Tarot Rider Waite

Queen of Wands

Decisiveness and a willingness to lead produce tangible rewards.

General Meaning

This suit, most often called "Wands" and sometimes called "Rods" or "Staves," represents initiative, ambition, drive and desire. This is the suit of enterprise and risk-taking.

Traditionally, representing the energy of a Queen, this woman represents the natural manager, whose gift is to inspire teamwork and divvy up tasks. She is the one who sees ensures everything runs smoothly. She'll be sweating in the sun along with her family or crew, inspiring everybody to keep up and supporting morale with her infectious energy.

She is the best kind of manager to have, because she is like a challenging but encouraging mother, who knows you have it in you. She believes in her charges and they work hard to please her. She is not, however, sentimental. Like a good farmer, she views her crops, her animals, even the people who work for her, as necessary resources for the achievement of the higher goal. If any aspect is no longer productive or cost-effective, she can let them go without a second thought. Do not look to her for sympathy.

In the Advice Position

Realize you are not in the leadership role right now. Concentrate on a more supportive role that promotes the overall objectives.

The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.

The Queen of Wands in this position reveals a need to hold your place in the chain of command and respect the hierarchy (at least for now). This may not be a time for you to be at the helm, even if you are motivated by a strong dedication to completing a project or overcoming a challenge.

A perceived deficiency in leadership may make you want to take hold of the reins, but don't do it! Restrain yourself and remain loyal to your higher-ups. Stay focused and energetic. Enthusiastically confront the challenges directly in front of you. Perform in good faith and encourage others to do the same.

Six of Wands

Your enthusiastic stewardship is producing dramatic results.

General Meaning

This suit, most often called "Wands" and sometimes called "Rods" or "Staves," represents initiative, ambition, drive and desire. This is the suit of enterprise and risk-taking.

The Six of this suit points to the respect and acknowledgment due to you for your efforts to solve the problems of your community. The image is usually of a victory parade, after the celebrated leader helped troops win a pivotal battle.

It took the whole tribe to win the victory, of course, but it was the leader's heroism and clarity under pressure that inspired them to overcome. The team is thrilled that the leader led them to victory. This card points to a time to let everyone relax and celebrate -- if you are the leader, let them applaud you. They are seeing their better selves reflected in you -- a victory indeed!

In the Advice Position

Fearlessly act on your convictions and others will be inspired to support your ideals.

The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.

The Six of Wands in this position advises taking action on your most burning and passionate convictions, no matter what the social consequences. Continue to articulate and define yourself in light of the torch you are carrying. This inspires others to conceive some new ideas of their own.

You may find yourself becoming something of a leader. Usually the first person to break away from conventional thought is the one to define a new trend. Under the circumstances, there is a solid need for a fresh voice and vision -- so make your move. Those around you who are ready for change will support your leadership.

The Lovers

Integrate two potential realities or let go of one of them.

General Meaning

Although it has taken on a strictly romantic revision of meaning in some modern decks, traditionally The Lovers Tarot card reflected the challenges of choosing a partner. At a crossroads, one cannot take both paths. The images on this card in different decks have varied more than most, because we have had so many ways of looking at sex and relationships across cultures and centuries.

Classically, the energy of this card reminded us of the real challenges posed by romantic relationships, with the protagonist often shown in the act of making an either-or choice. To partake of a higher ideal often requires sacrificing the lesser option. The path of pleasure eventually leads to distraction from spiritual growth. The gratification of the personality eventually gives way to a call from spirit as the soul matures.

Modern decks tend to portray the feeling of romantic love with this card, showing Adam and Eve at the gates of Eden when everything was still perfect. This interpretation portrays humanity before the fall, and can be thought to imply a different sort of choice -- the choice of evolution over perfection, or the choice of personal growth through relationship -- instead of a fantasy where everything falls into place perfectly and is taken care of without effort.

In the Advice Position

Creative compromise helps you accept your commitments fully.

The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.

The Lovers card advises that you study your options and make the wisest choice. Carefully consider your long-term interests. There is no judgment on what you choose to keep from the array of possibilities before you. Just watch out for choices that will produce dissatisfaction and discontent.

Be willing to make some compromises, then stick with the commitments you finally make. Trust your intuition along with your rational intellect, and once you make your choice, carry it out with conviction.