Western Tarot symbolism
Four of Swords
The main description identifies a full-length effigy on a tomb, not a living knight simply lying down. Its meanings join solitude and retreat with tomb and coffin, which the text says suggested the design. Wise administration occurs reversed in the main list. The supplementary list repeats the link with administrative judgement and qualified success, while calling the upright card unfavourable.
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In the sources
The card account
LiteraryThe main description identifies a full-length effigy on a tomb, not a living knight simply lying down. Its meanings join solitude and retreat with tomb and coffin, which the text says suggested the design.
Comparing the lists
LiteraryWise administration occurs reversed in the main list. The supplementary list repeats the link with administrative judgement and qualified success, while calling the upright card unfavourable.
Context & interpretation
The active library scan carries L. W. de Laurence’s name and reproduces material associated with A. E. Waite’s Tarot exposition. This entry follows that supplied edition’s card prose and supplementary lists. Historical divinatory assignments and period character labels are distinguished from the pictured symbolism and from independently supported judgements about people or future events.
Original passages
Source 1
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
The effigy of a knight in the attitude of prayer, ,at full length upon his tomb. Dkinatory Meanings: Vigilance, retreat, soli- tude, hermit's repose, exile,"tomb andOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Illustrated Key to the Tarot, supplied de Laurence edition; card description, active reader leaf 130
Exact supplied-edition extracted passage actually read; whitespace-normalised quotation anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Image descriptions attributed to printed prose; no new full-plate visual inspection asserted.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0130
- Original scan leaf
- 136
- Recorded leaf number
- 136
- Current Reader position
- 130
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
Four.—A bad card, but if reversed a qualified success may be expected by wise administration of affairs. Reversed: A certain success following wise administration.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Illustrated Key to the Tarot, supplied de Laurence edition; additional meanings, active reader leaf 151
Exact supplied-edition extracted passage actually read; whitespace-normalised quotation anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Image descriptions attributed to printed prose; no new full-plate visual inspection asserted.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0151
- Original scan leaf
- 157
- Recorded leaf number
- 157
- Current Reader position
- 151
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Ace of Cups
A cloud-borne cup, water and a descending sacramental emblem give this Ace several symbolic layers.
Shared source pageEight of Cups
A departing figure gives the Eight an image of leaving an earlier concern behind.
Shared source pageEight of Swords
A bound figure surrounded by swords is expressly described as temporarily confined.
Shared source pageFive of Cups
Three fallen cups and two remaining upright make loss and remainder part of one composition.