TAROTQueen of Wands
Upright
Confidence and poise and ‘soft power’. An optimistic world view and a drive to get things done.
Inspiring yourself to achieve your goals.
Seeing your dreams to fruition.
Strong inner confidence and sense of self, boldness in actions, and a clear, intuitive sense of what needs to be done.
Can be cunning when required to meet her goals, but often to everyone's eventual benefit.
Intuition
There are three cats on this card, representing a strong feline personality. Pride in family, powerful, with a strong intuitive sense, and exuding royalty without ever needing to say it!
The woman is Queen Hatshepsut. She brought great wealth and art into Egypt during her time and is noted for not balking at taking up a normally male role and then doing it better than anyone before or after her!
Reversed
Having great ideas or passions, but not being able to communicate them.
Insecure and not being able to speak in your true voice.
Over-managing a situation through lack of confidence or a pessimistic outlook.
The potential for vanity or becoming self-centered.
Can blurt out unfiltered truth without consideration of others, or make illogical decisions when under extreme pressure.
Astrologia
Intense emotional creatives. Strong enthusiasm that carries others with it and can become a healing power. A person in tune with deep passions and often very honest. Can overwhelm others with emotional outbursts and can act illogically in these situations.
Queen of Wands
The Knight of Wands may exude leadership, but he is a warrior. The Queen takes his Fire (passion) but mixes it with Water rather than Air. This literally adds an element of caring and intuition into the mix, removing the brashness of the Knight.
We get a different kind of power: the power of a large, predatory cat. Feline intuition, strength, and agility, combined with the ability to win over the hearts of others through care rather than a show of force. Anyone who has ever owned a cat will recognize the ability to act like royalty, commanding attention without ever needing to speak.
The Queen of Wands is a force to be reckoned with. She possesses grand plans, but also the practical ability to delve into the finer details and get things done.
Alongside her intellectual strength, she possesses a deep intuitive streak. This grants her 'soft power': reading the room, understanding what people want, and creating mutually rewarding plans so that her enemies end up as allies.
Finally, she is one of the best cards for those looking to increase their family.
There are very few historical or mythical characters who meet all these attributes, but there is one perfect candidate.
Queen Hatshepsut
Queen Hatshepsut is considered by many to be the first great female leader in recorded history. She ruled the largest superpower of the time (Egypt, circa 1450 BCE), arguably doing it better than anyone before or after her. This is certainly true if we consider massive increases in trade, art, and knowledge to be the hallmarks of a great leader (as opposed to conquest via constant war). Her reign was noted for unprecedented prosperity and the construction of great monuments.
She did not let her sex slow her down in religious rites and ceremonies that required a male leader. Instead, she dressed the part of a male pharaoh whenever the need arose. Her ability to think around any problem marked her as a free thinker who refused to let anything break her plans.
Even if one prefers war to trade and diplomacy, there is only one Pharaoh who arguably surpassed her, and she had a hand in raising him (he is the King of Wands, her stepson, whom we will meet soon in the deck).
She is the epitome of the strong woman. A leader with high ideas, diplomacy and mental strength, but also with female intuition and the strength to achieve goals irrespective of any bad hand dealt to her.
[The Queen of Wands] is the epitome of the strong woman. A leader with high ideas, diplomacy and mental strength, but also with female intuition and the strength to achieve goals irrespective of any bad hand dealt to her.
Hatshepsut was not only one of the most successful Pharaohs to rule Egypt, but she was also a co-ruler with the other greatest Pharaoh in history: her stepson Thutmose III. He was a ruler noted for his leadership in battle (involved in seventeen military campaigns) and is considered one of the greatest generals to have ever lived.
We will see more of him in the King of Wands. It is worth noting that Thutmose tore down references to Hatshepsut after her death (likely a political move to maintain his own legitimacy, rather than a personal one). Consequently, Hatshepsut remained unknown to us until fairly recently. Due to her staggering achievements, and her tendency to dress as a man when expedient, historians assumed she was a male Pharaoh for many years.
If nothing else, she is certainly a very interesting woman.
Description and Symbology
We see a woman sitting on a gold throne. She looks totally at ease in her position. A woman who does not need to wield power to prove it.
Her 'wand' is a rod topped with a golden Ankh, the symbol of life and transformation.
Behind her head sits a symbol that could be either a tree or the sun, representing fertility, power, or possibly both.
She holds a sunflower in one hand. This again touches on fertility, but also highlights her positivity and energy for the enjoyment of life (as seen in the other card featuring sunflowers: the Major Arcana Sun).
Two male lions rest around her. They represent Fire and her inner passion. The fact that they sit quietly at her feet suggests the Queen has her passionate nature under complete control. However, it is probably best not to anger her, as she has the strength at hand to fiercely protect herself.
In front of her sits a cat. The cat may represent the inner feminine or intuition (or even the old-fashioned symbol of a 'woman with many suitors'), but this cat’s face seems to represent none of these things: it simply looks happy.
There are three felines in all on the card, suggesting the Queen’s powers are also feline: intuitive, playful, beautiful, and clever, but always with claws when needed. Never cross the Queen of Wands when she is angry, for she then becomes an entirely different beast.
The carpet leading to the throne contains a red inner stripe and blue outer stripes, representing Fire and Water. She possesses deep emotion and an intuitive understanding of others (Water), coupled with the passion to follow her ideals and goals (Fire).
Finally, the overall color of the Queen’s throne room is red and gold. This completes the Fire symbology, while also suggesting wealth achieved through the proper use of passion: setting goals and making them a reality.
The queen
The queen sits comfortably on her throne. She is well accustomed to her position. The ankh, sunflower, and tree/sun symbols around her represent a joy for life, strength, power, and fertility.
The lions
The two lions represent the Fire astrological symbols associated with this card. The lions sit at her feet, suggesting the Queen has her passions under control.
The cat
The contented cat represents the Queen’s inner intuition and playful nature; she enjoys life.
The carpet
The carpet leading towards the throne has red and blue stripes, representing the two elements associated with this throne: Fire and Water.
The throne room
The throne room is red and gold, suggesting the Queen’s passionate nature has been harnessed constructively to set goals and meet them to build her a successful future. A self-made, passionate but practical woman.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
For existing relationships, passion in the relationship is backed up with a deeper understanding of each other, making for a firmer relationship. There will also be energy and confidence to get things done together. A power couple!
For a new love interest, the card suggests a practically minded person with clear goals and energy to succeed. This person will speak their own mind but with understanding of others.
This is also a good card for those wanting children.
Be wary of negative inner thoughts that may blow up into arguments. Jealousy or one partner making plans without including the other will be common points of contention.
If you or your partner has been unusually quiet, now is the time to explore where it is coming from and do it before the simmering issues blow up!
You will go through a period of new-found confidence. Use this time to reach high and attempt your dreams!
Your energy will be catching, pulling others with you.
Your intuition will also be high, so trust your reading of the room in any career discussions.
You will have ideas and goals in your head, but they are not coming out because of insecurity or lack of confidence. Something or someone is blocking your energy, and you need to find the source or put some distance between it and you!
An inner mental strength will feed into the physical with strength and stamina to complete tasks… but look after your body if you are spending long hours trying to make your dreams come true!
There may be an emphasis on beauty at the expense of health. Vanity may become a problem.
A lack of being able to express yourself in other areas may be affecting your health.
This may result in a lack of energy or a negative view.
The reverse card can also be a negative indicator for those wanting children.
Intuition, mental strength and confidence are a powerful and rare combination. Now is the time to make plans to satisfy any inner hunger. Travel and new experiences, following a new path, or learning more about yourself.
You may be under pressure from failures or not getting as far as you would like in other areas of your life.
Staying calm when you are feeling negativity is important. Seeking help is one thing but blurting out argumentative statements (irrespective of whether they are true or not) only causes arguments!
Taking charge and achieving goals is a forte of this card, so now is the time to sort out your finances by taking a leading role in decision-making.
The only thing to watch out for is burning yourself out trying to achieve your goals and a propensity for being too generous to others. This is not a bad trait for others, but might be for you!
Lack of confidence in your ideas or even your ideals means now is not the best time to look into finances, especially as you may be tempted to fix inner issues with retail therapy!
Yes, through strong intuition, mental strength, and confidence
Indeterminate. You may well reach your goals through determination, but may overreact to any slip or block in your path, plus your confidence may not be the highest, so it may be wise to wait.
Reading the Card
Like all Court Cards, the Queen of Wands can represent people or things other than yourself:
- A Trait: A passion for getting things done, whether in your career or personal life.
- A Mentor: An older, practical person in your life. This could be a co-worker, relative, or close friend in a leadership role (often wielding 'soft power') who lacks airs and graces. She knows what she wants, knows how to get it, and is willing to use that experience to help you. Her strong intuitive streak means she judges people well and plays to their strengths. A charismatic and helpful ally.
- An Ally or Lover: A beautiful, confident woman who is strong on family and career, but also champions causes or ideas she is passionate about. Her belief gets her places. She may also have a deep affinity with animals and nature.
- Lack of Confidence: When Reversed, the card can represent a lack of confidence, or being pushed into something you do not want. To fit in, you will have to lose your inner voice, or at least suppress it.
When reading the Upright and Reversal sections below, note that although the text refers to you, it could actually represent any of the above. The question being asked (or your first instinct upon seeing the card) will dictate who or what the card signifies.
The Upright Card
The Upright Queen of Wands represents a strong, confident woman who is passionate about her beliefs. She is ambitious, practical, and helpful. She communicates that help effectively because she possesses deep intuition and understands people. She is an excellent person to know.
When you see this card, it either represents a facet of her within your own actions, or a specific woman in your life who fits her description.
As a facet of your life, the Queen of Wands represents making good, practical plans for the future. More importantly, she gives you the strength and confidence to see them to fruition. You will have an excellent ability to 'read the room' and utilize high soft skills: reading people and knowing their motivations.
As a person the Queen of wands can represent an older woman who already knows you. Irrespective of how long she has known you, she already knows you well and will provide good advice.
In a relationship the Queen of Wands represents a beautiful woman with strong ambition but also an earthy practical side with an emphasis on family. She wants things but is also self-sufficient enough to get them on her own. Expect equality in any relationship. There may be strong associations with nature or animals.
Both women will appear extroverted in public, but harbor a warmer, deeply passionate side in personal relationships. They may be incredibly frank, perhaps giving you more truth than you feel you need. Both women will also possess a strong creative streak, adept with novel ideas and self-expression.
The Reversal
The Reversed Queen of Wands possesses the same passion, ambition, and intuition as the Upright card, but her progress is blocked. This is usually caused by inner problems that prevent success: a block on the inner voice that normally drives problem-solving and opens the way forward.
- This could be due to:
- A lack of self-confidence.
- Feeling trapped or overwhelmed by a situation, leading to sudden bouts of anger, frustration, or illogical decisions.
- Forcing solutions: Trying to solve problems purely through force of will or passion. You may understand the motivations of the people involved, but fail to realize the problem has a structural complexity of its own.
- A domineering influence: The person acting as the Queen of Wands in your life is becoming aggressive. She is solving the problem her way rather than yours, or placing limiting conditions upon you (especially when things are not going to plan).
- Superficial obsession: The person acting as the Queen of Wands is obsessed at a superficial level, desiring beauty or the trappings of success rather than actual, grounded success.
In all these situations, there is a need to stand still rather than move forward. Use this time to understand not just your passion and motivations, but the deeper issues driving your insecurity, lack of confidence, or conflict. Take steps to resolve those internal blocks before continuing with the external problem. You may find that these inner issues are the real problem.
Card Design Process
The hardest part of this card was getting the small cat to be smiling and full of personality rather than a cat that is just staring ahead. It was adding a slight tilt of the head in Photoshop that finally did it!
Final Words
The Queen of Wands represents a strong willed and passionate woman who can get things done and carry people forward with her. At her best she is the archetypal strong but kind woman. At her worst she will try to fix things as she knows best, but that may involve stepping on others and perhaps not giving them what they want and need.
