Gilded Tarot - Seven of Wands
by Ciro Marchetti, companion book by Barbara Moore
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

Description: A Renaissance nobleman stands before a partially opened door and holds up a wand, which crosses diagonally in front of his body. The wand is made of amber wood decorated with finely worked gold vines and leaves, and topped by a gold crescent in a vaguely horseshoe-shape. The top of the wand glows with light. Through the open door, we can see the beginnings of a sunrise on the eastern horizon, the sky above still starry. In front of the nobleman, six more wands are being brandished by unseen people, or perhaps are merely ranged about in stands.

While this has essentially the same elements as the RWS card, the central figure in this Seven of Wands, the nobleman, seems to me not so much in a defensive posture as in one of rallying his troops before they all go out on a mission. The wands in the foreground seem to be raised in a cheer of agreement and inspiration. The partially open door, the burgeoning sunrise, the brandished wands all combine to give a sense of encouragement, a spur to valor and victory. I can almost hear Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, crying to his Merry Men, "Come on, lads, who's with me?!"

My interpretation would be along these lines: Courage, valor, inspiration, daring, meeting a challenge, pushing onward, leadership, teamwork, passion, a unified front.

Barbara Moore, in her companion book to the deck, gives the traditional interpretation of a man defending his position against all comers, and says that the night sky behind him indicates a lack of understanding. She writes that the querent will be asked to defend his position, but not to fear the attack; to beware of childish obstinacy, but not to abandon his position simply out of fear.

Atalantaix