Eight of Wands

Eight of Wands is one of the 56 minor arcana of the tarot, in the suit of Wands; in the Golden Dawn tradition it corresponds to Mercury in Sagittarius.

The Eight of Wands is eight staves flying through the air. Things that were stuck start to move, quickly.

Symbols on the card

Wands in flight

Momentum and messages on their way.

The open sky

Nothing in the way: movement meets no resistance.

No people

Events moving faster than anyone's control.

Number and suit

Eights are movement and mastery, or the limits that mastery runs into. Wands are fire: will, drive, creativity and the courage to begin.

Upright meaning

Expect movement: news, replies and progress after a pause. Be ready to act quickly.

Love　Quick developments, messages, falling for someone fast.

Work　Deadlines, travel, rapid progress.

Inner life　Ride the wave without trying to control every detail.

Reversed meaning

Energy is scattered or things are delayed. Choose fewer directions.

Love　Mixed signals or moving too fast.

Work　Rushing that causes mistakes, or waiting on others.

Inner life　Slow down enough to aim.

In a three-card spread

Situation

Events are speeding up.

Challenge

Delays or too many directions at once.

Advice

Act promptly and stay focused.

Tarot and astrology

In the Golden Dawn system this card is the decan of Mercury in Sagittarius: the themes of Sagittarius, expressed the way Mercury acts. Sagittarius →Mercury →

Questions to sit with

• What is suddenly moving in my life?
• Where should I focus all this energy?

Through the suit

Tarot here is a mirror for reflection, not a prediction. The meanings follow the Waite-Smith tradition and the Golden Dawn attributions, in our own words.