08. Eight of Wands
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Number: 8
Card Title: Eight of Wands
Esoteric Title: Lord of Swiftness
Numerical Keywords: 8: Intellect, Progress, Science
Numerical Attributions: Mercury, Orange, World, West
Intelligence: Perfect Absolute Intelligence
Element: Fire (hot, dry)
Elemental Keywords: Energy, Action, Inception
Elemental Attributions: South, Summer, Noon
Astrological Attribution: Mercury in Sagittarius
Dates & Timing: November 23 to December 2
Qabalistic World: Hod in Atziluth
Translation of World: The Splendor of Nobility
Suit Color: Wands-Red
Keywords: Forward Motion, Hasty Communication, Confidence, Boldness, Courage
Ill-Dignified:Violent, Not Lasting, Oppressive, Insolent, Hasty, Remorse.
Interpretation: Letter or message. Too much force applied too quickly. Go with the flow and enjoy the energy of the situation.
Reversed Interpretation: Excess and Quarrels. Theft and Robbery. Non-conformity. Limits are off, no more restraints.
Rider-Waite Imagery
8 Wands flying through the air like arrows. The sky is clear. There is a river running through the card. A house in on a hill in the background.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)
The card represents motion through the immovable-a flight of wands through an open country; but they draw to the term of their course. That which they signify is at hand; it may be even on the threshold. Divinatory Meanings: Activity in undertakings, the path of such activity, swiftness, as that of an express messenger; great haste, great hope, speed towards an end which promises assured felicity; generally, that which is on the move; also the arrows of love. Reversed: Arrows of jealousy, internal dispute, stingings of conscience, quarrels; and domestic disputes for persons who are married.
4 Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana
Eight.Domestic disputes for a married person.
The Recurrence of Cards in Dealing
In the Natural Position: 4 Eights = reverse; 3 Eights = marriage 2 Eights = new knowledge.
Reversed: 4 Eights = error; 3 Eights a spectacle; 2 Eights = misfortune.
The Tarot of the Bohemians by Papus; tr. A. P Morton, [1896]
Signification of the Four Series of Minor Arcana in the Divining Tarot
SCEPTRES: Creation. Enterprise. Agriculture.
EIGHT. Opposition to its success. The Enterprise will only partially succeed.
The Tarot by S.L. MacGregor Mathers [1888]
Meanings of the Cards
28. Eight of Sceptres.–Understanding, Observation, Direction; R. Quarrels, Intestine disputes, Discord.
Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa
Sagittarius I
A man armed with a coat of male [mail], and holding a naked sword in his hand; the operation of this is for boldness, malice, and liberty:
Picatrix the Goal of the Wise by Ghayat Al-akim
Book "T" The Tarot
XXXIII. The Lord of Swiftness
Eight of Wands or Torches
FOUR White Radiating Angelic Hands (two proceeding from each side) issuant from clouds; clasped in two pairs in the centre with the grip of the First Order. They hold eight wands, crossed four with four. Flames issue from the point of junction. Surmounting the small wands with flames issuing down them, and placed in the centre at the top and bottom of the card respectively, are the symbols of Mercury and Sagittarius for the Decan.
Too much force applied too suddenly. Very rapid rush, but quickly passed and expended. Violent, but not lasting. Swiftness, rapidity, courage, boldness, confidence, freedom, warfare, violence; love of open air, field-sports, gardens and meadows. Generous, subtle, eloquent, yet somewhat untrustworthy; rapacious, insolent, oppressive. Theft and robbery. According to dignity.
Hod of HB:Y (Hasty communications and messages; swiftness).
Therein rule the Angels HB:NThHYH and HB:HAAYH.
Often the General signification of the Majority of a particular suit and of the particular signification of the either 3 of 4 cards of a sort in a reading:
- A Majority of Wands Energy, opposition, quarrel.
- 4 Eights Much news.
- 3 Eights Much journeying.
