The Ace of Wands

Aces represent beginnings as the first card in any suit; the ace can also be considered the most valuable card for their potential and their purity. An ace represents clarity and freedom from obstruction, much like the Fool within the Major Arcana it represents the beginning of our journey in this case the beginning of our creative endeavour, the contrast when compared to the Fool however is that the Fool embodies ignorance, the fixed nature of the domains of the Minor Arcana removes the element of ignorance by directing our focus to one particular element or area of our lives.

In the upright state this card represents creative opportunities, new paths that will open to us, new things to try, new experiences to be had, or new places to visit with a particular focus on the element of potential.

In the inverted state this card represents a return to square one, familiar territories will be retrodden with eyes anew, a fresh approach or new direction will open up from an old starting point, in all of these scenarios the emphasis is on new opportunities that are still distinct in their own right but use past experience as their foundations.

In the Rider-Waite deck the Ace of Wands is depicted as a single wand floating in the air held by a hand emerging from a cloud above the landscape below. This depiction symbolises God or the Universe itself depending on your interpretation, gifting the power of creativity to the querent, sometimes interpreted as the literal depiction of God imparting the gift of free will.

In self-reflection the the Ace of Wands prompts us to consider what opportunities exist to take a new creative approach or try something different, the emphasis here is novelty and innovation. To repeat the same actions and expect different results is often a fool’s errand, we must adapt our strategies and be flexible in our approach.

Ask yourself “What could I do differently?” or “What have I not tried before?” this doesn’t have to relate to completely new territory, it can simply be a return to long dormant ideas with a new perspective and new direction that you did not explore the first time around.