Four of Swords - It's Time To Take A Break

The Four of Swords speaks of rest and repose, urges us to seek serenity amidst the storm. It's time to chill, chill-ax and relax. It sounds good, and I do try to do this especially under stress. That's not so easy, but it is the best time to make effort to relax. Often for many of us, we might think, well that's a luxury we can't afford. But I say, I don't think we can afford not to indulge, because as it is known, stress increases our cortisol levels, which increase the risk of disease, and illnesses of every kind.

I have to say, I think of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, that states we have to have our basic needs met first, before we can move forward; needs such as food, safety, love, and self-esteem. I think this is an important consideration, before we are too quick to judge, either ourselves or another, because they don't have the juice to keep going, when the show that must go on! 
Without having our basic needs met, taking the time to recoup and withdraw in stillness and solitude, we cannot 'marshal one's thoughts and order one life. '

Six of Wands - Success

The Six of Wands is a heady kind of card. It is about triumph, recognition and validation from others. You are rewarded for all your effort and hard work This card is very satisfying on an individual basis, because it heralds validation for perhaps some kind of creative work that one has achieved. However, it is important to remain humble, to keep you feet firmly planted on the ground, and know that there is still work ahead.

Success never comes without hard work, and if it does, it's often not appreciated particularly if it's given on a sliver platter. I have seen this on more than one occasion, where individuals take advantage of another's generosity, or their new found windfall is taken for granted. I think the reason for this behaviour can be partly attributed to human nature, however I do believe there are two kinds of people in life, those who give, and those who take. When I think about success I ask myself, what will my legacy be when I leave this mortal coil?

The Six of Wands really makes me contemplate what happiness and success mean. Life does not come with a manual for success. Many define it monetarily, and they follow this path, pursuing material richness, as opposed to inner treasures and gifts. Many do not simply perceive happiness as the thing that makes you successful.

 I have no desire to be wealthy, but like most folks would not choose poverty either. If we believe the meaning of success is happiness, then I think we can choose that for ourselves. But as Abraham Maslow' s hierarchy of needs indicates, we need to have the basics covered, such a food and shelter, before we can move forward in our pursuit of that elusive bird of happiness and on to self-actualization.

Four of Pentacles - Self Value

The Four of Pentacles concerns all things related to the material plane, and to the physical earth. This card is often referred to as the card of the miser. The card usually depicts the miser with two feet firmly placed on the Pentacles in front of him, holding two Pentacles close to his chest, and balancing one on his head. This symbolizes his fear of, and the inability to let go of the material,  and emotional stagnation. He is reluctant to share with others. There is no loss or gain..

On the other hand this card can also be positive, in the sense that there has been success in achieving goals and monetary stability.


The is a reason for everything I believe, and the behaviour of the miser is no different than for many of us, or all of us from time to time, caught up in keeping up with the status quo, and living in a consumer kind of world,  particularly in the Western world. I like to describe this person as having a bottomless kind of pit that can be an insatiable appetite, a hole in the soul that cannot be filled through people, places and things.

I recall what Mother Teresa once relayed about the difference between the Western, and the Eastern world. She said, there is great spiritual poverty in the West and material poverty in the East . This message always has resounded with me, and like the miser, we can easily loose sight of our spiritual  and creative expression, because this energy has been blocked having a tight grip on  acquiring things, people and even places.
We define our self-value by these preoccupations that cause us to stagnate. Yes, it is true we need to have our basic needs met in order to self-actualize, as Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid indicates.
I think of the Rolling Stones line, " You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need. "