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.

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 Queen of Pentacles depicts a Queen sitting on her throne. It signifies either you are in a position to care for others and provide for them generously in a material way or that you are in need of such in return. The Queen caringly looking at the gold coin in her hands indicates both her wealth and her nurturing quality. She is a prime example of someone who takes on both domestic and provider roles.

Just as The High Priestess is one archetype of femininity, so The Empress is another: from mystery and the profoundly spiritual, we now move to the Mother Goddess figure. The Empress reclines comfortably on her throne, surrounded by the abundance of the natural world, her body language open and at ease. The water that was hidden in the previous card here flows freely, pooling at The Empress’ feet. Yet her connection to the fertile earth does not denote a lesser power than that of her sister; it is her great strength.

The Queen Of Swords is all-seeing and all-knowing. She is a character who is extremely perceptive, sharp, and intelligent. Pulling this card can indicate the value of intelligence above everything else thanks to life experience. This card is urging you to detach from your emotions, cut through the noise and focus solely on the facts. Use your critical eye to discern between fact and fiction. 

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.