King of Wands

A couple of ways to describe this King are primal rage and raw talent.  As one of the four Kings within a traditional Tarot deck, his elemental association is fire.  The Rider Deck postures him on the throne in a way that suggest he is ready to take on any situation or person, any time or place.

He plants his feet squarely on the plinth, holds a seemingly primitive looking wand, and constructs a fist with his free hand.  His body language speaks strongly for him.  All characteristics are signs of a person who is confident backing up force to kick your ass with a natural fury breed in the heart and gut regions.  In war he may have a disdain for weaponry (unlike the King of Swords).

Feeling the presence of this King gives rise to words such as valor and leader.  In battle, while rallying the troops under his command, a theatric statement such as, “Arise!  With your own fist, bludgeon to the death your enemies head!” may billow out of his mouth.  He is intense, he is theatrical, and he is a warm and loyal friend.

 The pursuit of gratifying passion, desire, and esteem are his motivators in almost every situation.  He does extremely well when his desires and passions align with an order cooler than his own heads tendency.

Original King Wands is from the Rider Deck.  Pamela Coleman Smith is the artist.

The Queen That Grows With Us

The Queen of Wands is one of four queens in a Tarot Deck.  When she appears in a reading it is very important to take note of the other accompanying cards to gain a greater sense of what her presence in the reading means.  I suggest this because this Queen is ever evolving.  When the Queen of Wands appears by herself in (for example) a one-a-day reading it is a reminder to love and honor the best about ourselves in every situation.  For the purpose of this article I will briefly divide her unique nature into three aspects of maiden, mother, and crone.

Wearing the mask of “Maiden”, the Queen of Wands represents bringing something new and fresh to the table.  She may push the envelope on social norms simply because she can.  The cat often accompanying this Queen in many Rider-Waite inspired Tarot decks lets us know that like the cat, she forges her own path by ultimately doing what she pleases when she pleases.

As represented in the card shown from the Rider Tarot Deck, this Queen’s yellow dress is a connotation of growth via experience.  Her “Mother” aspect is not born from the realm of thought, emotion, or Earth’s natural rhythm.  The sunflower that she carefully poises in her left hand represents proof of this Queen’s fertility.  For good or ill she tends her domain (children, finances, home life, etc) mostly under the edict of her own will.

Looking again at her dress, the Queen of Wands silvery-gray cloak is seemingly somber against the bright sheath she wears.  This in a sense represents both maturity and personal illumination of the “Crone”. Although she exudes an almost eternal youthful vigor and her will is strong, it is not immune to changes brought on by the limitations of time.      

Out of all the court card’s female throne holders, the Queen of Wands is the most well rounded and unpredictable.  She often gives off the impression of having a great sense of self that owns whatever scene she finds herself in.  Her energy is intense. Anyone wishing to try and hold her back should prepare for a fight that may last till the death. All in all, if this Queen is wise, she will not fixate on her own perception of righteousness but will embrace the ebbs and flows of life’s very real cycles of trial and error.

© Mrs. Gray Divine Tarot Curiosities Weblog, February 2010