Four of Staves:  An artist's palette and a jar holding four brushes and cleaning fluid sit on a table. The background is blank, perhaps what will be painted. The palette is used to mix paints, adjusting the colors until the right shade is reached. This card reminds me of building a house. Though the framework and foundation may have been laid (the blank canvas), there are hundreds of other decisions to be made - choosing what kind of flooring, picking out wallpaper or paint, deciding on faucets and cabinets... The list (mixing colors) seems endless and the number of choices a bit overwhelming. But this card encourages me to celebrate having created a stable base to work from, and by doing so, I can maintain my enthusiasm to get me through the work ahead that will be required.

 

"This card reminds me of building a house." Taken in a figurative context as well, decisions have to be made that effect the eventual outcome impacting almost every aspect of one's life. As you've noted, a suitable foundation is imperative. One's house, one's home (mental, physical, material, spiritual) reminds us that our actions today has a butterfly effect. What colors we choose to paint with will add or subtract to the picture for tomorrow. Whether it's bright and colorful is ultimately up to us (tongue in cheek, like the wings of a butterfly?) It is no accident that Malpertuis chooses to lighten this card up considerably more than the others; it is much more vibrant than most of the others in the deck. 

 

Maybe we can tie this card in with the cartomantic 4 of diamonds without limiting its tarot meanings? (I do not equate Wands with clubs; I use the French suits where clubs are earth and diamonds are fire.) Background in finance; sponsorship; magnanimity; a work of art; the deed to house; a check; a bank; electronic communication.

 

 

Edited September 20, 20241 yr by fire cat pickles