Meditations on the Queen of Swords

After coming up reversed in the weekly reading, the Queen of Swords has made another appearance this week, meaning that sort of energy is afoot. It’s just as well, she’s one of my favorite cards. Court cards often directly represent people, or aspects of people, and I’ve heard the Queen of Swords described as Mata Hari (which might feel unbelievable, when you look at the Zombie Tarot incarnation of her in this article, but look at the version of her in the weekly reading for 11/11/19–11/18/19).

The Queen of Swords is sharp-tongued and quick-witted. She has a stern, analytical mind, and is well prepared to face down many challenges based on a host of experience that she uses to her advantage. She uses her acute perception to get to the heart of matters, and to see through people and their ruses. While she allows and honors space for her emotions and experiences, she does not allow them to cloud her judgment, merely to inform it. She is the defender of the defenseless.

Meditating on all of these aspects of the card it’s easy to see what happens when those things are seen as a disadvantage — where experience embitters us, creating a cynicism that taints our world view, creating mental blind spots and blockages. When I meditate on this card I visualize the third eye and focus on clarity. I try to think of situations where perhaps I’m allowing past experiences to dictate my future, or I think of situations in which I have overcome those behaviors. Most of all, I meditate on wisdom, and how empathy can guide us all to understanding the world and each other with the sort of clarity represented in the Queen of Swords.