The King of Swords represents the height of practical wisdom, phronesis – the Greek word for prudence, which comes from word phren, which means “diaphram,” clearly linking the act of reasoning with that of the breath, or the element of air.
The King of Swords is a doubly “airy” arcana since both the Kings and the suit of Swords partake of that element. However, the airy quality of the King of Swords is much more deeply intellectual than the flightiness of other airy characters such as the Page or the Knight.
