Meaning of the Wands – Minor Arcana

The Wands are therefore one of the 4 groups found among the minor arcana. Like the other 3 groups, they consist of 14 cards or blades. 10 numeral cards ranging from the Ace to number 10 and 4 court cards which are the page, the knight, the queen and the king, also called court or honour cards.

The Wands are influenced by the natural element of fire, by the season of spring and by the zodiac signs that are Leos, Sagittariuses and Ariens. They are close to the clubs found in ordinary card decks and to the masculine principle of Yang.

The Wands embody the power of persuasion and the ambition some show to reach their goals. They demonstrate a feeling of courage and perseverance, thanks to a strong personality, acquired through sheer effort. The energy of the Wands is always used for a professional purpose, whether artisanal, collective or industrial. It is therefore the energy of entrepreneurs and of all those who do everything to move things forward, even if it means shaking up codes and conventions. But they are also the sign of a blazing passion and sulphurous desires. Beware of the negative sides, which are selfishness and decisions made hastily.

The Ace of Wands

This is the card that announces a beginning or a renewal. It is an opening in your professional and romantic life, and in your possibilities for action.

Since the family of wands plays a very active role within a reading, this Ace is a symbol of energy from a mental as well as a physical, even sexual, point of view. It is also the card of the miracle of life and of the birth of all creative drive.

• Upright :  Birth – Energy – Drive – Creation
• Reversed :  Stagnation

2 of Wands

This card heralds large-scale projects to come. But it also invites reflection in the case of uncertain romantic relationships.

It therefore encourages patience and a certain introspective work likely to help make the best possible decisions. It is thus a sign of waiting and of a certain passing solitude. But it also indicates that the result of this reflection should, afterwards, see us mature.

• Upright : Reflection – Project – Decision – Maturation
• Reversed : Hasty

3 of Wands

This is the card of success that lies at the end of the road. The one that finally pays off all the efforts made to reach one’s goal. It also announces crucial choices and the desire to make things concrete in matters of love.

It is also the card of new discoveries and therefore of a certain open-mindedness. Partnerships are thus on the agenda, whether intimate or more professional; in any case, new experiences will be successfully undertaken. 

• Upright : Discovery – Openness – Collaboration – Success
• Reversed : Failure

4 of Wands

This card is the one of the celebration of friendship and of harmonious sharing within the family. It symbolises recognition or the completion of a project. It is very positive in love.

It is therefore the card of security and of a certain balance that stabilises our emotions and thus makes us more serene in the face of visions of the future. In any case, harmony is well present, so it is high time to enjoy it without any restraint.

• Upright : Sharing – Balance – Recognition – Harmony
• Reversed : Conflict

5 of Wands

This card tells you that you are in the middle of a conflictual and complicated situation with one or several opponents. It also announces some romantic rivalries.

It is therefore a feared card in a reading, which announces a series of obstacles that the querent will have to overcome if they want to save face and find a semblance of peace afterwards. There will inevitably be choices to make, in order to evolve as best as possible situations that are currently conflictual.

• Upright : Conflicts – Rivalries – Obstacles – Overcoming
• Reversed : Flight

6 of Wands

This is the card of victory and of recognition. It embodies self-confidence and positive exchanges in love. It is therefore the one that brings some positive changes which finally offer satisfaction.

It embodies above all the romantic encounter between 2 beings who are made for each other, and who will therefore decide to walk part of the path together. Moreover, it announces roughly the same dynamic on the professional side.

• Upright : Recognition – Confidence – Encounter – Satisfaction
• Reversed : Doubt

7 of Wands

This card defines your actions and struggles to embody your values and your determination. In love, it shows suffocation. It is therefore necessary to assert yourself in order to try to regain a minimum of respect within your relationships.

It is thus a card that easily combines a state of mind in full mutation and action, in order to settle situations that are somewhat tangled. But beware, the energy deployed must be more than positive.

• Upright : Struggle – Determination – Mutation – Energy
• Reversed : Surrender

8 of Wands

This is the card that represents the energy that pushes you towards challenges. It is a good omen in love, even if it requires an effort of concentration, so as not to let yourself be distracted and to pinpoint everything that is truly essential to any evolution.

You will therefore have to keep your eyes open, because even if the troubles experienced in the past are now far behind, no one is safe from last-minute changes that force you to reframe the situation and improvise as best you can.

• Upright : Challenge – Concentration – Evolution – Improvisation
• Reversed : Self-denial

9 of Wands

This card represents your defences in an attacking position, but also romantic solitude. Thus, as the saying goes, “lucky at cards, unlucky in love”… For one cannot say that you will lack nerve in the face of adversity; quite the contrary, your courage will get you out of the crises you will have to go through, and brilliantly so.

But you will lose a few feathers on the sentimental level. Nevertheless, perhaps this will help you communicate better about your feelings next time…

• Upright : Defence – Courage – Adversity – solitude
• Reversed : resignation

10 of Wands

This card embodies all your daily commitments and the responsibilities within the couple. It is the sign that the goals will be reached, even if the efforts required to get there are considerable.

But here we are talking about accomplishment, so we might as well rejoice in it and enjoy this success that we can be proud of, given the sacrifices incurred. Moreover, romantic energy will only be multiplied tenfold, which promises intense moments shared between 2.

• Upright : Commitments – Efforts – Accomplishment – Pride
• Reversed : Disinterest

The Page of Wands

He is your energy and determination in any creation and any project.  He is also a sign of the return of love. Thus, his flow will determine your motivation and help you socialise with others, whom you tended to push aside until now.

New enriching experiences will satisfy your enthusiasm, which will make you more open and compassionate, and will not go unnoticed by people eager to charm you.

• Upright : Energy – Determination – Socialisation – Compassion
• Reversed : Solitude

The Knight of Wands

He embodies your impulsiveness and passion in what you undertake, but also the burning passion in love. Beware, then, of burning yourself, even if your professional efforts are going in the right direction and you will soon be rewarded for them.

On the feelings side, it is true that a consuming passion will set in between you and a person who ardently desires you. And this shared love will be as fiery as it is far from ordinary, whether some like it or not.

• Upright : Passion – Efforts – Reward – Love
• Reversed : Weakness

The Queen of Wands

She represents the success of an enterprise, achieved with determination and efficiency. She is a mark of indelible and sincere courage. In love, she invites you to renew exchanges.

She is therefore the guarantor of a certain success obtained thanks to your motivation, but also to your organisation which is second to none. This is also what will make others want to spend more time with you, and why not form a more intimate relationship, now that you appear more solid than ever.

• Upright : Motivation – Efficiency – Success – Relationships
• Reversed : Betrayal

The King of Wands

This is the card of power and of the energy of professional or romantic authority. It symbolises the strength to overcome obstacles and truth. This, thanks to your exemplary vision of what must be done and at what moment.

This gives you a slight advantage over others, who appreciate your company for the seriousness you show, but also for the security you seem to bring to the people around you. As a result, everyone would like to have you as a close friend.

• Upright : Advantages – Power – Visionary – Professional
• Reversed : Manipulator