A prominence of fours in a spread suggests a time to lay foundations for future success. Now is a period to organize your business affairs and structuring your life. You may be faced with important decisions that require careful deliberation. There is a possibility of an illness or a need for rest and recuperation.
When Fours predominate, you would do well to pay attention to details, exercise self-discipline, and approach life in an organized, systematic fashion. Major life changes should be taken only after careful deliberation.
People: Vacationers, happy or contented people, homebuyers, those involved with serving at social events like a bar mitzvah, et cetera.
Situation & Advice: The Four of Wands is a positive, happy card depicting a time for rest and reward after a laborious task. An enterprise has reached a successful stage of development and it is time to celebrate this achievement. The roots you have laid are secure. You may be thinking about buying a house and putting down roots. A creative task is going well. You can enjoy the initial fruits of your labors before beginning a new round of work when the holiday is over. The Four of Wands may signify a special ceremony or celebration that marks a rite of passage, i.e., the achievement of one stage of development and embarking on a new one.
In relationship questions, this card symbolizes the foundation of a committed and positive relationship and is one of the cards that traditionally signifies marriage. Your home life is content, your garden is growing, and your children are developing their own talents. The foundations of a good life and stable conditions at home or work are evident here.
(-) Inhibition, criticism, insecurity, poor service, disappointment, intolerance, narrow-mindedness, holding back restriction, disapproval, problems with property, dissolution of a partnership.
People: Inhibited people, those who provide poor service.
Situation & Advice: Even in its reversed position the Four of Wands is a generally positive card but there is a greater price to pay for success. A time of rest and reward for hard work is at hand. You are learning to appreciate the little joys of life, such as the first blossom of spring, the first step a baby makes, a breath of fresh air, and the final payment on your mortgage. There are blessings in your life you often see but sometimes don't notice. It is time to give a little thanks for what you do have, no matter how big or small.
The Four of Wands reversed however may represent some form of obstacle or restraint that you need to overcome. Or possibly some problems with property you own. If you are planning a social event, the service may be poor or the arrangements may not work out as well as you had hoped. You will need to expend more effort to achieve your desired goal.
People: Someone who is dissatisfied or must re-evaluate matters, hermits, recluses.
Situation & Advice: You may have withdrawn into yourself because of discontent with some aspect of your life. You have a sense of boredom or anticlimax. The honeymoon is over. Everything seems stale and unsatisfying. This is a time of needed reassessment. The danger of this position is that you do not see the good that surrounds you. In your withdrawn state you may reject help that is being offered. You may be feeling depressed, demoralized, and confused about your situation. The novelty has worn off and you are contemplating new sources of stimulation. You feel a sense of emptiness, as if something is missing from your life and you don't know what it is. Are you cutting yourself off from other people unnecessarily? The advice of the Four of Cups is not to rush but rather to take time to meditate and contemplate before proceeding.
(-) Self-pity, fatalism, excess, lethargy, despair, depression, exhaustion, lack of enjoyment, lost opportunities.
People: Those who are coming out of a rut or a period of withdrawal from society.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive aspect, matters are taking a turn for the better; you feel refreshed and await new challenges. Life is again satisfying after a period of boredom and discontent. You have come out of your contemplation and go in a new direction. You're once again motivated to try something new, including new love or a new focus on something that truly moves you. You'll have a great desire to accomplish new work, new goals and new ambitions. It may appear as if nothing is happening, but be prepared for an exciting change of events. There will be renewed activity with the hope of a good cycle starting. You have something to look forward to. You may find yourself socializing and making new friends, perhaps as a result of attending a party or acquaintances and to reassess what your relationships mean to you.
(-) In its negative aspect, the Four of Cups reversed indicates you may be undergoing a period of significant depression. Don't let your self-pity get the better of you.
People: Someone in need of a rest, a person recuperating from illness, a hospital worker, a visitor to a hospital, a medical patient.
Situation & Advice: Are you feeling stressed out? A temporary truce is in order. Now is the time to take a break and rest after a period of struggle or conflict. You need a period of renewal to calm your mind and rejuvenate your body. Now is the time to relax and regroup your forces. Some may seek solace in meditation and prayer. Obtaining distance from your daily routine will help put matters into prospective. Meditation will help bring needed clarity to a situation. Perhaps you have been feeling harried and should take a day off from your daily routine. How about a vacation or trip to get away from it all? Sometimes this card represents someone on vacation or on a retreat. If you have been ill, this is a time for recuperation. You may become involved with a hospital, either as a patient or a visitor. Renew your energies, both physical and mental. This should be a calming period in your life. Enjoy the peace and quiet before the next storm rolls in!
(-) Illness, isolation, discontent, withdrawal, resentment, rejection, banishment, loneliness, indiscretion, problems at work, layoffs, unrest, opposition, strikes, exile, unpleasant surroundings.
People: (+) Someone who has headed back to work after a time of relaxation, someone recovering from an illness.
(-) An unwelcome guest, an exile, a prisoner, an outcast, a striking worker.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive aspect, this card means that the period of rest is over and it is time to get back into the action. You have taken a needed break and now must resume your activities. You feel refreshed and able to cope with life's stresses. Good opportunities lie ahead, but be thoughtful in how you handle them.
(-) In its negative aspect, this card may herald problems in general, ill health, or a period of enforced isolation. It can also sometimes indicate that there's political upheaval or unrest in the work force. The place of work may have labor problems, employee discontent, or unions or political parties that want to take action to change the existing laws or practices.
People: Bankers, wealthy people, conservatives, banks, financial institutions.
Situation & Advice: The Four of Pentacles represents financial security. You may have a chance to enrich yourself and increase your assets. Sometimes this card warns of being to conservative or miserly because you fear taking a risk. Are you rigidly holding to ingrained beliefs so that you are blindly maintaining the status quo? You may be afraid to let go of what you have carefully acquired. You must also learn to delegate rather than do everything yourself. Usually, however, the Four of Pentacles reveals good business sense and a willingness to work hard for material gain as well as many talents that could bring you and your family prosperity. If your question was about finances, the Four of Pentacles assures security and material acquisition. If you asked about relationships, the Four of Pentacles warns that material interests are blocking your emotional growth.
People: Misers, tightwads, wastrels, poor money managers, powerless individuals, mean-spirited and envious individuals, scrooge, ultra-conservatives, those who worry too much about money.
Situation & Advice: You may be having difficulty spending wisely, saving money, or balancing your budget. Concerns about security, financial or otherwise, preoccupy your mind. You may be holding tight when you should be letting go. An excessively defensive or timid attitude may be hampering your progress. A delay in attaining the paycheck you thought was coming, or extra money you were anticipating doesn't arrive in time to pay off something. In business matters, there will be opposition or extra costs you hadn't counted on. Or if it's about you, you may be overextending yourself financially and need to be cautious not to go overboard.
