Knight of Wands

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sun in Leo as an image of independence and self-confidence.

KING OF WANDS The King of Wands is the masculine side of the element of fire, whose power and abilities can be imagined by recalling the French Sun King, Louis XIV. He is the embodiment of boundless faith in oneself, love of life and its joys: wealth, power, grandeur. Moreover, these qualities are not egotistical in the primitive sense of the word; this is neither self-satisfaction nor self-interest: such a person is generous and magnanimous with all who surround him. Thus, this card expresses will, confidence in one's own strength, a striving not so much for material as for spiritual growth, for the full realization and unfolding of one's own personality. Only in certain cases, when these qualities pass into extremes, can they manifest as self-admiration, self-aggrandizement, vanity, and boastfulness.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

KING OF WANDS The KING OF WANDS is a true sovereign of steadfastness and firm position. People and circumstances bow before him. He possesses enormous strength, and his flame burns without any support from outside. He embodies one hundred percent loyalty to himself. His exceptional peculiarity lies in the fact that he has no definite principle, no definite will; it is principle for the sake of principle, will for the sake of will, intention for the sake of intention. Since he always stands on his own side, he is fundamentally amoral and does whatever he wishes. The consequences can be both positive and negative. Very often the card signifies an honest, straightforward, and conscious person, possibly a leader. His qualities: maturity, wisdom, devotion to ideas, friendliness, education, attractiveness. He is a noble, generous person, usually married and with children.

Pitfall. Stubbornness, pride, fanaticism, schemes born of passion and bringing misfortune.

UPRIGHT POSITION Astrological equivalents: Jupiter and its signs (Sagittarius, Cancer, Pisces), a person with a pronounced Fourth or Ninth House. In the upright position, the card symbolizes a firm position, an unshakable point of view, strength, firmness, pride, a noble, strong, and fiery person (a man) with very strong influence (he simply radiates it onto those around him). This is also a markedly sexual man, a strong natural authority.

REVERSED POSITION Astrological equivalents: Saturn, Capricorn, Tenth House. This is a person with a strongly pronounced "afflicted" Tenth House, characterized by harshness, stinginess, dogmatism, constraint in behavior — a person who pushes his ideas too persistently, without regard for people and the situation.

If the card signifies action. A. Upright position The event represented by this card is in principle possible, though it has not yet become a reality.

B. Reversed position The time for action has not yet come. One must wait.