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The theme of love continues in the Two of Cups: the Rider Waite image depicts a young man and woman holding their Cups out to each other. Note its compositional similarity to The Lovers: the winged lion represents the merging of spirituality with physical passion, and the symbol beneath it is the caduceus of Hermes, which relates to wisdom and healing. We see in this card the great transformative power of love.

Wands relate to the element of fire, and the suit’s Ace represents its essence: drive, action, energy, movement, and opportunity. And yet fire can burn, too; it has the potential to cause destruction, and these things are also represented in the cards of Wands.

The Knight of Pentacles emphasizes patience and growth. The knight sits on a horse holding a gold coin in no hurry to charge forward. He is in no rush to thrust himself forward before he has thoroughly explored his options and course of action. The knight is prepared to do the heavy lifting in order to achieve his goals the right and honorable way.

The card of Judgement is always of particular importance when it appears in a reading. In the traditional Ride-Waite depiction of the trump, we see an angel blowing a trumpet: in response, figures below rise up from their graves, arms outstretched to welcome their newly gifted life. The card carries a sense of both joy and purpose, and the strong intimation that the angel’s call cannot be denied.

The Strength card traditionally depicts a woman gently opening (or caressing) the jaws of a lion, who looks up at her with complete trust. The lion can symbolize our passions, and our unconscious energy: the kind that manifests through our intuition and our dreams. In taming this, the woman in the card is allowing this side of her being to safely merge with the rational, outward-looking aspect of her core personality. Interestingly, the Strength attribute is normally perceived as being linked to the woman; however, in allowing itself to trust and have faith, it is, perhaps, the lion that more properly embodies the deeper meaning of the card.

The Three of Wands is a card of consolidation; unlike in the Two, here the figure looks out on his boats and is unfettered, and at ease. We have the clear sense of someone at peace with their life, and confident of their place within it.