Tarot – Eight of Wands

 

Eight of Wands (Swiftness)

 

Eight of WandsEight of Wands (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Fast movement forward
Purpose has sped you on your way
Destination calls.

 

Like an arrow in flight
I travel home
to a place that’s waited so long
There will I find solace
There will I partake
in love’s embrace
I have what’s needed
as I travel
electrically
Days become hours
Minutes become seconds
as miles are covered
as bases are too
gods speed my travel
and clear my way
The lightning guides me
I go today

 

The suite of Wands deal with force-creative, spiritual, and vital. Eights deal with recognition of boundaries and a focus of the energies to move on and continue. The eight of wands brings us movement often after we have been stuck in place with much to be handled. Often when this happens, either through some intuitive jump of our own and sometimes through a sense of grace things change and the creativity starts flowing again and movement seems possible in almost any direction. One time a friend and I had been hitchhiking through the Carolinas for three days in the rain. It seemed we could not catch a ride that would take us more than 20 miles. We were hungry, cold, wet and tired and I was desperate enough to try anything. I pulled out my deck of cards and started focusing on the Eight of Wands, concentrating on it intently. My buddy looked at me like I was crazy. We stuck out our thumbs again and within a minute a truck pulled over that drove us most of the way to our destination in Florida. It was swift travel indeed.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Mercury in Sagittarius – This aspect is one of a mind truly alive, creative and active. It allows thoughts to flow almost everywhere on every topic from minor to complex and from deep to shallow. It is an energy that paints in broad strokes, leaving the details for others to fill in as it jumps onto another train of thought. This is a visionary and not a subtle sign that hates subterfuge and will in its pursuit of illumination think nothing of exposing the secrets of a friend. Quick to engage this energy can also be quick to withdraw as it moves on to something new.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 35) Chin – Progress

_______
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_______
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The Trigram of Fire is over that of Earth. Unfettered fire can move rapidly over the earth with ever widening expansion and clarity.As the sun rises, the shadows dispel and everything is seen in a clearer light.This is a hexagram of swift movement and new leaps of understanding and progress with nothing impeding. The movement is often towards greater virtue, understanding and light.

 

In a reading, the Eight of Wands can mean pulling free from whatever has been stopping us and being able to move again so move fast! It can mean that we have discovered a new direction or purpose and have better understanding of our own inner drives. This card may also mean the beginning of a new relationship with all of the energy and enthusiasm that comes with it. It can refer to plans to travel and new exploration both physically and mentally. It is a time of great enthusiasm as one’s sense of adventure and delight is rekindled.

 

When the Eight of Wands turns up reversed in a reading, one’s energy and enthusiasm may have become too diffused and scattered. It may feel as if any attempt to free oneself from conflicts and the problems we have landed ourselves in is unsuccessful. When referring to a relationship the Eight of Wands reversed may indicate jealousy and negativity. The card reversed may also talk about hesitating to take action to remove oneself from a situation that we know we should leave.

Tarot Card of the Day – January 14 2010

VIII of Wands

Like an arrow in flight
I travel home
to a place that’s waited so long
There will I find solace
There will I partake
in love’s embrace
I have what’s needed
as I travel
electrically
Days become hours
Minutes become seconds
as miles are covered
as bases are too
gods speed my travel
and clear my way
The lightning guides me
I go today

VIII of Wands from the Crowley Thoth Deck

Hod in Fire
Mercury in Sagittarius

☿ in ♐

I Ching Hexagram 35
Chin Progress
_________
____ ____
_________
____ ____
____ ____
____ ____

Fire over Earth (Li over K’un) or the sun rising over the Earth
It represents rapid easy progress with ever widening expansion and clarity
The sun’s clarity enlightens the earth as it rises
It speaks of a man who is a leader himself who becomes closer to his ruler

Mercury in Sagittarius
Messages travel fast and optimistically. It is a time for planning big and not getting bogged down in details “keeping your eyes on the prize”
There is a tendency for small things to get blown out of proportion during this influence but that usually passes through quickly also.

In readings the Eight of Wands tends to indicate swift movement towards stability. It can also refer to the beginnings of a romance. (ie bolts of love). This card can be used to focus needed energy on where one wants to go with complete focus..

Book of Thoth quote by Aleister Crowley:
“Sagittarius which represents the stabalizing of the fire energy; and Mercury rules the card, thus bringing down from Chokmah the message of the original Will.
The card also refers to Hod, splendour, in the suit of Fire, whence it refers to the phenomenon of speech, light, electricity.
The pictorial representation of the card shows the Light-wands turned into electrical rays, sustaining or even constituting Matter by their vibrating energy. Above this restored universe shines the rainbow; the division of pure light, whivh deals with maxima, into the seven colours of the spectrum, which exhibit interplay and correlation.
This card therefore, represents energy of high velocity, such as furnishes the master-key to modern mathematical physics
It will be noted that there are no flames; they have all been taken up into the wands that turn them into rays. On the other hand, the electric energy has created intelligible geometrical form.”