Five of Wands

It's not going to be a pleasant day. The Five of Wands symbolizes frustration and conflict. You are in the thick of it whatever that may be. Irresolution. Discord. Things are just "out of whack". Nothing seems to be working in your favor. There is no consensus amongst you e.g., there are too many cooks, so to speak.This card also represents issues around "who's the boss?" "Who's in charge?"  How to find a solution amidst all the different and competing voices?  Remember, too, that the number five symbolizes "movement" and "action" so there will nothing static about this dilemma. Expect a lot of "back and forth" communication with others or within yourself in the form of internal dialogue.

If you find yourself in such a situation here are some questions to ask yourself:

-Is you ego or pride or vanity getting in the way of finding a solution?

-How far are you willing to stand up and fight for your position?

-Are you and the others playing by the rules?

-What would happen if you were to withdraw from the "game"?

-Do you often find yourself involved in conflict?

-Is this a work or personal struggle?

-Is this conflict actually a private one?  That is, the competing "voices" exist in you and are all fighting to be heard?

-Are you  having a tough time reaching resolution?

-Do you "fight" within yourself to arrive at the "right" answer?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for strength, guidance and protection.

The Three Graces/Three of Cups

In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the "Graces".  In Greek mythology, they were referred to as the "Charites".  They most frequently numbered three, from youngest to oldest and included Aglaea ("Splendor"), Euphrosyne ("Mirth") and Thalia ("Good Cheer").

The Charites were considered the daughters of Zeus (the CEO of Greek gods),and Eurynome (the Titan goddess of water meadows and pasture lands). Homer (author of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey") wrote that they were part of Aphrodite's retinue.  However, these resplendent creatures had there "dark" side as well as they were also associated with the Greek underworld ("Hades") and the Eleusinian Mysteries which celebrated the cult of Demeter (Goddess of the Earth, Agriculture and the Harvest) and her daughter Persephone (Goddess of the Underworld and Vegetation). 

In the tarot, these celebrated ladies are represented by the Three of Cups which in a reading are associated with "friendship" and "companionship". They represent a sense of "belonging" and "inclusion". Think of "groups" and "communities". They also symbolize "loyalty" and "devotion" and "trust". Their consciousness is truly evolved and there is no room for "betrayal" or "falsehood".

Amy bows low at the feet of all  her holy teachers and asks for humility and enlightenment.

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Knight of Swords

Like his brother, the Knight of Wands, the Knight of Swords does not suffer fools gladly. His mind is razor sharp and quick. He's incisive and direct. Some might say he's too direct and borders on being rude and insensitive. He dwells in the cerebral and analytical. Within these domains his intellectual acumen can't be matched. However, the same can't be said for his capacity for empathy or patience which remains limited and underdeveloped.  So sure that he is always right, he frequently runs the risk of charging off into the fray without considering an other's point of view.  The consequences can be quite disasterous.

Questions associated with the Knight of Swords"

-Does our intellect dominate you?

-Have you made room in your life for the non-physical and spiritual?

-Do you follow with your head and not with your heart?

-Are you comfortable with your feelings?

-Do you intellectualize as a defense?

-Do others complain that you don't listen or consider their perspective?

-Are you in a relationship which  has little room for feelings?

-Do people complain that you are not tactful?

-How has your intellectual discernment served you?  How has it hindered you?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for humility and enlightenment.

Knight of Wands

This guy's a heart breaker. Charming. Self-confident. Sexy. Passionate. Daring and a bit rebellious. His element is fire and he is true to its nature with his fiery temperament and burning intensity.  He possesses boundless energy and enthusiasm for adventure and life. However, if his intent becomes inverted or misconstrued he tends to be shallow, foolhardy and vain. This knight should come with a warning tag. That is, buyer beware, you may get burned.

Questions for you and your querent:

-Are you in a relationship with someone you know is not right for you?

-Are you impulsive?

-Is it hard for you to take direction or instruction from others?

-Do you have issues with authority?

-Does your self-confidence get you into trouble?

-Do you complete what you have started?

-Are you impatient?

-How is your attention span?

-Are you in a relationship with someone who can't/won't commit?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for tender mercies.

Knight of Pentacles

Hard working. Industrious. Diligent. Steadfast. Grounded. Direct and forthright. This knight possesses a firm and steady hand on the material and practical world. He's nobody's fool nor does he suffer fools gladly. This is a no no nonsense kind of guy. He shoots straight from the hip and gets right to the point. If his energy becomes inverted or misaligned, he can be overbearing and inflexible.

Questions to consider in a reading:

-Are you committed to your work?

-Are you obsessive or compulsive about your work?

-Do you over focus on detail?

-Are you stubborn?

-Do you emphasize the material at the expense of the spiritual?

-Do you balance work and play?

-What do others say about your work performance?

-Are you happy and fulfilled in your work?

-Do you take a methodical or spontaneous approach to your work?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers.

Knight of Cups

Romantic.  Idealistic.  Graceful.  Gracious. Creative.  Imaginative.   All these words describe the charming  and refined Knight of Cups. The wings on his helmet symbolize triumph in all he endeavors as he succeeds in translating his "flights of fancy" into reality.  As a knight, his intent and purpose is to out into the world. His nature is not a stationary one.

In a reading pose these questions:

-Are you reluctant to pursue your dreams?

-Do you feel confident about your creativity?

-Is your creativity being expressed or is it  blocked?

-Are you too idealistic?

-Is your creative impulse balanced with practicality?

-Are you overly romantic?

-Are you comfortable with your sensitive nature or does it sometimes have you do things against your better judgement?

Amy bows low at the feet of all  her holy teachers and asks for strength, guidance and protection from her spirit guides.

Seven of Pentacles

The Seven of Pentacles represents reaping the fruits of your labor. Gathering what you have sown. Gleaning your efforts. It's pay-off time. All that hard work has matured and flourished. You can sit back, catch your breath and admire your efforts. The hard part is over.

Here are some questions associated with this card:

-Are you working on a project which is nearing completion?

-Are you in a relationship which requires some nurturing?

-Now that your efforts are realized, what's next?

-Are you satisfied with your accomplishments?

-Are you ending a life cycle and about to embark on a new one?

-Did things turn out the way you expected?

-Do you feel your work  has been justly rewarded?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for strength, guidance and protection.

Three of Wands

Exploration. Vision. The future. Curiosity. All of these things symbolize the Three of Wands. It's a card which reminds of us of places yet unexplored be they physical or spiritual. It represents our quest and thirst for adventure and discovery.  It's message is similar to that of the Buddha to his disciples which was, "Keep walking!", for the only way we continue to learn and expand our minds out into the Universe is to venture into the land of the "unknown."

Questions for a reading might include:

-What new horizons are you contemplating?

-Do you feel optimistic about your future?

-Will you be traveling sometime soon?

-Are you about to embark on a new venture or chapter in your life?

- Are you hesitating about acting on your dreams?

-Do you feel as if you never quite get to where it is you want to go?

-Is there someone you are missing ?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for strength, guidance and protection.

King of Cups

The King of Cups combines the authoritative air of a monarch with the sensitivity of a caring heart. He is patient, tolerant and empathetic.  He is always calm and diplomatic (Bunning). He conducts his business and his relationships with a light touch, never heavy handed or dictatorial. He is a teacher and a sage whose wise counsel is often sought by others. And as cups symbolize art and artistic expression this king is a creative force.  However, if his energy is upended or out of alignment the sea of tranquility on which his throne sits can cause quite an upset e.g., emotional instability and turmoil.

In a reading consider the following:

-Do you have a difficult time balancing your authority with your more laissez faire attitude?

-Are you artistic?  Do you give your creativity "voice"?

-Are searching for equilibrium?

-Is your creativity "blocked"?

-Do you feel "at sea"?

-Are you experiencing "rough waters"?  If so, what would it take to set things right?

-Do you work in the helping professions?

-Are you overly flexible with others?

-What's stopping you from pursuing your dream?

Amy  bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers.

Queen of Pentacles

This queen represents all the positive energy of the earth in all its manifestations.  However, this does not mean that she is ignorant of the spiritual domain.  She understands full well the spiritual underpinnings to our physical world.  She is loving, kind hearted, and welcoming. She rules her domain with compassion and unstinting love.  She is the "go-to" queen when feeling sick or forlorn as she will embrace you with open arms. And, of course, pentacles are associated with finance so she symbolizes money matters as well.

Questions to consider:

-Are you ecologically sensitive?

-Do you take your creature comforts for granted?

-Are you nurturing?

-Do you work or are you thinking of going back to work?

-Are all your financial ducks in a row?

-Do you manage your own money?  If not, who does?

-Are you financially secure?

-Do you overemphasize the material in your life at the expense of your spiritual development?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for strength, protection and guidance.

Five of Cups

The card's messages is unmistakable. It represents loss, sacrifice and grief. The Five of Cups is also associated with disappointment and longing.  However, as you can see, not all the cups are turned over. Two remain standing which seems to imply that with every loss we endure we have a reservoir of reserve to fall back on.

Here's what to look for in a reading:

-Have you suffered a recent loss or disappointment?

-Are you in mourning?

-Are you having a hard time "letting go"?

-Are you feeling depressed?

-Is sadness overtaking your life?

-What life lesson have you learned from your loss?

-When will you feel ready to turn around and face the world again?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for inspiration and enlightenment.

Seven of Swords

This is an uncomfortable card.  It frequently arouses guilt or shame in a reading as it symbolizes deception or stealth on the part of the querent. The card's themes are theft and craftiness.

Consider the following questions in your reading:

-What secret are you harboring?

-Have you placed yourself in a compromising position?

-Are you guilty about something?

-Are you running away from something or someone?

-Why was it necessary not to be truthful?

-Do others accuse you of being sly?

-Do you take the "easy" way out?

-Who or what is pursuing you?

-Whom do you not want to know your secret?

-Are you a risk taker?

-Is there a family "secret"?

-Are you being hypocritical?

-Can you honestly say that you take pride in your life?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers asks for strength, guidance and protection from all her spirit guides.

Eight of Wands

For many students of the tarot, the Eight of Wands represents action and  initiative. However, I take a different slant. Instead, I interpret this card as symbolizing "suspension". That is, things are still "up in the air" and could go either this way or that way. Events are "hung up".  There is inertia rather than movement. The message seems to be "think before you act".  Concretize your ideas which, for now, are free floating.

For a reading consider these questions:

-What still needs to be completed?  Who or what is stopping it from happening?

-Do you act before you think?

-What would it take to galvanize your thinking into action?

-Do you leave things at "loose ends"?

-What still needs to be resolved?  Is it a relationship?

-What or whom is causing the delay in your life?

-Are you feeling "ungrounded" or "disconnected"?

-Are you feeling flooded or overwhelmed with too many ideas?  Are you having a hard time knowing which ones to work on?

-Do you know where you're headed? This way or that way?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for inspiration and fortitude in all her endeavors.

The Sun

 I think the Sun, the nineteenth card of the Major Arcada, is the perfect card with which to welcome in the New Year as it signifies illumination, revelation and enlightenment.

Depicted on  the Sun is a child riding gleefully on the the back of a white horse. White, of course, represents purity. Mythology is rife with stories about heroes carrying out their heroic deeds and triumphing over evil while astride a white charger.  In Greek mythology, the Sun God Apollo ushers in the dawn, the "new day", each morning by driving his chariot drawn by white horses across the blazing sky.

The child a top his steed, with arms outstretched in a wide embrace, symbolizes rebirth and renewal.  He also represents the pure unmitigated joy only children and holy men and women seem to possess in greeting the world.

The Sun reminds us that true enlightenment only occurs if we approach Life with a pure and open heart.

Here are some questions to consider when talking about the Sun:

-Do you feel energized at this stage in your life?

-Have you experienced recent revelations and truths not seen before?

-Has someone or something helped you to "see the light"?

-Are you on the verge of an emotional breakthrough?

-Do you see the "light at the end of the tunnel"?

-Are you letting "the sunshine" in?

-Are you developing a spiritual outlook on life?

-Are you beginning a "new day" or chapter in your life?

-Was there someone or something that was keeping you "in the dark"?

-Are feeling confident?

-Is it your time to dazzle?

Amy bows low at the feet of all her holy teachers and asks for strength, guidance and protection in the New Year.