Thoth
Card name: Queen of Swords
First impressions
Sitting on a cloud, in a blue, blue sky, a woman, naked from the waist up, holds a downward pointing sword in her right hand and a bearded man’s head (green) whose eyes are closed, in her left. Her skirt is blue; her hair is long and blonde. Behind her head – referred to as her helmet ! – is a crystalline formation in green with a child’s head at its top. Rays of light spread from it in a very geometrical way – pencil thin, and following the lines of the crystals.
From the Book of Thoth
(repeated section from the Princess, for completeness):
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOUR DIGNITARIES
The relations between these Four Elements of the Name are extraordinarily complex, quite beyond the limits of any ordinary treatise to discuss; they change with every application of thought to their meaning.
For instance, no sooner has the Princess made her appearance than the Prince wins her in marriage, and she is set upon the throne of her Mother. She thus awakens the Eld of the original old King; who thereupon becomes a young Knight, and so renews the cycle. The Princess is not only the perfect Maiden, but, owing to the death of the Prince, the forsaken and lamenting Widow. All this occurs in the legends characteristic of the Aeon of Osiris. It is hardly possible definitely to disentangle these complications, but for the student it is sufficient if he will be content to work with one legend at a time.
It is natural that the Aeon of Osiris, the regimen of Air, of strife, of intellect, should be thus confused; that its symbols and formulas should overlap, should contradict each other. It is impossible to harmonize the multitudinous fables or parables, because each was invented to emphasize some formula that was regarded as imperative to serve some local or temporal purpose.
The Queens represent the letter Heh of the Name. They are the complements of the Knights. They receive, ferment, and transmit the original Energy of their Knight. Quick to receive that Energy, they are also fitted to endure for the period of their function; but they are not the final product. They represent the second stage in the process of creation whose fourth and last state is material realization. They are represented as seated upon thrones. This emphasizes the fact that they are appointed to exercise definite functions.
QUEEN OF SWORDS
The Queen of Swords represents the watery part of Air, the elasticity of that element, and its power of transmission. She rules from the 21St degree of Virgo to the 20th degree of Libra. She is enthroned upon the clouds. The upper part of her body is naked, but she wears a gleaming belt and a sarong. Her helmet is crested by the head of a child, and from it stream sharp rays of light, illuminating her empire of celestial dew. In her right hand, she bears a sword; in her left hand, the newly severed head of a bearded man. She is the clear, conscious perception of Idea, the Liberator of the Mind.
The person symbolized by this card should be intensely perceptive, a keen observer, a subtle interpreter, an intense individualist, swift and accurate at recording ideas; in action confident, in spirit gracious and just. Her movements will be graceful, and her ability in dancing and balancing exceptional.
If ill-dignified, these qualities will all be turned to unworthy purposes. She will be cruel, sly, deceitful and unreliable; in this way, very dangerous, on account of the superficial beauty and attractiveness which distinguish her.
In the Yi King, the watery part of Air is represented by the 28th hexagram, Ta Kwo.
The Shape suggests a weak beam.
The character, excellent in itself, cannot support interference. Foresight and prudence, care in preparation of action, are a safeguard (line i.) Advantage is to be won, moreover, by reliance on help from apparently unsuitable comrades (lines 2 and 5). This alien strength often supplies the defeat of inherent weakness, and may even create definite superiority to circumstance (line 4). In such an event, there may be temptation to undertake rash adventures, foredoomed to failure. But even so, no blame is incurred (line 6); the conditions of True Will have been satisfied, and the issue is compensated by the feeling that the right (however unfortunate) course has been adopted.
Such people acquire intense love and devotion from the most unexpected quarters.
Images and Symbolism
Frieda Harris says in her essays:
The Queen of Swords represents the water part of Air, that is its elasticity and transmissive power. She is throned on the clouds, and her helmet carries a child's head. In one hand a sword, in the other a head of a man. She represents the clear perception of an idea, the Liberator of mind.
Also:
Queen of Swords.
The placing of the cruel queen on columns of clouds is intended to suggest rain and the consequent darkening of the skies.
Meaning (cribbed from Wasserman)
Queen of Swords. Represents the watery part of air. A graceful woman, intensely perceptive, a keen observer, subtle interpreter, an intense individualist, confident, gracious and just. III-dignified: Cruel, sly, deceitful and unreliable woman. Superficial attractiveness makes her all the more dangerous
DuQuette
Intensely perceptive, keen observation, subtle, quick and confident: often persevering, accurate in superficial things, graceful, fond of dancing and balancing.
If ill dignified, cruel, sly, deceitful, unreliable, though with a good exterior.
The child’s head on the helmet is reminiscent of cemetery sculpture; this would link it to Saturn, which is exalted in Libra - one of two astrological attributes of this card. Libra used to be associated with the Egyptian god Khonsu, says Snuffin; a moon god shown as a child. Crowley’s sun sign is Libra, which is why this card is one of the only two court cards whose eyes have pupils (the other is the Prince of Wands, which Crowley described in The Book of Therion as himself – it was his personal court card).
The rays forming the helmet are 15 in number - Hod spelled out in full. the other astrological attribution of the card is Virgo, ruled by Mercury.
Her swords symbolises analytical thought, and the old man’s head - given the beard in particular, and the sort of self-satisfied guru expression in his face ! – represents old ways of thinking – now cut away and ended; the child’s head symbolises the new thinking which will take their place. She liberates the mind.
DuQuette calls her sword the sword of reason, and says she has used it to separate the higher faculties of the intellect from the influences of the lower nature. He says the head is perhaps the Hermit of Virgo; “the eyes closed peacefully, the face suggesting the trance of deep meditation”.
He also points out that as this card does represent Crowley’s sun sign, it would be expected to be the most intimidating card in the deck”, and that it is the classic Golden Dawn image; she holds a severed head and the sword that probably beheaded the man.
Banzhaf suggests that she has actually emasculated the man; castrated his upper masculinity. The crystals behind her head represent the flowing of ideas into form – what the Sufis call the light of pure intelligence. He sees the child’s head as showing renewal and creative force – the father is set free as true wisdom through the child’s innocence.
Traditional meanings – From Thirteen’s book of meanings:
QUEENS
The element of Queens is water and, not surprisingly, they are a reflection of the Empress. In this they signify the creative force. That which nurtures, slakes thirst and helps things to grow.
When Queens appear they signal a time of growth and development, a time when the querent is making things real.
Queen of Swords
As a development: Developing a speech, a scientific theory, a dissertation, working on a debate, or just spreading news.
As an adult woman: She's a walking encyclopedia. Anything you want to know, this woman knows it, and as such she can mingle with almost anyone. She can talk science with the scientists, history with the historians, literature with the poets. She knows obscure facts, strange tid-bits, and she seems to love nothing better than to pour it all out, give it away like gifts to help people.
In fact this woman is likely to be involved in a job that includes talking: psychology, politics, radio, or research. She might be a scientist, doctor or lawyer. Far-sighted, she is usually ahead of the game when it comes to new developments and will do many things-from cooking new cuisines, to using unconventional child rearing techniques-long before it's in vogue. All of which tends to make her appear eccentric.
It's no surprise that men and women find themselves either threatened by her or fascinated. Her cool demeanor enhances her allure, making her the most "queen-like" of the queens, and her talent with words can be used to either lead one gently and persuasively over to her side, or tear an argument (and a person's self-worth) to pieces.
Obviously, her style of parenting can seem "un-motherly" as she believes in offering up facts to solve problems rather than hugs and kisses. No one is better at intellectually stimulating her children, keeping them curious, helping them with homework or dealing coolly and effectively with emergencies. But she is lacking when it comes to providing emotional understanding and support. The Queen of Swords also likes to know everything, and she is likely to listen in on conversations, read e-mails, etc. Worse, she might well tell others what she's learned thinking it will do good. She means well, but her need to know and solve problems often outweighs other considerations. At her best, however, she is the queen of strategy. If there is a problem that needs to be solved, a puzzle worked out, the Queen of Swords is the one you want.
(I include Thirteen’s meanings here, but the way, as while someone else was adding them to her Thoth posts, I found them enlightening in context, even though the descriptions are way different !)
My impressions (appearance of the card):
My immediate thought was – OMG it’s the Statue of Liberty. Oddly enough that rather fits the description, by Frieda, of her as the Liberator of mind. She seems very languid. The guru head – the way she holds it as if he had a braid behind is interesting- adds to the “guru” feel, for me. But I cannot see those crystals as a headdress – they just don’t seem to be on her head in any way.
My take (what I make of it/what I might see in a reading where I drew it)
Because of the Statue of Liberty thing – I see this card at once as getting free of the past, cutting loose and moving forward – but perhaps rather clinically. Also that head makes me think of John the Baptist – which would make her Salome, the conniving jealous seductress. Maybe be careful when cutting away the past – don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater !
- the Matriarch of Blades.