Knight of Wands Tarot Card Meaning: Bold, Restless and Ready to Ride

The Knight of Wands is barely holding his horse still. The animal rears up, the rider grips a short staff, and flame-like plumes stream off his helmet and armor. Behind him, pyramids rise out of the desert. He is going somewhere, and he wants to go now.

He is fire in motion: passion, courage, adventure and a strong dislike of waiting. This guide covers the imagery, the upright and reversed meanings, love, work and money, the yes or no reading, and what kind of person the Knight of Wands can describe.

Draw your free tarot reading and see which card turns up for you today.

What is on the Knight of Wands card

In the 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, a knight in armor rides a rearing horse across a desert. Over his armor he wears a yellow tunic patterned with salamanders. Plumes like flames rise from his helmet and trail from his arms and back. He holds a short wand with small leaves. Pyramids stand in the distance. Waite wrote that he is shown as if on a journey, armed but not on a warlike errand, and that the horse's motion is a key to the rider's hasty mood.

• The rearing horse is raw energy, hard to hold back.
• The short wand is a tool for action rather than a weapon.
• The flame-like plumes show a temperament that burns hot and bright.
• The salamanders on his tunic mark him as a creature of fire.
• The pyramids are distant goals and foreign places, the road ahead.

In the Golden Dawn system, the Knight of Wands is fire of fire: the suit's element at its most active and quick to ignite.

Knight of Wands upright meaning

Upright, the Knight of Wands says bold energy is charging in. Go after what you want with confidence. This is the card for starting the venture, booking the trip, asking the question and taking the leap you have been talking about for months.

Waite linked this Knight with departure, absence and change of residence, and many readers still see a move or a journey here. Even without travel, he brings momentum. Things will not stay the same for long, and the card asks you to ride the change rather than resist it.

Compare him with the other Knights. The Knight of Cups rides slowly, the Knight of Swords charges at full speed into the wind, and this Knight is somewhere in between: fast, but on a journey rather than into battle. Waite was clear that he is not on a warlike errand. His fire is for adventure and change, not for fighting. That makes him a good card for courage in everyday life, such as speaking up, starting the business or taking the job in another city.

In a spread, cards of planning or patience next to the Knight help steady him. Cards of conflict suggest his heat may need cooling before he does any damage. Read him alongside his neighbors, because on his own he will always say go.

Keywords: passion, action, adventure, courage, confidence, travel, a fast start.

Knight of Wands reversed meaning

Reversed, the Knight of Wands warns that impulsive moves could backfire. Channel the fire with a plan. Quitting in a temper, sending the angry message or jumping into something without checking the ground all fit this reversal.

It can also show energy with nowhere to go: restlessness, frustration and plans that keep getting delayed. Give the fire a target. One clear goal is better than ten half-started ones.

Knight of Wands in love

In love, the Knight of Wands brings heat, charm and excitement. Someone may sweep in with plenty of passion, or a relationship may suddenly take off. Enjoy it, and notice whether the interest lasts past the first rush.

If you are single, he favors saying yes to spontaneous plans. Reversed, he can describe a partner who loves the chase but not the follow-through, or arguments that flare out of nothing.

Knight of Wands for career and money

At work, the Knight of Wands suits launches, sales pushes, travel jobs, start-ups and anything that rewards courage and speed. If you have been waiting to pitch the idea, this is the card that says go. Just finish what you start, because the Knight's energy fades fast once the novelty is gone.

With money, he can be impulsive. Take the bold chance if you have done the sums, not because it feels exciting. A simple rule helps: wait one full day before any large purchase or investment he tempts you toward. If the idea still looks good tomorrow, it probably is. If it has cooled, you have saved yourself the cost of a passing mood.

Is the Knight of Wands a yes or no card?

The Knight of Wands is a yes, usually a quick one. Reversed, it leans toward no, or "not like this": slow down and plan first.

Who the Knight of Wands can describe

As a person, the Knight of Wands is a bold, charming adventurer of any age or gender: the friend who suggests the road trip at midnight, the colleague who volunteers first, the person who seems to have lived in five cities. They are brave, generous and fun. Their weak spot is patience, and a tendency to leave before the work is finished.

How to work with the Knight of Wands

• Choose one target. Write down the single thing you want to charge toward this month.
• Use fire on purpose. Beltane fire rituals show how old festivals put passion to work.
• Find your courage rune. The Tiwaz rune is a warrior's sign for brave, fair action.
• Dress for the ride. A Morrigan tree witch hat has the bold look this Knight would choose.
• Move your body. A fast walk or a run burns off restlessness before it turns into a bad decision.

The tarot page on this site pairs the Knight of Wands with the witch hat collection, for a card that likes to make an entrance.

The Knight of Wands next to other cards

• Knight of Wands and The Chariot: drive with direction. A big move is likely.
• Knight of Wands and Strength: passion held with a gentle hand. Tame the horse, do not fight it.
• Knight of Wands and Knight of Cups: romance with real heat.
• Knight of Wands and Knight of Swords: very fast action. Check the plan twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Knight of Wands mean as feelings?

Strong attraction and excitement. The person is drawn to you and may act on it quickly.

Does the Knight of Wands mean a move?

It can. Waite connected the card with departure and change of residence, so a move or long trip is a common reading.

Is the Knight of Wands reliable?

He is sincere in the moment. Whether he stays the course depends on the cards around him.

What element is the Knight of Wands?

In the Golden Dawn system, the Knight of Wands is fire of fire.

Related Reads

• Major Arcana Meanings: All 22 Tarot Cards
• Sowilo Rune: The Sun Rune of Victory and Vitality
• Travel Witchcraft: Keeping Your Practice Alive on the Road
• Page of Wands Tarot Card Meaning
• Queen of Wands Tarot Card Meaning

Before you ride off, take one look at the road. Draw your free tarot reading and see which card rides along with you today.