Aces symbolize beginnings, the start of something new and the seed of new growth.  Wands are associated with inspiration, energy, passion, feeling, enterprise, ambition, matters pertaining to the "spark of life", and the element of fire.  Skill; creation; the beginning of a project, enterprise, idea, or invention.  Enthusiasm; initiative; energy; the joy of life; sexual vigor; conception; a journey  Reversed:  A false or bad start; criticizing or not using one's potential; journey deferred; delays and difficulties; failure of an enterprise. 

"You sense the potential for creating a new self-image of self-concept.  You can privately name yourself in a new way." - Gail Fairfield

Looking at the Metamorphosis card I get the sense of some new venture or project struggling to be born.  There is an intensity and fierceness to the figure on the card, as though she is struggling to break free of the bark that is encasing and restricting her.  There is a sense of pure energy refusing to be held back by the limitations of something like the laws of physics.  The image on the Paulina Ace of Wands is somewhat tamer and more whimsical but I still get a sense of energy being channeled and focused towards some greater goal.

Of course the irony here is that I drew this card reversed today.  And although there can be many interpretations of a reversed card, the one that most struck me while looking at these cards is that I'm not breaking free.  I'm not focusing and channeling my energies outward.  I'm the restricting force encasing them and trying to restrict them instead of letting them flow free.  I've talked about this several times - that I seem to undermine myself with low expectations and self-doubts.  I'm often afraid to try new ventures or explores new avenues of creative projects because I'm unsure.  Whether I'm afraid of failure or success is not always something I am clear about.  Sometimes I think varies.

I think the Ace of Wands is trying to tell me that I have to stop blocking this energy.  I have to find the way to channel it and focus it so that I can express my creative side  and allow those juices to percolate and burst forth.  It almost reminds me of Kundalini energy and how it can be damaging if it isn't channeled into some sort of outlet.  And as the saying goes "life will out".  If I don't find a healthy, positive outlet to express these energies, they will find a way to express themselves in ways that might not be so healthy and beneficial for me.

I tend to brush off being creative.  I will often demur - "I'm not creative at all".  The reality is that I might not be a painter or an actor but I can be creative.  What I need to find is a way to express my creativity and allow myself to explore other areas that might be equally enjoyable and fruitful.  What am I afraid of?  Well that's easy - I'm afraid I won't do it well. All my life if I wasn't sure I could perform well at a specific task then I avoided doing it.  The reason I never played sports was because I tried it once and wasn't immediately successful, so I quit.  This serves no useful purpose for me or anyone else and it's a behavior I need to move passed.  I think that is what the Ace of Wands is telling me here - break free of those old restraints and conditions and allow yourself to move forward into uncharted territory.  It might be scary but it will probably be very exciting and a lot of fun too.