A young man stands confidently in the Page of Wands, holding his staff with certainty and direction – his eyes searching the horizon, he looks hungry for new adventures and fresh beginnings. The land behind him is arid and baren, indicative of his fiery nature. His yellow boots and cape paired with his orange pants and a tunic covered in salamanders further imply how hot, potent energy is guiding his decisions. Salamanders are also found on both the tunics of the King and Queen of Wands, as they symbolize transformation, passion and resiliency over adversity. Ancient cultures, including Romans, Greeks, and Jewish scholars, described salamanders as creatures of fire. The Talmud, for instance, details a legend of a salamander born from a fire that burns for seven years, and whose blood can protect others from being burnt. Like the salamander, the Page of Wands is also born of fire – an ardent individual, or a young, eager student ready to undertake a new project or relationship of which he is very enthusiastic. What new ventures, projects, or ideas are arising? The time to be open to new possibilities and take a leap of faith is now. Harnessing the youthful, energetic, and passionate energy of this card, we are encouraged to pursue our most authentic interests with eagerness and excitement. The Page of Wands shows us how to embrace the creative spark within. No more excuses! Life is for living – not for daydreaming or waiting for others to make our lives vibrant, meaningful, and rich. That is up to us.
When we come across the Page of Wands in a reading, we are being offered a different direction than we’ve been previously choosing. No other card is so strong at indicating a new beginning. The Page of Wands is young and inexperienced – but he’s willing to accept a sharp learning curve and he’s ready to develop the skills he’ll need to become successful. Impulsive, uninhibited, a little raw, perhaps a trifle naïve and certainly no expert, his fervent nature and a deep belief in his own abilities are all he has to lean on as he moves forward with his dreams and schemes. In life it’s easy for us to become jaded and cynical as we age. Our lives can become stagnant or routine. And experience can also incite fear as we remember our failures, our mistakes or our missteps. That’s when we need to turn to the Page of Wands. So that we can remember when courage was all we had. Ultimately, it’s all we ever have. The rest is an allusion or an excuse to live in fear instead of hope. No one knows this better than the Page of Wands.
A perfect companion to this fiery young scholar is the spicy, aromatic herb known as Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a small shrub native to the Mediterranean region which also belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae), an extensive family of plants which also includes Rosemary, Oregano, Lemon Balm, Lavender and Sage. Like its cousins, Thyme is cultivated for culinary purposes throughout the globe, but it also contains compounds such as thymol and carvacrol, which exhibit potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This makes it useful in combating bacterial and fungal infections, including those in the gut and on the skin such as acne, food poisoning including Staphylococcus, dysbiosis and yeast infections. It can even be used as a natural insecticide to ward off mosquitoes and their larvae. Thyme is also an effective expectorant, loosening mucus and relieving coughs and congestion associated with colds and bronchitis. It has bronchodilatory effects, meaning it can help to relax the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. Interestingly, recent studies have also revealed that the active constituent in Thyme – carvacrol, may increase concentrations of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, two transmitters that have a significant impact on mood regulation.
The Page of Wands is a call to action. Along with peppery Thyme, they inspire us to embrace new opportunities, pursue our passions, and approach life with a sense of curiosity and joy. Life is really one, long adventure, isn’t it? Regardless of our age, we stay young through our willingness to take risks, try new things and taste new flavors – going boldly where we’ve never gone before.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Brammer, Debra, MD. “Naturopathic Kitchen: The Health Benefits of Thyme,” Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, 1 August 2021. https://aanmc.org/naturopathic-kitchen/the-health-benefitsofthyme/#:~:text=Thyme%20has%20anti%2Dinflammatory%2C%20antimicrobial%2C%20and%20antiseptic%20properties%2C,thyme%20helps%20reduce%20inflammation%20in%20the%20body
Brown, Jeremy, MD. “Sanhedrin 63b ~ The Fireproof Salamander,” Talmudology, 17 September 2017. https://www.talmudology.com/jeremybrownmdgmailcom/2017/9/10/sanhedrin-63a-the-fireproof-salamnder
Fanous, Summer. “12 Health Benefits of Thyme,” Healthline, 30 May 2023. https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-of-thyme
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. San Francisco, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2007. P168 - 169
Zotti, Margherita Zotti, Colaianna, Marilena, Morgese, Maria Grazia, et al. “Carvacrol: From Ancient Flavoring to Neuromodulatory Agent,” The National Center for Biotechnology Information, 24 May 2013. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6270539/