Wands

The Suite of Wands

The suite of Wands is associated with the element of fire and we see this in the image above via a burning torch. The burning branch or firebrand is perhaps the earliest wand and magic trick known to humans; the creation of heat and light.

Yet the wood has green leaves suggesting it is still alive. This is not a normal fire. It is the fire of the mind and it creates ego, passion, will and creativity.

In ancient myths and creation-stories fire is often forbidden to mortals because its use puts us too close to the Gods. With fire we can create and exercise our ingenuity. With fire we have warmth to sustain ourselves and the ability to form a material of much greater strength than mere wood; metal. This puts us far beyond the rest of creation and literally allows us to fly to the heavens.

It is often said that the spark of fire within us is the spark of the divine.

Wands in a Reading

In a readings the Suite of Wands often relates to your goals in terms of things you care deeply about: emotional attachments, career and aims in life. It also suggests competition and protecting those things you hold dear. The suite is often seen as representing an energetic masculine energy.

Reversed, the suite can often point to egotistical behavior and shallowness or impulsiveness.

The Exemplar Card

There is always a court card that epitomizes the archetype of the suite. The knights in all suites represent fire so the knight of Cups represents fire in the suite of fire, or pure fire.

We can see from the image that the Knight of Wands is all about passion, competition or the will in motion. The card shows one of the most competitive and passionate endeavors, war. The knight is Ares, God of War.

The reversed Knight of Wands can also suggest a lack of care; thinking only for yourself and your own goals and a tendency to impulsively charge in, then just as quickly charge away again!

This is also true of Ares. He was seen as a self-centered and bloodthirsty God and hated by nearly everyone. Perhaps less well known, the God of War was also a coward when cornered by those better able to fight than him, such as the feminine energy of Athena. She could beat him and his brute strength easily through a different and far deeper strength (as shown by the Major Arcana Strength card): better tactics and planning leading to an understanding and tactical respect for your enemy.

The Journey

The Major Arcana in this deck are based on the Hero’s journey/monomyth as noted here. Although the Minor Arcana is less concerned about an overall arc and more concerned with day-to-day events and people, there is still an overall message that runs through each suite. The story for the suite of Wands looks like this:

An initial new start (ace) is followed by an aspiration to succeed (two). Through effort (three) this becomes an early success and happiness (four) follows. This success then has to be defended (five) with some success (six), but the peace has to be constantly defended through tenacity (seven) and action (eight), and constantly building defenses (nine), until you are burdened by the constant work and responsibility (ten).

By constantly following your ego and competing, you will burn yourself out. We all have aims, passions and goals, but if your aim is merely to achieve these things then the journey will end up controlling you.

Life is about growth, and growth is all about constantly moving targets. 'Failure' is often not realizing your true aims and passions need to change.

We all have aims, passions and goals, but if your aim is merely to achieve these things then the journey will end up controlling you