Page of Swords

Page of Swords from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

The Page of Swords is the eleventh card in the suit of Swords. It usually stands for authority, management, secret service, vigilance, spying, or examination, and the qualities thereto belonging. An artist, learned man, or a spy.

General description

In the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, Pamela Colman Smith depicts the Page of Swords as a lithe, active figure holds a sword upright in both hands, while in the act of swift walking. He is passing over rugged land, and about his way the clouds are collocated wildly. He is alert and limber, looking this way and that, as if an expected enemy might appear at any moment.

Divinatory meaning

It is justly indicated by tradition, that the Martian and Saturnian Gemini is a specialist in unlawful knowledge or in knowledge gathered at the cost of much trouble and effort; so it may be also knowledge gathered later in life, university extension. Exact intellectual results may appear as: remarks, observations, or notes. When put in the negative there may be investigation, examination, etc. All these are truly the effects of Gemini.

On account of the eleventh house we shall have to note the same sort of results but more or less reciprocal and sudden, whereas Uranus, lord of this house, accelerates the energy of Mars in this element but is apt to destroy the Saturnian vibrations or at least counteract them. It is quite true, therefore, that this card may represent speaking and acting without sufficient preparation and without dogmatic or very formal outlines: improvisation.

This page, on account of its eleventh house relations, will represent the railway, tramway, or bus-conductor as well as the constable regulating the traffic, also the warnings of the same.

If reversed, the card can mean: What is unforeseen, an unprepared state; sickness is also intimated. Astonishing news. Improvisation.