eight of wands question from a long time novice

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Qofcups	14 Jan 2005
With my Rider-Waite tarot deck I always viewed the wands as quickly falling into place. They were all aligned, coming full force about to land exactly where they should. I now have the Robin Wood deck and it looks like the wands are taking off. Can I still read it as things falling into place? I recently did a reading for a friend and the 8 of wands was the outcome card. I used the variation of the celtic cross spread Ravenswing created in this thread http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24946 and there were influences of the tower in the position of the environment, The moon in the crowning position, the reversed 5 of cups in the future position, and the 6 of wands in the hopes position (although the chariot was in the fears position, so she both hopes for success and fears it at the same time). I read the outcome to mean that things were going to happen very quickly, and feel very disruptive but they will all fall into place even though it might not be what she expects. Now I am wondering if I interpreted the 8 of wands correctly since they are not falling into place in the RW deck, they are just taking off. Maybe it doesn't make to much of a difference, but it changes my whole outlook on how I should interpret the card.

huredriel	14 Jan 2005
Well I am a complete beginner, but on my deck 7 of the 8 wands are flying with the woman holding one on the ground. I feel that this card can represent not only rapid movement, but the feeling of wanting to fly free with all the creativity that the querant possesses. Any use?

Sulis	14 Jan 2005
Personally I think you should read what you see in the cards for that particular question and for that particular deck. If you don't see things falling into place with the Robin Wood card then don't read it like that. In the example you give I think you read the cards ok. The thing is that cards should be read slightly differently for every question - the meaning depends on the picture, the numerology, the 'traditional meaning' as well as the question, the spread and the surrounding cards. I'm not one for memorising card meanings then using that meaning no matter what :) Love Sulis xx

April	14 Jan 2005
Sulis is absolutely right. The meaning will vary from reading to reading. But I had an idea. What if the Robin Wood is saying something is ready to take off BECAUSE everything has fallen into place? I like to have my cake and eat it too. :) Peace, April

wandking	14 Jan 2005
On RWS that eight features absolutly no human or animal symbolism, making it unlike any other card in the deck. I believe that is why the card offers such a diversity of meanings. Some see those 8 wands as arrows of Cupid, while others view them as staffs of Moses. If I were only allowed one attribute to ascribe to the card, it would be swiftness. Whether things are falling into place or scattering to the four winds depends on personal interpretation and surrounding cards in the spread, as others have indicated. Perhaps that eight has opened a door for you. Many, including myself, read the card as a spiritual or idealogical breakthrough if supporting cards are present with it in the spread. You might consider embracing more than a single meaning for every card in the deck, not just the 8 of Wands.

The eight of wands question from a long time novice thread was originally posted on 14 Jan 2005 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.