Daily Reading

Four of Swords

A young man rests on a pallet, three swords above and one under him. Though this card (in the Rider-Waite deck) makes the young man look dead, he is really resting. This is the "meditation" and mental rest card and it advises the Client that they need to rest, reflect, recuperate and find their way back to themselves (perhaps practicing “no mind” zen meditation or go into Nature). Since Swords are emblems of fighting, of anxieties and arguments, the stillness of the number four is usually a much welcomed time out. This is a time for everyone to "put up their swords" and allow wounds inflicted in these mental or verbal battles to heal.

This card frequently indicates that the Client has survived a time of arguments, misunderstandings, mental or verbal abuse, even a nervous breakdown. They could be recuperating from a physical illness or injury as well, to take more naps thus allowing the sleeping body to heal itself. The Four of Swords is that time they need to heal, clear their head, just think about what they did and what they need to do differently from now on.

The suit of Swords takes a much-needed mental breather in this card. It can signal that the Client has backed away, or to literally or figuratively move away from what they've been thinking far too much about in order to rest their brain and re-evaluate their position and perhaps find a stress-free environment.  Maybe a vacation would do the Client well, to physically move away from the situation if they cannot mentally do so, for only a little while.