Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Fight Fire with Fire: Wands and New Moon in Aries

My dear friend Sulo Turner has given astrology and tarot readings to me for over 15 years. I treasure the time we have together talking about these subjects, looking back at past readings and discussing our dreams for the future and how it all ties together!

Sulo recently launched a website and posted a wonderful article about the Wands in the Tarot Deck. I wanted to share this with today, which is the New Moon in Aries. Aries is a fire sign. Wands represent the element of Fire. Get the connection....

I hope you enjoy his insight into the Wands of the Tarot Deck! Check out his site for information on other cards as well as posts about astrology!

You can also schedule an astrology reading with Sulo here!

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Ace through Ten of Wands

Wands are the fire element and they represent movement, confidence, energy, passion, drive, and enthusiasm. The journey of ace through ten shows a progression of growth, like the buds springing from the Wands on each card. In their most positive expression, Wands are great doers and starters because they have an itch for adventure, combined nicely with the drive to accomplish something. But like all elements, Wands have their downside. Too much confidence can result in hubris, too much adventure and running around can turn to scatteredness, dillententism, exhaustion, impossibly high ideals. Wands may favor “the process” more than any other element, the getting there moreso than the arriving. Yet, Wands are one of the most social of the four elements and they have a grand view of triumph and celebration. They are no strangers to the party.

Ace of Wands
Here the opportunity/gift from the universe is confidence and drive, a spark of ignition. The energy is literally “at hand.” This is a point of beginning, and you should pay attention to and be guided by your passion. Reversing this ace suggests a block to the energy, something is preventing it from igniting.






Two of Wands. A balance has been achieved, and accomplishments now bolster the self worth. There is an ability to build on past achievemnts,  a new perspective that gives the fire and drive some vision and planning. The world is your oyster, but as always with Wands, cockiness can overtake, so proceed with the humility the figure in the card invites. Reversing the card might result in impatience. “Enough of this planning already, I want to get moving!”





Three of Wands.  Manifestation now creates a launchpad for exploration. Through the fruition of ideas, experience and plans, a passionate pursuit can come to life. The expedition is under way. But reverse the card, and the exploration is not so successful or its necessity is ignored. Some piece of experience is missing and can’t be faked.






Four of Wands. Reward, stability, and results give the village cause to celebrate. As with all fours, the sheer stability of it all is palpable. The walls of the fortress serve as backdrop now and not as protective enclosure. Confidence and a sense of safety lead the way. But reversing any four upsets the perfect balance it depicts in the upright. Suspicion, overprotection and instability can ensue, making it hard to relax.





Five of Wands. There is a healthy competitive nature in the sparring taking place in this card. In the proper context, this is a productive activity. Now the fire can be alternately offensive and defensive. But fives bring challenges, adjustments,  and difficulties, so there is a struggle to stay on the right side of fair play when the card gets reversed.






Six of Wands. Sixes typically depict hierarchy and exchange, and in Wands this takes place in the context of a triumphal parade of sorts. Parades are public celebrations of life’s bigger passages, and with the fire of Wands this shows up in social roles and their manifestation in everyday life. Proper authority and decorum will assist the current pursuit to its successful culmination. But reverse the card and the social thread is cut, which can result in isolation, mistrust of authority and malaise.




Seven of Wands. Contemplation, assessment, planning are what sevens are all about. In Wands, this spells S-T-R-A-T-E-G-Y. The card depicts the heat of the moment, when energy and engagement are at your maximum disposal. Wands love to be “in it,” to revel in the process, perfecting their style as they go. Competition clearly energizes the character in this card. But reverse the seven of Wands, and he is blocked  in energy or production. He can’t sustain the stamina the upright version of the card demands. Perhaps now would be a better time to plan than to act, as both are equally valuable contributions to strategizing.


Eight of Wands. Here we see movement that has been brought about by intention. The culmination of a pursuit is near, as the airborn wands are returning to ground. Energy and drive have produced results which are tangible or soon to be. When this card is reversed, the flight is still in midair. Final touchdown is subject to more rounds of trial, error and refinement.






Nine of Wands. Here we see the exhaustion that an overabundance of Wands tends toward. Maturity and self-acceptance can manifest in Wands as weary vigilance. The man depicted in the card has lots to show for all his activity and expended energy, but certainly tires from the intensity of it all. Yet his pride is apparent. Wands have a tough time with the concept of retirement, so they tend to hold vigil long after it may be necessary. However, some situations in life demand this sort of fortitude and Wands will deliver. Reverse this nine, and he is forced to put down his wand. Fatigue cannot be denied as Wands assimilate the diffiult lesson of rest. It might require enforcement from outside sources.


Ten of Wands. Now we’ve moved beyond exhaustion to overload. Tens are filled with excess, exaggeration, and always carry a lesson of loss of simplicity. With the drive of fire, we’re faced with the stubborn need to be seen as vital and the refusal to delegate or pass the baton. Wands struggle with a hero complex, but the hunched back says it all. This ten is just waiting to be reversed so he can put down all those Wands, a sometimes wrenching but necessary phase of Wands’ development. Otherwise, thay would never know when to stop.


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