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.
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.
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.
King of Cups
Explanation
The King of Cups uses his intuition to achieve his ideals. Since Cups are turned inward, and Kings turned to the outside world, this card might be a difficult one, or it could be a powerful one.
Meaning
Positive
Trust your instincts and intuition, let your ideals show a bit, and don't let the scepticism of others keep you from achieving your ideals.
Neutral
You're convinced that feelings and what your heart tells you are more important than rationality and cold intellect. You radiate idealism to others, and some of them might follow you because of that.
Negative
Don't lose sight of reality, you might be too idealistic at the moment. Try to be practical.
10 of Swords
Explanation
The 10 of Swords is about saying final goodbye to things or people that are bad to you.
Before embarking onto the final suit in the minor Arcana, the Pentacles, where you will use everything you've learned in Wands, Cups and Swords to accomplish your final goal, you have to get rid of some excess weight.
Meaning
Positive
You can safely let go of whatever or whomever has been bothering you for so long now.
Neutral
Knowing what you don't want is an important step toward knowing what you do want.
Negative
Now is not the time to burn these particular bridges yet. Give it one more chance.
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.
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.
Ace of Swords
Explanation
Swords represent the element Air, and relate to one's intellect, intelligence, and ability to communicate with others.
In the previous suit, Cups, you have chosen your next ideal to pursue. In the Swords suit it is time to face the world and try to make this ideal a reality.
The Ace of Swords carries the number 1, and is the first chance to inventorise what challenges the world around you and the people in it will throw at you when you try to make your chosen ideal a reality.
Meaning
Positive
Try not to make commitments too soon, first have a good look around to see all the actors and forces on the field.
Neutral
You have to take a good look around to see what's worth pursuing earlier, and what can wait until later.
Negative
You're too negative about either or both yourself and your surroundings.
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.
