4 wands

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

pozt	03 Feb 2003
I was doing a relationship reading for one of my friends and for the position WHAT HE FEELS, I got 4 wands. Now, from the book Tarot Made Easy, it's supposed to mean "you feel like quitting". But from Book on Tarot Reversals, the meaning is sth about celebrations. Can someone tell me why there are 2 conflicting meanings here? Thanks.

Mojo	03 Feb 2003
There are two different meanings because you're reading from 2 different books. If you had a third book, you'd probably have a third meaning. That's the problem with books. They represent one person's point of view right, wrong or otherwise. Take a look at the picture on the card and come up with your own meaning based on what you see and feel at the time.

Diana	03 Feb 2003
pozt: what were the cards surrounding this one? Depending on the surrounding cards, it could mean self-confidence, or success (amongst other things). It could however mean pessimism, or instincts that are not well controlled (amongst other things). It could mean something dynamic, or it could mean blockage. If you don't get the inspiration you're looking for from the answers you'll get here, you're welcome to put the reading on the Your Readings forum for other insights. (By the way, my "instinct" tells me that your friend's feelings feel true, but he is at present being very passionate about them, which does not allow for clear-headedness. Remind him that love is not passion! Although passion can turn to love, if there is a real sincere basis to the relationship, and it is not only based on physical attraction. Now this is only my instinct talking here, because I do not know what the other cards are, so I may be way off the mark.)

Trogon	03 Feb 2003
pozt, what Mojo commented on has been my experience as well. The more different books you read, the more differing interpretations you'll find. Sometimes you'll find these differences to be slight, sometimes they'll be diametrically opposed. As has been suggested, coming up with your own interpretation is probably your best idea. You can go through the books, using them as guides to plant the seeds, give you some ideas to work from. Go through the books and find what seems to you to fit the images on your cards, then expand on them. Anyway... to the specific card; To me the 4 of Wands indicates happiness & celebration. The people are pictured having a celebration of some sort... so I think of a party, or a wedding reception (all the flowers on the RWS). So to me romance and marriage also come to mind. On the Spiral Tarot, this card pictures a wedding, so this connection is even stronger. So... in your reading, my feeling might be that he does have romantic feelings for you. However this could be modified by other cards in the layout. Perhaps he's just going along having fun... kind of in a "party mood". It also might be interpreted differently in a different deck. My ideas all come from the RWS and similar decks. Hope this helps...

Francesca	03 Feb 2003
Try considering the suit and the number. Fours indicate solidity, a solid foundation. It can turn into stasis, it can turn into rigidity or it can become a source of core strength. Wands are full of fire and movement. THese two together strike me as very promising. You've got the groundedness of the 4 and the excitement of the wands. Francesca

Baneemy	03 Feb 2003
For me, the Four of Wands is one of the most stable cards in the deck. Four is the number of earth, nature, order, and completeness (because of the four seasons, elements, cardinal directions, etc.), and four wands call to mind the four pillars that uphold the universe, society, or a well-ordered oikos. I also associate this card with the four Pillars of Society in the major arcana (Empress, Emperor, Papess, and Pope). Like Francesca said, solidity and stability can be a source of confidence and strength, or it can be a source of stagnation and rigidity. The exact interpretation depends on context. At its most positive, this card means you've "arrived." You're in a stable, secure position and everything is going as it should. At its worst, it can be a "doldroms" card, where you've reached a plateau and it just doesn't seem like you're going anywhere. Getting back to the two meanings your books gave you, celebration and "you feel like quitting," they're not as incompatible as it might seem. You've poured your heart and soul into some project, and when it's finaly completed, what then? You celebrate, of course, but isn't there also a little sadness? A sense of loss, apathia, ennui? When your life's purpose has been accomplshed, what's left? -Baneemy

pozt	03 Feb 2003
ah...i see! thanks! :)

blackmon487	11 Feb 2003
This card is also tied to Justice because it shows the strong establishment of order. The Four of Wands shows the easy and natural flow of a life in balance, and it challenges you to go out and create such a balanced lifestyle for yourself.

The 4 wands thread was originally posted on 03 Feb 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.