Welcome to lesson 4
Time now to move on to the Wands!!
Wands represent work and career and the element Fire.
Part of your study this week is to find a trusting friend (not family because that’s too close) and have them ask a question of the cards and see how you get on!!
Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to use your book(s) and notes when you first start practicing reading cards for your friends, they won’t mind and it will help build up your confidence.
Lesson 4 – The Suit of Wands
The first suit of the Minor Arcana is the Wands or Rods or Batons as they are sometimes called.
This suit is associated with the element Fire, a creative force that can illuminate and warm, or if uncontrolled will burn and destroy.
Wands represent the creative urge and imagination, and the will to bring one’s dreams into reality.
In a reading they refer to career, work, enterprise and ambition.
Positive attitudes associated with this suit are enthusiasm, determination and passion.
Negative attitudes associated with Wands are reckless behaviour and subsequent disappointment.
As you are no doubt starting to realize there is a lot of information to take in about the 78 cards!! So during this introductory course I’m not going to cover the positive and negative aspects of the Minor Arcana in detail, but rather focus on the key words and values associated with each of the numbered cards.
- Take out from your deck the Wands and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your cloth.
- Like you have done in previous lessons focus on the first card, the Ace of Wands, and try and memorize some of the key words associated with the card.
- Make notes of any words or symbols you get from the card before moving onto the next one.
- Do this until you have done all
Depending on the deck you are using, you may be able to see the key concepts of the card in the picture. If it isn’t obvious, try to find some aspect of the imagery of the card that will remind you of the keywords. The human brain remembers pictures and symbols far better than words and numbers, so this will help you a lot. Try to get the image of the card to ‘talk to you’, rather than just trying to remember that ace is such and such and 2 is such and such. This will become very important when you are giving full readings using more complex spreads.
NOTE – In some of the cards I will share a DEEPER explanation, but I want you to find your own meaning in the cards.
Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands suggests there is a correlation between what you are thinking of doing on a higher level and bringing it into your life. If this is the case it will not be difficult. It can transform what you have now and turn it into something different, something better, so aim high!
– positive: creativity, originality, fertility, new beginnings
– negative: frustration, greed, overconfidence
2 of Wands
If you are having problems in a relationship you may not be seeing the other person’s point of view. The views and thoughts that are currently on your mind going around and around in circles are causing a retreat within that is surely not doing the relationship any favours.
– positive: earned success, partnership
– negative: futility, pride without humility, worthless goals
3 of Wands
The Three of Wands encourages you to push past your limitations and expand your horizons. It will mean stepping outside your comfort zone and exploring uncharted territories.
Whilst you may run into pitfalls or have to take detours along the way keep in mind that these are often a blessing in disguise that can open up a whole new world of possibilities.
– Action: Established Strength
– positive: new ventures, conviction, partnerships
– negative: lack of nerve, frustration, personality clashes
4 of Wands
The Four of Wands says it’s ok to give yourself a chance to take a breather. It’s ok to stop and smell the flowers. It’s ok to step back and admire all of your efforts, knowing that they continue to gather momentum and will keep on going even if you decide to take a break.
– Perfected Work
– positive: satisfaction, completion, new home
– negative: decadence, snobbishness, impatience
5 of Wands
This is a card that usually involves more than one person. Quite often there are several people involved and the relationship between each person is far from harmonious.
Squabbles, misunderstandings and gossip can abound and as Wands tend to be energetic then you can imagine how any misunderstandings may quickly turn into bigger problems without too much input from yourself.
The love interest you may be pursuing so keenly could turn out to have a few other admirers which means you may need to do your homework first on where you stand with him or her.
– positive: conflict, competitiveness, struggle
– negative: fraud, defeat through devious means, acrimony
6 of Wands
The 6 of Wands is about success, victory and public recognition. Not only have you succeeded in achieving your goals, you are now being publicly acknowledged for your efforts and your results. You may have recently received an award, public acclaim or acknowledgement from your peers for the work that you have done. It may even be just a pat on the back or getting praise or recognition for your work. This instills a high level of confidence within yourself and gives you the strength to continue your efforts.
This card indicates that you have harnessed your strengths and talents in order to bring about a successful outcome in your endeavours. You have managed to get through confusion while minimizing your distractions, focusing on the task at hand. You have overcome the challenges along the way, and now you are focusing your energies on the one goal that will lead to your success. This is your time to shine and to come out on top.
The 6 of Wands is positive encouragement to believe in who you are and what you have accomplished so far. Have faith in what you have personally achieved and how this will be received by others. Do not let fear or guilt stand in the way of your success. You ought to feel proud of what you have achieved and not afraid to hold your head up high and feel worthy of others’ attention.
The 6 of Wands focuses on creating success and building your personal brand and reputation. You want to be successful at what you do but at the same time, you want to ensure that others know about it and give you the recognition you deserve. You may need to promote yourself more frequently by sharing your success stories with others and encouraging them to follow a similar journey. If you do not already, you will soon have some great success stories to share within your personal networks. You may even be interested in applying for awards or scholarships in order to build your brand and receive public recognition.
The downside to this card is that it can also bring self-importance, arrogance and egotistical behaviours. With victory you may come to think that nobody can be better than you and end up with an inflated ego and a big head. If you take on this attitude, someone is likely to want to take you down and criticise you, bringing disappointment and potential disrepute later on. If empowered by the energy of the 6 of Wands, keep in mind how you would feel if someone made you feel inferior or put you down. Reign in your ego and make your victory all the sweeter.
- positive: victory, fulfillment, great news
- negative: suspicion, delayed news, anxiety
7 of Wands
When the Seven of Wands shows up, it is an indication that you will never give up.
Though financial, relational, emotional, and physical challenge could have stopped you, you endured. Though others’ envy could have shamed you, caused you to pause in your pursuits, you persevered.
Endurance ultimately brings success.
You have been true to your endeavor. You are tenacious, relentless, certain of what matters to you. Others have given up along the way. Some have encouraged you to quit. Challenges that disrupted your life in every way showed up. What did you do? You continued.
You will succeed. You are not there yet, but keep going. Assure yourself that you are good. Your intention is clearly benevolent. Your way of moving in this world is thoughtful and considerate. Carry on with your plans. You will arrive.
– positive: challenges, courage, ultimate success
– negative: indecisiveness, lost opportunities, timidity
8 of Wands
If you are waiting for someone to contact you then the communication from them will come suddenly and out of the blue. You may not be ready for it and have no reply to give. This is in line with the Eight of Wands which shows you must be ready for anything, as you possibly have no time to waste.
– positive: activity, travel, action
– negative: delays, impetuous action, poor judgement
9 of Wands
The Nine of Wands needs careful planning to get around, which does not involve acting as if you are stirring up a hornet’s nest. It needs patience and sometimes disinterest on your part in the form of pulling back, alongside acting as if you do not care at all what the other person is doing.
Whilst this may look as if you are uncaring, it is in fact the opposite, as you are showing you have the understanding to give the other person space while they navigate their own way out of their mood. In doing so, you will have them come back to you stronger, more open and hopefully faster than if you go in there trying to get them to talk things through.
– positive: inner strength, self-assurance
– negative: obstinacy, avoidable delays, suspicion
10 of Wands
This card often comes up when one partner is a workaholic and their thinking is totally focused on work to the exclusion of all else. If this resonates for you then you need to realise that you can’t expect others to fall into line and always understand why you need to work 24/7. Sometimes you have to give a little in order to keep relationships running smoothly, and with the Ten of Wands you are certainly giving very little… if at all.
– positive: pressure, over commitment
– negative: deceit, burdens, abuse of power
The court cards
The court cards, (the Page, Knight, Queen and King), can represent people, events, or aspects of a person’s personality. Confused already!! You will be!!
Page of Wands
– Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo, Aries and Sagittarius – this card can represent a child – male or female
– appearance – brown hair, blue or hazel eyes
– positive characteristics – loyal, enthusiastic, hard working
– negative characteristics – spoilt, impatient, hyperactive
possible event – lots of messages and communications, careful consideration of your next move as you may not have all the facts. A possible reunion with an old friend or lover.
Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands indicates actual pursuit of an idea. There is significant action associated with him and he has a true commitment and energy to make sure his ideas are put into action. His courage is incredibly strong and he has no fear of anything. He simply charges forth with his ideas and visions to make things happen. Thus, the Knight of Wands suggests that your confidence levels will rapidly increase and you will feel ready to take on the world with your vision. Tackle any challenges that stand in your way and always be ready to help others who lack your determination and exuberance but who desperately need it.
The Knight of Wands is an ‘act first, think later’ type of guy. He is impatient and impulsive, with a love for action. The downside is that while he is bursting with energy and enthusiasm, he has a tendency to rush into things without much consideration for the consequences of his actions. He sets off on his journey in haste and often fails to have a clear plan of attack and this may negatively impact his chances of longer-term success. He is so focused on being the best and setting out on his quest for fame and glory that he almost forgets to plan ahead and to keep sight of reality. The Knight of Wands can also come across as aggressive and overly ambitious. He is highly insistent even if others stand in his way, criticize him or challenge him.
It is important that you start your creative projects with great enthusiasm and energy but you also temper this with a well-rounded, realistic and balanced view along with a well-considered plan that takes into account any future consequences of your actions. You need to show ambition and move from where you are now to where you know you should be to increase your effectiveness in the world. There is nothing wrong with ambition if it is channelled in the right way. Be a pioneer and take calculated risks.
The Knight of Wands may indicate an event that enters your life quickly and unexpectedly. If coupled with the Eight of this suit, you can expect to see a lot of change and action occurring around you, and you will no doubt be swept up by the restless, ‘busy’ energy whether you like it or not! An important matter is likely to enter your life and demand your attention until it passes. Rather than resisting it, make the time to give it your full attention. Oftentimes, the Knight of Wands can indicate a hasty change of residence, job or other living arrangement. You need to be ready to react quickly and go with the flow as resistance is useless.
- Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo, Aries and Sagittarius – this card can represent a young man less than 35 years of age
– appearance – fair hair, grey or blue eyes
– positive characteristics – vigorous, athletic, unpredictable
- negative characteristics – argumentative, violent, and jealous
- possible event – dramatic changes in events; a move of home, travel possibly overseas
Queen of Wands
– Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo, Aries and Sagittarius – this card can represent a woman of any age
– appearance – red/fair hair, brown or blue eyes
– positive characteristics – warm, practical, homely yet independent
– negative characteristics – overbearing, matriarchal, vindictive
possible event – being over reliant on others, where being introverted or shy is thwarting your progress
King of Wands
– Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo, Aries and Sagittarius – this card can represent a man aged 35 or over
– appearance – red/fair hair, hazel or grey eyes
– positive characteristics – traditional, fair and courageous
– negative characteristics – autocratic, prejudiced, intolerant
possible event – a need to develop psychological balance and gain wisdom. Ideals and practicalities will merge, enabling you to act with integrity.
Practical Exercise – when you’ve finished, extract the Major Arcana from your deck and add it to the Wands suit.
Shuffle well and pick 3 cards, and yes you’ve guessed it, practice the 3 card reading with a trusted friend, and again write everything in your notebook.
Resources & Links:
External Websites to Reference:
FREE Tarot Card Readings – external website