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    BornClock
    BornClock  /  Mystic Corner  /  Tarot cards  /  King of Wands
    Minor Arcana · Wands

    King of Wands Tarot Card Meaning

    The King of Wands is an honest, ardent leader who means what he says. Upright he is conscientious, noble and passionate. Reversed he is still good — but severe and austere.

    King of Wands tarot card from the 1909 Rider–Waite–Smith deck
    Pamela Colman Smith (Rider–Waite–Smith deck, 1909). Public domain

    · Suit of Wands (energy, drive and work) ·

    Upright keywords:

    leadershiphonestyvisionpassionintegrity

    Reversed keywords:

    severityausterityimpatiencehigh expectations
    Yes / no: Leans yes

    King of Wands upright

    The King holds up a flowering wand; a lion is carved on the back of his throne. Waite describes him as ardent, lithe, animated, impassioned, noble, and says he always signifies honesty — possibly news of an unexpected inheritance. Lead by example and keep your word.

    King of Wands reversed

    Waite reversed: good, but severe; austere, yet tolerant. Strong principles can harden into strictness — soften the delivery.

    A is one drawn upside-down.

    King of Wands in love

    A loyal, protective partner; commitment with passion.

    King of Wands in career

    Visionary leadership, founding and directing. People follow your integrity.

    King of Wands in money

    Honest dealing; Waite mentions news of unexpected heritage.

    Is King of Wands a yes or no?

    Upright: Leans yes. Yes — with confident, honest leadership.

    Reversed: Reversed, King of Wands reads as mixed — not a clear yes or no: severity, austerity, impatience.

    The yes/no lean is BornClock’s reading convention drawn from the card’s meaning — Waite himself did not assign one.

    Ask your own question — draw one card →

    Symbolism in the King of Wands card

    What appears in the 1909 Rider–Waite–Smith picture, as Waite describes it:

    • Flowering wand held up — living, creative authority
    • Lion on the throne — Waite links the King to the lion — courage
    • Cap beneath the crown — Waite: the cap of maintenance all four kings wear

    In Waite’s own words (paraphrased)

    Upright: a friendly, honest, conscientious man, generally married; honesty; news of an unexpected heritage.

    Reversed: good, but severe; austere, yet tolerant.

    Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910, public domain). Some of Waite’s 1910 fortune-telling meanings are old-fashioned; the plain-English reading above is ours.

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