The Tarot Fours; the gifts and challenges of structure

The Four, in numerology, symbolises structure, so this number brings an earthy influence to the elements of the suits, a sense of containment. Safety and security can be key issues here, whether we are holding ourselves back through a fear of losing that safety or feeling secure enough to let ourselves fly free.

Fours are a number of stability and equilibrium. If we see the numbers of the Minor arcana as a journey, now the new beginning of the Ace has been balanced with the duality of the two, sparking the creation of something new in the Three. Now that Three comes fully into manifestation, perhaps taking on a material form or simply solidifying into something we see as strong, even permanent. For the visionary, fast moving Wands, this can be a positive event, so we see a celebration, a time of gratitude and appreciation of our blessings. We are able to contain the fire so that it sustains and nourishes us, giving us the strength to grow and develop. For the quick minded Swords too, the structure of the Four can be helpful. The Smith Waite meanings speak of rest and contemplation. I often find the Four of Swords manifesting as ideas brought into reality - writing the book, giving the workshop.

The Fours can also show patterns - patterns of thought and feeling, ways of being and habits which have come to dictate our actions, consciously or otherwise. The structure and stability of these patterns can also become a trap, an energy that has become too fixed, bringing a risk of stagnation. We see this in the Cups and Pentacles cards especially. Containing our emotions in the Cups can bring apathy and discontent because emotions need to flow. And I would say that so do the material resources of the Pentacles - both of these cards show ways that we keep ourselves safe but stop ourselves growing in the process. Holding on too strongly is a fear based response and the Four can become a comfort zone. A nice place to stay but after a while we get restless. And we might deny that restlessness for the sake of our safety, or we might break out into the energising chaos of the Five.

I can’t resist ending by noting that once again, the number symbolism in tarot and astrology diverges here, another reminder that these systems of symbols are not necessarily as easily or closely linked as we might think. Fours in astrology are a number denoting dynamic energy and even conflict, showing two or more disparate energies clashing and needing to find ways to work together. They do carry similar energies of blocks, obstacles and manifestation but they build on the duality of the Two so that there is a tension building up that needs to be resolved.