Eight of Wands Tarot Card Meanings
Eight of Wands’ Upright & Reversed Meanings
Ideas: Postponement, rearrangement, sameness
Traits: Casual, complacent, fixed, flexible, lazy, passive, relaxed, slow, unhurried
Emotions: Contentment, gladness, hope, relief, satisfaction
- Actions:
- Accepting what cannot be changed
- Chilling out
- Postponing making a decision
- Re-evaluating a schedule or program
- Slowing things down
- Turning down opportunities
Ideas: Replies, speed, swiftness
Traits: Accessible, articulate, clearheaded, colorful, decisive, directed, honest, hurried, responsive, smooth
Emotions: Amazement, astonishment, enthusiasm, excitement, exhilaration, thrill, zeal, zest, surprise
- Actions:
- Adapting to sudden changes
- Embracing the idea that nothing stays the same forever
- Energizing yourself
- Moving forward with a plan as quickly as possible
- Responding quickly and appropriately to unforeseen problems
- Taking setbacks in stride
- Taking swift action
Ideas: Haste, perplexity, triviality
Traits: Abrupt, distractible, fickle, fiery, impatient, impulsive, moody, reactive, unpredictable
Emotions: Alarm, annoyance, frustration, irritation, panic, shock, tenseness, uneasiness
- Actions:
- Changing for the sake of change
- Confusing others with frequent changes
- Giving in to panic
- Running in circles and screaming
- Rushing others
- Stirring the pot just to see what will happen
Eight of Wands’ Advice
Personal Growth
When things change, do you tend to procrastinate, or respond right away? Handling something now—taking action as soon as possible—can keep a small issue from becoming a large stumbling block. Resolve to handle challenges as soon as you possibly can.
Relationship
People and situations are always changing; the key is deciding whether you want to grow together … or grow apart. What worked once might not work later; on the other hand, those you dismissed before might now be perfect mates. Embrace change, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly good things happen.
Career
Yesterday’s solutions aren’t going to solve today’s problems; in minutes, innovations become old news. Shake things up. Tap into a new stream of information. Bring in an expert from outside. Juggle your hours. Your adaptability will atrophy if you don’t exercise it with new challenges.
Spirituality
Become aware of patterns of change: the seasons, the phases of the moon, the steady progression of the Church calendar. Time is passing faster than you realize, and using your faith as a means to honor and appreciate that transition will help you better appreciate the time you have.
Eight of Wands’ Symbols & Insights
Flying Wands
Waite, in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, suggests the eight Wands seen on Rider–Waite–Smith-inspired versions of this card are just shy of impact. If your worst case scenario suddenly became reality, what would your action plan be?
The Pastoral Landscape
The quiet landscape seen in Rider–Waite–Smith versions of this card represents the calm before the storm. Even in times of peace, a wise person watches for incoming Wands … and prepares to deal with the changes generated by their arrival.
Reflexive Action
Are your actions driven by reflection or reflex? By what criteria would you judge your own response to a crisis?
The Marseilles Image
The Marseilles Eight of Wands presents a lattice even sturdier than the one last seen on the Six. We’ve wrapped our mind around the new influence that arrived with the Seven, and now we’ve integrated the new idea into our Work. The result? We’re more stable than ever before.
More About Eight of Wands Tarot Card
- Prediction
- Watch for a surprising letter in the mail.
- Your whole world is about to be turned on its ear.
- Timing
- Between November 23 and December 2
- Affirmation
- “I adapt quickly to change.”
- Numerology Number
- 8
(the action: movement, outer work, swiftness) - Classical Element
- Fire
- Astrological Planet in Sign
- Mercury in Sagittarius
- Story Character
- The main character’s adaptability is tested when he or she is thrown into unforeseen circumstances.
- Questions to Ask
- How quickly to you adapt to change?
- What would your response be to overwhelming, sudden change?
- What changes are on your horizon? How well have you prepared for them?
