Four of Swords Tarot Card Meanings

Four of Swords Upright Meaning

A Four in this suit sends a message to take some time out, surrendering worldly concerns and retreating to a sheltered place of serenity away from the hustle and bustle. The oldest Tarot card images suggest a visit to the tombs of our ancestors, a place to contemplate your mortality and breathe in the dust of those who brought you here.

A vision quest or pilgrimage to one's own center allows us to contemplate our roots, values and goals. Here you will see your place in the flow of time ... and unfolding generations.

Four of Swords Reversed Meaning

The Four of Swords reversed suggests that even though solitary contemplation can be a great pleasure, it should be balanced with appropriate interpersonal communications. Isolation in this situation can, in some cases, be counterproductive.

It may be necessary to seek help or counsel to intervene with an energy-draining pattern. Try to supply yourself with enough human contact, preferably of a therapeutic or, at the very least, a supportive kind, so if you get stuck in an emotionally painful position, you will have a safety net in place.

Four of Swords Advice Position

The Four of Swords in this position strongly urges that you keep your own counsel in this situation. There may be too much fear and hostility in the environment for you to be heard. It might be that your ideas are not ripe enough or that you are not ready to listen to feedback from others.

If you spend more time in contemplation, you may successfully disregard the emotional occupations and biases of others. For now, closely observe inner events. The time for sharing will come later.

Four of Swords Love Position

The Four of Swords in this position instructs you to seek a quiet place of contemplation, in particular a place linked to your own personal history. In this still, quiet place, meditate -- letting go of the distractions of the present so you can perceive the larger patterns that shape your life. You are part of a long, unbroken chain of souls that carries forth the wisdom of generations.

Take time to examine whether you are successfully preserving what is good, true, and beautiful from your lineage and transporting it intact to the future. Accomplishing this will do far more to heal your heart and further your future relationship goals than fame or fortune ever could. Make contact with your deep past so you will know how to carry its healthiest and most creative skills successfully forward.

Four of Swords Career Position

When the Four of Swords appears in this position, allow yourself to be blissfully removed from the conflicts of the day. Take the freedom to wash your hands of current controversies. Your present mission, regardless what others are up to, may be to enter your inner sanctum, meditate and draw energy and inspiration from your inner guides. In your inner sanctuary, you can communicate with those who have inspired you with their accomplishments as you improve yourself with the aid of their example.

Delve deeply into your inner life and be responsible for guarding that treasure of inspiration and hope. Protect and nurture your interior haven of peace. Sympathizers will cover for you.

Four of Swords in a Yes or No Card Reading

The Four of Swords is a card of rest and recovery. If you're looking for simple Yes or No guidance and receive the Four of Swords, the answer is NO. Take an extended time out from the situation, if possible.