Name: Falsehood
Italian Name: Falsità
Playing Card: 4♦
Polarity when Upright: Negative
Core Meanings: Negativity, Being negative, Not liking | Lies, Deceit | There is a difference between how things are and how they seem | Mistakes, Errors, Wrongness
Polarity when Reversed: Positive
Reversed Core Meanings: Unmasked lies, Unmasked plots and enemies | Relief from trouble, Improvement, Solution
Card Description: a demonic-looking cat sits on a chair, preventing someone from reaching the pantry on the other side.
Suit and Number: Fours show the querent’s context. Diamonds are a mixed suit, especially from a social standpoint. The Four of Diamonds shows the context in which the querent is moving is negative, or uncertain, wrong for him, whether because of his subjective reaction or because something is amiss, it depends on the context and other cards
UPRIGHT 4♦
General: The card is so explicit in its depiction that it’s easy to jump to conclusions and say that someone is lying. As a matter of fact, unless it makes sense within the context of the question, or unless other cards strengthen the idea of actual deceit, you need to be very careful around this card. The concept that best applies is that of “wrongness”. In general, however, it is also the card of negativity.
Love and Relationships: The Four of Diamonds does not automatically represent cheating. It generally shows a lack of sincerity, and the other cards will tell you why. It can also, more broadly, show a relationship that is shaky due to incompatibility, i.e., because two people are wrong for one another. There is a general sense of a relationship not reaching a deep level of “wholeness”. Due to its connection with surfaces as opposed to reality, it can show a superficial bond. It may also show outright dislike. When it represents an environment, it qualifies it as wrong for the querent, and if confirmed by the rest of the spread, rumors and gossip and ill will.
The only time the 4♦ is neutral is when it represents “false” relatives, that is, relatives by law, such as adoptive children, step-mothers as well. In this case, the card shows up next to a face card. It is a rare meaning, however.
Work and Money: Obviously, the meaning of wrongness and negativity carries into the field of finances and career as well. It can represent wrong financial decisions, carelessness, blunders etc. It can show that the querent is working in the wrong field, not following his true passion. Whenever a contract or papers in general need to be signed, this card acts as a warning that the document is, at best, incomplete, at worst, a scam. Either way, it is best to read everything carefully. It is never a good sign, but how bad a sign it is will depend on the rest of the cards.
As this card can also represent having a bad attitude toward someone or something (being “negative” toward them) it can show being refused an offer, or, sometimes, having a bad attitude toward money or the job.
Other: The concept of appearances differing from reality can be applied broadly to most situations. Psychologically it generally points to illusions and being unable to tell what’s truly going on in one’s life. The idea of negativity also has esoteric connotations, as it can show the famous “evil eye”. It does not necessarily show a black magic ritual, more the transmition of negative thoughts toward the querent (or by the querent toward someone else). Spiritually, the Four of Diamonds can show a negative environment or illusions about reality on the part of the querent. Sometimes it can be interpreted as the querent holding on to spiritual illusions. The card is connected to the pantry and kitchen as far as places are concerned, but more the pantry.
Important Combinations:
4♦ + 2♦ = wrong information, or incomplete, or misleading
4♦ + 9♥ = lies, not all is as it seems
4♦ + 10♦ + 8♠ = a swindle
6♦ + 4♦ = a bad idea or a wrong idea (if 6♦R, a negative plan, or even the evil eye)
4♦ + 10♣ = a mistake due to carelessness (same with 7♦, though that could be also a stepson)
REVERSED 4♦R
General: A great card. Although it shows the unmasking of lies and deceits, and therefore points to their existence in our life, the underlying sense is that the discovery is made in time to save the querent a lot of grief, unless the other cards show otherwise. It is also a card of relief, solution, improvement. A function of this card is that it walls negative streaks shown by negative cards preceding it, making them end.
Love and Relationships: The obvious meaning would be the discovery of a lie from the partner, but in general it can show an honest conversation to clear misconceptions. This can have apparently negative outcomes, such as realizing you are not meant to be together, but in the long run this card is always favorable. If, however, a break-up is not shown in the card, it simply signifies improvement in the relationship.
Work and Money: the Falsehood card, when it comes up reversed, is always a good omen. If the querent has been scammed, the scam will come to light and, save with disastrous cards, the worst will be averted. In general, it is a card of economic relief, of things improving after they have been on the wrong track. It can point to being somewhat miserly, as opposed to the wastefulness of the upright card, but this is rarely a problem, and frankly it is a very feeble meaning.
Other: psychologically, the 4♦R can represent the end of a difficult spell or of a period of negativity. Esoterically, it shows either the absence of a hex or that the evil eye is being averted, or that the person responsible is unmasked. Spiritually it broadly shows relief, and piercing through the veil of illusion.
Important Combinations:
Q♠ or J♠ + 4♦R = discovery of enemies
K♣ or 4♠ + 7♠ + 4♦R = surgery providing relief
10♠R + 4♦R = unmasking of secret plots
A♥R + K♠ + 4♦R = winning a legal dispute
9♠ + 4♦R = unblocking of a situation
Other Combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Fours
