Eight of Wands
Velocity
“Life is a highway.”
Life Is a Highway, Tom Cochrane
Eight of Wands at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Eight of Wands indicates rapid movement once delay and obstruction have fallen away.
| Upright | speed, swift communication, rapid progress, travel, aligned momentum |
|---|---|
| Reversed | delay, crossed messages, rushing, scattered energy, bad timing |
| Linked card | Six of Swords |
| Soundtrack | Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Speed
- Swift communication
- Rapid progress
- Travel
- Aligned momentum
- News arriving
- A situation accelerating
- Direct action
- Events converging
- An approaching result
Reversed meanings
- Delay
- Crossed messages
- Rushing
- Scattered energy
- Bad timing
- Travel disruption
- Jealousy
- Argument
- Momentum without control
- An outcome overshooting its mark
Eight of Wands in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Relationship energy: News arriving. Reversed: Travel disruption. |
| Career | Work: A situation accelerating; direct action. Warning: Jealousy. |
| Money | Financial theme: Events converging. Warning: Momentum without control. |
| Feelings | Upright: Rapid progress. Reversed: Rushing. |
| Advice | Prioritise: An approaching result. Watch for: An outcome overshooting its mark. |
| Outcome | Potential: Aligned momentum. Obstacle: Bad timing. |
| Yes or no | Yes, and probably sooner than expected. |
Symbols in Eight of Wands
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The flying wands | Several forces move in the same direction at once. |
| The open sky | Little appears to obstruct the route. |
| The river | Movement below echoes movement above. |
| The distant house | The destination is near enough to affect decisions now. |
A. E. Waite's original description
The card represents motion through the immovable, a flight of wands through an open country; but they draw to the term of their course. That which they signify is at hand; it may be even on the threshold.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
Activity in undertakings, the path of such activity, swiftness, as that of an express messenger; great haste, great hope, speed towards an end which promises assured felicity; generally, that which is on the move; also the arrows of love.
Reversed:
Arrows of jealousy, internal dispute, stingings of conscience, quarrels; and domestic disputes for persons who are married.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, first published in 1910, with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith.
Continue through the deck
- Previous card: Seven of Wands
- Next card: Nine of Wands
Written and interpreted by Finbarre Snarey, tarot researcher, founder of the British Tarot Archive and coordinator of the UK living heritage submission for Rider-Waite-Smith tarot reading practice.
These interpretations reflect Finbarre Snarey’s understanding of contemporary Rider-Waite-Smith tarot practice. They are provided for education, reflection and entertainment only and should not be treated as medical, legal, financial, psychological or relationship advice.
