4 of Wands is sometimes considered a card of marriage: note that in the RWS version, a couple is running towards what looks like a wedding chuppah, and the astrological correspondence for this card is Venus in Aries. Venus rules the Empress, and Aries is the sign for the Emperor, and these 2 archetypes are often seen as a pair. So while 4 of Wands can certainly reflect a marriage or romantic partnership in our readings, to find a broader interpretation, it can symbolize any rite of passage—think graduations and anniversaries. And while the energy here is often more celebratory, it can also acknowledge deaths and divorces (this is where you often see the reversal of this card). It is the completion of some stage of our life that is often best processed through rite and ritual. That is, in our culture, typically marked with a party or gathering, which is why many interpretations of this card point in that direction. So while 4 of Wands can absolutely be a simple call for celebration, that usually comes hand in hand with a transition of some sort; a threshold that has been crossed. Intentionally marking these passages is how we step into and claim the next iteration of our identity, another hallmark of all 4s in the Tarot (correlating to the Emperor-the Major 4-whos key phrase is ‘I Am’).