Words that describe the Four of Swords card
Retreat
Recharging
Pause
Rest
The Four of Swords represents a period of rest, recovery, and mental rejuvenation. It signifies the need to take a break from stress or challenges to restore your energy and gain clarity. This card encourages retreating from the hustle and bustle, allowing for contemplation, healing, and introspection. It suggests a time of quiet and peace, where you can recharge and reflect before moving forward with renewed strength and focus.
THE FOUR OF SWORDS - Suit of Swords Tarot Card
The Four of Swords
THE FOUR OF SWORDS - SUIT OF SWORDS TAROT CARD MEANINGS
By Madhu Mohan
The General Description of the Four of Swords Card in Tarot
In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the Four of Swords shows a figure lying in repose on a tomb, hands clasped in prayer or stillness. One sword lies beneath them, silent but ready, while three others hang above, suspended on the wall like thoughts paused mid-air. A stained-glass window glows in the background, suggesting peace, sanctuary, and spiritual reflection.
This card symbolizes rest, retreat, and mental restoration. After the heartbreak of the Three of Swords, the Four offers a necessary pause, time to heal, recover, and regain clarity before re-entering the world. It is a sacred interlude, not of avoidance, but of intentional stillness.
Upright position meaning of the Four of Swords Card in Tarot
When the Four of Swords appears upright, it is a message to pause, rest, and allow your mind and heart to recover. You may have gone through a period of stress, grief, or emotional upheaval, and now your body and spirit are asking for stillness. This is not a card of action, it’s a card of integration.
You’re being guided to retreat, not forever, but for long enough to restore your strength. This could mean physical rest, a mental break from overthinking, or simply giving yourself permission to not do for a little while.
In relationships, this card may reflect emotional distance needed for clarity, or a peaceful pause for healing and reflection. In career or creative work, it encourages a temporary retreat to avoid burnout and regroup mentally.
The Four of Swords is your reminder that rest is not weakness, it is preparation. Stillness allows clarity. Silence renews strength. And in the quiet, you often hear the answers you’ve been seeking.
Reversed position meaning of the Four of Swords Card in Tarot
When the Four of Swords appears reversed, it may suggest restlessness, burnout, or resistance to slowing down. You may be pushing through fatigue, ignoring your need for mental space, or avoiding emotional healing because being still feels uncomfortable.
This reversal can also indicate that your period of rest is coming to an end. You’ve had time to reflect, and now it's time to rise, restored and ready to re-engage. However, if you're still feeling depleted, it’s important to listen, are you truly ready, or are you rushing your recovery?
In relationships, this card reversed can signal avoidance, silent tension, or the need to break the quiet with honest communication. In work or wellness, it may point to exhaustion or the danger of trying to keep going without a true pause.
Ultimately, the reversed Four of Swords invites you to reflect on your relationship with rest. Are you allowing enough space for healing? Or are you using distraction as a shield against discomfort? Healing requires presence. Give yourself permission to stop, and begin again, renewed.
