The Alchemie of Tarot E-Book

Mara von Eichen

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 307

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2026

Beschreibung

The Tarot is not merely a deck of cards - it is an alchemical mirror. Each archetype and symbol reveals a hidden dialogue between the visible and the unseen. In this book, Mara von Eichen guides you into the deeper chambers of the Major Arcana, where wisdom, symbolism, and inner transformation meet. Discover the alchemical forces within the cards, the encoded path of the Fool´s Journey, and the Hermetic roots of the Arcana as gateways to self-knowledge. This is not a manual - it is an initiation. A companion for seekers, mystics, and all who feel the quiet pull of inner truth. Transformation begins the moment you dare to see.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Introduction

On the Origin of the Cards and the Alchemy of Consciousness

I THE MINOR ARCANA – The Four Gates of the World

Introduction to the Wands

The Element of Fire – The Divine Spark Within the Human Being

I · Ace of Wands

“The Awakening of Fire – The Divine Spark of Will”

Two of Wands

The Gaze Into the Distance – Decision, Direction, and the Awakening of Creative Will

Three of Wands

Expansion – Foresight – the Awakening Fire of Action

Four of Wands

Pass completion – Harmony – the Sacred Rest of Fire

Five of Wands

Conflict – Challenge – the Purifying Fire of Trial

Six of Wands

Victory – Recognition – the Triumphant Fire of Spirit

Seven of Wands

Steadfastness – Courage – the Defending Fire of Truth

Eight of Wands

Movement – Acceleration – the Fire in Flight

Nine of Wands

Resilience – Endurance – the Vigil of the Inner Fire

Ten of Wands

Burden – Responsibility – The Fire That Sinks Into Earth

Page of Wands

Curiosity – Inspiration – the Awakening Fire of the Mind

Knight of Wands

Drive – Passion – the Galloping Fire of Will

Queen of Wands

Radiance – Self-Confidence – the Luminous Fire of the Soul

King of Wands

Mastery – Leadership – the Sovereign Fire of Spirit

From Wands to Cups

When the flame drinks – fire finds its heart in water

Ace of Cups

Conception – Love – the divine overflowing of the heart

Two of Cups

Union – Unity – the Sacred Alchemy of I and You

Three of Cups

Joy – Community – the overflowing waters of the heart

Four of Cups

Reflection – Withdrawal – the silence between fullness and longing

Five of Cups

Loss – Release – the Sacred Purification of the Heart

Six of Cups

Memory – Innocence – the return of the golden heart

Seven of Cups

Illusion – Vision – the Trial of the Heart in the Mirror of Dreams

Eight of Cups

Departure – Revelation – the Ascent of the Heart to the Higher Source

Nine of Cups

Fulfillment – Peace – the golden water of contentment

Ten of Cups

Fulfillment – Love – the Rainbow of the Heart

Page of Cups

Intuition – Sensitivity – the Birth of the Poetic Heart

Knight of Cups

Movement – Romance – the mission of the heart

Queen of Cups

Receptivity – Compassion – the sacred vessel of intuition

King of Cups

Wisdom – Serenity – the Master of the Inner Ocean

Transition – From Water to Earth

When the dream takes root – the soul becomes form

Ace of Pentacles

Manifestation – Abundance – the divine seed of Earth

Two of Pentacles

Balance – Change – the Dance with Matter

Three of Pentacles

Mastery – Collaboration – the Sacred in the Work of the Hands

Four of Pentacles

Stability – Possession – the Balance Between Holding and Trust

Five of Pentacles

Lack – Trial – the Hidden Light in the Shadow of Earth

Six of Pentacles

Giving Hand – Balance – the Consecrated Flow of Abundance

Seven of Pentacles

Patience – Ripening – the Law of Natural Time

Eight of Pentacles

Devotion – Craft – the Holiness of Repetition

Nine of Pentacles

Self-Sufficiency – Maturity – the Lived Abundance of the Soul

Ten of Pentacles

Heritage – Completion – the Sacred Fabric of Continuity

Page of Pentacles

Learning – New Beginning – the birth of conscious action

Knight of Pentacles

Steadiness – Duty – the sacred pace of the Earth

Queen of Pentacles

Care – Abundance – the Sacredness of the Everyday

King of Pentacles

Mastery – Responsibility – The Living Gold

Transition: From Pentacles to Swords

Ace of Swords

Clarity – Truth – the divine sword of the mind

Two of Swords

Balance – Decision – the silence before the truth

Three of Swords

Pain – Truth – the healing heart of insight

Four of Swords

Rest – Healing – the silence that restores

Five of Swords

Conflict – Pride – the test of inner integrity

Six of Swords

Transition – Healing – the quiet navigation through the waters of consciousness

Seven of Swords

Deception – Self-Examination – the test of authenticity

Eight of Swords

Limitation – Fear – liberation through awareness

Nine of Swords

Fear – Guilt – the shadow of the mind

Ten of Swords

Ending – Redemption – the birth of new consciousness

Page of Swords

Vigilance – Truth – the awakening of the mind

Knight of Swords

Truth – Courage – the storm of consciousness

Queen of Swords

Truth – Independence – the wisdom of the clear mind

King of Swords

Truth – Authority – the law of the mind

Transition from the Minor Arcana to the Major Arcana

From the Work of the Elements to the Path of the Soul – the Initiation into 22 Stations

0 · The Fool

Origin – Trust – the divine play of life

I · The Magician

Creation – Consciousness – the power of the word

II · The High Priestess

Intuition – Mystery – the gateway between worlds

III · The Empress

Abundance – Birth – the creative womb of the world

IV · The Emperor

Order – Responsibility – the law of form

V · The Hierophant

Wisdom – Initiation – the sacred bond between heaven and earth

VI · The Lovers

Union – Choice – the sacred yes of the soul

VII · The Chariot

Triumph – Control – the victory of the mind over opposites

VIII · Justice

Truth – Balance – the law of resonance

IX · The Hermit

Inner reflection – Truth – the light in the dark

X · The Wheel of Fortune

Cycle – Change – the divine play of order

XI · Strength

Vis Divina – the divine fire of the heart

XII · The Hanged Man

Sacrifice – Perspective – revelation through surrender

XIII · Death

Transformation – Release – the end as beginning

XIV · Temperance

Integration – Harmony – the divine measure of life

XV · The Devil

Bondage – Temptation – the light within the shadow

XVI · The Tower

Destruction – Liberation – divine truth in the lightning

XVII · The Star

Hope – Healing – the divine light of the soul

XVIII · The Moon

Intuition – Illusion – the Night of the Soul

XIX · The Sun

Illumination – Joy – the Divine Clarity of Being

The Sun teaches:

XX · Judgement

Awakening – Redemption – the Call of the Soul

XXI · The World

Completion – Unity – the Divine Work in Motion

Afterword – The Golden Heart of the Work

From the Card to the Insight – the Inner Path of the Alchemist

Dedication The Light in the Circle

INTRODUCTION

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE CARDS AND THE ALCHEMY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

It is said that the world is a book in which everything is written – in symbols, signs, gestures, and the movements of the heavens.

And the human being who walks within it reads this book with the eyes of the soul.

Thus, the Tarot is not a game but a mirror.

Not a tool of chance, but a language

in which the unseen speaks.

The cards are like gateways.

They open into inner landscapes,

into the elements, the archetypes, the forces of transformation.

Whoever steps through them enters the Great Work – Magnum Opus,

the labor of the spirit upon itself.

For true alchemy does not occur in the flasks of the world but in the heart.

There, where the fire of insight transforms the lead of experience

into the gold of consciousness.

Each card is a melting point,

a moment in which something old dies

and something new is born.

The Tarot is a map of the soul.

Its four suits – Wands, Cups, Pentacles, and Swords –

correspond to the four elements,

the forces that act within all things:

fire, water, earth, and air.

And above them rises the Major Arcana,

the fifth essence, the aether –

the invisible order

through which everything is connected.

Thus the Tarot reveals itself as a microcosm of life.

Within it, spirit and matter dance,

light and shadow, origin and destination.

The cards are like cells of a living body,

each image a heartbeat,

each figure a voice in the choir of creation.

To read them is to read oneself –

for what they show is what breathes within us.

The alchemists knew

that all knowledge of the world is also knowledge of the human being.

As above, so below.

As within, so without.

Every card bears this seal:

the equation between cosmos and soul.

When the Magician raises his tool,

the human being raises their will.

When the Empress gives birth to life,

trust blossoms in the heart.

When the Tower collapses,

the façade of illusion falls –

and what remains is truth.

Yet the Tarot teaches not only insight.

It teaches surrender.

For no one can transform themselves

without offering their being to the fire.

Drawing a card is always a silent vow:

to be willing to see what is.

Not to learn the future,

but to penetrate the present.

For within it lies the source of all possibility.

Whoever connects with the cards

enters a school of the soul.

One learns to think with symbols,

to read with the heart,

and to see with the inner eye.

Every figure, every color, every detail

carries a tone within the invisible orchestra of the world.

And whoever listens realizes:

Everything is alive.

Everything speaks.

This is not a book about the Tarot.

It is a book from the Tarot –

born from that depth

where spirit, myth, and alchemy meet.

The texts that follow

are not mere interpretations,

but reflections.

They open a space

in which meaning and consciousness interweave.

May every reader recognise themselves within it –

and through recognition, transform.

For this is the Great Work:

Not to ask what the cards say,

but to understand

who speaks through them.

Alchemical Sententia

“Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultum lapidem.”

“Seek within the inner earth, and through purification you will find the

hidden stone.”

– A call to the soul

to discover the gold of the spirit within itself.

Mara von Eichen

I . T H E M I N O R A R C A N A – T H E F O U R G A T E S O F T H E W O R L D

The four paths of becoming human – fire, water, earth, air. Here begins the work in the visible: in the heart, in the hand, in thought, and in action.

INTRODUCTION TO THE WANDS

THE ELEMENT OF FIRE – THE DIVINE SPARK WITHIN THE HUMAN BEING

Before an action takes form, a thought burns within it.

Before a world comes into being, a light ignites.

Thus everything begins with fire – the primordial principle of movement,

the heartbeat of becoming.

Within it lives the divine longing to know itself.

The suit of Wands is the story of this fire.

It tells of the divine spark that falls into matter,

of the awakening of will, of the courage to walk one’s own path,

and of the creative force that transforms consciousness into action.

Fire is the first breath of creation.

It warms, illuminates, ignites –

yet it also burns when it blazes without direction.

The human being who carries fire within

is called to guard it, not to possess it.

For in its pure form it is divine:

a ray of origin, an expression of creative power.

Thus, the Wands are no ordinary tools –

they are sceptres of will,

antennas that channel the spirit of the sun into the world.

In their imagery we encounter the force that initiates,

the vision that flares to life,

the struggle between inspiration and action,

between creation and excess.

Within the Wands shines the law of beginnings:

Every flame seeks form,

every thought seeks action,

every impulse seeks awareness.

But fire tests those it chooses.

It grants greatness, yet demands devotion.

It brings light, yet requires that we ourselves become transparent.

Thus this element leads us into the innermost temple of intention –

to the place where the human being is no longer a victim

but a co-creator of their world.

Whoever works with the Wands

enters the realm of Sol-force, the solar principle.

Here one encounters the inner Magician,

the spark that declares: “I will, and so it shall be.”

But this “I” is not egocentric —

it is the expression of the divine movement within us.

When you draw a card from this suit,

you feel the flame calling you:

It asks what you burn for.

It reminds you of the fire of your vision,

of the courage to carry your inner light into the world.

The Wands teach that will is sacred

when it stands in harmony with spirit.

For the fire of the soul does not seek to possess —

it seeks to illuminate.

Thus the path through the Wands becomes the first act of the Great Work:

the ignition of the inner fire,

the recognition of one’s creative principle,

the Yes to action.

Alchemical Sententia:

“Ignis est spiritus transformans.”

“The fire is the transforming spirit.”

I · ACE OF WANDS

“THE AWAKENING OF FIRE – THE DIVINE SPARK OF WILL”

Poetic Introduction

Within every creator rests an invisible seed –

a tiny spark, sleeping in the darkness of the not-yet-manifest.

And then, one morning, as if from nowhere, a ray breaks through.

A movement. An impulse.

Something calls you; something burns.

This is the fire of birth, the first breath of inspiration.

The Ace of Wands is the moment in which the divine principle of Fiat Lux –

“Let there be light” – ignites itself.

Not a thought, not a plan,

but pure energy, pure readiness to manifest.

Here, at the beginning of the Wand cycle, the element of fire awakens

as a creative, untamed force.

It is Will.

It is Courage.

It is the divine spark that flashes within the darkness of matter.

Nothing is formed yet –

but everything is possible.

Symbolism of the Card

The Wand – symbol of the life principle, of creative potency, of the masculine–active force reaching into the world.

The hand holding it – often emerging from clouds or aether – represents the Divine granting inspiration.

The glowing tip / flame – consciousness; the divine spark entering substance.

The landscape below – untouched yet fertile; awaiting the seed of will.

The sky – the realm of aether from which the idea is born.

Alchemically, this card corresponds to Sulphur, the principle of pure fire – the consciousness that burns, shapes, and transcends.

Here we encounter the Power of the Beginning: still unrestrained, yet sacred.

Alchemical Interpretation

In the language of alchemy, the Ace of Wands is the Prima Ignis,

the First Fire –

the divine spark that sets all becoming into motion.

It is the ignition of the inner Athanor,

the furnace in which transformation becomes possible.

Without this spark, any work remains cold and dead.

This fire does not burn wood – it burns intention.

It calls you to begin something:

a work, a journey, a life.

It reminds you of your creative power,

often buried beneath doubt, fatigue, or conformity.

But: the Ace of Wands does not ask for control.

It asks for trust in the first impulse.

It is the fire of the spirit,

and if you analyze it too much, it extinguishes.

In alchemy we say: Without fire, no transformation.

Here fire appears as pure consciousness,

as will seeking embodiment.

The flame within speaks:

“I am ready to create.”

Interpretation in Readings General:

The Ace of Wands marks the beginning of a new cycle – inspiration, initiative, creativity, passion, new energy.

An inner or outer impulse pushes toward action.

Everything you begin now carries the seal of the divine spark.

Upright:

Beginning of a project, creative breakthrough, calling, new direction, spiritual energy.

Return of joy, courage, sexual or creative vitality.

A sign that you should not wait any longer – but act.

Reversed:

Blocked energy; fire smothered by fear, doubt, or overwhelm.

Lack of focus – the spark jumps but does not catch.

A reminder that the fire must be fed anew – with truth and presence.

In Love / Relationships:

Upright: passion, magnetic attraction, a new beginning, rekindling, true life-force between souls.

Reversed: lack of enthusiasm, sexual or creative stagnation, fear of intimacy.

In Career / Creativity:

Upright: project start, new vision, creative breakthrough, professional inspiration.

Reversed: burnout, overheating, lack of focus, or suppression of creative fire.

On the Spiritual Path:

Upright: awakening, divine inspiration, initiation, the soul’s calling.

Reversed: lack of trust in the inner voice; the attempt to extinguish fire by control.

In a Three-Card Spread:

Past: the trigger that set everything in motion.

Present: the moment of awakening – listen to what calls.

Future: something new seeks to be born – follow the impulse.

Practice / Ritual

Ritual: “Igniting the Inner Fire”

You need:

a candle, a pinch of cinnamon or essential oil,

a small sheet of paper, a pen.

1. Light the candle, observe the flame, feel its aliveness.

2. Breathe deeply three times and whisper:

“I ignite the fire of my divine will.”

3. Write on the paper what wishes to arise within you – without thinking.

Raw, incomplete, bold.

4. Place the paper beside the candle for a moment, as a sign of initiation.

5. Say:

“May my actions be infused with the pure fire of truth.”

6. Extinguish the candle gently (do not blow – symbolically carry the fire within).

This ritual activates the creative flame – not as an outer task, but as inner certainty.

Warnings & Deeper Insight

The Ace of Wands is pure energy – and energy is neutral.

It can create or destroy.

Whoever ignites fire without awareness is consumed by it.

Whoever tends it with clarity becomes the creator of their universe.

Learn to distinguish inspiration from impulsiveness.

One leads to creation; the other to exhaustion.

And remember:

every true fire demands surrender.

The ego must step aside

for the flame to truly blaze.

Alchemical Sententia

Ignis Divinus est initium creationis.

The divine fire is the beginning of all creation.

TWO OF WANDS

THE GAZE INTO THE DISTANCE – DECISION, DIRECTION, AND THE AWAKENING OF CREATIVE WILL

Poetic Introduction

After the first spark comes the seeing.

The flame that was ignited in the Ace now seeks direction, shape, purpose.

A person stands on the battlement of a castle, the world in one hand, a

wand in the other – and he knows: Everything I create begins with choice.

He looks into the distance, to where heaven and earth meet.

The landscape rests quietly, the sea breathes as if creation were holding its breath.

He stands between two wands – between safety and departure, between

the old that carries him and the new that calls him.

The Two of Wands is the eye of the storm within the element of fire.

No longer the wild ignition, not yet the roaring of action –

but the sacred moment of gathering.

Here awakens the awareness that every flame wants to be directed,

that every light needs a focal point.

In this moment the fire asks: “Where shall I flow?”

And the spirit answers: “Where my heart calls me.”

1. Symbolism of the Card

The two wands – duality of rest and movement, preservation and daring. One is anchored in the earth (stability), the other held in the hand (direction).

The sphere or globe – worldview, vision, mental overview. The person realizes the world is shapeable.

The castle wall – symbol of inner security; also the boundary that must be crossed.

The wide sky and the sea – expression of unlimited possibilities and emotional vastness.

The person’s posture – conscious contemplation, not yet action, but mental readiness.

Alchemically, this card corresponds to Mercurius in statu decisionis – the moment in which spirit (Mercury) guides the fire (Sulphur) before matter (Salt) is formed.

It is the point between idea and action – the directing of the flame through consciousness.

2. Alchemical Interpretation

In the language of alchemy, the Two of Wands is the phase of Intentio Ignis –

the conscious orientation of the fire.

Here energy becomes will, instinct becomes direction, passion becomes vision.

This is the moment in which the alchemist pauses and inspects the retort:

The fire burns, yes – but for what purpose?

For any fire ignited without intention burns the work instead of refining it.

In this card, Solve et Coagula awakens on an inner level:

The old is dissolved (Solve) – the comfort zone, the protection, the known.

Then the new intention condenses (Coagula) – the conscious decision to choose a direction.

Thus the Two of Wands is the sacred moment in which the will is

released from personality

and handed over to the divine plan.

It is the “prayer of fire” – the inner yes to being guided by spirit.

3. Interpretation in Readings General:

The Two of Wands symbolizes planning, foresight, vision, and conscious choice.

It calls you to recognize your next step – not impulsively, but clearly.

This is a card of transition, preparation, conscious seeing.

Upright:

Conscious alignment – you choose clearly, without fear.

The beginning of a new path with overview and responsibility.

Strategic thinking, clear goals, growing self-confidence.

Inspiration taking form.

Reversed:

Stagnation through insecurity or perfectionism.

Fear of leaving the comfort zone.

Unclear goals or lack of vision.

Doubt, fragmentation, loss of energy.

In love / relationships:

Upright: The conscious choice to walk into a future together. Relationships at eye level, planning, partnership based on inner clarity.

Reversed: Indecision, fear of commitment, inner conflict between freedom and closeness.

In career / creativity:

Upright: Visions become concrete; you plan strategically and orient yourself toward growth. Cooperation, expansion, new horizons.

Reversed: Overanalysis, frustration through delay, inner fragmentation of energy.

On the spiritual path:

Upright: Becoming aware of your creative direction. Recognizing your calling.

Reversed: Lack of trust in guidance; mental restlessness; the attempt to control divine order with personal will.

In a three-card spread:

Past: The moment in which you recognized your goal.

Present: The threshold of choice – your decision shapes tomorrow.

Future: The beginning of visible movement in the chosen direction.

4. Practice / Ritual

Ritual: “The Fire of Alignment”

You need: two candles, a sheet of paper, and a small mirror.

1. Light the first candle on the left – it represents the old you are leaving behind.

2. Light the second candle on the right – it represents the direction you are moving toward.

3. Look into the mirror between them and say softly:

“I am the point between yesterday and tomorrow. I direct my fire consciously.”

4. Write on the paper what your heart truly wants – not your mind.

5. Place the paper under the right candle and say:

“May my will be clear, my fire pure, and my action in harmony with the light.”

6. Let both candles burn down and keep the ashes – they symbolize the bond between consciousness and action.

5. Warnings & Deeper Insights

The Two of Wands reminds you:

Fire that is not guided consumes itself.

But fire that is overly controlled loses its soul.

It urges balance between vision and trust.

Too much thinking extinguishes inspiration, too much drive destroys direction.

Conscious choice does not mean knowing everything –

it means following what feels true in the depths.

Alchemically speaking:

Do not let the flame be suffocated in smoke,

but do not force it into rigid form either.

The path of fire is the path of conscious surrender.

6. Alchemical Sententia

Vis dirigenda est, alioquin flamma se ipsa consumit.

(The force must be directed, otherwise the flame consumes itself.)

Thus the Two of Wands teaches you

that true power does not lie in action,

but in the clear, quiet knowing

of where your fire wishes to burn.

THREE OF WANDS

EXPANSION – FORESIGHT – THE AWAKENING FIRE OF ACTION

Poetic Introduction

After the fire has chosen its path, it now rises to step into the world.

The Three of Wands is the moment in which vision takes form –

the threshold at which the spirit that decided in silence begins to move.

A person stands at the shore of a vast sea, their gaze set on the horizon.

Before them, ships glide into the distance – or are they returning home?

It does not matter.

For the seeker’s gaze is not one of waiting, but of trust.

Two wands stand firmly anchored behind them – the choice has been made,

the path recognized.

But in their hand they hold the third – the sign of living will

reaching outward into the world.

The fire that once was ignited now becomes the flame that extends itself.

Here the divine principle of Fiat Lux happens a second time:

Light that enters motion.

No longer as spark, no longer as idea –

but as a living current that intertwines with the world.

The Three of Wands is the fire that grows beyond one’s horizon,

the expansion of consciousness recognizing itself in the distance.

1. Symbolism of the Card

The three wands – the trinity of fire: impulse (Ace), direction (Two), expansion (Three).

The third wand is visible action nourished by clarity.

The ships – symbol of enterprise, journey, the divine exchange between inner and outer worlds.

The person at the shore – the conscious creator sending their work outward, knowing that everything they give returns to them.

The sea – the unconscious, carrying and nurturing the seed of action.

The light on the horizon – the promise of harvest, the visible echo of the divine yes.

Alchemically, the card represents the principle of Mercurius expansus, the moment in which fire unites with air –

will meets spirit, action meets awareness.

2. Alchemical Interpretation

In inner alchemy, the Three of Wands is the Opus Manifestum – the projection of fire into the visible world.

The alchemist, who previously determined the direction of the work (Two of Wands),

now opens the laboratory of the heart and lets the light out.

This is the phase in which the divine will works through the human being.

What has been purified within may now act,

not as force, but as resonance.

The fire of the Three of Wands is not a blind blaze,

but the sacred current of trust.

It is the “fire that flows,” entrusting itself to the guidance of the

Great Work.

The adept knows:

Now is the time to act,

but the action itself is prayer.

They become instrument and channel – and realize

that true manifestation has nothing to do with control,

but with surrender.

Thus fire becomes light.

And light becomes experience.

3. Interpretation in Readings

General:

The Three of Wands symbolizes progress, expansion, journey, and

trust in the process.

It is the card of growing movement, of creative action infused with awareness.

Upright:

Growth, expansion, success, the first visible results of a vision.

Collaboration with forces, people, or events that support your path.

Anticipation, confidence, courage – the gaze toward what is coming.

Reversed:

Delay, impatience, frustration about timing or control.

Fear of letting go – attempting to force the outcome.

Blocked trust; the fire clings to the rocks at the shore.

In love / relationships:

Upright: Mutual growth, a new phase of connection, shared goals, development in motion.

Reversed: Distance, imbalance between closeness and freedom, overly controlling focus on the future.

In career / creativity:

Upright: Expansion, new opportunities, the beginning of a journey, a project reveals its first visible unfolding.

Reversed: Stagnation due to lack of trust, hesitation, insufficient cooperation.

On the spiritual path:

Upright: Awakening trust, surrender to divine guidance, expansion of consciousness.

Reversed: Doubt, separation between vision and action; the fire wants to be lived, not endlessly planned.

In a three-card spread:

Past: You made the choice, aligned the fire.

Present: Your work is unfolding – trust the process.

Future: Visible fruits, the return of light, the resonance of your creation.

4. Practice / Ritual

Ritual: “Opening the Horizons” You need: three small candles (white, red, gold), a bowl of water, and a piece of paper.

1. Place the candles side by side – they symbolize will, trust, manifestation.

2. Light them one after another and say:

“First light – I perceive. Second light – I align. Third light – I act.”

3. Look at the flames.

Write on the paper what you have already created – and what you now want to send outward.

4. Dip your fingertips briefly into the water, do not touch the flames – simply feel the contrast between heat and coolness.

5. Say:

“I send my work out into the world, trusting that it returns at the right time.”

6. Let the candles burn down. Keep the ashes or wax as a symbol of your lived fire.

5. Warnings & Deeper Insights

The Three of Wands calls you to balance trust and discipline.

The fire may flow, but it needs direction.

Too much control extinguishes; too much letting go disperses.

It urges: act from clarity, not compulsion.

Release the outcome, but remain present in your action.

Thus you become the conscious instrument of divine movement.

Alchemically, it warns of overextension – the fire that spreads too far and loses itself in its own light.

True expansion arises from the center.

Hold your inner self as the sacred middle, and everything you send outward will return with light.

6. Alchemical Sententia

Ignis expansus lumen gignit.

(The expanded fire gives birth to light.)

The Three of Wands teaches:

Whoever sends their fire outward receives it back refined.

For every act that occurs in harmony with spirit

becomes a flame that illuminates the path of others.

FOUR OF WANDS

PASS COMPLETION – HARMONY – THE SACRED REST OF FIRE

Poetic Introduction

The fire dances – no longer wild and erupting,

but ordered, rhythmic, in golden flame.

The Four of Wands is the moment in which the fire

becomes celebration after the effort of the beginning.

Here the gate of four burning wands rises,

a festive arch adorned with flowers and fruits.

People step through it – laughing, rejoicing, giving thanks.

For the work that was begun now carries its first form.

The fire that was once longing has found space.

What was born in vision now begins to become home.

The energy of the element no longer rests in yearning or struggle,

but in joy, gratitude, and community.

The Four of Wands is the principle of fitting into divine order –

when will, action, and soul resonate together,

the moment of peace arises that no external force can command.

This is the flame that dances,

not to burn, but to celebrate.

Here the fire rests in its own rhythm,

in harmony with the heartbeat of the cosmos.

1. Symbolism of the Card

The four wands – stability, structure, completion of the first phase; the quadrature of fire, symbol of ordered light.

The floral garland – fertility, blessing, celebration of what has been achieved.

The figures rejoicing – community, shared joy, recognition of divine order.

The gate – transition into a new level of consciousness; the open heart as a sacred temple.

The landscape in the background – the safety that arises from balance; the realm created through inner harmony.

Alchemically, the card corresponds to Sulphur fixatum –

the tamed fire that no longer consumes itself,

but shines steadily.

It symbolizes the gold of first success,

born from the purification of the will.

2. Alchemical Interpretation

In the language of alchemy, the Four of Wands is the phase of

Coniunctio Elementorum – the first marriage of forces.

Here the opposing energies of fire unite:

movement and rest, action and enjoyment, striving and being.

The alchemist realizes:

True completion is not an ending, but the stillness between two pulses.

The flame burns, yet it no longer destroys.

It warms, it nourishes, it shines –

and in its light one’s own face is reflected,

no longer in the sweat of effort,

but in the radiance of what has become.

This is the fire that has become the holiness of everyday life.

Here work becomes devotion,

duty becomes joy,

path becomes dance.

The Four of Wands is therefore the first gate of harvest:

the awareness that the divine reveals itself not only in vision,

but in the lived harmony between spirit and world.

3. Interpretation in Readings

General:

The Four of Wands stands for stability, joy, fulfillment, gathering, and gratitude.

It is the card of what has been achieved, of pausing, of reaping the first fruits of a work.

Upright:

Success after effort, rest after struggle, the first visible harvest.

Harmony, gathering, family, joy, wedding, community.

Inner balance, spiritual contentment, celebration of life.

Reversed:

Delayed harvest, restlessness despite success, the feeling of not being able to arrive.

Tensions in the environment, imbalance, lack of recognition.

A celebration held too early – a warning against complacency.

In love / relationships:

Upright: Deep connection, shared stability, marriage, moving in together, harmony.

Reversed: Disharmony, different life rhythms, desire for closeness without real roots.

In career / creativity:

Upright: Success, public recognition, concluding phase of a project.

Reversed: Lack of teamwork, burnout from overwork, or fear of success.

On the spiritual path:

Upright: Arriving within yourself, first phase of inner peace, the awareness that fulfillment is not a goal but a state.

Reversed: The ego claiming the light – spiritual vanity, self-display instead of devotion.

In a three-card spread:

Past: You have created a foundation that now supports you.

Present: Time of harvest, inner rest, joy in what has become.

Future: A stable path, blessed growth, inner abundance.

4. Practice / Ritual

Ritual: “The Circle of Light” You need: four candles, a flower (or petals), and a quiet room.

1. Place the four candles in a circle – aligned to the cardinal directions.

2. Place the flower in the center and say:

“I honor the fire that carries me and the light that nourishes me.”

3. Light the candles one after another, beginning in the east, and give thanks for what you have created.

4. Breathe deeply and feel how the light of the circle surrounds you –

you are not separate from the work; you are part of it.

5. Say to conclude:

“May my fire burn in peace, and may all I complete become a blessing.”

6. Let the candles burn down or extinguish them gently. Keep a petal as a symbol of gratitude.

5. Warnings & Deeper Insights

The Four of Wands reminds:

Every fire that rests can flare again – and every rest holds the next awakening.

Rest is not stagnation, but preparation for the next wave.

Be mindful that success does not give birth to complacency.

Celebration does not mean forgetting the work, but blessing it with the heart.

In shadow, this card can indicate self-satisfaction – the temptation to rest on achievements.

But true mastery does not celebrate itself, only the light that works through it.

6. Alchemical Sententia

Ignis in pace aureum fit.

(The fire that rests in peace becomes gold.)

The Four of Wands teaches that completion is not an end,

but the stillness between two creations.

It is the moment in which the alchemist pauses,

not to extinguish the fire,

but to celebrate its light.

FIVE OF WANDS

CONFLICT – CHALLENGE – THE PURIFYING FIRE OF TRIAL

Poetic Introduction

After the celebration comes the calling.

The fire that rested is moved again – not to destroy, but to test

whether its flame has remained pure.

Five figures raise their wands,

not in hatred, but in the play of becoming.

They strike, wrestle, dance – a wild, untamed weave of strength, will, ego, and courage.

The image appears like a battle, yet in truth it is an initiation.

For everything that has been created must prove itself.