36 years old, they/them, panromantic – asexual – just realized I’m non-binary. I’m a professional tarot reader and reiki-shaman by day, a TTRPG designer by night.

I set up SWORD QUEEN GAMES as a way to explore the Queen of Swords within me. So yeah, let me talk about her a bit.

In the tarot, the Queen of Swords represents to major things: the inherent “feminine” energy in the deck (yin, receptive, intuitive, soft, nurturing, mysterious…) and the sharpness of truth.

Swords represent clarity, confrontation, mental strength and capacity, the truths and lies we speak to ourselves and how that informs our perceptions and limits/supports our actions in the world.

The Queen of Swords to me, in the context of game design, speaks to me exploring the following:

• What truths and themes do we explore in this game?
• Can this exploration be simple, can it happen naturally or in the background of things?
• What innate truths can I gently bring to the surface? What tools can I provide to engage with these truths?
• What perspectives and realities can I offer?
• Can people outside of my experience engage with this easily?
• Is it fun? Like really fun?

Tapping into the Queen of Swords within me proves to be an ongoing but enjoyable challenge. Giving my intuition voice, exploring my truth, seeking out the tools to express these in emergent gameplay.

I hope you’ll enjoy the ride as We Four Swords dance along truth, perception, play, narrative, and joy!