Card of the Week: King of Wands

“Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” - Simon Sinek

This week we officially begin breaking down the Minor Arcana that includes the court cards (referred to as King, Queen, Knight, and Page) and the numbered cards (Aces through 10s). The Minor Arcana in Tarot begins with Wands, which represent creativity, passion, drive, action, and outside worldly activities. A tarot reader on Youtube (my personal favorite) describes Wands as what you have done and not what you are about to do. You can think (Swords) about doing something all day but until you do (Wands) it then it really doesn't matter, does it?

“Generally speaking, Wands are positive cards. The colors tend to be bright (yellow stands for optimism, red for action), and the designs and scenarios depicted are usually cheerful (Alexander and Shannon 127).” If Wands come out a lot in your reading, then that means you are doing a great job of taking action. The King of Wands specifically represents someone who is noble and self-assured. In many decks, the king is looking sideways so it is very important to pay attention to how it relates to the other cards surrounding it.

Upright

Past: The King of Wands is the king of taking action. In the recent past, you could have taken the necessary action to get your desired outcome. You took initiative and didn’t wait around for things to happen to you. Because of this, you could have gotten a wish fulfillment or knocked something off your to-do list.

The King of Wands is someone who has a control on things and is confident they can tackle any problem sent their way. This energy coming up in a past position represents someone who found their power and niche in the world and applied themselves for the betterment of their life and others. You are large and in charge right now—hopefully you are putting this powerful and highly attractive energy to good use.

Present: You could be feeling yourself heavy in this present energy, walking around like King Tut. This is beautiful energy and not anything that should go to waste. This would be a great time to try out different things or even better, show off some of your skills. At this time, you have more attention and eyes on you so try not to fumble. This attention that you are getting is well-deserved and what you can share with the world is highly valuable. Now is not a good time to let imposter syndrome rear its ugly head.

You could also be in a state of good fortune, so good that you have other people wanting some of your money or wanting to know how you accrued it all. Again, the spotlight is on you for a reason, so apply yourself. But as the “king of doing things,” you must teach others the importance of action and taking initiative. Make sure you are teaching someone how to fish and not just bringing them the one. You may also be in contact with someone who is wealthy, possibly older, a boss, or maybe a mentor. This is a person you should try to learn from and whose energy you should try to embody.

Future: I see you moving toward more confidence and the feeling of taking the right steps. If this comes out in your future energy, then your current energy can be kind of unstable or bring you a lot of uncertainty. You could be in your Hermit or Hanged Man energy, afraid to make a move and preferring to stay to yourself. In the near future, there will be a shift and you will naturally find yourself moving towards the light and putting yourself out there for the world to see. Soon, you will begin to take the necessary steps to accomplish what you have been thinking and mulling over in your head. The King of Wands is coming in to light a fire under you and get you moving. Remember, we as humans are not just our thoughts, but our actions too.

Reversed

*Disclaimer: Reading tarot cards in reverse is totally up to the reader. There are many who choose not to. There is no right way to do it; go with your intuition. For some readers, a reverse means that the energy of that card cannot manifest into reality due to a block. So if you are someone who chooses to not read reversed cards you may skip this part, however if you are that reader, keep reading!

Remember to always be authentic with your spiritual practices.*

King of Wands in reverse can symbolize delays in action or laziness or it can represent burnout. There is some type of blockage between you and your desired outcome. However, this delay is nothing too serious; you might just need to rework your plan and approach.

This card in this position can also symbolize someone who is either afraid of asking for help or moving selfishly. Remember, in order to be a king, there must be some land or kingdom that you reign over; do not forget about those people while you are making the big decisions. Lastly, watch who you are entrusting and willing to give your power away to at this time. Make sure that whatever you are choosing, chooses you too. Remember, fair exchange is no robbery.

Advice

If the King of Wands comes out in the advice position it is time to reflect on what drives and motivates you. What pushes you to get out of bed in the morning? What inspires you and what are others inspired about when they meet or talk to you?

This is the time to reflect on your actions and if they even align with where you are trying to go. Any Wands in this position is calling for you to get your Swords (thoughts) and Cups (emotions) in order so that your actions reflect who you truly are and where you truly want to be. Your guides also want to remind you that you are in control of your life and where you land. If you feel powerless, it is because you have been giving your power away to people you feel you can trust more, but who can you trust more than yourself? Call back your power and take control of the reins.

Work Cited

Shannon, Mary, and Skye Alexander. The Only Tarot Book You'll Ever Need: A Modern Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Secrets of Tarot. 1 ed., vol. 1, Avon, Adams Media, 2019. 1 vols.

- Symone Smith, @aquaa_cunt