While the 8 of Wands is a card of great speed, signalling to us that outer circumstances may force us to take swift action, it is just as often a card that asks us to slow down. The reason for this is that great speed with a lack of forethought and preparation often ends in disaster. Only once we are able to focus and have a precise aim are we to act swiftly.
“The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.”
― Lewis Carroll
Mercury, the fastest moving Planet after the Moon (technically not a planet but counted as such for occult purposes), is here in the fastest moving Zodiac sign, Sagittarius (Mutable Fire). Mercury rules the mind and Sagittarius is a sign of mind expansion, optimism, higher learning, philosophy, teaching and distant travel.
On its own, this card is simply saying: Prepare for swift action. Focus on your intent. If you stay focused things will progress quickly in your favour. Surrounding cards reveal the circumstance for the need to take swift action.
“People forget how fast you did a job – but they remember how well you did it”
― Howard Newton
Affirmation: “I am focused and prepared to leap at the opportunities that will speed me along the path of manifesting my dreams.”
8 of Wands Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, help me be clear about my priorities, focused and prepared for swift action. Amen and so it is!
Correspondences for the 8 of Wands
Planet: Mercury
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Archangel: Michael
Gemstone: Fluorite, Lapis lazuli
Scent: Peppermint, lemon, rosemary
The 8 of Wands in Love and Relationship Readings
This is the swiftest moving energy out of all the 8’s and perhaps the fastest card in the entire deck. Not only does it move swiftly but with great power behind it.
Things are about to change even though you may not be aware of how quite yet. Many opportunities lie before you and you could have a choice of partners. There is an urgent need to communicate your wants and needs to take the relationship in the desired direction.
Usually, there is great optimism associated with this card. However, if ill-dignified or reversed it may mean misunderstanding and/or ill will or jealousy coming your way. Stagnant relationship energy could be killing your creativity.
To a single person, depending on surrounding cards in the reading, this could very well mean that they will soon have a passionate encounter or that there will be some unexpected developments around someone they have just met. A proposal they can’t resist might come their way. The key is to act quickly or the opportunity might be missed.
In an existing relationship, there are often passionate emotions flying about – sometimes accompanied by an inability to express them in a constructive manner. If this card is the main card in a relationship reading, it could mean that the sexual connection is fabulous but that the rest of the relationship needs sorting out.
The Marseille Tarot image in this post is from the CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov.
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