The King of Wands Yes or No: Yes, Decide and Lead

Written by Chaya the Medium.

The King of Wands is a yes from a throne that is about to stand up. Here is how I read him for yes or no questions, upright and reversed, and why the reversal is a no about tyranny or weakness.

If you want the short answer, the King of Wands is a yes. In a yes or no draw the upright card says the thing you are asking about will succeed under decisive, visionary leadership, and that the decision should be made boldly and soon. It is a yes to committing and acting on the commitment.

This is a card of yes as a king leaning forward. He has decided. He is about to rise.

Is the King of Wands a yes or a no?

Upright, I read the King of Wands as a yes. Reversed, I read it as a no. My free yes or no tarot draw uses the Major Arcana only, so if you want a quick draw, use that; these Minor Arcana values are the ones I apply when a full deck is in play.

Tina Gong's the King of Wands guide at Labyrinthos associates the upright card with leadership, vision, bold action and natural authority. Brigit Esselmont's yes or no tarot overview at Biddy Tarot notes that readers assign yes and no values differently, which is true, and it is why I state mine rather than pretend there is one correct table.

Why the upright card reads this way

I read the King of Wands as yes because the card is about authority that acts: the flowering wand, the salamander throne, the body turned as if to stand. When a question is about whether to take charge, whether a bold plan will work, whether to commit, the King says yes.

The yes requires someone to be the king. If the decision is yours and you have not made it, the card is telling you the yes is waiting on exactly that.

The King of Wands reversed as yes or no

Reversed, I read the King of Wands as a no. The reversal describes tyranny, impulsiveness, or a leader who is weak and will not commit. The authority behind the question is either overbearing or absent.

If you drew the King of Wands reversed, ask whether the decision has been made and unmade more than once, or whether the person in charge is simply not deciding. The no answers both.

The King of Wands yes or no in a love question

In a love question, the King of Wands is a yes to a decisive, generous partner and a yes to taking charge of your own romantic life rather than waiting. Reversed, it is a no to a relationship run by one person's will, and a no to a partner who is confident about everything except you.

The King of Wands yes or no for work and money

For work and money, the King of Wands is a strong yes to leadership roles, to starting or expanding a business, to the bold strategic move. It is one of the best cards for entrepreneurs. Reversed, it is a no to a domineering boss, a rushed decision, or a venture whose leader cannot commit.

When a yes or no draw is the wrong tool

The King of Wands answers questions about leadership and bold commitment. He is a poor card for questions that need consultation or patience, which he answers by standing up and deciding. A single card answers a single, well-formed question. If the question is really three questions, or is about another person's choices, a yes or no draw will give you a confident answer to the wrong thing. My guide to a one question psychic reading explains how I handle questions that need more than one card.

What to record before drawing again

Keep three short notes: the exact question you asked, who holds the decision, and what would make it easiest for them to make this week. If the second note is you, make it.

For comparison, the Queen of Wands yes or no and the Emperor yes or no answer differently. The the King of Wands card meaning page covers the card in full, and the King of Wands as timing and the King of Wands as feelings cover the two other questions people most often ask of it. For a personal interpretation, my guide to an online psychic reading explains how readings work, and the three-card tarot listing and customer reviews are worth reading before deciding whether to order.