The Knight of Wands in tarot
The Knight of Wands charges forward on their horse, much like the Knight of Swords, making them fast and decisive. Their decisions and actions are quick, as are the changes they seek to bring about. This is what sets them apart from the Knights of Cups and Pentacles, whose horses walk or stand still, indicating a slower but steadier pace.
Visual Description of the Card:
The Knight of Wands is seen riding a spirited horse, charging ahead with the intensity of seeking knowledge and success. The Knight’s face shows determination as they prepare to take a bold leap toward success.
The feathers on the Knight’s helmet and the decorative tassels on their back and arms are flame-colored, and they wear a tunic covered with the symbol of the fire salamander, representing the determination, drive, and courage this Knight possesses to move forward.
The Knight of Wands Upright
General Meaning
In the continuous story that tarot tells, the ideas that were just potential in the previous card, the Page of Wands, are now being put into action by the Knight.
Like all court cards, this Knight can refer to you, your attitudes, and your personal moment, or it can speak of someone else—often a young or middle-aged person in your circle or even a stranger.
If the card refers to you, it suggests you are in a moment of direct action. You’ve already started going after what you want, whether it’s a material goal, the completion of a project, a romantic pursuit, self-improvement, or any successful outcome you’re aiming for.
Without a doubt, you have immense energy right now to carry out your plans, along with a strong commitment to what you’re doing. Nothing seems to stop you, and you show no fear—only great strength pushing you forward, making you feel like you can “take on the world” no matter the challenges.
This gives you fantastic confidence, and you may even inspire others around you, although they might not share your same level of strength, commitment, or willpower.
However, it’s important to plan at least a little. While your determination may lead to great results, if your attitude is “act first, think later,” you might need to pause and reflect a bit to avoid missteps.
Your enthusiasm is great and very positive, but if you focus only on the present and don’t consider the future, the consequences may not be what you expected.
All this energy and ambition may not be welcomed by everyone, and you could face some conflicts or at least disapproving looks from those around you. Ambition isn’t a bad thing, as long as you’re not knocking people down on your way to success.
If the card refers to someone else, it likely points to a young man who embodies these qualities and will suddenly enter your life—or if they’re already present, they will play a decisive role in your goals or success.
In some contexts, the appearance of this card can also signify a new and intense love entering your life or the presence of a romantic rival who will be tough to beat. This person has a lot of energy, doesn’t back down easily, and will pursue their goal with determination, even to the point of stubbornness.
Additionally, all Knights in the deck serve as messengers, bringing you news, which is positive when the card appears upright.
In the case of our Knight of Wands, it’s likely something will come into your life quickly and unexpectedly.
Often, this card points to a change in your job, city, or residence. You could experience a sudden and swift move or a drastic shift in your career, like taking on a completely different role.
All these events will happen whether you’re ready or not, so it’s best to ride the wave of change instead of resisting it, as there’s not much you can do to stop it.
Overall, this change is positive and usually aligns with what you’re currently working on or trying to achieve. Something unexpected will occur to support your goal, especially in relation to your work, actions within a group or system, or your place in life.
In Love
If you’re in a relationship, this card indicates swift improvements and a strong commitment from both you and your partner to solve problems and work toward shared goals. Now is a good time for open, honest conversations, where both of you can lay everything out on the table and understand that clear communication is the best way to resolve things.
Even if there aren’t any conflicts, this is still a great time for the relationship, filled with positive energy and a mutual drive to do things together and chase your dreams.
You might receive good news as a couple, or there could be a surprise move or change in your living situation, perhaps even a relocation due to work. It can also point to help from a young man in a matter affecting the couple.
If you’re single, a young man may soon enter your life, likely connected to your work. While they may be persistent and determined, and the relationship could be quite passionate, you should see if they have genuine long-term intentions or if they’re just living in the moment.
If the relationship has potential, this person will be hardworking, determined, and will do everything possible to make it work between you.
In Work
The Knight of Wands suggests significant and often unexpected changes in your work, usually for the better. This could mean a sudden raise, a new position, or a shift to a new section or project that’s very different from what you’ve been doing.
This is a force pushing you forward, and there’s little you can do to stop it—you can only embrace and adapt to it, as resisting will make things harder. Since it’s a positive change, be patient. While the immediate benefits might not be clear, they will become obvious later.
This card can also signal a complete career change. So if you’ve been considering leaving what you’re doing to pursue something else, this card encourages you to go for it. It could also involve a move to a new city or having to face a competitor trying to take your position, in which case you’ll need to be assertive, as they certainly will be.
If you’re unemployed, this is great news, as it predicts that a job will come soon and will be a positive opportunity for you. You’ll have better chances if you look for roles that are more physical, dynamic, and action-oriented rather than office-based positions.
A young man with a strong personality might help you get a job, but if there’s competition, this card suggests a tough rival competing for the same role.
In Finances
The Knight of Wands is a positive card, potentially announcing some surprise or unexpected money—not necessarily a large sum, but still welcome.
This is a good time for investments, projects, expansions, and growth, and this card encourages you to take action, although always with some basic planning and a long-term vision in mind.
There may be a tendency to overspend on impulsive purchases, so be mindful of your spending habits and aim for moderation to avoid hurting your savings.
In Health
The Knight of Wands indicates generally good health and quick recovery from any illnesses or treatments. However, be careful not to act recklessly, as there could be a risk of injuries like sprains or twists.
If you’re in rehabilitation, take it slow. Pushing yourself too hard could backfire and end up prolonging the process.
In Spirituality
The Knight of Wands suggests you may suddenly become interested in a new spiritual perspective that feels more aligned with you.
Take your time to explore this “new way” before investing too much time or money into it. Dedicating some time, energy, and resources to spiritual causes you believe in is highly recommended now, as it’s one of the highest forms of prayer.
The Knight of Wands Reversed
General Meaning
All the drive and enthusiasm you’ve been putting into your plan or actions is good, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. No matter how fast you try to move, everything feels delayed, and frustration is building within you as you feel like you’re not making progress or that you’re getting nowhere.
Very quickly, anger and frustration start to take over, as you’re not getting what you want and everything seems to be conspiring against you. Unexpected obstacles and difficulties are popping up.
This can make you feel like you’re losing personal power, and it’s even worse if this is really the case and you’re also trying to hide it—trying to cover up your inability to achieve what you’re striving for at the moment.
This can lead to intense feelings of rage, confusion, and a gradual loss of self-esteem, spiraling into more pessimistic and dire thoughts.
There’s no doubt that you have energy, but it’s being misdirected, largely because you lack foresight and are acting “recklessly,” without considering the consequences or planning ahead.
You’re acting impulsively, or perhaps driven by selfish needs, without thinking about the impact your actions might have. This card asks you to slow down, reconsider, and pause. It’s time to step back and think about your next move, or else you risk making a mistake that could cause you or someone else to lose out.
Like all court cards, this card can refer to either you or someone else. In this case, it might not be talking about you but rather another person—usually a young man with the same negative behaviors and attitudes. Almost nothing good is likely to come from their presence, so it’s best to keep your distance or avoid them.
This is someone who only serves their own purpose, selfish, stubborn, and even aggressive in a negative way.
It could be a fierce competitor who won’t hesitate to use dirty tactics to achieve their goal.
More directly, this card tells you that it’s time to stop because you’re about to do or say something you’ll most definitely regret later. You’re heading down the wrong path, and while this may frustrate or upset you, try to focus on the positive side and learn from the experience. Every crisis is an opportunity, and not all defeats are losses—keep that in mind.
If you can’t change what’s happening right now, take a breath and find calm. We can’t always be in control or influence things as we’d like, sometimes we’re forced to be spectators—and in some cases, acting could make things worse.
Give it time, reason things through, don’t act on impulse, and wait for a better moment. This card signals delays and setbacks for now, but better times will come—everything changes, and deep down, you know that.
In Love
The Knight of Wands reversed may indicate stress and minor arguments in an existing relationship. Try to get to the root of what’s really going on.
Discussions about seemingly trivial matters, like a toaster, are usually not about the toaster. There are often more serious reasons hidden behind what appear to be minor issues. There’s a risk of small fights, typically over unimportant things.
If you’re single, don’t rush into anything. You might think you’ve found the perfect partner, but it’s likely just an illusion, and this person may not be who they seem. They might display very different behavior from who they really are, possibly being violent, aggressive, or just looking to satisfy their own selfish needs. Think twice.
In Work
The Knight of Wands reversed may suggest some kind of interruption in your work. You might be temporarily reassigned to a different task, or the workplace could close for a few days for some reason—like an audit, cleaning, etc.
Try to take these changes in stride, even if they delay what you wanted to finish. Now is not a good time to make decisions, change jobs, or quit.
This card can also signal bad news related to work, though not necessarily a job loss, or the presence of a negative young man who makes poor decisions or clashes with you. Stay calm and avoid hasty actions.
If you’re looking for a job, things might be delayed, with decisions, calls, or offers taking longer than expected. You could even receive bad news. However, this rough patch is temporary, and things will improve, so don’t get discouraged or angry—just be patient and let time work things out.
In Finances
This card warns that discussions and disagreements about money may arise when the Knight of Wands is reversed. Keep a cool head, take things step by step, and reflect on your financial situation.
People often have other underlying issues but “channel” their frustration into more tangible things, like money. It can be easier to direct anger toward something concrete, so the real problem might not be about money at all.
In Health
Now is not the time to overdo it with exercise or new health regimes. Yes, you should take care of your health, but don’t sabotage yourself by going too far. The Knight of Wands tends to exaggerate, and more often than not, they end up hitting a wall.
In Spirituality
When the Knight of Wands is reversed, you might suddenly decide to end a long-standing spiritual practice or leave your spiritual community. This is not a decision to take lightly, of course, and it’s likely many friends or family members won’t react well to this choice or understand it.
Still, the bottom line is that it’s your spirit and your life, and if a spiritual tradition no longer works for you, it makes no sense to pretend otherwise. This change doesn’t have to happen all at once—you can withdraw gradually if necessary.