Four of Wands Alternate names/keywords: celebration, completion, delight

BASIC DESCRIPTION: Four garlanded wands form a portal to an inviting scene. Against the background of an imposing castle, a party is taking place. Between the wands, two women beckon to the viewer and wave bouquets.
FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME: The figures resemble brides tossing bouquets over their shoulders, although there are three bouquets between the two of them.
NUMBER: Four=stability, the four points on the ever-turning wheel.

UPRIGHT MEANINGS: Waite: "country life, haven of refuge, a species of domestic harvest-home, repose, concord, harmony, prosperity, peace, and the perfected work of these."
Pre-planned and/or sanctioned joy celebrated before God and Man. Celebration, festival, ceremony, rite, or other opportunity for dancing and romancing. Rejoicing, excitement, delight, anticipation, jubilance, exuberance, possible romance, fiery love, exhilaration in physical activity. Enjoyment made possible through stability and security. Prosperity, well-deserved success, good things for deserving people, enjoyment of the fruits of one's labours, basking in the glow of accomplishment, relaxation after effort, completion of an enterprise, harmonious conclusion, peace. Celebrating victories, partnerships, marriages, alliances. The union of desires, bonds and relationships, a successful marriage or partnership, the family as representative of society or civilization, a mingling of family and community. The rewards of a bountiful home in a beautiful setting, a stay in the country, real estate, one's home is one's castle, personal environment, boundaries of one's world.
ALSO: The spark (1) has all the elements (4) needed and is made manifest. Spring cleaning.

REVERSED MEANINGS: Waite: "The meaning remains unaltered; it is prosperity, increase, felicity, beauty, embellishment."
Cancelled gathering, events go other than as planned, nothing to celebrate. Decadence, dissatisfaction with one's life, not counting one's blessings, a desire for more, taking or being taken for granted. Tension, uncertainty, insecurity, need to ground oneself. A tentative success, less dramatic and without the feeling of self-reliance. Stressful working conditions, overwork, job pressures that negatively impact the family. Marital problems, family divisions, breakup of the home or partnership, separation from the community (incarceration?), adversaries on the horizon.
ALSO: Snapping one's Achilles tendon while dancing at one's own wedding.

BIBLICAL: With the voice of a joyful cry and thanksgiving, of a crowd celebrating a festival.--Psalms 42:4
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14
Wedding in Cana. (John 2)
MYTHOLOGICAL: Cadaceus?
HISTORICAL: St. Vitus was a 4th century Sicilian martyr, whose feast day is June 15.
"Vitus is invoked against diseases including epilipsy, nervous disorders, and St. Vitus' Dance (Sydenham's chorea [dancing mania]). He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a collective cult of saints that originated in the 14th-century Rhineland, believed to intercede effectively against various diseases. Vitus is traditionally the patron of dancers and actors.
For obscure reasons, some 16th century Germans believed they could obtain a year's good health by dancing before the statue of Saint Vitus on his feast day. This dancing developed almost into a mania, and was confused with chorea, the nervous condition later known as Saint Vitus' dance, the saint being invoked against it."
http://saintvitus.com/SaintVitus/

ANIMAL: Birds, especially those that dance; i.e. peacocks, cranes, etc.
HERBS: This card reminds me of the mint plant, which grows new plants each year from the same root.
PLANTS: Climbing plants such as ivy.
FLOWERS: Tall-stemmed flowers which need to be tied with their neighbors or to a stick for support. In the RW, roses for life and love; grapes for enjoyment.
LOCATION: Any castle in Europe! But it especially reminds me of Schloss Hallwyl. On the U.S. (FL) side: Kapok Tree (we had our wedding in their garden), Gulfport Casino (where they danced in the film "Cocoon"), Safety Harbor Health Spa, Chipley. Alternately, Vegas, Ibiza, Panama City, Cancun, and that place where Sammy Hagar has his bar. Personally, Daytona, Tarpon Woods, Rocky Point, Jannus Landing, Shepard's on Clearwater Beach on Sunday afternoon.
Interesting that these are all outdoor locations. Indoor locations, none of which exist any longer, include 49th St. Mining Co., Club 19, Dub's, Mako's and Rock-It Club. (Anyone out there remember London Victory?) Also from the past: any Argosy show or party.
TIME/SEASON: summer (June)

MUSIC: "Chapel of Love" by the Dixie Cups
FILM: While I know there are apt films, I can't vouch for any of them. I prefer other genres. One scene that comes to mind, though, is the ending of "Billy Elliott" (?), when his father comes to see him dance.
BOOK: Our wedding album!
PUBLIC PEOPLE OR EVENTS: Munich's Oktoberfest, which started as a royal wedding reception, and became the world's largest (hops) harvest festival.
OCCUPATIONS: special events coordinator, florist, caterer
QUOTES FROM OTHER SOURCES: "It's all good, pop the bubbly, life is lovely. All sun, no rain, no strain . . . can't complain. <Will Smith>
The mystery of life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.--Meditations from Bifrost Eyrie, Buddislamic Text <Frank Herbert>

SITUATIONS IN MY LIFE: Weddings and festivals (esp. our wedding, the Renaissance Festival, the Tschou Tube 2000 party, and dancing in the woods in Italy.)
PERSONAL FEELINGS: I'm anxious to join the party.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS: The main thing is the dancing. Dancing signifies not only joy, ritual and bonding, but also requires a feeling of freedom, a sense of security, and stable ground.
Moveable and immoveable feasts, communal occasions, and all forms of "ritualized joy" have as foundations shared values and traditions and are also opportunities to share values and traditions. This image indicates not only sharing of one's own traditions with one's own people, but also merging with other customs and people, and creating bonds which will shape the values and traditions of the future. The past and future are acknowledged by the present.
Another important element is that these occasions are acknowledged "before God and Man." That's why my man and I got married outdoors, with our family and friends there. Also, I think that most 4Ws (as well as most celebrations) include thankfulness.
PERSON IN MY LIFE: My best friend Nanette; my husband This. Others shall remain nameless. = P

FAVORITE REPRESENTATION: Outdoor versions. Rider Waite.
COMPARISONS TO OTHER DECKS: The Four of Wands has a lot to do with dancing, especially in the Cosmic, Halloween, Navigators, and RW clones. There is also an association with birds in the Cosmic, Thoth and Wheel of Change. Grapes are featured in the Navigators, Miss Cleo, and Ancestral Path. (In fact, some birds get drunk from eating certain berries, and dance around! Some people too.)

ANCESTRAL PATH Four of Staves

This is actually the "honeymoon" card, as the couple shares quiet time with each other. I get a new sense of the four with the fire, as the enjoyment is made possible through the stability and security of the four. From _The Book of Thoth_: "It is within this circle that the flames (four double, as if to assert the balance) of the Energy are seen to play, and there is no intention to increase the scope of the original Will." The couple is perfectly content with the outside world shut out by four walls, the roof upheld by four strong pillars, and their entire world contained within the courtyard--with each other and a table of food and drink. Simple pleasures.

 

NAVIGATORS OF THE MYSTIC SEA Four of Wands

The Four of Wands is branded "delight," and is something of a blend of the more jovial RW versions (Halloween) and the more romantic and secluded Ancestral Path card. While the couple may be dancing, this is not a party. This card is more about delight you find with loved ones, moments of joy, dreams pursued--and realized--together. It's a moment shared any day, not just at weddings, parties, etc.
An example from my personal life should come in the next few weeks, as my husband and I construct our garden "nook" and share a bottle of wine there when it's finished. Coincidentally, it will have four posts.

 

HALLOWEEN Four of Imps

This card is really similar to the RW, at least in how the wands are set up. I love the oak leaves and four pumpkins on the garland. The two pairs of imps are dancing, holding hands and looking into each others' eyes. Definite signs of "possible romance"! For me, this card simply signifies a festival, party, or other opportunity for dancing and romancing.

 

ARTHURIAN Spear Four

This card reminds me exactly of a party I went to, also in Summer 2000. There was a dirt road, woods in the distance, wheat fields, and a roped-off area with a gigantic round party tent right where the round huts are in this image. It was the "Tschou Tube" party, which is a Swiss way of saying "Ciao Taube" which means "goodbye pigeon." So there's another bird connection. As I started walking home at 7 a.m., it had a strong Ace of Pents feeling. But I can also see that reflected here, in the hanging wreath.

voice	alive in the mystery	vision
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This page contains excerpts from my original contributions to an online Tarot discussion. The Comparative Tarot list is made possible by Valerie Sim and Yahoo! groups.
Four of Wands IMHO page created June 11, 2004.
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/minors/wands/w04/w04imho.html