The Suit of Wands
The Suit of Wands corresponds to the element of Fire. It represents the fiery energy of creation, that drives people to change and rule the world. Someone filled with the energy of the Suit of Wands is dedicated, imposing, driven, and indomitable. They are quick to anger, and often bigheaded and arrogant. They strike quickly and with great force, but may often fade away and burn out quickly, as well. Someone lacking in fire has no drive or will to change the world, and gives up easily or doesn’t make the effort to become someone. They do not stand up for themselves, and don’t seek to interact with society.
The energy of the Suit of Wands pours forth from EinSof and into Kether, and its first form is that of EinSof itself. The glory of the Suit of Wands is seen triumphant in its Ace, with I have titled The Origin. It represents the point of creative power and strong force that changes the world and shapes it to your will. It represents raw energy wanting to go out and make a name for itself, changing the world with its force, power, and energy.
As the energy leaves Kether and approaches the second Sefirot of Chokmah, the first manifestation of the power of the Suit of Wands. The raw energy and power of the Suit shows itself in the active, dominating form of the masculine Sefirot of Chokmah. The raw energy of the suit of Wands is used to actively change and manipulate the world, resulting in Dominion.
The energy of the Suit of Wands then leaves Chokmah and flows into Binah, where its energy is tamed somewhat and shown the potential of what it can be. It understands what its role in the world is going to be. It begins to exhibit more passive characteristics, the fiery activity of the suit of Wands becoming more subdued and instead of defining the world around it, begins to define only one person, resulting in individuals who lead by example, are courageous, and who others will follow without question. The energy these people display is called Virtue.
The energy of the suit of Wands moves then to the Sefirot of Chesed. The energy has seen its potential, and now condenses and stabilizes itself in preparation. Those who carry the energy of Fire look outside themselves and see others and their value; they realize that they are stronger together, and so flock together. Being with others like them and enjoying their life provides a sense of Completion.
But stability does not last forever, and being in the company of others undoubtedly eventually will lead to conflict. When you put a bunch of people with the hot tempers and strong wills of Wands together, conflict and infighting will inevitable arise. As the energy of Wands reaches the Sefirot of Geburah, it becomes unstable, and clashing wills create Strife.
Strife is not permanent either, though, and eventually it will be resolved, either through compromise or (more likely in the case of people exemplifying the energy of Wands) one faction winning. The Sefirot of Tiphareth in the suit of Wands represents a combination of these two factors, with a group of people banding together and winning, taking pride in what they can accomplish as a group and overcoming their strife. They have, as a group, achieved Victory.
But there is more than one type of victory. The most rewarding victory is that of winning as a member of a group that one makes as they seek to complete their life, but victories can be one on one’s own. These victories tend to be more divisive, and can lead pride and arrogance. These are not victories for the good of all, but selfish victories, as seen in the degenerate Sefirot of Netzach, and Valour.
The energy of the suit of Wands sees its error, and seeks to compensate for its selfishness, but overcompensates, as Fire is wont to do. It is filled with so much energy and drive that it shoots past whatever goal it wanted. It tries to reunite its people with swift messages and news, reasoning that it can use its force to unite others behind it. But the intellectual weakness of the suit of Wands becomes apparent as it moves with amazing energy and speed, and falls to the ground as it realizes that it cannot do anything. The energy of the suit of Wands has been defeated by its own Swiftness.
But the suit eventually finds its balance again, and remembers all that it has learned. It comes back to itself again, and displays its power to the world, awing it with its dominion, virtue, completion, and victory. The suit of Wands has finally come into itself and has become all that it can be, and is at its best; it inspires people – both those possessed of its energy and those who are not – and has the force of will and power to change the world around it. The suit of Wands is finally able to show off and display its Strength.
But no story has a happy ending, and strength can be misused. The energy of the suit of Wands has been greatly inspired by its newfound power, and seeks to change the whole world with it. In the process, it takes on too many responsibilities, and begins to become overburdened. In its attempt to fix everything and do everything that can be done, it has again ruined itself, and this time it had dug itself in too far to escape. When the suit of Wands applies itself to reality, its strength leads it to repress those around it and itself, resulting in Oppression.
One of the four archetypes of people who exemplify the suit of Wands are the Young, New Ruler of the Knight of Wands, eager to do all he can to prove himself to his new kingdom, leading through virtue, achieving victories and attempting to display strength and achieve dominion. He is the Fire of Fire, who best exemplifies the suit. His consort is the Queen of Wands, the old, proud ruler whom the people all love, but whom can be a bit of a tyrant. She is the Water of Fire, and shows the passive and intuitive side of Wands; she passively exemplifies virtue, and leads her people with a fiery charm that the Knight cannot match.
They have two children; the Prince of Wands is a playful young romantic, filled with brief bursts of passion that quickly bore him. He is the Air of Fire, who achieves his pride at the expense of others, and thinks himself as quite the ideal young man. He doesn’t take everything seriously, but applies his many thoughts to his life in a fiery way. His sister, the Princess of Wands, is more serious-minded and practical, seeking to explore new frontiers. She is brave and daring, willing to do things to improve her material lot. She is the Earth of Fire, and it is through her efforts that a new kingdom of Wands will arise.
EsoTarot 