Two of Wands

Two Tibetan dorjes, the thunderbolt-sceptres, cross over a field of flames. The card is simple and forceful.

Chokmah, Wisdom, in Atziluth, the world of emanation. Wisdom, the Supernal Father, the first movement out of the point: a line, a direction, the Yod of the Name. The Twos are Chokmah in each of the four worlds, the element at its purest and most dynamic, and the Knights belong here as the fiery fathers of their suits.

Chokmah in the world of Fire: the element at its purest and most dynamic, the line drawn from the point. Mars in the first decan of Aries, the opening of the whole zodiac, gives it unopposed energy.

Mars in the first decan of Aries (0°–10°, about Mar 21–30). Mars is force, war, energy, the breaking of forms so that they can move. On the Tree it is Geburah; among the trumps it is the Tower. Mars also opens the sequence of the decans at the first degree of Aries.

Aries is cardinal Fire: the ram, the spring equinox, the head of the year, initiative and the courage to begin. Mars rules it and the Sun is exalted here. Its trump is the Emperor. The trump of Aries is The Emperor.

This decan is ruled by the Queen of Wands, whose arc runs from 21° Pisces to 20° Aries. The two Shem angels of the decan are Vehuiah and Jeliel.

The Line: the first extension, direction, the reflecting Other. Chokmah, Wisdom. The Twos show each element at its purest and most dynamic; the Priestess is trump II.

Intuition asserting itself: the sense of direction becoming a claim on the world. The Wands are usually read as the intuition function in Jung's typology, an interpretive convention rather than a text of Jung's.

Rider-Waite calls the suit Wands, Rods or Staves. Its small cards carry scenes; the Thoth small cards carry the suit emblems arranged geometrically, with the keyword printed at the bottom and the colours of their Sephirah and decan. The Golden Dawn title (Lord of Dominion) is shared by both traditions.

Mars at its best gives courage, decisiveness, protective strength, passion, independence. At its worst: violence, impulsiveness, cruelty, rage, or, when repressed, passive aggression and burnt-out apathy.

Aries (“I am”) brings courage, initiative, honesty, energy, independence. Its shadow is impulsiveness, selfishness, anger, starting fights and projects without finishing them.

Together: Mars rules Aries and is at home here. Dignity explains part of the title and the Sephirah explains the rest: a planet at home in its sign can still sit in a hard sphere, and a weak planet can be carried by a strong one.

The Sun crosses this decan around Mar 21–30, so it is the decan card of anyone born then; their court card is the Queen of Wands. Find a birthday.