Four of Air

Four robin’s eggs are nestled inside a nest that has been fashioned from twigs, grasses, moss, flower petals and bits of ribbon and string. It’s hidden away, tucked under leaves that protect it from prey or prying eyes.

Divinatory meaning: It’s time to create a sacred space for rest, retreat, prayer and meditation. Take time out to dream, incubate your ideas and get your mind clear. Keep your boundaries firm and strong — if your nest falls apart, the incubating energy inside is destroyed. During your "time out," you may want to keep your sacred place hidden and safe. Be wary of predators (including inner ones) who may be ready to snatch away your alone-time, your personal space or your ideas.

Four of Fire

A woman stands within a sacred circle, the four directions marked by tall votive candles. She is breathing deep, allowing the energy of the desert night to flood her body. Kundalini rises, power flows, all blocks are gone. She is marking a personal rite of passage and exulting in her own empowerment.

Divinatory meaning: You are celebrating your sense of personal power. When your body is burning with energy inside a ritual circle, you know you can do anything when you set your intent and follow through. Step into the ritual circle and mark a rite of passage, do a self-blessing or create an act of magick. You have the power!

Thanks to Kim Antieau for inspiring me with her stories of the New Desert and the Old Sea.

Four of Water

A young woman gazes into the waters of Chalice Well. Is she sad and grieving? Is she at peace? Is she scrying the patterns on the surface of the water? Is she contemplating the mysteries of the Red Spring? Is the Lady of the Well whispering in her ear? Is her own personal well empty and in need of replenishment? Or is she full and flowing from a hidden underground stream, not unlike the Well itself?

Divinatory meaning: This card suggests that it’s time to replenish your emotional reserves. Spending time near a body of water cleanses and purifies us, whether it’s beach, riverbank or sacred well. You may want to make a pilgrimage to a sacred place near or far from your home. If you do, remember to take along an offering for the guardian spirits. By honoring them, you open the way to receiving their blessings.

The structure of the stone well and its iron grate may suggest insurmountable obstacles. Your challenge is to look through the form of your situation to the unseen juice and life below. If you are disillusioned, change your focus. Soften your vision and look through the current situation to its emotional truth. You’ll once again connect with Spirit, your purpose, and your own heart.

Thanks to Michelle Hoffee and Paul Jayne for allowing me to use their beautiful photo as a reference. Thanks to DragonSong (Debra Strom) for her ideas on the divinatory meaning.

Four of Earth

On a beautiful autumn day, a grey squirrel pauses to nibble on an acorn as he gathers nuts and seeds to save for the winter to come. He is surrounded by his stash of acorns, and even more tumble out of an opening in the trunk of a maple tree. A cairn or inukshuk of four stacked stones mark the turning of the seasons and represent an embodied prayer.

Divinatory meaning: You are building a structure for personal safety and security by wisely stewarding your resources. In times of plenty, you’re saving up for the lean times ahead. But be careful — our Friend Squirrel can become so acquisitive that he saves more food than he really needs. He often forgets all the places where he hoarded his food for the winter. You might ask yourself if you’re taking more than you need. What is the best use of your resources? The nuts and seeds the squirrel forgets will grow into trees and populate a forest. Can you be generous with your resources too?

You may want to start a practice of building blessing cairns. Each stone can represent something you’re grateful for; the stack is a physical gratitude list! They can also represent prayers you say as you stack the stones. In the Inuit culture, an inukshuk often signifies safety, hope and friendship — all qualities that can’t be hoarded. In any case, the stones remind us of our connection to All That Is, and to our soul’s purpose.

Thanks to Cate Kerr for allowing me draw from her squirrel photos, and for her intimate knowledge and love of the little critters.