CONTEMPLATION
QUIET PREPARATION
The Sword cards all stand for trials, but the Four suggest feelings of peace and stillness. Why is this card different? Because it represents the challenge to be quiet!
Sometimes resting and doing nothing is the ultimate challenge. Activity can be a habit that is very difficult to break. There is always so much to do, and modern society beguiles us with its attractions and distractions. The result is we forget to stop and be still.
In readings, the Four of Swords is often a sign that you need to slow down and get some rest. If you are recovering from an illness, allow quiet time to heal. Even if you feel completely healthy, you are risking getting sick if you don’t take a break.
The Four of Swords also represents taking the time to think things over without hurry. It is important to step back and gain perspective. This is especially true when you are facing an ordeal or big event. You need quiet preparation time to gather your strength and center your energy. Picture an Olympic diver on the high board. She doesn’t climb the ladder and then dash out. She stops, motionless as she readies herself for the burst of activity to come. This is the only way to bring the best to our endeavors.
Sometimes the Four of Swords implies that you are or could be shifting focus from the external to the internal. When we are silent, we can more easily go within. The knight in the picture appears to be praying or meditating deeply. He appears to be dead! For those who are addicted to activity, rest and quiet can seem like death, but that is certainly not the case. Stillness holds its rewards, but they must be recognized and sought.
resting
- taking a break
- giving your body time to heal
- avoiding overexertion
- finding peace and quiet
- relaxing body and soul
- taking life easy
contemplating
- gaining a better perspective
- listening for your Inner Voice
- taking time alone to think
- standing back from the situation
- examining your motivations
- reviewing where you are
quietly preparing
- consolidating inner resources
- making sure your base is secure
- getting ready for the future
- coming to terms with what is
- tieing up loose ends
- stabilizing
Some possibilities
- Magician – being active, focusing outward
- Wheel of Fortune – rapid pace, lots of movement
- Eight of Wands – making your move, rushing
- Ten of Wands – overexerting, taking on too much
- Two of Pentacles – having fun, balancing many activities
Some possibilities
- High Priestess – resting quietly, contemplating
- Hermit – contemplating, being quiet
- Hanged Man – rest, suspended activity
- Four of Cups – contemplating, taking time alone
- Six of Swords – rest, recovery
- Seven of Pentacles – pausing to reflect, assess
There are no separate explanations for reversed cards. The meaning of a reversed card depends on what the card would mean if upright. A reversed card shows that a card’s energy is present but at a lower level. For some reason, the energy cannot be expressed freely, normally, or completely. It may be:
- still in its early stages
- losing force and power
- blocked or restricted
- incomplete
- inappropriate
- being denied
- only present in appearance
See Lesson 17 for more information on reversed cards.