The 4 of Wands in Tarot
Card description:
The Four of Wands shows us two people with a joyful and festive attitude, dancing under a flowered garland stretched over four tall wands or poles, firmly planted in the ground, symbolizing great stability and solidity.
This is a clearly festive image and celebrates any kind of achievement, the fullness and joy of reaching a goal, such as a wedding, a return home after a victory, or a family celebration.
There are other people in the scene, taking part in the festivities, and it is suggested that inside the castle, in the background, the party continues.
The Four of Wands upright:
General Meaning
The Four of Wands is a very positive card that frames any happy situation in life. It’s a time of celebration and joy, of people coming together, of family harmony.
Everyone is happy with what’s happening at the moment. Even in a more symbolic sense, this card could be the arrival of extraordinary and long-awaited news in your life.
There’s a lot of stability here, as seen in the solid poles supporting the structure. A really stable and blissful time has come into your life, or is about to arrive soon.
The bad times or painful situations are in the past, and now a period of happiness lies before you, with lots of harmony and positive vibes, along with a deep sense of peace and calm.
The effort you’ve put in has been intense, and you’ve faced tough challenges. This can apply to many things: finishing a course or degree, celebrating a wedding after a long period of loneliness or heartache, overcoming family issues, or tackling work or money problems.
All of that is behind you now, as The Four of Wands predicts a very happy and peaceful time ahead. It’s one of the most positive cards in the entire deck. It’s also a card of groups. There are gatherings here, and it may announce good times spent with family or friends, getting together to celebrate life and the joy of being together, both now and in the past.
At some point, it can even be a sign of rest and leisure time, of enjoying a well-deserved vacation, where you reconnect with friends or spend time with family after a while apart.
On its own, The Four of Wands is a clear announcement of weddings, conceiving a child, births—events that could be yours or those of others. It could be your child’s birth or that of a distant cousin, your wedding or theirs, or some kind of celebration like graduating or getting a job promotion—anything that calls for a special celebration.
When The Four of Wands is paired with similar cards, like the Two of Cups (wedding) or The Empress (motherhood, birth), these events are almost a certainty. It could even be as simple as an invitation to attend a party.
Similarly, if you’ve been working hard, striving toward your project, you’ve reached a very positive conclusion, and this could mark your life from here on. It’s the achievement, the realization, the happy culmination of any idea, project, business, or task you’ve been putting time and effort into.
The Four of Wands has a strong connection to family and home, so these events could occur within your family, involving those you love. In a very literal sense, it might represent buying a new home, renovating your current home, or helping your parents or children with their homes.
In some cases, it could signify a move, change of residence, or relocation. Everything happens in an atmosphere of peace and happiness.
It’s a great moment to make peace with everyone, especially those you care about most. Grudges and disputes are set aside, communication flows, and a new opportunity arises for everyone involved.
Without a doubt, this is a card that fills you with enthusiasm and optimism, especially if you’ve been through rough times or hardships. You understand that these moments aren’t constant in life; most of the time is spent in struggle and difficulty, so you should enjoy this celebration that’s now in front of you. Be proud of whatever you’ve achieved, whether it’s material, emotional, or intellectual. One phase has ended, and another has begun. Enjoy it!
In love
The Four of Wands is a strong indication of weddings and commitments, of births, whether it’s directly related to you or involves celebrating others. If you’re dating, there’s likely a commitment or marriage on the horizon. If you’re already in a committed relationship, the bond and happiness increase. It could be an anniversary celebration for the time you’ve been together.
If you’re single, love is on the way with a happy and committed relationship, and it’s likely this encounter will happen during parties or events, so go to as many as you can!
In work
The Four of Wands indicates an excellent time of achievement, of reaching a goal. Things are probably going well at work, but still, don’t take this initial success for granted or assume that everything will go smoothly from here on out.
Yes, you’ve earned your success and maybe some praise (and perhaps a little fun and some time off too), but don’t forget that you’ll need to keep working hard to stay on top and keep growing. If you’re job hunting, you’ll find a job—tough times are over.
In money matters
The Four of Wands shows achievement and celebration. Your money increases, and your finances improve, but this is due to hard work and effort, not winning the lottery. Everything comes as a reward for your dedication and persistence. If you’re running a business, planning investments, or expanding, everything looks favorable with great returns, so move forward without fear.
In health
The Four of Wands can indicate that the test results or treatments you’ve been waiting for come with extremely favorable news, and everything is a reason to celebrate. Your health is good, and in some way, this is a reason to celebrate life, to show gratitude for your well-being, your physical abilities, and your mental faculties. It’s a perfect time to quit bad habits and addictions.
In spirituality
The Four of Wands shows a communion of spiritual ideas with your surroundings, whether it’s your family or social groups. If someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs, don’t worry. Everyone is entitled to their own path. There’s a deep sense of connection with others and the certainty and relief of knowing that you have support and assistance.
The Four of Wands reversed
General Meaning
In the reversed position, The Four of Wands clearly indicates problems at home. Harmony is missing, and communication between family members is failing or has disappeared.
There are obvious tensions, with everyone vying for their own space and rights, ignoring each other’s views. It may also mean that you’re just an observer of the situation but still receiving all the problems and concerns of others.
This is a time of insecurity in how you relate to others and your surroundings because you’re unsure of how much influence you have, how much is within your control to fix, and how much depends on others.
Usually, this card appears when a home or family is going through some kind of change, whether financial, emotional, health-related, or even moving house, leaving a beloved old home for a new one, a job change, or relocation—all the things that disrupt the family’s comfort zone, causing tension and stress.
Sometimes this tension is caused by third parties, people outside the family or distant family members who interfere, offer opinions, or stir up trouble. Likewise, there can be external factors threatening the integrity of the home, such as the possibility of job loss, travel or relocation, or an undesirable neighbor moving in next door.
There may be moments when this tension eases and seems to disappear, covered up by other things that create a false sense of harmony, but the underlying problems remain. Now, instability and insecurity are running the show.
While upright, this card heralds weddings, celebrations, or births, The Four of Wands reversed doesn’t mean the opposite—it’s not about a wedding being canceled, a marriage breaking up, or a birth that doesn’t happen. Rather, it’s about the lack of occasions and reasons to celebrate. Good news isn’t arriving, and everything feels tense and uncertain. You just have to go along with the situation until things find a way to settle down, the pressure eases, and everyone calms down.
In love
The Four of Wands suggests delays, setbacks, and waiting for those hoping to formalize a relationship or wedding, start a family, or have children. Similarly, there may be a lack of commitment on the other person’s part.
They might love the relationship and love you, but without taking things to the next level or making significant changes. They want the relationship but aren’t looking too far ahead, likely due to internal fears of commitment or emotional pain, especially if they’ve experienced negative or painful situations in the past.
In work
The Four of Wands tells you that more effort is needed to achieve your goals. You may face moments of tension, whether due to job instability or poor communication with the people around you.
Try to remain balanced and avoid getting involved in disputes or becoming the silent reservoir for others’ problems. There might be some delays in promotions, salary increases, or transfers—whether to other cities or departments within the same company.
Delays may also arise if you’re unemployed and job hunting. Success will come if you keep putting in the effort. Stay calm and be patient.
In money
The Four of Wands tells you that you’ve been working hard to build financial security, stability, and peace of mind, but your efforts, as good and positive as they are, aren’t yielding the results you expected. This situation is usually due to external influences, not your actions or how you’re doing things.
It’s time to wait, keep working, and wait for things to stabilize. Remember that in today’s complicated world, it’s rare to reach absolute financial security. With that in mind, keep working, doing your best, and always considering that external factors can have a big impact.
In health
The Four of Wands may indicate significant stress and exhaustion, as instability and insecurity surround you, and you find few ways to cope with or solve these problems.
Sometimes it’s within your control, and other times it’s not—you need to recognize the difference. Rest, take things calmly, influence what you can, and wait for others to do the same so harmony can return.
At its darkest, this card could indicate delays and setbacks in medical tests or treatments, as well as some less positive news.
In spirituality
With The Four of Wands reversed, it’s possible that others don’t understand or even oppose the spiritual path you’re following or exploring. This may affect you, but remember that everyone has the right to pursue their own path, whether others like it or not.
It’s an ideal time to practice meditation or yoga to ease the emotional burden you’re carrying and try to regain your center, even if only for brief moments. This will always lead to growth, and you’ll see results in the near future.
