Seven of Wands
A young man on a craggy eminence brandishing a staff; six other staves are raised towards him from below. Divinatory Meanings: It is a card of valour, for, on the surface, six are attacking one, who has, however, the vantage position. On the intellectual plane, it signifies discussion, wordy strife; in business–negotiations, war of trade, barter, competition. It is further a card of success, for the combatant is on the top and his enemies may be unable to reach him. Reversed: Perplexity, embarrassments, anxiety. It is also a caution against indecision.
A. E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911)
The imagination itself to create new better forms comes with sudden movement with extraordinary effort. The spirit of thunder stimulates visions, a test of one's faith in oneself. The individual is challenged to improve upon and develop his or her project in the face of an envious and competitive world and needs to learn to value ambition and competitive instinct. Rebellion and sudden freedom needs no compromises, it needs valor, bravery and departure from normal behavior in order to carry out the deed, the outrageously new.
7 of Fire: Stress
How many people do you know who, just when they were completely overloaded, with too many projects, too many "balls in the air", have suddenly come down with the flu, or taken a fall and ended up on crutches? That's just the sort of "bad timing" the little monkey with the pin in his hand is about to impose on the "one-man-band" pictured here! The quality of stress represented by this card visits all of us at times, but perfectionists are particularly vulnerable to it. We create it ourselves, with the idea that without us nothing will happen–especially in the way we want it to! Well, what makes you think you're so special? Do you think the sun won't rise in the morning unless you personally set the alarm? Go for a walk, buy some flowers, and fix yourself a spaghetti dinner–anything 'unimportant' will do. Just put yourself out of that monkey's reach!
Tarot of the Ages - Mario Garizio ©1988 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
This card teaches not only the value of courage, but the value of fear in your everday life. The Seven of Wands in the Rider-Waite variants is shown as a battle, but not one like the Five of Wands where there is no strategy and no cohesion. On the Seven, one man stands tall against all comers, and he will defend his ground until the end. Surely he must be somewhat afraid in the face of six armed foes - any of us would be. But the remarkable thing about the Seven of Wands is that it gives you the power to feel your fear, use your fear and thereby conquer your fear.
Or to use a more modern phrase, the Seven of Wands shows that now is time to feel the fear, and do it anyway. By facing your fears and turning them to your advantage, you grow even stronger, and ready to face the next obstacle in your path. Indeed, there can be no courage without fear to inspire it. That fear does not need to be your master any more. If an opportunity calls you, cast away your doubt and go for it with courage in your hands. If you feel that now is the time to take a step towards your dream, throw hesitation to the winds and let nothing stand in your way.
The appearance of the Seven of Wands can often be a reminder that you must stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. At times like this it is important to know exactly where you stand, or else you might end up fighting against yourself! So, before you charge off to battle, take a moment to see exactly what it is you are fighting for. The hill is not only a defensive position but a good survey ledge too. If you see that the cause is worthy and your position is stable, proceed with confidence. If you think fighting is not needed, then don't fight, for he who knows when not to fight is often he who will be victorious.
Like the figure on the card, the Seven of Wands often shows that you hold the moral "high ground" and your arguments are the right one, despite the sheer numbers of people who try to convince you otherwise. Though the odds may seem insurmountable, recall that the advantage always goes to the defender who knows his position better than the enemy does. Hold your ground, because victory will be yours eventually. Inner courage is a force far stronger than physical strength, and a determined combatant can often withstand the attacks of others as long as he needs to.
Tarot of the Dream Enchantress ©2009 Lo Scarabeo