The Devil
Explanation
The Devil has since ancient history been the adversary of God, the opposite of God.
The Devil has many faces and is always waiting to make new victims.
In a psychological sense, every human has his/her positive sides, and his/her negative sides. Only by being aware of your negative sides can you overcome them.
Place in the cycle
The number this card carries is 15, composed that is 6. The resemblances to the first '6' card (The Lovers) are remarkable; in both cards security is a central theme.
With The Lovers, you made the choice against old securities yourself, with The Devil you will lose them due to outside influences.
The Devil is a very important card in the cycle. An enormous amount of work has to be performed at The Devil. Facing your fears will be a large part of that work.
The Devil kind of forces you to face your future.
Meaning
Positive
Don't avoid change. Seek some security outside yourself, away from your inner troubles.
Neutral
The Devil announces a bad time in your life, which also allows you to experience new heights later. After this bottom at The Devil you can only go up. You're busy changing, and in that process you now encounter your own fears. And you might not even recognize this!
Negative
This is not the time to face your own fears. Other issues in your life had better take priority.
10 of Wands
Explanation
The 10 in the small arcana, any of the Wands, Cups, Swords or Coins cards, is the number that connects to the Ace of the next element.
The 10 of Wands is therefore the transition from the element Fire (associated with Wands) to the element Water, associated with Cups. As you might imagine, this not the easiest of transitions.
Meaning
Positive
Although it would be nice to focus on just 1 thing, now is not yet the time for it. You need to keep track of multiple responsibilities at this time.
Neutral
On the one hand all these tasks before you feel like a prison, but on the other hand you don't feel like letting go just yet. You might be looking for what you want to do most.
Negative
You're trying to do too many tasks at the same time, don't dump all of them, but reduce the number you have at hand, yes. Think carefully about which ones are best performed first, and then do those first.
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.
3 of Cups
Explanation
The 3 of Cups represents hope, faith and love. The 3 is a reward number and in this suit of Cups your feelings during that number will be that of joy and self-contentment.
Meaning
Positive
This card will test your abilities to enjoy hope, faith and love, in the widest. Let go of all doubts and enjoy the comfort of the innocence of a child who believes all will turn out for the best.
Neutral
You might be feeling a lot of optimism about the future, and this is not unjustified, even though parts of the world might believe differently.
Negative
You can go overboard with enthousiasm and optimism as well. If this card falls in a negative, upside-down way, try to be more realistic, so you don't get disappointed later.
The Judgement
Explanation
The Judgement is a card that is near the very end of the last cycle of the major Tarot. It represents an outside source making judgement over you.
Place in the cycle
The Judgement has the number 20 assigned to it, and therefore has a composed number 2 attached to it as well.
2's are assignemnt numbers. And assignments can even happen while in a reward cycle.
You would be wise to judge yourself on the points that the external authority might judge you. Then it's verdict will be less of a suprise to you.
Meaning
Positive
Re-live your past, small piece by small piece, to see what you've accomplished and what still hurts. Take it easy though, don't ask too much of yourself during this process. Try to keep focus primarily on the positive sides of your past.
Neutral
By re-living your past, you get rid of old blockages and throw away the last burdens that are left over from your journey. Re-living the past may be painful at times, but it helps you close off the past as well.
Negative
You run the risk of getting stuck in the past, because if you move beyond it, you'll have to face the unknown.
So don't dive into the past when the card is drawn upside down, apparently right now is not the time for it.
The Lovers
Explanation
Some attribute love and romance to the card of The Lovers. Others see it as finding and living with both female and male aspects of yourself.
Place in the cycle
This card carries the number 6. It is the number of protection, of stability and security. It comes after the assignment number 5, it is the reward after hard work.
The Magician announced four wisdoms. In the cards that followed, they came into view one by one. The traveler of Tarot has accumulated the baggage with which to travel. This card signifies a choice between staying with the old and familiar, or (the way of Tarot:) going to new experiences and lessons.
Meaning
Positive
Open yourself to growth towards independence.
Neutral
When the card of The Lovers is drawn, then you're ready to realize that you've gained security in yourself. You've developed a basic self confidence that enables you to look objectively to your surroundings. But you're ready to grow beyond your current realm of comfort. Your need for self reliance is increasing. This card is a process card, which means that it's effect might last for months.
Negative
Don't linger, don't get stuck in your own habits. Spring into action.
King of Pentacles
Explanation
The King of Pentacles uses his Earthly attributes to rule. He goes about his work like an old style business man; he avoids unnecessary risks, aims for real results, and acts from confidence.
Meaning
Positive
Keep doing what you're doing. Trust yourself and the support of your loved ones.
Neutral
You're working without exhausting yourself, with support from your loved ones, and working on right-sized tasks that bring you closer to your ideal.
And you're even likely to have (a lot of) fun while you work too.
Negative
You could be too careful to avoid risks at the moment. Taking risks often brings a chance for receiving rewards, provided that you don't blindly gamble.
8 of Swords
Explanation
The 8 of Swords is about slowly regaining strength and energy. The 8 is an assignment number, and in the element of Swords it's a bit harder than usual.
Meaning
Positive
A little rest can help here, you're working through (old) emotions that prop up while you try to adapt to new ways of working (with your surroundings).
Try to balance the need for rest with the need for making progress.
Neutral
You're done with those things that are not good for you, but while your mind understands it, your feelings lag behind a bit. You keep drifting back to old viewpoints, and it will take at least a little time to let go of these.
Negative
It's not needed to look at everything with pessimism. Push yourself to let go of the old and embrace the new.
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.
