The Seven of Wands shows what it feels like to stand your ground under pressure with style and wit. It speaks to that tense moment when you know you earned your place and someone still tries to push you off it. For this series we walk through my method, P.E.N.S.I. for each pip card.
Then we move into reversals, correspondences, and spell work that uses the card on your altar. If you have not, please review the first P.E.N.S.I. lesson, it will make learning tarot so much easier.
Seven of Wands, 1st Layer of Context: Position
This card sits in the suit of Wands in the Minor Arcana. It shows stress, defense, and effort that stays active. It points to moments when you are tested on what you worked hard to build. We are not in a spread at the moment, and we’ll cover spreads in future posts,
Past, present or future, this is about overcoming obstacles, in a good way.
2nd Layer of Context: Element is Fire
Fire rules this card, so it burns hot and restless. Remember from the first P.E.N.S.I. lesson, fire is always passion or career, often both. It stirs courage, anger, will, and push back. It also shows how passion can feel rough when many demands land at once.
3rd Layer of Context for the Seven of Wands: Numerology of Seven
Remember from P.E.N.S.I. – Seven is like the start of a new path, only you know better what you do and do not want. Seven brings tests, inner work, and soul pressure. It calls up grit, review, and honest self-check. It also asks what you truly stand for when things feel hard.
4th Layer of Context: Symbolism
In most decks, like the Rider-Waite which we are using for these lessons, a figure stands holding a wand as if in sparring. He is holding off others as if in competition, it is not war. The figure is on the high ground and has the advantage.
The raised wand shows a stand taken. Extra wands below show stress from rivals, gossip, or conflict that refuses to quit.
I look at the symbolism and think to myself this person has to overcome the issues presented by these other people. But also take the high ground, the high road. It speaks to overcoming obstacles with style and wit, using one’s talents in smart and effective ways.
5th Layer of Context: Intuition
When this card appears in a spread, the first thing that comes to mind is putting one’s skills to the test. It’s like the person has the mad skills, but now the test. And they are confident, just need a little assurance. Trust that you earned this ground. Your skill and history matter so do not shrink. You can stay firm, adjust your stance, and set limits while you hold your place.
Other things come across depending on the querant and what they wish to know. But if you pay attention and work through P.E.N.S.I. as you perform the reading, plenty will come across to you. I like to advise my clients to take the high road, but at the same time, show your skills.
It’s not an ugly situation like the five of wands, but it is tense and has potential for ugly. So, apply that style, wit and humor while you show off those skills. Compete with honor.
Reversed Meaning
In the reverse, this card speaks to anxiety, a lack of confidence and often indecision. Energy scatters and your stand can feel shaky. Doubt creeps in and drama drains strength. You may feel outnumbered, tired, or unsure. It can be wiser to step aside, regroup, or pick a smaller hill.
This is often a good time, I think, to back off and instead of competing, try to work with others. Show them you are trying to understand their position by proactively listening.
Sympathetic Decks
In the era of Rider-Waite, this would likely have been competition in bigger, grandiose projects affluent people would have been involved with. The impact of reputation would have been far reaching. In more modern times, these symbols and meanings can apply to anyone’s career or creative projects.
Correspondences
Planet: Mars
Sign: Leo
Element: Fire
Number: 7
Tarot Spell: Seven of Wands
Place the Seven of Wands upright on your altar beside a red candle. Hold a wand or branch in your strong hand. As the flame takes, speak what ground you refuse to lose. Picture firm feet and a steady stance on high ground. Tap the card three times with the wand and let the candle burn out safe.
Tarot Spell: Seven of Wands Reversed
Set the card face down near a blue candle. Sit with both feet flat and breathe until the shoulders drop. Speak where you feel worn out or outnumbered. Picture excess wands falling away until only one stays in your hand. Flip the card upright when calm returns and name one small next step.
Final Note
Pressure shows what matters most. Choose your battles with care but strive to take the high road. Even if others do not.
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Today’s Featured Deck
Soar with insight in the Tarot of the Owls Deck and Book by Elisabeth Alba and Pamela Chen. While rooted in the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, this deck offers a fresh, feathered twist. Because each card features stunning owl imagery, it speaks directly to your inner wisdom.
In the Tarot of the Owls Deck and Book you will meet four owl families in the minor arcana: barn, snowy, burrowing, and great horned. Each type brings a unique energy and message. As a result, the suits come alive with personality, making readings feel more connected and meaningful.
Features barn, snowy, burrowing, and great horned owls in the minor arcana.
Tarot of the Owls Deck and Book includes a full guidebook by Pamela Chen.
Rich artwork by Elisabeth Alba brings each card’s wisdom to life.
I read your first PENSI lesson, the numerology aspect of the cards really helps. just wanted to say I have always had a hard time memorizing tarot, but this way does make it easier.
đŸ™‚ Thank you Caden, glad the lessons help!
I like the simplicity of your lessons, sometimes I feel like it is all too much to try and remember.
Thank you, Brielle. Glad you enjoy these tarot lessons. I have often though many tarot lessons are too complicated, always adding more and more to try and remember. I realized “more” is not necessarily better, nor is “more” particularly helpful either.
I never realized how much depth there is to the Seven of Wands until reading this article! Who knew numerology and symbolism played such a big role in tarot cards? Mind blown đŸ¤¯.
đŸ™‚ Thank you Phoenix. Happy Tarot to you!
I never thought about the numerology aspect of tarot cards before. It adds a whole new layer of meaning to the card.
Depending on the position of the spread I see this as them giving up and not wanting to move forward with their goal. Would this also be a card for mental health?
True, but let’s look at it without regard to position first; ambition, confidence, skill. Overcoming obstacles with style and wit too! Now, in a spread, let’s say “the root of it”, back of the mind, deep in the psyche it can suggest a longing or feeling an need to be like that. In “what one hopes to achieve” let’s say, they want to be like that, but the other cards would tell you why they aren’t. The reverse of this card speaks to lack of confidence, even anxiety over some competition. It often leads to depression too. đŸ™‚ Blessings!