Knight of Wands

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Knight of Batons from a Spanish deck

Knight of Wands/Batons is a card used in Latin suited playing cards which include tarot decks. It is part of what tarot card readers call the "Minor Arcana" Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play tarot card games.

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Knight of Wands from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

In English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes.

Divination usage

The questing knight, this man traditionally signifies travel, and progress. This also refers to new ideas and inventions. He looks forward, intelligent and knowledgeable, and yet ready for battle and full of fire.

Being a knight, you are always in the middle of a fire. If you want to survive, you must rely on good sense and the intuitive ability to react. The horse represents a natural instinct, a drive. What you must find out is how you can find out what you want even before you're aware of what you're doing. Express your thoughts. Don't consider eventual losses, and don't have any expectations. Act before you know why. Just keep on moving because action is the only thing that brings you closer to your goal. Meanings, events and tasks will become clear only when things are happening.

Your energy needs to go to good use. Let your intuitions take over, follow them where ever they might take you. The energy that is not active turns into dead weight that weighs you down, everything will become harder. Your inner fire (intuition or creativity) uses and renews all the energy brought to the task. React to what is around you in order to find what you're looking for. Just be sure that the tasks that you put your energy towards are worthy of the energy you give to them.

Reversed meaning

You are feeling restricted, insecure and afraid to reveal your true self - your "real" feelings. Confused over your self-identity. Acknowledge your indecision and this lack of energy. Try something new. Stop allowing the opposition to confuse you - this only creates disharmony and disruption. Step aside from being a victim; consider that all things are happening for you, not to you. When you experience frustration and indecision, follow your conscience and act accordingly. Allow yourself to experience the unlimited, inspired creativity that wants to be expressed and allow it to flow freely. Learn to revere nature and all of creation.

A distortion - either to a greater or lesser degree, with the derivative problems. Obvious brilliance unfilled. Confusion. Possible philosophical/spiritual overload. A fundamental developmental block.

Key meanings

The key meanings of the Knight of Wands:

• Challenging
• Determination
• Foreign travel
• Leader
• Unpredictability

Symbolism

The knight is on a horse and it's moving, representing the fast motion of your actions and the need to go on. He is holding a piece of wood (the wand) and it is sprouting leaves at the top, another indicator of energy sprouting. He is surrounded by a desert, showing the fire that you are in. If his horse stops, its hooves will get hot and burn. If you stop moving, the "fire," the dead energy, will burn you and slowly bring you down. There are flames sprouting from his helmet and armor on his arms. Also, notice how the horse is riding to the left, the left path. Many people associate "left hand paths" as non-traditional ways of thinking. It indicates that the need to move around, use your energy and act on instinct is possibly new to you. You might need some practice to acquire this skill.

See also

• Spanish playing cards

References

Evelin Burger and Johannes Fiebag: Tarot basics. 387 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. Sterling publishing company inc, 2006.