The theme of love continues in the Two of Cups: the Rider Waite image depicts a young man and woman holding their Cups out to each other. Note its compositional similarity to The Lovers: the winged lion represents the merging of spirituality with physical passion, and the symbol beneath it is the caduceus of Hermes, which relates to wisdom and healing. We see in this card the great transformative power of love.
two of cups
Two of Swords
In the Two of Swords, we see the image of a woman, a blindfold covering her eyes, sitting with her back to choppy waters. She holds a pair of swords crossed in front of her chest, and a crescent moon looks down on the scene. This card suggests a balance held - but that has come at a cost.
Strength
The Strength card traditionally depicts a woman gently opening (or caressing) the jaws of a lion, who looks up at her with complete trust. The lion can symbolize our passions, and our unconscious energy: the kind that manifests through our intuition and our dreams. In taming this, the woman in the card is allowing this side of her being to safely merge with the rational, outward-looking aspect of her core personality. Interestingly, the Strength attribute is normally perceived as being linked to the woman; however, in allowing itself to trust and have faith, it is, perhaps, the lion that more properly embodies the deeper meaning of the card.
Five of Cups
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 Lovers
The Lovers is the card that seems, on the surface, to epitomize romantic love. Bet when examined more closely: the essence of The Lovers is the concept of choice. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the choosing of a romantic partner, and, ultimately, the decision to follow a path of love. Taking an even closer look: the idea of choice permeates this card. In traditional decks, the figures are depicted as Adam and Eve, with the snake in the tree symbolizing choosing knowledge, perhaps even wisdom, over idealization. Some decks feature a male figure choosing between two female lovers, making the connection even more explicit.
Seven of Swords
Discretion and caution are advised with The Seven Of Swords. Someone is up to no good, so be aware because you may be deceived, or are you the deceiver? This card has a trickster quality to it, you need to be careful of who you trust with your secrets. There are ulterior motives at play, so be aware of any manipulation and unethical behavior. This card represents dishonesty, lies, betrayal, and deception, but it will also teach you to be honest with your intentions.