The Queen of Swords is often seen as a dominant, intelligent and independent woman.  In fact she is sometimes referred to as "the widow" because she is perceived as capable of doing things alone.  But I think her reality is much more subtle than that.  It's not that she doesn't need a man or a partner, it's that she doesn't depend upon them for her existence.  She exists and thrives separate and apart.  She is confident of her opinions and thoughts and effectively communicates her ideas and philosophy.  She can be diplomatic when the need arises and cutting when the occasion calls for it.  I often associate the Queens with the element of Earth.  So the Queen of Swords would represent Earth of Air.  She combines the traits of sensing and thinking.  She is at ease in her physical space but does not become lost in it. 

"Your mental faculties are well-tuned.  You are expressing your philosophy, fully and powerfully, through your lifestyle and activities.  You are not likely to be threatened by other peoples' lifestyles because you are sure of your own.  Your communication process is strong and effective, you are powerful in presenting your ideas because you understand them so thoroughly." - Gail Fairfield

On the Vampire Tarot, Ellen Terry represents the Queen of Knives.  Ellen Terry was a talented, well-known and well-respected actress at the Lyceum Theater in London who  was a friend of Stokers and the mentor of Pamela Colman Smith.  She was considered a charming, gifted and intelligent woman who surrounded herself with creative and intelligent people.  I'm sure she would have been right at home in any of the intellectual salons in Paris or London, charming others with her wit and intellect.

The Queen of Swords in the All Hallows Tarot looks a bit like a fey warrior queen.  She is decorated in tattoos and holds her sword aloft as though quite capable of using it should the need arise.  The crescent moon decorates the night sky behind her suggesting she is connected to the constellations and natural world.  She is nurturing but in an intellectual way.  She may not be a cuddler but she can communicate comfort from her mind and tongue.  She offers the comfort that can be found in the truth, even if it is occasionally a bitter pill to swallow.

I have always felt connected to the Queen of Swords.  She is one of my favorites of the Queens.  I can identify with her rapier wit, her intellectual approach to life and her desire to nurture others by helping them develop their communication and mental skills.  I can see her encouraging her protégés to research a topic or to seek the answers in the library or in books.  At the same time she trains them to communicate their newly acquired knowledge to others.  She is not about hoarding the knowledge but about sharing and imparting it to others.  In fact I can easily see her as a school teacher - perhaps a college professor or high school level.  Or she would make an excellent diplomat.  I have often thought that if I could be more disciplined about it, I would make a good teacher.  I do like helping others find the answers but I'm not prone to spoon feed folks.  I also have a well-honed ability to cut through bullshit.  Hypocrisy and self-delusional behavior grate on my nerves.

So perhaps today is a chance to show my Queen of Swords side.  Time to show off my wit and verbal skills - to dazzle them with my brilliance if you will.  Of course the risk to me is that I may fall victim to my own talents - not a good thing.  I have to make sure I maintain contact with my sensing nature while still tapping into my thinking side.  This can sometimes be a challenge for me - it's easy for me to get lost in sensations (especially when chocolate is involved).  I think I need more discipline and a planned strategy to move forward.  I have to get my ass in gear.