Eight of Wands
The Eight of Wands symbolizes swift movement, renewed momentum, and the power to rise above challenges, embodied by the peregrine falcon’s speed and grace. Upright, it indicates that past obstacles have been left behind and that dynamic energy now propels projects and goals toward rapid progress and completion. It urges focused action, seizing opportunities, and directing creativity into tangible results. Reversed, it warns against rushing ahead without planning, becoming distracted by too many ideas, or encountering external delays; a bit of foresight and streamlining is advised to ensure success.
Keywords
Card
Eight of Wands
Animal
Peregrine Falcon
Fun fact
The peregrine falcon is not only the world’s fastest bird of prey, but also the world’s fastest animal at large, capable of flying at speeds of more than 300 km (186 miles) per hour. Following the banning of the pesticide DDT, a chemical that reduced the hardness of falcon eggs and made them susceptible to breakages, falcon numbers have stabilized out of the danger zone.
Keywords
Action, Movement, Vigor
Reversed keywords
Delays, Frustration, Regression
Meaning
The peregrine falcon swiftly darts through the air, dodging the eight arrows racing towards it. This falcon is touted as one of the fastest in the world, capable of swooping down at incredible speeds to snag its prey with a grace and dexterity that few could ever hope to match. Falcons have long been believed to be apex hunters and symbols of rising above challenging situations. The arrows of adversity could never hope to catch up to the peregrine falcon, so long as it uses its natural gifts to stay ahead of them. The Eight of Wands reminds us to keep moving forward. You’ve left your troubles and hardships behind and are now heading towards a brighter future.
Upright
When upright, the Eight of Wands signifies that the user has overcome past adversity and moved forward into a new dynamic space where their energies can now be directed towards their goals once more. The core trait of this position is dynamism: go with the flow, embrace the swiftness that life is granting you, and move forward, not back. Hone in on your goals and don’t let yourself get distracted. This is a time for taking the bull by the horns and getting things done. Any ongoing projects are soon to be blessed with a spurt of creativity that will quickly see them through to completion. If you have new ideas, move them off of the backburner and strike while the iron is hot. The world is open to you – embrace the chance you’ve been given to explore what you’ve always wanted to explore.
Reversed meaning
When reversed, the Eight of Wands suggests that the user is charging on full steam ahead but hasn’t taken time to consider exactly what their next step will entail. A degree of foresight is necessary to dive into things headfirst, and this is evidence that you aren’t at that point yet. There may be a bit of ‘magpie syndrome’ at play here. It’s easy to get distracted by every new idea that comes into your head, but it’s impossible to give each idea its due. Dedicate yourself to one, and don’t allow detours until you’ve seen it through to the end. This position can also indicate future delays — be they in travel, projected deadlines, or scheduling issues — so be aware that enthusiasm alone won’t help much when the rest of the world is at odds with your productivity. Take some time to plan accordingly. Getting things streamlined before you make the mad dash to the finish will only help future-you cross the finish line that much easier.
Visual Description
A white hawk or falcon soars across a dark, star-speckled background with wings fully extended. Eight golden wands, shaped like arrows with yellow fletching, streak diagonally and crisscross around the bird as if flying past it. The bird's beak is open and its talons are visible, and the card title "EIGHT OF WANDS" appears in gold lettering at the bottom.
Oriens tarot
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