Kings are associated with control, discipline, resolve and mastery.  Wands are associated with inspiration, energy, passion, feeling, enterprise, ambition, matters pertaining to the "spark of life", and the element of fire.  The King of Wands is a charismatic, passionate and exciting man who is disciplined, masterful, in control and confident about his skills.  He has the charm and personality to convince others to follow him and he knows when and how to use force, if necessary.  

So how can I channel the King of Wands in my life?  Well, let's see.  On the Legend card the King of Wands is represented by King Pellinore, he of the eternal quest.  Pellinore is known in Arthurian legend as a man who rode off in search of a beast that he never seemed able to capture.  It always seemed to elude him.  Reversed, the King of Wands might be suggesting that instead of searching or questing for something outside myself, I need to search inside myself.

It is very interesting because most of the cards I've been drawing lately reinforce this idea that I need to fully explore all the different sides to myself and learn how to embrace them and incorporate them into my life.  I think I've got some definite King of Wands traits and I also need to be cautious that I don't let them become too overwhelming and negative.  It's pretty easy to let confidence slip into arrogance and mastery slip into pomposity.  And I know that I've fallen into both traps on occasion.

I sometimes want people to think I know everything so I can be a bit of a show off.  Instead of letting them learn that I have specific knowledge or talents, I brag about it.  I think the key to embracing the King of Wands is being confident enough in my skills and mastery that I don't need to brag about them.  They will become evident to people as they get to know me better.  I should present myself as a gift that needs to be unwrapped slowly to be appreciated.  Or maybe a better analogy would be one of those Russian nesting dolls where each larger dolls holds a smaller doll inside her.  So there is always a surprise involved in opening them.

I can be charming and charismatic when it suits me.  Perhaps I don't use these skills as much as I should or could.  It might be easier to win friends and influence people if I wasn't so forceful and arrogant about it.  Instead of beating people over the heads with things I should try a little subtlety.  I have resisted subtlety in the past because I often viewed it as dishonest, as though by not sharing everything I'm lying.  But that's really not the case.  I can hint at things without brazenly exposing them.  It's the difference between wearing clothing that subtly suggests sexuality or wearing something from Frederick's of Hollywood.  I need to stop being Frederick's and start to work on being more subtle, diplomatic and using my charisma in a more effective manner.