The influence of The Emperor is felt quite strongly here - in the Queen's Fiery Water (producing intellectual steam) residing in the First House of the zodiac, where Aries is ruled by Mars. Here we initiate an impetus towards our goal, that of the Queen of Wands moving forward in life, making room for new elements - there is risk taking combined with a high powered energy to improve our situation.
This is "Constituting Wisdom" - to constitute creation in the darkness of the world, to make anything what it is, to frame and compose an image or idea. The Queen here represents that motive then of plunging into the situation without too much aforethought, Fire has been tempered by its Watery aspect of emotional enthusiasm, producing a personality triggered by intuitive insight (the moving energy of Water, expanded by Fire producing intellectual Steam/thought).
Both fours here signify "He who sets in order" - the Queen's presence indicating initial blockages, distant mountains representing a barren sterility eventually leading to growth (the mountains crumble and erode into fertile soil useful for growth). The alchemical stage here is that of Ashes (Cinders), alluding to the concept of the phoenix rising up out of the ashes.
The four Wands cross behind the Emperor's Cubic Stone signifying control + support, there is an impetus however to follow our own passions to the detriment of the needs of others (the moving energies of The Queen) but with Venus residing in Aries, supplemented by the greater benefic of Jupiter show that these passions will provide fruitful returns.
Consequently, the four of Wands also relates to the "possibilities" of the Empress, the growth + organisation of cosmic energies working on a subconscious level (as the crayfish climbing out of the waters of The Moon card).
This brings us to the four of Cups - Moon in Cancer of the High Priestess, the intuition of The Queen depicted as a mystic seated at the gateway between this world and the next (the crayfish caught between worlds). She is the embodiment of the Lunar body signifying secret mysteries and unconscious desires. An unstoppable force of nature, thinking on its feet (the impetus of the Queen), emotional and intuitive, given to moments of quiet introspection when we take ourselves briefly out of the fray to recharge and rethink our strategies.
It is here in withdrawing from life that we receive inspirations from our occult meditation which we then work out on the planes of Form.
