Tarot Arcana Four of Swords: Respite

Description: A man lies in the room with his eyes closed, his arms folded across his chest. One sword is engraved on the side of the slab he lies on. The other three are on the wall. A stained glass window is also visible on the map.

Main card meanings in the upright position:
1. «bury yourself alive», surrender;
2. advice — do not isolate yourself from the world, go out to people, act;
3. calming down;
4. introspection;
5. need for treatment;
6. need for spiritual renewal;
7. stagnation;
8. interrupted activity, peace;
9. advice — take a break;
10. isolation in personal relationships;
11. feeling of loneliness in a union;
12. recovery, rest;
13. prayer, meditation;
14. calm before a storm;
15. travel;
16. a period of careful planning;
17. do not strive for the same heights, otherwise they will again lead to the current unpleasant situation.

The main meanings of the card in the inverted position:
1. do not rush to act;
2. renewed activity;
3. insight;
4. no time to relax;
5. return to work;
6. healing;
7. resentment;
8. illness, isolation;
9. discontent, retreat;
10. expulsion, dismissal, imprisonment;
11. unpleasant surroundings;
12. economy, saving, stinginess;
13. foresight, management;
14. music;
15. distribution;
16. mercy;
17. some success;
18. imposed isolation;
19. envy, petty jealousy.

In the chapel, on a tombstone, lies a living man in knightly armor with his eyes closed and his arms folded on his chest. One sword is engraved on the side of the slab, three others hang on the wall. The only bright, bright spot on this card is the stained glass of a Gothic window depicting a holiday.

In some decks, he sits in a cemetery or simply in an open area, immersed in deep thought.

The card symbolizes a person who has decided to withdraw from the world. He has given up, renounced his feelings, «buried himself alive.» But he is alive, and his brain is full of thoughts, so his undertaking is doomed to failure. There is no need to fence yourself off from the world, this card advises, it is better to get up and go outside, to the people who are waiting for you.

Thus, in the upright position, this Four recommends acting, «going out to people.» In the inverted position, on the contrary, it advises to wait with this: the time to act has not yet come.

In the «Egyptian Tarot» deck, four swords converge with their tips to one point, which gives it an additional meaning of reconciliation, truce (both in the upright and inverted positions).

(E. Kolesov «Azbuka Tarot»)

DESCRIPTION: This card depicts a statue of a medieval knight in prayer. He lies full-length on his tomb under a traditional church stained glass window. Element: Air.

EXPLANATION: Called «The Lord of Rest from Strife,» the Four of Swords indicates that the chaos present in the Three of Swords has been eliminated. This card is calming and introspective. When you draw it, you are invited to explore all the conflicting elements that require resolution in your inner being. Perhaps you need some healing. Another explanation for the Four of Swords is that you have retreated from higher powers and are in need of spiritual renewal. Prayer or meditation will open your mind and heart to spiritual insight.

REVERSED MEANING: You are active again. Proceed with caution and use your discernment.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LESSON: Although we may feel more secure within our familiar belief system, if we open ourselves to higher spiritual guidance, we can transcend our everyday problems and conflicts.

( N. Drewry «Tarot. Step-by-step guide to studying» )

The Four of Swords is a card of stagnation, interrupted activity and forced rest. In this meaning, it resembles the Hanged Man card, but differs from it in that it is associated with specific events: the obstacles or difficulties that the Four points to are usually simple and clear, and overcoming them does not require us to turn over all the foundations of life. This position is akin to illness, which is also one of the meanings of the card. We are forced to interrupt active activity, to take a break. Whether we will suffer or try to use this pause to sort ourselves out depends only on us. At the same time, it is clear that we can use the pause to work on ourselves, but we would hardly arrange it for ourselves of our own free will.

WORK: Stagnation. Things can't move forward because our strength is exhausted. There is no point in continuing any further, because the «resistance of the material» and our weakness can together lead us to complete collapse. In such situations, we need peace, rest, a break, and perhaps even the help of a doctor or a consultation with a psychotherapist. Only when we have regained our strength, for example, after going on vacation, can we once again take up the task that seemed so hopeless. And then we will discover to our surprise that things are going smoothly.

CONSCIOUSNESS: It is quite possible that we have overloaded our intellect too much, and now it cannot connect even two simple thoughts. We stumble over obstacles that we would have easily overcome before, and we cannot see the way forward. If we ignore the warning of the card and still try to painfully continue the work, this can plunge us into the abyss of despair. Instead, we need to finally take a long-needed break and surrender to the joys of life in order to forget about our problems for some time. To think that we are “losing precious time” is the greatest absurdity: we would lose more time dragging ourselves along the treadmill in our current state, which after rest we will be able to run with ease and joy.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: Here this card means isolation. Either we feel abandoned, excluded from the Great Love Games, or we feel lonely or exhausted in union with our former partner. Then the Four of Swords warns that we risk losing either ourselves or our partner. We urgently need to give ourselves a rest, throw away all the problems, and get ourselves in order, even treat ourselves to something.

Fours in Tarot

The number «four» is associated with the Emperor card, the planet Saturn and the astrological sign of Aquarius. Saturn is the planet of order, work, strength, control, discipline, organization, structure, crystallization, firmness, foundation, practicality, patience, mathematical precision, economy, property, real estate, endurance, eternal values. Negative traits of Saturn and Aquarius are dogmatism, inflexibility, stubbornness, depression, melancholy, excessive seriousness. Aquarians are progressive, have a humanitarian mindset, are independent, bohemian, unusual and somewhat eccentric.

The presence of fours in the layout indicates the right time to lay the foundation for future success. Now is the beginning of a period of hard work, organizing new things and structuring your life. Sometimes Saturn gives you the feeling that you are being restricted in something or that you have taken on an unbearable burden. Perhaps right now you need to make an important decision, but you should do it very carefully. During this period of time you may be ill or you just need to rest and recuperate. The influence of Aquarius attracts unusual or eccentric people into your life.

In astrology, Saturn is associated with karma. If there are many 4s in your layout, then you may be paying off your karmic debts. It will be good if you pay attention to details, self-discipline, tidying up, organizing and structuring your life. All important decisions and serious changes should be made only after careful consideration.

Four of Swords Upright

Key words and phrases: The need for rest and relaxation. A breather. The need for renewal. A slow period. Recuperation. Recovery. Rest. Time out. Lights out. Relief from stress. A long-awaited break. Restoration. Inaction. Regrouping. Retreat. The need for a vacation. Solitude. Prayer. Meditation. Introspection. Contemplation. Reassessment. The calm before the storm. A hospital stay. A hospital visit. A doctor's visit. Vacation. Travel. Peaceful surroundings. Getting away from it all. Give me a break. Let's pray.

Situation and Advice: Are you under stress? A temporary respite awaits you. Now is the time to rest and recover after a period of struggle and conflict. You need a period of recuperation to calm your thoughts and recuperate your physical strength. This is the perfect time to relax and regroup. Some may seek solitude in prayer and meditation. Retreating from everyday life can help you gain a new perspective on the future. Meditation can help you gain clarity in this situation. Perhaps you are feeling completely drained and need a break from your daily responsibilities. How about a vacation or trip to help you unwind? If you have had an illness, this is a time of full recovery. You may visit a hospital purely for preventive purposes. The Four of Swords is a meditation card.

People: Those who need rest. People recovering from illness. Health care workers. Hospital visitors. Patients.

Four of Swords Reversed

Keywords and Phrases: (Positive Meanings) No time to relax. Resumption of action. Rest is over. Call to action. Return to work. Healing. Recovering from previous activity. Forward! Forward to the assault!

(Negative Meanings) Illness. Isolation. Discontent. Retreat. Resentment. Refusal. Expulsion. Loneliness. Indiscretion. Problems at work. Dismissal. Anxiety. Opposition. Strikes. Boycott. Riots. Imprisonment. Detention. Exile. Ostracism. Unpleasant surroundings.

Situation and Advice: The positive meaning of this card is that it signifies a period of ending rest and resuming action. You have had a forced break, and now it is time to step up your activity. You have refreshed your strength and can confidently continue to deal with stressful situations in your life.

The negative meaning of this card is that it can indicate general problems, poor health, and perhaps even a whole period of forced isolation. Often the card indicates the resumption of action in a difficult situation. The questioner resumes previous interests, love affairs, career, which occupied him in the past.

People: Uninvited guests. Prisoners. Captives. Exiles. Striking workers.

The meaning and inner meaning of the Four of Swords Arcana

The meaning of the Four of Swords in the upright position:

• Solitude, Desert, Refuge, Hermitage.
• Exile, Removal.
• Uninhabited, Detached, Abandoned, Forsaken.
• Coffin, Tomb, Funeral.

Other meanings of the Four of Swords tarot in the upright position:

• physical or spiritual rest, repose, meditation
• hermit's refuge, exile, retreat, solitude
• rest, departure, healing

The Four of Swords tarot traditionally represents order and stability, and if you add here quality inherent in Swords, the card will predict the Client an upcoming temporary respite from problems. There will be an opportunity to rest and improve health, shake off the burden of worries and stress, retiring to a secluded place. A specific interpretation of the Four of Swords Tarot card is recovery from illness.

The meaning of the Four of Swords tarot card is loneliness and tranquility. Exile, retreat, the need to think and plan. Careful planning will give you an advantage over your enemies. Recovery. Alertness and prudence, economy and caution, all this is necessary now.

Reversed Interpretation:

• Economy, Good Conduct, Prudent Administration.
• Forethought, Management, Economy, Saving, Stinginess.
• Order, Arrangement, Attitude, Decency, Concert, Chord, Coordination, Harmony, Music, Distribution.
• Will, Caution, Limitation, Exclusion.
• Prudence, Outlines (division), Restraint, Prudence, Sympathy, Mercy, Caution.

Other meanings of the reversed Four of Swords Tarot:

• prudence and caution, need to save money, stinginess
• isolation, refusal, exile
• renewal of action, prudence, wise government
• return of former interests, some success

The reversed Four of Swords tarot card says that the Client has withdrawn too much into himself, and such isolation is fraught with negative consequences: instead of renewing his physical and mental energy, he feels cut off from everyone and rejected. Perhaps such isolation is imposed on the Client, and he is, of course, outraged.

Another meaning of the Four of Swords tarot: greed. Perhaps a short illness or temporary financial difficulties. Envy and petty jealousy, either on your part or on the part of others, can upset your plans. As a result — minor failures.

Inner meaning

Now you have to work through your problems and plan future actions. You need solitude and peace; do not avoid them. The Four of Swords tarot card is a card of reflection and night vigils; almost a hermit. It also indicates the need for a recovery period after the situation you have just gone through. Use this time to think about everything that happened and plan more wisely. Do not expect the heights you have had so far; as you have seen, they were not very good for you. If you strive for the same heights again, you may find yourself in this unpleasant situation again.

Sources:

1. N. Drewry «Tarot. A Step-by-Step Guide to Studying»
2. E. Kolesov «The ABCs of Tarot»
3. Unknown author «Basic Information for Reading Tarot Cards»
4. H. Banzhaf «Tarot Self-Teacher»
5. Anthony Lewis “Tarot made simple and clear”

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