Minor Arcana - Wands
A guide to interpreting the Suit of Wands, as well as insight into the imagery in In The Queer Witch Tarot Deck.
ACE of WANDS
Upright:
Inspiration, New opportunities, Potential, Growth, Creation
Reversed:
Lack of direction, Distractions, Lack of passion, Unexpected delays, Ennui
TWO of WANDS
Upright:
Future planning, Decisions, Discovery, Leaving home
Reversed:
Personal Goals, Fear of the unknown, Poor planning, Playing it safe
THREE of WANDS
Upright:
Progress, Foresight, Distant opportunity, Growth
Reversed:
Thinking small, Lack of foresight, Frustration, Obstacles or delays
FOUR of WANDS
Upright:
Celebration, Joy, Home, Community
Reversed:
Personal celebration, Conflict with others, Transition, Home conflicts, Lack of support
In The Queer Witch Tarot Deck, the four wands are holding up a Chuppah - the traditional canopy that Jewish weddings are performed under. This card is about the moment after a milestone that took time, effort, and patience, where you finally get to revel in the joy you’ve created. This card was inspired by the years my family spent fighting for my moms’ right to get legally married. I’ll never forget the profound feeling of pure, weightless joy that I felt standing in my temple, with my sister by my side, as my parents smashed a glass beneath their feet and released the years of pain, rejection, and perseverance that it took to get to this moment.
FIVE of WANDS
Upright:
Conflict, Disagreement, Building tension, Diversity
Reversed:
Inner conflict, Releasing tension, Avoiding conflict
The Five of Wands suggests that there is chaos that feels like conflict, but may not have to be. In traditional tarot decks, we see five hands holding wands, apparently ready to fight each other - but no one is actually striking. In The Queer Witch Tarot Deck, there is a bomb with five cigarettes burning slowly towards the loosely wrapped fuse. However, gravity would naturally pull the fuse to the ground, and the flame would be extinguished when it touched their filters. The conflict itself is neither unavoidable nor catastrophic - it’s the slow burn of building tension that’s creating anxiety and discomfort.
SIX of WANDS
Upright:
Self-Confidence, Public recognition, Progress, Being cheered on by your community
Reversed:
Private / personal achievement, Fall from grace, Egotism, Lack of recognition, Punishment
In the Queer Witch Tarot Deck, the Six of Wands shows a child named Jasper blowing out the candles at their birthday party. This card tells the story of a child that has been raised as a boy, who wanted a princess themed birthday party. Perhaps more importantly, it’s about a family and a community that celebrated this child’s wishes wholeheartedly. This card is about having the courage to trust yourself, allow yourself joy, and share that joy with your community, and the euphoria of that community celebrating you rather than shutting you down.
SEVEN of WANDS
Upright:
Challenge, Competition, Protection, Perseverance, Maintaining control
Reversed:
Overwhelmingness, Exhaustion, Giving up, Losing confidence
EIGHT of WANDS
Upright:
Rapid change, Movement, Action, Travel, Alignment, Quick decisions
Reversed:
Frustration, Resistance to change, Delays, Panic
NINE of WANDS
Upright:
Resilience, Grit, Persistence, Boundaries, Courage, Cumulative stress
Reversed:
Inner strength, Struggles, Defensiveness, Paranoia, Fatigue
TEN of WANDS
Upright:
Burden, Hard work, New responsibility, Accomplishment
Reversed:
Carrying the burden for others, Uneven distribution of labor, Burnout, Inability to delegate
The Court Cards
In The Queer Witch Tarot Deck, many of the Court Cards aren’t gendered (or aren’t traditionally gendered). Removing traditional gender roles from the court cards allows us to interpret their meanings more holistically, and see ourselves reflected in them without hesitation or discomfort.
PAGE of WANDS
Upright:
New ideas, Excitement, Free spirit, Limitless potential, Exploration, Freedom
Reversed:
Half-baked ideas, Self-limiting beliefs, Redirecting your energy, Creating conflict
KNIGHT of WANDS
Upright:
Energy, Inspired action, Passion, Adventure, Fearlessness
Reversed:
Haste, Scattered thoughts, Unfocused energy, Frustration, Anger, Recklessness
QUEEN of WANDS
Upright:
Courage, Independence, Confidence, Determination
Reversed:
Self-confidence, Introversion, Re-establishing your sense of self, Selfishness, Jealousy
KING of WANDS
Upright:
Leadership, Vision, Overcoming Challenges, Entrepreneurship, Natural talent
Reversed:
Impulsiveness, Ruthlessness, Unrealistic expectations, Haste, Overbearing
