King of Wands
Suit: Wands
Element: Fire
Function: The Will, Action, Creativity, and Initiation
The King of Wands looks as if he’s ready to jump off his throne and go sprinting toward whatever it is that has his eye. He wears a robe of red and green, the colors of life and magic. He is full of life and vitality. He is fire personified.
His yellow cloak has salamanders on it, symbolizing mental passion. He’s not just a doer, but a thinker and a pioneer. His head is protected by a red leather shield. He doesn’t care what anyone else thinks, and he certainly can’t hear them.
Both his green shoes can be seen, indicating that he knows how to work in the real world, and that he gets things done. The salamander at his foot is a reminder that he’s both walking the walk and talking the talk. His mind and his reality are one. He isn’t a mere dreamer.
His throne has pictures of salamanders and lions, symbolizing fire, leadership, and fearlessness. Even his golden crown looks like flames rising from his head.
The King of Wands holds his staff in his right and hand and balls his left hand into a fist. Whatever action needs to be taken, he’ll do it, and he’s not afraid to get dirty or get rough. Nothing will get in his way, and he’ll let nothing stop him.
In a sense, he’s dominant masculine energy personified. He’s fearless, aggressive, confident, bold, pioneering, and ready to do what it takes and do what he wants when he wants to do it. Nothing will stop him, and he bows to no one.
Who would dare get in his way, anyway? He might use that staff to lead, he might use it to fight, or he might use it to hold naysayers back. In fact, that’s probably what he’s seeing in the distance, and he’s shoring up for a fight now.
The King of Wands has a vision and he’s going to meet it. He has a goal, and that’s the most important thing. He has the heart, the mind, the body, the power, and the endurance to do it. Woe be to anyone who gets in his way or tries to engage him in a power struggle. This man is a juggernaut about to blast off.
When The king of Wands is Reversed:
When the King of Wands is reversed, there’s too much confidence. The querent is not putting his money where his mouth is. He may be a braggart and overly aggressive. Bullying and being the victim of a bully is possible when the King of Wands is reversed, since ultimately this card reversed means deep insecurity.
This can also mean someone who doesn’t have the talent to match their ambition and still goes ahead and tries to get what they can’t really earn. There’s an inherent selfishness in this card, that when reversed, turns into narcissism.
When the King of Wands is reversed, nothing is ever his fault. He never fails. He blames others for his mistakes, setbacks, and shortcomings.
In a three-card reading, this card means…
Past: In the past, the querent was bold, action driven, self-made, and possibly going at it alone, which has brought them to the present.
Present: Right now, the querent is actually doing what they dare and what they dream, and this is their singular focus.
Future: In the future, the querent is going to shore up their courage and strength and make the bold move they’ve only been dreaming of so far.