When considering the overall meaning of the Ace of Swords, consider the Aces and the suit of Swords. According to tarot expert and astrologer Alicia LaPenna, the four aces in your deck are associated with new beginnings, new opportunities, and new potential.

No matter what suit the ace is in, there will be a clue as to exactly where the new beginning lies, and in the case of Swords, this is usually related to mental energy or even communication.

As astrologer and tarot reader Bess Matassa previously told mindbodygreen, the suit of swords is associated with the element of air, as well as the mental realm, be it intelligence and thoughts, or how those thoughts manifest. In this suit, Matassa often looks at what the cards reveal about us getting “entangled in the thought patterns and stories we tell ourselves.”

And as LePenna tells mindbodygreen, the Ace of Swords often speaks of mental breakthrough, new clarity, and success. As you can see in the card image, she explains, a hand emerges from a white cloud, indicating divine inspiration and insight.

“And on the top there is a crown with a wreath, which means success and victory. But in the background you can see the mountains in the distance,” LaPenna notes. These mountains can indicate a certain challenge, so while it may not be easy, this card suggests that you will need clarity of mind and resilience to navigate the path, she says.