The Tarot of Eli 2, LLC- Court Cards: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot- Queen of Swords & The Animal Totem Tarot -Queen of Swords

#tarotqabalahtraditionalelitarot2strikingly.com

The Rider-Waite-Smith, Queen of Swords, and the Animal Totem Tarot Queen of Swords are not disclosing any of her secret-occult actions of the Qabalistic Philosophy. This is because Waite created an Occult lodge, and all members are required to swear an oath not to reveal the "secret initiations" that are often shown on more modern Tarot cards (Thoth). However, there are some esoteric hints displayed.

Hence, both the Rider-Waite-Smith and the Animal Totem Tarot depict a Great Queen, bigger than life.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Queen holds up a sword in defense and yet on the RWS card she also offers a hand in peace, implying a peace won by severity. The only indication of the Divine Child (the Soul) on the Rider-Waite-Smith Queen is in the stone head motif of a cherub on her Throne. She is surrounded in the Air above, complete with flying birds, to imply the element of Air/Mind, as does the cloud cloak that she wears. She is depicted here as a placid Kali-Ma like persona. Again, it helps to understand that Waite was sworn to secrecy in the Occult lodge of the Golden Dawn, so he displays only the mundane meaning in his cards with an airy wave at the Western Hermetic Qabalah.

The Animal Totem Tarot -Queen of Swords depicts an image of the "ice queen" as a Wolf whose crown and sword complete her. She is one who has seen it all; "ice queen" because she is a white wolf as a companion implying, she is Freya, Queen of the Norse. As winter is an experience in difficulties, this queen represents one who has experienced the trials and tribulations of life and is pragmatic and will "suffer no fools". She is intelligent, independent, and strong and in this image, she is investigating knowledge as her mind loves to be challenged. Her crown means she is royalty and her paws on the sword means that she may be at peace, but is ready to defend herself and her children in the blink of the eye.

Even if you have no idea what to do in a situation, she does! She is clarity of the Creatrix mind and removes all illusions of a "drama queen's" victimized self -image. Hence the image of a young Queen Wolf whose persona supports great potential knowledge and knowing that she can and will turn it into great abundance.

Freyja (or Freya) is one of the most powerful and enigmatic goddesses of the Norse pantheon, embodying love, beauty, war, sorcery, and death. She is often associated with wolves, winter, and the mysteries of Seiðr (Norse magical practices). Below are some key aspects of her characteristics and symbolism:

1. Goddess of Love and Beauty

Freyja is often compared to Aphrodite or Venus, but she is more than just a love goddess. She represents both passionate love and deeper spiritual love, making her a goddess of attraction, desire, and fertility.

2. Mistress of Seiðr (Norse Magic)

She is the foremost practitioner of Seiðr, a form of Norse magic that involves trance, shape-shifting, prophecy, and altering fate. Odin himself learned Seiðr from her, highlighting her dominance in magical arts.

3. Leader of the Valkyries & Battle Goddess

Unlike many love goddesses in other traditions, Freyja has a strong connection to war. She receives half of the fallen warriors in battle, taking them to her hall, Sessrúmnir, in Folkvangr, while Odin receives the other half in Valhalla.

4. Goddess of Death & the Underworld

Freyja’s role in choosing slain warriors links her to death and the afterlife. Her affinity for spirits and magic suggests she serves as a guide between realms.

5. Association with Wolves

Wolves, in Norse tradition, symbolize both destruction and untamed spiritual forces. Freyja, sometimes depicted with wolves, embodies the raw power of nature, the wild hunt, and the primal forces of love, war, and magic.

6. Winter and Shamanic Journeying

Freyja’s association with winter links her to the death-rebirth cycle, as winter is the time of descent into darkness before renewal. In this sense, she reflects aspects of the Underworld Goddess archetype and initiatory trials.

7. Mistress of Cats

She is often depicted riding a chariot drawn by two great cats. Cats, as liminal creatures between the seen and unseen worlds, reinforce her ties to magic and mysticism.

8. Brísingamen – Her Sacred Necklace

Freyja owns the Brísingamen, a golden necklace that represents divine radiance and power. She acquired it through a bargain with the dwarves, reinforcing her connection to wealth, desire, and magical empowerment.

9. The Vanir and Fertility

As a member of the Vanir (a race of deities associated with nature, fertility, and magic), Freyja governs abundance and prosperity.

10. Shape-shifting & Falcon Cloak

She owns a cloak of falcon feathers that allows her to shape-shift into a bird, reinforcing her role as a traveler between realms.

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Goddess

Freyja is both fierce and enchanting, embodying war and love, life and death, magic and beauty. Her connection to wolves and winter places her in a liminal space, making her a goddess of transformation and survival.

Freyja and the Queen of Swords in the Thoth Tarot: A Hermetic and Qabalistic Comparison

Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, war, sorcery, and death, aligns in fascinating ways with the Queen of Swords in the Thoth Tarot. While the Queen of Swords is often seen as an intellectual and detached figure, Crowley’s esoteric interpretation brings in the deeper elements of transformation, severance, and wisdom—qualities that resonate deeply with Freyja’s mythos.

Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, war, sorcery, and death, aligns in fascinating ways with the Queen of Swords in the Thoth Tarot. While the Queen of Swords is often seen as an intellectual and detached figure, Crowley’s esoteric interpretation brings in the deeper elements of transformation, severance, and wisdom—qualities that resonate deeply with Freyja’s mythos.

1. The Queen of Swords: The Severing Force of Truth

Astrological and Qabalistic Attributes

• The Queen of Swords rules over the last decan of Virgo and the first two decans of Libra, linking her to intellect, discernment, and balance.
• In the Qabalistic Tree of Life, she sits in Binah (Understanding) in Yetzirah (Formative World)—the realm of air, where ideas take shape and clarity is gained through separation.

Symbolism in the Thoth Tarot

• The Queen holds a severed head in her left hand, a stark reminder of her role as the clear-cutting force of truth and transformation.
• Her sword is pointed downward, suggesting wisdom that is directed inward, toward introspection and self-liberation.
• She is a widow, representing detachment from illusion and the ability to cut away what no longer serves.

2. Freyja: The Queen of Seiðr, Battle, and Transformation

Aspects of Freyja That Resonate with the Queen of Swords

• Seiðr & Magic: Freyja is the goddess of Norse magic (Seiðr), which involves divination, fate-weaving, and transformation—paralleling the Queen’s insight and mastery over the unseen.
• Death & the Fallen: She receives half of the slain warriors in battle, a role that mirrors the Queen of Swords’ function of judgment and discernment.
• Liberation from Illusion: Freyja is known for her autonomy, independence, and ability to navigate both war and love. Like the Queen of Swords, she is not easily deceived and wields knowledge as a weapon.

Symbols of Freyja That Reflect the Queen of Swords

• Her Falcon Cloak: Allows her to shift forms, much like the Queen of Swords' ability to transcend falsehood through perception.
• Brísingamen Necklace: A symbol of power, insight, and divine favor, much like the severed head in the Queen’s hand—both represent the wisdom that comes through trial and sacrifice.
• Association with Winter: Like the Queen of Swords, who thrives in the cold realm of air, Freyja is often linked to winter, the season of stillness, reflection, and endings.

3. The Queen of Swords and Freyja: A Hermetic View

From a Hermetic perspective, both Freyja and the Queen of Swords embody the power of Saturn in Air—the ability to cut through illusion, accept necessary endings, and move forward with clarity. This echoes the idea in Western Hermetic Qabalah that Binah (Saturn) grants understanding through separation.

Additionally, both figures share the lunar wisdom of Ishtar/Inanna, as Freyja and Ishtar are often linked. The Queen of Swords, despite her air aspect, holds a deep connection to lunar cycles and intuition, emphasizing the balance between intellect and inner knowing.

4. Final Synthesis: Freyja as a Living Archetype of the Queen of Swords

• Both serve as intermediaries between life and death, wisdom and love.
• Both rule over transformation and severance, understanding that to gain clarity, one must be willing to let go.
• Both embody a feminine force of strength, wielding intelligence, magic, and warlike prowess.

In a Tarot reading, drawing the Queen of Swords with a Norse or shamanic focus could signify a Freyja moment—a time of cutting illusions, embracing one’s independence, and claiming the wisdom gained through hardship.

For Western Hermetic Magick Ritual invocation of Freya go to and scroll down menu and click on blog page:

In the Western Hermetic Qabalah the Qabalistic Mother of Consciousness, Binah, the 3rd Sephiroth is called UNDERSTANDING and is also often called the Sanctifying Intelligence and known as the Parent of Faith. What is often not realized is that She also represents Chronos/Saturn, who was/is considered a male aspect of the Collective Mind, known in mythology as "Grandfather Time" (before Patriarchy, she was Juno-a two-faced goddess of life and death), who is the oldest of ancient gods. We may now know him as "Father Time", but the highly restrictive nature of time, birth, aging, and death are the ultimate result of the gift of Life bestowed by the female aspect of the Divine Creative- Binah. So once again the gender of the Sephira proves to be insubstantial for complete understanding.

It helps to remember that each Sephiroth has an expressive-male-state (Will-to-Force) and a receptive-female-state (Understanding that is Will-to-Form) of consciousness and that the Divine Creative is a ternary combination of Kether, Chokmah and Binah, inseparable and infinitely inexplicable. So, we can also call her "Mother Time-Space".

There is no end to the Queen of Swords comparison to the Divine Feminine of All cultures.

In Hindu mythology, she is Kali-Ma who uses her swords to slice away illusion and/or the head of the Patriarch, which we moderns now call the Military Industrial Complex, thanks to the famous speech of President Eisenhower. Hence, she is seen as a terror to the social egregore indoctrinated populace and a freer of our Souls from its "group indoctrinated mind's" putrid embrace.

In the beginning we are the Golden Child of the Divine Creative and are called Daath-Knowledge. That identity is rarely shown on the Tree of Life, nestled as it is between Chokmah and Binah on the middle pillar (throat area of the Adam Khadmond illustration). This invisibility is because this Child of Wisdom and Understanding has all potential, allowing us to supply our own definitions of Self.

Once the Prodigal Child, who has walked down the Tree of Life to Earth, has consciously returned to the Parents (Supernal Triangle and/or Super consciousness) and claims their inheritance Daath becomes visible again and knowledge becomes manifest. There is also a lesson to remember here: to accept any definition of yourself as less than the I Am of the Divine Creative, is to become invisible to your Creatrix!

It is necessary to understand that you are not a question in the Divine Mother's Universal Collective Unconscious mind. Questions cannot be made manifest, for they are an emptiness. You are made manifest, with the Divine Creative mind (imagination-Anima and rationale-Animus) and are joined with the animal mind of Earth, the subconscious. There is no question, you are supposed to be you!

You bridge the gap between creation and the Divine Creative. Therefore, you are Knowledge and not a question; your manifestation proves you are Known by the Divine. You are an answer that must above all things know thyself. Being you the best way you can imagine, is your purpose! Hence, the Queen of Swords is the Sanctifying Intelligence, of "I AM" and your personality/body is the sanctified Child that is "Me".

The Queen of Swords can be a delightful personality of exceptional social skills, who is at once sensitive, reflective, and flexible--never wishing to offend, always willing to listen and compromise, but will "suffer no fools". This is a woman who is a consummate diplomat who avoids confrontation unless she feels she has been wronged. Then there is a great surprise delivered in the vehemence of her response!

This personality's life is drawn in contradictory directions: Family and home are all important to her as she derives strength from her family. Yet, her interpersonal abilities bring her to the forefront of social and career situations, and she must delicately balance the two worlds.

In the Western Hermetic Qabalistic Tarot, such as the Thoth Tarot Deck, the Queen of Swords is traditionally associated with the zodiac sign of Libra. The Thoth Tarot often links Court Cards with astrological signs in a particular decan system, and the Queen of Swords rules the last decan of Virgo (20°-30°) and the first two decans of Libra (0°-20°).

The Queen of Swords: Astrological Decans and Esoteric Meaning

The Queen of Swords in the Thoth Tarot rules the last decan of Virgo (20°-30°) and the first two decans of Libra (0°-20°). This placement reveals a fascinating interplay between Mercurial intellect (Virgo) and Venusian balance (Libra), filtered through the element of Air, manifesting as clarity, discernment, and decisive detachment.

1. Virgo (20°-30°) – The Analytical Threshold

The Queen of Swords begins her rule in the last decan of Virgo, ruled by Mercury. This brings an acute intellectual perception, keen observation, and the ability to analyze truth from falsehood.

Virgo’s Influence on the Queen of Swords:

• Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of intellect, communication, and precise thinking.
• The last decan of Virgo is ruled by Venus, adding an element of aesthetic discernment and fairness.
• This results in a mind that is both logical and refined, able to cut through deception with precision.

Symbolic Alignment with the Queen of Swords:

• The severed head in her hand symbolizes Mercurial detachment—she discerns what must be removed for clarity.
• Her sword is downward-pointed, showing that her mind works inwardly and logically rather than impulsively.
• Virgo’s methodical, detail-oriented nature gives the Queen her sharp mind and intolerance for deception.

This Virgoan side of the Queen of Swords represents meticulous thought, perfectionism, and the ability to see hidden details, much like Freyja’s Seiðr magic, which required precise knowledge of fate and hidden forces.

2. Libra (0°-20°) – The Balance of Truth

As the Queen moves into Libra’s first two decans, her energy shifts from pure analysis to discernment and justice. Libra is ruled by Venus, bringing a need for harmony, diplomacy, and fairness, yet she remains a figure of detachment and objectivity.

Libra’s Influence on the Queen of Swords:

• Libra is ruled by Venus, but its first decan (0°-10°) is influenced by the Moon, which grants emotional intelligence and intuition.
• The second decan of Libra (10°-20°) is ruled by Saturn, introducing discipline, seriousness, and karmic judgment.
• Libra’s association with justice and equilibrium reinforces the Queen’s role as a seeker of truth.

Symbolic Alignment with the Queen of Swords:

• Libra’s influence softens the Queen’s Virgoan precision, making her wise and just rather than cold and cutting.
• The balance of the Moon (intuition) and Saturn (strict logic) creates a mature and impartial intelligence.
• Libra’s energy makes her a fair judge, reinforcing her association with Saturnian karma and detachment from personal emotions.

In essence, Virgo sharpens her mind, while Libra gives her the ability to weigh and judge fairly—an essential combination for truth-seekers and those who cut through illusion.

3. The Synthesis: Hermetic and Qabalistic Insights

In Western Hermetic Qabalah, the Queen of Swords corresponds to Binah (Understanding) in Yetzirah (the Formative World). She embodies the wisdom that arises from the structure of intellect, merging the merciful insight of Venus (Libra) with the cutting discernment of Mercury (Virgo).

• Binah (Saturn) grants her the ability to perceive structure and limitation—hence her ability to sever falsehood.
• Yetzirah (the Air World) places her in a realm of ideas, communication, and higher thought.
• The Queen’s sword is her power of Logos, mirroring the Norse Ginnungagap—the cosmic void where wisdom and order emerge from chaos.

4. Queen of Swords and Freyja: Astrological Parallels

• Freyja’s Seiðr magic, like Virgo’s analytical mind, required intricate knowledge of the hidden forces of fate.
• As a chooser of the slain, Freyja embodies Libra’s weighing of souls, justice, and balance.
• Her falcon cloak is an air-element symbol, linking her to Yetzirah and the Queen’s intellectual power.

Thus, Freyja and the Queen of Swords share the same archetypal essence—a goddess of wisdom, war, magic, and decisive judgment.

Conclusion: The Queen of Swords as a Bridge Between Virgo and Libra

• Virgo (Mercury) gives her the ability to analyze and perceive truth with clarity.
• Libra (Venus, Moon, and Saturn) grants her balance, fairness, and the ability to judge wisely.
• Hermetically, she embodies Binah in Yetzirah, the airborne wisdom that cuts illusion from reality.

This makes her one of the most insightful and powerful cards in the Thoth Tarot, perfectly aligned with Freyja’s role as a sovereign figure of war, wisdom, and magical initiation.

In this system, the Queen of Swords expresses the intellect and rationality of air signs, especially Libra, known for its focus on balance, justice, and relationships. Hence, the Libra scale like image of her two arms balancing the sword and mask/head of the patriarch while high in the clouds of the sky. Libra’s ruling planet is Venus, which adds qualities of refinement and fairness to the card.

If you're exploring its planetary associations, while the zodiac link is to Libra, the planetary connection (due to its zodiac sign) would relate to Venus. However, in Crowley's system, the elemental nature of Air would typically connect with Mercury as well, emphasizing communication and logic.

When the Queen of Swords is thrown during a reading:

• The querent desires to discard, pretense, masks, roles, or defenses that hide their true self.
• One Wishes to develop or is developing intellectual thinking.
• Is undergoing a sense of resolution and commitment.
• Is experiencing intellectual maturity and is experiencing well-tuned mental facilities. Sharp of wit.
• Experiencing the Wisdom generated by sorrow.
•  Finding Wisdom through the acceptance of Pain with courage, and honesty.
• Strong willed and determined, this woman will and can bear whatever life presents her with.
• Deep comprehension of frightening truths.
•   Able to think the unthinkable and give expression to the unspeakable.
• A professional, who can handle situations capably, quickly, and efficiently.

If reversed, it implies:

• Calculating coolness.
• Insuperable distance.
• Disingenuousness. 

Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper.

Traditional Tarot Card Comparisons blog.

Home page, Tarot Store, Master Thoth Tarot classes and nontraditional Tarot Card Comparisons with Thoth Tarot.

Western Hermetic Magick ritual and invocation site and blog.