10 of Pentacles
Explanation
The 10 of Pentacles represents material posessions. The number 10 of Pentacles forms the links to the Ace (first card) of Wands (the first suit in the minor Arcana), and thus prepares to bring you back to the beginning of the minor Arcana, ready for a next cycle through the tarot.
Meaning
Positive
Let your recent work or success increase your self-esteem and self-confidence, but not so much that you become arrogant or lazy.
Neutral
Success has smiled upon you recently, and you radiate it at least somewhat to the world around you, where some other people might notice on your self-confidence and get interested by it and what you're doing to get in such a state. These people might in turn be willing and able to help you further along your path to your ideal.
Negative
What you're doing and what you've achieved can sometimes actually sneekingly become a hinderance to you, because you cling to those achievements and think you've completed your ideal, while in reality you're not completely there yet. So don't become lazy, take the relexation that your previous achievements bring and combine it with alertness to make the next steps to fulfillment of your ideal.
Ace of Cups
Explanation
The Ace of Cups represents openness to your ideals. From all the ideas that you evaluated during the walk with Wands, you now have found the one you find valuable to invest your time and energy in.
The number 1, associated with this Ace card, is the number of a fresh start with yet more new impulses coming your way. It might be compared to The Fool, the first card of the major arcana.
Meaning
Positive
Enjoy this time and be open to all pleasantness coming your way. Trust that the ideal you've chosen is the right one for you.
Neutral
The last steps with Wands got a little constricting for you perhaps, but most of that burden has fallen off you now. And you're now appreciating the world around you more, it seems, also to others. This appreciation might make you attract even more pleasantness.
Negative
It's probably wise not to be too optimistic. If this card is next to a Swords card, it's time to be more careful and critical. If this card is next to a Coins card, it means you should be more practical and not get stuck in just thinking about your dreams and ideals.
7 of Wands
Explanation
With the 7 of Wands, the striving cycle starts. It is about having the determination to complete your ideas, despite the fact that that might cause you some discomfort.
Meaning
Positive
Don't be scared of discouraged by anything. You're nearly there, make the last few steps you need to completion of your project or task.
Neutral
Things have been going well up until now. You've made some progress. But just as things get interesting and near completion, you want to let go of the whole thing and perhaps focus on something else. That way you won't reap the rewards.
Negative
You might not be as near to completion of your project or task as you have guestimated. See if there's anything you can do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.
9 of Cups
Explanation
The 9 of Cups represents achievement and contentment. It is an excellent time to take some rest and enjoy yourself.
Meaning
Positive
By all means take some rest to enjoy your recent accomplishments.
Neutral
After going through a difficult time in which you had to reconcile your own emotions, you now experience the bliss that harmony with yourself can bring.
Negative
Don't be too lazy, try to share with others what you have to offer.
3 of Pentacles
Explanation
This card is about completing a masterpiece, it's the output number of the production cycle after all.
It's a chance to show the world what you're capable of.
Meaning
Positive
Don't let this opportunity to show off your skills slip by.
Neutral
You have received, or will soon receive, a valuable opportunity where you perhaps can gain some free advertising if you do the job well.
Negative
Although you might receive an opportunity to do some high-profile work, this is not the perfect time for you to be very ambitious in this (new?) field, you've yet to master the craft.
Strength
Explanation
Strength is the second of the four midieval values. Justice, card 11, is the first, and the third, Temperance, is card 14.
Place in the cycle
In the Rider-Waite deck, the cards for Justice and Strenght have swapped places, because Waite saw links between the cards and the astrological signs Leo and Libra.
This card carries the number 8, and is the third and final assignment number. This assignment is no longer simple like the first two, but is all about standing upright in the real world.
Meaning
Positive
Stand up for yourself and don't bother yourself with others' opinions of you.
Neutral
When the card of Strength falls, you will gradually discover sides of yourself that you didn't know before. First you adjusted, now you've decided to go your own way. You are no longer bothered by the opinions of others. Even if others disapprove, you will go your own way. You stand up for yourself and accept yourself as you are. You don't have to be liked as much as you needed to be.
Negative
This card signifies a long process. When the card is drawn upside down, it usually means you're not going fast enough for real change to happen.
Death
Explanation
This is about psychological death (or: transformation), not physical death as we have to face in life.
Place in the cycle
Death carries the number 13, which is considered the unlucky number not now but throughout history as well.
It's composed number is 4, the number of structure and order.
Meaning
Positive
Get rid of the old (habits) and get ready to welcome in the new. Don't look back too often, which may make you second guess your decisision.
Neutral
You're in a period of your life where you've decided to radically clean up your act. Actually you've made the decision at The Hanged Man, the previous card in the deck, and now at Death you're ready to fill in the blanks of that change. The cleaning up concerns things that you know have to change. You get rid of things that no longer matter and will become blockages when you continue with them. But the new is not here yet, so while you cut old habits out of your life you may end up waiting for the input of the new. This may cause feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Death is a card that does not fall frequently, it is a bit of a special card. When it does fall, you should spend time to understand it's meaning for you then and there. First of all to take away the negative appearance of the card, second because the card signifies an important time in the life of the asker.
The card may indicate relational problems. Getting rid of the old may mean abandoning someone you once loved.
There is the chance that you may want to kick out the old (habits) too soon, just to get clarity. Or you may end up in limbo, having eliminated the old but also not welcoming of whatever new is heading your way.
Negative
Don't make any (drastic) changes yet, give things time instead.
7 of Cups
Explanation
The 7 of Cups is about making a choice between different ideals. But Cups, with the water element, don't like making definitive choices that much, making this 7 in this suit a bit of a hard choice.
Meaning
Positive
Listen only to yourself as you make the choice of what ideal to pursue. You might even want to ignore the advice of those around you for this choice, as it is you who has to do the work to get there.
Neutral
You've overcome many illusions so far already. But you might be tempted to believe in one of those illusions again. Try to believe in something that's attainable this time.
Negative
When this card falls in an upside down way, you are probably too stuck in evaluating things. At least fulfill your existing commitments.
10 of Wands
Explanation
The 10 in the small arcana, any of the Wands, Cups, Swords or Coins cards, is the number that connects to the Ace of the next element.
The 10 of Wands is therefore the transition from the element Fire (associated with Wands) to the element Water, associated with Cups. As you might imagine, this not the easiest of transitions.
Meaning
Positive
Although it would be nice to focus on just 1 thing, now is not yet the time for it. You need to keep track of multiple responsibilities at this time.
Neutral
On the one hand all these tasks before you feel like a prison, but on the other hand you don't feel like letting go just yet. You might be looking for what you want to do most.
Negative
You're trying to do too many tasks at the same time, don't dump all of them, but reduce the number you have at hand, yes. Think carefully about which ones are best performed first, and then do those first.
Queen of Wands
Explanation
Queens are the custodians in the game of Tarot, they are kind of introvert. They process the experiences of the Pages and Knights to come to a much better understanding of the Element associated with the suit that they are part of, paving the way for you to fulfill the role of King later.
The Queen of Wands is drawn when you (have to) become more aware of the properties of the Wands suit; vitality, optimism and enthousiasm.
Meaning
Positive
Realize what your positive attributes are, and try to enjoy yourself a bit.
Neutral
You've got plenty to offer to those around you, and it's not wrong to be somewhat aware of that.
Negative
You think too positive about yourself at the moment. It's not wise to get stuck feeling great about yourself without making any progress at all.
