cards (usually: Kings, Queens, Knights, Pages) are not very resonant in readings, but when one does become lively for me it becomes very lively indeed!
I use "she" and "her" below in addressing this card, but any of the Courts can be read in a contra-sexual way, and not even as people but as issues and situations.
DIFFERENT OR LESS COMMON, EVEN QUIRKY MEANINGS FOR AND INSIGHTS ABOUT THE QUEEN OF SWORDS (Please note: The below is not intended to be an exhaustive exploration of this card; a quick google will produce a wider variety of takes should you not be familiar with it.):
An extremely sensitive type who approaches the world from a sad and defensive stance. Her loneliness mostly coming from an inability to believe others don't carry the same sorts of hurts and vulnerabilities that she does. Therefore she can't trust in anyone's ability to be genuinely sympathetic and forgiving.
A lonely battle between the habit of tearing one's self down, and trying to cut out that sort of behavior, to "behead it."
It's like "being the car and driving the car" but think about the possibility that your thoughts are off the mark on this; that they may even be causing the troubles. Then go do something totally silly, or that requires you to focus on someone else. Put more succinctly, use your thinking to deal with the inaccurate use of your thoughts.
Someone who's liberated herself through a lot of lonely struggle. I.e., she did not get much support from outside herself, even as she fought inner demons. Her proud solitary stance has been well-earned.
She can freeze an over-heated situation with a single sharp remark, and sometimes just a frigid glance. Is she freezing some hot situation in you? If so, it will give you the time and space to more thoroughly examine it.
Someone whose intense reactions can be misinterpreted as anger, when they are really just rushing out on the excitement of discovery.
Her deep desire to communicate honestly and fully can lead her to be a bit verbose.
Because of her strong incisive mind she can tend to deny her own deep emotions when they are troubling or inconvenient. Conversely, she can put aside her own deep feelings when necessary during times of crisis better than just about anyone.
Someone who's often puzzled by others who exhibit little concern for careful and precise use of language, especially in intimate relationships. She's not being a royal pain with all those words, rather she's respecting that the tongue has a very sharp edge and should be wielded with care.
Surprisingly, she can be very motherly, if a bit distant. And she's more likely to be someone to work for a children's charity raising funds or doing office work, say, than with children themselves.
The mother inside us who's capable of cutting off overly rational, rigid, stultifying thinking, in defense of the whole, more fluid and creative self.
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under "View my complete profile")**** SEE ALSO: United Haiku and Tanka Society (UHTS) (charter member); Roswila's Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; Roswila's Taiga Tarot for taiga (illustrated tanka); Trying to Hold A Box of Light for digital photos only.
I use "she" and "her" below in addressing this card, but any of the Courts can be read in a contra-sexual way, and not even as people but as issues and situations.
DIFFERENT OR LESS COMMON, EVEN QUIRKY MEANINGS FOR AND INSIGHTS ABOUT THE QUEEN OF SWORDS (Please note: The below is not intended to be an exhaustive exploration of this card; a quick google will produce a wider variety of takes should you not be familiar with it.):
An extremely sensitive type who approaches the world from a sad and defensive stance. Her loneliness mostly coming from an inability to believe others don't carry the same sorts of hurts and vulnerabilities that she does. Therefore she can't trust in anyone's ability to be genuinely sympathetic and forgiving.
A lonely battle between the habit of tearing one's self down, and trying to cut out that sort of behavior, to "behead it."
It's like "being the car and driving the car" but think about the possibility that your thoughts are off the mark on this; that they may even be causing the troubles. Then go do something totally silly, or that requires you to focus on someone else. Put more succinctly, use your thinking to deal with the inaccurate use of your thoughts.
Someone who's liberated herself through a lot of lonely struggle. I.e., she did not get much support from outside herself, even as she fought inner demons. Her proud solitary stance has been well-earned.
She can freeze an over-heated situation with a single sharp remark, and sometimes just a frigid glance. Is she freezing some hot situation in you? If so, it will give you the time and space to more thoroughly examine it.
Someone whose intense reactions can be misinterpreted as anger, when they are really just rushing out on the excitement of discovery.
Her deep desire to communicate honestly and fully can lead her to be a bit verbose.
Because of her strong incisive mind she can tend to deny her own deep emotions when they are troubling or inconvenient. Conversely, she can put aside her own deep feelings when necessary during times of crisis better than just about anyone.
Someone who's often puzzled by others who exhibit little concern for careful and precise use of language, especially in intimate relationships. She's not being a royal pain with all those words, rather she's respecting that the tongue has a very sharp edge and should be wielded with care.
Surprisingly, she can be very motherly, if a bit distant. And she's more likely to be someone to work for a children's charity raising funds or doing office work, say, than with children themselves.
The mother inside us who's capable of cutting off overly rational, rigid, stultifying thinking, in defense of the whole, more fluid and creative self.
* * * *
'til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot, in whatever ways it comes to you in your life,
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under "View my complete profile")**** SEE ALSO: United Haiku and Tanka Society (UHTS) (charter member); Roswila's Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; Roswila's Taiga Tarot for taiga (illustrated tanka); Trying to Hold A Box of Light for digital photos only.
Labels: Queen of Swords
posted by Roswila at 1:41 PM
6 Comments:
Isn't she one hell of woman. I am proud to identify with her. She made me see the whole suit of swords in a very different light."
Of course I can see our negative trades but after all we have been trough; after all the difficult decisions we had to make we are still standing strong; The queen and I
Hi Ellen,
She sure is a hell of a lady! I, too, am quite happy to identify with her. (In case that wasn't obvious from my post. :-D) I'd always had a sympathy for this Lady of Sorrows and was very relieved when years back I stumbled across the idea that she beheads over rational thought. I've also always been tickled by that cherub's face on the side of her throne in the RWS deck version. And I agree if one looks at the all the sword cards through her eyes, they take on a different character. The redemption, maybe, of a mother's eyes?
Beautiful written. I'll hope that one day I can write English at the same level I can Dutch.:)
Ellen, if you keep going as you are you will. I'm in awe of anyone who manages to speak clearly in a language that's not their native tongue. And you do. What's left for you, it seems to me, is a matter of polishing and expanding. Believe me when I say that many native speakers of English don't speak it well at all! I've also heard that English has a lot of exceptions to its "rules" that can make it a task to learn. I often (as I mentioned before I think) google about grammar myself. I've even had disagreements with a friend who has a doctorate of some sort in English over punctuation. As one editor friend of mine said: any language is a living thing, a work in progress. Sorry to go on. I'm really just trying to encourage you. :-)
You really did. It is so kind to read, what you think about my writing. Let's hope practice makes perfect :D
There's the old expression: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" (I think I'm quoting it accurately :-D). So I hope you find creativity and fun along with the work and practice.
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