Barbara Walker Tarot - Four of Wands: Success

Under the marriage canopy, the bride crowns her bridegroom as he kneels before her, receiving her ritual apple, symbol of fruition. Sacred marriage signified success for a king or god. Crowned with the bridal wreath, he entered into his kingdom, embodied in the Goddess and her earthly representative the priestess-queen. The ceremony was essential to kings’ coronations in ancient Egypt, India, Babylon, Akkad, and early Palestine. Four world corner-posts are wands upholding the sky-canopy over home, the center of the earth, marriage, security, reward, the fruits of effort.