Four of Swords
Reverse:
Rest, Peace, Healing, Sanctuary, Self-protection, Rejuvenation
Upright:
Restlessness, Burnout, Tension, Defensive
Four of Swords
Here we see a Pixie lying in a field, surrounded by four swords stabbed into the ground; as if to act as a protective barrier. This card brings a sense of calmness and security. This card can be a sign that it is now time to rest after a long period of stress and trouble. It's time to recover from our traumas and find what makes is feel at peace. Perhaps now is a good time to create a sacred space for yourself, so you can really focus on your mind, body and soul. You may be feeling some uneasiness, and fear that whatever was once troubling you will come back, so your defenses may still be up. It's okay to protect ourselves if we're feeling vulnerable, just remember that not everyone is here to harm you.
Card in Reverse:
In reverse, the Four of Swords could mean restlessness. You may have recently overcome some traumas and are heading towards the path of healing, but you can't seem to shake this uneasy feeling. Your body feels tense and it's like you just can't sit still. You may be likely to push others away that are just trying to help, in fear that they might hurt you. You could also be distracting yourself with work or other activities, but are starting to experience burnout due to the high stress and lack of sleep. Try your best to breathe deep and let down your defenses when you're in a safe environment. Everything is going to be okay.
Love
Career
Upright:
Reverse:
Upright:
Reverse:
Taking a break from work, Self-care, Recharging
Taking a break, Spending time alone, Healing from trauma
Rejection, Defensive, Tension in the relationship
Feeling restless at work, Burnout, Tension at work
Upright: Some troubling times in your love life have recently ended and it's now time to rest and recover. Perhaps you've finally worked through something difficult with your partner, or maybe you recently left a relationship that wasn't good for you. Whatever the case, the Four of Swords is suggesting some alone time. Take a break and focus on yourself right now. You need some time to rest and heal from whatever it was that was troubling you.
Reverse: You could be feeling very vulnerable right now, which is causing you to put up your defenses. Perhaps you were recently rejected by someone you liked, or you're feeling some tension in your current relationship. Is it possible that you're focusing a bit too much on finding love right now? Have you truly moved on from any past hurt, that could potentially be holding you back from finding new love? Try to breathe deep and focus inward.
Upright: Perhaps it's time to take a bit of a break from work. If you can, take a vacation, or create a stay-cation from the comfort of your own home. Things have been hard and you could be on the path leading to burnout. Ask a friend if you can vent out some of your frustrations, or speak to a counsellor if you feel the need to. Catch up on some sleep and get in some one on one time with yourself. Once you're feeling better, you can go back to work with new energy.
Reverse: You might haven recently given yourself that much needed break from work, and now you're feeling energized and ready to get back to it. In order to prevent yourself from feeling burn out again, try to take notice of all the things that push you over the edge. What can you do to prioritize your tasks better? What can you do to cool down when you feel frustrated? How can you schedule your time better so you don't over-work yourself? If it's not possible for you to try and improve your working conditions, perhaps it's time to seek out new solutions. Can you get an assistant to help you? Or is it perhaps time to move on to another career?