7 of Wands

Third Decan of Leo, August 12-22

Katie-Ellen H. @truetarottales on X has this to say about this decan: "Fixed Fire. Outnumbered but still on top of things. Problems and battles. Moral and physical courage. Stamina, strategic advantage. 'I'm still standing'."

It's a good twitter-sized summary of the 7 of Wands, but I want to unpack it further. For the record, I am not into fatalist interpretations.

I love the sevens. To me, they are all about decisions to own our own thoughts (swords), choices among dreamy options (cups), making a stand for ourselves (wands) and seeing the physical rewards of those thoughts, feelings, and actions (coins).

What are you doing over the next ten days to take a stand for your values? Where are you feeling opposition? Is being outnumbered when it comes to your individuality actually a bad thing? Are you centered so that you can meet whatever you must face?

I read on one blog that the 7 of wands is all about desperate measures. Desperate means without hope. I whole-heartedly disagree with this de facto interpretation.

Side note: I use Tarot, in the same way I use all oracles, to fuel the imagination and imaginal experiences for relaxation, illumination, and transformation. If you like this post, please subscribe to access more content!

Beyond the calendar, 7 of Wands everyday.

The seven of wands (upright Rider-Waite-Smith - RWS) shows an individual with firm footing...

Our youth has a position of strength and does not seem worse for wear. With an open mouth, there is the fatigued breathing of a workout, but is it a fight? or an exercise? A dance perhaps?

I explore this dance a bit more in my post Dancing with the Opposite.

A first glance at this card from a position of fear or victimization might indicate strife, and from those positions it most certainly can. But to look from a position of empowerment (which comes from inner wisdom and equanimity) is to look with eyes of opportunity and blessing.

It is important with oracles not to always go with orthodox answers. And most orthodoxy is fear-based. Majority rules, ya know. Or does it? 7 of wands says that doesn't have to be so! If being empowered and not victimized means being in the minority, that's where you'll find me!

I really like the 7 of Wands in Chris Anne's deck The Light Seer's Tarot.

It shows a young woman relaxed, sitting in lotus position on a pillow that is elevated above the reach of the wands. MC Hammer says, "You can't touch this." In this image there is a wand within her reach but she doesn't need it. She is ready/readying for any challenge that comes her way, not by raising the stick but by centering within herself. This gives her the firm footing of the young man seen in the RWS image.

What do you think of when you look at the 7 of Wands? What deck are you using? How does it differ or resonate with what I've written here? I'd love to continue this discussion in the comments.

♥ Runa