5 of Wands
Explanation
The 5 of Wands represents competition. The 5 is the second assignment number, and therefore a difficult card. 5 combined with the Wand's element fire challenges you. You'll have to fight hard for your idea, but you stand a good chance of succeeding.
Meaning
Positive
Overcome your fears of rejection and failure. Fight for the realisation of your dreams. Don't be afraid to confront yourself either, so you can discover what you're worth. This card is more about the fighting than the winning.
Neutral
An important wish of yours is getting closer to being realized. This may scare you somewhat, because in your dreams you were able to make it as beautiful as you want, while reality doesn't always give you exactly what you want.
Negative
Now is not the time to fight, now is the time to evade. Choose a safe way to come closer to realisation of your dreams and ideas.
The Tower
Explanation
The card of The Tower goes by different names in different Tarot games. Some call it The Tower of Destruction, or The House of God, or Tower of the Light.
Some think that The Tower gives reference to the tower of Bable, but there are no direct indications for this.
Place in the cycle
The Tower has the number 16 attached to it, composed that is 7. This is a ladder number, a number of ambition and climbing to new heights.
The composed number of this card is the same as The Chariot's, but where The Chariot represents balance, The Tower represents chaos.
You've come a long way in the cycle already. You've let go of the old to welcome the new, you've faced and overcome your fears, yet The Tower tears down whatever remains.
This card lets chaos loose into your life, so that creativity and growth can flourish. The Tower ends what The Hanged Man started. From here the journey back to the upperworld begins.
Meaning
Positive
Don't resist what happens to you, try to see it as exciting.
Neutral
Go through your fears so you will end up in kind of a freefall. You've put down your shackles and now you let go, anything becomes possible.
When the card of The Tower falls, something will happen to you that robs you of your (remaining) securities. Some things will happen to you that may scare you, but you can choose to see them as exciting.
Negative
Don't conjure up extra fears related to what happens to you. Remain able to react.
9 of Wands
Explanation
The 9 represents rest after work, which is another thing (like 8) that the element Fire associated with Wands is not very comfortable with. Fire likes to keep going. This rest will probably be spent thinking about what to do next along the course to completion.
Meaning
Positive
It's not wrong to keep thinking ahead, but you could really use some real rest as well. You've earned it.
Neutral
You've completed a chapter in which you faced yourself. Your success has given you confidence, and now would be good time to get a little rest, but you're probably too impatient to truely do nothing.
Negative
There might be things on your horizon that you did not face before. Now is not the time to be arrogant or careless.
7 of Swords
Explanation
The 7 of Swords is about making slow progress because you can't trust the situation and/or people around you.
Meaning
Positive
Now is a good time for a little extra relaxation, to take the edge off. Make sure you sleep and eat properly, and solicit the advice of those you do trust.
Neutral
You're not exactly sure who and what you can trust right now, but by being cautious you can still make some progress, even if it's not as much or as fast as you'd like.
Negative
You're too distrusting at the moment, it's probably wise to give anyone the benefit of the doubt at least once.
The Moon
Explanation
The Moon has been looked in all ways during our history. It has been both revered and dispised.
Where the sun ruled the day, the moon ruled the night. Those who knew the lunar cycles knew when they needed to seed and when they needed to harvest.
Place in the cycle
The Moon carries the number 18, composed that is 9. This composed number is the number of completion, of achievement.
The Hermit, also a 9, closed off the upperworld. The Moon closes the underworld.
You've faced a lot in the underworld, your own fears not least of them. Now it is time to crawl back up to securities and comfort, but there's work to be done before you're there.
Meaning
Positive
If you want to achieve a high goal, you'll need to walk the middle ground between the swamps. You'll need to articulate to others where you want to go, and in telling them about your desires expose yourself somewhat.
Neutral
You're busy with your feelings at the moment, re-finding your ideals and vocalizing your feelings despite that making your vulnerable. This is not the time to get stuck in the sea of your feelings, it is time to go onto shore and find the golden middle path toward hapiness.
Negative
Don't look at your ideals and desires too much. Stick to practical goals.
6 of Swords
Explanation
The 6 of Swords is a reward number after the hard assignment in 5 of Swords, it brings you to a safe place to rest a bit.
Meaning
Positive
Now is a good time to take some rest. Your work will be of higher quality if you take short breaks regularly.
Neutral
If you take some rest now, you can re-evaluate your course on the way to realizing your ideal.
Negative
Now is not the best time to rest. Your competitors could be right behind you, and if you slack off now you could undo the progress over your competitors that you gained earlier.
The Emperor
Explanation
Like The Empress, this card indicates power. But instead of spiritual power, this card indicates materialistic, worldly power. The Emperor is sometimes compared to Mars, God of war and courage.
Place in the cycle
The Emperor has the number 4 attached to it. This is the number of order and structure, the number of matter; with 4 things can be built and organized.
There are 4 seasons, 4 elements, 4 wind directions. The number gives stability and orginanisation and discipline and a steady strength to get done what needs to get done.
The number 1 brings the idea, the number 4 takes it on. This also means that with this number 4 things can be decided one way or another.
While the previous card, The Empress, indicates a time to relax and enjoy, with this card it is time to get things underway and for the work to commence.
Meaning
Positive
Of all the things that are heading your way you must pick just a few or even just one to focus on. Get your goals into focus and stick to your goals. Be careful not to get distracted.
Neutral
This card falls in a time when you're busy and facing challenges. This means there is a lot to do and a large need to organise and structure your activities.
You feel strong and full of energy, you have willpower and selfdiscipline and an ability to close yourself to distractions.
Negative
Don't be too rigid, you can't achieve your goals with just strength, often wisdom and knowledge are needed as well.
Queen of Cups
Explanation
Queens and Cups are both somewhat turned inward. This might make whatever choice you're facing when this card falls, a deep one. Take your time, and don't let the issue overwhelm you or your emotions.
Meaning
Positive
Research who and what you are, what you want, but don't let the choice(s) you have to make take control of you. Be mindful of what your dreams at night offer in form of tips, and don't experiment with drugs during this time.
Neutral
You don't feel the need for many social contacts at the moment, because you feel you can work things out on your own. However, getting some advise here and there might be more useful than you think.
Negative
Don't make yourself too vulnerable by discussing too many of your inner thoughts with others.
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.
4 of Pentacles
Explanation
The 4 of Pentacles is about holding on to what you got. The number 4 represents structure and order, and fits well with the suit's element, Earth.
Meaning
Positive
Try to make a list of what you have, and what you would like to have. It'll help bring some clarity, probably.
Neutral
Holding on to what you have can often result in a tense attitude. But you can hold on in a relaxed fashion as well, if you remind yourself regularly at first.
Negative
Beware that you don't become too cramped while you're trying to hold on to what you have. Try to relax and allow others their fun as well.
