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.
The Hierophant
Explanation
The Hierophant is another name for The Highpriest.
Where The Emperor is the chief of worldly power, The Hierophant is the head of spiritual matters.
Place in the cycle
The Hierophant carries the number 5. This is the number connected to humans. 5 senses, 5 limbs (including the head), 5 fingers on a hand, 5 toes on a foot.
Research (via known and unknown senses) is part of the number 5, with enthousiasm and in freedom.
Meaning
Positive
Use your mind, analyze the situation. Look at what you'll need to solve the situation and what your weaknesses in this task are.
Then seek help from a specialist and follow their advice. In the end, it's you who has to make the steps.
Neutral
When the card of The Hierophant is drawn, then there is something you want to achieve or solve. You'll be able to do this, because it's not the first problem in your path.
Negative
Go it alone, don't seek help. You can make it on your own. Don't bother others with your problems.
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.
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.
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 Chariot
Explanation
The Chariot is pulled through the city with the conqueror on it to signal a big win to a large audience.
Place in the cycle
This card has the number 7 attached to it, the "lucky number" in Western Culture. It was and is seen as a magical and holy number. But it also encourages growth.
During the prevous card, The Lovers, all the wisdom of the first cards in the deck has been processed and a choice was made for personal growth. Now it's time to do something with all this baggage, to actually travel the road. A lot has been done so far, wisdoms have been accumulated and integrated into one's personality.
Meaning
Positive
The time to let others tell you what to do is over, you're ready to grow on your own. But remember; you'll have to work for growth, it won't just be given to you.
Neutral
You've probably gone through a time when you were growing toward something that (subconciously or not) scared you (a bit). Now you're ready to really grow toward the new, toward the exciting, and you're telling nearly everyone with enthousiasm and some naivety perhaps.
However, you run the risk of getting stuck in showboasting. You may claim all sorts of things, and then when push comes to shove you may neglect to make the necessary steps.
Negative
Now is not the time to be reckless. Look at things objectively and don't rush into adventure.
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.
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.
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.
7 of Wands
Explanation
With the 7 of Wands, the striving cycle starts. It is about having the determination to complete your ideas, despite the fact that that might cause you some discomfort.
Meaning
Positive
Don't be scared of discouraged by anything. You're nearly there, make the last few steps you need to completion of your project or task.
Neutral
Things have been going well up until now. You've made some progress. But just as things get interesting and near completion, you want to let go of the whole thing and perhaps focus on something else. That way you won't reap the rewards.
Negative
You might not be as near to completion of your project or task as you have guestimated. See if there's anything you can do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.
