Rods - Creativity, Spirituality, and the Fire Element
Rods are the card suite that represents the creative and spiritual sides of the self. The Rods are associated with the fire element. Imagine our creativity and our spirit as something that burns inside of us, and the rods being the tool that we channel this energy through. It could be a paintbrush or the straight spine of a meditation practitioner.
Like my explanation of the Major Arcana, I'll be describing each Minor Arcana Suit as its own story with meanings following the narrative paragraphs:
Ace of Rods
The Second Age was an Age of Fire. In this age, life was given to the world by the forests. The children of the forest found they could channel their powerful spiritual fire through rods they carried. These rods linked earth to heaven through roots at the base and great firey flowers at the top. Remaining grounded while maintaining thoughts of a higher power allowed the forest spirits to use their creativity correctly.
The Ace of Rods is the gift of the rod to the reading. It can be a new project, business opportunity, or the beginning of spiritual practices. Another tool of the magician, The Ace is the number one of the Rod suit.
Page of Rods
The youngest son of the King was a trickster. Not yet completely versed in his magic, the Page would resort to cleverness. He enjoyed long journeys with his companion, a fox spirit. The King gave his son the task of messenger, since he would regularly travel to every corner of the Kingdom.
The Page is the youngest member of the rod family, and is regarded as a messenger. The card can represent the beginning of a journey, a creative practice, or the coming of news.
Two of Rods
Once, in his travels, the young Page came across another rod, similar to his own. He knew the second rod would further the development of his intuition, but there was a quandary. To travel great distances, the Page had taken to traveling light. Aside from cloak and hat, the page could only carry his rod and his favorite gazing ball. After careful consideration, he put his gazing ball on the ground and shouldered his new find.
The Two of Rods is a moment of decision. With the budding of ability, often we have to give something up to continue further with something else. The two of rods can represent the development of intuition, or an unexpected development in an endeavor.
Knight of Rods
"Are you sure that's yours?" a deep voice asked from high in the air. Atop his own great fox spirit, the older brother and Knight of Rods, peered down playfully. The Knight had a turbulent side and was known as a traveling storm. The two agreed to a friendly fight between brothers to determine the owner of the new rod. After a furious display of fire by the Knight, the young Page bested his brother. The Knight, proud of his younger brother, honored his word and conceded the rod.
The Knight of Rods is a pretty intense guy. With his creative side blooming, his battles are his pageantry. This can mean fashionable dress, dramatic behavior, or other forms of showiness. However, as a knight, he is a trustworthy acquaintance.
Three of Rods
Exhausted from the victory, the Page lay down to rest easily that night. As he slept, he dreamed of a young female practitioner. She stood alone in a vast sea of green grass. One by one, she arranged three rods to open as great orange blossoms to the sky. After a while, a great, fiery fox spirit appeared to the girl. The girl leaped on the back of the great fox and the two flew into the air. As they flew away, the Page recognized the youth to have the face of his mother. Upon awakening, he decided to return home.
The Three of Rods is when our actions begin to gain the attention of others. All the work we have put into our project is beginning to show. As our endeavor grows with a solid foundation, we begin to gain allies.
Queen of Rods
The Page is greeted warmly by his mother, the Queen of Rods. She eagerly listens to her sons stories of travel, and the friendly duel with his brother. She mends his cape and sees to the creature comforts of both her son and his fox spirit. Helping him understand his dream, she explains that increasing his bright spirit will increase the quality of what comes to him in the world.
The Queen of Rods is an Earth Mother. Strong, but generous and loving. She is the feminine element of nurture in the suit that is necessary for the spirit to do well.
Four of Rods
The Page subdues his wanderlust to treat himself to a peaceful stretch of time in the comforts of home. In the lush green fields, he relaxes beneath a canopy of taller plants during a light rain, seeing that it cannot keep the sun at bay. As a recharge of the soul, he and his fox spirit both benefit from rest as its own part of the training process.
The Four of Rods is break time. It can be the picturesque happy ending of a story, where characters find themselves in resolution, as well as a simple time of rest and reflection of the efforts thus far.
King of Rods
The Page is summoned to see his father, The King. His pride in his son is obvious, as his smile stretches ear to ear at the news he defeated his elder brother. The King tells his son to enter an upcoming tournament of skill against the other young magi of their kingdom. He expresses his full faith in the abilities of his son.
The King of Rods can be good fortune coming your way. As a person he can be hasty, but is a good leader and supportive father. Embodying the mature aspects of the knight and page, he has been through the trials of this suit and built a great kingdom for himself in his success.
Five of Rods
The young wizard is put into a tournament of his equals. For the first time, he is humbled to see he is not the only one who has trained himself so intensely. Each unique youth is equally special and it is unclear what the outcome will be to the onlookers and competitors alike. Maintaining his calm focus, the Page sifts through the chaos of the tournament to find his victory.
The Five of rods can be an arena for the ego. It is inevitable that we will find ourselves in competition for jobs, titles, and recognition with people who need want and deserve each as equally as we do. The best we can do is remain focused and see the conflict through to the end.
Six of Rods
After the winning the Tournament, a victory parade is held for the Page. He had earned the title of Knight and would be placed in command of his own squad. This new rank and responsibility had the familiar feel of shouldering that second rod. It would further him, but he would have to give something up. He knew as a Knight he could no longer behave as a child and take off whenever he pleased to wander the countryside aimlessly. Greater things awaited our Knight.
The Six of Rods is a victory. The trials of the Fives lead the querrents to the benefits of the Sixes. This card can signify winning respect, getting rewards, and the simple satisfaction after a job well done.
Seven of Rods
As the personal power of the Knight developed, his reputation spread throughout the kingdom. One day, he was ambushed and outnumbered by a group looking to make a name for themselves. Thanks to his patience and force of will, he made only necessary movements at the right times. By not exhausting himself in a frantic effort to gain victory, he defeated the odds.
The Seven of Rods is a standing of ones ground. Past experiences have taught the querrent not to act impulsively in the matters that are facing them now. The determined character they have cultivated themselves to be by this point is the deciding factor in their triumph.
Eight of Rods
His continuing successes in the creative arts put the knight into an exciting time of movement. His squad of eight became heroes of the land, coming to the aid of his people whenever needed. No longer did he desire wandering, because his role as a Knight took him to every corner of the world. His talents as a teacher as well as a protector were an inspiration to all.
The Eight of Rods is an important time. It is a very busy period and can indicate lots of inspiration and in some cases is predicted as falling for something or someone. Movement and action are the order of this card.
Nine of Rods
The Knight, many years later, had become a Master of his arts. His knowledge attracted many and not all of them bearing good intentions. He had become so powerful that at one point, he held of an entire army from his kingdom with only the aid of his fox spirit. In recovery and reflection following this event, the master decided the best thing for his people would be to take the secrets of the spiritual arts he had discovered and leave the Kingdom of the Forest for solitude. In doing this, his people would no longer suffer being the target of evil men seeking power.
The Nine of rods is a place of great strength and confidence. It can represent the period of recovery after successfully standing your ground. Things have been built to a success and further opposition will certainly be defeated.
Ten of Rods
Now, a very old man, the Master had become a wandering Sage. The old grey fox spirit still his companion, they happily wander as they did long ago, this time looking for a new home. All of his studies piled on his back, the Sage sought to remain a teacher of, as well as a defender of the spiritual arts. Setting his sites on a distant mountain top, the two traveled onward.
The Ten is not an easy task, but it is a task is no match for it's bearer. At this stage, the querrent has many responsibilities to handle, but it is because of their strength and success that they have them. It may be important to be sure that others have their fair share to carry as well.