Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

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. 

Seven Cups appear in the air before a figure containing fabulous treasure, success, and achievements - and danger. The stance of the person beholding this array of desires, hopes, and fears suggests surprise, wonder, and hesitation about which Cup - if any - to choose.

Three of Swords is usually easy to understand even for those who are completely new to the tarot. In this image we see three Swords pierce a heart that is suspended in a grey sky from which rain slants down. And yet, not all is as it seems, for this card is as concerned with hope, just as much as it is with emotional pain.

The key to understanding The Hanged Man is realizing that he is maintaining this hanging by choice. This card depicts a man suspended, upside down, from the branch of a tree, a bright glow around his head. He has assumed this symbolic hanging position to reflect, meditate, and become at one with the universe - the light encompassing his head represents his success in achieving this. 

The Devil card depicts a male and a female demon, with chains about their necks, held captive by a central devil figure. Although if examined more closely: the chains are loose. These human-like figures could easily slip out of them and be free. Their captivity, therefore, is optional; or perhaps a price that they are willing to pay for something else. The Devil, thus, represents what can happen when primal forces, kept in harmony by Temperance and used with direction by The Hanged Man, are allowed to rage unchecked.

Where Wands symbolize the element of Fire, Cups represent Water: receptivity, love, and the inner being are the province of this suit. In the Ace we see the culmination of these things: a hand appears from a cloud holding a Cup -a grail - from which multiple streams of water run into a beautiful pool. This flowing water will never run out: it is infinite, as love is.