Apr 25 | 2023 — IV of Wands
I love the fours in Tarot. Generally, the fours in Tarot are cards of stability of some form. And who doesn’t want a little more stability in life? (This is also a good representation of how numerology has a role in Tarot: fours represent stability and structure, much like the four legs of a table. You should then be able to see the numerological “role” reflected in each of the different suits. Additionally, the fours also harness the energy of The Emperor, the fourth card in the Major Arcana, who also brings in stability, structure, and discipline.)
For example, the IV of Pentacles is financially stable, if not overly frugal; IV of Swords is about finding stability through rest; IV of Cups can represent contentment or emotional stability; and the IV of Wands is the stability that comes from the completion of some type of milestone.
Generally, the IV of Wands is a celebratory card, a “success” of some kind. It could be a wedding or engagement, a reunification or homecoming, or even something like the completion of some type of big project, like graduating from high school or earning a degree.
But at the end of the day, it’s a happy, positive sentiment. It’s a culmination card (which is unusual for being so low in the minor arcana progression). I feel like there are some similarities in this card with the X of Cups, another card of completion and celebration, but perhaps on a more procedural level.
Message of the Day: As a daily card, I feel like this card is a little bit too hot and heavy on the celebration factor — at least at the level of, like, a wedding or engagement. Those to me are big events (maybe something that is more Major Arcana). And I know, I know — this isn’t about THE EVENT itself but about the celebratory aspect, recognizing and reveling in the cause and the success. But how often do we have events worth celebrating at this level? Do I not celebrate enough? Am I missing out?
Maybe it’s all about perspective. There are mini-successes every day, all throughout the day. Making it out the door on time: success; finding the time to do my daily Tarot focus: success; getting my son off to school without chaos and darkness covering the earth: SUCCESS. Those are events for which I should be grateful, sure, but celebrate? This card obviously isn’t the small dopamine hit you get for ticking a checkbox on your to-do list, it’s the flood of euphoria and pride of an overall job well-done.
So maybe we need to up the ante a little and look at the milestone-level completion. Our son is about to finish fourth grade: definitely a success. We are coming up on our 15 year anniversary on May 1: definitely a big success. Paying off a credit card: major success worth celebrating (as long as it doesn’t use that credit card!).
Every milestone, however, DOES have something of a to-do list associated with it. The success and eventual celebration is dependent on the completion of those smaller tasks. For example, I’ve been taking the opportunity to right some wrongs in my past and apologize for past grievances/stupidities in hopes of un-tarnishing some of the more important relationships in my life. This hasn’t been easy, and I feel like there have been some psychological checkboxes I’ve had to check before I could get to the point where I am ready to do that (to which I thank Tarot for leading me to). I’ve had to:
- Recognize the mistake(s)
- Feel remorse for the mistake
- Humble myself and recognize that just because I want to make it right doesn’t mean they will accept my apology. And that is something I have to come to terms with as well.
- Embrace the vulnerability that comes with admitting you were wrong and fucked up/offended them.
- Do the deed; get it done
Maybe the resulting apology doesn’t shore up the relationship to where it once was; but the effort that was made is worthy of celebrating, even if it’s in your own quiet way. None of those tasks were easy to get through, but it’s done and you hopefully have found some peace in the process.
Maybe it’s not the same type of celebration as a wedding or engagement, but recognizing the success of cleaning up your own messy past (which can be a very thorny path to walk down) is really not that different from enjoying the outcome of wedding planning or two years of hard studying for your Master’s degree. One is outward and physical, the other is internal and psychological/emotional. It’s almost like your own personal homecoming where you feel that warmth and happiness of a return to yourself.
So how does the IV of Wands speak to you today?
- Are you working on your personal checklist that leads to the IV of Wands celebratory extravaganza? What is that success and how will you celebrate?
- What are some of the personal successes you have made that you have not sufficiently recognized or celebrated?
- How do you balance the passion of the suit of Wands with the stability of the four(s) to bring about the success and celebration of the IV of Wands?
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Originally posted on Pixel-Tarot.com on April 25, 2023.
