Wands bring to mind fairytales of witches, wizards, and magicians. These chosen ones typically have the innate ability to tap into a hidden well of power, and the wand intensifies their connection and directs their aim. The Suit of Wands in the Minor Arcana integrates this meaning. Even if none of the figures appear to be casting a spell, they turn inspiration into action. The living tree branch in their hands is symbolic of their personal connection to their creative powers. They confidently take command of their life, tapping into the creative forces to forge a new reality.
The visionary spark best expresses itself in the element of fire. Fire’s nature is inherently chaotic, having the ability to give just as much as it takes. Fire can burn cities to the ground, forge the toughest steel, or rehabilitate entire ecosystems. Its multifaceted creative capacity inspires ingenuity. Note the Great Pyramids of Giza in the Page and Knight of Wands. From the flat plains of endless desert, ancient humans erected a structure unlike any the world had yet seen. As such, you will often see barren landscapes in the Suit of Wands upon which the figures project and plot their future paths.
Our lives, too, are full of blank slates. The unwritten pages of the future call on us to innovate. From this mere spark of inspiration, entire countries are born, businesses built, tyrants toppled, and civil rights won. The key is appropriately harnessing this power, which is the mark of a great leader (Queen and King of Pentacles). Many of the figures throughout the Minor Arcana are working hard to reach this goal, battling internal doubts (Nine of Wands) and external competition (Five and Seven of Wands). Our passion and courage must be stronger than the beratement of the crowd who fear our visions simply because they are unfamiliar or believed to be impossible.
