The Four of Swords is the fourth tarot card in the suit of Swords. The illustration shows the tomb of a knight in prayer, three swords adorn the wall and one is engraved on his tomb.
Below, you will find details of the card meanings of The Four of swords tarot card. But first…
…We would recommend speaking to a live Tarot reader to get the best understanding of The Four of swords in relation to your life. That way, when you read the details that follow, you will be able to fully relate. You can do this with a free tarot reading from our experienced, highly-recommended experts at Keen and Psychic Source.
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Four of Swords in a sentence
The Four of Swords represents putting your problems aside, withdrawing temporarily to be alone and solitude.
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Four of Swords in a time-based position
Past – The Four of Swords in the Past position can represent a period of time in the past where you were focused or obsessed with one thing. This may have kept you from interacting with others or sharing, and it has truly affected your life now. You may also have dealt with something traumatic or shocking that changed you as a person, and you’re only just recovering from it; a breakup or a death, perhaps.
Present – The Four of Swords tarot card in the present position can mean that you’re currently feeling like you don’t want to interact or socialise. You just need some space to yourself. This isn’t a bad thing! To be ‘on’, we must have ‘off’ periods. Treat yourself to some ‘you’ time. If you’re currently working in a group and you feel it isn’t going right, look into taking it solo, it might be the best choice you can make right now.
Future – The Four of Swords in the future position can mean that you’re going to have to do a lot of thinking in the future. You might be working towards something now, but soon you’ll need to consider what it is that you actually want, and start devising plans to achieve this. The opinions of others are always valuable, but you can’t keep getting told to do things, you need to interpret and think about things yourself. If you’re working hard now, then expect a well earned rest coming!
The Four of Swords in regards to life issues
Work / Education – The Four of Swords tarot card in regards to work or education can suggest, in both terms, that you need to take it solo for a bit. Try to find ways to work alone. If you can, try to get some time off and have a rest. There’s nothing wrong with stepping away from the picture for a while. You’re not a machine and you don’t want to be one. You may just need a breather to get away from it all for a bit. If you can, try not to take your work home with you, but work in bursts. If you set yourself 4 hours to do a task, it’ll take you four hours. Think about it.
Romance – The Four of Swords in romance means that now isn’t the time to go looking for love. Focus on yourself, try not to think about it for a while. If you must, work on your own hobbies and interests. These will make you more interesting to other people anyway. If you’re already in a relationship, then some time apart isn’t a bad idea. Get away from each other for a few days, when you see each other again you’ll both feel a lot better.
Friends – The Four of Swords tarot card in regards to friendship means that it’s time to scale down the outings and meetings. Maybe you’re feeling exhausted with yourself, or how things are coming. Turn down a few invitations and do something completely different. Don’t neglect your friends, but be your own person. We are the sum of the people we know, you can always try spending your time around others.
Money – The Four of Swords in regards to finances is mixed. Firstly, do you work in finance? Take a break! With your day to day spending, you might feel like you’re overspending in some areas. Don’t worry about it, these aren’t everyday purchases. If you’re working up to buying something big, like a house or a car, you’ll do well to give it a little extra thought. Don’t play to the whims of people who are after your money, give them a day or two.
Health – The Four of Swords tarot card is telling you to calm down and relax. Get away from it all. Things could be worse off, but look where you are and where you have come from. If you’re physically ill, then don’t hide away and not tell anybody. You may just be drained, in which case, don’t push yourself. Goals are important, but you can’t sacrifice your health for something so small.
Spirituality and Mentality – The Four of Swords in spirituality emphasises solitary thought and single ideas. You can work things out on your own and make your own connections and interpretations. Don’t ignore others, but don’t immediately buy into their way of thinking. On a practical basis; try to spend some time alone each day and practice mindfulness.
The Four of Swords Reversed
The four of swords reversed implies you may be feeling the need to withdraw from life for a little while. It’s all been too much and you need some time alone to recuperate and think about everything that has happened. If there has been a traumatic event, then being alone can help you come to terms with it. Just don’t isolate yourself. If you’re feeling lonely, then definitely reach out.
Numerology of The Four of Swords
Four represents the structure and foundation. Four, like three, can be very grounded in reality All fours symbolise this. The Four of Swords strongly represents the need to prioritise your life. You’ve likely planned something and hit a snag. This isn’t your fault, these things happen. You have to focus on how to deal with it, learn from it and move on. If you have many fours in a reading, it is a strong indication that you’ve planned well and now you’re reaping the rewards.
Keywords for the Four of Swords
Rest, solitude, contemplation, break, pondering
Other associations of The Four of Swords
Element: Air
As a Yes or No question: It’s likely yes, but if you want to ask again after thinking about it, then you should.
