ELEMENT
Air
SWORDS POWERWORDS
Mind / Thoughts / Communication
FOUR OF SWORDS POWERWORDS
Deep Rest
QUICK MEANING
The Four of Swords means its time to be still. Its time to close your eyes and be in the moment. It is time for Deep Rest
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Traditionally this is a card representing retreat, solitude and exile. Long ago it also could mean funerals but it is not the common meaning today.
CARD DESCRIPTION
A stone effigy/tomb lies in front of us. The character has his hands in a prayer pose and his eyes is closed. One sword is engraved on the tomb, the other three are above him on the wall. We see a window with a beautiful mosiac and we imagine we are in a church or a silent holy place.
SYMBOLS
Man engraved on Tomb
The man is a symbol of the deep final rest of death. Sometimes we need to slow down that much to allow everything inside of us to regenerate! He seems at peace and in a spiritual place (hands in prayer gesture).
Tomb
When we visit tombs or graveyards it is often a silent place. We are quiet, we whisper. Sometimes we need to become this still and quiet to come back to ourselves.
Sword on Tomb
The sword reminds us of the quality of air and the mind. Here the sword reminds us of the power of the mind and that is it most powerful when it is peaceful.
Three Swords
Three swords hang on the wall above the man. It reminds us of the Three of Swords card but here we have the peace after the grief. The acceptance of life. Together the four swords represent the number four which is numerology and Qabala means ‘stability’. This card means stability of the mind. The mind is in a state of deep peace and rest and receptive to all that is.
Mosaic Window
The scene is Jesus laying hands on a kneeling follower. Above his head is a halo and on it is written the Latin word, PAX. PAX means ‘kiss of peace’. We all search for inner peace. In our minds and thoughts and emotions. Peace means harmony and balance. Peace means deep rest for our hearts.
Holy Place
In holy places our minds can become still. We can become connected to a Higher Power and the part of us inside that connects to that Higher Power.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU EXPLORE THIS CARD MORE
I often see this card come up when a woman comes for a reading and she is frazzled, exhausted and simply needs to sleep. Her four year old might be full of energy and her six month old cannot sleep more than two hours in a row. When we ask what the mother needs, this card often comes up.
This card also comes up when a woman needs to CHILL OUT! I am not talking a cocktail on the beach or a night in front of the latest TV series. It is also more than getting into the zone with a hobby or sport – in these cases you are still doing something. I am talking about doing nothing or nearly nothing. If you have to do something it can be gentle slow yoga, Tai Chi or meditation. The Four of Swords is about entering into a place where your mind and body can have deep rest.
How do I, Sinead, deep rest?
I lie in bed and watch my breathing. I slow it down.
I stare at the wall and let my thoughts wander without getting caught in them or obsessed.
I go to sleep.
I rest on the couch while listening to a CD that plays the sound of rain and nature sounds.
I go meet my Inner High Priestess and fall asleep beside her.
I do meditation. My favorite app is Relax Melodies.
I do the Yoga pose called ‘Child’s Pose’.
How do you Deep Rest?
Please get your journal out and the Four of Swords card. Hold the card and slow down your breathing. Imagine being in that place. Imagine the silence. The echo. Imagine lying still and simply breathing.
Now, write down five things you can do that allows your mind, emotions and body to deeply rest. Write those five things on a piece of paper (make it colorful and beautiful if you want) and put it on the fridge or somewhere you can see it multiple times a day. Most of the time the only person that will give you permission to rest is You.
No one else will push you to rest.
It is your duty to serve your Body/Mind/Spirit Temple.
So if you get this card, you should really consider HOW you Deep Rest and HOW you can make it happen in your life.
Are you allowing yourself time to have Deep Rest once a day, even if it is only for five minutes?
Do you schedule regular Deep Rest sessions into your week?
When is the best time for you to Deep Rest?
What are the obstacles to you doing some Deep Rest? Time Limits? Can you wake half an hour earlier?
Do you need help to make the Deep Rest happen? Help from friends, family or even a babysitter?
When you have take some Deep Rest time, how do you feel after?
Can you understand the massive benefits to Deep Rest?
What happens when you do not Deep Rest?
GOLDEN DAWN / QABALA
The Hermetic title for this card is ‘Lord of Rest from Strife’.
On the Tree of Life, the Number Four cards sit on the Sphiroth Chesed which represents mercy. After the energy from the Divine enters Kether at the top of the Tree of Life, it next flows to Chokhmah. Chokhmah is the place of wisdom. The energy then flows onto Binah which is the energy of understanding. Then the energy leaves this upper triangle of energy (called the Supernal) and flows down to Chesed, the energy of Mercy. It also relates to the energy of Compassion and Grace. Therefore the number four cards in the Minor Arcana always have a gentle and stable message. The Four of Swords reminds us to be gentle with ourselves, to bring back the stillness within and thus allow the magic to happen.
ASTROLOGICAL
Ruled by Jupiter in Libra
FOUR OF SWORDS REVERSED
When this card is reversed it is saying you are not trying to find moments of stillness. You may be running around doing everything and feeling overwhelmed. You may feel there is a mantra in your head, saying,’I have no time’. You simply have to make the time or you will end up ill. Even if you are with your children, there are opportunities for Deep Rest.
Two important questions to consider with a reversed Four of Swords:
Why do you feel you have ‘No Time’. Is that really true? Can you make time even at first if it is with family or friends?
Do you believe you can keep living at this crazy pace indefinitely?