The Tarot of Eli 2, LLC: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot-Four of Swords & The Archeon Tarot- 4 of Swords

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The Rider-Waite-Smith – 4 of Swords

The 4 of Swords in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot vividly echoes the medieval "Rest in Peace" motif, steeped in religious iconography. At the heart of the image is a knight carved in effigy, lying supine atop a stone sarcophagus beneath a stained-glass window depicting a figure of Christ—suggesting sanctuary, divine rest, and retreat from worldly struggle.

This solemn portrayal captures more than mere physical rest; it implies the stillness of the mind after conflict, a withdrawal into sacred silence. While the image hints at the permanence of death, this card is not a harbinger of literal demise. Rather, it speaks to the necessary pause between cycles of action—the sacred interlude between battles, decisions, or crises.

In the Hermetic Qabalah, the number Four represents a stabilization of force, and in the suit of Swords (which governs intellect and conflict), this manifests as a temporary truce. It is the Lord of Rest from Strife, where mental turbulence gives way to clarity through stillness. This is the “fixing” of thought, a crystallization of insight born not from further analysis, but from repose.

Within this archetype, we may glimpse a lesser Mystical Death—a retreat into the inner sanctuary of the soul where Spirit prepares the mind for renewal. Just as the Seed rests in the dark womb of Earth before breaking forth in growth, so too must the aspirant enter a state of stillness to integrate the lessons of prior conflict.

This card may appear in a reading to advise a period of deep introspection, healing, or spiritual retreat. It is a call to disengage from the noise of the world, to regenerate by aligning with the interior Christ-light—the Logos within.

In the Archeon Tarot, the 4 of Swords portrays a poignant moment: a woman has laid down her sword, her posture surrendering not in defeat but in release. This is the sacred stillness after the storm—the solemn hush that follows a hard-won victory. The battle is over, and for now, the blade is at rest.

This card speaks to the soul’s need for withdrawal, not as escape, but as a necessary stage in the cycle of transformation. It represents rest, recuperation, and the restoration of inner balance. In this pause, the fragmented energies of mind and body are reassembled into coherence. Like a warrior-priestess retreating to her inner sanctuary, she reclaims her wholeness in silence.

The keywords for this card include rest, recovery, relaxation, solitude, and even abandonment—not the abandonment of purpose, but of struggle. The sword lies dormant, symbolizing the cessation of external conflict and the invitation to embrace the inward path.

When reversed, the card takes on a rejuvenating quality: it suggests healing, a refreshed spirit, revitalization, and emergence from convalescence. The tide has turned. Energy begins to circulate once more, and what was inwardly processed now stirs toward outward expression.

From a Hermetic lens, this card mirrors the alchemical phase of Coagula following Solve—a temporary crystallization of peace where the volatile intellect is suspended. Here, the swords no longer clash but become instruments of stillness. It is the moment when the aspirant, having wrestled with mental tension, now returns to center—to the innermost chamber of the temple, where the breath slows and consciousness deepens.

Also assigned to this 4 of Swords card, in more occult circles, is Jupiter in Libra is an astrological placement that combines the expansive energy of Jupiter with the diplomatic and harmonious qualities of Libra. Here are some characteristics associated with this placement:

1. Diplomacy and Fairness: Individuals with Jupiter in Libra often have a natural inclination towards diplomacy and fairness. They seek balance and harmony in their interactions with others and are inclined to promote justice and equality.

2. Social Grace: There is a sociable and charming quality to this placement. People with Jupiter in Libra are likely to be well-liked in social circles due to their ability to navigate social situations with grace and tact.

3. Idealistic Relationships: There may be an idealistic approach to relationships, with a desire for meaningful connections based on mutual respect and shared values. These individuals may believe in the power of love and partnerships to bring about positive change.

4. Appreciation for Beauty: Libra is associated with aesthetics, and Jupiter's influence enhances an appreciation for beauty in all its forms. Individuals with this placement may have a love for art, culture, and refined experiences.

5. Seeking Knowledge in Relationships: Jupiter in Libra individuals may seek to expand their understanding of relationships and interpersonal dynamics. They might be drawn to studying psychology or counseling to deepen their insights into human behavior.

6. Indecision and Overthinking: The desire for balance and fairness can sometimes lead to indecision, as individuals with this placement may weigh all sides of a situation extensively. This can result in overthinking and difficulties in making decisions.

7. Legal Affairs and Justice: Jupiter is associated with legal matters, and in Libra, there may be an interest or involvement in legal affairs, with a focus on bringing about fairness and justice.

Remember that individual charts are complex, and the influence of Jupiter in Libra will be modulated by other astrological factors. Astrology provides a broad overview, and personal experiences may vary.

This is a card that speaks not only of rest and recovery, but also of imagination—the silent architect behind all form. Among the suit of Swords, whose blades often cut with conflict and strife, the 4 of Swords offers one of the most positive currents—if one’s self-identity is properly aligned. However, when one's self-image is entangled in trauma, fear, or mental exhaustion, the same energies can become burdensome, leading to emotional depletion or stagnation.

Let us be clear: imagination is the primal key to all creation. It is the invisible fire behind every human endeavor. It is imagination that fuels the ascent of civilization—through the arts, sciences, political reform, spiritual insight, and innovation of all kinds. As Hermes Trismegistus taught, “As above, so below; as within, so without”—thus, imagination is the bridge that connects inner vision with outer manifestation.

In this light, the 4 of Swords becomes a sacred pause for the refueling of the visionary self, a time when the chariot of creative will is pulled inward toward the Temple of the Soul. Here, in the hush of solitude, the Magus rekindles their divine image-making faculty—the very power that gave form to the Tree of Life and wrote the patterns of the stars.

When this card appears, it may suggest that the imagination requires sacred space to breathe, to dream, and to heal. For without rest, the chariot veers off course; but with inner stillness, it realigns to the Solar Self and continues forward as the true vehicle of the Logos.

This card represents that inner “something”—that secret chamber of the soul often described as the Womb with a View, or the Yonic Cave within the Tree of Life. It is the quiet sanctum of the psyche where thought begins to form into vision, where inspiration quickens like divine breath stirring the deep waters of the subconscious. From here, the luminous seeds of beauty, insight, and renewal are conceived.

This is the sacred interiority that enervates, inspires, and impassions—not through violent disruption, but through the gentle power of introspection and imagination. It is a condition of mind and soul that radiates magnetism, often drawing others near, as they find themselves entranced by the aura of poetic thought and creative energy. When one resides in such a state, they become a vessel of grace—an artist of soul-light, painting reality with vision and charm.

Thus, the 4 of Swords in this sense signifies good times, soulful friendships, and authentic connection. It is not merely rest, but the deep pleasure of repose with purpose—where friendships are nurtured, spirits are renewed, and the Muse herself may whisper quietly into the stillness.

From a Qabalistic standpoint, this card may be seen as the intersection of Tiphareth’s harmony filtering through the intellectual plane of Yetzirah, where the swords (Air) are momentarily sheathed, allowing the heart-mind to dream its next creation into being.

This is the phase in the Great Work where the aspirant is not doing but becoming. And in that sacred becoming, joy, friendship, and artistic brilliance flow effortlessly from within.

At its highest expression, the Four of Swords represents a magical journey into the “Womb with a View”—that sacred yonic chamber nestled within the Tree of Life, where the Divine Creative broods in silence before forming thought into manifestation. This inner sanctuary is the birthplace of magic ideas—the quiet abyss where the Magus dips into the Universal Collective Unconscious and returns with visions that have the power to shape culture, art, science, and consciousness itself.

Here, imagination is not fantasy, but the primordial engine of alchemy—transforming inner archetypes into outer acts. This journey inward is no idle sleep, but a sacred dreaming where the magician restores the connection to divine source, returning with gifts to heal, awaken, or inspire the world.

Mundanely, the Four of Swords may signify the need for a safe place to rest, to recuperate, and to gather strength—a sacred pause in the temple of the body or mind. It’s the hearth of silence that follows conflict, where clarity is born not from more motion, but from stillness.

Yet this card also carries a subtle warning: just as we imagine beauty and innovation, we also imagine pain. Negative feelings—grief, worry, resentment—are also creations of the imaginative mind, and if dwelled upon excessively, they can manifest in the body as exhaustion or even illness.

In this context, the Four of Swords may symbolize a body worn down by emotional burdens, signaling the urgent need to retreat, release, and recalibrate.

Thus, this card reminds us that mental stillness is both a weapon and a womb. To rest consciously is to reclaim one’s power to dream a better world into being—from within.

Hence, the physical body is a spiritual sacrament—a living vessel consecrated to the Divine Spark within. It is not the source of life, but the chalice through which Spirit pours itself into sensual being. The Invisible Dreamer—your true Self, the Solar “I AM”—surrounds and permeates the body, flowing through it like an ocean through a fish. The body does not contain the spirit; rather, it swims within it.

This inner presence, this radiant Self, is likened unto Jupiter—the expansive, benevolent force of divine generosity and healing wisdom. In the Four of Swords, Jupiter in Libra tempers the usually harsh intellect of the Swords suit. The sharp blades, symbols of mental strife, are now sheathed in grace. Their cutting edge is blunted by harmony, mercy, and balance. What was once a weapon becomes a wand of peace.

Libra, the sign of sacred balance, becomes the temple through which Jupiter’s restorative force expresses itself. Here, justice is not punishment, but equilibrium. The mind finds its stillpoint, and the body, once frayed by conflict or anxiety, enters a phase of mending.

This card, then, is a healing sacrament—a moment when the Sword becomes a stylus, and the mind no longer writes stories of struggle but scripts of renewal. It whispers: You are not broken—you are becoming whole again. Let the body rest in the arms of the Invisible Self, and let Jupiter’s blessing move through your blood like golden light.

When the 4 of Swords - is thrown during a reading:

• There is mental understanding of a matter or relationship coming to full resolution on four levels of mental awareness: The Rational, The Emotional of the Unconscious, the Spiritual, and the Subconscious of the Physical.
• A holding pattern after mastering a difficult mental situation.
• Retreat or withdrawal is necessary to heal or hide, by creating a protected mental space. 
• Here insight can be generated by seclusion.
• A moment of logic and discriminating intelligence of integrity and planning.
• A good and safe journey.
• A moment of inspiration. 
• A surge of passion to do!
• Reflection. 
• Meditation.

The negatives of this card are often shown by the surrounding cards or if card is reversed (Rider-Waite- Smith), it implies:

•   A healing from a burden of illness, to recuperate.
•  Intellect is relinquishing control back to the body so that a time out of from problems and solutions are achieved as the body has only one focus of getting better.
• Implications of problems that should not be ignored, listen to the inner self and answers will be restored.
• Lack of creative insight.

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