The Five of Wands - The Challenge

“And no man knows or cares who is his neighbour / Unless his neighbour makes too much disturbance”

(T.S.Eliott, Choruses from The Rock)

The Four of Wands – At Large

"Houses rise and fall, crumble, are extended / Are removed, destroyed, restored or in their place / Is an open field"

(T.S.Eliott, East Coker)

Unlike the Two of Wands, the Four of Wands depicts “our traveler” at large, outside the castle walls. There is always a sense of freedom in this card, spontaneity, openness, enjoyment of life and nature. So he must have finally departed, embarked on some ship and found his strip of land. He no longer needs the Ace of Wands. Nothing is burning in his hands. There is no hurry in this card. It is a stop, the promised land he was looking for before departure is like the open field. The time of the fiesta is coming  – enjoy and have good time. He has arrived! Who counts the days/weeks/months or years in between. There he is finally, free from previous attachments, at large. At Large?

Is he? The four wands are stuck in the ground forming something like a wedding tent, foundations for the future home. Moreover, he is not alone. He is accompanied by a lady. But this is his choice. After all he arrived here in order to build a brand new life. The longing from the Two of Wands finds its fulfillment here. Is that what he was craving for? Probably. This is his new place on Earth. The chosen one.

This card seems so pleasant and idyllic. It means happiness, freedom and enjoyment. Past obstacles have been removed and no declarations have been made so far. It brings time of rest and consolation. Again, does anyone think about the consequences, the next steps if the sky is so blue and the nature so encouraging?

At the first glance this card also seems to have no limitations unless we look closer at the four wands - forming a square. No roof, no walls, no floor but… they start to resemble something similar, something we remember from previous cards.

It is the human nature that always builds walls and creates boundaries. Men are born to build – even a small garden must have a fence to prevent unexpected guests from coming in. Keep away unless you are invited. No matter what the intensions are, people themselves create boundaries - within and outside. Out of fear and anxiety. The conquered world (be it the smallest apartment) must be walled, guarded, safe. Plants grow in pots, windows are shut while the air-condition is working. People move from one place to another using subways, trains, cars – sometimes even without being outside for more than a few minutes needed to move from one transportation mean to another.

Think about the Four of Wands in terms of relations – the man has just left walls of solitude to find a partner and what does he do? He immediately starts to build new walls to protect his latest gains. The nature that has welcomed him is pushed aside. Why? The instinct tells him to protect his possessions although his memories should have taught him a lesson. He might realize it later on. Now he is enjoying his freedom.

Fear and anxiety have always been undermining human actions. There is outside Nature and human nature clearly shown in this card as two opposing forces. At first you may not discern it while gasping for the air of freedom. It is only later when you realize that the newly discovered piece of nature should be guarded against the enemy. But there are no enemies on the card – one might say. Indeed there can be only two possible opposing forces. Either the partner or the nature itself. Still at this point neither of them seems to be oppressive but the instinct tells the man to protect his possessions. No wonder, all Fours are about stability. Me, myself and I, my world, my space, my life. Trespassing forbidden. This is the dilemma of the Four of Wands.

In its negative the card may symbolize loose relations and ties, at least at the very moment. Yet I always find the meaning of this card as positive and encouraging. It is like a ray of sunshine coming into your life. Take your time to enjoy its warmth. You may need it later on.

So our lonely traveler has found his promised land, started to conquer it, marked his presence and he can not be blamed for that. For him it is the beginning of his social life. He is already entering the Leo sign.

Will he manage to retain his gains and freedom? He is happy for now and does not care about tomorrow. The foundations of the Four of Wands seem to have nothing in common with the castle walls. So much air around. The traveler needs a rest at this point. He needs time to enjoy the present and expand smoothly.

The Three of Wands – Prepare for Departure

"In a minute there is time/ For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse"
(T.S.Eliott, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock)

There he is – I find the man again at the edge of the cliff. As in the Two of Wands – he is looking ahead, this time at the ships departing from some port. The Ace of Wands is there, too - burning in his hands, while two other wands are already behind him. So he must have made a decision to expand. He is standing on the cliff at the seaside, at large, unlike in the Two of Wands where his space was limited to the castle walls. So he must have chosen the direction, I suppose. But he dose not embark on the ship yet, though the burning wand is still with him. He is planning. Plans and preparations are what he needs now. Yet, he has advanced a few steps further. Wands are quick, after all.

What we need in the Three of Wands is planning. Of course one can embark on any ship which is leaving the port. But the man has made plans in the meantime. It is not about going anywhere. It is about going to the right place, arriving at the right time and doing the right thing. The enfant terrible seems to have done his homework. But is he already on the go?

Not quite. There is always a chance that something/someone hinders him from departure. The Three of Wands is not a fast-moving card. There is a stop here, but this stop does not depend on his un/willingness to go. It is about time and planning.

When you see this card in relationship or business spreads think about planning. It does not happen quickly. Decision and its enforcement are two different things. More than that, three means more than one or two. There are third parties involved at this stage, people from the outside coming in and out. Three of Wands brings the next challenge – us vs. the rest.

Yet, Wands are about courage and action. The man on the cliff (like the Fool) seems to have decided, but contrary to the Fool he has plans. He will go on unless someone/something tries to hinder him. But he is not in a hurry. He is already on the cliff. The ships have left the port but he may wait for the next ones.

Or he may withdraw and turn back … to the castle he has been protecting for so long only to find the empty walls. But how can he know the castle is empty if he has spent all his recent time on the watch?
Therefore this is the first out of nine “archway” cards in Tarot. The gate is open – it is enough to pass it and discover a new reality. Just reach for it – says the card. Yet “archways” often bring about stops and delays. Is the traveler ready to pass? When you find it in your readings, pay special attention to it. The present must become the past so that the future can turn into the present. If the traveler manages to pass he will advance to the next "archway" in the Five of Cups. But let's not hurry things. After all there is no much hurry in the Three of Wands.  

Anyway, plans have to be tested at this point. The burning Ace of Wands has led him so far. Does he still need it? When you stand at the age of the cliff you can either turn back or jump ahead. The wand will not save you. Remember it is burning your hand and burns mean pain. The card symbolizes progress which may be interfered by delays but the overall perspectives look great.
In the negative, the delays may cause frustration and lead one astray. If that is your problem, reconsider your plans. May be they need some revisions which can easily be introduced at this stage. You may need more courage, more initiative, more energy. It will be to late once you embark on a ship. 

The Two of Wands - Directions Needed

“Do I dare / Disturb the universe?"
 (T.S.Eliott, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock)

Expansion knows no limitations, does it? Explorers like Columbus would have probably nodded but the well-mapped world of today leaves us fewer possibilities. When I first look at the card I have the impression that the man on it is considering which way to go, if any. The wand he is holding in his hand is the burning one, the one that may explode or extinguish. The other wand is behind him and he no longer holds it. It is replaced by a globe in his left hand – the unconscious desire to leave. And the burning wand is in his right hand – he is nearly ready to leave. Nearly ... What holds him back? The wand within the castle walls symbolizes the past. He has built these walls himself (does it remind you of the Tower?) to secure his position, his gains, his private space. That is what he managed to achieve in his past life, in the Six of Wands, what he was defending in the Seven of Wands when suddenly the Eight of Wands brought about unexpected changes and the desire to expand further. Once again he had to protect his possessions in the Nine of Wands and heal the wounds, recover. Did he really recover if he was on the watch? The walls in Two of Wands are the relics of the Ten of Wands. Now they turn to be a burden and must be pulled down. Therefore he has been given the power of the Ace of Wands.

Why is he about to leave? I assume it is because there is nothing more within these walls that satisfies him. His longing suggests he is there alone – no friends, no companions, no family. Maybe they hide in the castle. If so, he does not seem to be attached to them. Whether he realizes it or not, he is already possessed by the Ace of Wands which tells him: “Go, act and do it now!”

When I look closer at this card I get the impression the man says: “I’ve built these walls alone, protected them from the enemies only to find out that nothing is left inside. They (my gains) must have left by a back gate when I was on the watch.”

Very frequently this card portrays loneliness and longing for a companion – someone who might act with me, someone who is probably waiting outside, but where? There are new people, new challenges, new perspectives in front of the man. There are different ways leading (or misleading) into different places. One should consider them before departure. But on the other hand, Wands are not there to consider. At least not too long. Wands are about actions while the longing is the stimulus.

My world is limited – the man seems to say. So much longing, so many obstacles. Reminds me of a split personality. One part of him is already on the go (the Fool), one is lagging behind (whatever obstacles these walls pose to me, they are still my walls).

Will the man manage to leave? And what direction will he choose? Will he dare go alone to conquer the known-unknown? The Ace of Wands in his hands is burning while he is still on the watch …

Maybe he dares. Otherwise, the wand will extinguish or burn his hand and he will stay within the walls drowned in longing till the next Ace of Wands appears out of the blue. Some day. If ever.
In its negative the card turns attention to the constant dilemmas: action/nonaction, expansion/stability, freedom/commitments. If you feel the influecnce of this card in your life, look behind and ask yourself what is holding you back. Twos always bring a bias. So maybe what you needs is anther person who will point you the way with their wand. Be sure to check if there is still anything within the walls you have been protecting. Or maybe what you guard are only empty walls.

Let’s leave the man at this point. The decision is up to him.

The Ace of Wands - Burn to Act

"In my beginning is my end"
(T.S. Eliott, East Coker)

Whenever I look at this card I have the feeling that not only the wand is burning – the hand that holds it is burning too. Among all the Minor Arcana this card seems to me the most fiery one. The Element of Fire is so suggestive that the card speaks out: “It’s high time, act before you burn to ashes”.  The leaves on the wand have grown. Time is ripe for action. Act or die.

Ace of Wands as the first Minor Arcana has clear connections to the first cardinal, fiery sign – the Aries. And just as its astrological counterpart, it does not consider pros and cons or hesitate to act. Rushing to take on the initiative, it depicts courage, inspiration, love of adventure. Here and now is what really matters. Who would care for tomorrow?

Seeing this card in my readings I’m always in high spirits. Something new is coming, a burst of energy is replacing the worn-out climate of yesterday. Oftentimes a new idea is suddenly born and enforced before even being considered. For the nature of Wands is action. As mentioned above – who cares about the consequences? The consequences will be revealed by the following cards, while this one marks a real breakthrough. Take the wand, go and conquer.

Aces are often perceived as a possibility. Indeed they are, but there is much more than that in their nature. Aces are too powerful to be only chances. In the strength hierarchy they go immediately after the Major Arcana and cards known as “archways”.  

The power of the Ace of Wands is the raw power suddenly revealed, demanding action here and now. Remember it’s a burning wand – the longer you hold it in your hands, the more probable the burns and the pain. When kept too long, it turns to ashes and you will find out that the chance has been lost either by neglect or by the lack of planning. At least for some time. Ace of Wands is a fast-burning power. One has to remember that playing with the fire is dangerous. Just like fireworks – don’t hold it longer than advised cause it might explode it your hand. Or extinguish with no spectacular effect.

So once you’ve decide to take the wand in your hands, the next step is: act. All Wands are actions but this one is the dangerous toy (Aries is an enfant terrible ). Go on and use the power, carry on with your dreams, plans, expectations. Do not be afraid to show them to the world. The hand and the wand on the card are not in the background, they are the main motif of your life now. Can you fulfill your dreams on your own, here and now?

 If not, you will have to go to the next card – the two of Wands. Maybe you will meet a companion there. Or you might decide about the directions you want to expand the power that has been suddenly given to you.