The "Fours" in the Tarot Deck are the cards
that begin to define situation and set relevant boundaries. These incorporate
order and structure (but not repression of expression or self-discovery).
The theme of the Four of Swords is "taking time out". This could be
in the form of time off work (such as a holiday), or simply meditation,
or changing focus to other matters for a while.
This card may be interpreted more specifically as "sorrow over intellect"
(e.g. in The
Complete Illustrated Guide to Tarot, which mentions retreat
from pain or struggle in order to rest or heal). Some decks
illustrate a church as the setting for this card because to
some people a church can represent a place of healing. However,
this is not true for everyone and other decks (incl. e.g. the Robin
Wood Deck) use similar imagery in an outdoor
or more natural setting.
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