The card of celebration, harmony, and stability.
Last Updated: April 16, 2024.
The Four of Wands is the fourth card in the suit of Wands (also known as the suit of Rods or Staffs) and one of the fifty-six suit cards from the minor arcana. In divinatory tarot, the Suit of Wands is associated with the element of fire and traditionally signifies creativity, inspiration, ambition, determination and willpower. Each card of this suit represents aspects of our lives such as career, travel and spirituality.
Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.
The Four of Wands is a fabulously positive card that is linked to a celebration, more specifically with your family and those closest to you, and it’s a card that welcomes success. There is a lot of significant importance surrounding the celebration that’s happening when this card appears, so it’s very much an exciting time to be enjoyed. This card is all about feeling stable, secure, supported, and connected with those around you. Plus its appearance in a spread usually brings reassurance!
In this article, we will discuss the meanings of the Four of Wands in various tarot reading contexts as well as the different symbols and nuances that can be found within this court card.
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Pictorial Symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck
The artworks from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck contain deeper esoteric meanings that tarotists love to decipher.
The Four of Wands is represented by 4 large wands forming a canopy entwined with plants, leaves, and flowers. Beneath them, 2 people dance happily together, they too hold onto flowers and seem full of joy. In the background, we can see a gathering, perhaps a family, all standing in front of a large, towering castle. This represents the coming together, enjoyment, flourishing energy, family time, and celebrating with those closest to you at home.
The Four of Wands key correspondences
Upright keywords | Celebration, happy family, joy, community, success, teamwork, stability, security, self-esteem |
Reversed keywords | Cancelled celebrations, unhappy family, lack of support, feeling unwanted, not fitting in, lack of self-esteem, and instability. |
Yes or No | Yes |
Numerology | 4 |
Element | Fire |
Ruling Planet | Jupiter, Mars, Venus |
Astrological Sign | Aries, April 11th to April 20th |
Associated Deities | Dionysus, Bacchus, Pan, Baubo, Bastet, Sekhmet, Ares, Mars, Aphrodite, Venus |
What does the upright Four of Wands mean in the Tarot?
Oh, what a time of celebration this is, indeed! Right now, you will be full of joy, confidence, and loving life for all that it’s worth! You’re potentially reaching some milestones and celebrating with those closest to you, such as your friends and family, so you may have returned home to bask in the joys with your nearest and dearest – and because of this you are feeling incredibly supported.
You should be proud of all you’ve achieved so far, it’s all because of the hard work you put in in the first place! You’ve earned this feeling.
When pulled in the upright position, the Four of Wands is associated with celebration, a happy family, joy, community, success, teamwork, stability, security, and self-esteem.
What does the upright Four of Wands mean in a love reading
If you’re in a relationship, then the appearance of this Four is typically a great omen! It can suggest that you’re settling down within your relationship, the two of you are setting down your roots, and your family life is full of joy right now.
With this card being one of the celebration cards, it could also possibly mean that there’s a wedding on the horizon! Have you been wondering if your partner is going to propose? This is definitely a good omen if so!
If you’re single, then the appearance of this card suggests that you’ll be enjoying all that being single has to offer! Party, party, party! You’ll be embracing being single and actually enjoying it too.
What does the upright Four of Wands mean in a career reading?
It seems you’re thoroughly enjoying your job at the moment. Your work, the environment, and even the colleagues you work with are making you feel happy and secure. You feel supported with where you are now, and things are looking to remain positive in the workplace for the time being at the very least!
This is not to say that it’s a short-lived period, but wands are renowned for their speed. This can be a reminder to enjoy what you have right now.
The Four of Wands as feelings/emotions
If you are asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling the Four of Wands suggests that this person feels so incredibly loved and supported by you as an individual. You make them feel comforted and happy, and they can very much picture you being in their future – in one form or another (romantically or otherwise).
They wish to be close to you and experience life and all of its glory with you, wanting to be present in your life to do all of the celebrating that will be along the way. This person sees a lot of potential with you, and they feel strongly about the connection you already have and what it very much could become.
This is a positive omen overall when wondering if someone feels positive about you – because this is very much a ‘yes’ in that circumstance!
The Four of Wands as a person
s a personality archetype, the Four of Wands represents someone that’s ever the optimist. Life is wonderful, life is great, and life must be celebrated! With this person, there is any reason for a party!
A smile will never be far from their face as they truly appreciate everything they have and very much understand the importance of it. They don’t go about life being ungrateful, or just expecting things, or taking them for granted…this is someone that knows the true cost of things, and it makes them just that little bit more grateful.
They appreciate what they have, and what they’ve been given, and truly look forward to what they will receive in the coming future. They will be a social animal, enjoying the vast company of others, and will very much be known for arranging parties, get-togethers, and celebrations of all kinds. They enjoy the party life just as much as they love and appreciate their home life too – they truly embody that level of balance and teamwork for happiness.
The Four of Wands as advice
Being one of the minor arcana’s celebration cards, this Four is advising you to do just that, celebrate! Turn to your family, your nearest and dearest, be open, communicate, be social, and bask in all of your accomplishments thus far.
If you’re worried about the journey ahead, then take this as a token that you have already done great things to get this far, and you can very much do it again. So take a time to pause and enjoy the moment, put your mind at ease by realising just how far you’ve come, and then plan your next step with that positive mindset once again.
What is the zodiac or astrological sign associated with the Four of Wands?
The card falls within the third decan of Aries, April 11th to April 20th, and is ruled by Mars (Aries natural ruler), Venus in Aries and has influences of Jupiter due to its generosity and benevolence associated with the card themes. This is where Aphrodite (Venus) combines with Mars’s energy perfectly.
Is the Four of Wands a yes or no card?
The Four of Wands is very much a ‘yes’ card out of the minor arcana! This card is all about celebration, basking in the greatness life has to offer, and enjoying the fruits of your labour, so it’s generally a very positive card to receive – all in all, it predicts success! So if it’s a yes you’re after, it’s a yes you’re being given!
Below are some of my interpretations, as an experienced tarot practitioner, based on different types of questions:
Querent question: “Will I get the job?”
Card interpretation: A new job could very much be seen as reaching a new milestone in our life, whether this means a promotion or moving onto a completely new job altogether – it looks to be on the cards for you! You’ll be celebrating this personal victory, and this Four is typically a good omen for career-related questions. So whatever’s on the horizon, it’s looking immensely promising and positive for you! Success follows this Four, so if you’re looking for success in landing a job, it’s coming!
Querent question: “Is this new person in my life good for me?”
Card interpretation: This is more than likely going to be someone that brings the ‘group’ together. Unity follows these individuals wherever they go, and they do so successfully. But this is also someone that welcomes that success with open arms, wants to engage with their community, and wants to make sure everyone is enjoying and embracing their successes! This is most likely to be someone that actively implores you to figuratively stop and smell the flowers, to pause and reflect, to celebrate just how far you’ve come. This person will be good for you in this sense, as so many of us just race ahead, giving ourselves hard times about just how much work/progress we have left to make, we rarely stop to pat our own backs – this person will make you focus on that! They’ll make you stop and celebrate YOU. And, quite frankly, you deserve to be celebrated.
Querent question: “Will I achieve my current goals?”
Card interpretation: You’ll be looking to celebrate achieving what you set out to do before too long, so yes! You’re on the right path to achieving just what it is that you’re after – so prepare yourself to be celebrating milestone after milestone, you’re doing grand on this venture of yours!
Querent question: “Should I start my own business?”
Card interpretation: The Four of Wands typically favours new ventures, including business and career-related ones, so…yes! If your heart genuinely lies within the realm of “ah, I truly wish to start my own business doing this” then go for it, honeybee! This Four indicate that success will be met on this path of yours – it will be hard work, and it won’t necessarily be void of challenge, but nothing worth chasing after is ever easy, remember that.
What does the reversed Four of Wands mean in the Tarot?
Right now, it seems as though your self-esteem has taken a hit and you’re feeling pretty low. Your family life may not be that great, and times and events of celebration are potentially being cancelled. You don’t feel at ease or supported in your environment, so you have no idea where you currently sit with others or even fit in.
The support network around you is lacking, and you’re finding no comfort, help, or sense of ‘community’ at all.
When pulled in the reversed position, the Four of Wands is linked with cancelled celebrations, unhappy family, lack of support, feeling unwanted, not fitting in, lack of self-esteem, and instability.
What does the reversed Four of Wands mean in a love reading?
If you’re in a relationship, then this Four isn’t the most supportive card to receive, unfortunately. There’s a lack of balance or peace between you and your partner currently, home and family life isn’t that great, and the two of you may be facing issues of agreeing on things or even having the ability to simply compromise and meet in the middle.
You are both on two different pages of two very different books, and this is potentially bringing a lot of conflict to your relationship. If you’re single, then the appearance of this Four is suggesting that you aren’t truly being able to love and embrace the single life right now. Are you having issues with knowing where you fit in?
Perhaps you expected more from being single, such as living your best party and socialite life, and perhaps that isn’t happening right now, or plans have been falling through. What you can focus on is getting back to stability and building a little success, a little win, to get you back on track.
What does the inverted Four of Wands mean in a career reading?
Things at work aren’t looking the best right now, whether this means directly for you, or in a general sense for the entire workplace! Have you been having issues with any colleagues, is everyone seemingly miserable right now, and you’re having issue bonding and connecting with those around you?
Have you been clashing with some personalities at you place of work, and this is leading you to feel really uncomfortable about matters, but also as if you have very little support there at all? Let’s take some time to assess whether this is what you want to build your life with, and if not – how to make the change necessary.
See what the other cards supporting this one have to offer you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 4 of Wands tarot card is a powerful symbol of celebration, a happy family, joy, community, success, teamwork, stability, security, and self-esteem. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you have achieved success and are in a good place. It is also a reminder to enjoy the moment, appreciate your hard work, and take pride in your accomplishments. With this card’s energy, you can move forward feeling motivated, inspired, and supported by those around you.
Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot practitioners, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.
The 56 lesser arcana cards relate to the day-to-day events of our lives, the more mundane aspects of our existence. Even though that part of the tarot is about the “smaller picture”, it symbolizes theconstant choices we make that shape our lives, our characters, and ultimately our destinies.
Have you ever had a reading where the Four Of Wands appeared? What was the outcome? What does that card mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice?
Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below. Additionally, If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out my completelist of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.
Written by Amy
Outside the weird and wonderful world of my craft, I like to cosplay and fully dive into the fantasy genre across all forms, from books to video games and everything in between.
Learn more about the Suit of Wands
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