Suit of Wands: Tarot Card Meanings (Fire)
The suit of Wands, also called Rods, Batons or Staves, is the fire suit of the tarot. Its 14 cards deal with energy, passion, creativity, ambition and action. Astrologically it corresponds to the fire signs Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
- Many Wands in a reading suggest the question is really about energy and passion.
- The numbered cards (Ace to Ten) tell a story of the element from its first spark to its fullest expression.
- The four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) can describe people, roles or ways of behaving.
Ace of Wandsspark, inspirationTwo of Wandsplanning, choicesThree of Wandsexpansion, progressFour of Wandscelebration, stabilityFive of Wandscompetition, conflictSix of Wandsrecognition, successSeven of Wandsstanding your ground, perseveranceEight of Wandsspeed, movementNine of Wandsresilience, persistenceTen of Wandsburden, overloadPage of Wandscuriosity, explorationKnight of Wandspassion, adventureQueen of Wandsconfidence, warmthKing of Wandsvision, leadership
How the numbers work in Wands
- 1: beginnings and pure potential. See the Ace of Wands.
- 2: choice, balance and partnership. See the Two of Wands.
- 3: growth, expression and first results. See the Three of Wands.
- 4: stability, structure and foundations. See the Four of Wands.
- 5: disruption, conflict and change. See the Five of Wands.
- 6: harmony, restoration and exchange. See the Six of Wands.
- 7: testing, assessment and inner work. See the Seven of Wands.
- 8: movement, mastery and momentum. See the Eight of Wands.
- 9: culmination and the last step before completion. See the Nine of Wands.
- 10: completion, and the element carried to its fullest (sometimes to excess). See the Ten of Wands.
Correspondences table
| Card | Golden Dawn title | Astrology | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | Root of the Powers of Fire | Root of the element (Fire) | spark, inspiration |
| Two of Wands | Lord of Dominion | Mars in Aries | planning, choices |
| Three of Wands | Lord of Established Strength | Sun in Aries | expansion, progress |
| Four of Wands | Lord of Perfected Work | Venus in Aries | celebration, stability |
| Five of Wands | Lord of Strife | Saturn in Leo | competition, conflict |
| Six of Wands | Lord of Victory | Jupiter in Leo | recognition, success |
| Seven of Wands | Lord of Valour | Mars in Leo | standing your ground, perseverance |
| Eight of Wands | Lord of Swiftness | Mercury in Sagittarius | speed, movement |
| Nine of Wands | Lord of Great Strength | Moon in Sagittarius | resilience, persistence |
| Ten of Wands | Lord of Oppression | Saturn in Sagittarius | burden, overload |
| Page of Wands | — | Earth of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | curiosity, exploration |
| Knight of Wands | — | Air of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | passion, adventure |
| Queen of Wands | — | Water of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | confidence, warmth |
| King of Wands | — | Fire of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | vision, leadership |
Back to all 78 tarot card meanings, or practise with a free tarot reading.
Sources and further reading
- Rider–Waite Tarot · Wikipedia
- Major Arcana · Wikipedia
- Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (astrological and elemental correspondences) · Wikipedia
- A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), the companion book to the deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
Reviewed by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 28, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What does the suit of Wands represent?
Wands represent energy, passion, creativity, ambition and action. It is the suit of fire.
What zodiac signs are linked to Wands?
Wands are linked to the fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.