Queen of Wands (Tarot card)

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Queen of Wands from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck
Queen of Wands from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

The Queen of Wands is a Court Card in the Minor Arcana set of the Tarot.

Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play Tarot card games[1].

In English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes[1][2].

Contents

[edit] Divination Usage

Its keywords include the following: attractive, wholehearted, energetic, cheerful, and self-assured.

[edit] Symbolic Components and Composition

The Queen of Wands combines the properties of the Suit of Wands, associated with elemental fire, with the figure of the Queen, which embodies nurturing, feminine, inwardly-focused and embracing personality. This combination results in a card which represents a vivacious and warm personality, full of a fiery passion put to the service of encouragement, assurement, attraction, esteem, and enthusiasm. The back of her throne doesn't have a top, indicating endless possibilities. The lions on the back of her throne are associated with the element fire. Her golden atire shows that she is strong and her fire is burning with great intensity. The desert behind her is another indicator of fire. The rocks on the right side of her throne can show toughness, a hard soul, her independence.

She is holding a sunflower. In their bud stage, sunflowers face and track the sun in its motion across the sky, a behavior called heliotropism. The sun in astrology is considered to be the ruling planet of the sign of leo, a sign which is often associated with this card.

She is the only figure in the Wand court that has no animal portrayals adorning her clothes, which may testify to her simplicity, just being her natural self.

[edit] Interpretation

The Queen of Wands is said by some to represent one's basic instinct. Her strength and task are providing initial inputs. She says to you that you must think of the consequences of what you do, but that you must be sure to focus on what will get you moving and how to do it.

Directness, spontaneity and independence are very special talents that others admire, as long as you accept that others may be your polar opposite. Don't get tricked into becoming impatient. If the sun "shines" in your heart, you can overcome your fears and walk your own path. "Approach your tasks as steps and take every one of them with assurance (quote of Evelin Burger and Johannes Fiebag)"

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Dummett, Michael (1980). The Game of Tarot. Gerald Duckworth and Company Ltd.. ISBN 0-7156-1014-7. 
  2. ^ Huson, Paul, (2004) Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage, Vermont: Destiny Books, ISBN 0-89281-190-0 Mystical Origins of the Tarot

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