Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

The Page of Cups stands before gently rolling waves and holds a Cup from which a fish fancifully emerges - a fish that is echoed in the Page’s hat. This is a card of a type of potential that is lightly held and playfully engaged with.

In contrast to the Page, the Knight of Cups looks with serious intensity at his Cup as his horse approaches a thin and slow-moving stream. Despite the wings of the Knight’s helmet and the strength of his steed, this is not a card of movement or fast-paced action, but one of dreams and desires that may not yet be fully recognized.

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. 

Unlike the Queen of the suit, the King of Cups is not directly connected to the water: his throne rests upon the waves and an artificial fish, as opposed to a live one, is hung around his neck. The King does not look at his Cup but, instead, holds it with the same grip with which he holds the scepter in his other hand. Here is creativity that has been contained and put to use.

Here, we discern a long-held symbol of earthly power: a white-haired man, stern, wearing armor beneath his regal garments, and seated on a stone throne. Note the scepter The Emperor holds, bearing the universal sigil of the male sex, and compare this to The Empress’ totem of femininity, which is carved onto a heart-shaped stone and rests against her dais. His throne bears the images of four rams’ heads, linking The Emperor to the sign Aries, which is ruled by Mars, the God of War. The Emporer is power and strength. The extent to which these can be used for good or ill depends entirely on the personality that directs them.

The joy and optimism inherent in Ten of Cups are clear for all to see: the rainbow, a symbol of hope, contains ten images of the suit arching across the sky. Below, a couple looks up, delighted at the sight, while their children dance beside them: the little ones don’t need to see the rainbow itself to be filled with the simple happiness that life can offer.