Knight of Swords

Full speed ahead, thinking on the run.

The picture

A knight in full armour charges on a white horse, his sword raised high above his head. A red cape and a red plume stream out behind him. The horse is at full stretch, the clouds are torn into strips, and a few trees bend hard in the wind.

Upright

The Knight is movement and pursuit, and a Knight often goes too far in the direction of the suit. In Swords, that is the mind at a gallop. Decisive action, speaking up, cutting through delay, chasing an idea the moment it arrives. When something needs doing quickly and bravely, this is the person you want on your side.

The trouble with a gallop is that it is hard to stop. This Knight starts the argument before he has finished listening, makes the decision before the facts are in, and says the thing before he meant to. He is fearless, and every so often he is tactless with it.

A court card can be a person in your life, an approach you are taking, or a part of you. The age and gender of the figure do not limit who it describes. This Knight might be a friend who never stops to draw breath, a boss who wants it done yesterday, or the part of you that has already hit send.

Reversed

Reversed, I read this Knight as too much or blocked. Too much is the charge that has turned reckless: harsh words, rushed choices, running over people who were only trying to help. Blocked is all that drive with nowhere to go, so the energy turns into frustration, pacing, and a head full of plans that never leave the stable.

To tell which, look at what is left behind you. If there are bruised feelings along the track, it is too much, and an apology may do more good than another charge. If nothing has moved at all, it is blocked, and it is worth asking what is really holding the horse.

When it turns up

What would change if you took one slow breath before you charged?

If you would like the cards read against your own chart, my readings are here.