If you’re new to reading tarot, or you’re a seasoned expert, chances are you’ve come across wands tarot elements while doing a reading.

To help you understand what wands represent in tarot, we’ve outlined the wands tarot elements and how these themes can play out in your life.

The Ace of Wands

Keywords: inspiration, new creative venture, invention, potential

The Ace of Wands represents pure potential. Like all aces, it signals a new beginning, a reassurance from the Universe that anything is possible and now is the time to take action to achieve what you’ve been dreaming about.

If the Ace of Wands appears in a tarot reading you can take it as the “yes!” you’ve been waiting for. Now is the time to seize the moment and take action to accomplish what your heart desires, so focus your creative energy on what you want to achieve and begin taking steps toward that new venture.

The Ace of Wands is pure inspiration — the spark that gets things cooking. Though it doesn’t ensure success, it does indicate that if you take the steps needed the potential is there.

The Ace of Wands is also a sign that you should follow your passion, and that you may be ready to grow on a spiritual or personal level.

The Ace of Wands Reversed

Keywords: halted project, lost opportunity, lack of direction

When the Ace of Wands appears reversed it may indicate that your current project is hitting a wall. Perhaps your passion has fizzled out or you’re experiencing a delay in progress that is out of your hands.

It’s a sign that you should anticipate setbacks now.

The reversed Ace of Wands tarot card can also signal that you have unrealistic expectations about the situation, or a general lack of clarity around what should happen next.

The Ace of Wands reversed can also point out that although you have ideas forming, you’re not ready to take action on them yet.

The Two of Wands

Keywords: possibility, world in your hands, choice, direction

The Two of Wands appears when you’re in a good position with your endeavor. You’ve acted on your ideas and all your plans are now coming together the way you envisioned.

As twos indicate choices, the Two of Wands tell you that you’ve got the world in your hands, so now you just need to decide where you want to go and take that step.

The Two of Wands indicates that you are capable of anything you focus your mind on — whatever you wish to achieve you can with careful planning and decisive action. Now is the time to explore your options and do some goal setting to map out where you’re headed.

When the Two of Wands shows up, be sure to establish a clear plan before moving forward. First know what your goal is before moving forward. 

The Two of Wands Reversed

Keywords: personal goals, lack of planning, reluctance

When the Two of Wands is drawn reversed it may indicate that there’s no more time for planning — you need to take action now or risk losing the opportunity. It’s time to stop playing it safe.

If you’ve been reluctant to take the first step you can take this as a sign that it’s time to get moving!

The Two of Wands reversed can appear when you’re feeling stuck in a situation or are lacking a sense of which direction to go in. You may also need to find more balance in your life before moving to the next phase.

The reversed Two of Wands tarot card may be telling you to focus inward on personal goals and purpose right now rather than trying to accomplish something out in the world.

The Three of Wands

Keywords: progress, expansion, exploration, looking ahead

When the Three of Wands is drawn in a reading it indicates success out in the world. At this point, the planning phase is over and you’re ready to take the next big step toward achieving your goals. Now is the time to be bold and take actions to maximize the potential of your project.

The Three of Wands signals that you’re in a place of knowing what it takes to achieve the next goal and having the confidence in your ability to manifest your dreams.

The Three of Wands tells you that now is the perfect time to be adventurous and may even point to overseas travel.

The Three of Wands Reversed

Keywords: lack of vision, delays, staying in comfort zone

The Three of Wands reversed may be a sign that your plans aren’t working out. Perhaps you’ve run into unforeseen obstacles or you’re stuck waiting on other people or processes to finish first before you can get going.

The reversed Three of Wands an also indicates that although the opportunity is there, you’re choosing to stay in your comfort zone and not take the risk to seize it. You may be limiting your own potential by choosing to remain where you are.

The Three of Wands reversed can also signal that any travel you may have planned isn’t happening — things are being put on hold.

The Four of Wands

Keywords: celebration, harmony, joy, stability

When the Four of Wands appears it indicates that after all your hard work you’re now reaching a period of stability and can pause and celebrate your achievements before moving on to the next challenge.

The Four of Wands is a sign that you’re enjoying a time of harmony, balance, and completion.

The Four of Wands encourages you to share the abundance you’ve acquired. Now is a great time to organize gatherings and enjoy the rewards of the effort you’ve been putting in by celebrating with your loved ones.

The Four of Wands can also signal special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, or holidays.

The Four of Wands Reversed

Keywords: personal celebration, inner harmony, outer conflict

When the Four of Wands appears reversed in a tarot reading, it may be urging you to look around to discover what can be celebrated. If you’re in a rut or feeling down it may be helpful to find the places where you can reward yourself for an accomplishment or show gratitude for what you have.

The Four of Wands reversed can point to feeling like your energy has been wasted or that you are experiencing a loss of stability or lack of inner harmony.

The reversed Four of Wands can also indicate that you are quietly celebrating personal goal — perhaps you’ve lost weight or quit smoking — but you’re not ready to announce it to the world yet.

The Five of Wands

Keywords: conflict, disagreements, tension, competition

When the Five of Wands appears in a reading it indicates conflict. Maybe you’re at odds with a friend or coworker and things are coming to a head, or maybe you’re just feeling surly and are looking for a fight — any fight — just to blow off that steam. There’s no purpose to the argument other than to argue. 

The Five of Wands points to constant opposition. No matter what steps you take it seems that you’re unable to achieve your goal because something or someone is always standing in your way.

It can also indicate situations where everyone has a different opinion to share, but no one’s listening to the other points of view so progress is at a standstill.

Sometimes the Five of Wands can appear when pulling together a group brainstorming session to flesh out new ideas could be the solution to the issue at hand. Encouraging diversity and hearing the perspectives of people who have a different background or experience than you may shed light on the path forward.

The Five of Wands often warns of a person or situation that is confrontational and aggressive. Try to take a step back and de-escalate the situation in order to make progress and get everyone working together again.

The Five of Wands Reversed 

Keywords: inner conflict, conflict avoidance, releasing tensions

The Five of Wands reversed appears when you’re unclear of where you stand on an issue. It may be that you’re torn between the pros and cons of a situation or that new information keeps coming to light changing your mind on your position.

When the reversed Five of Wands comes up in a reading others around you likely have strong opinions about your situation or the decision you’re trying to make which are causing tension. You may find yourself ignoring the issue at hand just to avoid the discomfort of facing it.

Sometimes the Five of Wands reversed can appear once you’ve worked through the conflict and can now breathe a sigh of relief.

The Six of Wands

Keywords: success, public recognition, progress, self-confidence

The Six of Wands indicates that you’ve achieved a significant goal you’ve been working toward. After all of your careful planning and hard work you’ve come out of battle victorious! 

Now you’re feeling successful and confident and aren’t afraid to shout it from the rooftops.

When you see the Six of Wands, you may be receiving public acknowledgment for reaching a goal — whether that’s an award or simply just a pat on the back from a friend or co-worker.

Either way, this is your victory parade! Be proud of yourself for what you’ve accomplished and allow others to cheer you on.

When the Six of Wands appears in a reading, remember that although you’re on your way to the finish line, you’re not there yet. Stay focused on the end game and rely on the support of those around you who are rooting for you to succeed.

The Six of Wands Reversed

Keywords: private achievement, egotism, unsuccessful

The Six of Wands reversed may indicate that you’ve reached a personal milestone, but you’re keeping it private. Maybe that’s because it’s too personal or because you’re shying away from the limelight — you’re proud of what you’ve done, but you’re not sharing that success with anyone else right now.

The reversed Six of Wands can also be telling you that you need to redefine success for yourself instead of seeking validation from others. What accomplishments will feel good to you, regardless of what other people think?

The Six of Wands may appear when you did not achieve what you set out to do. You were unsuccessful in your efforts and may even be facing public embarrassment as a result.

Finally, the reversed Six of Wands warns of self-importance. No matter what you’ve accomplished, be careful to keep your ego in check and not get too big of a head.

The Seven of Wands

Keywords: competition, challenge, perseverance

The Seven of Wands is a tarot card of being challenged by others for success you earned. Much like in the game “King of the Hill,” you’re on top and now others are trying to knock you down so they can take that role for themselves.

The lesson here is to stand strong and defend your position. With more visibility comes more haters so it’s important to remember what you believe in and fight for what you stand for. 

When the Seven of Wands appears in a reading it could indicate that you’ve been caught off-guard by an attack. Maybe you thought all the hard work was over and were kicking back when the current threat came out of nowhere.

Remember to consider any possible hurdles and challenges that could lay ahead so you’re prepared next time if/when they come along.

The Seven of Wands can also point to new challenges. You’ve done the thing and received your recognition, but now a new phase has begun and it’s time to get back to climbing. Those challenges may not be other people, but rather could be issues of timing, financing, etc. as well.

The Seven of Wands Reversed

Keywords: exhaustion, overwhelm, giving up

When the Seven of Wands reversed appears in your reading it could indicate that you’re in a place of self-doubt. Perhaps this project feels like a constant battle and you’re feeling completely exhausted by it. Overwhelm has set in and you’re not sure it’s worth pushing forward anymore at all.

The reversed Seven of Wands can indicate that you’re feeling criticized. Perhaps it seems that no matter what choice you make someone is there to tell you you’re wrong.

The Seven of Wands reversed can also carry the meaning of backing down from conflict.

At this point you’re not holding your ground against the oncoming assault or may even be thinking about giving up. This could also be the advice the card is giving — not everything is worth fighting for.

Finally, the reversed Seven of Wands may be telling you that you didn’t try hard enough and now you’ve missed your chance.

The Eight of Wands

Keywords: action, movement, fast-paced change, alignment

The Eight of Wands is here to tell you that after the challenges you faced in the Seven, now everything going according to plan. There’s a high energy pushing your forward and everything will go smoothly as long as you go with the flow and don’t resist the ride.

When the Eight of Wands comes up in a reading it’s a sign to align your resources and focus on your intention and action. You’ll be able to quickly complete each task that you face and then move on to the next one, bringing you rapidly toward the finish line.

The Eight of Wands is a big neon sign saying “don’t wait, do it now!” You need to strike while the iron is hot because everything is aligned for your success right now.

Sometimes, the Eight of Wands can also indicate air travel or a quick trip away, maybe for work or a weekend getaway.

The Eight of Wands Reversed

Keywords: delays, resisting change, inner alignment

The Eight of Wands reversed urges you to slow down and think things through before you spring into action. Rather than charging ahead, you’d be better off making sure you have a plan to follow.

The reversed Eight of Wands also warns that you need to stay focused on one task at a time, seeing each through before moving on to the next bright shiny idea.

The Eight of Wands reversed may indicate that you’re resisting change. Something in your life is shifting but you’re refusing to go easily. If your energy is feeling stuck try changing up your routines to un-stick things and get your energy flowing again.

The reversed Eight of Wands can also point to obstacles in the way of your plans.

The Nine of Wands

Keywords: perseverance, resilience, courage, stamina, boundaries

The Nine of Wands will appear in a reading when you’re almost at the finish line, but there’s a final challenge to face before your goal is reached. This challenge is a test of your grit, as each obstacle you overcome makes you stronger.

The Nine of Wands urges you to maintain your position and keep pushing forward.

You’ve already come so far and accomplished so much, now you just need to stay the course. You may be battered and bruised, but despite your exhaustion you’ll see it through and come out the other side.

The Nine of Wands also advises that you need to establish boundaries for yourself. Now is the time to get clear on what you need to succeed and communicate that to others around you.

The Nine of Wands Reversed

Keywords: struggle, defensiveness, paranoia, inner resources

The Nine of Wands reversed indicates that you’re currently struggling to keep working toward your goal. You may be experiencing repeated setbacks, but the best thing you can do is dig deep for your inner strength and keep going.

When the Nine of Wands reversed appears in a reading you may be overcome by responsibilities and feel like you have no support.

The reversed Nine of Wands can also indicate that you’re worrying that everyone and everything is out to get you. This worry is likely just an internal perception, though, and not a reality. Put any defensiveness you’re feeling aside and don’t worry what others think — just keep doing your thing.

The Ten of Wands

Keywords: burden, hard work, extra responsibility  

The Ten of Wands indicates that you’re carrying a great burden or very heavy workload. You may have taken on increased responsibility and you’re feeling very weighed down by it now.

When the Ten of Wands appears you may be taking on extra work unnecessarily and are now facing burnout. Now is the time to determine what’s really important and what you can set aside or delegate to someone else.

The Ten of Wands reminds you that you’re now in the final steps of reaching your goals and that putting in all this hard work now will bring you reward later. 

Finally, the Ten of Wands is a sign that you have worked hard to accomplish a goal, but now you need to be aware of the added responsibility that will continue to be yours moving forward.

The Ten of Wands Reversed

Keywords: carrying the load, delegation, release

The Ten of Wands reversed appears when you’re trying to take on too much by yourself. You need to remember that you can’t be everything to everyone, so it’s time to delegate some of those tasks you’ve added to your list.

The reversed Ten of Wands can also indicate that you’re experiencing a private burden. Perhaps something emotional or mentally taxing, but you’re unwilling to share what you’re going through or seek help from anyone.

When the Ten of Wands appears in a reading it may be asking you to release tasks, activities or possessions that you no longer need and are weighing you down.

The Page of Wands

Keywords: inspiration, discovery, new ideas, potential

The Page of Wands is the enthusiastic beginner — willing to try any and everything! Even though there’s no solid plan, the excitement about all the potential is there.

The Page of Wands is a dreamer, always inspired and coming up with new ideas. He’ll jump right in to any new endeavor, excited to gain wisdom but also to just experience the adventure of it.

While the Page of Wands is all about discovering new directions to go in, be sure to take time to examine those ideas and ground them in reality before taking action.

The Page of Wands Reversed

Keywords: unformed ideas, self-limiting beliefs, spiritual searching

The Page of Wands reversed indicates that you have a sense that something new is coming, but you haven’t figured out what action to take yet. You may experience a lot of restless energy with no focus for it.

The reversed Page of Wands can also appear when you took a stab at a new idea or venture and it didn’t work out. You may need to redefine what you’re aiming to accomplish then try again with a different approach.

Don’t abandon the idea, refine it.

The Page of Wands reversed may indicate that there are obstacles in the way of achieving your goal and that may have created self-doubt and indecisiveness about how to proceed.

Finally, the Page of Wands reversed can appear when you’re seeking a new path of spiritual experience and learning.

The Knight of Wands

Keywords: passion, adventure, impulsiveness

The Knight of Wands takes the inspiration and excitement we saw from the Page of Wands and goes for it — here we move from the inception of an idea to inspired action!

The Knight of Wands pulls together all the needed resources and pursues making it all come together. When this card appears in a reading the message is that the time is now!

The Knight of Wands is very charismatic and can easily rally others to join him —whether it be a helping hand or a cheerleading squad. He’s excellent at networking with others and can always find someone to come to his aid.

The Knight of Wands is also a wanderer, moving from one creative project to another. He also denotes travel and adventure — the more dangerous the better, as that excites this Knight.

The Knight of Wands can sometimes be a bit reckless, acting first and thinking later. He is often impulsive and impatient, which doesn’t always work out for the best.

The Knight of Wands Reversed

Keywords: haste, scattered energy, frustration, delay

The reversed Knight of Wands may appear in a reading when you are pursuing a passion project that is very personal to you — one that you’re not sharing with the world.

The reversed Knight of Wands can also indicate that you’re unsure how to channel your energy. You may feel like you’re rushing around from task to task without properly accomplishing anything.

The reversed Knight of Wands may be pointing out that factors beyond your control are getting in the way of pursuing your project.

The Queen of Wands

 

Keywords: courage, independence, determination, confidence

The Queen of Wands tarot is courageous and determined, she knows how to channel her strengths to accomplish what she desires. She is a sign to stay focused on your goals and remain optimistic about the outcome.

When the Queen of Wands appears in a reading it’s time to believe in yourself and be bold in what you set out to achieve.

Popular and social, the Queen of Wands is able to influence others with her determination and energy, She enjoys being the center of attention and reflects positivity and warmth to all those around her.

The Queen of Wands Reversed

Keywords: self-confidence, introverted

When the reversed Queen of Wands appears in a reading it indicates that you know what you stand for and feel a deep sense of self-confidence.

The Queen of Wands reversed can also mean that you’re feeling introverted and prefer to stand and watch from the sidelines rather than being the center of attention.

When you draw the reversed Queen of Wands, try to focus on rebuilding your sense of self and connecting to what makes you shine.

The King of Wands

Keywords: leadership, charisma, masculine power, long-term success

The King of Wands symbolizes creative mastery and inspirational thought. You have a clear idea of the big picture and the outcome you’re working toward and are fully capable of seeing your plans through to the end.

The King of Wands indicates that you are ready to step into a leadership role, enlisting others to make your dreams a reality rather than doing it all alone. Charismatic and determined, others believe in you and want to be a part of your creative vision and support you in your long-term goals.

When the King of Wands appears, it’s a sign that it’s time to be fearless — let your heart lead the way and take a chance on something bold!

The King of Wands Reversed

Keywords: poor leadership, arrogance, abuse of power

The King of Wands reversed may indicate that you’re feeling timid and are afraid to stand up for your passions or beliefs. It may also be a sign that although you’re in a management role, you’re not comfortable with leading others. You’re managing their performance, but you’re not inspiring them or leading by example.

The reversed King of Wands can point to a lack of skill or resistance to accepting responsibility. It warns, too, against abusing your power or wielding it poorly.

When the King of Wands reversed appears in a reading it may be a warning not to set unrealistic expectations for yourself or the others involved in your vision. Too much ambition without solid planning may set you up for failure.

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