The Ace of Swords carries with it a duality of authoritative justice and its polar opposite of negative (or aggressive) power. The tarot card itself isn't inherently positive or negative but depends on the placement in the pattern or the situation presented. It is an all consuming, double edged sword of a power. There is an inner strength here that can carry a person through a victory or send them into defeat. This card can usher in a breakthrough of mental or spiritual clarity. If motivations are positively charged, anything is possible.

The Two of Swords is represented by an image of two swords crossing over the heart of a woman. Opposing forces in a stalemate and a guarded heart are characteristic of this tarot card. What the opposing forces are can vary: positive and negative energy, strength and weakness, action and inaction, etc. It will take a great deal of effort and sometimes time for one of these sides to win out over the other. The aura of protection given by the crossed swords against danger will be broken on its own if given enough time. If they are forced apart, the sudden change will bring pain. If it shows up in a relationship tarot reading, this card shows that both people are equally to blame for a negative situation and will continue in their behavior unless someone breaks the cycle.

The weapons of the Three of Swords are piercing a heart, symbolizing emotion. This card depicts how logic and acts of the mind can harm the emotional heart. There aren't many aspects of this card that won't be painful. Sadness, rejection, heartbreak, grief and betrayal all live behind this card. But the lesson here is that pain is necessary. It is the force that can drive motivation and life changes more than any other. Face this card with bravery and there will be light at the end of this tunnel.

The Four of Swords provides a welcome break from the turmoil associated with the other Swords cards. In a tarot reading, this card offers a chance to take a break to rest the mind and spirit from all of life's battles. But this rest should not be treated like a lazy retreat. This is the time to recharge and prepare you for the battles that rest around the corner.

And the Five of Swords contains those battles around the corner. This isn't a favorite card for tarot card reading recipients to see as it typically represents defeat. You have fought the good fight but emerged without victory. You will need to take this defeat in stride and prepare to go back and fight the battle again. On the rare cases when this card means you were victorious, it can be a caution against feeling you are invincible. That can easily be proven to be false. If you obtained the victory by any means other than fair ones, they may come back to bite you.