Four of Swords

Swords, IV

Keywords

• rest
• retreat
• recovery
• a deliberate pause

Upright meaning

Rest, retreat, recovery, a deliberate pause.

Reversed meaning

Burnout, rest forced rather than chosen, restlessness, re-entry.

A reversed card isn't simply a bad sign: usually its energy is blocked, turned inward, delayed or excessive.

Image and symbolism

The effigy lies still in the chapel — recovery, not death.

Element and place in the deck

Swords belong to air. They speak of thoughts, truth, decisions, communication and conflict. Swords show what is happening in the mind and are often the sharpest suit.

The Four is the number of stability: foundation, structure, pause, and sometimes holding on too tightly.

Other cards in this group: Ace of Swords, Two of Swords, Three of Swords, Five of Swords, Six of Swords, Seven of Swords, Eight of Swords, Nine of Swords, Ten of Swords, Page of Swords, Knight of Swords, Queen of Swords, King of Swords.