Four of Disks

This card represents a stable and balanced sovereignty over something or someone. Most of the time this „someone“ is the own self. A firm foundation is needed to achieve this state. Coming to peace with the surroundings (the outer world) and the self (the inner world) is often the same thing. The four symbolical rulers sit quietly and are holding disks. This means they are able to handle physical matters with care and accuracy. Witness the fact, that they are based on pillars and are not down to earth. To rule over a situation, means to stop acting for a while and climb up the ladder, to get an overview about a situation. Activity can never happen at the same time, as observing.
Achieving such a state, can help, to observe life from a different angle. To be in this position does not mean to become „one out of many“ or rise above others. It means, to take a step back, take our time and simply detach ourselves from the current situation. It is not one who sits on a pillar, but four. These four are one in function and being but have to be recognized separately. They are crowned with four vowels „A E I O“ and connected by the fifth „U“.
These vowels represent inner alchemical components and the elements, which cast a word into being through pronunciation. Even if the materials (consonants/the outer world) are already present, only the architect (artist, creator or engineer) can arrange them together to a fruitful outcome. This process of ability is strictly based on our own lack or plenty of talents, (vowels/the inner state of being) which must be balanced equally to lead to a significant result.
Balanced together, they have the power to awaken the positive aspect of the archetype of “IV – The Emperor” (the father, the king and or the ruler). It is healthy to invoke this state only for the purpose of an instantaneous need. Afterwards, it is necessary to step down again and dissolve this rulership immediately, to become an equivalent part of society again. We can already recognize that the four rulers on this card start to smile. They enjoy their masks, the power and the security all too well. An immediate danger emerges and presents itself with this card. In a cabbalistic context, it is known that Chesed (Jupiter) is balanced through Geburah (Mars). This sephirah contains attributes like power, severity and adjunctive dark aspects. To step up to invoke Chesed, for the good of the situation and to step down after it is resolved, can avoid being tempted by the power of Geburah.
We must all beware of the incidents when the four rulers become one for an extended period of time and strengthen their position through support of others. In this case we would get aware swiftly of the dark aspects of the archetype of “IV – The Emperor” and eventually invocate our own inevitable fall.