Queen of Wands
A queen enthroned among lions holds a sunflower and a flowering wand, a black cat at her feet: confident, warm, magnetic leadership and creative vitality.
Wands, Queen
Upright keywords
- confidence
- warmth
- charisma
- independence
- determination
- vibrancy
- courage
Meaning when upright
The Queen of Wands sits on a lion-carved throne holding a flowering wand in one hand and a sunflower in the other, with a black cat at her feet. She is fire in its warm, magnetic, self-assured form: someone who knows her own mind, draws people in, and gets things done with enthusiasm and courage. Waite describes her as friendly, loving, and honorable, with a personality like the King's but more magnetic, and adds love of money or a certain success in business. In a reading she can represent a person with these qualities, or call you to step into your own confidence, creativity, and visibility.
On the card
- sunflower held in her hand
- Joy, vitality, and solar warmth; a radiance that naturally attracts others.
- flowering wand in her other hand
- Creative power and authority that is alive and growing; Waite's wands 'always in leaf.'
- black cat seated at her feet
- Intuition, independence, and a touch of hidden or magical power; ease with her own shadow side.
- lion heads carved on the throne arms
- Courage, strength, and the fire sign Leo; command held with confidence.
- lions and sunflowers on the throne back
- The solar, life-giving character of her rule, joined to leonine strength.
- yellow robe
- Warmth, optimism, and the brilliance of the sun.
- leaf-wreathed crown
- Vitality and growth crowning her authority.
In Waite’s words
The Wands throughout this suit are always in leaf, as it is a suit of life and animation. Emotionally and otherwise, the Queen's personality corresponds to that of the King, but is more magnetic.
- Divinatory meaning
A dark woman, countrywoman, friendly, chaste, loving, honourable. If the card beside her signifies a man, she is well disposed towards him; if a woman, she is interested in the Querent. Also, love of money, or a certain success in business.
- Reversed
Good, economical, obliging, serviceable. Signifies also—but in certain positions and in the neighbourhood of other cards tending in such directions—opposition, jealousy, even deceit and infidelity.
- Additional meaning
A good harvest, which may be taken in several senses. Reversed: Good-will towards the Querent, but without the opportunity to exercise it.
Correspondences
- Element
- Fire
- Astrology
- 20° Pisces – 20° Aries
- Golden Dawn title
- Queen of the Thrones of Flame
- Court element
- Water of Fire
- Number
- As a Queen, she expresses inward mastery and nurture: Fire's energy held steadily and radiated as warmth, Water of Fire.
Court attributions follow the Golden Dawn, where the mounted Knight is Fire and the enthroned King is Air; some modern readers swap the two.
To reflect on
- Where am I ready to be more visible and confident?
- What does my warmth attract, and how do I protect it from burning out?
- When do I slip from confidence into needing approval?
In your readings
Hasn’t appeared in your readings yet.
Ask about this card
Marguerite, the traditionalist, answers from Waite’s text, what is drawn on the card and its correspondences. You can choose another reader in settings.