Four of Wands

After the victories of the Two of Wands or the travels of the Three, the Four of Wands represents a homecoming: a celebration of the gains and strides you have made so far.

Your previous labors will now bear fruit. This will manifest through material gains, a better and more grounded version of yourself, or quite possibly both.

This is not merely a card of celebration; it is the ultimate 'social card'. It denotes a time for family, recuperating in familiar surroundings, or traveling with your closest companions.

It is also a time for making gains closer to home: strengthening existing relationships or forging new ones.

There may be a sense that you have transformed yourself to reach this point, perhaps moving up the social hierarchy through success or recognition. You will now be making inroads into a new circle of acquaintances and friends, especially within your career.

In any case, this card’s main message is celebration. In myth, there was one circle of people who truly knew how to celebrate.

The Maenads

The Maenads were adult women who followed the god Dionysus. They would dance into an intoxicated frenzy, inducing an ecstatic state of mind that brought them closer to the divine. Within this state, the Maenads were said to possess massive strength (myth tells us a few unfortunate characters were torn to pieces by them) and the gift of prophecy.

There was also an abundance of passionate love involved: Venus in Aries.

The cult of Dionysus was widespread in Ancient Greece. Customs varied by region, but the Maenads remained a common theme. They first appear in myth as nymphs, but are later referred to as mortal followers of the god.

Such women may have joined together to perform the rites as celebrations of life, away from cities and within nature, and return to their normal lives afterward. There were also a few permanent Maenads (there is evidence it was a profession or title).

The cult of Dionysus is ancient, likely possessing roots in prehistory. A central part of the rite was the drinking of undiluted wine (or, in earlier times, mead) with the express aim of intoxication. This is significantly different from the standard practice of mixing wine with water to avoid drunkenness, as seen in the Temperance card.

Dionysus is said to have given mortals wine because, as a twice-born (resurrected) god, he knew what it was to die. He took pity on our short, hard lives. Wine gives us something to enjoy, making the difficult parts seem a little easier. Revelry provides a profound release.

Description and Symbology

We see a group of Maenads engaged in dance beneath a structure with four posts. This represents the four corners of the home, or perhaps an altar to Dionysus himself (fitting, given that the god of festivities was said to be present at every good gathering).

The canopy is decked with garlands of flowers, representing fertility, growth, and the celebration of existence. Below these garlands, the Maenads dance in pure, ecstatic joy.

The Four Wands and Garlands

The four wands form the four corners of a structure, representing the 4 corners of the home or alter.

The structure is topped with flowers, representing fertility, growth, and celebration of life.

The Maenads

Below the garlands we see the Maenads dancing in a celebration of life.

Tips for Readings

The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.

Upright

Reversed

Love

A cause for celebration in relationships. A new relationship, engagement, anniversary, or wedding.

It can also symbolize a period of happiness within the relationship, causing stronger bonds.

Outside of family, now is a good time to suggest a reunion or catch-up or get-together with your wider social circle.

For the single person, the card suggests a new relationship may occur through social events.

Although this card still denotes success through promotion or prosperity, it may be occurring at the expense of the family or close social circle.

The person may be failing to appreciate their close group, taking them for granted, or simply assuming ‘they will always be there’.

Continuing to neglect your close social world may not have immediate repercussions, but it will in the longer term. Some reassessment of what is important may be in order.

Career

This card signifies the completion of a major project or milestones within a career. This may have occurred through solid teamwork or support from your social network.

It also points to a greater balance between career and more personal matters, and especially a work-life balance.

This card denotes success at the expense of your social ties within the workplace or wider family.

You may be driven at the expense of feelings of your co-workers, or are taking a competitive or charged work atmosphere home.

Success may be propelling you into new social circles, and you may be guilty of discarding your old circle for no good reason.

Your success will continue in the short term, but may unravel with time unless you either choose your priorities carefully or keep a better work-life balance.

Health

A positive period of health caused by a sense of happiness and a contented home or social life.

It may point to a period of rejuvenation at home after completing a major task or returning home after a journey.

You may be seeing success in other areas of your life, but it is coming at the expense of your health.

The card suggests considering your work-life balance.

Spiritual

Denotes a sense of fulfillment in life. This may increase by engaging in communal aspects, such as attending congregations or social events you might otherwise avoid.

You may be having material success in your life, but it is coming at the expense of your social life and specifically your close family and close friends.

Make sure you are not losing your support systems in the pursuit of material or career goals. You may be assuming they will always be there (which may be true) but you may find them far weaker later when you have to rely on them.

Wealth

Previous hard work will soon pay off and be a cause for celebration. Solid gains, a windfall or simply greater prosperity is finally coming your way.

Previous hard work will soon pay off, but you may have neglected close family and friends in the process.

This is a time for personal celebration but don’t forget the people who got you there in any celebration, especially friends and family, and make routes towards them.

Yes/No

Yes, through teamwork and support within your social network.

Yes, but make sure you are considering close family and your social circle in your question. The card suggests some level of neglect or taking them for granted.

Reading the Card

Both the Upright and Reversed cards represent an event that is cause for celebration. How you achieved this success, and how you view it in relation to your family and social circle, is determined by the card's orientation.

The Upright Card

The Upright Four of Wands represents harmony and stability within your family and close social circles.

It denotes the fruits of previous success being used to create happiness in your social life. This positive effect will ripple throughout your relationship, the wider family, and close friends.

The card can suggest a period of rest within familiar surroundings after time away, or after completing a long project. It can also signify a getaway with your significant other.

It frequently points to a positive family or social event, such as an engagement, wedding, or birth. If your question concerns any of these milestones, this is a highly auspicious card.

The Reversal

The Reversed card is unusual in that it does not negate the successful outcome. Instead, it suggests you are prioritizing your success (and the cause behind it) above your family and friends.

Although your success remains intact, you may be taking your family and friends for granted, treating them as secondary. The card warns that this route is unsustainable. It will ultimately leave you unhappy and rootless.

You may be miscalculating the extent of your success, simply wanting more at the expense of everything else. This is a dangerous situation. You may burn out down the line, finding you have nobody left to support you when it happens.

Card Design Process

Although the Four of Wands is commonly thought to depict a man and a woman, the original Rider-Waite-Smith deck actually shows two women. This prompted research into women-only celebrations, leading to two distinct options: the Thesmophoria festival and the Maenads.

The Maenads were chosen as they specifically embodied a fierce, ecstatic 'celebration of life' ritual.