Ace of Cups
Often, the Ace of Cups will predict the start of a relationship, one that is full of potential and may eventually lead to true love and happiness. But you must always remember that the Ace can show only potential, not the final result of a situation. If a relationship starts out well, it is up to the two people involved to keep it that way, and improve upon it in any possible manner. The Ace of Cups is not a guarantee of happiness, but a guarantee that you will have the chance to make happiness for yourself if you want to. If you want to develop an existing relationship, the Ace cannot help you.
Two of Cups
By its image, the Two of Cups almost always suggests a relationship between two people. Indeed, this is the primary meaning of the card and the one that appears most often in readings. But the love described by this card is not always love for another person. Before we can truly love another we must learn to love ourselves, to love and accept all of the different (and often conflicting) facets of the gemstone that makes up our personality. Like the Temperance card, this is a card of harmonious union, not just of two people, but of two parts of the same person.
Three of Cups
The sentiments expressed on this card are deep and unusual, not fully visible just from the appearance of the card. It is a kind of love that many people search for their entire lives and yet never find, while others do nothing and it seems to flow right to them. If you are one of this latter group, enjoy it as much as you can! If yo are in the first category, maybe you’ve been looking too hard for that which you already have. Everyone has an abundant life in his or her own way, and the appearance of the Three of Cups is a sign to count your blessings and be thankful for every one.
Four of Cups
When the Four of Cups appears it must be taken as a warning. It bears the message that there is a lot of love in your life – but that it can and will slip away if you are not careful. If you see this card and think that there isn’t a lot of love in your life, it is a sign to think again. Take a good long look at your life, and you’ll see how much love there is in it. Most of the time, people do not realize the abundance they live in every day. They are too concerned with what they want, and they have no time to look at their lives and see how much they already have.
Five of Cups
The Five of Cups usually is not a sign of existing hardship, but a warning so you may change your course in time. But often you will be too late, and the saddening event will happen despite your best efforts. This can be a broken relationship, a divorce, or the loss of a friend. No matter what the event or its reasons for happening, the effect is the same. The pain fills your mind, just as the tragic scene on the card burns itself into your memory so you can’t forget it. To some it would seem that there is no way out of this situation, but the Tarot always shows problems on one hand and solutions on the other. In persistence of vision lies the key to overcoming the sadness.
Six of Cups
This card is the only one in the Tarot that refers explicitly to the past, and of memories and good times experienced there. After losses such as those on the Five we sometimes have to take a time out to heal, to look back on the past and all the good that lies there. And during such times it’s never the right thing to focus on the negative, and that’s why this card is so positive and full of light. The fallen cups are now full and upright again, but with blooming flowers that cannot be spilled or washed away. Now that you have looked back, maybe now the way will be clear to look forward.
Seven of Cups
The Seven of Cups often appears when a difficult choice must be made, and the image on most versions of the card reflects that. The seven cups are filled with strange and wonderful gifts… but there is always danger hidden within one or two of them to sting anyone who ventures near. Lying amidst the gems and the wreath of victory are a snake and a dragon. Sometimes you have to choose between many options, all of which may be tempting but only one of which is the best choice. At others times not all of those choices are real options at all; they are delusions of the imagination.
Eight of Cups
Recognizing when it is time to move on, away from difficult times, is the primary theme of the Eight of Cups. Since it is a Cups card it refers mainly to relationships, those where you are giving too much and not getting nearly enough in exchange. A one-sided relationship of this type will cause you nothing but pain for as long as it lasts, and when the Eight of Cups appears in a reading relating to such a relationship, it is a powerful wake-up call that cannot be ignored. Take a look at your situation and see what can be done to balance things out a little.
Nine of Cups
As it is a Cups card, the Nine of Cups usually refers to an emotionally fulfilling situation, such as the strengthening of a romantic bond, the solidification of a friendship or the consummation of a sexual relationship. It shows that joy and happiness are certainly within your grasp, and that you probably already have them. It is a sign to enjoy the abundance of life for as long as it lasts. Feel each of your emotions as if you had never felt any of them before. Take some time to value every person you love – and all those who love you back. See the perfection all around you.
Ten of Cups
The Ten of Cups refers to cycles completed, journeys finished and lives well lived in the company of others. Serenity and peace are in the air, and for a moment you can simply forget about all of the material troubles of the world around you. Nothing material matters here, just the eternal happiness that has been earned through trials and obstacles. This success is not a fleeting or temporary one, but a lasting peace and harmony that can truly be enjoyed. There are no regrets over the past, no concerns for the future, so you can live in the moment and seize the day.
Page of Cups
As an event, the Page of Cups refers almost exclusively to children, since he is so childlike himself. (Note that childlike does not mean the same thing as childish!) Pregnancies and the birth of children are often predicted by the Page of Cups, especially if the Page of Wands is nearby. He can also be a sign of a relationship or a friendship starting, a new level of happiness and pleasure in an existing relationship, or any event relating to emotional beginnings. Such beginnings can appear “out of the blue” or they can come about through your own initiative, though they’re often much more appreciated and exciting when they’re unexpected!
Knight of Cups
The posture of the Knight of Cups implies that of a messenger, so it comes as little surprise that he often manifests as a bearer of news. He represents invitations, messages of love and proposals of marriage. In addition to the physical sources of information, the Knight of Cups can also represent wisdom that comes from your dreams to help you surmount obstacles in your life at the moment. Sometimes this card can represent the start of a relationship, but in this case if often serves to warn one or both partners. It shows daydreaming and idealism, and it can highlight relationships in which one partner is placed on an unfair pedestal.
Queen of Cups
A Queen of Cups in the real world feels right at home in the realms of the subconscious. If she is not psychic, she will posess extraordinary insight into the behaviour and motivations of others. As such, she is often a gifted counsellor and healer, ready to provide a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold whenever they are needed. She is beautiful by almost all standards, because her beauty is the purity of her spirit, and such magnificence has a universally recognizable allure. Even when not physically attractive, she still attracts others to her. A Queen of Cups will also be a dreamer, with wondrous fantasies and a vivid imagination.
King of Cups
The King of Cups is a strangely ambivalent figure. Such a powerful male form seems almost out of place amidst the element of Water, just as the Queen of Wands is somewhat uncomfortable in the realm of Fire. This is why the King of Cups is often seen as a card of contradictions. He represents someone who is calm on the surface, yet passionate and volatile underneath. He shows a situation that is not entirely what is appears to be at first glance. Under his facetious exterior the King of Cups hides ulterior motives. He can be found in our lives as another person or as a facet of our own personality.
Ace of Pentacles
The appearance of this card is usually the sign of a turn for the better in terms of fortune and wealth, and sometimes it can even indicate gifts of money, or inheritance from unexpected sources (hence the coin appearing from “thin air”). This gift does not have to be money of course; any kind of gift that has value to both the giver and the receiver can be indicated by the Ace of Pentacles. In particular, the card often refers to wedding rings and proposals of marriage, which may seem out of place in the Pentacles suit until you realize that such proposals are the solid foundation upon which the castles of love must be built.
Two of Pentacles
The Two of Pentacles is often a sign that a change in your life in general, and your financial situation in particular, is almost certain. This card embodies the principle of “life at the edge of chaos” – too much change and life falls apart, too little change and it stagnates. Constant change and self-improvement is the only way to develop the body and the mind, and the Two of Pentacles is certainly an advocate of this philosophy. If you have been feeling bored lately, have some fun for a change! But if you are not working at all because you’re playing all the time, cut back a little. The principle of balance is the one that ultimately rules here.
Three of Pentacles
This card often shows the master at work, the professional who has learned all aspects of his career and is now putting all that knowledge to use in the real world. If you want to be like this in your job, there are many things that you must do. You have to be responsible and fair in your dealings with others. You must stick to schedules, follow procedures, and do everything by the book. All of this may sound boring and counterproductive to expression of the self, but this is a Pentacle card, and this is the suit of regulations and conservativism. The Pentacles ideal is security given by convention.
Four of Pentacles
The Four of Pentacles can show times of material security and happiness, and it often marks a time of financial gain, either earned through work or simply acquired from another source, such as inheritance. It is a card of earthly power, but with no accompanying emotional or spiritual gain. This is where its meaning starts to take a more negative turn. Without the wisdom to help you manage your material assets, you will either squander them or start to hoard them. Both will lead to frustration and disappointment. Power without the knowledge to use that power frequently harms the user.
Five of Pentacles
In a world that equates success with financial security, the loss shown on the Five of Pentacles can be a humbling blow to one’s self-esteem. This can be brought about in many ways, but even though an exterior event may seem to be the cause, this card often shows a loss that you bring upon yourself. Even though the Pentacles are a material suit, and Fives usually deal with real-world problems, the theme of poverty is not the true destitution shown on the Five of Pentacles. There is a spiritual loss that often precedes or accompanies loss of material wealth.
Six of Pentacles
The Six of Pentacles often represents the first of these two situations, when it is your generosity that is being (or should be) expressed. Now that you have lived through the darkness long enough to see the inner light, it is time to help others who are not so fortunate. The generosity of the Six does not limit itself to money and material things, though the focus is on those because it is a Pentacle card. Giving of your time or your wisdom is often just as spiritually fulfilling as giving away money or gifts, and the intangible gift of your presence is received just as well, if not better.
Seven of Pentacles
The Seven of Pentacles shows those times when a choice must be made between keeping what you have and trying to get more. This is probably the most overtly dualistic of the Pentacles cards and, as befits the nature of the suit, both choices can seem lucrative at different times and in different circumstances. On one hand, we have the conservative viewpoint of not taking risks and keeping what you have. There is also the option of going out and getting more wealth, but at the risk of losing it all. The decision is so difficult because neither option is largely preferable to the other, and both are supported by the Pentacles nature.
Eight of Pentacles
The Eight of Pentacles is the first card of its suit to touch explicity on the spiritual realm, though it does so briefly and in certain circumstances only. Most of the time it refers to a time of hard work and dedication on the material realm, in the hopes of improving your work and yourself at the same time. Unlike the Three, which shows a rewarding and expressive career, the work shown on the Eight often goes without reward until the very end. But once that end is finally reached, the rewards are often unimaginable; they transcend the material realm.
Nine of Pentacles
The main focus of the Nine of Pentacles, again, is on the material plane. It shows a solid financial base, assured security and comfort. This is the natural end of the choice made on the Seven and the hard work of the Eight. Sometimes it will come through windfall or inheritance but in the majority of cases it must be earned and fought for. This provides the responsibility necessary to manage your new wealth, and the experience to decide what to do with it now. A certain degree of self-discipline is implied by the Nine, and with this self-discipline comes the assurance that your wealth will not be wasted or squandered.
Ten of Pentacles
One of the great problems with having wealth is what exactly to do with it, and this is the central concept of the Ten of Pentacles. All of the positive traits of the Pentacles suit are embodied here; security, happiness, and the spiritual wisdom that comes with experience in the real world. Like the rest of the Tens, the Ten of Pentacles reminds us that we have learned important lessons through the other suit cards, and now we are challenged to apply them to the problem at hand. So now that you have all the wealth you need and all the happiness you want… what do you do?
Page of Pentacles
The Page of Pentacles is the most responsible of the Pages, a trait which is shared by all the Pentacles court cards because of their Earth nature. The fact that someone so young can be so down-to-earth and ready to accept great responsibility is a rare event, and a Page of Pentacles in your midst is a rare and welcome sight. Though he may only be concerned with the immediate benefits of wealth, the Page still manages it far better than the majority of adults do. He can appear, like the other Pages, in one of three ways. He can be an event, a person in your life, or a part of your own personality.
Knight of Pentacles
As an event, the Knight of Pentacles often shows a time when you will have to assume responsibility and take charge of a situation. You could be assigned a project or given a task to do, and you will have to devote some of your time to see that project end successfully. Perhaps the responsibility will not be due to a new project, but an old failure that you have to account for. In either case, stand tall and accept responsibility without any complaints or manipulations. The Knight of Pentacles has the strongest body of all the Knights, as well as the strongest character. In situations like the ones he represents, the latter is often more useful.
Queen of Pentacles
The Queen of Pentacles is a card in which the energy of a Major Arcanum is reproduced, but on a more accessible level. She is like a mirror of the Empress in that she is a Queen of fertility and harvest, and her talents extend to mothering and nurturing as well. The only thing she really lacks that the Empress possesses is the ability to create life, but the Queen of Pentacles makes up for that with her ability to sustain and care for all kinds of life. She is materially wealthy, but even that is superseded by the wealth she has build through kindness and generosity. She manifests in your life as either a person or a part of yourself.
King of Pentacles
The King of Pentacles is a lot like King Midas – everything he touches turns to gold. He is a pillar of financial stability, with wealth and experience to share with everybody. This is the logical conclusion of all the positive ideals of the Pentacles suit: through diligence, responsibility and attention to detail we can and will become like the King of Pentacles. He is always rich materially if not spiritually, and he encourages you to live your life like he would. When this card appears he can either represent a person in your life, or a part of yourself trying to be expressed.
Ace of Swords
The Ace of Swords shows the beginning of a situation whose potential is as double-edged as the blade of a sword. There is great power, even excessive power at times, in both love and hatred. The Ace implies the use of such power to further one’s ends, but what it does not imply is the manner in which those powers will be used, or the end that the means seek to achieve. No matter what the goal, there is always great power behind the attempts to reach it when these attempts are powered by the Ace of Swords. Very little can stand in the path of this energy without being destroyed.
Two of Swords
The Two of Swords often represents situations where an answer could be found and the truth could be seen, but where the person or persons involved choose not to see it. The Two of Swords shows those times when you deliberately avoid seeing the truth. Maybe one of your ideas has been proven incorrect and, though you see that you were wrong, you do not want to admit it. It can be painful to remove a blindfold and see the truth, because even the softest light will blind those who have lived in darkness. But being blinded by the light is far preferable to being blinded by darkness.
Three of Swords
The symbolism on the Three of Swords is scant but powerful, almost universal in its depiction on various decks. Three swords are seen piercing a heart, or occasionnally a flower, both of which are symbols of emotion and beauty. Thus the Three of Swords depicts, rather unambiguously, the ability of logic and power to harm the physical body and the emotions of a person. It is not surprising that many people don’t like this card because of its associations with pain and suffering. But all of the Swords cards carry a lesson, and the Three of Swords is no different. It lesson may be the most useful of all.
Four of Swords
When the Four of Swords appears it is a sign that you can stop worrying, put down your arms and lower your shield. For the moment there is a truce, and you can catch your breath without being attacked again. But always bear in mind that a truce and peace are not the same thing. The Four of Swords is a guarantee that danger will return to us as soon as we are ready to face it. So make the most of the stillness and quiet you have earned, but never lose sight of the fact that the battle is not yet over, and that there is still work to be done before the storm will pass.
Five of Swords
When the Five of Swords appears and you feel that you are on the winning side this time, there is still a warning to heed. Arrogance and pride often come hand in hand with a difficult victory such as this, and you must be careful not to think you are invincible. You have overcome a challenge, and you have the right to feel proud, but know that there will be other foes to face and that some of them will eventually defeat you. Declaring your invincibility is an invitation for someone to prove you wrong. If your victory was won through cheating or unethical conduct, beware of an attempt at vengeance.
Six of Swords
Instead of ruling the emotions, the Six of Swords actually offers a highly controlled balance of logic and intuition. This is how true mental clarity arises; you can use your intuition to guide you through easy situations and call upon your impartial and analytical nature when it is needed for a more complex decision. Do not seek to suppress your emotions any more than a sea captain would want to eliminate the water. Rather, respect their presence and their power in your life, and use them to your advantage. When a balance between head and heart is achieved, truly great things can be accomplished.
Seven of Swords
The last meaning of the Seven of Swords, one that is not too apparently connected with the others, is indecision. When you have to do what you felt was wrong in order to succeed, or when you do something that you thought was right but that put you in danger, your whole ethical system can be challenged and warped. If you have to compromise your values in order to achieve the goals you have set, you should either revise your ethics or re-evaluate your goals – probably the latter. Society as a whole does not look well upon the Machiavellian belief of ends justifying means. The vigilante approach of the Seven of Swords is rarely the best one.
Eight of Swords
When the Eight of Swords appears, its purpose is not to taunt you or to tell you something you already know. The reason for its manifestation is to show you that you can escape your situation just as quickly as you put yourself into it. Look at the picture on the Rider-Waite card again. The woman’s feet are not bound, and if she chose to, she could carefully walk to the closest sword and use it to cut the ropes holding her arms to her sides. At the moment she does not do this, because the same fear that got her into this situation is keeping her from escaping it.
Nine of Swords
Most of the time, the Nine of Swords does not show what exists at the moment, but what could be if the situation continues. There is a vulnerable spot in your life that could easily be pierced by any of the nine swords – even those that aren’t really there. The first thing to do, then, is to stop seeing problems that don’t exist. Then you can take a look at what remains, the real problems, and defuse them before they cause you any harm. And this is not impossible – great strength may be triggered by a painful situation. You have the power to face and destroy all of your fears.
Ten of Swords
When this card appears after a painful situation, it is a signal to pick yourself up off the ground and start thinking about what happened to you and what you have to learn from it. Hidden deep beneath the surface of the Ten of Swords is the ultimate power of the Swords suit: the ability to analyze your ways and learn from yourself. True wisdom does not come from without, but from within. The Ten of Swords is a sign that what you have gone through was not without purpose. The great positive power within you can be used to learn from your pain and draw wisdom from defeat. This is the Swords ideal.
Page of Swords
Awakening these qualities in yourself can have many advantages. The Page of Swords uses his blade to cut straight to the heart of a matter, ridding the area of cobwebs and red herrings that might lure you astray. His appearance is often a challenge, to expand your mind and look at things in new ways that you hadn’t thought of before. If you have been unable to see all the aspects of a situation, the Page will show you how, and aid you in uncovering that which is less than obvious. Understand the problem that you face, and in the process of learning you will often find an answer. Expand your mind, learn how to do new things and have fun doing them. Seek out the truth, regardless of the consequences, and try to become more adept in the use of your mind.
Knight of Swords
Dangerous as it may seem to assume the personality of the Knight of Swords, sometimes it is necessary and even preferable to do so. Whenever you feel afraid or indecisive, call on the Knight of Swords to give you a shot of confidence and clarity. His impartiality is very desirable when making hard choices, though you have to be careful not to act too hastily, or else the effort is wasted. His refusal to back down from fear makes him a pillar of strength. All of his negative qualities – and there are quite a few – must be carefully monitored; otherwise they will start to rage out of control, and that’s definitely not what you want.
Queen of Swords
Most of the time, the Queen of Swords shows a person in your life. Such a person is always renowned for their perception and insight. The intuitive quality of the Water element and the mental clarity of the Swords are behind this potent combination, and in this case the two elements are not opposite to one another. This keen vision allows the Queen of Swords to see straight to the heart of any situation, past the illusions that may entice others into seeing what isn’t really there. She always sees both sides of every argument and those who try to deceive her are in for a big surprise – thieves and con artists will quickly taste her cold steel.
King of Swords
A King of Swords is a man of the highest ethical standards. He is totally incorruptible, a pillar of strength who gives sound advice to everyone, no matter who they are. Though not the same as the King of Wands, the King of Swords is a leader in his own way. His command style is more like a general than a governor. He does not inspire people, he commands them, and they obey him because they trust him. His decisions are almost always the right ones, because he sees the big picture and never lets his heart sway his judgement. Though they might not benefit the King directly, his decisions are always in everyone’s best interests.
Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands is a good card to see when you are considering a new project that requires speed and boldness. Its appearance is a sign that now is the time to act to achieve the success you desire. You have the skill to start an adventure, and the potential to see it through to its conclusion, whatever that may be. In addition to adventures in the material world, the Ace of Wands can also refer to the start of a pregnancy or the birth of a child. Since the birth of children is the ultimate demonstration of creative power, it makes sense that this event is ruled by the Wands suit.
Two of Wands
When this card’s energy enters your life, you will find the ability to make your dreams into reality, to achieve your highest ambitions. Now is the time to understand how we create our own reality every second of our lives. It is also time to learn how we can use that to our advantage. Boldness and daring are unlimited when this energy is under your control, so go into the world and show your power to everyone. All of the Twos are associated with unions, and the Two of Wands can show that it is a good time for friendships, but beware of relationships where all the power lies in the hands of one person.
Three of Wands
It seems appropriate that the Three of Wands has three main interpretations, all of which seem to stand alone but which ultimately relate to each other. The first of these is established strength; success after initial hardship and difficulty. Partnership and teamwork is the second theme, particularly leadership in creative environments. This card also deals with personal virtue and respect for oneself. It shows that, when the chips are down and your have no one to help you and, you can turn to yourself for support and you will never be let down.
Four of Wands
The applied and established strength of the Two and Three leads to the first stage of completion and rest, shown in the Four of Wands. This is a time to look back on all that you have done and be glad that you have done it. This would seem to very many people like a wholly positive card, but there is a conflict between the dynamic expansion of the Wands and the very restrictive and limiting numnber four. This shows primarily that, while success can be enjoyed for a while, you cannot rest on your laurels. You must never stop growing, learning, and living.
Five of Wands
The Five of Wands shows two types of conflict – outer and inner. The former arises when the world around you is filled with hassles and minor obstacles that would not slow your progress alone, but, when combined, they become increasingly difficult to overcome. The latter meaning manifests in times of difficult ethical choices, when the head fights the heart and when both are in combat with the conscience, each trying to tell you the best way to act and the right thing to do. It can indeed seem that you are being held back and attacked from all sides in such times.
Six of Wands
Six is a number of balance, so it makes sense that the Six of Wands shows a time when the strife and competition of the past have been overcome, and you can enjoy the spoils of victory. This is one of the most powerful of the Minor Arcana since its meaning is so one-sided yet so full of depth at the same time. Though it is a purely physical victory that has been gained, not a spiritual one as in the Sun, that does detract from the momentary pleasure and acclaim. Not every victory must be a spiritual one – victories in the material world as just as enjoyable.
Seven of Wands
The appearance of the Seven of Wands can often be a reminder that you must stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. At times like this it is important to know exactly where you stand, or else you might end up fighting against yourself! So, before you charge off to battle, take a moment to see exactly what it is you are fighting for. The hill is not only a defensive position but a good survey ledge too. If you see that the cause is worthy and your position is stable, proceed with confidence. If you think fighting is not needed, then don’t fight, for he who knows when not to fight is often he who will be victorious.
Eight of Wands
The Eight of Wands is a strange and powerful card, because on many of the decks where the Minor Arcana show picture scenes, there is still nothing on this particular card but the Eight Wands. There are no human figures on the card, and in this aspect only the Aces and the Wheel of Fortune stands with it. (And perhaps the Three of Swords, though this card often shows a heart.) It should come as little surprise that the energy of the Eight of Wands is a swift and rapid one, not that different from the Ace of Wands or even the powerful Wheel of Fortune.
Nine of Wands
This card often marks the final ordeal, the last hill that must be climbed or the last hurdle that must be cleared before the finish line. And it is the last obstacle that usually proves most dangerous, because it is a last ditch effort by whatever forces oppose you to stop you before you reach your goal at last. To surmount this obstacle you have to realize but one thing. You have made it this far, and this obstacle is no different that the others you have already defeated. Great glory lies ahead, so reach down deep inside and give it everything you’ve got.
Ten of Wands
Sometimes the Ten of Wands is a good card to appear, because it can indicate where you are spinning your wheels and wasting your energy. It is often a sign that, no matter how long you stick to a task, victory is unlikely or even impossible. In these circumstances the best advice is to simply walk away. Leaving responsibilities unfinished is not a notion that appears to coalesce with the overall morality of the Wands suit, but sometimes doing what you have to do is far more necessary than doing what you’d like to do. So go out there, do what you have to do, and hopefully you can get a little closer to those things that you want to do.
Page of Wands
The Page of Wands has a passion for life, despite the fact (or maybe because of the fact) that he is still a child and his understanding of the world is not yet complete. He is a free spirit, not weighed down by the burdens of the material world, coming and going as he pleases, usually bringing change along for the ride. He is the catalyst that provokes changes that might be impossible in any other situation. When his energy enters your life it may manifest in one of three ways: as a person around you, as an event that you will experience, or as a part of yourself that you must bring to the fore.
Knight of Wands
There is no card in the Tarot that portrays such daring and enthusiasm as the Knight of Wands. His energy and courage are boundless, and he has no fear of anything; while this sometimes serves to get him into trouble, these are also the means by which he can free himself from any detrimental situation. There are few times when he does not move with the speed of a flash of lightning. When he rides into the area he always kicks up dust behind him, and when he enters your life he can be one of three things. He could be a person around you, an event that you will experience, or a part of yourself that you must bring to the surface.
Queen of Wands
Something in the symbology of the Queen of Wands gives us a look into the character of this charming but elusive woman. She is almost universally pictured with a cat, and this feline companion represents Venus in both its creative and sinister aspects. Thus the Queen of Wands is someone who can use for fire energy for good or evil; almost a Swords notion. Her innate Water form and the Fire of her suit cancel out, leaving her very Airy. This energy can appear as a person or as a part of yourself. She hardly ever represents an event in one’s life.
King of Wands
The King of Wands is pure fire energy, but strangely enough, he has the least to do with actual creation and creativity. His forte is not in dreaming up ideas and implementing them himself, but in taking an idea and changing the world to match his vision. As such he is a natural leader and commander of all kinds of people. They flock to him to hear what he has to say and leave just as eagerly when he gives them something to do for him. Like the rest of the Kings, the ruler of the Wands suit will appear in two ways in your life: either as a person or as a part of yourself that must be awakened.
Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands is a good card to see when you are considering a new project that requires speed and boldness. Its appearance is a sign that now is the time to act to achieve the success you desire. You have the skill to start an adventure, and the potential to see it through to its conclusion, whatever that may be. In addition to adventures in the material world, the Ace of Wands can also refer to the start of a pregnancy or the birth of a child. Since the birth of children is the ultimate demonstration of creative power, it makes sense that this event is ruled by the Wands suit.
Two of Wands
When this card’s energy enters your life, you will find the ability to make your dreams into reality, to achieve your highest ambitions. Now is the time to understand how we create our own reality every second of our lives. It is also time to learn how we can use that to our advantage. Boldness and daring are unlimited when this energy is under your control, so go into the world and show your power to everyone. All of the Twos are associated with unions, and the Two of Wands can show that it is a good time for friendships, but beware of relationships where all the power lies in the hands of one person.
Three of Wands
It seems appropriate that the Three of Wands has three main interpretations, all of which seem to stand alone but which ultimately relate to each other. The first of these is established strength; success after initial hardship and difficulty. Partnership and teamwork is the second theme, particularly leadership in creative environments. This card also deals with personal virtue and respect for oneself. It shows that, when the chips are down and your have no one to help you and, you can turn to yourself for support and you will never be let down.
Four of Wands
The applied and established strength of the Two and Three leads to the first stage of completion and rest, shown in the Four of Wands. This is a time to look back on all that you have done and be glad that you have done it. This would seem to very many people like a wholly positive card, but there is a conflict between the dynamic expansion of the Wands and the very restrictive and limiting numnber four. This shows primarily that, while success can be enjoyed for a while, you cannot rest on your laurels. You must never stop growing, learning, and living.
Five of Wands
The Five of Wands shows two types of conflict – outer and inner. The former arises when the world around you is filled with hassles and minor obstacles that would not slow your progress alone, but, when combined, they become increasingly difficult to overcome. The latter meaning manifests in times of difficult ethical choices, when the head fights the heart and when both are in combat with the conscience, each trying to tell you the best way to act and the right thing to do. It can indeed seem that you are being held back and attacked from all sides in such times.
Six of Wands
Six is a number of balance, so it makes sense that the Six of Wands shows a time when the strife and competition of the past have been overcome, and you can enjoy the spoils of victory. This is one of the most powerful of the Minor Arcana since its meaning is so one-sided yet so full of depth at the same time. Though it is a purely physical victory that has been gained, not a spiritual one as in the Sun, that does detract from the momentary pleasure and acclaim. Not every victory must be a spiritual one – victories in the material world as just as enjoyable.
Seven of Wands
The appearance of the Seven of Wands can often be a reminder that you must stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. At times like this it is important to know exactly where you stand, or else you might end up fighting against yourself! So, before you charge off to battle, take a moment to see exactly what it is you are fighting for. The hill is not only a defensive position but a good survey ledge too. If you see that the cause is worthy and your position is stable, proceed with confidence. If you think fighting is not needed, then don’t fight, for he who knows when not to fight is often he who will be victorious.
Eight of Wands
The Eight of Wands is a strange and powerful card, because on many of the decks where the Minor Arcana show picture scenes, there is still nothing on this particular card but the Eight Wands. There are no human figures on the card, and in this aspect only the Aces and the Wheel of Fortune stands with it. (And perhaps the Three of Swords, though this card often shows a heart.) It should come as little surprise that the energy of the Eight of Wands is a swift and rapid one, not that different from the Ace of Wands or even the powerful Wheel of Fortune.
Nine of Wands
This card often marks the final ordeal, the last hill that must be climbed or the last hurdle that must be cleared before the finish line. And it is the last obstacle that usually proves most dangerous, because it is a last ditch effort by whatever forces oppose you to stop you before you reach your goal at last. To surmount this obstacle you have to realize but one thing. You have made it this far, and this obstacle is no different that the others you have already defeated. Great glory lies ahead, so reach down deep inside and give it everything you’ve got.
Ten of Wands
Sometimes the Ten of Wands is a good card to appear, because it can indicate where you are spinning your wheels and wasting your energy. It is often a sign that, no matter how long you stick to a task, victory is unlikely or even impossible. In these circumstances the best advice is to simply walk away. Leaving responsibilities unfinished is not a notion that appears to coalesce with the overall morality of the Wands suit, but sometimes doing what you have to do is far more necessary than doing what you’d like to do. So go out there, do what you have to do, and hopefully you can get a little closer to those things that you want to do.
Page of Wands
The Page of Wands has a passion for life, despite the fact (or maybe because of the fact) that he is still a child and his understanding of the world is not yet complete. He is a free spirit, not weighed down by the burdens of the material world, coming and going as he pleases, usually bringing change along for the ride. He is the catalyst that provokes changes that might be impossible in any other situation. When his energy enters your life it may manifest in one of three ways: as a person around you, as an event that you will experience, or as a part of yourself that you must bring to the fore.
Knight of Wands
There is no card in the Tarot that portrays such daring and enthusiasm as the Knight of Wands. His energy and courage are boundless, and he has no fear of anything; while this sometimes serves to get him into trouble, these are also the means by which he can free himself from any detrimental situation. There are few times when he does not move with the speed of a flash of lightning. When he rides into the area he always kicks up dust behind him, and when he enters your life he can be one of three things. He could be a person around you, an event that you will experience, or a part of yourself that you must bring to the surface.
Queen of Wands
Something in the symbology of the Queen of Wands gives us a look into the character of this charming but elusive woman. She is almost universally pictured with a cat, and this feline companion represents Venus in both its creative and sinister aspects. Thus the Queen of Wands is someone who can use for fire energy for good or evil; almost a Swords notion. Her innate Water form and the Fire of her suit cancel out, leaving her very Airy. This energy can appear as a person or as a part of yourself. She hardly ever represents an event in one’s life.
King of Wands
The King of Wands is pure fire energy, but strangely enough, he has the least to do with actual creation and creativity. His forte is not in dreaming up ideas and implementing them himself, but in taking an idea and changing the world to match his vision. As such he is a natural leader and commander of all kinds of people. They flock to him to hear what he has to say and leave just as eagerly when he gives them something to do for him. Like the rest of the Kings, the ruler of the Wands suit will appear in two ways in your life: either as a person or as a part of yourself that must be awakened.
Justice
When Justice appears, it should be taken as a stern reminder that the deeds of the past form the foundation for the events of the present and the future. If, in the past, you did something that you have been feeling guilty about, now may be the day when you have to answer for your deeds. If you did a deed you felt was worthy of reward, perhaps that reward will arrive. Especially when the Justice card is around, mind your actions and make sure you don’t do anything you might regret later. Justice often appears to warn you that she will meet you again soon if you stay on your current path. Whether this is good or not remains yours to decide.
The Hanged Man
As the card of the paradox, the Hanged Man also urges you to look at things in a new and different way. If your mind is yelling at you to do something, then doing nothing could be the best thing to do. If something is important to you emotionally but it no longer serves a purpose, you might want to think about letting go of it. And don’t try to force anything to happen while the Hanged Man is about. By trying to force changes, you ensure that they never happen. Relax and let things happen instead of trying to interfere. Instead of fighting against the current, let it take you wherever it is flowing.
Death
When the Death card appears, big changes are heading your way. Usually this change refers to something in your lifestyle; an old attitude or perspective is no longer useful and you have to let go of it. While the Hanged Man was a card of voluntary sacrifice, the Death card is a forced sacrifice – but that does not mean that it is not for your own good. Sometimes you cannot see how your attitudes are hurting you, and when that is true, the Death card is your wake-up call. Death is not simply destruction; it is destruction followed by renewal. Even though one door may have closed, another is opening. Will you have the courage to step through?
Temperance
The two situations in which Temperance will most often appear are in the context of your relationships with others and with yourself. In the former case, a need for balance is often implied. Conflict can only be resolved through compromise and cooperation, and two people who both acknowledge this cannot be in conflict for long, because they always balance things out before they become problematic. Likewise, they enjoy the good times but know that they cannot last forever, and are not disappointed on darker days. If a relationship seems out of balance in any way, Temperance must be taken as a sign to start fixing things before it gets too far out of balance and it is irrevocably destroyed.
The Devil
When the Devil card appears in a reading it usually shows that you are not in control of your life, sometimes as a result of your own actions, but more often as a byproduct of inaction. This loss of control often leads to loss of hope, and a lack of faith in your own abilities. Sometimes ignorance and materialism are the tools of the Devil, and those traits will be evident if you focus on worldly possessions and power while ignoring the spiritual power you have inside of you. As a result, your creativity and energy can be seriously impaired, and you may not wish to regain control of yourself.
The Tower
When wisdom must be forced upon you, or when ignorance must be taken away, the Tower will appear to let you prepare yourself. If you choose to let go of what you no longer need, and accept what you do need, things will go much more smoothly and without frustration. If you ignore the warning of the Tower, however, and cling to the status quo, be prpared for a downfall. You have been oversleeping and this is your spiritual wake-up call. When the Tower is in the area, know that anything that seems secure could not really be safe at all. If a change is destined to happen, to not try to fight it, because all change happens because it is needed.
The Star
There are few cards more positive than the Star, because when it appears in your life it is nothing less than a beacon of hope and inspiration. In times of darkness it shows that there is a way out, and tells you not to worry, for illumination and freedom are at hand. All you need is something in which to place your faith. So trust in yourself, and in whatever powers you believe control the universe, to help you through difficult times. Let the infinite energy of the Star warm you and rejuvenate your soul, to provide the strength and the clarity of purpose you need to continue on your journey.
The Moon
The Moon’s appearance in a reading almost always means that something is not as it appears to be, and that vigilance and perception will be necessary to find that which is hidden before it is too late. In a generally good reading the Moon shows that not all is as wonderful as you would think. You may be idealizing the sitatuion, and ignoring the fact that potential for failure exists among success. A negative reading that includes the Moon often shows that you are letting your imagination run away with you, and that things are not nearly as bad as they seem. In both cases you must open your eyes and see what it really going on.
The Sun
In a reading the Sun can take on many meanings, though the most predominant one is that of success and completion. It can be a herald of joy, happiness, the birth of a child, a stable family, material prosperity or almost any other end that is positive – but above all it shows completion. One cycle is over and, before the next begins, there is a period of light and relaxation that you can and should properly enjoy. Success comes if you are confident and bold in the use of your creative energy. Glow with the vitality of the Sun whose light is umatched and whose power is absolute.
Judgement
Judgement’s appearance in a reading often signals that a major change is heading your way, but unlike Death and the Tower, the change will not be a destructive one. The change is under your control, and in fact you can even turn your back on it if you wish. In time, however, you will likely regret doing so – this is another lesson of Judgement. Decisions such as the one it offers are necessary to growth and spiritual development, and you cannot run from them forever. The day of reckoning will come someday, and you will have to admit where you have gone wrong in order to receive rewards you deserve.
The World
The World card marks a time in your life in which one cycle is over and the next is just beginning. It represents the final achievement of all your worldly expectations and desires, and the immenent approach of new desires to follow and new goals to puruse. The World itself remains the ultimate goal, because it is an affirmation of life and an arrival at a perfect state of harmony and bliss. This is the confirmation of success and the reward for all your trials and ordeals. With the coming of the World comes assured success and material well-being, as well as emotional fulfillment, and growth in the spiritual sense.
