The Suit of Wands and its Role in Tarot

Wand Symbolism

Just as you would use a magic wand to cast a spell, said spell would be made up of energy, our willpower, of our desire to cast something beneficial, or sometimes destructive. As, within the terms of magick, we are all familiar with wands having the ability to produce ‘good’ spells and ‘bad’ spells depending upon the will of the spellcaster.

With your own wand in hand, you have the ability to cast any spell you like based upon your personal desires at that given moment. Will your wand be used for better or for worse? Will you think before wielding that magical weapon?

The wand is one of great potential and great destruction, just as the Wand suit itself represents both the best and worst sides of our temperament and actions.

In magickal history, especially within the fantasy realm, we think of the enemies to be the ones who wield a wand (or staff) for their own benefit without consideration for others. The Wands cards in the Minor Arcana can too show us to be the big bad wizard with our negative traits – such as impulsivity, greed, and selfishness.

But like the typical ‘hero’ of the story, we have the ability to wield that wand to do good, to create good, to push onward for the greater good. Wands are used to wield the will of our own power, our words, our desires, and with them we can create or we can destroy.

Wands In A Reading

If you’re doing a tarot reading, and many Wand cards show up, it’ll only be natural for you to be wondering what exactly are the Wands telling you? To put in bluntly, the Wands want you to deal with life instead of just letting life deal with you. Essentially, it’s all about having your chin up, your shoulders back, and taking action!

Trusting in your spark of creativity can be worth it, pushing onward can be worth it, committing to that bold action can be with it.

If it’s looking negative overall, then the Wands can also pop up to warn about your current actions and your mindset, especially if you are acting out in selfish and egotistical ways. Such traits will not serve you, and the Wands will be showing up in their masses to tell you to check yourself, hun.

The Wands can also represent people in your life, whether this is directly a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), but be mindful that this could also be yourself! However, the cards can relate to a person with another sign, and just represent them based on personality/who they are acting as in the given situation the cards are describing.

What the Wands can mean depending upon the type of reading you’re doing (and remember that each card will specifically go into more details, whether that be positive or negative) so let’s check them out in a bit more context:

In a general reading

The Wands can be looking to fuel you with a new burst of life and energy to make sure you give yourself the ‘oomph’ you need! You can turn your passions into something significantly impactful in your life. The Wands will be supportive of trying to make your dreams become your reality.

In a love reading

The Wands are fire, they are passion, and boy oh boy they can absolutely suggest that this romance will be burning hot and bright! It’s easy to get lost in the moment with this one, especially sexually, but it can also suggest hot tempers and arguments! All in all, this romance will be a wild one either way! Burning bright and fast, whether that is for better or for worse.

In a career reading

You’ll do your best, and be at your happiest, in a job where you feel challenged and as though you are truly valued. Work within a creative industry could potentially suit you well, or one that compliments you spiritually. But the Wands can also warn that no career is worth burning yourself out over.

In a money reading

You have the potential to improve your finances via your creative interests, passions, and hobbies, and you’ll enjoy this too. But the Wands can also be warning you to not take too many risky chances for the sake of thinking luck will always be on your side.

In a health reading

Your splendidly active activities could be keeping you in tip-top shape! But there is always the risk that we are overdoing it. So on one hand, you could be doing the best thing for yourself, but on the other you could be doing too much and having a negative impact on your health. Wands, in this case, could also be indicating the inner-drive you’ll need to battle an illness.

How the Wands interact with the other minor arcana suits:

• Swords: allow your knowledge to bond with your ambition and guide you forward appropriately.
• Cups: use your emotions to ignite that spark and follow what is lighting you up inside. Let your emotions fuel your passions, let yourself be inspired!
• Pentacles: be practical about your approach with your creative outlets, you may need to look into new ways of doing things.

A Look at Each of the 14 Wands Cards