To be happy you must have taken the measure of your powers, tasted the fruits of your passion, and learned your place in the world.
George Santayana

After the wild ride of last week’s Knight, we are now blessed with gifts of goodwill and balance. Welcome this week to our friend, the Four of Wands.

The Tarot’s Fours focus on grounding, order, and stability. And the suit of Wands is ruled by the element of Fire, which indicates passion, action, and magic. When we are able to secure the energetic, creative Wands, a happy, inspired outcome is the result.

As you may recognize, this is one of the cards that artist (and set designer) Pamela Colman Smith created with a long, double horizontal line in the foreground, separating the players and scenery into a backdrop, as in the theatre. So it is as if the Wands were floating in front of a stage, where the actors are playing their roles.

The couple in front is crowned with, and exuberantly waving, flowers. Or maybe those are laurel wreaths of victory. They are followed, or perhaps watched, by a crowd further back. Also in the background, we see the walled citadel.

But this celebration is not sheltered. Everyone is under sunny Skies, outdoors in the fresh, open air.

Mazel Tov!

In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, we see a couple approaching the bower, which very much resembles a Jewish wedding chuppa. Yet it is not covered.

Instead, the four erect Wands are connected by the interwoven flowers and fruit, obvious references to fertility, abundance, beauty, and growth.

When I turned this card over this morning, my instant flash was a heartfelt “Congratulations! Mazel Tov!” to all who might be getting married this week.

Seriously, I would love to know if anyone reading this is planning or participating in a wedding this week. Feel free to post in the comments below. Because this one’s for you.

And even if you are not hearing wedding bells, the Four of Wands blesses any happy celebration of success and moving into a new chapter of life.

There is no hidden agenda here. Instead, we are shown freedom, simplicity, and joy under these golden skies.

Fireworks

This week, we are marking the birthday holidays for two of the world’s great democracies – Canada and the United States. With sexy, feminine planet Venus having just joined super-masculine Mars in regal Leo, no doubt there will be fireworks aplenty!

Annie Heese tells us that when Venus is in Leo, “Love is magnificent and grand. We take pride in love, and we are generous with our money as well. This is a warmhearted, teasing, expressive, proud, and extravagant placement for Venus.”

But our wise friend Lorna Bevan notes:

July starts with a bang, as Mars in Leo is at odds with the ongoing Saturn in Aquarius /Uranus in Taurus square. These are all Fixed signs, so clashes between old and new, traditional and modern and progressive and retrogressive are coming to a head…

With the Martian archetype all over this week’s celestial pattern-making and aligned with the karmic Great Attractor – strapline: “On the wavelength of the voice of God,” what matters is expressing your life force, your libido, your creativity at its highest level, avoiding being caught up yet again in ego-based interpersonal conflict.

The stunning Grand Trine between Mars/Chiron/South Node of Fate is a clear message to stop repeating old self-sabotaging patterns.

Indeed.

And that certainly extends to all ways of expressing love, libido, and creativity!

Look closely and you will see that this is a perfect card for observing Pride, 2021. After the isolation and loneliness that marked the misery of the past year (not to mention, the past 2,000 years of repression and hate), here we have a card that is all about celebration and community support for every sort of coming out.

It’s time, it’s time – let’s leave behind those old walls. Let us stand under the brilliant skies together, and rejoice.

Friends, Family, and Harmony

For the first time in 18 months or more, people are stirring from their hideaways and gathering for the summer holidays. The Four of Wands reminds us that home, family, friendships, and community comprise life’s treasures.

The pandemic is not over, and caution is still critically necessary. Plus, the toxic divisiveness over the Big Lie (and what is feeding it) drags on. But this week the Tarot offers reassurance that these angers, disagreements, and conflicts can be calmed, and even turned to harmony.

Do you long to revel in a happy reunion with souls who truly welcome you with open arms? Who or what may persuade you to come out of your fortress — or closet? They may be family of blood, but for many, they may be our chosen family of kindred spirits. These are the people who, wherever we may be, assure us that we are home.

What beauty and abundance would you like to celebrate and share with those dearest to you? What rites or vows are you longing to make, under the wide open skies, for all to see?

The Four of Wands offers guidance that when we are able to ground the influences of fiery Wands, physical manifestation follows. When the fertility in the life force of Wands grows roots, it becomes joy shared.

As we have all now crossed the Solstice threshold into this sacred time of the year, may the fruits of your passion and your place in the world be blessed.