As a reminder, the suit of wands is driven by masculine energy and usually represents willpower, change, and an impulse to create and make something new. Scholars and academics have connected the suit of wands to the classical element of fire, and most of the cards from that suit embody the symbolic attributes of this element, one way or another.
The King of Wands Tarot Card Keywords
Upright: maverick, independent, and leading by example
Reversed: severe, reckless, and selfish
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Modern Representations
The paragon of the four court cards in the suit of Wands, the King of Wands managed to tame the wild aspect of the element of Fire and had learned to channel it with a precise and quiet determination. He has a lot of power at his disposal but has left behind the game of appearances and ego. The King of Wands is not a showman, he is a builder with a vision and a clear set of directions that will lead him to where he wants to go and what he wants to get done.
The Mythic Tarot (1986/2008)
The Haindl Tarot (1990)
Osho Zen Tarot (1995)
Law of Attraction Tarot (2011)
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Spellcaster Tarot (2016)
Ostara Tarot (2017)
Upright King of Wands Meaning
The King of Wands is sitting on his throne, looking to the left, with the staff representing the symbol of his suit in his right hand. He seems unusually quiet and thoughtful when you consider he is supposed to embody the quintessential nature of the suit of Wands.
Like the Queen of Wands before him, he appears sedate and reserved, in stark contrast with the blazing fire within. But, in many tarot decks like in the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) illustration, there are several symbols meant to hint at this fiery nature inside, like the use of bright colors of the presence of wild lions on the King’s crest, cape, or throne.
If the Queen of Wands was a sleeping dragon, the King of Wands can be compared to a lion. Noble, regal, full of strength, but confident enough that he does not need to overtly flaunt it. The last card in the suit of Wands, the King of Wands has finally refined the raw power of the flame and can now use it precisely, with willpower and determination.
The flame that burns within his heart grants him a grand vision of his own utopia, and he will work tirelessly to make it come true. The wildfire of his youth has been tamed and now fuels his determination and drive; he can efficiently channel it for his own purposes.
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Righteous and loyal, he has a strong sense of justice and honesty but has kept his feet on the ground, still approachable and friendly. The King of Wands is extremely open-minded and tolerant, as the fire within him keeps him open to new perspectives and concepts.
In a Question about Love and Relationship
In a love-driven tarot reading, The King of Wands usually represents an adult man with dark hair, married, and someone that might be rough around the edges, but ultimately honest and loyal in his relationships. He can become severe and grim when you cross him, but would usually focus on productive endeavors than on petty vengeance or resentment.
In a Question about Career and Work
Career encompasses school and education if that is your current stage; work that is necessary, but not what you would consider a career path; and your actual career path. Regardless of your current stage of development, the King of Wands is about independence and maverick leadership.
If you are a student, then drawing this card indicates that you need to start seeing yourself moving beyond being a student to being a professional or a master in your own right. To get there you will have to be more than just the “good student”, who does the work assigned without any creativity or independence. Time to challenge your peers and professors.
If you are doing work that is necessary, but not a career, then you need to be able to work on your own without being micromanaged. The more freedom you earn and have, the more you will enjoy your work and be able to continue thriving at your job.
If you are in your career, and the King of Wands appears in a reading, then you need to become an entrepreneur (if you are not already) and find a way to operate independently. If you are already working for yourself, keep up the good work; this card reinforces the idea that you made the right choice.
In taming the fire within, the King of Wands has become so driven and focused on the ultimate goals that he can easily lose patience when others constantly question his decisions or ask for more details about his choices. The King of Wands has a great vision in mind but does not like wasting time trying to explain it or unveil the reasons behind his decisions. He has little patience for those unwilling to fall in line without question when he has set a plan into motion.
In a Question about Love and Relationship
Reversed, this card lets you know that you or your partner is feeling trapped by the relationship. If you can exercise some independence you might be able to keep the relationship going, but only if the independence becomes a permanent part of the relationship dynamic. If that is not possible, then true freedom from the relationship would be best.
In a Question about Career and Work
When this card appears reversed in a question about school, work, or career, then you may recognize that you are stuck, for the time being. You will just have to grind out the time that is boring until you can make a move to free yourself from the limitations of your studies, work, or career.
