Tarot of Origins
4 of Blood
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- Description
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The man in the card clutches a sharpened bone splinter in his left hand, looking off to the left of the card as if stalking something, his hand poised and ready to strike. His hair is messy and his face wears a look of concentration, but also one of desperation. HIs body descends into a muddy darkness that appears to be fur.
- Interpretation
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The Four of Blood, to me, is the card of a desperate person. The man in the card hasn't hit bottom, but he's close, and he knows it. Part of that is written on his face, another complement to Toppi's subtle touches. But another part of it is the weapon he's chosen. Using a sharpened bone splinter isn't ideal for hunting or killing, since they're only good for stabbing and tend to snap when used for cutting (wilderness-survival.net). This is not the weapon of a prepared hunter, but one using improvisation in order to make the most of a very difficult situation, one in which there aren't a lot of options open to him. If the man is successful he will have a hard time eating whatever he kills, assuming that he wants to eat whatever he kills, and isn't attacking an enemy of some sort; the card itself makes is difficult to tell what the context is. Either way, the use of the bone as a weapon shows that the man is near the end of the rope, but not quite out of rope yet. As well as showing a context of desperation it also shows the mettle of the man involved and his ingenuity and perserverance. At this point it seems as though it would be easier to give up than to be improvising tools, but the man in the 4 of Blood hasn't done that yet, and looks determined not to give up. So this is a card of difficult times, but one that reflects the need for heart and perserverence.
- Application
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If anything this card is a reminder for me to use what's around in whatever I'm seeking. In this case, I believe it's referring to my spiritual practice. Since my son was born I haven't had time for a "proper" spiritual practice; the hour of yoga and meditation that I was doing before work have totally disappeared. Replacing that physical sense of well-being and daily dose of serenity haven't been easy, but it doesn't mean I ought to let it slip completely. Instead I'm focusing my breathing on the walk to the bus in the mornings and using the bus ride as a time to get my sketching in. Making the most of what I would have considered lost or between moments is really where I can recoup some of my daily practice.
- Traditional Meanings
- Aeclectic Tarot - 4 of Swords
- ATA Tarot - 4 of Swords
