King of Wands Tarot Card

Card Name: King of Wands, King of Staves, Lord of Fire

Category: Minor Arcana, Suit of Wands

Position: 14

Keywords: Leadership, Dominance

Active element: Fire 🔥 (suit & rank)

Zodiac sign: Leo ♌

The King of Wands maximizes the energy of the Fire suit of Tarot. This is the card of great leaders, rulers who have found a good reputation. The hero of the Arcana is similar to the wise Julius Caesar, who manages to conquer new lands and also the love of Cleopatra. This is a bright, passionate man who is hard to refuse favor. He takes his extraordinary character, positive. However, there is also a second bottom. The same ruler can become a real despot if something goes wrong. The sun, warming with its rays yesterday, today creates a dangerous drought. The meaning of the card in divination will depend entirely on its position.

Symbolism and Key Ideas of the King of Wands

The King of Wands card in the Waite Tarot depicts a young man seated on a throne. The ruler is dressed in a red dress and a yellow cape with green lapels. The shroud is decorated with the image of black salamanders. The head of a man is covered with a scarlet cloth, like a nemes, a traditional dress of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Its purpose is to protect from dust and the scorching rays of the sun. A golden crown with large teeth in the form of flames is put on top. A gold ornament in the form of a ball with a lion’s face is visible on the neck. In his right hand, the hero holds a sprouted staff. The throne is yellow, decorated with symbols of lions and salamanders. Also below, on a stone platform, you can see a small green lizard. All the action takes place against the backdrop of the desert sands. The sky is clear, bluish-gray.

The symbols on the Arcana of the King of Wands show the peak of the manifestation of the element Fire. There are many scarlet details here. Some editions of the deck have generally abandoned the use of yellow and green in the design of the card. But, traditionally, the suit of Staves still shows development and constant growth. Therefore, bright juicy shades hint at life even among the scorching desert. Salamanders symbolize fearlessness and invincibility. These creatures do not burn in fire – their skin is cold and damp. Leo denotes arrogance, beauty and waywardness. The pointed crown, the talisman around the neck and the lapels of the clothes are reminiscent of the same flashes of flame as the heroine of the Queen of Wands card.

Meaning of the Upright King of Wands Card

• Self-confident man or aspiring to achieve success.
• Loud fame, openness to people, popularity and waywardness.
• The rapid development of events or the realization of what was conceived.
• The flow of motivation, luck or the ability to take responsibility.

In the upright position, the King of Wands denotes a specific man or lies down as a significator of the situation. These are always bright memorable events, the rapid pace of action. Pure passion without reference to logic. The protagonist of the King of Wands card resembles Richard the Lionheart, the leader of the Crusaders. He is driven by the idea of conquering the new, he wants to show people the truth. This is honesty without regard to the opinions of others. A person, is faithful only to his own nature, acts on the basis of an internal vision of the situation. The Lord looks to the left, in the other direction from his companion. He has already won what he wanted and is striving for new horizons.

The King of Wands denotes the willingness to take responsibility and lead. This is the card of eternal seekers who want to do as much as possible in a short human life. For them, the path of achievement is important, and not the goal itself. Travel should be joyful, inspiring and energizing. The Arcana symbolizes a huge resource, even more than the Mistress of Maces implies. By rank, the Lord of Staves also belongs to the element of Fire. This is a real volcano, a resource generator. The strongest motivation, self-confidence and self-reliance – in the upright position, the card shows positive manifestations of the ego.

Love and Relationships (Upright)

• An ambitious man who leads relationships, a leader in his pair.
• A flash of feelings, the emergence of a strong desire to have a partner.
• Signs of attention from a self-confident young man or man.
• A situation that depends on the decision of the husband, father.

In the love spread, the King of Wands denotes a very passionate and bright partner. A man is ready to seek the location of his beloved. For the sake of this, he will go on adventures, he will not be afraid of condemnation. This type of person always knows what he wants and exactly how to reach the goal. The card shows the diversity in intimate life, unforgettable impressions. For men, the Arcana symbolizes their own behavior, speaks of the importance of showing up and taking matters into their own hands.

For lonely people, the King of Wands predicts early changes in their personal lives. There will be an unexpected meeting with an ambitious guy. He will openly declare intentions, show flashed feelings. According to the Arcana, obsession with one partner passes. Such a person focuses completely on the object of love until he gets what he wants. In order not to continue to lose the role of the main character of the play, the girl should constantly stir up the interest of her beloved.

Career and Finance (Upright)

• Management position and high level of responsibility.
• The patronage of a male boss, help from a partner.
• Short payback period, profitable business, success.
• Authority in the professional environment, loyalty or trust.

In the spread for work, the King of Wands predicts brilliant prospects. If a man asks, then the card promises a chance to show his professionalism. The querent has the opportunity to take responsibility for project management, he can manage large teams. According to the Arcana, there are positions related to oratory, mentoring. Possible career advancement, salary increase. The situation completely depends on the fortuneteller himself. For women, the Lord of Fire shows the boss or partner on whom the future of a career depends. You should trust him and achieve goals together.

In terms of finances, the King of Wands symbolizes quick income and financial well-being. The project will be easily implemented and will soon bring the first profit. The result is directly proportional to the effort expended – the more the querent works, the better his financial situation. It is also possible that there is a great demand in the labor market, the appearance of people who want to cooperate with the questioner. Profitable offers will require a proper level of competence and willingness to take risks.

Health and Spirit (Upright)

• Excellent metabolism, fast metabolism in the body.
• Tightened slender body, strong immunity, hardened.
• Excitement, the emergence of a new goal, movement towards it.
• Open temper, directness, assertiveness, lack of regrets.

Health on the King of Wands card is in excellent condition. There are no serious illnesses. All systems and organs work in harmony. The body is taut. With any ailments, the immune system quickly copes. For men, the King of Wands card means increased libido, testosterone is normal. For women – perfect metabolism, fast metabolic processes. It is also a good reaction, mobility, dexterity. The vestibular apparatus works fine, the querent has no problems with movement.

In the context of the psyche, the King of Wands denotes an excited state. A person easily lights up with a new idea, is not afraid to start something from scratch. On the contrary, the prospect of getting an unforgettable experience pushes for real action. The questioner loves to get adrenaline in any way, be it skydiving or martial arts. According to the upright position, we can talk about balance, the presence of an acceptable line. The querent moves forward, but doesn’t burn itself out completely along the way.

Situations and Questions (Upright)

• Huge achievements, spiritual breakthrough and originality.
• Way out of the conventions of the physical world, the presence of motivation.
• The ability to influence the outcome of the situation, change the rules of the game.
• Realization of any existing desires, self-sufficiency.

The King of Wands symbolizes the mythical philosopher’s stone. Alchemical treatises describe its properties as magical. He can turn even the most ordinary river pebbles into gold. If we draw an analogy with spirituality, then the card denotes the ability to inspire others. A person becomes a direct confirmation of his own words and foundations. He actually proves strength, fortitude, the presence of certain abilities. People around begin to reach out to the questioner, because they feel powerful energy. They are drawn to its source, like moths to the flames of a fire.

The Arcana asks questions: “Where to direct the existing potential?” and “What purpose is igniting me now?”. Often the King of Wands shows complete self-realization. Personality has achieved both spiritual and material heights. Now she does not need to strive for something. However, the eternal desire to know, to want more, is inherent in the very nature of man. The upward movement is endless, but now the querent has the right to choose from the options offered. He knows for sure that he will achieve whatever he wants. One has only to select a goal that causes awe in the heart.

Meaning of the Reversed King of Wands Tarot

• Haste, tendency to make an elephant out of a fly, ardor.
• Forcing the situation or focusing on negative aspects.
• Untimely actions and wrong game strategy.
• Rage from any man or increased conflict.

If you turn the card over, then the value of the King of Wands changes to negative. The hero of the Arcana from a gracious ruler who cares about the well-being of his subjects becomes a real despot. The tyrant does not tolerate objections and criticism of actions. He can unleash a real war because of a bad mood. His behavior is dictated by momentary desires. With this approach, the future is not important. There is only a moment here and now. However, the Lord uses the available power for purely selfish purposes. Language becomes an enemy – the truth turns into caustic barbs, backed up by personal discontent.

Any situation on the reversed King of Wands develops rapidly, but not in favor of the querent. Too much haste leads to mistakes. The inquiring person acts where one should hold one’s horses. Due to the tendency to succumb to negative feelings, a person can offend others. He wants everyone to blindly obey orders. However, short-sightedness, supported by unfulfilled ambitions, substitutes both the fortuneteller himself and his partners. In this regard, the King of Wands in the opposite sense symbolizes haste, lack of vision of the full picture of what is happening. A person first does, and only then thinks.

Love and Relationships (Reversed)

• A tyrant partner with a complex character, an aggressor and a manipulator.
• The presence of a lover in the second half, an intimate relationship on the side.
• Lack of serious intentions, focus on the short term.
• Misunderstood actions, unacceptable behavior of men.

In terms of love, the King of Wands reversed shows a relationship with a difficult man. It is difficult to find a common language with him, a compromise. A husband or boyfriend is used to acting on the basis of his own view of things. He does not take into account the opinion of the partner, perhaps he is inclined to depreciate and suppress. Such behavior only leads to dissatisfaction on both sides. There is no happiness and understanding here. For the representatives of the stronger sex themselves, the position of the card can show the presence of a powerful lover with a partner.

For single girls, the renverted King of Wands card predicts a purely sporting interest on the part of men. The querent can notice how quickly feelings pass in all potential lovers. Such guys do not need a long relationship, they are only interested in sex. The near future is not the best period for building a strong bond with someone. Unreliable people will come across, uninterested in the very personality of the questioner. Men also should not hope for the best – all actions to win someone’s heart will be decisively suppressed.

Career and Finance (Reversed)

• Dismissal of a man from a leadership position, suspension.
• Conflict with a business partner, lack of common views.
• Loss of wealth, sale of business and real estate.
• A failed project, a “burnt out” business, irrationality.

The reversed King of Wands Tarot gives a negative meaning to the career spread. The querent will give up his leadership position, lose the trust of his superiors and colleagues. A loud failure is possible, failure to fulfill duties in full. The project will collapse, leading to undesirable consequences. The questioner took the wrong step, and now he will pay in full. Ahead is the removal of any powers or even dismissal. The fortuneteller’s candidacy is losing its relevance against the background of experienced rivals.

The financial position of the King of Wands in the opposite form is undergoing changes. Former luxury will be replaced by need. You may have to sell assets – a share in the business, commercial real estate. The querent miscalculated in some way – the bet did not play. At the same time, according to the position of the card, debt obligations, promises to important people pass. Despite the current situation, you still have to pay, to sort out problems. Self-confidence failed the fortuneteller, and now it is time to deal with the fruits of their own actions.

Health and Spirit (Reversed)

• Fever and elevated temperature, the presence of infections in the body.
• The appearance of spots on the skin, bleeding wounds; the complex treatment.
• Aggression leading to physical violence and mania.
• Excited state, difficulty calming down, relaxing.

In terms of health, if the King of Wands fell upside down, then this means there are problems. In the worst case, the position of the card speaks of cancer. The body seems to burn itself – the process of improper immune response is activated. It is also a fever, an extreme increase in body temperature, chills. Burns of mucous membranes, dry eyes, redness on the skin. Sometimes the reversed Lord of Staves speaks of non-healing wounds, herpes. For men, the position of the Arcana symbolizes reduced libido, difficulties with the genitals.

The psyche of the reversed King of Wands is damaged, there are serious problems. The person is aggressively disposed, cannot cope with seething feelings. He seems to destroy everything he touches. At the same time, the person is self-confident, does not tolerate familiarity and criticism in his address. But even a constructive dialogue cannot be established – a person does not hear anyone. His mind is covered with a veil of hatred. Perhaps once anger was suppressed, but now rushed with a stream of rage. The querent can take it out on innocent people in an attempt to relieve internal tension. Sometimes this is expressed in physical violence.

Situations and Questions (Reversed)

• Using abilities in a negative way, destruction.
• Pretentiousness, arrogance, humiliation of people around.
• Inadequacy or fearlessness, bordering on insanity.
• Selfish desires that overwhelmed the mind, hatred of the world.

If the card lay upside down, then the King of Wands symbolizes the real fiend. In the context of spirituality, according to the position of the Arcana, one can speak of cruelty and the absence of any empathy. A good example is Aleister Crowley or Grigory Rasputin. There is always controversy around these people. On the one hand, many note their superpowers, and on the other, negative and, at times, frightening character traits. The King of Wands reversed is the same mystic who decided to use his gift for the sake of malicious intent.

The Arcana, in the opposite sense, asks questions: “Where does my craving for destruction come from?” and “How much does it wear me out?”. For every force there is an opposite force. Sometimes the hero of an inverted card, the King of Wands, has the right to punish someone. However, the burden of the act then falls on the shoulders of both. In this regard, the value is similar to the Lord of Air in the minus. This is still the same despot, but he does not act out of logic. Rather, the hero responds to an inner impulse. But the problem is that the moral compass is broken and points in the wrong direction.

King of Wands as a Significator of a Person

The King of Wands symbolizes active men – brown-eyed brown-haired or red-haired. They have a lean tanned body, there is no excess weight. The card has an astrological correspondence with the zodiac sign Leo. These are always extraordinary personalities who love to appear in society. Examples include such people as Napoleon Bonaparte, Yves Saint Laurent, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Whatever a person does on this card, everywhere he will attract views. Whether it’s politics, perfume art or the film industry.

The reversed King of Wands symbolizes notoriety. This is a kind of Al Capone in the world of Tarot. Such people achieve a lot, but they constantly have to keep their finger on the pulse. Even the closest are able to betray such a person. And to prevent this from happening, you can not relax. Such individuals believe that respect is equal to fear. They are used to reinforcing the influence of their own person with periodic outbursts of rage. With them, you can feel freedom and luxury, but they cannot be trusted and open.

King of Wands: Combination with other Tarot Cards

Advice and Warning of the King of Wands Card

The upright King of Wands advises to react quickly to the situation. Being honest with yourself and others will serve as an advantage to the querent. Women should be direct and open about their intentions. Perhaps in some cases it is worth entrusting the management to some man from a close circle. For the guys themselves, the card advises to deal with problems on their own, to take the bull by the horns. In the context of a warning, the King of Wands indicates the appearance of an opponent. A certain person wants the same thing as the questioner. In order not to give your own dream to another, you should act as quickly as possible, with even greater frenzy.

The reversed King of Wands advises changing views and orientations. The desire to act at all costs can be put into a peaceful direction. Perhaps you should do creative work or sports, dancing. Planned plans are difficult or impossible to implement, so you need to be distracted, recharged with energy for the sake of future affairs. The King of Wands in the opposite form as a warning indicates the presence of repressed emotions. These feelings cannot be ignored. They destroy from the inside, make you do rash acts. Here the way out is the same – to redirect the charge of pain and hatred into fuel for new achievements.

King of Wands: Daily Card Meaning

The King of Wands in the upright position promises a day full of bright events. All tasks can be completed quickly. This will not make you feel tired. On the contrary, the more you can do, the greater the reserve of forces will become. Success will accompany everything that the questioner has conceived. Possible meeting with a certain man. This person will serve as a kind of motivator, inspire for any action. At the same time, it doesn’t matter whether the dialogue takes place live or by phone – here the main role is occupied by a message, a charge of energy. Sometimes the card directly shows an intimate connection on this day, an uncontrollable impulse of passion and desire.

If the King of Wands fell upside down in the spread on the card of the day, then today there is a great chance to quarrel with someone. Surrounding people seem to provoke the manifestation of negative emotions. For men, the position of the Arcana speaks of their own unbalanced state. Under the influence of rage, you can fall in someone’s eyes. For women, the reversed Lord of Fire symbolizes a quarrel with a partner, father or boss. This man will fall on the querent. Sometimes this happens deservedly, but here, most likely, pride is simply hurt. On this day, it is better not to take everything to heart. Observing the situation from the outside will allow you not to get involved in conflicts.

Suit of Wands