8 is a number of setting priorities and goals, systems, regeneration and structure, practicality, balance and symmetry. On its side 8 resembles the lemniscate - a symbol of infinity.  Wands are usually associated with the element of fire, inspiration, energy, passion, feeling, enterprise, ambition, matters pertaining to the "spark of life".  They can refer to the growth and awareness of the self. 

Gail Fairfield:  You are sorting out what parts of yourself you want to keep and what parts you want to release.  On a private or personal level, you're figuring out what you do and don't like about the way you experience yourself.  You're figuring out which parts of your self-image you want to emphasize.

It's funny - I feel like I've been hit with a bunch of flying sticks today.  Of course as I've stated before I have a well developed stubborn streak so perhaps this pain is the Universe's way of smacking me upside the head because I'm just not listening.  Then again how often do I listen to anything but myself?  I am often so sure I am right that I am not always as open to new experiences and ideas as might be in my best interests.  As a friend said to me one day "you're such a fixed Leo".  At least now I have some sort of explanation.

Looking at these images I was struck by the idea that the wands resemble pickup sticks.  Perhaps that's the key to this card for me - instead of trying to grab all those wands and soak up all that information and insights, I need to let them fall around me and just pick them up one at a time.  This will give me a chance to focus on one topic and really become familiar with it before moving on to the next.  Even on the Fairy Tale image of the Wild Hunt the horses are racing at me - I can't stop those horses right now.  Maybe I need to let them go past this time and try to catch up at my own pace.  Or just grab on to one that I can catch and enjoy the ride.  What I don't need is to try to learn it all or do it all at once.  I can do things in steps.  Life is not always about who is the fasting; going 0 to 90 in 60 seconds flat.  Sometimes it's about sifting through the buffet that life offers and picking and choosing what you want.

What I focus on doesn't even need to be exactly the same all the time.  I can always go back to the buffet and make some different selections the next time.  Maybe I can keep some of the familiar idea and passions and add a few new ones to the plate.  Once I've decided that a goal or part of myself wasn't what I expected, then I can let it go.  I've really been working on releasing things lately.  I've let go of a number of books that I don't want or need anymore.  I've gone through my closets and let go of worn-out fashions or items I just don't like anymore.  My tastes change and that's okay but I don't need to cling to things anymore.  It's okay to release things and trust that if I ever need them again I'll find them.  Instead of clinging to things from a place of fear and want, I can allow myself to be generous and giving.  I can offer these things that have brought something to my life to others.  And I can trust that when I need things in the future I will get them because someone was generous enough to release them at a time when I would need them.  I like that idea.  It's sort of like paying it forward.