Stability of the Mind
The Four of Swords turned up today, the third of the Swords suit in six days. Last Thursday, the Nine reminded us to face our anxieties with grace. Then, Saturday’s Eight was a call to proactivity, and a focus on choices rather than limitations.
The Four tells us that things are stable at the moment. This seems like the case in our household today. We may not be making swift progress toward any resolution of the current troubles, but we can look for at least a momentary respite from the constant barrage of new problems to solve.
Fours represent stability, security, order, sturdiness and durability. Swords, as we remember, are the suit of the mind. So this card can reflect a sense of mental calm and coherence even when the outside circumstances are unsettled.
Waite’s version of the card depicts a knight in repose in a chapel. We get the sense that he is resting and perhaps recuperating before the next onslaught. His hands are in something of a prayer pose. Light filters in through a stained glass window. It almost looks as if he is lying in state, but the traditions surrounding the card indicate that he is still alive. There are three swords hanging on the wall behind him, pointing down, representing a lull in hostilities. A single sword rests horizontally beneath him. I like to think of it as an object of contemplation or mental focus.
For me, this card is a representation of the act of meditation. Let the storms rage outside. We get still. We close our eyes. We watch our breath. We descend into a state of security, surety and tranquility. We return to the world better equipped to face what may come.