Let’s talk about the Fours in Tarot

Happy Tuesday! Ready for another journey through the tarot deck? 

This week, we’re unraveling the mysteries of the number 4. Dive in with us to discover how stability and structure play a role in your readings.

About the Number Four

The number 4 is a symbol of stability, structure and foundation in different spiritual and cultural contexts. It stands for the solid and unchanging parts of life, like the four corners of a square or the four legs of a table.

This numeral represents basic tenets that underlie both everyday and religious aspects of life such as the four elements, which are considered as fundamental to the physical universe’s creation. Moreover, it corresponds with the four cardinal points indicating wholeness and holistic vision of the world.

Four is seen as a sign of orderliness, reliability and discipline in spiritual traditions.

It depicts the orderly nature of the universe as well as how time flows through natural cycles such as the four seasons occurring every year, and lunar phases. For instance, in Christianity it is associated with four evangelists and also having four living creatures in Revelation. Native Americans respect this number because it symbolizes sacred directions or periods of life.

On other occasions this numeral has been treated carefully by cultures like Chinese since its pronunciation closely sounds similar to “death.” However, the number four serves as a strong emblem of integration or harmony, hence prompting people to lay good foundations, be accountable individuals and accept that all things are connected within this physical realm.

The Four of Wands

The four of wands represents joy and communal harmony often played out in events like weddings or homecomings.
It encourages you to recognize and celebrate your achievements, thereby promoting unity among people.

The four of wands prompts you to take a moment to count your blessings and appreciate positive relationships by reminding us that it is important to have a community and be happy together with others around us.

Whether it’s a personal achievement, a happy relationship, or the joy of a community gathering, this card encourages you to embrace the happiness around you. Pause and relish the rewards. Consider planning a gathering with loved ones or simply basking in the comfort of your current surroundings. Cherish moments of joy and connection.

The reversed four wands demonstrates the cessation of festivities or the delay in attaining agreement within one’s home or community.

Whereas the upright card signifies happy occasions and steadiness, its reversed position implies some potential tensions, conflicts or delays in generating an environment that would be harmonious.

This card urges you to deal with any hidden insecurities preventing or stunting the realization of festive moments.

Reversed four of wands suggests examining relationships and dynamics at home through transparent communication which will help in restoring balance and hence allowing for joyful gatherings.

The Four of Swords

The Four of Swords denotes a period for rest, rejuvenation and reflection.

This card indicates that you might need time away from things to clear your mind and recharge your batteries, so a mental break or retreat could be necessary.

To enable yourself to think and heal, the card implores you to pull back from the everyday hustle and to put yourself first. When it comes to taking care of yourself, mentally recharging before making decisions is essential.

When reversed, the Four of Swords means that one is ready to come out of a period of sleep, contemplation or healing.

After a period of rest we are filled with power and ready to tackle the world again, but do this in a meaningful way. By considering what happened during your time off, this card tells you to slowly reintegrate yourself into daily life.

It also suggests that one has regained their vitality or gained clarity after going through some changes in health. As well as returning back into action, it’s a good idea to begin engaging with people, rather than going it alone and risking burnout.

When shown in reverse, the four of swords tells you that it’s time for fresh looks on different situations, start taking challenges head-on again but remember to be kind and patient with your progress.

The Four of Cups

When the Four of Cups appears in a tarot reading, it denotes meditation, self-observation, and a passing aloofness to external incentives.

If you get this card in your reading, know that your mind has been excessively occupied with earthly matters which are not necessary.

It can represent a feeling of stagnation and a longing for something more significant.

This card is all about looking into yourself again and finding out where your priorities lie. Focus on being open-minded to greater fulfillment and deeper happiness, which may come more easily than you expect.

The Four of Cups reversed means one thing: there has been a change in mindset leading towards new opportunities ahead.

Reversed status on this card typically shows an individual considering what to do next after being uninterested or dispassionate.

This card suggests that there might be undiscovered blessings or interesting moments. Remain open to any possibility for unexpectedly good things happening.

Four of cups reversed advises indulging in life experiences rather than sitting back comfortably, expecting the universe to just give everything.

The Four of Pentacles

The Four of Pentacles represents a tendency to stick rigidly to material possessions or emotional safety.

It stands for dread of changing things or having them taken away, causing one to adopt a defensive posture, which in turn hinders growth, impede progress and limits potential.

Aim to strike a balance between financial security and being willing to take calculated chances so as not to restrict your future prospects in life.

The Four of Pentacles acts as a reminder that real prosperity comes from giving and receiving in harmony; therefore, it calls on you to change your perspective and trust the transformations born out of letting go of limitations.

Reversed, this card indicates the abandonment of possessiveness through control over personal belongings or fear of change.

This card signifies an increasing openness toward abundance and an end to possessiveness. It embodies one about to becoming more flexible and generous with respect to wealth, relationships and resources.

You will need to let go of any fears or worries relating scarcity so as have an easier experience with abundance by moving freely within it rather than being limited by it. Imagine you are water filling a vessel, seamlessly flowing and adjusting to the shape of its container. The process is smooth, without disturbance, as each droplet finds its place.

Further Reading

Below are some books on amazon that discuss tarot and numerology in more detail:

• The angel numbers book by Mystic Michaela
• The little book of numerology by Elise Wild
• Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean 
• Origins of the Tarot: A Guidebook to the Ancestral Influences that Shaped the Tarot’s Minor Arcana by Benjamin David Hoshour

Here are the other posts within this blog discussing tarot meanings.

• Aces in Tarot
• Twos in Tarot
• Threes in Tarot
• Fours in Tarot
• Fives in Tarot
• Sixes in Tarot
• Sevens in Tarot
• Eights in Tarot
• Nines in Tarot
• Tens in Tarot
• Princes in Tarot
• Princesses in Tarot
• Queens in Tarot
• Kings in Tarot