King of Wands
You have the power to show a vision and lead people. Make bold decisions.
- Card
- Minor Arcana · Wands (Fire)
- Upright keywords
- Leadership, Vision, Boldness, Command
- Reversed keywords
- Dictatorship, Arrogance, Short temper, High-handedness
- Yes or no
- Leans yes
Traditional correspondences Element: Air of Fire / Golden Dawn: Prince of the Chariot of Fire / Thoth: Prince of Wands / Cancer 21° to Leo 20° / Sephirah: Tiphareth (Beauty)
Upright meaning
You can lead others by showing a vision. Decide boldly.
A king sits forward on his throne, decorated with lions and salamanders, a flowering wand in hand, as if ready to spring into action. The King of Wands is a visionary leader: bold, inspiring and entrepreneurial. Upright, he asks you to take charge of your vision and lead with conviction.
Reversed meaning
Being pushy or short-tempered may cause resentment. Listen to others too.
Reversed, leadership becomes domination. Impatience, arrogance or unrealistic expectations can alienate others. Lead by example and listen as well as command.
For ways of reading reversed cards, see how to read reversals.
Love
A passionate, committed partner who leads with confidence.
Controlling or impatient behaviour.
Work
Leadership, starting a business, big vision.
Bossiness or overreaching.
Money
Bold investments guided by vision.
Risky decisions made on ego.
Relationships
Inspiring others and bringing them together.
Dominating conversations. Listen.
Health
Strong energy and drive.
Stress from pushing too hard.
Tarot does not diagnose physical conditions. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor.
Mind and spirit
Leading your own life with purpose.
Ego getting in the way.
As a person
A visionary leader, entrepreneur or mentor.
Someone domineering or hot-tempered.
Timing
Within a few weeks, a moment for a clear decision arrives. In the calendar, mid July to mid August is also a guide (roughly July 12 to August 11).
Advice
Lead with vision and courage.
Listen to others before deciding.
Questions to ask yourself
- What is my vision?
- How can I inspire others?
- Am I listening as well as leading?
A common misreading
The King of Wands isn’t a tyrant. Upright, he is an inspiring leader; his harsh side is in the reversal.
The story of this card
The King brings fire to maturity. He has learned to direct passion towards a purpose that others can follow.
The Waite deck’s picture and symbols
In the Waite deck the King sits on a throne decorated with lions and salamanders, holding a flowering wand. A small salamander sits at his feet.
History and differences between traditions
In the Golden Dawn system this figure is the Prince, the airy part of fire. Waite called him King.
Words for today
I lead with vision and heart.
Strength includes listening.