The King of Wands tarot card brings together all the lessons of the Wands suit. This king is a wise leader, a charismatic authority figure, and an inspired creator.
Like all the Court cards, this card can stand for a person in your life, a role you need to play, or a message. If it’s a person, this is a leader who radiates power. They are a self-starter full of kindness and creativity.
This card motivates you to bring your visions to life and remove the obstacles in your path. You can do this by breaking old patterns and behaviors and letting go of a victim mentality.
When you see the King of Wands card reversed, it can mean you’re in a leadership position, but you’re not quite ready to take it on. Even though you’re an authority in your field, you’re not experienced in leading others towards your vision.
Don’t forget that your team is there to support you, so lean on them and make use of their talents as well. Be careful not to set unrealistic expectations either. You can hold others to a high standard without becoming a tyrant.
This reversed card can also mean you’re being aggressive in pursuing your goals. Your confidence is turning into arrogance and you’re sacrificing others while trying to bring your vision to life.
Respect your team and their contributions while leading them with kindness. And remember, there is strength in learning to take direction as well.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed King of Wands card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the King of Wands, this means something is blocking your authority. What’s keeping you from being an effective leader?
Say you pull the reversed King of Wands card thinking about your business. You started a management consultant company and built it from the ground up.
It’s been years in the making and you’ve put all your money and energy into it. Finally, things are going strong and you’ve been able to make a few hires, including one close friend.
He is experienced and has your back, but he isn’t taking the office environment seriously. He’s always bringing up old embarrassing stories and sharing inappropriate details with your co-workers. All this talk is making you look bad and undercutting your authority.
Here, the reversed King of Wands card tells you to take control of the situation. Talk to your friend and let him know his behavior is inappropriate.
If it continues to be a problem, then he can’t keep working there. This is an office, not a party, and there are different rules. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed King of Wands card is using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
For the King of Wands, instead of leading, it’s time for you to follow and play along with the team.
For example, you might pull the reversed King of Wands card thinking about a cooking class you joined. You and your wife wanted to learn more about European cuisine, so you signed up for a class with a talented chef.
He has a ton of wisdom and experience and your wife is thrilled to learn and grow. But you’re a good cook too and a natural leader, so it’s hard for you to take direction.
You often interrupt during class and tell the chef how you would do things differently or try to show a technique to the class. It’s embarrassing for your wife and she’s asked you to stop even though you don’t see an issue.
Here, the reversed King of Wands tells you to listen to your wife. There’s a time to lead and a time to follow, and this is the latter. If you can’t keep yourself from trying to run the class, you shouldn’t be a part of it.
Just relax and enjoy the fact that you’re learning new skills. You’ll be able to show them off properly at home in the right environment.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed King of Wands card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
With the King of Wands, this means there is a bold leader in your life, but they’re becoming overbearing. Be sure to stand up for yourself and stick to your personal beliefs and comfort level.
For example, you might pull the reversed King of Wands card thinking about your boyfriend. You’ve been together a couple of months now, and even though things started well, you have some concerns.
One thing you love is how dominant he is in the bedroom. It matches your preferences and you’re thrilled with the dynamic. But the problem is, this dominance carries over into your life as well, and he’s starting to control you.
He judges how you spend your money and doesn’t want you to see certain friends. You’re concerned his behavior is getting worse and you’re not sure how to stop it.
Here, the reversed King of Wands card tells you to nip this in the bud. If he’s already controlling you after a couple of months, he’s showing his true colors.
Being dominant in bed is not the same as being domineering in life. You can find someone whose sexuality matches your own and who treats you well. Don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can use the “no/not” meaning to read your reversed King of Wands card. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the King of Wands, this can mean “no vision.” You’re uninspired and will need to lean on others to reach your goals.
Say you pull the reversed King of Wands card thinking of your new job. After years of hard work, you landed your dream position as the creative director of a food and beverage company.
It’s up to you to lead the creative team and bring the brand aesthetic to life in new and exciting ways. But you’ve never been in such a leadership role before, and you’re feeling overwhelmed and uninspired.
You’re afraid to make a move in any direction because you’re unsure of yourself and don’t want to make a mistake. All this worry is killing your creativity and you’re not sure you’re cut out for this role.
Here, the reversed King of Wands tells you to lean on your team of creatives. You have a whole arsenal of people prepared to help you, so make use of them.
Ask people for their input and what they’d like to see in your company. Take their ideas and start building your vision based on that. When you all work together, you can achieve something truly spectacular.