IV of Wands
It's finally Friday, the longest week ever it seems. And IV of Wands is a Friday kind'a card! This card is often referred to as the "Wedding" card because it's about celebration and all the joy (not the stress) associated with said festivities. I'm less inclined to pigeonhole this card as wedding-specific and really feel this card is more of a "homecoming" card, celebrating the sense of home and community, a welcome and inviting energy.
I love the cards I used in the spread today: the Latinx heritage of the first card from the Aqua Maree Collage Tarot with the piñata, dancing (that guy's hat has me singing Abba's "Put On Your White Sombrero" - one of the weirdest Abba's songs ever), and the mariachi. And the last card, from Melanade Stand's Tarot... such a beautiful card that celebrates women of color and body positivity at the same time; and if it's there's one thing I recently came to understand, representation really does matter. (That's why I do my best to include all kinds of decks in my spreads that represent life as a full spectrum, rather than sticking to just the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck imagery.)
The IV of Wands playlist is available on Spotify.
Message of the Day: I always sit and think on the daily card I pull before I write. It helps me to find the application in my life and, since it's outside of a traditional reading format (spreads and whatnot), I can really look at this card from every angle and shake out all the meanings. And with this card, I came up with two things.
First, as I mentioned earlier, this card is a celebration card. Sometimes these are party situations like birthdays or graduations, and sometimes these are small celebrations like coming home from college or seeing friends after years apart; they all fit the bill. I also love the sentiment of taking it even smaller to a "prodigal son" storyline, where the long-lost kid comes home to welcome arms. It's all very "Hallmark," I know. Awww, all the feels.
But let's take it even smaller and apply it to our personal celebrations. When was the last time you truly celebrated yourself and your successes? When did you congratulate yourself for the completion of a goal or making it through something challenging? I'm not saying break out the party hat and champagne, but I think it's important to take the time to recognize a job well done and be proud of yourself. We are always so quick to be hard on ourselves for our mistakes and failures, but we very rarely (if ever) celebrate our personal wins. They don't even have to be communicated to someone; just recognize within and let that warmth and appreciation be enough.
Second, I love that this card emphasizes home and community. Being a part of the LGBTQIAETC community and having been a part of several foster kids' lives, I have a keen appreciation for finding your place and feeling love and acceptance around you. There really is no feeling like finding someone you with whom you can identify, who understands the challenges and loneliness that oftentimes comes with being "other." I think of my son when he was 7 and dressed up as One Punch Man (it's a manga/anime) for Halloween. None of the other kids knew him, but ONE man giving out candy recognized him, and it rocked his world completely.
I think our personal lives have mutated a bit because of the pandemic and recent political... bullshit (trauma?). We've drawn inwards and are less inclusive. Maybe not on purpose, but I think we all feel a little on the defensive. Social media has perfected social segregation by giving us restricted groups and the ability to mute or block those who don't agree with us. Has that benefitted us or made us better? Having the ability to quickly spout off our first impulsive response has burned us all and left us all retreating to our safe spaces. We need to remember that we are better because of our differences and celebrate EVERYONE for the good they bring into the world, regardless of age, shape, color, attraction, sex, or preferences. Maybe if we step out and are willing to be more inclusive of others without leaning into aggression or pretense, we may find a warmer sense of community IN OUR COMMUNITY (what a concept).
In the meantime, celebrate the community you have, whether that be your close friends, members of your book club, your neighbors, or even your immediate family. Celebrate with them and lift them up. And if your personal community is small, that's okay. If you are open to growth, kindness and social involvement is a great way to meet other warm-hearted people.
Decks shown above: