Four of Swords
The Four of Swords brings reprieve and asks you to take a step back.
Often, this card appears when we need to let things settle; forcing our way through is not possible.
The Four of Swords often suggests the close of a challenging period. You could be sitting with grief or processing a difficult experience. Resting gives your adrenals a rest after being in survival mode.
Not all problems can be solved or all wounds healed.
Mary Greer emphasizes the subconscious in this card. Sometimes staring too close at something means we lose perspective. Letting things sit for a moment doesn’t mean you’re giving up; our subconscious minds are always at work, problem-solving behind the scenes. Without the pressure to fix something, unexpected realizations arise. Let go of trying to fix what’s troubling you. The way forward will appear in time.
Your methods for rest are unique to your needs. You might detox from screens or simplify your life. Commitments become sparse, or you choose to engage socially in ways that are supportive and gentle. On a spiritual level, this card can indicate prayer, meditation, or transcendent experiences that happen when you let go of control.
The stillness of this card can also imply a state of non-movement in other ways. Careers stall, dating is at a standstill, or some other area of your life just isn’t moving forward. A wise querent, frustrated about their love life, once said, “The energy in my love life just isn’t moving, but my career is. I guess that’s my focus for now.”
While I don’t think we should give up on our goals, there’s some wisdom in following the flow of our lives. Are you trying to find love, but are exhausted with the dating process? Are you pursuing the dream job but seeing that nothing’s sticking? Stepping back doesn’t mean giving up. It just means taking a break and allowing your focus to soften.
While this card generally advises pause, it can occasionally suggest you’ve been wallowing in the mire for too long. You or someone else might be indecisive, silent, or unwilling to put the effort in to change things. This is especially true if the card is reversed or appears with other cards that suggest muddled energies.
You might also need to find a resolution to something, but lack the energy or gumption to follow through. Notice your reaction to the card and how it applies to your life.
The avoidant aspect of this card is emphasized when the card is reversed, or other cards around it indicate stagnation. You or someone else might be unwilling to budge or take action.
Another meaning of this card’s reversal is hyper-vigilance. Refusing to let go of something or change direction, stubbornness can take hold and lead to burnout or poor decisions. You may become so focused on your end goal that you fail to see your reality clearly. You might be in denial or obsessively fixated on something that doesn’t serve you.
In its most universal teaching, the Four of Swords encourages an intermission. The show goes on, even if the movement isn’t perceptible; change can be subtle and take time.
Sometimes the best action is inaction, at least for a while.
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Tarot Spread
If you are drawn to the Four of Swords and want to dig deeper, get them outta your deck, make them your mascot, and draw some cards from the rest of the deck with this tarot spread I created!
