The Ace of Wands with Herbal Pairing Lion’s Mane
The Ace of Wands shows us a powerful wooden wand being held by a benevolent hand which appears from a heavenly group of clouds. This wand is so potent that virile, verdant leaves sprout from it and they fall about the wand like celebratory confetti. Below this compelling image are lush, green fields, a meandering river with trees near its banks, and a hopeful mountain jutting up toward the skyline. Wands and staffs have long been associated with witches and witchcraft, but they first appeared in Ancient Egypt. Powerful Egyptian gods including Set, Anubis, Osiris, Ra, Horus, and Ptah commonly held the Was scepter, a symbol of divine power, dominion, and magic, as well as the Heqa or crook. The Wadj or papyrus staff was often associated with rulers like Osiris and goddesses such as Isis or Hathor.
Magical staffs appear in the bible as well, for “Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents.” Later wands made an appearance in Greek literature – such as The Odyssey when Circe, a powerful goddess, transforms Odysseus’s crew into swine with magical potions and a wand. During the Middle Ages or around the 13th century, wands continued to be associated with sorcery and appeared in various grimoires or books of spells, such as The Key of Solomon.
In Tarot, Wands are associated with the fire element – the most active, passionate and transformative element amongst the four elements which also comprise of air, earth and water. Indeed, fire changes everything it touches. It is that potent. Fire is also associated with fiery emotions. Anger and lust. Love and hate. These are often described as feelings which burn us, engulfing us in intensity and heat. With this in mind, it is easy to see how the Ace of Wands represents a powerful, energetic, and creative beginning, often symbolizing a spark of inspiration, new opportunities, and intense emotions. Similar to fire, it indicates the urge to take action, seize the initiative, succumb to passionate impulses and pursue, or create, something new with boldness, daring and courage.
When the Ace of Wands lights our reading with its fiery magic, it is time to finally take the plunge and begin that daring project we’ve been putting aside. Rationalizing why we shouldn’t move forward no longer has a place. The time for change has come. Let us dip ourselves in the cleansing fires of our own passion – let it fuel our creative urges. Let it coat us in strength and an eagerness to begin. Let it fill our lungs and infiltrate our hearts so that we can taste our own courage. The Ace of Wands is telling us we are ready. Do not hesitate. Act now. The stars, burning brightly with our dreams, are aligned. Let us begin.
No other medicine is better at supporting us in new endeavors than Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). This pale white, alien shaped fungus is typically found from late summer through autumn, growing on dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly oak, beech, and maple. Searching amongst mature, temperate hardwood forests and focusing on logs, stumps, and tree wounds throughout North America, Europe and Asia will most likely result in the discovery of this shaggy fungus. It is composed of polysaccharides, terpenoids (hericenones and erinacines), and phenolic compounds, which exhibit significant antioxidant activity by neutralizing free radicals and inducing antioxidant enzymes. Lion’s Mane’s polysaccharides act as immunomodulators, enhancing the body's immune response, while its terpenoids can cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis which plays a vital role in promoting brain health, reducing inflammation and preventing and managing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Recent studies have also revealed that it can boost cognitive function, improve memory, and reduce anxiety or depression as well as improve heart health and digestion.
May the compelling combination of the Ace of Wands and Lion’s Mane be the instigation we need to begin making our most audacious and courageous dreams become realities. Magic is never ordinary. It does not bow down to status quo. It does not conform. Nor does it blush in the face of societal expectations. It is not quelled by reality and laughs in the face of reality’s confines. Can we widen our minds in order to manifest what reality struggles to accept? With the Ace of Wands and Lion’s Mane in our pocket, we can and we will. Let us begin.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Bible, New King James Version, Exodus 7:10-12. “Let My People Go.” The Bible Gateway, retrieved 19 February 2026. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%207-12&version=ESV
Contato, Alex Graça and Conte-Junior, Carlos Adam. “Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential—A Narrative Review.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 9 April 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12030463/
Geer, Mary K. Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for the Inward Journey, 2nd Edition. New Jersey, The Career Press, Inc, 2002. P247-48
Hill, J. “Royal Emblems.” Ancient Egypt Online, 2016. https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/royalemblems/
Kawagishi, Hirokazu, Shimada, Atsushi, Shirai, Ryoko et al. “Erinacines A, B and C, strong stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)-synthesis, from the mycelia of Hericium erinaceum.” ScienceDirect, 7 March 1994. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040403900767608
Piper, Grant. “The History Of The Magic Wand.” Medium, 13 June 2020. https://medium.com/exploring-history/the-history-of-the-magic-wand-7441f04b996