Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

In the Five of Cups we see the figure of a woman, who epitomizes sorrow and loss in the manner in which she stands, head down, regretful, desolate, and - we sense - deeply alone in her sadness, quite possible by choice. The three spilled Cups that are the source of her grief lay on the ground before her; behind her stand two remaining upright Cups, as yet unseen, or unheeded.

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 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 Six of Wands is the ultimate expression of the Fire optimism: we do not know if the triumphant figure depicted on the card, lauded by the followers processing with him, is returning home after a great triumph or riding into battle. What matters is that his very belief in life and his own abilities have assured both his past and future successes.

The Page Of Swords is all about communication and sharing. This card urges you to be open to new ideas and a different way of thinking. Ultimately, this card is about learning and being open enough to be taught new things that can be added to your list of skills. 

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.