3 of Pentacles
Explanation
This card is about completing a masterpiece, it's the output number of the production cycle after all.
It's a chance to show the world what you're capable of.
Meaning
Positive
Don't let this opportunity to show off your skills slip by.
Neutral
You have received, or will soon receive, a valuable opportunity where you perhaps can gain some free advertising if you do the job well.
Negative
Although you might receive an opportunity to do some high-profile work, this is not the perfect time for you to be very ambitious in this (new?) field, you've yet to master the craft.
5 of Pentacles
Explanation
The 5 of Pentacles is an assignment-number card, and is about letting go of your securities. Pentacles element Earth (also) represents material posessions, so this card is about letting go of (some of) your worldly assets.
Meaning
Positive
Don't look back, and don't get depressed over what you've lost. Things may seem a little barren right now, but help is on the way.
Neutral
Despite losing something, you gained something as well; freedom from ties.
Negative
You're too afraid of losing your securities and thus setting yourself free.
The Empress
Explanation
The Empress expresses wordly power, but not without female influences like a sense of spirituality.
Of the four wisdoms that The Magician represents she represents the wisdom of the body and of feelings. She is compared to the love and harvest Godesses.
Place in the cycle
The Empress carries the number 3. This is the number of birth, of plenty, of harvest, of summer, of the first results. The number 3 stands for joy and fun, for creativity and fantasy, for warmth and humor.
The number 3 is a magical number; 1 is a dot, 2 a line but 3 the first number that generates space. The triangle and pyramid have positive and magical qualities. Add the numer 1 (male) to the number 2 (female) and you get 3 : the child. In many old cultures the number 3 was a holy number, generating balance and harmony.
Meaning
Positive
Enjoy your good feelings and make the best of them. Recharge yourself with new energy, do fun things or be pampered by others. You've earned it.
Neutral
When the card of The Empress is drawn, it means you're in tune with yourself, you have a balance between heart and mind, you're content with yourself and feel fine by yourself.
The card indicates a happy period in your life, with strength for what lies ahead.
Because you're content with yourself, you radiate that contentness to others who may pick up on it and find you attractive because of it. The card could even indicate a pregnancy.
Negative
Be careful not to get lazy or to enjoy this time passively. The good influences of the card may pass by without you capitalizing on them.
9 of Pentacles
Explanation
The 9 of Pentacles represents earned rest. The element Earth, attached to the Pentacles suit, appreciates the rest that completion of hard work brings. This is a good time for games and relaxation.
Meaning
Positive
By all means take some well earned rest, so you get refreshed for the next leg of your journey.
Neutral
You're wonderfully content with the work you've done so far. Now it's time for some well earned relaxation. This card could point to a holiday or vacation abroad, or bring the idea of taking such leisure to the forefront.
Negative
Even though you might feel a bit tired, now is not the time to rest. The situation likely requires that you keep on working. Take enough short breaks though, to avoid exhaustion and to stay on the right course in your project.
4 of Wands
Explanation
This card is about fostering cooperation to realize your ideas.
The number and element of this card (4=structure, element=fire) are in sync because fire can use the stability of structure, and structure can use the liveliness of fire. Here the structure of 4 doesn't cause stagnation.
Meaning
Positive
Listen to the advice of others, you don't have to invent everything on your own. Try to maximize their advice.
Neutral
You're talking with others about your ideas. Others will help you and stimulate your ideas, which increases your self-confidence.
By talking with others about your ideas you'll be pointed towards new possibilities.
Negative
Do it alone, you can do it on your own. You never know who's going to steal your idea if you tell others.
Page of Pentacles
Explanation
Pages explore and gather information about the road ahead, with an almost naive attitude. The Page of Pentacles is sometimes described as a bridge builder; Pentacles is the suit where the actual work is done, and the Page here enables those that follow to quickly cross difficult terrain.
Meaning
Positive
Don't do anything reckless right now, you need to consider carefully what each likely outcome of each of your potential choices is. Consider the other forces at play in your field carefully as well.
Neutral
Either things have been fairly chaotic for you lately, or you're facing one of your more murky choices, when this card falls. If things have been chaotic, this card will bring some rest and clarity. If you're facing a difficult choice, it'll help you take the time to carefully consider your options.
Negative
You could want security and clarity _too_ much, you know. Sometimes a bit of chaos and unclarity can be fun and exciting, while allowing you to find options you haven't considered yet.
If this card falls upside down (or, in a "negative" way), don't crave clarity and securities; embrace adventure instead.
The Sun
Explanation
The Sun has been admired as God or the symbol of all life by many cultures. Without the sun there is no warmth, light or life. The Sun is seen as a very positive force.
Place in the cycle
The Sun carries the number 19, a composed value of 1. This is the third composed 1 in the Major Arcana. It's the culmination of the 1's. The third 1 is a reward and a beginning at the same time. It also represents creative energy.
With The Sun the third and final cycle of Tarot is commenced. The first cycle was the upperworld or childphase, a place to start and gain inputs. Here you gained wisdoms, knowledge and ideas. The second cycle was the underworld or adult phase or assignments phase, the hard cycle where you had to really work for gains. This third cycle that starts at The Sun, is the phase of rewards, of enjoyment of results.
Meaning
Positive
Use this period in your life. If you do nothing you end up having a good time but not much else. If you use your strengths and powers of creativity, you will end reaping rewards for a much longer time.
Neutral
You've gone through a difficult time with lots of searching and experimenting, and you've made it on your own. This has lead to a new sense of self-confidence in you, you're ready to take on anything, it seems.
Negative
You're too optimistic and care-free. So much that you lose track of reality somewhat.
The Fool
Explanation
Only a fool would stand so close to the cliff's edge.
But the fool is on a high, thinks he can handle anything the world will throw at him. Here in lies both his strength and his weakness. One false step and the tumble down the rock face could be short or long. The fool doesn't even know how long, because he looks to the sky.
Place in the cycle
The fool is the first card in the deck, the new born heading out into the world, facing the different stages of development ahead. One can undergo many cycles during his or her life, the last card in the major arcana ('The World') always followed by The Fool for some new aspect of life to be discovered and experienced.
Meaning
Positive
Don't look at practicability or feasibility for a while. Open up to your desires and dreams, without immediately trying to figure out how to realize them.
Dream all you want and figure out which dreams to realize later.
Neutral
You're probably saturated by the life you now have around you.
It's time for something new, to let the child inside you boss the adult in you around a bit as it discovers these new things to explore.
Negative
Perhaps you're discouraged by your dreams, because your subconscious is telling you you're not happy with current circumstances, while your higher intellect is still OK with this situation.
Page of Cups
Explanation
The Page of Cups is about cautiously exploring your own emotions (about the course ahead).
Meaning
Positive
Now is the time to carefully show your emotions to those around you, but don't go overboard straight away. Only show as much of your emotions as you need to get good advice.
Neutral
You've been rational about your choices for a long time. Now is the time to consider your emotions, and to cautiously discuss those emotions with those whose advice you value.
Negative
You're too cautious at the moment, it might be wise to discuss your emotions with others just a bit more.
4 of Cups
Explanation
With the 4, the second cycle of this suit is commenced, where a choice between structure and feeling has to be made, where old securities have to be let go of to work towards a new future. But like Wands, Cups don't like structure much, they prefer to be free and dream rather than to make commitments and go for something.
Meaning
Positive
To let go of securities and pursue ideals is not an easy task. Give yourself the time you need to make this step. Don't fool yourself to believe you feel fine with those old securities, something inside you desires the new and unknown. But make sure those new ideals are actually worth pursuing, before doing anything drastic.
Neutral
Rationally, you can understand to achieve new heights, you'll have to let go of some of your old securities. But you will need time to make that step.
Negative
You've waited and doubted for long enough now. It's time to make a choice about the next step(s) in your life.
