Welcome to the Decan Walk. In this third and final Decan of Aries, we have Venus in Aries, which is associated with the 4 of Wands. Let’s discover how the Astrological energies show up in the different card images.

4 of Wands: Venus in Aries: 11 Apr – 20 Apr

The third Decan of Aries runs from April 11th to April 20th. These 10 days are when the fiery energy of Aries is infused with the alluring charm of Venus. Before we dive in, let’s get to know the Decan energy.

Understanding the Decan

This third Decan of Aries, the period from the 21st to the 30th degree, is all about beautiful Venus’s influence on the fiery Ram of Aries. It’s the final Decan before Aries transitions into the next Sign, which is Taurus.

The imagery of this Decan is pretty interesting. The Picatrix describes this Decan as an angry, reddish man with reddish hair, wearing red clothes. He has an unyielding look in his eyes. He is holding either a gold or a wooden bracelet. He’s skilled in iron fabrication. He wants to do good, but he cannot. Another description includes Cupid’s Arrow, as well.

The whole energy of this decan is about ensnarement. You’re caught in a web of passion and desire. There’s a subtle pull, a compulsion to do something new, to create, to master something.

Astrology: Venus ♀

Now, let’s talk about Venus! Venus is all about love, romance, beauty, and harmony. But it’s not just about the romantic aspects. Venus represents the beauty of things. It’s about art, the artist, the way you create and express yourself.

Think about your environment. Do you love decorating your space, even in a simple way, to make it beautiful and pleasing? That’s Venus energy! It’s about how you express yourself creatively, whether it’s through painting, drawing, singing, or anything that speaks to your aesthetic sense.

Venus is also about values: how you value yourself, your self-worth, and what you value in others. It’s about the things that make you feel good, the people who inspire you, and the qualities you admire in others.

Because Venus is so closely connected to love, romance, and beauty, it’s also about creation and creativity. And when we’re talking about beauty, Venus is all about luxury, money, wealth, pleasure, and abundance.

It’s also about how you interact with people, your friendships, and your generosity.

Venus’s Shadow Side

Of course, no planet is perfect, and Venus has its shadow side, too. When taken to extremes, Venus’ energy can become vanity and obsession with superficial things like money and beauty. It can lead to manipulation in relationships and an inability to connect authentically with others.

It’s important to remember that everything has two sides. Venus can be both beautiful and challenging, depending on how we choose to use its energy.

Tarot: The Empress

In the Tarot, Venus is connected with the Empress card.

As we can see, across the images of our classic Tarot Card Decks, the Empress card is connected with the energies of Motherhood, Nurturing, Femininity, Love, and Beauty. She is almost always depicted as a Pregnant woman.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck, the Empress is surrounded by growing crops and lush green trees, along with a flowing river. This depicts her ability to generate abundance. This is her fertility. She wears a crown of Stars, connecting her with Mother Nature. The pomegranates on her dress look very similar to the astrological glyph of Venus inscribed on her seat. She is pregnant and needs that cushion to support her back.

In the Tarot de Marseilles, the Empress holds the Eagle shield, her connection to Royalty. The cross on her sceptre denotes her connection to Divinity. She is also a representation of sensual feminine qualities, of softness and nurturing motherhood.

The Empress in the Thoth deck is perhaps the loveliest image in the deck. Her green dress indicates fertility. She holds a Lotus flower, a depiction of her spiritual energy. She has the Eagle shield as well, an indicator of her Royal lineage. The Swan by her feet is also a representation of beauty and motherhood. The connection with the feminine energies of the Moon is seen with the two crescents of the Moon.

The Empress in the Telos Tarot also stands upon a Crescent moon, holding a shield. She also has Lotus flowers around her and on her Sceptre. She wears Stars in her Crown. She wears a green dress, indicating her fertility. She stands in a Doorway: she is the doorway to life because it is through her (as a Mother) that life enters into the world. The Hebrew letter Daleth, which is associated with this card, also means the Door.

Throughout the imagery, we see how the beauty and femininity of Venus have been depicted in the card images of the Empress. We see the nurturing nature and the soft and sensual aspects of Venus depicted in the imagery.

Astrology: Aries ♈︎ + Tarot: The Emperor

We have already looked at the energies of Aries in the previous two Decans, when we looked at the 2 of Wands and the 3 of Wands.

The Emperor card is connected with the Sign of Aries. Let’s take a quick look at the astrological energies of Aries, reflected across the imagery of the Emperor card.

Aries is the first Sign of the Zodiac. Thus, it carries the energy of beginnings, initiation, and pioneering right from the outset. This Sign is energetic, boundless, courageous, fearless, and adventurous. Aries is the symbol of direct and bold action, headstrong individuals. They can be honest to the point of being offensive and may even be perceived as rude and aggressive. Their ego rules their actions, which can often be impulsive and reckless.

We see these traits in the Emperor card as well! The Emperor has a strict and stern demeanor as he creates the structure of his Realm and enforces order and regulation in his domain. He rules with harsh discipline. He is ready to go to war in order to protect his kingdom. His authoritative nature can turn tyrannical when things are taken to the extreme. The persistent reddish colors in the card, combined with the barren mountains, indicate a very harsh environment devoid of emotional nourishment.

Together, the Emperor and Aries represent masculine energy. This is the ruler, the protector, the Father archetype.

Astrology: Venus in Aries: ♀ in ♈︎

If we look at the image of Venus in Aries in the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, we see the fiery Aries energy represented as an erupting volcano. Venus is depicted as a sensuous naked woman. The chameleon in the foreground of the card image perfectly encapsulates a very interesting aspect of this combination.

Where Venus is Love, and Aries is Self-Will, the chameleon represents the changeable vibe that both bring to the table. They will take on the forms most desired by the other in order to be with each other. Their desire for each other drives them to be what the other person wants them to be. Like a chameleon, they will change their color to become what they want from each other.

Venus in Aries is enthusiastic, affectionate, and determined. Venus brings good taste and artistic creativity, while Aries brings warmth and passion. On the darker side, this combination can be impulsive, wilful, and unstable. Attention is demanded, and partnerships become competitive. This can be a brief but very wild love affair. Their competitive temperament also creates a relationship where their mutual passion is fueled by their constant sparring.

The Number: 4

Let’s not forget the Number of our card: 4. This is the number of stability and structure. This number is the energy required for building a foundation and for creating order. However, this can also become a precursor for rigidity and stagnation.

The stagnation energy is easily seen in the imagery of the Rider-Waite-Smith 4 of Cups card.

Finally, let’s look at our main character: the 4 of Wands.

Tarot + Astrology: 4 of Wands: Venus in Aries: ♀ in ♈︎

The 4 of Wands card is associated with Venus in Aries. Let’s see how this energy shows up the images of different Tarot Card images.

The 4 of Wands card from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card Deck is a perfect representation of the Marriage of the Emperor and the Empress. Here, we see the celebration taking place. The 4 Wands in the foreground stand in a harmonious formation that is often seen in several marriage ceremonies and rituals across multiple cultures. The fruit and flowers of Venus are strung across those Wands. The happy couple welcomes us with bouquets of flowers in their hands. And is that the castle of the Emperor in the background? I certainly think it is! In this card, we are witnessing the marriage celebrations.

In the Tarot de Marseilles, the 4 Wands are interlocked in a way that prevents them from moving freely. Here, we see the stalemate caused by the rigid energy of 4 that also, interestingly, fosters a suppressed tension. While the wands remain frozen, we see the flowers bloom. The flower on the top is older than the one below. The tension fosters growth that is under the surface. This card can also depict a temporary period of rest where you can energize yourself for the next stage. You can also enjoy what you have created so far.

The Thoth Tarot card image shows us 4 Wands with the Dove of Venus and the Ram’s head of Aries. These 4 Wands have been arranged in such a way as to create a Wheel with 8 Spokes. This image is titled Completion, where the union of Venus and Aries has reached fulfillment. There is beauty and grace combined with cleverness and success. The passion, indicated by the flames in the background, fuels the turning of the Wheel.

In the Telos Tarot card, we see the man in the red clothing holding a wand and a wooden bracelet – the Picatrix image of the decan. Behind him stands the Goddess Ishtar, a representation of the original Goddess energy that ultimately became the template for Venus, among other Goddesses.

Ishtar: The Ancient Goddess

Ishtar is an ancient Mesopotamian Goddess, who is also known as Innanna in the Babylonian and Sumerian cultures. In the present day, these ancient kingdoms are parts of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, and Turkey. You can read about Ishtar’s interesting life and love in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Ishtar was linked with love, fertility, and sex. However, that wasn’t all she stood for. Her love could turn to anger. Her vengeance was accompanied by thunderstorms. She was also the Goddess of War. She stood for Justice and was able to mete out punishment for those who were guilty. You can see how she was a powerful inspiration for many different Goddesses that came after her. Examples include Aphrodite, Diana, Athena, and of course, Métis and Themis.

Behind Ishtar, in the image of the Telos Tarot card, we also see an 8-pointed star. This was an image associated with Ishtar, and later was also associated with Venus, aka the Morning Star. Venus is called the Morning Star because Venus rises in the morning and shines like a star in the sky, even though it is a planet. Doves are also associated with Venus.

Towards the bottom of the card image, we see the Ram of Aries. Below the Ram is a 6-Petaled flower. This rosette is an ancient drawing, seen in old carvings. It was drawn to protect people from Storms. It is linked to the Goddess Aphrodite and, therefore, connected to love, family, and home. The 6-petaled flower is also a powerful symbol of the Flower of Life from the Kabbala.

At first, when I glanced at the image of the flower, I thought it was the 5-petal flower of Venus. While that is not the case, I would like to mention this here since it is an interesting connection with the Astrological aspect of Venus. When the planet Venus orbits around the Sun, it follows a very interesting path. Every 8 years, it returns to its original spot in the sky. If we trace out this orbit, we see that these orbits intersect each other at certain points, and those points create an image of a 5-petaled flower.

The Supporting Cast

Now, let’s look at the other related cards, what I like to call the Supporting Cast of our 4 of Wands story. We have already seen the Ace and Page of Pentacles in the previous Decans: the 2 of Wands (Mars in Aries) and the 3 of Wands (Sun in Aries). However, in this Decan, the third character, the Court Card, is not the Queen of Wands. Instead, we have the Knight of Pentacles. Let’s take a real quick look at the Ace and the Page of Pentacles before we look at the Knight of Pentacles.

The Ace of Pentacles + The Page of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles is the root energy of the Material nature of Life. This is the seed that begins the process of Manifestation. It creates the means to open the pathway to creation in the material world.

The Page of Pentacles, also at the first stage of development, is an embodiment of this energy. He begins to connect with this seed energy. He brings a sincere, diligent, and courageous approach to the process. He is grounded, being the elemental combination of Earth of Earth. As the Princesses in the Thoth and Telos decks, we see them wield their creative power in a quiet and composed manner, enabling renewal and growth.

Together, they bring the energy of initiation and beginning stages of action into the story.

The Knight of Pentacles

The Knights (or the Princes in the Thoth tradition) are the action-oriented Court Cards.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith and the Tarot de Marseilles, the Knights are shown riding horses, while in the Thoth-based cards, we see the Princes riding a Chariot usually pulled by a Bull. Horses are linked with movement and travel, an essential part of an active person’s life, back in the day. The Bull is linked to Taurus, the Fixed Earth Sign of the Zodiac.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith card image, our Knight sits atop his horse, contemplating how he can best utilize his resources (the Pentacle he holds in his hand). In the background, we see a freshly tilled piece of land that is now ready for the seeds to be planted. Time is of the essence here, and the Knight has to plant the seed at the right time so that it can grow into an abundant crop. He cannot afford to waste time thinking and planning. This Knight can take a while to act, but when he does, he is sure of what he is doing.

The Knight of Pentacles of the Tarot de Marseilles rides a light-blue colored horse. This is a color associated with Spiritual energies. The flesh-colored parts on the horse and on his face indicate the very materialization of those energies. He also carries a Wand, an indication of his passions and aspirations. He is creative and is very focused on the material aspects of everything he does. His spiritual momentum (light-blue horse) carries him forward as he chases his Pentacles (money) in the material realm.

The Prince of Disks from the Thoth Tarot sits in a chariot full of seeds that are about to pop! His skin is colored in the same earthy brown color as that of the Bull that pulls his cart. This is the Prince of the Earth, steady and competent. He is capable and reliable and exercises control on the material plane of existence. He is ingenious, seeking new uses for everyday things. He holds the globe of the Earth in his hand, showing his dominance over his land.

In the Telos Tarot, we see the Prince holding the Globe. He has wings and horns (perhaps a link to Pan, the earthy God linked with the Sign of Capricorn). His Chariot is pulled by the Taurean Bull. He is surrounded by grass and flowers, perhaps a link to the vegetation of Virgo. All these Signs (Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo) are the Earth Signs of the Zodiac. He leverages the different earthy aspects of each of these Signs to accomplish his tasks.

As a combination of Air and Earth, the Knight of Pentacles also represents a combination of two incompatible elements! (Remember, our Queen of Wands was Water of Fire?) In the Knight of Pentacles, though, the logical and rational aspects of the Air energy tend to slow down the practical and sensible aspects of the Earth energy. Although the Knights are action-oriented, this Knight moves slower than most because of this friction between ideas and action. Ideas are often very creative, but they are not practical. Similarly, something grounded and stable may not evoke any excitement, or fit in with any logic for that matter. This quirky combination thus ends up in creating a character that may often overthink or be extremely cautious while acting.

The Support of the Supporting Cast to the 4 of Wands Energy

These cards bring a very interesting energy to the Venus in Aries energy of the 4 of Wands. As with the previous Decans, the Ace of Pentacles and the Page of Pentacles represent the seed energy and the energy of materialization and manifestation. The Knight brings the energy of action,  activating this energy and giving it momentum.

When the lush, earthy energy of Venus nurtures the fiery passion of Aries, these supporting cards facilitate this process of creation and manifestation. The passion of Aries flowers with the nourishment of Venus. Love and lust merge in a sensual romance that burns wild and hot. They bring all the various behind-the-scene elements to the forefront, thus completing the picture of the 4 of Wands card imagery.

Putting It Together: 4 of Wands: Venus in Aries: ♀ in ♈︎

I see the 4 of Wands, the card associated with this decan, as a celebration of the marriage of Venus and Aries. It’s like a beautiful union of feminine and masculine energies, a Divine Marriage of the Goddess and the God. The 4 of Wands card (at least from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card Deck) literally shows us the marriage celebration of the Emperor and the Empress.

Think of it like this: The Emperor exists in this barren, rocky landscape, into which the Empress brings her beautiful garden full of flowers. She brings abundance into his barren world.

In another version, you might envision this story. The Emperor is a hard-working man, extremely focused on building his world. However, this world only becomes a welcoming space when the Empress nurtures that world with her emotions and aesthetic beauty. Both of them need each other. The Emperor provides the necessary structure for the Empress to seed and fertilize.

Here is a man who has bought a house but spends his days working long and hard. So the house, while big, strong, and spacious, stands empty and barren. When she comes in, she starts to decorate the house. Some flowers here, a beautiful painting there, some cozy furniture all over the place. She soon turns that house into a cozy and loving place. She goes into the yard and plants a garden full of colorful flowers. Together, they create a complete picture: a place of celebration, harmony, and success nourished with love, generosity, and beauty.

The 4 of Wands is a card of celebration, achievement, and harmony. It’s the celebratory party after you’ve accomplished something important, such as a wedding or a business deal. There’s a sense of stability and structure, but there’s also passion, energy, and excitement. It’s a time to enjoy your success, but it’s also a time to plan for the future. You’ve created a solid foundation, and now you’re ready to build upon it. There’s a sense of completion but also the anticipation of new beginnings.

As the final Decan of Aries, the 4 of Wands has now successfully completed the ambitious project that the 2 of Wands embarked upon and the 3 of Wands managed and supervised. Now, we are ready to see what the next stretch, the next Decan of the Zodiac, can show us.

🎞️ The Video

Here’s the video I made about the 4 of Wands – Venus in Aries – the third Decan of Aries.

This time, I tried to present the information using a Presentation. Let me know if this is a style that appeals to you.

📸 The Infographic + ⬇️ Download

Naturally, I have both the Slide Deck and the Infographic available for download. Click the buttons below the image to download these and the other handouts.

Click here to Download the Infographics

Click here to download the Presentation Slides PDF

Click here to copy the Decan Walk Worksheets to your Google Drive

📣 Shoutouts!

Valerie’s Substack post about the 4 of Wands – Venus in Aries – 3rd Decan of Aries is so brilliant! Her poetry is super inspiring! 🔥 Enjoy! ☺️

📚 Homework

📓 Things to Think (or Journal) about the 4 of Wands – Venus in Aries

Here are some prompts and thoughts for you to journal or think about while you explore the energy of the 4 of Wands.

• Think back to different times in your life when you have celebrated your success.
  • How did your passion and drive (your Aries energy) push you towards your success?
  • How did your creative and nurturing side (your Venus energy) bring beauty and softness into the situation?
• Think back to when you chased after a romantic prospect that resulted in a win. How did the Aries and Venus energies show up in that story? Which role did you and your partner play in that scenario, or was it a little bit of both for the both of you?
• Think back to any creative projects where you’ve felt stuck or restricted.
  • Did that tension help you find creative solutions for the different issues that came up while executing the project?
  • Do creative restrictions prove to be hurdles, or do they end up pushing the envelope so you can find an even more creative path forward?
  • Instead, if you had had full creative freedom with that project, how would you have executed it?
  • Do both these outcomes inform you of anything interesting about your creative process?
• Have you planned a party or any sort of celebratory event?
  • Where and how did the different aspects of Venus and Aries energies show up in the planning process, and ultimately when the event took place?
  • Which aspect did you bring to the table: the energy of Aries or that of Venus? Who brought in the other aspect?
    • How did your cooperation feel like? Did you feel like this creative partnership was smooth, or was it a bit too dramatic (but also exciting) for you?
• If you are a student of Astrology, take a look at your Birth chart. In which House do you find the Sign of Aries? What does that House represent? How has this Aries energy manifested in this area of your life?
• Do you have this combination (Venus in Aries) in your chart? In which House does it show up? How does this energy manifest in that life area for you?

The third Decan of Aries, with Venus in Aries, that is associated with the 4 of Wands, is a powerful time for love, passion, and creative beginnings. It’s a time for taking action, for celebrating your achievements, and for building a solid foundation for the future. Embrace the fiery energy of Aries and the alluring charm of Venus to manifest creative projects to successful accomplishment!

If you have any thoughts or insights to share, please talk to me using the comments section below. If you are also doing your Decan Walk, please share your website or blog or YouTube video or Channel in the comments below. I’ll certainly go take a look – I would totally enjoy seeing your perspective!

Let’s celebrate this powerful union of The Empress and The Emperor, of Venus in Aries in the 4 of Wands. Let’s get ready for the jump into the next Sign.