Notes on: The Prince of Swords
(Fate’s Chosen)
Artist’s Notes:
This Prince is a master of debate. He will engage anyone, anywhere at any time. His convictions are genuine and he argues them well but then they are like the weather in New England in the spring. If you dislike them, hang around for five minutes and they will change. He will be just as committed to the new proposition. After all with both Capricorn and Aquarian elements in the mix, two things are for certain. One, that he is Saturnian and challenging and two, his energy is both intense and omnipresent. When he hyper-focuses on you, it is easy to get caught up in his intensity even if that intent is to prove you wrong. What he really seeks though is someone who can show him where he is wrong yet worthy adversaries are few and far between and those who aren’t may as well get dismissed quickly.
About the Archetype:
The suit of Swords represents thoughts, ideas, plans, and conflicts. Knights deal with the transmission and the endurance of the energy, the result of the union of the King’s Force and the Queen’s generative and nurturing of the energy.
The Knight of Swords is ready to engage and discuss any viewpoint and show others exactly how they’ve gotten it wrong. He is courageous and ever willing to charge into the fray to fight for what is right. He tends to put such a great amount of force into every action that he may lack staying power after the initial thrusts. He is often unaware of the effect his words and actions may have on others and can become quite puzzled when something he has said or done to champion his current cause or argument has hurt his ‘opponent’. After all, was he not in fact cutting through their misapprehension and showing them the error of their ways?
In his mind, they should be thanking him. But then the Prince of Swords not wishing to deal with his own emotional nature can be quite blind to the emotions of others.
Astrological Correspondence:
21° Capricorn – 20° Aquarius
Elemental: Air of Air
Combine the ambition and accomplishment ethic of Capricorn with the creative intelligence and communicative abilities of Capricorn and you have someone who can intellectually convince anyone of anything. They are witty and argumentative and intensely competitive. For them winning may become everything and since they are not burdened with an excess of empathy how they play the game may be somewhat less important. This is somewhat modified by the fact that they do have an acute intellectual understanding of ethical considerations.
In a Reading:
When the Knight of Swords turns up in a reading, it may mean that we are feeling criticized or critiqued in our lives at present. Someone is challenging us directly in a fairly blunt way. Do we accept their criticism, testing it against our own perceptions in an open way or do we fight back? The Knight of Swords suggests that it is best to face this criticism head-on in a non-arrogant way, explaining our point of view gently but firmly. The card may also mean that we have been too passive in the face of criticism, allowing others to manipulate us by making us feel inadequate. The Knight of Swords may also be suggesting that we have been too critical of others and running roughshod over their feelings. The card may also mean depending on its placement that there is bad news in the offering.
The Knight of Swords reversed or badly aspected may represent someone who charges all over the place, looking for conflict and dragging others into it. He (or she) may be highly manipulative of others using their own emotional natures against them. He leaps without ever looking and charges headlong into situations like a bull in a china shop rather than using any forethought or perception. It may represent a relationship ending in an abrupt surprising way. The card may mean that it is time to go it alone for a while taking stock of where we are in our lives at this time. This card reversal may also indicate delays in travel. The reversed Prince of Swords may also represent someone untrustworthy who has entered into our lives.
–GAR
Fate’s Whisper:
True to the Spider’s Edict two statues were brought forth to serve as a reminder to all who look upon that Power always has a price. Entering the Realm of the Spider one is met by two identical guardians. In unison, each wanderer is asked their intent. Only when power is sought is their true natures revealed. The Iridescent Guardian holds the potential stolen by the choice of the power grabber. Greater purpose and joys held by each of the beings sacrificed are forced upon them to remind one of the prices of this choice. It is only when one understands the opportunities robbed that one cherishes the power one wields.
Upon seeing this guardian you are reminded that some opportunities are fueled by the future of those below you. To ensure your growth you are presented many ways to the top. At some point though we begin to take from those around us to ensure certain parts of the future. So is what your taking worth what you are getting?
–NF