Four of Swords
Minor arcana · Four of Swords
Upright
This is settling in and holding what you have. The suit deals with thought and speech, what gets decided and said, so read the stage as happening in that area of life.
Reversed
Reversed, the stage is blocked or overdone — check whether settling in and holding what you have is failing to do its work in thought and speech, what gets decided and said.
| Arcana | Minor |
|---|---|
| Suit | Swords |
| Rank | Four |
| Element | Air |
How to read this
- The 22 major arcana speak of the large movements; the 56 minor arcana speak of the specific events inside them. Noticing which one you drew tells you the scale.
- A minor card is read by combining suit and number: the suit says which area of life, the number says which stage within it.
- Reversed is less an opposite than the same force blocked or overdone. Before flipping the meaning, look at where that force is actually going.
- A card is a picture of the present situation, not a fixed future. The same card reads differently depending on what you asked.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does the tarot card Four of Swords mean?
Upright: This is settling in and holding what you have. The suit deals with thought and speech, what gets decided and said, so read the stage as happening in that area of life.
Q. What does Four of Swords mean reversed?
Reversed, the stage is blocked or overdone — check whether settling in and holding what you have is failing to do its work in thought and speech, what gets decided and said.
Q. Where does Four of Swords sit in the deck?
Minor arcana · Four of Swords