The heart of the Wands suit is the fixed fire sign of Leo, spanning the middle of the Tree of Life, the 5,6, and 7. Here is contained one of the four Royal Stars of Heaven, Regulus, called also Cor Leonis, the heart of the Lion and the Watcher of the North, seen on Tabula Mundi’s Universe card. Regulus itself means the Star of the Prince. Golden dawn initiates were instructed to begin the Zodiac sequence here, starting the “angels” at 0-5 degrees Leo, contained in the first decan of Leo. Many speculate about the reasons for Mathers starting here, whether it was Chaldean or Egyptian in origin, or perhaps to place Regulus on the ascendant, or due to associations with the rising Sun (in reference to the Golden Dawn). When I think of the four Royal stars of the Universe card, I think of YHVH, and thus Leo/Regulus/Fire begins the sequence in the place of Yod. To Will, the first of the four powers of the sphinx. The Prince of Wands carries the power of Velle, Will, to the Princess. The first card of the Leo Decan is the Five of Wands, Strife, from 0 to 10 degrees of Leo. If one uses the 11.30pm time given in “Astrology, Aleister & Aeon” by Charles Kipp rather than the 11.42pm given in Astrodatabank, Crowley has an ascendant 5′ 53″ Leo.  If using the 11:42 pm time, his ascendant is 8′ 00 Leo. I like to consider the Sabian symbols for the degrees, for fun. The 6th degree of Leo (from 5′ 00″ to 5′ 59″) says “An old fashioned woman and a flapper” or “An old fashioned, conservative woman is confronted by an up-to-date girl”. Hmmm. The 9th degree (from 8’00” to 8’59”) is called “Glass Blowers” of “Glass blowers shape beautiful forms with their controlled breathing” And the 8th degree of Leo, from 7’00” to 7″59 is “A Bolshevik propagandist” or “An activist is stirring up discontent by spreading his revolutionary ideals.” Since birth times are often recorded wrong, it is interesting to speculate what the actual degree is. Which one sounds appropriate? Either way, it is firmly in the first decan. (And, conjunct my descendant at 6′ 44″ Leo, which the the Leo 7 Sabian, “The Wonder of the Constellations in the Night Sky”.) I guess if Aleister’s 11:42 time was a few minutes earlier, which is likely as birthtimes are often recorded a couple of minutes late, he could be there as well. In any event, Crowley’s ascendant falls within the 5 of Wands, Strife, which is why his personal sigil appears on the central wand in the Thoth tarot. In Tabula Mundi tarot, the Five of Wands blends influences from the Lust card, for Leo, and the Universe card, for Saturn, ruler of the decan. Zurvan on a river of volcanic Lava.

The colors for the Five of Wands are as follows:

The King Scale for Geburah: Orange

The Four Scales for Leo:

Yellow (greenish); Deep purple; Grey; Reddish Amber

The Four Scales for Saturn:

Indigo; Black; Blue-Black; Black rayed blue

 

Next up is the true heart of fire, placed at Tiphareth, the Six of Wands, Victory. This card is the middle decan of Leo, which is ruled by Jupiter, and thus, the card combines elements from Lust and Fortune. The heraldic lion and owl, wreathed and crowned:

The colors for the Six of Wands are as follows:

The King Scale for Tiphareth: Clear Pink Rose

The Four Scales for Leo: Yellow (greenish); Deep Purple; Grey; Reddish Amber

The Four Scales for Jupiter: Violet; Blue; Rich Purple; Bright Blue rayed Yellow Emerald

 

And finally, we come to the last decan of Leo, the Seven of Wands, the Lord of Valour. The elements of Leo, Lust, combine with the elements of Mars, the Tower, as the ruler of the decan. Tiger vs Dragon, on a mythic quest:

 

 

 

The colors of the Seven of Wands are as follows:

The King Scale for Netzach: Amber

The Four Scales for Leo: Yellow (greenish); Deep Purple, Grey; Reddish Amber

The Four Scales for Mars: Red; Venetian Red; Scarlet; Bright Red, rayed Azure or Emerald