Category: 4 Of Wands

The Positive Power of the Fours

5/4/2017

In tarot everything can mean something. Most readers understand that the suits all have a specific energy. Likewise, so do the numbers. If you are like me, some numbers are easier to get than others. Fours have always been easy for me. A four-legged chair is more stable than a three-legged stool. Stability, security, and safety are associated with the number four. It's negative extreme is stagnation.

In our fast-paced world, we are more apt to keep the screen moving, keep scrolling, keep breathing in more and more information than we are to pause, to dive deeply, to process.

Because of this, it might be good to consider the positive advice that we can find in the 4s.

All the images used are from the Llewellyn's Classic Tarot, illustrated by Eugene Smith.

It is featured in a kit with my new book, Your Tarot Your Way. Clicking on the image will take you to Amazon via my affiliate link.

The number four is not just about stability or stagnation. It is also about stopping the flow of energy. Energy stopped for too long leads to stagnation. But in a world where energy is encouraged to move at a frenetic rate, I don't think we will hurt anything by slowing down a little. In fact, just the opposite. There are great benefits to slowing down.

4 of Wands

We have access to so much information on how to be more productive each day and how to achieve more of our goals than ever before. Getting things done and manifesting our ideas is so fulfilling. This is what the suit of Wands is all about: our projects and our passions.

While we are getting more things done than ever before, it would seem that we would be celebrating more than ever. Or are we so focus on the next task that we forget to celebrate our achievements?

When the energy of Wands stands still for a moment, look at the beautiful experience it creates. Make sure you stop to reward yourself or a loved for a job well done.

4 of Cups

When readers see this card, the first reaction is usually: oh, you are bored and dissatisfied with what you have and you should take the gift that is right under your nose. In a reading, sure, that's a great way to interpret this card.

As a life lesson, we might see it differently. Instead of grabbing your favorite pacifier, pause and acknowledge your emotions. Name them without judgment. Allow yourself to feel them.

When we have things we don't want to deal with, it is tempting to look for distractions to avoid processing our less pleasurable emotions. Ignoring them means they stick around and fester, and that's even less pleasurable.

4 of Swords

Our phones are wonderful, aren't they? I love mine a lot, particularly listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Since I am not on social media, this is a major way I feed my need to take in information. Others may use news feeds, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Having so much information in our pockets 24/7 is such a gift. It can also be a huge burden. We have to consumer so much media (regular or social) just to keep up.

We don't always remember to allow time to digest what we've consumed. Take a lesson from this card and give yourself time to reflect on what you've read or watched. Roll it around in your head, explore all the implications, or even journal about it.

4 of Pentacles

This card is almost always seen as negative, as a hoarder or selfish person. A positive aspect is "saving for a rainy day."

It's true that the energy of the Pentacles can be prone to stagnation. We should remember this and remember that very often our non-physical experiences can energetically lodge in our bodies. It can be very illuminating to pause and scan your body. You might find that you're holding onto an emotional experience from yesterday or harboring anxiety about a meeting tomorrow.

It's easy to ignore the small (or even large) messages from the body. Take an aspirin or whatever. Instead, honor the messages and deal with the cause.

A Blessing from the Fours

May you take the time to celebrate your achievements.
May you acknowledge and honor your emotions.
May you allow your mind time to integrate ideas.
May you listen to the wisdom of your body.

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May You Celebrate More

1/2/2017

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The 4 of Wands from the Steampunk Tarot.

Like many people, James Clear does an annual review at the end of the year, which he sends out to everyone on his email list. You can read his full review HERE.

He has catagories:

What went well this year?
What didn't go so well?
What am I working toward?

I noticed in his "didn't go so well" section one point that I faced in 2015. Seeing it on his list made me think perhaps it is more common than I thought, which made me want to share with you.

As you probably know, I write a lot. Each year I recieve several contracts for publication or for teaching. One day (this was back in 2015), I was telling Lisa about how I love it when my authors (the ones I contract to write for Llewellyn) are so excited to get their contracts and to hear how they celebrate. I said something about how we don't celebrate my contracts because they've become "my job." Then we realized that that is a bunch of crap and that we should celebrate each and every opportunity for the awesome blessing that it is. So now we do because why not?

James Clear notes that despite all the lovely accomplishments, large and small, that he didn't celebrate them. Instead he acted humble and moved on to the next goal. But by doing so, he was not only not honoring the achievement but also depriving his loved ones an opportunity to be part of his life in a really wonderful way.

My blessing for you today is that you celebrate your accomplishments, large and small, and that you help those you love celebrate theirs, every day all year long.

Love,
Barbara

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The Positive Power of the Fours

May You Celebrate More

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