Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

We see in the traditional Rider Waite image of the Seven of Wands the figure of a man in the midst of battle; despite the clear effort and intense focus of his expression, he has literally risen above his attackers and is holding the high ground. We do not see his adversaries, simply the Wands with which they are fighting; we have the sense that, despite their greater number, he is in no danger of being overwhelmed.

The Pages in each suit express the element’s most simple, distilled quality. Here, we see the Page regarding his Wand with uncomplicated happiness and anticipation. He relishes Fire’s potentiality, and the sense of an adventure only just beginning.

The Ten of Wands is a card that represents burden and choice. In the Rider Waite image, the figure trudges homeward, weighed down by the many Wands that he bears. He is close, though: a house is visible in the near distance and he has but a short distance of his journey left to complete.

It’s unusual for The Tower not to provoke a visceral reaction; this powerful card depicts the fall of a vast edifice built atop a summit of stone that must have seemed utterly indestructible before being struck by an unforeseen bolt of lightning.

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.

The King of Pentacles represents wealth and influence. In the depiction of this card, the king holds a scepter representing the extent of his power, while the gold in his opposite hand represents the amount of material wealth he has within his reach. He is in a position of leadership and a high level of control. The greenery at his feet that takes shape in plants and flowers conveys material successes.