Start Today with Guidance and a Glimpse of Possibilities

As a suit, Swords are linked to Air, which is the element of the intellect and the mind. In the Ace of Swords, we see a hand emerging from a cloud holding the emblem of the suit; a crown surmounts the Sword - a symbol of triumph and victory in the material world.

In the Two of Wands, we see a man standing, alone, atop a walled fortress, holding the world in one of his hands. In the other, he holds one of the Wands of the card, while the second Wand has been fastened to the ramparts on his right. Like this bound Wand the figure here has been hemmed in by his success, and we can imagine him pondering on what, exactly, it has brought him.

The Four of Pentacles is a card that indicates possessiveness and the need to control the environment around you. It comes up when there is something important you would like to protect. The focus is usually on the material aspect of your life and the things you own, and it often comes with a fear of losing what you have. 

One of the most beautiful and beloved cards in a tarot deck, The Star epitomizes hope and healing. Unlike Temperance, here there is no pathway back through the mountains to the outer world beyond: for now, it is enough to simply allow ourselves to rest and to experience the peace that can come after a difficult trial. The Star reminds us that we are whole and that we have an infinite capacity within us to transform the darkness into beautiful light.

The Eight of Wands represents movement and grounding. The Wands depicted on the card are heading to the earth, and the hills and structure in the background of the image emphasize this. The Fire inherent in the suit has found its focus and become directed and the result is cohesion and completion.

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.