The fours in tarot are all about stability, so the Four of Wands (which are about desire, not famous for stability) is a bit complex. Most of the meaning here hovers, in a few different ways, around the concept of home. The first layer, of course, is about stable romantic partnership (especially following yesterday’s Two of Cups) and other forms of family. I like the imagery here (from the Fyodor Pavlov Tarot again) and, indeed, in most Four of Wands cards – there is an obvious solidity and rhythm to the structure shown here, but also plenty of playfulness and personal space.
In the spirit of New Year’s, it’s also worth considering home as an environment that absorbs and reflects your priorities in a relatively stable way. For example, let’s say you normally prioritize creative work. If that’s the case, you probably have plenty of room and the supplies you need for your favorite kind of project. One day you may wake up feeling less than motivated, but you’re still much more likely to reach for something to work on than you would be if this ongoing priority weren’t actively reflected in your living space. (Your chances are also better if anyone you live with – or interact with on a regular basis – is used to and supportive of your efforts.)
This is, in a way, an ongoing, organic process. How you actually live will inevitably be reflected in your space, your relationships, and your regular schedule (aka your home life), and how your space and habits are will have an impact on what you can easily do in the future, which tends to perpetuate all kinds of habit loops. The good news is that if you notice the habit loops, you can often interrupt them. For example, if you want to eat more fruit in the future, putting a bowl of whatever you like somewhere obvious and convenient is often way more effective than a program of ongoing effort and rules.
As we approach the New Year, it’s a great time to consider whether your personal space supports you in living the values you aspire to, or whether there are any easy changes you want to make to nudge your daily feedback loops in a different direction.