Four of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

This tarot card depicts a knight lying on a tomb, having decided to take a break from business and hustle. His motionless posture and hands folded in prayer speak of detachment and peace. Three swords are arranged on the wall directly above the man, with one on the tombstone itself.

The only bright spot on the card is a stained-glass window depicting a biblical scene. The central idea of the Four of Swords is to use this period of calm for reflection, contemplating the situation, and planning for the future.

Circumstances unfold in such a way that active actions and rushing events are currently inappropriate, and in fact, impossible. Hustle and attempts to swim against the tide are merely a futile waste of energy and time.

Take advantage of the situation, push your worries aside, and embark on a journey, visit friends, or simply indulge in complete relaxation at home, in peace and comfort. Especially since the presence of the upright Four of Swords card in the spread indicates an exhaustion of strength and fatigue that has accumulated as a result of your recent activity.

If the Four of Swords card appears in your spread, you've likely been through a stressful period where you've been running around like a hamster in a wheel 24/7. Or perhaps you've recently experienced a severe emotional or physical shock and need recovery. Possibly, this period of rest is given to you to grieve, heal emotional wounds, and come to terms with a loss.

In any case, this tarot arcana in the spread says: it's time to catch your breath, heal, and take a break from the hustle and bustle, so that you can then actively circulate in the stream of events and meet the new twists of life fully armed!

Key Meanings of the Upright Four of Swords Card

• Powerlessness, pause in affairs, stagnation, delay in business.
• Rest, relaxation, reflection, calm after the storm, detachment, patience, absence of hustle.
• Recovery, recharging, planning, voluntary or forced solitude.

The reversed tarot card of the Four of Swords has the opposite meaning. Now is not the time to be lazy and rest, it's necessary to roll up your sleeves and act! You have to get down to work, even if overcome by laziness and melancholy, otherwise you will lose control of the situation.

The reversed Four of Swords card is a warning that you are hesitating, passively shielding yourself from problems, trying to escape from an unpleasant reality. Perhaps, you are using fatigue as an excuse to detach yourself from life's troubles? By retreating from affairs, disconnecting from the world and hiding in your "shell", you will miss the good events and opportunities prepared for you by Fate.

If your voluntary isolation is indeed dictated by fatigue and accumulated stress, then the Four of Swords card advises: try to find a reasonable balance between work and rest, treat yourself more often to pleasant things, find a hobby that will distract and inspire you. This will allow you to recuperate and view the world more positively.

Key meanings of the reversed Four of Swords card

• Return to activity, dynamism, no time to relax.
• Fearfulness, economy, calculation.
• Exile, banishment, confinement, isolation, resentment, illness.

In love spreads, the upright Four of Swords card predicts temporary solitude. Perhaps a recent love drama has burned the heart, and now the person is wary of acquaintances and romances, artificially shielding their soul from emotions.

New relationships develop slowly, in them, a certain detachment and unspoken things are clearly felt. And after the first date, the partner may disappear from sight, not making contact. Time is needed to sort out thoughts and feelings, to tune into a new, positive wave.

In a reversed position, on the contrary, the card shows that the forced or voluntary period of solitude has dragged on, and it's time to step into the light and look for new love.

When divining a suitor or beloved

In a reading for a suitor or partner, the upright card suggests that in love, your chosen one is seeking a quiet backwater—at least for now. They would prefer the comfort and cosiness alone with a loved one over the tumult of passions.

The reversed card indicates that your chosen one is very cautious and restrained in love, sometimes they prefer to let events take their own course. To spur them to take a new step in the relationship would be a big success!

In business readings, the Four of Swords card speaks of a lull in affairs. It could signify a stagnation in one's career, a project stuck in a dead end, a lack of profit, or simply a vacation or retirement.

In any case, the Four of Swords serves as a prediction that better times are to come, using this time-out in affairs for rest will prove beneficial. However, active efforts and initiatives are fruitless; attempting to speed up matters is pointless – it's a futile waste of energy, finances, and time.

When reversed, the meaning of the card changes to the opposite, indicating a resumption of actions and progress in one's career.

When reading for a person, the upright card is interpreted as someone with inner strength, highly responsible, and determined. They are accustomed to relying solely on themselves and their own abilities.

In the reversed position, this card represents a cautious individual. They have difficulty getting along with people, which sometimes makes them feel lonely.

In the upright position, the card advises you to fully relax and take a break, preferably in solitude.

Appearing in a reversed position in the spread, the card advises you not to bury your head in the sand when it comes to problems – that is unlikely to help.

If the card appears in an upright position, the forecast for your situation is favorable. As a result, you have every chance to achieve your goals, but only if you manage to relax and look at what's happening calmly and detachedly.

In the reversed position, the forecast for your situation is uncertain. As a result, your desire to hide from problems instead of addressing them may hinder you.

With the 0 card The Fool – Disappointment, halt in journey, indisposition.

With the 1 card The Magician — A need for rest, isolation, sudden illness.

With the 2 card The High Priestess — Deep introspection, psychological trauma, reclusiveness.

In combination with the 3 card The Empress — Complicated situation, viewing from the outside, enlightenment.

With the 4 card The Emperor — Disarray in affairs, loss of professionalism, sick leave.

With the 5 card The Hierophant — Presence at a funeral, powerlessness, necessity to step aside.

With the 6 card The Lovers — Thoughts of leaving a partner, emotional burnout, lack of support.

With the 7 card The Chariot — Failure to receive support, sticking to one's guns, a state of oppression.

With the 8 card Strength — Need for rest, relieving tension, burning out or disillusionment with an idea.

With the 9 card The Hermit — Mental agony, wandering, lacking a specific goal or desires.

With the 10 card The Wheel of Fortune — Hospitalization, physical healing, health examination.

With the 11 card Justice — Forced isolation, house arrest, problems coming from all directions.

With the 12 card The Hanged Man — Restlessness, uneasiness, inability to find one's place.

With the 13 card Death — Funeral rites, graveyard, dark energy.

With the 14 card Temperance — Fear that hinders progress, imaginary problems, issue not solved, but deferred.

With the 15 card The Devil — Disgraceful obsession or vice, repulsive secret, public humiliation and fleeing the scene.

With the 16 card The Tower — Losing inheritance or property, risk of incarceration, destiny pushing out of comfort zone.

With the 17 card The Star — Nervous exhaustion, being mentally elsewhere, daydreaming while stuck in routine.

With the 18 card The Moon — Need to understand oneself, required respite, fatigue or indisposition.

With the 19 card The Sun — Improve health, come out of depression, emergence of motivation for an active life.

With the 20 card Judgment — Left with nothing, an attempt to hide and avoid condemnation, preliminary investigation, house arrest.

With the 21 card The World — Need to distract oneself, enforced stop, a new source of energy is required.

The Four of Wands — Decline of energy, misunderstanding the situation, time to reflect on oneself and plan future actions.

The Two of Wands — Planning a vacation, leisure time for relaxation, family activities.

The Three of Wands — Halt, feeling unwell or emotionally low, loss of ambition.

The Four of Wands — Misunderstandings with parents, seclusion or family secrets, procrastination or delayed important decisions.

The Five of Wands — Stepping back and taking cover, retreating to a safe place, feeling exhausted from confrontation.

The Six of Wands — Losing enthusiasm, inner conflicts, lack of prospects and stagnation.

The Seven of Wands — Being attacked, retreating into deep defense, losing hope for the better.

The Eight of Wands — Running late or facing delays, minor setbacks, exhaustion from defending oneself.

The Nine of Wands — Indulgence, computer addiction, a desire for complete seclusion, depression.

The Ten of Wands — A state of enslavement, feeling trapped, a mental trap, possibly a psychological disorder.

The Page of Wands — Slowing down progress towards a goal, taking a break, forced rest.

The Knight of Wands — Slowing down progress towards a goal, taking a break, forced rest.

The Queen of Wands — A short break, a work hiatus, sick leave.

The King of Wands — A period for rest, tranquility, exploring new directions, getting a little lost.

The Ace of Swords — Thoughtful analysis of the situation, a solitary nature, unpredictability in conclusions and actions.

The Two of Swords — Thoughtful analysis of the situation, a solitary nature, unpredictability in conclusions and actions.

The Three of Swords — Thoughtful analysis of the situation, a solitary nature, unpredictability in conclusions and actions.

The Five of Swords — Enclosing oneself while expecting troubles, a bad premonition, nervous tension, and an attempt to hide from something inevitable.

The Six of Swords — Unwillingness to leave or embark on a journey, emotional decline, anxious uncertainty.

The Seven of Swords — Pretending to be calm and confident, wearing a mask or acting illogically to deceive others, a hidden agenda.

The Eight of Swords — Restrictive circumstances, accepting fate and going with the flow, waiting for an inevitable resolution, a bleak outlook.

The Nine of Swords — Medical intervention, a period of uncertainty and suffering, an exhausting situation.

The Ten of Swords — Powerlessness, a real threat of serious illness, feeling defeated.

The Page of Swords — Lack of arguments, a losing position, taming an impulsive nature, wounded pride.

The Knight of Swords — Becoming entangled in facts, losing composure and self-control, making uncharacteristic moves, acting without thinking.

The Queen of Swords — Nervousness and anticipating disaster, inventing horrors or exaggerating danger, being suspicious and giving foolish warnings.

The King of Swords — A state close to madness, inaction from authorities, taking justice into one's own hands.

The Ace of Cups — Finding self-control, tranquility, and learning to master oneself.

The Two of Cups — Deciding to live separately, reevaluating a romance, receiving friendly support to overcome depression.

The Three of Cups — Stepping back from festivities, retreating from social interaction, time for oneself and contemplation.

The Four of Cups — Unwarranted pride, rejecting help from professionals, nervous disorder.

The Five of Cups — Isolation, deep reflection and emotions, seclusion and secrecy.

The Six of Cups — Being stuck in the past, a need for spiritual development, indulging in memories, forgetting the bad.

The Seven of Cups — Lack of motivation, seclusion, getting lost in illusions.

The Eight of Cups — Pondering new information, melancholy, feeling loneliness.

The Nine of Cups — Internal doubts, playing to the audience, losing energy and enthusiasm.

The Ten of Cups — Keeping a secret from loved ones, seclusion, and fear of judgment, hidden emotions.

The Page of Cups — Locking oneself into a dead-end idea, unsuitable circumstances, a short-lived truce.

The Knight of Cups — Cooling off or briefly stepping back from initial plans, losing interest, considering a different direction.

The Queen of Cups — Spiritual healing and time to ponder, preventing troubles, leaving the stage at the right time.

The King of Cups — Temporarily stepping back from affairs or socializing, allowing oneself to relax, a period of stagnation.

The Ace of Pentacles — Preserve your health, stay away from conflicts, go to a sanatorium, or find another way of self-isolation.

The Two of Pentacles — Time to pay the bills, living on a tight budget, sudden changes in health, seasonal illnesses.

The Three of Pentacles — A break from work, seasonal or shift-based employment, a time of rest and declining energy.

The Four of Pentacles — Unemployed, spending what was saved for unforeseen circumstances, reevaluating one's relationship with possessions.

The Five of Pentacles — Hospital conditions, public assistance housing, deteriorating living conditions, declining health, deep depression, and isolation.

The Six of Pentacles — Calculating losses, reducing expenses on non-essential items, asceticism, and being prepared for the worst.

The Seven of Pentacles — A glimmer of hope, anticipating a meeting with a friend or a pleasant event, a chance to improve one's mood.

The Eight of Pentacles — A break from work or being laid off due to downsizing, feeling lost, unfamiliar idleness, loss of motivation for personal development.

The Nine of Pentacles — Comfortable seclusion, receiving encouragement from a friend or successful colleague, increased enthusiasm or returning from vacation.

The Ten of Pentacles — Retirement, transitioning to an unfamiliar state, forced interaction with relatives.

The Page of Pentacles — Observing from the sidelines, soberly assessing one's chances, not trying to achieve the desired.

The Knight of Pentacles — Fulfilling one's duty, not reaching beyond one's position, lack of initiative, and a desire to blend into the crowd.

The Queen of Pentacles — Thriftiness and frugality, emotional reserve and introversion, having modest needs despite significant resources.

The King of Pentacles — Passion for order and tranquility, balance, being slightly detached from the real world, unpreparedness for changes and progress, pessimism.