King of Swords

Upright

judgement · principle · authority of mind

Decision by principle rather than preference. Bring this card the argument, not the feeling.

Reversed

dogma · cruel logic · abuse of position

Rules used to win, or intellect deployed without any warmth behind it.

Why this astrology

The pips two through ten map onto the thirty-six decans, ten degrees of the zodiac each, so King of Swords is air of air — a planet working through a particular third of a sign. Aces are the root of their element and the courts carry it as temperament.