Four of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Saturn in the 5th house as a symbol of an interruption in creativity, or in the 6th house as a symbol of illness.

FOUR OF SWORDS The Four of Swords is a card of stagnation, interrupted activity, and enforced rest. In this sense it resembles the card of the Hanged Man, but it differs from it in that it is associated with concrete events: the obstacles or difficulties indicated by the Four are usually simple and clear, and overcoming them does not require us to overturn all of life's foundations. This situation is akin to illness, which likewise constitutes one of the meanings of the card. We are forced to interrupt active work, to take a pause. Whether we will suffer, or try to use this pause to come to terms with ourselves, depends entirely upon us. At the same time, it is clear that while we are able to use the pause for working on ourselves, we would hardly arrange such a pause for ourselves of our own free will.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

FOUR OF SWORDS Truce. The third decan of Libra, from October 13 to October 23. Astrological equivalents: Cancer, Mars, the Moon, the Fourth and Seventh Houses. The third decan of Libra most fully expresses the Libran idea of partnership — the idea of harmony in human relationships as an analog of the higher laws. This decan is characterized by the concepts of justice, goodness, and morality, as well as by calm optimism, a sense of humor, and an attentive attitude toward people. This decan is ruled by Jupiter, which endows those born under it not only with the virtues mentioned above, but also with conformism (that case in which social norms alone serve as the criterion of judgment, and the principle "as above, so below" is taken too literally). This decan is also inclined to see in the world only the higher harmony, often closing its eyes to the fact that truth has not yet come into the world, and that for it to become truly humane much labor is required. The representatives of this decan, in order not to become traitors to their own ideals, must listen more often to the inner voice of their own conscience; but in order not to repeat the path of Don Quixote, they must give concrete thought to the realization of their ideals. After an unsuccessful attempt to attain the number Three on the level of matter and, having "landed" — or, more precisely, having struck the earth with a thud — Force (understood metaphysically) finds an acceptable compromise in the form of the reliable and practical FOUR. The FOUR is, of course, limited, but at the present moment this is of no particular importance. For what is at issue is a temporary respite before a new advance. On the level of the FOUR OF SWORDS there occurs a kind of rest, a healing after the struggle of the delusions associated with the THREE OF SWORDS. The ideal, of course, has not been attained, God has not been brought down to Earth, but an idol has already been carved, and the primary sympathetic connection between the deity and its earthly reflection has already been established. On the TAROT card is depicted a figure lying on its back in a posture of rest. Three swords hang on the wall, one lies beside him: the mind passively accepts the world as it is, but... it is always ready to be fully armed. Beyond the window, against the background of the noisy world, a man has knelt before a woman: consciousness has bowed before more refined feelings.

Upright position In the upright position the card symbolizes rest, restoration of strength, withdrawal from struggle, solitude, hermitage, exile, imprisonment, the sleep of a soul once restless, a latent period. It must be remembered that to each of these concepts the word "temporary" must be added. The FOUR OF SWORDS is the small mercy of the SWORDS: they are at rest. The sword rests, for it has fulfilled its task. The KNIGHT, asleep upon his couch, has attained something in life and is tasting the fruits of stillness. The card may signify either work in the hour of repose (the spiritual quest of the HERMIT in his cell) or a moment of repose amid heavy labors. The recumbent KNIGHT may not be sleeping but praying; he is engaged in spiritual activity. On the metaphysical level, the FOUR OF SWORDS symbolizes constructive action, will embodied into matter. The HERMIT, having shut himself away in his cell and immersed himself in self-contemplation, is by no means idle — he is creating.

Reversed position In the reversed position the card FOUR OF SWORDS signifies untimely action. A person ought to stop and think, but instead he rushes into battle. "Right action in the right time in the right place and with the right people... leads to right results" — the reversed FOUR OF SWORDS symbolizes the disregard of this principle. In the theme of the FOUR OF SWORDS resounds Cancer and the planets associated with it — the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars. Mars in Cancer is in its fall, and so action on the level of the FOUR OF SWORDS, as it were, congeals, withdraws into depth, turns inward. The Moon symbolizes restoration and motherhood. (Motherhood is in general one of the key words for the FOUR OF SWORDS.) Jupiter, symbolizing the protective hypostasis of fire (the bright tomb), in the reversed FOUR OF SWORDS may produce such a negative manifestation as tyranny. The FOUR OF SWORDS excludes vain bustle.