Tarot Journey with Leisa ReFalo

The suit of swords is related to the element of air. It concerns matters of thoughts, ideas and the mind. The number four is a framework for kindness and love.

A man is pictured on this card lying on his back with his palms pressed together over his chest. He is resting in preparation to the next phase of his life. He is isolated and taking a break from his normal life. 4’s are about balance and stability. The 4 of Swords is a call to slow down, to recover and regroup. It suggests the need to regain one’s physical, emotional and spiritual strength.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

The effigy of a knight in the attitude of prayer, at full length upon his tomb. Divinatory Meanings: Vigilance, retreat, solitude, hermit’s repose, exile, tomb and coffin. It is these last that have suggested the design. Reversed: Wise administration, circumspection, economy, avarice, precaution, testament.

4 Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana

Four.–A bad card, but if reversed a qualified success may be expected by wise administration of affairs. Reversed: A certain success following wise administration.

The Recurrence of Cards in Dealing

In the Natural Position: 4 Threes = progress; 3 Threes = unity 2 Threes = calm.
Reversed: 4 Threes = great success; 3 Threes = serenity; 2 Threes = safety.

The Tarot of the Bohemians by Papus; tr. A. P Morton, [1896]

Signification of the Four Series of Minor Arcana in the Divining Tarot

SWORDS. Transformation. Hatred. War.

FOUR. Opposition to the hatred. Success against the enemy.

The Tarot by S.L. MacGregor Mathers [1888]

Meanings of the Cards

60. Four of Swords.–Solitude, Retreat, Abandonment, Solitary, Hermit; R. Economy, Precaution, Regulation of Expenditure.

Additional Remarks

The following additional remarks may be serviceable to the to the inexperienced Cartomancer. They are chiefly taken from Etteilla.

60. Four of Swords.–R. The cards near will show whether it is health or money that requires care.

Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa

Libra III

A violent man holding a bow, and before him a naked man, and also another man holding bread in one hand, and a cup of wine in the other; the signification of these is to shew wicked lusts, singings, sports and gluttony.

Picatrix the Goal of the Wise by Ghayat Al-akim

Book "T" The Tarot

XXIX. The Lord of Rest from Strife:
Four of Swords

TWO White Radiating Angelic Hands, each holding two swords; which four cross in the centre. The rose of five petals with white radiations is reinstated on the point of their intersection. Above and below, on the points of two small daggers, are Jupiter and Libra, representing the Decanate.

Rest from sorrow; yet after and through it. Peace from and after war. Relaxation of anxiety. Quietness, rest, ease and plenty, yet after struggle. Goods of this life; abundance; modified by dignity as is usual.

Chesed of HB:V (Convalescence, recovery from sickness; change for the better).

Herein do HB:LAVYH and HB:KLYAL bear rule.

Often the General signification of the Majority of a particular suit and of the particular signification of the either 3 of 4 cards of a sort in a reading:

• A Majority of Swords Trouble, sadness, sickness, death.
• 4 Fours Rest, peace.
• 3 Fours Industry.