Tarot Journey with Leisa ReFalo

Number: 1
Card Title: Ace of Wands
Esoteric Title: Root of the Power of Fire
Numerical Keywords: 1: Unity, Origin, Potential
Numerical Attributions: Primium Mobile, White, Soul, Good
Intelligence: Hidden Intelligence
Element: Fire (hot, dry)
Elemental Keywords: Energy, Action, Inception
Elemental Attributions: South, Summer, Noon
Astrological Attribution: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Dates & Timing: Judgment
Qabalistic World: Kether in Atziluth
Translation of World: The Crown of Nobility
Suit Color: Wands-Red

Keywords: Instigate, Ignite, Action, Spark, Handle, Tool, Organic, Inspiration, Self-Expression, Grasp, Masculine Energy Virility, Desire, Confidence, Dominate, Vibrant Energy.

Ill-Dignified:Overextended, scattered, delays, wrong direction, not motivated.

Interpretation: A new enterprise or creative activity. Use of the will and of will power. The drive to get things done. Harnessing all accomplishing action. The spark that explodes in the dark. Great opportunity. Beginning of change or growth. Conception of life. Knowing things you can’t fully express or intellectually know.

Reversed Interpretation: Idea or project not properly worked out. Delays getting effort off the ground. May not have the resources to complete project. Feeling dissatisfied.

Rider-Waite Imagery

A white hand emerges from a cloud holding a sprouting wand. There is a castle on a hill in the distance. A river runs through a valley. This is a very optimistic card. It suggests thumbs up for the matter involved.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

A hand issuing from a cloud grasps a stout wand or club. Divinatory Meanings: Creation, invention, enterprise, the powers which result in these; principle, beginning, source; birth, family, origin, and in a sense the virility which is behind them; the starting point of enterprises; according to another account, money, fortune, inheritance. Reversed: Fall, decadence, ruin, perdition, to perish also a certain clouded joy.4 Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser ArcanaAce.–Calamities of all kinds. Reversed: A sign of birth.The Recurrence of Cards in DealingIn the Natural Position: 4 Aces = favourable chance; 3 Aces = small success; 2 Aces = trickery.
Reversed: 4 Aces = dishonour; 3 Aces debauchery; 2 Aces = enemies.

The Tarot of the Bohemians by Papus; tr. A. P Morton, [1896]

Signification of the Four Series of Minor Arcana in the Divining TarotSCEPTRES: Creation. Enterprise. Agriculture.ACE OF SCEPTRES. Commencement of an Enterprise.

The Tarot by S.L. MacGregor Mathers [1888]

Meanings of the Cards35. Ace of Sceptres.–Birth, Commencement, Beginning, Origin, Source; R. Persecution, Pursuits Voilence, Vexation, Cruelty, Tyranny.

Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa

Chap. v. Of the wonderfull Natures of Fire, and Earth.There are two things (saith Hermes) viz. Fire and Earth, which are sufficient for the operation of all wonderfull things: the former is active, the latter passive. Fire (as saith Dionysius) in all things, and through all things, comes and goes away bright, it is in all things bright, and at the same time occult, and unknown; When it is by it self (no other matter coming to it, in which it should manifest its proper action) it is boundless, and invisible, of it self sufficient for every action that is proper to it, moveable, yielding it self after a maner to all things that come next to it, renewing, guarding nature, enlightening, not comprehended by lights that are vailed [veiled] over, clear, parted, leaping back, bending upwards, quick in motion, high, alwayes raising motions, comprehending another, not Comprehended it self, not standing in need of another, secretly increasing of it self, and manifesting its greatness to things that receive it; Active, Powerfull, Invisibly present in all things at once; it will not be affronted or opposed, but as it were in a way of revenge, it will reduce on a sudden things into obedience to it self; incomprehensible, impalpable, not lessened, most rich in all disensations of it self. Fire (as saith Pliny) is the boundless, and mischievous part of the nature of things, it being a question whether it destroys, or produceth most things. Fire it self is one, and penetrates through all things (as say the Pythagorians) also spread abroad in the Heavens, and shining: but in the infernall place streightened, dark, and tormenting, in the mid way it partakes of both. Fire therefore in it self is one, but in that which receives it, manifold, and in differing subjects it is distributed in a different manner, as Cleanthes witnesseth in Cicero. That fire then, which we use is fetched out of other things. It is in stones, and is fetched out by the stroke of the steele; it is in Earth, and makes that, after digging up, to smoake [smoke]: it is in Water, and heats springs, and wells: it is in the depth of the Sea, and makes that, being tossed with winds, warm: it is in the Aire, and makes it (as we oftentimes see) to burn. And all Animals, and living things whatsoever, as also all Vegetables are preserved by heat: and every thing that lives, lives by reason of the inclosed heat. The properties of the Fire that is above, are heat, making all things Fruitfull, and light, giving life to all things. The properties of the infernall Fire are a parching heat, consuming all things, and darkness, making all things barren. The Celestiall, and bright Fire drives away spirits of darkness; also this our Fire made with Wood drives away the same, in as much as it hath an Analogy with, and is the vehiculum of that Superior light; as also of him, who saith, I am the Light of the World, which is true Fire, the Father of lights, from whom every good thing that is given, Comes; sending forth the light of his Fire, and communicating it first to the Sun, and the rest of the Celestiall bodies, and by these, as by mediating instruments, conveying that light into our Fire. As, therefore the spirits of darkness are stronger in the dark: so good spirits, which are Angels of Light, are augmented, not only by that light, which is Divine, of the Sun, and Celestiall, but also by the light of our common Fire. Hence it was that the first, and most wise institutors of Religions, and Ceremonies ordained, that Prayers, Singings, and all manner of Divine Worships whatsoever should not be performed without lighted Candles, or Torches. (Hence also was that significant saying of Pythagoras, Do not speak of God without a Light) and they commanded that for the driving away of wicked spirits, Lights and Fires should be kindled by the Corpses of the dead, and that they should not be removed untill the expiations were after a Holy manner performed, and they buried. And the great Jehovah himself in the old Law Commanded that all his Sacrifices should be offered with Fire, and that Fire should always be burning upon the Altar, which Custome the Priests of the Altar did always observe, and keep amongst the Romanes.

Picatrix the Goal of the Wise by Ghayat Al-akim

Book “T” The Tarot

OF THE ACES FIRST in order and importance are the Four Aces, representing the Force of the Spirit, acting in, and binding together, the Four Scales of each Element: and answering to the Dominion of the Letters of the Name in the Kether of each. They represent the Radical Forces. The Four Aces are said to be placed on the North Pole of the Universe wherein they revolve, governing its revolution; and ruling as the connecting link between Yetzirah and the Material Plane or Universe. I. THE ROOT OF THE POWERS OF FIREAce of Wands A WHITE Radiating Angelic Hand, issuing from clouds, and grasping a heavy club, which has three branches in the colours, and with the sigils, of the scales. The Right-and Left-hand branches end respectively in three Flames, and the Centre one in four Flames: thus yielding Ten: the Number of the Sephiroth. Two-and-twenty leaping Flames, or Yodh, surround it, answering to the Paths; of these, three fall below the Right branch for Aleph, Men, and Shin, seven above the Central branch for the double letters; and between it and that of the Right twelve: six above and six below about the Left-hand branch. The whole is a great and flaming Torch. It symbolizes Force — strength, rush, vigour, energy, and it governs, according to its nature, various works and questions. It implies Natural, as opposed to Invoked, Force. 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.
• A Majority of Aces Strength generally. Aces are always strong cards.
• 4 Aces Great power and force.
• 3 Aces Riches, success.