Tag - eight of wands meaning in tarot cards

Eight of Wands

Eight of Wands:

Suit: Wands
Element: Fire
Function: The Will, Action, Creativity, and Initiation

Eight wands appear to be pointing to the lower right. They may be in the sky over a river near a green mountain. The scene is full of life and serenity. There is peace in the world around the wands, whatever they’re doing.

The wands may be flying upward to the left. They may be falling downward to the right. Either way, they travel together, in formation, with force. Nothing is in their way, and nothing controls them or stops them.

The eight wands are free and clear to move as they please, and they do so with great force. The Eight of Wands thus represents the moving forward of energy, ideas, and plans, when there’s nothing to stop you.

The Eight of Wands has gotten through the impasse that the Seven of Wands was in when it was fighting to hold its ground. The Eight of Wands, however, holds no ground, but needs none either, as the wands are taking flight. It’s given up holding the land, in exchange for something better: freedom.

The Eight of Wands shows the letting go of the things one used to think was important frees one to find what it is they truly want. The querent doesn’t need to hold onto the past or even the present, because there’s a bright future somewhere in the distance, and to get there, the querent has to travel light.

The Eight of Wands can also indicate that the querent is following a new, innovative idea, something that no one else has come up with. They’re free to do as they want, but they may not have the ground beneath them, as in they may not have proof or evidence that it will work. The Eight of Wands only concerns itself with the beginning, the spark, the initial motivation.

The Eight of Wands also represents self-promotion, in that the eight wants are self-propelling, moving themselves forward through space. The querent may be in a position to sell themselves to someone or to the public at large and generate enthusiasm for a product, idea, or work of art.

When Reversed:

When the Eight of Wands is reversed, the querent may be stagnating. They’re not motivated or inspired. The querent may feel that life is a treadmill moving at one speed. They may also feel as if life is actually slowing down and that they can’t find a way to speed up.

The Eight of Wands reversed could also mean that the querent is moving too fast, too soon. They’re liable to crash and burn if they don’t slow down and take heed of the pace. After all, there is some wide, picturesque country to see, so why not enjoy the ride while it lasts?

The Eight of Wands reversed could also mean obstacles that stop movement dead in its tracks. The obstacle may not have been foreseen but is formidable, and it needs to either be taken down or worked around. Trying to fly through it won’t work.

In a three-card reading, this card means…

Past: In the past, the querent was motivated, energetic, and moving forward. They probably accomplished a lot, and this is the basis for the life they lead today.

Present: In the present, the querent is motivated and inspired. They’re probably chomping at the bit to get out of the gate and get racing. They may not have a lot of patience when it comes to doing what they envision.

Future: In the future, obstacles and delays will be cleared, and the querent will be free to chase their dreams and focus solely on wish fulfillment.