By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is…
THE 8 OF WANDS
Eight wands, each sporting new, fresh growth, sail through the air, presumably hitting a target out of frame from the image on the card.
A Deeper Look:
The artist, Pamela Colman Smith, clearly made a conscious choice to shift the perspective of the imagery skyward, showcasing the wands against the brilliant blue of the sky with minimal reference to the landscape.
The wands are carefully proportioned to one another, showing a skillful and cooperative launch. The new leaves assure us that even in forward motion, there is growth and new opportunity.
On the landscape we do see, home is in the distance on a hilltop and it looks remarkably like the depiction of “home” in the 10 of Wands, so one must wonder if the wands the figure struggles to get over the finish lines are the ones that flew across the landscape in the 8 of Wands, plus a couple of others he picked up along the way. In the 10, the home is much nearer, within reach, really, whereas in the 8, it is far away.
The landscape shows a balance of earth and water; the formed and the inchoate, the practical and the intangible, substance and intuition.
Eight wands moving toward a target might seem to be a bit of overkill, but their distance apart assures that if there is proper momentum, at least one of the wands will strike the bullseye.
The bow is pulled, the arrows are launched, and they are in flight. The time has passed to recall them and reconsider the trajectory. The die ie cast and now we wait for news of a successful landing.
What to Focus On This Week:
The 8 of Wands assures us that things are flowing smoothly, swiftly, and straight toward the target. Propelled by their own momentum, circumstances in our lives are moving quickly forward. Whatever is now in motion is moving unerringly toward a successful conclusion with no further effort from the querent. The outcome is out of our hands, but our careful planning and previous efforts guarantee successful results.
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Katrina Rasbold is a professional Witch, published author, priestess, and editor of Green Egg Magazine. She and her husband, Eric, are the creators of the CUSP spiritual path and owners of Crossroads Occult. She is the author of Tarot For Real People. You can reach her through www.katrinarasbold.com.