Seven of Wands
Rampart
“I am not afraid of storms.”
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Seven of Wands at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Seven of Wands asks whether a position is worth defending when pressure rises.
| Upright | holding your ground, courage under pressure, protecting a boundary, maintaining an advantage, principled resistance |
|---|---|
| Reversed | feeling overwhelmed, poor preparation, defensiveness, needless resistance, anxiety |
| Linked card | Six of Wands |
| Soundtrack | Rebel Rebel - 2016 Remaster by David Bowie Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Holding your ground
- Courage under pressure
- Protecting a boundary
- Maintaining an advantage
- Principled resistance
- Defending work
- Persistence
- Negotiating from strength
- Refusing intimidation
- Proving commitment
Reversed meanings
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Poor preparation
- Defensiveness
- Needless resistance
- Anxiety
- Indecision
- Losing leverage
- Fighting every challenge
- Exhaustion
- Surrendering too early
Seven of Wands in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Relationship energy: Defending work. Reversed: Indecision. |
| Career | Work: Persistence; negotiating from strength. Warning: Losing leverage. |
| Money | Financial theme: Refusing intimidation. Warning: Exhaustion. |
| Feelings | Upright: Protecting a boundary. Reversed: Defensiveness. |
| Advice | Prioritise: Proving commitment. Watch for: Surrendering too early. |
| Outcome | Potential: Principled resistance. Obstacle: Anxiety. |
| Yes or no | Yes, but only through persistence and firm boundaries. |
Symbols in Seven of Wands
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The raised ground | The figure has an advantage but is also isolated. |
| The six rising wands | Pressure comes from multiple directions. |
| The mismatched shoes | The defence begins before perfect preparation is possible. |
| The single staff | One clear position must meet a dispersed challenge. |
A. E. Waite's original description
A young man on a craggy eminence brandishing a staff; six other staves are raised towards him from below.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
It is a card of valour, for, on the surface, six are attacking one, who has, however, the vantage position. On the intellectual plane, it signifies discussion, wordy strife; in business, negotiations, war of trade, barter, competition. It is further a card of success, for the combatant is on the top and his enemies may be unable to reach him.
Reversed:
Perplexity, embarrassments, anxiety. It is also a caution against indecision.
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: Six of Wands
- Next card: Eight 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.
