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The main meaning of the Eight of Wands card is the temporal aspect. The only one of the 78 Tarot cards that clearly indicates that we are facing of an event. In addition, there is no deeper meaning. It shows that something is moving, something is in the air, something is happening faster than expected, and that some developments have already begun without noticing. Usually, it is a forerunner of some good news or events.

EIGHT OF WANDS : SWIFTNESS

The four Eights are attributed to Hod. Being in the same plane as the Sevens on the Tree of Life, but on the other side, the same inherent defects as are found in the Sevens will apply.

Yet one may perhaps urge this alleviation, that the Eights come as (in a sense) a remedy for the error of the Sevens. The mischief has been done; and there is now a reaction against it. One may, therefore, expect to find that, while there is no possibility of perfection in the cards of this number, they are free from such essential and original errors as in the Lower case.

The Eight of Wands is called Swiftness, as one might expect from its attribution to Mercury and Sagittarius. This is an etherealization of the idea of fire; all gross elements have disappeared.

(Let there be a short digression with regard to the signs of the Zodiac. In the case of each element, the Cardinal sign represents the swift, impulsive onrush of the idea. In the Kerubic sign, the element has come to its full balance of power; and in the other signs the force is fading away. Thus, Aries represents the rush of fire, Lightning; Leo, its power, the Sun; and Sagittarius, the rainbow its sublimation. Similar considerations apply to the other elements. See the Attributions section: The Triplicities of the Zodiac.)

In the Eight of Wands, fire is no longer conjoined with the ideas of combustion and destruction. It represents energy in its most exalted and tenuous sense; this suggests such forms thereof as the electric current; one might almost say pure light in the material sense of that word.

The remaining [last] three cards of the suit belong to Sagittarius, which represents the subtilizing of the Fiery energy; and Mercury rules the card, thus bringing down from Chokmah the message of the original Will.

The card also refers to Hod, splendour, in the suit of Fire, whence it refers to the phenomena of speech, light, electricity.

The pictorial representation of the card shows the Light-wands turned into electrical rays, sustaining or even constituting Matter by their vibrating energy. Above this restored universe shines the rainbow; the division of pure light, which deals with maxima, into the seven colours of the spectrum, which exhibit interplay and correlation.

This card, therefore, represents energy of high velocity, such as furnishes the master-key to modern mathematical physics.

It will be noted that there are no flames; they have all been taken up into the wands to turn them into rays. On the other hand, the electric energy has created intelligible geometrical form.

THE EIGHT OF WANDS - SWIFTNESS

Astrology: Mercury in the 1. decan of Sagittarius Tree of Life: Hod through Fire

With the Eight of Wands the element of Fire enters Hod, the realm of intellect and logic, ruled by Mercury - thus an area much to its delight. Swiftness is what is demanded in here, decisive action in high speed modus. 

The card can stand for sudden realizations, quick brainwaves, it can tell that the solution for a problem is already there or soon to come. It also reminds us that the spirit needs freedom to fly for otherwise it won't work at its best. 

The shadow side of the card can mean that we waste too much time with disputing and all kinds of tidbits, instead of moving quick and decisively. In another aspect of course it the size of the dose that makes the poison effective - if we rush it too much we'll end up with a mass of particles that won't do us any good.

Drive: Excessive force applied to suddenly, very rapid rush, violent but not lasting 

Light: Progession, ideas, creativity, motion, changes, development 

Shadow: Rashness, thoughtlessness, rapacious, insolent, jealousy

THE EIGHT OF WANDS - Speed - Progressions, Transits… - Vision

Keywords: Mercury in Sagittarius, clear, direct, fast communication, clearing up misunderstanding

Advice: The time has come for you to determine where you stand. If you are open and continue to focus, misunderstandings will clear up.

Question: Is there someone you dare not say openly where you stand?

Suggestion: Take this opportunity to open up more to the people who mean something to you. Talk to them or write them a letter!

Revelation: My openness and self-confidence opens the hearts of those I love.

Analogies:

Ji-Ching: 35. Chin (The Advancement, Progress)

Mythology: The Diviner (…)

Keywords: forecast, progress, alert for an immediate event

Everything must be done at the right time and in the right way. Shouting does not work.

EIGHT OF WANDS

General Meaning

This suit, most often called "Wands" and sometimes called "Rods" or "Staves," represents initiative, ambition, drive and desire. This is the suit of enterprise and risk-taking.

The Eight of this suit often shows a flight of spears or staffs moving through the air in formation, as if a hidden group of archers had let them fly all at once. This can refer to swiftly unfolding events, whether of unintentional or intentional design. There are also versions that emphasize the agricultural cycle, paralleling the yearly crop cycle with the swift growth of children into adults with children of their own.

In each case, the emphasis is on the necessity of change and the challenge of keeping up with it. With the turning of the seasons, we are constantly being forced to deal with change and there is no remedy but to live with that in mind. So, get busy — there is no time to waste!

In the Reversed Position

Awaken to the changes that are happening in your life; denial does not serve you. When the Eight of Wands is reversed, it is tempting to deny that a powerful chain of consequences has been unleashed in your life. It's very important that you awaken to the changes happening all around you. This is not a good time for you to assume that everything is fine the way it is.

In the Advice Positon

With the Eight of Wands in this position, learn all you can from recent successful experiences. Take note of what worked before and what did not. You possess awareness as to how to effectively apply your imagination to shape the world in productive and aesthetic ways. Thus, the testament to your talents may be revealed for everyone to see and admire.

Even if you had to leave it all behind, you know you could start all over among total strangers and succeed once again. This valuable self-confidence makes you free to strike out in new directions and not just cling to past successes and previous accomplishments.

Read more:

• » The Book of Thoth - A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians by Aleister Crowley.
• » Liber LXXVIII - On the Tarot - A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all planes. - A description of the Cards of the Tarot, with their attributions, including a method of divination by their use.
• » Manuscript N - The Tarot - A Golden Dawn Manuscript - A Theoricus Adeptus Minor Paper.