The Eight of Wands has clear direction.

When the Eight of Wands shows up, you’re getting into the order of things.

The spark of fire gets fully in line in the Eight. Ideas and moving parts find cohesion. What may have felt like a jumble of thoughts, goals, or feelings is finally coming together and bringing a solid sense of direction.

If you’re not quite there, this card urges you to get to work. Getting organized is key. Lists, idea mapping, and planning help you keep the creative flow moving by giving it shape and form. What comes first? What are the middle and end goals or steps? The Eight of Wands asks you to conceptualize the process. Even if you can’t foresee all of the steps or roadblocks in your path, getting started is half the battle!

Generally, this card bodes positively for things moving in the right direction. In love, career, and life, it suggests forward momentum. Forces seem to be aligning, and feelings become clearer. A love interest may send word or make their intentions clear. You might also consider taking action.

While this card brings focus, there’s still a faith element; you’re taking something from ideation into form and action, and you’ll need to trust yourself even when things feel wild or unpredictable.

The quick pace of this card is often a great go-getting energy, but if paired with chaotic or challenging cards, a warning to slow down might be heeded. When reversed, this can also be the case.

The Eight of Wands can also indicate outside influences. Sudden news or travel can be forthcoming. This might require you to get on a plane, follow a lead, change plans, or physically move. News can be unexpected and wonderful, unexpected and horrible, or just plain unexpected.

Look to the surrounding cards and where the wands are pointing directionally. This tells you something about the incoming or outgoing energies.

When reversed, the Eight of Wands suggests things moving backward. Progress is delayed, momentum is slow, or information is slow to get to you. Decisions might be hard to make; you might not have all the info you need to make a decision you feel good about. Things might be evading view, whether that be from people or circumstances. Caution might be needed.

On the other hand, you might know what needs to be done but refuse to take action. You might struggle to see the way forward or break down a big goal (or change) into smaller steps. What helps is getting clear on your values and ensuring that the decisions you’re making line up with your desires.

The Eight of Wands is a great card for breakthroughs, especially where stagnation has been the order of the day. Now’s a wonderful time to point the arrow toward the target, or, follow its lead.

 

Sources

Greer, Mary. Archetypal Tarot. San Francisco, CA: Weiser Books, 2011.
Greer, Mary. Tarot Reversals. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2002.
Pollack, Rachel. Tarot Wisdom. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2008.
Snow, Cassandra. Queering the Tarot. Newburyport, MA: Weiser Books, 2019.
Tea, Michelle. Modern Tarot. New York, NY: Harper Collins: 2017.
Wen, Benebell. Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2015.

 

Video

Tarot Spread

Read more tarot card meanings:

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana cards represent the major life lessons.
They are the archetypes or universal teachings.

Suit of Pentacles

The element earth represents this suit.
In the Colorful Tears Tarot, this suit is renamed Tapes.
Other decks may call this suit Disks or Coins (or various other names).

Suit of Cups

The element water represents this suit.
In the Colorful Tears Tarot, this suit is renamed Tears.
Other decks may call this suit Chalices (or various other names).

Suit of Wands

The element fire represents this suit.
In the Colorful Tears Tarot, this suit is renamed Matches.
Other decks may call this suit Batons (or various other names).

Suit of Swords

The element air represents this suit.
In the Colorful Tears Tarot, this suit is renamed Scissors.
Other decks may have named this suit differently.