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How To Heal With The Four of Swords

The Four of Swords Minor Arcana Tarot card comes as a welcome moment of respite in between two challenging cards. It is a call to lay down our battle weapons and sharp words, and allow our mind to rest a while.

Read on for how to heal with the Four of Swords, including its full Tarot card description, and Astrological and Numerological correspondences:

Four of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The Four of Swords Minor Arcana card represents a moment of pause, rest, and mental break. After the disruption and upset of the Three of Swords, it comes as a welcome invitation to lay our heads down awhile.

It doesn’t mean that everything is magically resolved, we are still just at a four here— we have the whole suit yet to go!— but for now, take a moment to recalibrate before you reach mental exhaustion.

This can be a literal nap, vacation, meditation, journalling, or simply allowing our minds to drift and wander onto something else— whatever allows busy thoughts to rest. It could even look like play or doing unrelated activities that help take your mind off things. Either way, this card is an invitation to quiet the monkey mind.

We can see on the Pamela Colman Smith Tarot deck what appears to be an effigy of a knight reposing inside a church. In the top lefthand corner we see a stained glass window with what appears to be someone begging and perhaps a clerical figure giving aid. Some say this is reminiscent of the Five of Pentacles, in which two mendicants are wandering in the snow outside a church window; here, we have found our solace inside.

Above the head of the clerical figure we can see the words “pax” written, latin for peace. The war of the Swords may not be over year, but for now we can rest and find solace. The effigy is also in prayer position.

If we look at the Tarot as following a linear arc, this can be the quiet before (and after!) the storm. We are called to gather our mental reserves of strength for what comes next.

The Five of Swords speaks to arguments and a sense of defeat. Meditation teaches us to pause before reacting; if we can take heed the message of the Four of Swords and learn how to still our minds we may be able to respond rather than react (which can potentially help us avoid the Five).

I find it interesting that Colman decided to draw one sword as part of the effigy, fully laid to rest, and the other three swords hang pointing down above it. It is almost a depiction of what meditation is— not a complete quieting of the mind (that is literally impossible, thinking is what the brain is designed to do!) but rather a balancing act of simply noticing the thoughts (and how they potentially weight on us).

Like the three swords, allow your thoughts to float above but not touch you. If we need, it almost appears as if the effigy could sit up and grab one of them. But for now, simply rest and take a break. Tomorrow is a new day.

Numerologically as a 4, it represents stability, structure, and materiality reality. Four is connected to the elements, cardinal directions, seasons, and square— the most solid, sturdy shape. We need to take our mental health seriously.

This also connects it to the Major Arcana Emperor card, a reminder that only we are in control of our mind and energy, we must remain sovereign and in charge of ourselves to find mental equanimity.

Astrologically, this is a Jupiter in Libra card. Jupiter is the Planet of growth, optimism, and law. Libra is the Sign of harmony, balance, and justice. Combined, Jupiter in Libra can bring an expansion to our capacity for peace, fairness, and justness.

In the Thoth deck this card is called Truce, which I love. This reminds us that it is not necessarily a complete end to things, but rather a momentary ceasefire. We are still in the midst of the most challenging suit in the Tarot, but for now we can call a truce with our mind.

Upright Four of Swords Tarot Card Meanings

Generally, the Four of Swords upright can represent a need for mental quietness, pause, meditation, resting, take a break, vacation, journalling, and temporary stilling of the mind. Whatever is going on in our lives, just for today: have a day off.

Sometimes for the sake of our mental health, we need to simply make time to switch off. It will significantly help us in dealing with the stress of life! Especially if it appears in a health Tarot reading.

Reversed Four of Swords Tarot Meaning

If you choose to read with reversed position, a Four of Swords reversed could be an even stronger message to pause and not overload your mind— this will only lead to burnout! Don’t resist taking a break, you can worry yourself to a solution if there is none. No amount of anxiety will change the past or future.

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Four of Swords in a Relationship Reading

As with all Tarot meanings, the actual significations of when the Four of Swords appears in a love Tarot reading will depend entirely on the situation at hand, the question asked, the position in the spread it has fallen, the cards surrounding it, and your own intuition.

Overall, however, it can represent a need for calling a temporary ceasefire and break. Have a pause, don’t try to resolve everything at once. Go on a holiday alone or together. Journal and meditate on the situation, take a nap. Whatever it may be, just for today call a truce.

Four of Swords in a Career Reading

Again, the true nature of its meaning will depend on the context and card combinations, but in general the Four of Swords in career Tarot readings can be an invitation to meditate on your next move and pause before rushing into any decisions! Whatever you have been working on, no matter how urgent it may be, take a break and step back from it.

Take a walk and release your thoughts for a while, you may see how things change with some fresh air.

So that’s an overview of the Four of Swords Tarot card, I hope it’s insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

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