As we previously discussed, the major themes of the Eight of Wands are expedient action, exciting news, progress, communication, and travel. While the big themes are essential, the little nuances in the cards are where we find the unique details and begin to carve out more profound and personalized meanings.
The Eight of Wands sets itself apart from the rest of the deck with its curious absence of human figures. Most, if not all but one (the three of Swords—but it does have a heart, so does this count?) cards in the minor arcana contain people or creatures like a bird, fish, or cat, making the cards relatable. And it gives us some context on interpreting the situations they represent.
This may need to be clarified since it goes against the expectation that tarot cards depict human experiences and interactions. Most cards show relatable characters and scenes that allow for easier connections to your life. The lack of a character or human connection leaves you with no option but to focus on the wands, their swift movement, and the energy flow. The Eight of Wands forces you to see the universal energy that shapes everyone’s experience equally.
Seeing Yourself in the Card
Even without a human presence, you can still see yourself in the card by focusing on the underlying themes. How? Look at the card and visualize the wands as an energetic force launching you forward, opening new avenues of communication, and speeding up progress in your life. Connect with the idea that you are part of a collective pool of energy, and by aligning with this force, you can harness its power to shape your future.
Are you familiar with the game Marco Polo? The Eight of Wands is the Marco Polo of the tarot deck! It’s a blind tag game played in a pool where the person who is *it* stays shut-eyed while shouting “Marco,” and the other players reply, “Polo.” The player shouting “Marco” blindly tries to catch a player shouting “Polo.” Once tagged, that player becomes “it”. I share this to point out that while you are “it” your awareness, sense of hearing, and intuition are significantly increased, mainly because you can no longer rely on what you see. It may be uncomfortable at first once you realize you have a whole other set of skills you have yet to use.
The absence of people pushes us outside of our tarot comfort zone to think outside the box and be flexible when deciphering a message that relates to our personal experiences. This is just one of the many surprising gifts of the Eight of Wands.
If you need a quick refresher on the Eight of Wands, watch my short video below 👇
💐🌼 💐🌸 💐🪷 💐🌹 💐🌺 💐🌷 💐🌻
Before I go, I want to wish a 💐 Happy Mother’s Day 💐 to all birth mothers, non-birth moms, and all the brave women who are not moms who care for kids, raise them, nurture them, teach them, support them, and love ❤️ them.
Until the next time,
Ever upward!
P.S. Are you traveling to LA? You can grab one of the last spots for An Afternoon of Wellness Retreat, a magical ✨ mystical afternoon retreat. Discover new ways of knowing and growing in this day of individual and group sessions. It is my great honor to be working alongside these amazingly talented women.
