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The Rider-Waite-Smith Four of Wands

True to the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, the Four of Wands conveys a more minimal meaning—fertility, celebration, stability—with only faint traces of its deeper Hermetic roots. This simplicity was deliberate. Waite, bound by his Golden Dawn oath, concealed much of the esoteric attributions that the Thoth deck later unveiled openly.

The Imagery

On the RWS card, four staves are firmly planted in the earth, crowned with a garland of flowers. This arbor suggests not enclosure but festivity, a gateway into joy. The number 4 itself carries the essence of solidity, completion, and foundation—the square, the stronghold of stability.

In the foreground, two women uplift nosegays, welcoming us into the scene. Behind them, a bridge crosses a moat toward a manor house, symbols of security, lineage, and wealth. The nosegays, traditionally given as gifts, emphasize sharing abundance, not merely hoarding it.

Hermetic Implications

A Four is typically a closed system—a structure with four walls, self-contained and protective. In the Thoth Four of Wands (Completion), the wands form a perfect, symmetrical pattern: stability achieved, but also limitation. Crowley’s design suggests completion of creative force within a defined boundary.

In contrast, the RWS Four of Wands is open. The garland is an arbor, not a ceiling; the bridge over the moat implies connection, not isolation. It is a celebratory threshold rather than a sealed chamber. Symbolically, this shows the fourth stage of Fire not as withdrawal into a fortress, but as a joyous opening—creativity taking root in community, wealth, and harmony.

The Deeper Lesson

Where the Thoth deck emphasizes the structural geometry of Fire stabilized (Chesed in Atziluth), the RWS art suggests Fire in its social aspect—the hearth-flame shared. Stability here does not enclose; it welcomes. It is the completion of an inner project made manifest outwardly, inviting others across the bridge into the circle of plenty.

A flora nosegay, also known simply as a nosegay, refers to a small, fragrant bouquet of flowers. People often carry or present nosegays for various reasons, and the tradition has historical and cultural significance. Here are a few reasons for a flora nosegay:

1. Symbolism: Flowers are rich in symbolism, with each type carrying its own meaning. A nosegay can be crafted to convey specific sentiments or messages. For example, red roses may symbolize love and passion, while lavender represents calmness and devotion.

2. Expression of Sentiments: Nosegays are often given on special occasions or as gestures of affection. They can express love, friendship, congratulations, sympathy, or well-wishes, depending on the context and the flowers chosen.

3. Aesthetic Pleasure: The visual and olfactory appeal of flowers makes them a popular choice for creating pleasing arrangements. Nosegays are crafted not only for their symbolic meaning but also for the sheer beauty and fragrance they bring.

4. Historical Tradition: Throughout history, people have carried small bouquets of flowers to mask unpleasant odors, especially in crowded or less sanitary environments. This practice has evolved into the decorative and symbolic tradition of carrying or exchanging nosegays.

5. Weddings and Events: Nosegays are commonly used in weddings as small bouquets for bridesmaids or as decorative elements. They add a touch of elegance and can be coordinated with the overall theme or color scheme of an event.

6. Personal Adornment: Individuals may choose to carry a nosegay as a form of personal adornment, enhancing their appearance and exuding a pleasant fragrance. This tradition has been particularly prevalent in certain historical periods.

7. Superstition and Folklore: In various cultures, certain flowers were believed to possess protective or lucky qualities. Nosegays were sometimes carried for superstitious reasons, such as to ward off evil spirits or bring good fortune.

Overall, the use of a flora nosegay is a versatile and meaningful tradition that spans cultural, historical, and personal contexts, allowing people to communicate sentiments through the beauty and symbolism of flowers.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, the 4 of Wands card depicts a scene with four wands supporting an arbor of fruitful grapevines. This imagery is symbolic and holds several interpretations within the context of the card's meaning.

1. Celebration and Harmony: The 4 of Wands is often associated with celebrations, harmony, and joyous occasions. The arbor of fruitful grapevines can be seen as a symbol of abundance and the fruits of one's labor. It suggests a time of happiness, prosperity, and the fulfillment of goals.

2. Achievement and Completion: The four wands forming a stable structure represent a solid foundation and the completion of a project or a phase in life. This card may indicate that you have reached a significant milestone and can now celebrate your achievements.

3. Homecoming and Unity: The imagery can also signify a homecoming or a reunion. It may represent a period of unity, where people come together to celebrate shared successes and milestones. This could be related to family, friendships, or community.

4. Spiritual Symbolism: Grapes and grapevines often have spiritual connotations, symbolizing abundance, transformation, and the harvest of spiritual wisdom. The arbor can be viewed as a sacred space, suggesting that the celebration goes beyond the material realm and has spiritual significance.

5. Gateway to a New Phase: The arbor created by the four wands can be seen as a gateway or threshold to a new phase in life. Passing through the arbor may symbolize moving from one stage to another, with the assurance that positive energy and abundance will accompany this transition.

Overall, the 4 of Wands in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck is a card of celebration, achievement, and harmony. The fruitful grapevines under the arbor reinforce the idea of abundance and the joy that comes from reaching a significant point in one's journey. It's a positive and auspicious card that often signifies a time of happiness and communal celebration.

The Tarot- 4's all bring perfection, realization, completion, and making a matter settled and fixed. The 4 of Wands is the card that Aleister Crowley called the Lord of Perfected Work as for "making a matter settled...".

The Archeon Four of Wands breaks from the typical “marriage and celebration” imagery of more traditional decks and instead presents the phoenix rising above broken prison walls. This is an archetypal Fire symbol, pointing to the death-rebirth cycle that defines the Four’s stability in the suit of Wands.

Phoenix Above the Ruins

The phoenix is no ordinary bird—it is the immortal flame that cannot be extinguished. Its flight above the ruined jailhouse walls reveals the truth of Fire: it purifies by burning away what is stagnant. The ancient prison, once a structure of confinement, is now nothing but rubble. Out of that decay, the eternal firebird ascends.

Thus, the upright Archeon Four of Wands speaks of:

• Rebirth – a new life forged from what has crumbled.

• Escape – breaking free from limitations, whether external prisons or self-made ones.

• Renewal – vitality and energy surging back into the spirit.

• Transformation – the alchemy of Fire turning death into life.

• Joy and Vivification – the lightness and triumph of having survived the flames of trial.

In Hermetic terms, this is Chesed in Atziluth expressed through the myth of the phoenix: Fire’s stabilizing force not as enclosure, but as the triumph of Spirit over matter, a creative flame that survives the fall of form.

Reversed – The Prison Holds

When reversed, the card inverts its power. Instead of escape, the walls remain. The phoenix cannot rise, its wings clipped by exhaustion or neglect. Here the Fire that could liberate is smothered by the ashes of decay.

• Captivity – the prison still stands; the soul is trapped by old structures.

• Decay – energy drains instead of renews.

• Exhaustion – resources are spent, vitality wanes.

• Abandonment – left behind, forgotten, without renewal.

• Ruin – Fire has consumed but not rebirthed.

It is a warning against clinging to dead forms, against resisting the transformation Fire demands.

The Hermetic Lesson

The phoenix imagery reminds us that stability (the “4” principle) is never permanent unless it adapts. Structures—whether social, emotional, or spiritual—decay if not renewed. The Fire of Spirit will either burn down the walls and carry us upward or, if resisted, leave us imprisoned in our own ruins.

This Archeon card, then, is not just about celebration as in Rider-Waite, or completion as in Thoth—it is about the fiery necessity of transformation. True security comes not from walls, but from the soul’s eternal capacity to rise from the ashes.

Four of Wands Comparison – Archeon vs Rider-Waite-Smith

When the Four of Wands card is thrown in a divination, it implies:

• Country life.
• Repose.
• Concord.
• Harmony.
• Prosperity.
• Peace.
• The perfected work of the above.
• Perfection, realization, completion, and making a matter settled and fixed.
• Pride in your accomplishments. 
• Celebrating life.

When the Four of wands is reversed:

• The meanings remain unaltered:
• Increase.
• Felicity.
• Beauty. 
• Embellishment. 

Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper.

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🌞 Final Invocation

Awaken the archetypes within.
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