Queen of Swords

This painting is a part of my Queer Revolution Tarot series. I painted 78 tarot cards based on the themes of traditional decks, but with a gender expansive approach to a traditionally binary categorization. Masculine and feminine are qualities, not bodies, and anybody could embody either or both.

This card represents independence, unbiased judgment, clear boundaries, and direct communication. In order to achieve mental clarity and intellectual power, you must be flexible and open to input. The queen of wands leads from the head and not the heart; she is a truth-seeker, favoring honest communication. Set clear boundaries and create a space where others feel safe to do the same.

I painted the queen of swords in action, stepping forward in her fight and protecting her ground. She holds her sword up, creating tension and possibility around it. The painting is light and warm, overcast and windy. The figure’s blue hair contrasts her warm coloring, with a hot pink shadow bright against the cool blue panes of a greenhouse.