Wands

What kind of energy, what the suit is about

Energy: active, fast, passionate, breakthrough — sometimes impulsive or destructive (when there’s too much fire and no one is keeping it in check). This is “I want it and I’ll get it” energy: initiative, inspiration, burning with an idea.

What it’s about: work, career, business, projects, creative self-expression, sexuality, the will to win, leadership and competition. If Cups are about feeling, Swords about thinking and Pentacles about having, Wands are about doing and putting yourself out there.

What people ask

When Wands dominate a reading, the questions are almost always about getting things done out in the world:

• “Will this project work? Should I start the business?”
• “Should I change jobs, take the initiative?”
• “How do I grow in my career?”
• “What’s happening in the relationship? Is there a spark?” (Wands aren’t the main suit for feelings, but they often show a romance moving fast, or jealousy and rivalry.)
• “Do I have the energy for what I’m planning?”

Situations Wands describe

• Starting something new, launching a project, brainstorming.
• Competition, fighting for your place, arguments, debates.
• Things moving very fast, deadlines, everything happening at once.
• A creative high — or the opposite, burnout.
• Business trips, travel, being on the move.

What kind of person

Character: a leader, an enthusiast, an ambitious go-getter, an ideas person, someone who lights others up. A person of action who gets bored sitting still.

Strengths: charisma, courage, self-confidence, the ability to get others excited about an idea, optimism.

Weaknesses (too many Wands): a short temper, impatience, a tendency to burn out fast, self-centeredness, dropping things once the first excitement is gone. Under stress this person can burn themselves and everyone around them.

Pace, season, element

• Element: fire.
• Pace: very fast — “here and now,” “full steam ahead.”
• Season: spring — beginnings, growth, energy, action, drive. In astrology the fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

When Wands dominate a reading, there’s a huge surge of energy (or it’s burning out). You need to act, to solve things through activity and ambition — but it’s also a warning not to charge ahead without judging your strength.

From Tahmina’s readings

Five of Wands + Ace of Wands — a reading on “when will I meet the one.” The Five of Wands showed tension, disagreement, inner conflict: “a state of rushing around, struggling, searching in a chaotic way… it takes a lot of energy, a lot of fuss and noise.” The Ace of Wands is “a very fast card: from the moment you let go of that crisis state, get your energy back and start enjoying every day, everything around you will start moving very quickly.” The trigger here is switching from “it’s hard and I’m lonely” to “I’m on fire with what I do” — as soon as that changes, the Ace of Wands kicks in straight away.

King of Wands — a reading on money. “A direct call to lead: take the initiative, maybe raise your prices, offer your audience a new format… it’s about actively running the situation and authority. Act boldly, with charisma — really spark your audience’s interest.” Here Wands mean stepping out in front of people, speaking up for yourself with confidence and growing what you do.