1 OF AIR
RWS Description: A hand grasping a sword emerges from a cloud. The point of the sword is encircled by a crown, and an olive branch and a palm branch hang from the crown. There are low mountains in the background.
RWS Symbols
Sword: Invoked creative force.
Crown: The crown of Kether on the Tree of Life.
Olive Branch (on the right): The Olive Branch of Peace
Palm Branch (on the left): The Palm Branch of Suffering.
Six Yods: Six yods flank the blade, bringing to mind the sixth sephira, Tiphareth, which, like the suit of Swords and world of Yetzirah, corresponds to the third letter of the Divine Name.
Keywords
UPRIGHT: Insight, Epiphany, Precision, Clarity, New Perspective
REVERSE: Confusion, Miscommunication, Conflict, Uncertainty, Limited Perspective
Interpretation: The Ace of Swords is about conceiving and disseminating fresh ideas. As the source of thoughts, the Ace of Swords is about clarity, insight, and the birth of new ideas. It represents the mental sharpness and intellectual force needed to cut through confusion and initiate breakthroughs or decisions.
Correspondences
Sephira (Kether): 1 of Fire, 1 of Water, 1 of Earth
Elemental Powers of Air: Fire of Air, Water of Air, Air of Air, Earth of Air
Numerical Elements: 2 of Air, 3 of Air, 4 of Air, 5 of Air, 6 of Air, 7 of Air, 8 of Air, 9 of Air, 10 of Air
Card Details
1: Aces represent the source of the powers of each element. All ones represent the seed or divine spark of creative energy, and correspond to the first sephira, Kether, which is commonly referred to by Qabalists as the “crown.”
Tree of Life (Kether in Yetzirah): The Ace of Swords corresponds to Kether in Yetzirah. In the Astral World, Kether is the source of thoughts.
Sephira (Kether): The first sephiroth, Kether, is the primordial point from which the universe unfolds and to which all manifestation ultimately returns. Kether is associated with Neptune. Neptune represents the divine source, aligning with the Ultimate Reality principle. The Neptune archetype dissolves boundaries, allowing for us to embrace the experiences of all life forms with compassion and, in transcending the limiting ego, recognize the Divine Presence within everything.
World (Yetzirah): All Swords correspond to the third of four worlds, Yetzirah (The World of Formation), which is also called the formative world. The element associated with the World of Yetzirah is Air.
The Story of Air: The element of air, traditionally symbolized by the suit of swords in the Tarot system, embodies the preeminent power of the intellect. The astrological air signs are renowned for their exceptional cognitive abilities, encompassing critical thinking and articulate expression. The intellect, a quintessential quality intrinsic to the air element, facilitates the processes of analysis, division, and the incisive capacity to cut through complexities when confronted with intricate problems that necessitate rational and discerning solutions. The narratives and stories aligned with the air element revolve thematically around the exploration of confronting and resolving challenges through the strategic application of mental faculties.
Time of Year: Fall Equinox
Color (Hex Code): #FFFFFF
