Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

In the Six of Cups, we see the image of a figure giving a gift of a Cup, overflowing with life, to a child. The two people pictured are in the garden of a cottage, and the scene resonates with a sense of domestic comfort and security.

The Knight of Wands is in full charge, in contrast to the Page, who stands still, contemplating the adventures before him. The Knight's horse rears up, as keen to begin the quest as his rider, and we have the clear sense of the wind that is created in their wake: the feathers on the figure’s helmet stream out in the rushing air. This is a card of movement, action, and eagerness.

In this card we see a figure who wields all the suits of the Major Arcana with confidence: in his raised hand he holds a Wand, while on the table (or altar) before him lies a Pentacle, a Cup, and a Sword. They await his will. And herein lies the key to understanding this powerful card: The Magician is intention. He is the focused assertion of the will and the paths that open before us as a result.

The Six of Swords is represented by a deeply mysterious image: a shrouded figure and child are being poled across the water in a narrow boat, which carries the Swords themselves. The picture evokes Charon carrying his freight of souls across the River Styx. The destination that the mother and child (and possibly the man ferrying them) are headed towards is a gentle wooded island, suggesting peace, and a point at which rest may, finally, be found. 

The Queen of Wands sits comfortably and firmly on her throne; in the traditional Rider Waite image she holds her Wand in one hand and a sunflower in the other, and a black cat sits before her, symbolizing protection. The Queen looks calmly out at us and the landscape around her, deeply receptive and appreciative of the good things that life offers her.

The Chariot card shows a commanding, triumphant figure who rides in a carriage being pulled by a pair of sphinxes. This is a powerful card of victory: a victory that has been achieved not by chance, but through sheer force of will and the utmost exercising of control. Note that the charioteer holds no reins, but can direct his carriage where he wishes it to go through his own focus and conscious intention. When The Chariot appears in a spread, it bears an important message about how we can incorporate these elements into our lives.