The 7 of Wands - triumphantly defending yourself; holding off all attackers; confronting your problems; facing adversity; dealing with challenges. All of these terms can be applied to the 7 of Wands. It is a card of triumph over adversity, or at least being willing to attempt to triumph over adversity.  Wands are usually associated with the element of fire, inspiration, energy, passion, feeling, enterprise, ambition, matters pertaining to the "spark of life", and action.  The number 7 in many cultures is a sacred number (think of the 7 chakras) and is the number of divine and earthly harmony, of fate and transformation.  The 7 of Wands often symbolizes standing up for what you believe in and defending your principles. 

The Universal Fantasy 7 of Wands shows a large, horse-like creature with a beak and 6 antlers or horns.  A woman sits astride the creature's back an hold the reins with one hand.  It is not clear if she controls the creature or has jumped upon its back in order to try to control it.  In the foreground another figure sits astride a much smaller version, probably younger version of the same creature.  It only has one horn or antler.  It appears as if the figure on the smaller creature is trying to defend and protect  others from the larger beast.

The Ma'at 7 of Wands shows two Native Americans standing on a shoreline with their canoe talking to a fur trader.  One of the Natives smokes a pipe with a dog standing nearby.  The trader is showing off a blanker and has other wares on display next to him.  There is a female Native American behind the fur trader.  She might be his wife, traveling with him and serving as ambassador, interpreter and companion.  In the distance the sky shimmers in shades of sky blue pink.  The ground appears to be snow covered. 

The one card offers a clear message of needing to defend oneself and one's home.  The other is a more subtle interpretation of a similar thing.  The Native American peoples were very welcoming to most of the first traders and explorers to enter their territories.  These people often took Native wives and even embraced some Native ways.  Unfortunately they also paved the way for future intruders who would not be so respectful and brought disease, violence and religious intolerance with them.  The openness and generosity of the Native peoples ultimately helped lead to their downfall.  Their boundaries were not clearly defended and by the time they realized the necessity, it was too late.

Reversed, this card may be telling me one of two things.  The first is that I am too quick to defend my boundaries and become so defensive that I may be denying myself the opportunities for experience and change that being more open would be.  Being defensive and cautious in how I deal with others has limited who I let inside those boundaries and may have caused a lot of missed opportunities.  On another level it might be showing that what I really need to shore up are not my external boundaries but work on being more firm and clear about my internal boundaries.  Maybe I need to be clearer about who I am and what I want to do.  Since getting laid off I've given it some thought but haven't actually taken any steps to firm these ideas up.  I need to stop letting my personal boundaries limit me and be willing to let those defenses down and take some chances.