What does the Four of Swords mean in love?

In love, the Four of Swords indicates the need for rest, space and emotional recovery. It can point to a pause in dating or a quiet phase in a relationship to reflect, heal from past stress and regain clarity about what you really want.

Four of Swords

Q: How does the Four of Swords relate to marriage?

In marriage readings, the Four of Swords suggests a calmer period where partners focus on peace, reflection and healing. It can show taking a temporary step back from conflict to think things through, communicate gently and restore balance in the relationship.

Q: What does the Four of Swords indicate about career growth?

Career-wise, the Four of Swords points to burnout or mental fatigue and the need to pause, strategise and recharge before moving ahead. It advises stepping back to review goals, rest your mind and return with a clearer plan instead of pushing through exhaustion.

Q: Can the Four of Swords indicate challenges in love or career?

Yes. The Four of Swords can highlight stress, emotional withdrawal or feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities. In love, it may show distance or avoidance of difficult conversations. In career, it can indicate low motivation or feeling stuck, making rest and reflection important before deciding the next step.

Q: What advice does the Four of Swords offer for personal growth in relationships or work?

The Four of Swords advises you to prioritise rest, self-care and mental clarity. It encourages taking a break from constant activity to process your experiences, heal from past hurts and regain perspective, so you can return to relationships and work with renewed energy and wisdom.

Devi Shankar
Jul 4, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Dec 3, 2025

Emerging from the deep pain of Three of Swords, Four of Swords signifies a time for contemplation and relaxation. Sleeping over a coffin, possibly meditating, the person in the image feels battle weary. He has survived a battle which probably would have laid him inside the coffin than outside.

Four of Swords Meaning - General

The three downward swords in Four of Swords mean pain in the past. Remember that Four of Swords in tarot follows the Three of Swords. One horizontal sword underneath the person symbolizes the need to focus and lay to rest matters of the past.

Four of Swords as a meaning wants you to bring back order and organization in life, bring back some semblance of structure and method to madness.

Your eyes are still closed, you are thinking away. Probably still worrying about the past (indicated by the three swords pointing towards your head and torso). Your fears, anxiety and stress are causing a feeling of being overwhelmed and mental overloading. But this is all in your mind. Once you open your eyes, you will realize that it is calm and peaceful outside. The worst is already behind you.

You could be too engrossed in your internal thinking to notice this. All your worries are internal, and things are not as bad as you think.

However, you are unable to process all of it rationally. And therefore, there is rest and relaxation suggested. Rest and recuperation are vital right now. You need to find space and time to meditate and relax your mind. Silence and quiet contemplation can be your best friends right now.

Let us look at the Four of Swords in specific contexts of a love tarot reading and career tarot reading. Remember to apply all the above general readings to the below readings as well.

Four of Swords Love

Love Reading for Relationships

Clearly you seem to have been through a relationship upheaval. And only time and space can heal you. Find ways to rest and recuperate by seeking solitude from your blown-up stress and anxiety.

Quality time by yourself and away from each other could help in reassessing your priorities. Also, at times, getting away allows one to reminisce about the reasons they got together in the first place and reinvigorate that sense of love and commitment all over again.

Love Reading for Singles

Four of Swords in love can be very apt for singles, as it signifies difficult relationships in the past or difficulty finding or being in the right relationship. This can be overwhelming, sometimes causing stress and anxiety.

Again, there is a need to cool down. Meditate, introspect, and contemplate about what you seek in a partner and a relationship.

A good direction can also be to find peace with yourself. Being desperate for a relationship is not going to serve you positively in any way. Relationships happen when you don’t chase them.

Don’t let the feeling of loneliness or stress of being single overwhelm you. Instead of rushing into your next relationship, take time off to enjoy being with yourself.

Four of Swords Career & Finance

Four of Swords in career could indicate burn out, mental stress or agony and hence a need to take some time off. You need to bring in some clarity and structure to your life to reassess the direction your career is taking.

Rest, relaxation and recuperation are recommended. One thing to note here (like we mentioned under the general reading) is that things are not as bad as they seem inside your head. You may feel like you are unable to cope, but a little bit of rest and getting away can help you bring in that much needed structure to your life.

The trick is to not allow negativity to cloud your mind. Just slow down, allow some peace to sink in through meditation and similar practices.

If you are worrying about your finances, remember that your financial troubles are in the past, and you can rest your worry and paranoia for now. You could do with taking a break to relieve yourself from the stress you are feeling, and indulge in some clear financial planning for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does the Four of Swords signify in love?

The Four of Swords in Love indicates the need for time out of the dating scene to meditate, gain clarity and heal before re-entering the "dating pool". If in a committed relationship, the Four of Swords may indicate a need for space to allow for the opportunity to have peaceful and calm conversations to help heal any emotional wounds or misunderstandings from the past.

2. How does the Four of Swords relate to marriage?

The Four of Swords in Marriage often indicates a relatively quiet time period where both partners are in need of the ability to gain mental peace and reflection or need to take a temporary break from their relationship in order to remove all stressors. During this time, partners will want to focus on improving their mental health and resolving issues in a calm manner, and at the same time creating a safe and peaceful home environment.

3. What does the Four of Swords indicate about career growth?

The Four of Swords in Career usually represents the need for rest, strategizing, and planning before reinserting into a situation for the next level of growth. It can signal the time to take a rest, and/or leave, take a break, or even stop working on a project if it is meant to bring more clarity to what one wants to do. Prior to making a major decision on career growth and/or taking on new responsibilities, it suggests taking time to recharge in order to be able to make a good decision for oneself.

4. Can the Four of Swords indicate challenges in love or career?

The meaning of the Four of Swords in both Love and Career can also indicate challenges that are arising due to procrastination, avoidance and emotional shutdown. In a relationship, it can indicate that the other person is in need of distance or does not want to talk with the other partner. In one's career, it can show a lack of motivation and/or burnout or denoting the fact that someone is at a standstill with their progress, if they have turned their need for rest and space into isolation.

5. What advice does the Four of Swords offer for personal growth in relationships or work?

The Four of Swords suggests that one should prioritize rest, time for oneself, reflection, and improving mental wellbeing for themselves. In a relationship, one needs to focus on healing and communicate gently when they are ready to. When working in their career, one should develop a career plan in a manner that is calm and does not rush through it. Furthermore, one will have long-term success through using the Four of Swords due to their self healing, patience, and inner clarity.

Please leave me a review at the bottom of this page if you found this article useful🌻

Previous (Three of Swords)

Next (Five of Swords)