The Queen of Swords Isn't a B*tch! A Post About the Queen of Sword's "Nasty" Reputation

 

Introduction

Most beginning tarot readers (and some “professionals") see the Queen of Swords as a cold-hearted, bitchy woman.  As a professional tarot reader of 18 years and studying the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot for the last 22+ years, I can assure you she is NOT a bitch. Stick around, because hot tarot tea is coming in!

I will die on this hill that the Queen of Swords is not a bitch. She is one of the tarot cards that is misunderstood. In this day of age, I see more young people (especially young adult women) adapting the Queen of Swords persona (and that’s wonderful!). She is “F*ck the patriarchy” but abides by the law. She champions those wronged, unfairly treated, or unable to speak for themselves.

She is selective with who she shares her empathy with. Yes, she is empathetic.  She uses logic to determine who deserves her empathy. She doesn’t give into every sob story. She knows not everyone with a sob story is telling the truth. She is discerning and can spot a charlatan a mile a way. And she’s not afraid to tell you she smells your bullshit! If you are lying to her, she knows. If you are faking through something, she spots it. If you’re not being fair, she will tell you.

How the Queen of Wands Communicates

The Queen of Swords does not mince words. She has no time for “Well, maybe...”. She is the best friend who tells you to block that man/woman because they do not deserve your time or energy. She is the friend who tells you her honest opinions, whether you were ready to hear them. She is the mom who knows your group of friends are trash. She will tell you to get new ones. She can tell it how it is, even if it comes out a little harsh or cold-hearted. 

In light, the Queen of Swords can deliver truths compassionately. She still speaks her truth, but she delivers it in a more careful way. It may still come out harsh, but she has good intentions with her words. 

In shadow, the Queen of Swords IS bitchy, cold-hearted, and aloof. She’s just shouting into the wind, offending everyone, and not giving a shit about what people think of her and her “truths”. She just talks for the sake of talking. She doesn’t handle silence very well and is afraid of being alone. She also has loose boundaries and doesn’t speak up for justice. She abandons her moral code, ethics, and values. If she speaks up for herself or others, she may be silenced by other people or people misunderstand what she says.

The Queen's Boundaries, Ethics, Values, and Morals

Boundaries, ethics, values, and morals are important to the Queen of Swords. She’s seen as “bitchy” because she doesn’t waver on her boundaries for anyone. She sticks to her code of ethics, morals, and values. She won’t compromise on these things at all. She knows who she is, she is confident about who she is, and she stands by what she believes in. The Queen of Swords can be charming, but once you cross her, you get the sword. Her values are justice, fairness, equality, transparency, and honesty. She is morally good. She abides by the law and listens to authority figures--unless they cross her values and ethics. She will then speak up and fight and defend for justice and love.

The Queen's Backstory

The Queen has seen much sorrow and hardship in her life. She may be a widow, a divorcee, or someone who has had a lot of relationship drama. She may have grown up in poverty and had to speak up for herself in order to get what she needed. She found ways to fulfill her needs. She is street-smart AND book-smart. She got an education while working a full-time job to feed her siblings and her sick mother. Her life clearly hasn’t sheltered her. She has seen things, and has came out on the otherside to talk about it. And this makes her wise to the world. She can sense when someone is getting into trouble or will face trouble with their decisions and choices they make. She has the gift of discernment. She is logical, yet intuitive. She is charming, but not an open book.  This is how she shows love. 

The Queen of Swords' Politics

She can be a staunch conservative or a strong liberal. She can be a conservative because she’s all about law and order. Her liberal stance stems from her advocacy for the wronged and the voiceless, her commitment to equality, and her willingness to speak up for those treated unfairly. She is “f*ck the patriarchy” but does so peacefully and lawfully. She can be a mediator for both sides. She can see the good in both sides, but she will have no trouble calling either side out when one or both are deceitful, unfair, or wrong.

In Conclusion

The Queen of Swords isn’t a bitch. She is opinionated, discerning, authentic, intuitive, and logical. She is the strong women of the modern era.  She raised herself in the Projects, but got an education while working to feed herself, her siblings, and her sick mother. She is the journalist, like Heather Cox Richardson, who informs the world of unjust and inequalities. She’s a heartbroken woman, and after her partners repeatedly used and abused her, she’s standing up for herself. That is the Queen of Swords. Call her a “Nasty Woman”. She’d wear that label proudly! She speaks for truth. She shows up for justice, fairness, and equality. She's transparent. She knows herself inside and out. She isn't afraid to speak her mind. And to me, that does not equal bitchiness. That is a strong person. And the Queen of Swords is a strong woman. She embodies the Strength card as well as the Justice card of the major arcana. She is a Libra -- charming but not afraid to speak up!