The dashing figure in the Knight of Wands is rearing his horse up in the air, like a gallant hero from another time. This vibrant card is full of life and activity – there’s no denying the feeling of movement when we gaze upon this image. Wearing a bright yellow cloak over his armor, we see salamanders imprinted on the cloth, a sign of fire which is common amongst the Wand cards. In Tarot, wands represent this basic element – its courage, its energy and its transformative qualities. Indeed, the feathers on the knight’s helmet and sleeves look like flames and the horse is a chestnut, copper color suggesting the same. In one hand, the knight holds the reins to his horse confidently and with the other hand, he holds his wand. The horse looks as eager to charge forward as his rider and so we wonder, in what direction are they heading?
What we’ve come to discover is that their direction is up to us – one way or the other, this card is telling us the time for action has come. If we’ve been planning or prepping for a daring dream or secret scheme, it is now time for us to put those plans into action and begin making tangible steps toward our goals. While the King of Wands has the experience and authority to plan out his big schemes – it is up to the Knight to implement them. Action is powerful. It can destroy. It can heal. It can cleanse. It can transform. But it doesn’t come for free – it requires hard work, courage and moxie. Plus a large dose of commitment. Our daily grind may not feel so glamorous but it is where real change occurs. Not often does change arrive overnight – rarely, like a flash flood, change can roar through our lives leaving us completely altered afterwards. But often it’s a steady stream that we build a new way of being around, day after day. Either way, let us take inspiration from the Knight of Wands to help make change unfold. As long as we aren’t too impulsive and stay true to ourselves and our real motives along the way, the Knight of Wands can be a powerful ally to help us take that first leap into altering our direction and implementing our plans.
To maintain his energy and vigor the Knight of Wands surely turns to Maca (Lepidium meyenii), an unassuming cruciferous root vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, related to broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. Also known as “Peruvian ginseng,” this humble relative of the turnip has a rich Incan history, with archival evidence showing that it was cultivated by this well-known South American Empire for at least the last 1,500 years. It thrives exclusively in the central Andes between 4,000 and 4,500 meters in an altitude which can be intensely cold with strong winds and scalding sunlight and because of this was used for nutritious purposes and to enhance fertility in humans as well as animals. Recent scientific research shows that it has energizing and fertility-enhancing properties, and it appears to improve sexual dysfunctions, with clinical trials showing an increase in sperm count and motility upon consumption. It has also been shown to improve osteoporosis, mood, memory and cognition and has even been found to protect the skin against ultraviolet radiation. Rich in amino acids as well as calcium and iron, Maca also contains macaridine, macaene and macamide alkaloids which are thought to give it its stimulating, mood boosting and libido enhancing effects.
Combining the eagerness of Knight of Wands with the energy enhancing properties of Maca is a recipe for rich achievement and success. As long as we temper our impulses with reflection, back our actions with strategic planning and take time to properly prepare, nothing can stop us.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Gonzales, Gustavo F. “Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2 October 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184420/
Kubala, Jillian MS, RD. “4 Benefits of Maca Root (and Potential Side Effects).” Healthline, 27 August 2024. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-maca-root
Tierra, Lesley Lac. Healing with the Herbs of Life. Berkeley, The Crossing Press, 2003. P167-168
