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Mystic Palette Tarot- King of Swords

Crowley chose to call his King of Swords a Knight of Swords, which is comparable to the traditional Kings. His reasoning was simply because Master Theron, understood the paradigm of Tetragrammaton-YHVY- where King-Queen-Princess and Prince are involved in a Western Hermetic Qabalistic relationship. He also believed in the Actions of Chokmah, the 2nd Sephirotic Being, who is both Wisdom and "Will-to- Force", an Active Fire and the first Masculine expression that rules the Kings and simply is not passively planted on a throne like some modern couch potato.
The Knight of Swords is presented as the fiery part of air, as all the Thoth Kings are the fiery part of their element and are not prone to sitting on their authoritative butts, directing others. Rather they are the "light switch" of Kether's energetic Will.
His King/Knights are out in the forefront of battle, chargers leaping, weapons swinging, kicking the opposition's "behind". To Crowley's reckoning, Kings are expressions of "Will-to- Force"/Chokmah. Other traditional decks also have knights, but these are the "Princes" in Crowley's Tarot.

Thoth-Knight of swords
The Thoth Tarot-Knight of Swords is the fiery part of Air and rules from 21 degrees Taurus to 20 degrees Gemini. The Knight of Swords represents the personification of the activating Force behind the World of Astral images and Architectures. The Knight is attributed to subtle actions and craftiness as the element-Air refers to the personality of the conscious mind/Self-Consciousness.

The degrees spanning from 21 degrees Taurus to 20 degrees Gemini encompass a significant portion of the zodiacal spectrum, encompassing the latter part of Taurus and the early part of Gemini. Here are some characteristics associated with this span:
Taurus Traits (April 20 - May 20):
- Stability: Taurus is an earth sign, associated with grounding energy, stability, and reliability. Those born under this sign or influenced by it may possess a strong sense of security and a practical approach to life.
- Determination: Taurus individuals are known for their determination and persistence in pursuing their goals. They are often steady and unwavering in their efforts, refusing to give up easily.
- Sensuality: Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, making individuals influenced by this sign often sensual and appreciative of life's pleasures. They have a keen appreciation for art, music, food, and other indulgences.
- Materialism: Taurus is associated with material possessions and wealth. People with strong Taurus influences may prioritize financial security and enjoy the comforts that money can provide.
Gemini Traits (May 21 - June 20):
- Versatility: Gemini is an air sign, characterized by adaptability, curiosity, and versatility. Individuals influenced by Gemini energy tend to be quick-witted, intellectually curious, and open to new experiences.
- Communication: Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, which imbues those under its influence with strong communication skills. They are often excellent conversationalists, adept at expressing themselves verbally and in writing.
- Sociability: Gemini individuals are typically outgoing and sociable, enjoying interactions with others and forming connections easily. They thrive in social settings and may have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
- Restlessness: Gemini's dual nature can sometimes manifest as restlessness or a tendency to become easily bored. Those with prominent Gemini placements may crave variety and stimulation, often seeking out new experiences and adventures.
Individuals born with significant placements or influences in this span of the zodiac may exhibit a blend of traits from both Taurus and Gemini, incorporating qualities such as stability, determination, communication skills, and adaptability into their personalities and life experiences.

The Thoth Deck Card shows the Knight mounted on a charger (symbolizes the dynamic energy of Taurus) with swords extended which represents the violent cutting power of this Mental Force's sharp wit and force of wisdom.
As an Archetype personality, The Knight/King of Swords represents a mature male with an innovative consciousness at its ultimate phase of creative control and will. Often involved in matters of justice, discipline, civic and personal order.

yama
In Hindu Mythology, The Knight/King of Swords is the personification of ***Yama the Bull God who gave up his Earth life to become King of the Underworld. A powerful judge, a godlike authority, and an embodiment of discipline and order. Because of the dual nature of Gemini this personality can either absorb his/her entire life in concentrated aspiration or can go the entirely opposite way and become incapable of decision or purpose, thereby, becoming weak in action. Again, the surrounding cards will show which aspect of Gemini, and its restless paradox (the twins) is directing the Dynamic power of Taurus.

Yama
There is a Western Hermetic Qabalistic parallel between Yama—a powerful, sometimes storm‐like god—and the Thoth Knight of Swords who is King of the death suit of Swords. While Yama is more classically known as the Vedic god of death and overseer of the cycle of rebirth, many traditions also portray him wielding tremendous force or tempestuous energy. In Crowley’s deck, the Knight of Swords (equivalent to the “King” in the Rider–Waite–Smith system) can also represent a storm of intellect or unstoppable power of the mind. Let’s explore the resonance between them from a Western Hermetic perspective:
1. The Fiery Part of Air
In Aleister Crowley’s Thelemic tradition, the Knights are the “Kings” of each suit and combine the fiery principle (Mars-like drive, passion, dynamism) with the element that suit embodies. For the Knight of Swords, that element is Air—the realm of intellect, communication, and swift action. Hence, the Knight of Swords becomes “Fire in Air”: the unstoppable, incandescent force of thought unleashed like a storm.
Yama’s Storm Aspect
While Yama is more often labeled as a god of death, many mythic and esoteric commentaries note that he exerts a commanding, sometimes fearsome might—like a powerful wind or thunderous presence that demands respect and immediate attention. Much like the Knight of Swords can blow in to disrupt old thought forms or stale beliefs, Yama’s presence is equally disruptive to complacency or spiritual stagnation.
2. A Sword of Fate and Transformation
Cutting Through Illusion
The Knight of Swords is often depicted with a sword raised high, ever ready to slice through falsehood and limitation. This speaks to the crucial Hermetic operation of discerning truth from illusion. In a similar spirit, Yama as a judge of souls and guide through liminal states can be seen as a cosmic force that cuts away illusion and compels souls to face ultimate truth (the truth of their deeds, karma, or readiness to move on).
Divine Judgment and Sharp Intellect
In Western Hermeticism, the sword is closely tied to the element of Air and thus intellect or logos. Yama’s role as arbiter of mortal fate (deciding who has completed their earthly journey) parallels the Knight’s incisive judgment—swift and exacting. There is little room for soft sentiment when dealing with the Knight of Swords or with Yama; both are abrupt in dispatching illusions or bringing about the next stage of one’s path.
3. Relentless Momentum
A Storm God as a Symbol of Dynamic Energy
When we examine Yama from broader pan‐Asian interpretations, we see him commanding storms of change and threshold experiences. Similarly, the Knight of Swords as the “storm” of the intellectual realm embodies a force that cannot be resisted easily. Once momentum is gained, the Knight of Swords charges forward, unstoppable.
Mercurial and Martian Blend
Crowley attributed planetary energies to the Court Cards, and the Knight of Swords often carries a blend of Mercury (fast intellect, communication) and a dash of Mars (fiery aggression, impetus). This blend easily maps onto certain storm gods or fierce guardians who are unstoppable in both word (command) and action (force). Yama’s cosmic authority echoes this martial aspect, as he “patrols” the boundaries between life and death with formidable, unwavering force.
4. Lessons from Their Wrath
Purification by Trial
Storm gods and fearsome Knights alike create circumstances that force growth or destruction of outworn forms. Yama’s role as judge of souls ensures that spiritual lessons are accounted for. The Knight of Swords, similarly, compels the querent to face any illusions or soft thinking that hinder progress. While this can be jarring, it ultimately purifies.
Facing Transformation Head-On
Both the Knight of Swords and Yama’s domain suggest that transitional moments—big life transformations, brush-ups with mortality or deep truths—are best met head‐on. The question becomes: will you allow the storm to elevate you to clarity or will it tear apart your illusions and leave you scattered? Hermetically, it underscores the importance of forging a disciplined mind and heart.
Conclusion
In comparing Yama, often depicted with a commanding presence or fearsome authority, to the Thoth Knight of Swords (“Fire in Air”), we see that both energies represent an uncompromising, liberating tempest. This force can be viewed as:
- Purifying (burning away half-truths or outdated ideas),
- Swiftly decisive (delivering fates or judgments with keen precision),
- Transformative (propelling souls to the next stage, whether spiritual or mental).
Hence, Yama’s attributes as a powerful storm deity and judge of cosmic order find a Hermetic mirror in the Knight of Swords—the unstoppable, purifying storm of truth that both uproots and ultimately liberates.

In Tarot- the Knight/King of Swords is considered the archetype of the Mastery of Passionate Thinking and Intentionality.
By now many of us know that the Tarot Court Cards represent personality Archetypes. In the book: TAROT-Dictionary and Compendium, Jana Riley describes Archetypes:
The original Archetype was a thought in the Mind of God-male and female. The Supreme Mind became enamored with this thought and created life in Its image by the friction of Its Word-or by the motion of Its sound. This caused the Universe to divide into ordered strata, and because creation is within the Mind of God, everything is a model or a copy of the original pattern, which is God.
This makes God ,0=2; Anima and Animus are the 2, who then go about in lifetimes, seeking to become 1 and in so doing, create 3 (a plane is 3 points) which is a product of their union.

Tarot personality birth -wheel.
The court cards are pictures of 16 different core- personality types, as shown on the Tarot birth chart. 8 proven by Carl Jung, and later 8 more by Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers who devised the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which, for now, is the tool used by counseling centers around the world. Proving once again the Ancient Wisdom of the Qabalistic-Tarot and how we are slowly coming out of the amnesia imposed on us by the concussive Slave Age of the Patriarch/Archon (Military Industrial Complex).

Military Industrial Complex

The Thoth Knight of Swords is seen to be flying over water. In alchemy, elemental air is associated with the Mind and elemental Water is intuition and emotions. Therefore, this combination of air and water represents passionate thinking. Three swallows represent the union of mind and heart with all action proceeding in united direction. Swallows are also known as the sacred birds of Isis, the Egyptian Great All Mother, who is the heart of her Son the Prince. This serves to remind us that focus, will, intention, and love must be aligned to achieve any goal. The three swallows could also represent the Triple Goddess of-Maid, Mother and Crone.

Trinity Goddess.
Trinity Goddess.

The dagger in the left hand and the sword in the right hand, represent yin/yang (Yama/Yami), (feminine/masculine, Anima-Animus) forces of One energy. Female is magnetic force and male is electric force, both must be combined to create a balanced unity called life and/or living forms. We know this Divine Marriage as "electromagnetic energy".

yin yang; 0=2

Four wings, on the Thoth Knight's helm, are four directions, north, south, east, and west; each represent four levels of consciousness: mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical.
The six-pointed star at the center of the wings symbolizes illumined clarity and spiritual guidance. Golden armor represents powerful fluid thinking.

To reiterate:
The Knight of Swords is called "the fiery part of Air" which may confuse you. He represents the violent power of motion applied to air. He rules from the 21st degree of Taurus to the 20th degree of Gemini. He is an armored warrior whose helmet bares a rotating wing and is mounted on a rampaging steed. With both sword and poniard in hand, he is the very idea of Attack.
He is the Spirit of the Tempest.

The Knight of Swords can be compared to the Lightning bolt of an idea absorbing the entire life of one, in concentrated aspiration. There will be Live or Evil (live spelled backwards) here.

Mystic Palette Tarot-King of Swords.
The stubborn Will of Taurus and the Inspiration of Gemini are also applied here. The Mystic Palette King of Swords represents the True Will (of the Soul) exploding the mind spontaneously. What many of us forget or have been indoctrinated to forget, is that True Will is not empathetic---Spirit has no need for empathy, as it never dies, and the idea of Being is its e-motion. Hence, the King of Swords reacts by strategizing what to do next. He doesn't waste time by putting things off for some future date. He attacks the issue at hand swiftly with strategic wisdom: Hence the Eagles.

His crown is topped with the hermetic symbol for the Air element. This symbology is also expressed as wings on his crown. This King is ready to act, and one should consider challenging his authority. He is not unlike Sun Zu who knows the Art of War.

The King of Swords philosophy is that of Sun Tzu, the legendary author of The Art of War, from both a historical and a more esoteric (specifically Western Hermetic) vantage. We will also consider how his strategic insights resonate with the Western occult tradition’s emphasis on clarity of mind, subtle manipulation of forces, and mastery of the self.
1. Historical and Cultural Context
Sun Tzu (also spelled Sunzi) was a Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and general, traditionally believed to have lived during the Spring and Autumn Period (roughly 771–476 BCE). His treatise, The Art of War, is arguably one of the most influential works on strategy and warfare in history. While originally written for military application, it later became a philosophical treatise, finding resonance in business, politics, negotiation tactics, and personal development worldwide.
Core Premises in The Art of War
- Deception and Foreknowledge: Key to Sun Tzu’s approach is the notion that to succeed, one must master the art of misdirection—knowing how to create illusions and exploit the enemy’s weaknesses while safeguarding one’s strengths.
- Adaptability and Fluidity: Effective strategy requires flexibility. One must adapt to shifting conditions just as water flows to fill any shape.
- Economy of Force: Win without prolonged conflict whenever possible. The supreme victory is to subdue opposition without fighting.
- Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy: Sun Tzu highlights intelligence-gathering and deep self-awareness; strategy begins with accurate knowledge.
2. Esoteric Parallels to Western Hermetic Thought
While written within a specific cultural milieu, many of Sun Tzu’s strategies align with Hermetic principles, especially regarding the subtle manipulation and alignment of forces—inner and outer.
a) Strategic Mind & The Suit of Swords
In the Western Hermetic tradition (e.g., the Thoth Tarot or the broader Golden Dawn system), the Sword suit corresponds to the element of Air—symbolizing intellect, reason, communication, and the power of discernment. Sun Tzu’s systematic approach to warfare and the use of precise knowledge can be compared to the Sword’s function of cutting through illusions.
Knight (King) of Swords
- Embodies swift, strategic thinking and an almost martial intellect.
- Charges into battle with mental clarity, much like Sun Tzu advocating that one must assess the terrain, lines of supply, and morale before moving.
b) The Hermetic Maxim: “As Within, So Without”
Sun Tzu stresses knowing yourself as much as knowing your enemy. In Hermetic terms, mastery of the outer world begins with mastery of the inner. A mind clouded by arrogance, ignorance, or impulsiveness will fail to perceive external threats accurately. This is akin to the alchemical process of refining one’s inner state (the prima materia) to reflect the order we wish to see in the world.
c) The Principle of Mentalism and Strategy
One of the Kybalion’s key Hermetic Principles states: “All is Mind.” Strategy, in that sense, is a matter of harnessing and directing mental energy. The Art of War is filled with references to the importance of shaping the battlefield in your favor through clever planning, subtlety, and understanding the psychological states of all parties involved. These guidelines echo the Hermetic notion that reality can be influenced by directed thought and alignment with the “higher laws” that govern any conflict.
3. Subtle Alchemy of Conflict and Change
Alchemical Transformation
Sun Tzu teaches that conflict—properly understood—can become an opportunity for transformation. In Western esoteric traditions, conflict (or friction) is often the catalyst for inner growth. The forging of the Great Work (or Magnum Opus) may require confrontation with obstacles. Sun Tzu’s writings remind us to face these “outer obstacles” with a disciplined approach, mirroring the Hermetic approach to our “inner obstacles.”
Illusion and Reality
Central to Hermetic ritual, magick, and Qabalah is the interplay of illusions we impose on our daily life versus the deeper reality we attempt to perceive. Sun Tzu’s concept of deception on the battlefield—showing strength where there is weakness, feigning motion when at rest—underscores the vital lesson to question appearances. This resonates with the Hermetic tradition’s emphasis on constant vigilance and the unveiling of illusions that might mislead us.
4. Modern Applications: Strategy and Magick
Mental Focus and Self-Mastery
- A magician in the Western tradition meticulously prepares the altar, the ritual space, and the state of mind to align with a certain outcome.
- Sun Tzu’s treatise encourages a general to lay the groundwork so meticulously that success becomes a matter of execution rather than hope.
Leveraging Hidden Advantages
- Hermetic practitioners often work with subtle energetic currents (planetary hours, lunar cycles, spiritual correspondences) to tip the scales.
- Sun Tzu advocates subtlety: controlling the battlefield environment, supply lines, and morale to quietly ensure victory before the direct clash even occurs.
Forward-Thinking in Strategy
- In the same way that Western mystics study astrology or the Tree of Life to foresee cosmic influences, Sun Tzu’s strategist reads omens and collects intelligence to prepare for all eventualities.
- Both paths emphasize that foresight and planning often trump brute force.
Conclusion
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is more than just a manual on combat. It is a timeless treatise on harnessing knowledge, awareness, and strategic thinking to navigate challenges—qualities that deeply resonate with Western Hermetic philosophy. Where Hermeticism posits that all power begins in the mind (Air, the Swords), Sun Tzu offers concrete ways to wield that mental force in the manifest world.
In the end, whether we approach the text as a martial guide, a diplomatic strategy, or an esoteric metaphor, The Art of War encourages us to cultivate clarity, adaptability, and keen discernment—virtues equally prized in the Western Hermetic tradition’s quest for self-mastery and higher realization.

Those of us Spirit-personalities, who are fortunate enough to inherit a human body, now know how to empathize with the "living" and will adjust our ideas to accommodate the expansion and liberation of the living from their poverty of self-imposed fear or ruler-imposed definitions rather than just erase "others" with visions of tempestuous velocity and/or of immense violence.
Love of ideas without empathy is a Terrible Tempest of Self-Absorbed Desire, where the Vision is more important than the living. Hence, this Card reminds us to take time to love being, for the body human is a Vision of Divine's Will-To-Be that must be our Vision Center, so that we can "feel" the force of our own Ideas and restructure them to care for the living rather than sacrifice people to our ideals.

Chokmah, the first Male force and the 2nd Sephiroth known as Wisdom, represents the primeval "Will" and is a mental tempest of force governing the Knight of Swords. It signifies the beginning state of conscious masculine energy. Thus, Chokmah embodies the "idea of male," while its counterpart, Binah, embodies the "idea of Female." Just as time/space or electric/magnetic fields, when one exists, so does the other. Consequently, we conceive the concepts of Father-Mother God and/or the Divine Creative as 0=2.

As the 2nd Sephira, Chokmah also serves as the Force behind the four 2's and the four Knights, projecting ideas towards Binah, "the womb of Mind," where they are received and understood.

Fire and water combine to create all forms.
Understanding forms the foundation of love and initiates the process of gestation. Wisdom is akin to learning; for instance, one learns not to slam their finger in a door by understanding the door's structure and the location of their fingers. This understanding encompasses recognizing the difference between fingers and wood, observing finger placement, and comprehending the forces and forms involved in a closing door. Wisdom dictates "do or don't do," while understanding elucidates the reasons behind such actions, thus providing preferred knowledge on what to do. The Twins here are Wisdom and Understanding whose union creates the mental strata we call Love.
The Twos/Twins symbolize the Forces of the King, who are shown in the Thoth Tarot as Knights/Battle Kings. The four Queens unite and initialize the "Will-to-Force" of the Knights with the Understanding of "Will-to-Form". Hence, the Knight-Kings are the Fathers of and/or initiators of Material Forces. The Knight of Swords subtly shows the Creatrix participation in this card's direction, as three swallows, which are the sacred birds attributed to Isis, the Egyptian Goddess of Creation.

Therefore, the Tarot King/Knight of swords personality is also known in the Western Hermetic Qaballah as Lord of Winds and Breezes (no this is not your "pull my finger" grandfather), King of the Elemental Spirits of the Air; the Sylphs and Sylphides. This is an extraordinarily Strong masculine mental force whose zodiacal attributes are the last Decan of Taurus and the first two Decans of Gemini, and just as able to switch directions of thought as the wind.
1. The Fiery Part of Air
In Crowley’s arrangement, each Knight (King) unites the elemental power of Fire (the “father” principle, or Yod in the Tetragrammaton) with the base element of the suit. For the Knight of Swords:
- Fire = willpower, dynamism, and impetus
- Air = intellect, reason, communication
Hence, this Knight embodies fire in the realm of air: the intense, surging expression of mental energy. Crowley often stressed that this card’s energy is more than simple logic—it is will-fueled intellect unleashed with formidable velocity.

The Mystic Palette Tarot-King of Swords.
The Mystic Palette Tarot- King of Swords emphasizes the King personification of the activating Force behind the World of Astral images and Architectures and/or transcendental astral awareness. He is one of mental clarity, intellectual power, and self-discipline. Mental discipline is a spiritual discipline.
Represented on this King of Swords card is a cloud scape. The clouding of as his background represents water and clouds that also represents the Astral kingdom of "liquid light", the mindscape before the crystallization of light on the Plane of Malkuth that we call the Material Plane. Here also is the image of a clear sharp mind as shown by his pointed winged crown and double-edged sword.
3. Balancing the Storm
The Double-Edged Sword
The Knight of Swords is brilliant but can be reckless. With fire fused into the realm of air, this can devolve into intellectual aggression or cutting criticism if not balanced by empathy and emotional intelligence. Crowley often noted the idealism and destructive capacity of this Knight; a pure, flaming intellect that can either champion truth or cause turmoil if unchecked.
Need for Grounding
In a Hermetic framework, elemental equilibrium is key. Excess air plus fire can lead to frenetic, scattered energy. Integrating a measure of Water (emotional wisdom) or Earth (practical grounding) can help harness the Knight of Swords’ power effectively, steering it away from chaos and toward constructive ends—such as creative breakthroughs, decisive leadership, or major problem‐solving initiatives.

Often when we find we are lucid in a dream and walking that spectacular landscape of the Mind, we are not of a body, but the power that operates it in our name of "I AM". Here we can think of Kether as the sleeping dreamer, while we are of Chokmah, the lucid dreamer. Remember, we came down the Tree of life on the lightning path and we remember ourselves traveling back up the Tree of Life on the serpentine path.

Astral projection is an out-of-body experience (OBE) that involves the separation of the astral body from the physical body. It is often associated with various esoteric, metaphysical, and spiritual practices. Here's a basic explanation:
Astral Body: According to metaphysical beliefs, humans have an astral body, also known as the soul or spirit, which exists independently of the physical body. During astral projection, this astral body is said to leave the physical body.
Consciousness Separation: Astral projection typically involves a conscious separation of the consciousness or awareness from the physical body. Practitioners often describe a sensation of floating, flying, or moving outside their bodies.
Different Realms: Those who practice astral projection often believe that the astral body can travel to different realms or dimensions. Some describe visiting other planes of existence, meeting spiritual entities, or gaining insights into the nature of reality.
Methods and Techniques: Various methods and techniques are suggested for inducing astral projection. These may include deep meditation, visualization, lucid dreaming, or specific rituals. The goal is to achieve a state of altered consciousness that allows the astral body to separate.
Purpose: The purposes of astral projection vary among practitioners. Some seek spiritual growth, self-discovery, or communication with higher beings. Others may use it for exploration, learning, or healing.
Safety Considerations: While many people practice astral projection without negative consequences, some caution that it should be approached with care. It's important to have a clear intention, maintain a positive mindset, and be aware of potential challenges.
It's crucial to note that beliefs and experiences related to astral projection can vary widely, and scientific evidence supporting the existence of an astral body or the ability to project it is limited. People approach this practice from different perspectives, including spiritual, mystical, and psychological viewpoints.

tarot personality birth-wheel.

Such a character, if personal, would be that of a person who is clever, skillful, active, and subtle. Being that s/he is fierce, delicate, and courageous, much like a ferocious but fragile Dragon Fly, does not keep them from being prey to their ideas which come as inspiration without consideration. Often such a personality finds that inadequate violent action is merely futile effort at best, and therefore can "overreact", which tends to make them emotionally unstable. Famous Knight of Swords personalities include, Baron Münchhausen, Arthur Conan Doyle, Pope John Paul II, Malcom X, Queen Victoria, John Wayne, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Cher.


How ever we choose to dignify this Knight/King s/he is the "Extended Flame of mind" as Zoroaster calls it. Here the True "Will too Force", as Chokmah is exploding the Mind into 0=2. The Taurian influence makes it steadfast, and the first Decanate of Gemini makes it inspirational; thus, an idea tends to absorb the entire life of the individual in the blinding light of concentrated aspiration. Therefore, the description shows the danger to this state of mind, for the first Decan is also known as "shortened force" and that shortened force is symbolized by the poniard on the Thoth Knight.
Shortened force often comes off as defensive, cruel, and stubborn behavior.
4. Hermetic & Magickal Applications
1. Directed Will (The Lemniscate of Consciousness)
When a magician “invokes force of mind,” they align their will (Fire) with sharp intellectual focus (Air). This synergy makes manifestation of ideas more precise and rapid.
2. Cutting Through Illusion
Swords represent the power to divide truth from illusion. In the Qabalistic sense, the mind can become ensnared by astral glamour or personal bias. The Knight of Swords, in ritual or meditation, can be petitioned or visualized as the unstoppable, truth-bearing wind that disperses misleading influences.
3. Action in Service of Vision
Contrary to pure “theorizing,” this Knight demands follow-through. Crowley taught that knowledge must bloom into action—an essential Hermetic lesson. The Knight of Swords inspires immediate, dynamic implementation of one’s insights.

WHEN THE KNIGHT of SWORDS/KING IS THROWN DURING A READING:
The querent is or may be experiencing:
This Archetypal personality as a person:
- Who possesses qualities of skill, activity, subtlety, and cleverness combined with fierceness.
- S/He is both delicate and courageous while also being prey of his inspirational idea--- that he doesn't question.
- Power.
- Authority.
- Militant intelligence.
- One who knows and manipulates the Law of Action/ Reaction.
As an Archetype Mental force:
Invoked Force of Mind
Crowley’s phrase “invoked force of mind” alludes to the deliberate summoning (invocation) of mental power in a very magical or Hermetic sense. The Knight of Swords can be envisioned as:
- Focused Intention: Rather than a passive or wandering mind, it is an intellect consciously aimed, like a drawn sword, at a target.
- Rapid Decision-Making: This Knight sees connections fast, cutting through illusions and irrelevancies in a near-instant. Crowley described it as the capacity to harness mental lightning.
- Unstoppable Momentum: Once this card’s energy is unleashed, it is difficult to contain; think of a violent gust that blows away obstructions or outworn ideas.
In practical terms, when the Knight of Swords appears in a reading or meditation, it signals a time of potent mental clarity—though there is also the risk of impatience or even mental overload if not channeled wisely.
If ill dignified by the surrounding cards:
- The Card represents inadequate violence, which is useless and futile.
- The vigor in all the qualities mentioned, is gone...merely a convulsion of breezes rather than a Tempest- a-charging!
- Cruelty.
- Evil intentions.
- Perfidy.
- Perversity.
- Barbarity.
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