THE ACE OF SWORDS
"The Root of the Powers of Air"
The Air Signs of the Zodiac
Elemental Air
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
A radiant Angelic hand emerges from a wispy grey cloud holding on tightly to an erect two edged sword, symbolic of the mind and intellect. At its pointed end hovers a golden crown, a symbol of mental clarity, from which hangs suspended the olive branch of peace, signifying success and victory and the palm leaf of suffering signifying hardship, suffering and defeat. Six golden droplets float in mid air beside the sword, three beside each edge of the sword underneath the olive branch and the palm leaf. The hand and the sword appear to float in the air alone amid a barren mountainous landscape.
ASTROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
The suit of Swords is associated with the Air signs of the Zodiac: Gemini (the personal mind), Libra (the social mind), and Aquarius (the higher mind). The Suit of Swords expresses our relation with thought, mental development, perception and strife. It teaches us to develop our personal mental faculties, to utilize them in service to society and to unite them with the spiritual intelligence proceeding from a higher ground of being.
ORACLES
When Appearing Upright in a Reading
An energizing power will enter your life. It will bring inspiration and a new and original creative vision. If you pursue this powerful potential great success can be yours. A new beginning is at hand. It is the time to move forward.
When Appearing Reversed in a Reading
Success may come to you, but disaster may follow closely behind. You are using the powers of your mind for destructive and evil ends. What appears as a triumph can quickly turn into suffering, hardship and defeat.
THE TREE OF LIFE
“The Crown”
The element of Air does not refer to the natural phenomenon of the earth’s atmosphere but rather to the energy of the human mind that can be utilized for either creative or destructive ends. We can either use our minds as a bridge to the knowledge of the Inner Light within Nature or turn against natural and Divine law and become an instrument of suffering and evil.