Wands can be associated with magic and miracles, as well as magicians, witchcraft and druids. They are also associated with the Greek god Hermes (Mercury to the Romans), as they recall the staff of Hermes (the caduceus). Hermes was known as god of roads and commerce, messenger of the gods, bringer of dreams and visions, prophet, psychopomp (someone who guides souls to the underworld), and comfortable in the upper and lower worlds, as well as on Earth. Wands are usually portrayed as living wood sprouting a few leaves, which in turn links them to the World Tree, Yggdrasil; with the Buddha's Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment; with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; and with the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Related forms of this phallic symbol include batons, scepters, staves, rods, and arrows.
Keywords that can therefore be associated with Wands are: power (especially occult power), 
transformative power, energy (wands are used to channel energy in witchcraft), will and intent, healing (think of Moses' staff that cured the Israelites from snake bites while they were in the wilderness--Numbers 21: 5-9), control and direction (think of a conductor's baton), authority (the scepter), wisdom (because the elderly use a staff for support), journeys, movement, change, adventure (the wand as a walking staff), punishment (the wand as a rod), conflict and competition (the wand used as weapon). As a phallic symbol, the wand also evokes traditional masculine qualities such as drive, ambition, aggression, action, rashness, fertility and life, with the focus directed outward. The shape of a wand also evokes the "I" or ego, awareness of self and individuation. The associations with living wood adds growth, renewal, creativity, potential and beginnings (think also of a cutting used to grow a plant); and on a more spiritual level, enlightenment, awareness, intuition (not to be confused with instinct associated with Water), inspiration and superconsciousness. The link with Hermes adds restlessness (god of roads and travellers) and communication or messages (including messages from a higher consciousness or the Divine), and an innovative mind (as capable of inspirational thoughts as of mischief and great cunning).
To summarise, Wands are associated with creativity and life force; are powerful, energetic, even aggressive, yet associated with spirituality and healing. They are active, optimistic and future-oriented, yet tend to be rash and restless. The cards next to a Wand card will indicate whether this almost unruly energy is applied for constructive or destructive purposes. In a reading, Wands will represent commerce and career (not the actual work itself), as well as spirituality and healing.
The image is the Seven of Wands from the Victorian Romantic Tarot.
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