Four of Swords: Tarot Card Meaning

Meaning of the Four of Swords card upright

A knight lies on a tomb in a church, hands folded, three swords on the wall above him and one beneath. He is resting after a battle. The card advises stopping, recovering and letting your mind be quiet, because strength returns in silence.

Four of Swords reversed

• overwork
• coming out of a pause
• restlessness

Reversed, the Four warns of overwork, ignoring the need to rest or an anxious restlessness during a pause. Or it says the rest is over and it is time to get up. Listen to what your body and mind need.

Four of Swords in love and relationships

In love it means a pause in a relationship, a period of quiet or time to recover after a quarrel. Reversed, restlessness or an end to the break.

Four of Swords in work and finances

At work it is a vacation, a sabbatical, a break after a hard project or planning in quiet. Reversed, burnout or a return to work.

Symbolism of the Four of Swords card

The knight's folded hands are prayer and peace. The three swords on the wall are the pain behind him, and the one below is what he will take up next. The stained glass window shows help and healing.

Four of Swords in a yes or no reading

In yes or no spreads, Four of Swords upright reads as “no” and reversed as “maybe”. The answer comes from the general meaning of the card (rest, recovery), so always take the wording of the question and the neighbouring cards into account. Try a yes or no reading.