Four of Wands

Temperance beckoned the Fool to follow. They came out onto a desert and in the distance was a large walled temple. Closer to where the Fool and Temperance stood were four staves holding up a palm leaf roof. A man and a woman stood in the shade below it. That is a Sukkah, Temperance said, […]

Temperance beckoned the Fool to follow. They came out onto a desert and in the distance was a large walled temple. Closer to where the Fool and Temperance stood were four staves holding up a palm leaf roof. A man and a woman stood in the shade below it.

That is a Sukkah, Temperance said, it is to honor that the Gods provide us with what we need.

As they got closer, they could see that the man and the woman were waving a bouquet of different plants and reciting a prayer.

They hold a palm frond, Temperance continued. This is the spine. It represents studying the way, but never acting the way.

They also hold a branch of a myrtle tree, Temperance said. This is the eye. It is the one who acts the way without knowing the way.

Along with those, Temperance said, they wave a willow branch. This is the mouth. This is one who doesn’t know the way or walk the way.

Finally, they hold a lemon, Temperance said as they came upon the Sukkah. This lemon is the heart. It is the one who both knows and does the way. 

The Fool saw people walking towards the temple, two by two. They were pilgrims who had traveled here. He could see many couples under similar Sukkahs all around. There was joy and purpose in everyone’s worship, as well as deep history celebrating successes and great sacrifices. 

He thought about the way, and wondered why knowing it is important if one is walking it already. He thought about the practice of creating a Sukkah. Creating destiny through ritual and community. Using ritual to manifest intentions. The Fool could see how it was important to have a practice.

Temperance put a hand on the Fool’s shoulder. They turned and started walking back to Temperance’s night pond.