Ace of Pentacles
Explanation
With Wands, you surveyed the world for worthy goals and ideals.
With Cups, you decided on a specific (set of) ideals to pursue.
With Swords, you faced some initial problems on your road towards your chosen ideal(s).
Now in Pentacles, it's about the remainder of the work (with procedures worked out by Swords) that gets you to completion of your chosen ideal(s).
The element attached to Pentacles is Earth. And it's attributes are perseverance, taking pride in boring hard work, discipline, order.
Pentacles are often refered to as related to money. But that's a bit of a narrow view. It's about the hard work that completes the journey to an ideal and thus give your life fulfillment.
The Ace of Pentacles has the number 1 attached to it, which is always the number of a new beginning.
Meaning
Positive
You've figured out what to do, you sort of know how to do it, then now is the perfect time to start doing it. And don't give up easily.
Neutral
When this card falls, it might serve to point your attention to whatever is new and fresh in your life; a new job, study, love relation, business relation, project, etc. Look to the other cards in the reading to see what more can be said about it.
Negative
The plans you made for getting to your ideal might not be the optimal course for getting there after all. Stay flexible, something you encounter might be a shortcut for you.
Knight of Wands
Explanation
The Knights often show a flurry of activity. They go out and make things happen. The cautious behavior of Pages is not shown by Knights, but they don't burden the weight of responsibilities that Kings have.
The Knight of Wands likes action and progress, but isn't too concerned with the usefulness of his actions or the ramifications to those around him.
Meaning
Positive
Have a good long look at whatever is coming your way when this card falls. It's probably worth your attention and activity.
Neutral
You might be feeling a lot of youthful energy in yourself as this card falls. You radiate this to others who might be infected by your enthousiasm. Just try to stay realistic.
Negative
When this card falls upside-down, you might be a bit too impulsive and careless at the moment. Try to take a moments rest to evaluate where exactly you're going.
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.
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.
King of Swords
Explanation
The King of Swords rules with diplomacy and a strong sense of responsibility, not just for himself but also for those around him, yet he is not afraid to make heavy decisions that compel him to eliminate dangers and dangerous opponents with some force.
Meaning
Positive
You happen to have the best solution for the problems facing your group. Go ahead, take the leadership on this course change and lead with convincing logic coupled to the emotions that most people in your group have right now.
Neutral
Not everyone is going to be happy with the leadership's chosen direction, even if the leadership has acted from the best of intentions for everyone. But that'll change when the rewards arrive.
Negative
You're not the right guy or girl to lead at this time, sorry. If you have to lead, consult the wise and just.
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.
Queen of Pentacles
Explanation
The Queen in the suit of Pentacles becomes aware of her Earthly attributes; she's reliable and sober, able to give good advice.
When this card falls, it serves to make you more aware of what comfort relations with other people can bring.
Meaning
Positive
Now is not the time to be a hermit and avoid other people. Instead, seek out the company of those that appreciate or love you. If you feel like it, discuss your project or work or ideal with them, just to get a different perspective on things. Or just spend some time in silence with them, so your auras can replenish eachother.
Neutral
You might discover that you actually like the comfort of being with others in a safe environment, more than you previously thought.
Negative
You're too attached to the securities and good feelings that your loved ones provide you with. Those securities can hold you down too sometimes, and the tarot as a whole advises to avoid stagnation.
Queen of Wands
Explanation
Queens are the custodians in the game of Tarot, they are kind of introvert. They process the experiences of the Pages and Knights to come to a much better understanding of the Element associated with the suit that they are part of, paving the way for you to fulfill the role of King later.
The Queen of Wands is drawn when you (have to) become more aware of the properties of the Wands suit; vitality, optimism and enthousiasm.
Meaning
Positive
Realize what your positive attributes are, and try to enjoy yourself a bit.
Neutral
You've got plenty to offer to those around you, and it's not wrong to be somewhat aware of that.
Negative
You think too positive about yourself at the moment. It's not wise to get stuck feeling great about yourself without making any progress at all.
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.