Four of Wands - four pillars of success?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	05 Apr 2004
Perhaps we could revisit meanings for this card? I always see the huppa on the RWS-type versions card, and go, duh "marriage" --- But my Roots of Asia four of wands shows two tigers going exploring. The blurb in the superb LWB says: "Four of Wands: Path to Success. There are four pillars or light posts on the pathway to assist us in finding our success. They are aspiration, effort, thoughtfulness, and investigation. Divinatory key: a fruitful creation " I like this interpretation. It fits well with the RWS tradition too, I think because there is that pathway from the castle aspect.... Thoughts? Reactions? Comments? Different Ideas?

Osher	05 Apr 2004
I've always seen the 4's as lulls before the storms. It is consolidation and preparation. If the 3's are the action, and the 5's are the downers, the 4's are the rest between. For this reason, I have always been slightly skeptical of the 4 of wands as being a 'marriage' card. If, the 3 shows you constructing a basis, forming the way forward, to my mind the 4 should be a case of sitting back and resting in your new construction. I suppose this could be seen, therefore, as meaning settling down, but that would suppose that the next stage is a trial. One might argue that marriage is a trial! However, whilst I am not against this meaning, I would always look for supplimental evidence for this meaning, say, an Ace of Cups.

Imagemaker	05 Apr 2004
I've always seen it as a public event or ceremony--may be a performance of any kind out on a stage (some marriages are). The Robin Wood has two people dancing on a stage under the canopy, which came up a lot when I was teaching public speaking. Both for my performances and for the students'.

contrascarpe	05 Apr 2004
I have always tended to see this as a "rest" card as well, just as happiness has said. I see this as a card that tells you to sit back and take stock of your achievements. Yes, a cause for celebration but don't get carried away because there is more work to be done. However, this is my "set" meaning - it depends on the situation, which deck I am using, and my mood/mindset. If I were using the Roots of Asia (which I really, really need to dig out and look at closer) it would definitely mean something different to me.

Sulis	05 Apr 2004
I don't always see it as a rest card but as a card of completion and of taking the next step, time to celebrate your achievements: You've done the groundwork, now it's time to get out there and show the world what you can do. This would work well with Firemaiden's paths to success interpretation. Love and light Sulis xx

Jewel-ry	05 Apr 2004
I like the roads to success interpretation. I see this card as a completion and fulfilment card but I think its important to emphasise that its early success, there is still work to be done. This is my 'time is right' card, yes you've made the start, its working and is successful, now continue forward. J :)

Thirteen	05 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Happiness I've always seen the 4's as lulls before the storms. It is consolidation and preparation. If the 3's are the action, and the 5's are the downers, the 4's are the rest between. I agree with you on almost all points--including that I wouldn't read this card as "marriage" without either supporting cards in the spread OR if that was the specific question asked ("Will we ever marry?"). To tackle the marriage question AND answer the overall question, however, I see 4/Wands as the completion of a foundation. This is why it's a "rest" card also. You dig the pit, you set in the support, pound in those four pillars of success, you pour the concrete....And FINALLY, the foundation is ready. After all that initial work, you can take a break, celebrate even, and go over the plans for the next step: what you will build on that nice, solid foundation. So, in regards to the four pillars of success, it's certainly the card that, to me, would indicate that you've got the pillars in place. You haven't succeeded yet, but with these pillars in place, you certainly can. A wedding--and it's a wedding we're discussing with the 4/wands--is very similar. It is the culmination of all that initial relationship work. Consider--most couples marry after knowing each other for only a few years. But they'll be in that marriage--one presumes--for a very long time. So a wedding is the celebration, the "rest" if you will between the short but very important bit of work that has gone before and what's going to come after. "We've created the foundation," it says. "Now we can move on to build the rest of it," which includes such trails as: getting along with the in-laws, buying a home, helping each other succeed in divergent careers, having babies, going on trips abroad, dealing with each other's medical problems...etc. By compare, the wedding and honeymoon are very much 4/Wands. A celebration of the foundation the couple have laid, a sealing if you will, of that final brick in the foundation, and a well earned break before facing all the tribulations and victories involved in building the rest of their now joint life.

firemaiden	05 Apr 2004
I drew it as a what am I doing wrong card... perhaps the sense of rest = resting on your laurels?

Thirteen	05 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden I drew it as a what am I doing wrong card... perhaps the sense of rest = resting on your laurels? No, I think that would be the 6/Wands. 6/Wands is a great victory, everyone applauding you. And it's very easy to keep pointing back to that victory instead of continuing on. To rest on those laurels for, well, forever. Ever know someone who never stops talking about some award they won in college or high school? But I think if you got 4/wands for what you did wrong, it could be an indication that you may have laid the foundations wrong. Or perhaps those 4 pillars aren't as strong as they seem? It's easy to see this if you do think about a wedding. If you said, "What did I do wrong," and you'd just gotten married, and you drew 4/wands, then you'd probably think...uh-oh. Got married too fast. Ditto with almost any other concern. Lay down the foundations too fast, don't put in enough work or time to make sure they're solid, and everything you build atop them is in danger. If you'd gotten 4/wands reversed, by the way, I'd read that as having NO foundations. 4/wands upright, in that position, suggests to me that you do have a foundation, you just didn't make it as solid as it ought to be for what you want to build atop it--be that your career, your relationships, friendships...your future.

contrascarpe	05 Apr 2004
I think, like everything else in life, you have to keep an open mind while doing a reading. I have spent countless hours reading books and learning "standard" interpretations, but often (very often) I sense something different when reading a card - part of the intuitive nature I am trying to incorporate in my readings. That being said, your lessons here at AT were what provided that "spark" to me when I got stuck in my studies. Dan

firemaiden	05 Apr 2004
I think of the four of coins as being about the solid foundation. I guess both fours could be about foundation... but how to differentiate? --maybe the coins hold the foundation on the earth, and the wands are the structures like pillars which reach for the sky? or the tent stakes which pin reality down...

TemperanceAngel	05 Apr 2004
FM, I see the fours as 'stability and structure' or lack of it. Wands as growth, amongst other things and I often think the Four of Wands is a culmination of efforts and manifestations: the seeds that were planted have now grown and it is time to reap (or is it reep?) ones harvest aka rewards....a culmination of success one might say :) Efforts being rewarded, but with that 'what's the next stage/step?' Tht's why I would see this card as engagement, and not marriage. XTAX

Thirteen	05 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden I think of the four of coins as being about the solid foundation. I guess both fours could be about foundation... but how to differentiate? The difference is that 4/coins isn't about a solid foundation--it's about having a lot, and being afraid of letting any of it go. In romance, this means you've GOT the one you love--but you want them to stay at home, with you, all the time. In business, this means a successful business, but you're afraid to branch out, to spend money. In career this means you're successful, but you're not going to share any secrets to that success, they're yours and yours alone. You get the idea. This is very different from working so VERY hard to create a solid relationship with the one you love. Living together, working out differences together--to the point where you feel that YES, it's time to tie the knot. Or building up your career to the point where you feel, YES, from here, you can get to the top. Think of it this way: 4/Coins: a guy sells baked goods out of his home. Suddenly, his business takes off. His special cookies and cakes are in demand. He makes tons of money. "Why not use all that money to invest it in bakery?" someone asks. "No way!" He answers. "If I do that, I may lose it all! This money stays here, and I'll keep selling out of my house." Very frugal. 4/Wands is the opposite. A man says, "I want to open a bakery!" So he gets a small business loan for the bakery and the equiptment, he interviewes and hires employees to work behind the counter, he puts out advertising, works on the recipes....months and months of setting everything up. And now, everything is baked up and on display, the employees are in place and....4/Wands. Time to open the doors and see what this baby can do. And if they did everything right, laid a strong foundation, then that business will do well. See the difference? But if "Foundation" is throwing you off, let's try this. A writer who's been sending out their first novel--and getting repeated rejections--comes to me and asks, "Will I ever be a famous author?" They get 4/Wands. I say, "That novel you've been sending out--someone's going to publish it." Now that's not their ultimate goal. Their ultimate goal is to be a "Famous Author"--but the first essential and important step to achieving that is, well, to get published. And they'll certainly celebrate that first publication. 4/Wands. The first, important step to achieving your ultimate goal has been reached. Like getting to the first plateau on a climb up to the mountain top. There are many more steps to go, including setbacks and victories, but you can take a minute, rest and celebrate that first modest, but all important achievement.

Macavity	05 Apr 2004
I always think more of contractual completions - not very romantic! For the Thoth deck, I generally supposed the latter comes from the astrology... Venus in Aries (ruler Mars) etc. ;) Macavity

contrascarpe	07 Apr 2004
I think it's interesting that the word "foundation" was brought up here ...... I pull a card a day with the Sacred Circle deck and my card today was the Three of Wands. The keyword on this particular card is foundation. Just shows how different interpretations can go with different decks.

miss_apples	10 Apr 2004
The four of wands came up as the present position in one of my readings one day. I was using the Gendron tarot. In the card I saw the usual happy couple...but then I looked and standing to the side was a woman and she was looking down at her feet like she felt left out. I realized that woman was me! So...with that...on the negative/down side...can the four of cups mean that theres a party going on without you?

WalesWoman	11 Apr 2004
What I like about the tarot, especially Wands is the progession, Ace, a guy follows his dream and decides to start baking, the two of wands is success, but his house just seems to be too small, so maybe he needs a loan to increase his abilities or needs something from outside to improve his business and starts looking for a new location, the three of Wands is very much the man who's bread and goodies are selling like hotcakes and has decided to take the plunge and expand his business, the four of wands would definately be the grand opening of it ( really liked the way you explained this Thirteen.) So basically how well you lay your foundations with the first three Wands will determine how you will fare with the inevitable difficulties you will encounter with the rest of the progression. Maybe 5 Wands would be competition with the other bakers down the street or even a Bake Off, 6 or Wands surviving the first few years of struggle and on and on until you reach the King? I usually think of it as laying foundations, like graduation, or marriage or anything that is still in it's early stages of development, something to rejoice and celebrate about.

The Four of Wands - four pillars of success? thread was originally posted on 05 Apr 2004 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.