STAVES
CARDS
The Suit of Staves (Wands in traditional Tarot decks) represents your energy, motivation and passion. The Staves cards often appear in Tarot readings about life purpose, spirituality and new ideas.
The Suit of Staves meanings are associated with primal energy, spirituality, inspiration, determination, strength, intuition, creativity, ambition and expansion, original thought and the seeds through which life springs forth.The Suit of Staves is associated with the element of Fire. Fire is hot, wild, unpredictable, and energetic. It can be creative in helping us to cook food or build tools, or it can be destructive, like a devastating bush fire or house fire.Fire is symbolic of passion, energy, enthusiasm, and sexuality. It is a masculine element and reflects the drive and willpower of the masculine energy.
The King of Staves is a female halfling standing in the burnt remnants of her former forest city. A female King shows that anyone can become a leader if they pursue their vision and act with honour. She is holding a stave sprouting bright green leaves, a symbol of life and creativity. Her pant leg is decorated with a lion's head and she is summoning fire magic in the shape of a lizard, both symbols of fire and strength. The fire salamander biting its own tail, and the shape of her staff, represent infinity and the ongoing drive to move forward against all obstacles.
This concept is even more prevalent given the fact that the backstory of this part of Questeros is the destroyed remains of the halfling forest city.
King of Staves
Natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur, honour
The Queen of Staves is represented by a transgender halfling character. She stands before a throne decorated with lions facing opposing directions, a symbol of fire and strength. In the foreground is a large sunflower, symbolizing life, fertility, joy and satisfaction. In her right hand she holds a staff with two magical stones embedded, shining with light and life. A black cat sits at her feet, a sign that while this Queen is bold and outgoing she is also in touch with her shadow self – the darker, lesser-known side of her being. She stands in the desiccated remains of her forest city, showing determination and courage in difficult times.
Queen of Staves
Courage, confidence, independence, social butterfly, determination
The Knight of Staves mounts a mighty salamander (associated with the element of fire), protected with petrified wooden armor. He holds a magical wand in his right hand that spouts green lightning, which symbolizes his energy and enthusiasm for his mission. His salamander is walking along a fallen tree, poised and ready for action. The landscape is the burning, destroyed forest of the halflings shown in all of the stave Court Cards.
Knight of Staves
Energy, passion, inspired action, adventure, impulsiveness
Page of Staves
The Page of Staves shows a stout woman holding a long staff in one hand ass he looks with focus at the green leaves sprouting from the top.Two lizards are on the ground nearby, these creatures are associated with fire and transformation. The Page stands still, with her staff firmly planted on the ground, suggesting that while she is inspired by the potential growth represented by the sprouting staff, she has not yet taken action on this inspiration In the background, the landscape is barren and burnt, implying that this Page has the gift of being able to find growth and potential in the most unlikely places. She is so energized by her ideas that she can make anything happen and isn’t limited by her circumstances.
Inspiration, ideas, discovery, limitless potential, free spirit
The Ten of Staves shows a wizard carrying a large bundle of staves towards a magical fortress only a short distance away, yet in a challenging location. The burden he carries looks large, he is weighed down by the heavy load he is carrying, but he knows he is almost at his destination and will soon be able to release the heavy weight he is bearing. It appears to be a very useful delivery, something that will benefit others greatly if he can accomplish this task.
Ten of Wands
Burden, extra responsibility, hard work, completion
The Nine of staves shows an injured man, clutching a stave. He wears the red boots and yellow pants of the knights of Questeros. He looks straight towards one of the eight staves that surround him. He seems weary and worn, as though he has already been through a battle and now must face additional challenges with the presence of these eight staves. As a Nine, though, this is his final challenge before reaching his goal; he must endure this last test of his strength and character before reaching the finish line.
Nine of Wands
Resilience, courage, persistence, test of faith, boundaries
The Eight of Staves shows eight colorful staves in the grasp of a gryphon flying at high speed. The flight suggests change, movement and travel. The sky is clear and the beautiful river below is flowing freely and giving life to the surrounding landscape.
Eight of Wands
Movement, fast paced change, action, alignment, air travel
The Seven of Staves depicts a halfing on top of a hill, armed with a wand in two hands and fighting off six more staves drawing up from below. He seems to be defending his territory and his successes. Interestingly, the man is wearing two just one shoe, suggesting that he may have been caught unaware or unprepared for battle, or he may be unclear of his own stance and opinion. Being that he is a halfling, and the shoe looks special, it could also mean he has a foot up on his opposition with this potentially magical item.
Seven of Wands
Challenge, competition, protection, perseverance
The Six of Staves depicts a female wizard riding a strong white horse ahead of two other wizards. Her horse represents strength, purity and the successful progression of an adventure, and the two wizards behind her represents her successful leadership of a team. The rider holds two wands upright, as though recently acquired, further emphasising success and achievement. The other two wizards also carry two wands each, showing this group may have recently accomplished a mission to acquire these powerful arcane weapons.
Six of Wands
Success, public recognition, progress, self-confidence
In the Five of Staves, five wizards appear to be fighting each other, using their wands as weapons. However, on closer observation, their wands are raised but not striking or injuring anyone. It is as if there is no real purpose or outcome in this chaotic scene other than to create conflict and sow discord amongst the group. Each wizard wears a slightly different colored robe and holds a different colored stave, symbolizing their diverse backgrounds and belief systems, and suggesting that, because of their differences, they cannot find harmony and common ground with one another.
Five of Wands
Conflict, disagreements, competition, tension, diversity
The Four of Staves shows Ero and The Mentor dancing and celebrating an achievement. In the foreground, four staves are planted in the ground, pure white flowers emerging from them. Together, these elements represent the joy and satisfaction that comes with achieving an important goal or milestone. In the background sits an elaborate and inviting palace, representing the safety and comfort of the home.
The achievement could be a personal one, or a group one, all depending on your circumstances. For Ero, it could be his growth and development with the skills of magic in the world of Questeros, on his journey to slay The Dragon.
Four of Wands
Celebration, joy, harmony, relaxation, homecoming
The Three of Staves shows a man in red robes standing on a cliff with his back turned. Two wands stand firmly planted in the ground, and one in his hand, reflecting his commitment to his plans. He has left the comfort of his home and is in a vast open space, looking out over a broad desert with seemingly little to offer. From his high vantage point, he can see all that lies ahead, including any upcoming challenges and opportunities.
At this point in time there are three large sandwurms, representing a known but challenging situation ahead.
Three of Wands
Progress, expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities
The Two of Staves shows a female elf, dressed in an orange outfit with flowing red bands, holding a small globe. The world is literally in her hands, marking the enormous potential before her if she can expand her horizons accordingly. She stands behind a stone wall, suggesting that while she is contemplating significant opportunities, the elf has not yet left her comfort zone to pursue them; She is still very much in the planning phase. Her hand holds an upright Stave just barely "grown", and a second Stave is stands alone behind her, not yet fully formed. It is a further sign that she is still not ready to venture out. In the background, the land is fertile while also rocky, promising that she has a good chance for success, so long as she can overcome the challenges that will arise.
Two of Wands
Future planning, progress, decisions, discovery
In the One of Staves, Ero the goblin's hand is holding a sprouting wand extending out from a cloud, as if to offer a new opportunity or idea with the potential to grow. The rich, verdant landscape is further confirmation of this growth capability. In the distance on the left sits a castle, representing the promise of opportunities to come, and hills and mountains line the horizon. Their rolling peaks remind us that there will always be challenges along the way, but they are surmountable with enough effort.
The one also represents the acquirement of magic in the Solitaire game, Ero's Quest.
One of Wands
Inspiration, new opportunities, growth, potential