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.
3 of Wands
Explanation
This card is about exposing your new ideas to the world. The Wand's element fire goes well with the number 3, as 3 is an output number, a number of results. Fire likes getting to results quickly.
Meaning
Positive
Now is the time to come out with your plans. Trust your own objective judgement on whether your ideas are any good, and others will likely share your opinion. Don't fear rejection, though.
Neutral
Your new ideas are ready to face the world, and you're ready to talk about them with those around you. You do this in an enthousiastic and positive way, you feel proud and energetic. You're sure that your ideas are worth their salt and you're capable of convincing others of that.
Negative
Be careful about what you tell others of these new ideas of yours. They might think you've gone crazy, or you could give your competition your idea for free. Be careful and look at your ideas with a critique's eye.
The Hermit
Explanation
The Hermit shuts out the world and retreats into solitude to better understand some spiritual aspect of life. He opens to the cosmos and lets it's wisdom sink in. Hermits are often seen as wise old men who can guide a traveller along a journey.
Place in the cycle
The Hermit carries the number 9. This is the highest base number. After 9 the composed numbers emerge. Therefore the number 9 is the gateway to a higher order. It is also a place to rest before embarking on the next leg of the journey.
Meaning
Positive
Rest, but at the same time prepare for the next leg of your journey. Empty your mind of things past, and wait for inspiration to hit you. Wait for a sign, it'll be there in time.
Neutral
When the card of The Hermit is drawn, it means you can relax a bit and recall the leg of the journey that you have completed. Up to now everything has been guided by your own choices, now it is time to let the universe guide you along the next steps. The card signifies a waiting period.
Negative
Don't be too passive, now is not the time to rest.
Ace of Wands
Explanation
The ace of wands represents the beginning of an idea. The element fire and the number 1 give a powerful combination: enterprise and new beginnings apply to both. This is an energetic combination, which is why the card is generally considered a positive one. Spring is the season associated with this card.
Meaning
Positive
Try to focus on just one or two (new) things, it would be a shame to let all this new energy be divided over so many things not much progress is made with any of them.
Once you've decided, move ahead with full force, do what you like and don't worry about a thing.
Neutral
You're filled with new energy. Energy to undertake new endeavours in your life, sometimes maybe a bit too many at the same time even. Your attention could be flowing from one flower to the next, the next even more beautiful than the previous one.
Negative
One early flower doesn't mean it's full on Spring just yet. You are probably a bit premature by taking on new things and ideas right now, you have things to work out before you move on.
Page of Swords
Explanation
The Page of Swords is probably more than the other Pages an explorer at heart. The element of the Swords suit is Air, and Air is the best place to explore from after all ;-)
Just don't forget to analyse what you explore.
Meaning
Positive
Take your time to decide, and only decide after you have properly considered all the angles.
Neutral
You're in a situation where you have to decide about something, possibly about whether to embark on a journey with people who want something from you.
It is probably wise not to jump in the deep end without considering what you're jumping in to. It won't hurt to stand on the edge and feel the temperature of the water either.
Negative
Not everyone is motivated to hurt you or exploit you. You might do well by being a little more trusting with individuals who you think might be worthy of that trust. You can probably trust your instincts.
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.
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.
Knight of Swords
Explanation
The Knight of Swords lacks the naivety of the Knight of Wands, he has analyzed the terrain ahead and weighed his options there. He knows what his own nature can throw into the mix, but does not let himself be held idle by that. The activities ahead will likely include the solving of conflicts and problems on your road to your ideal.
Meaning
Positive
Don't avoid any confrontation right now. Face it head on and let yourself be heard.
Neutral
There will be some problems and possibly some confrontations on the next leg of your journey. You're advised to fight for your rights, but with constant attention to where the stream of events is heading. Stay relaxed enough to deal effectively with unexpected events.
Negative
Don't be too aggressive, or you'll scare away those that can help you. You don't always need violence to solve problems or conflicts.
Knight of Pentacles
Explanation
The Knight of Pentacles doesn't like to get worked up about anything. He prefers to make quiet steady progress by sticking to a persevering attitude, while not allowing himself to become exhausted or stressed.
Meaning
Positive
The project you've chosen, and the phase in which that project now is, allow you to focus only on your own work. This can be comforting and productive.
Neutral
You're working on a project without caring too much about the rest of the world. For a lot of project types, this is possible. But some projects require that you regularly look around at what others are doing in the same field. Keep an eye on your competitors to stay ahead of them!
Negative
You're probably too attached to securities, and you could use a more relaxed attitude that allows you to enjoy the adventure that uncertainty can bring.
2 of Swords
Explanation
The 2 is an assignment number in tarot, and in this case of the 2 of Swords, it's about being forced to wait for something, often even while blindfolded in some sense.
Swords don't like to be in uncertainty, yet they will have to face it here.
Meaning
Positive
Try to have some fun with other activities while you have to wait. No sense getting depressed over having to wait a bit.
Neutral
You've started something, and now you have to wait for the results to show themselves. Until they arrive you will face some pressure.
Negative
Either it's not the time to wait around right now (if there's an action card elsewhere in your reading), or it's not a time to get nervous about having to wait for results that will prove to be advantagious for you (when a positive and relaxed card opposites this one)
