Ace of Wands
Explanation
The ace of wands represents the beginning of an idea. The element fire and the number 1 give a powerful combination: enterprise and new beginnings apply to both. This is an energetic combination, which is why the card is generally considered a positive one. Spring is the season associated with this card.
Meaning
Positive
Try to focus on just one or two (new) things, it would be a shame to let all this new energy be divided over so many things not much progress is made with any of them.
Once you've decided, move ahead with full force, do what you like and don't worry about a thing.
Neutral
You're filled with new energy. Energy to undertake new endeavours in your life, sometimes maybe a bit too many at the same time even. Your attention could be flowing from one flower to the next, the next even more beautiful than the previous one.
Negative
One early flower doesn't mean it's full on Spring just yet. You are probably a bit premature by taking on new things and ideas right now, you have things to work out before you move on.
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.
5 of Swords
Explanation
The 5 of Swords is about facing reality. The 5 is an assignment number, and in the slighly more difficult suit of Swords, it means you face a difficult challenge where your past experiences could hold you down.
Meaning
Positive
Try to figure out what it is that keeps you held down, then turn this weakness to a strength for dealing with the situations just ahead.
Neutral
You're working on new problems on your road to your ideal, but something from your past could be holding you down. Don't give up because of this, try to adapt to conquer the next problems on your road.
Negative
Try to let the past rest, and focus completely on what's ahead with as clean a slate as possible. The past is too much of an anchor on your leg right now.
King of Cups
Explanation
The King of Cups uses his intuition to achieve his ideals. Since Cups are turned inward, and Kings turned to the outside world, this card might be a difficult one, or it could be a powerful one.
Meaning
Positive
Trust your instincts and intuition, let your ideals show a bit, and don't let the scepticism of others keep you from achieving your ideals.
Neutral
You're convinced that feelings and what your heart tells you are more important than rationality and cold intellect. You radiate idealism to others, and some of them might follow you because of that.
Negative
Don't lose sight of reality, you might be too idealistic at the moment. Try to be practical.
Page of Wands
Explanation
Pages are exploratory in nature. They look at new ideas, or at old ideas from a different perspective. They don't actually decide much.
The Page of Wands is about exploring new ideas, about making some preliminary plans. It brings something new.
Meaning
Positive
Take your time to evaluate all the new ideas coming your way. One of them might be worth pursuing.
Neutral
Everything before this was perhaps a little boring, but with this card you might detect a new enthousiasm in yourself that will help you decide what to do next. This is the card to break an impasse with.
Negative
You might be a bit too careless, wandering from idea to idea. It's time to pick one of those ideas and pursue it.
Queen of Swords
Explanation
The Queen of Swords makes you aware of what you can do with alertness, objectivity, diplomacy, and your own intelligence. She will teach you how to approach your goals while also guarding yourself against dangers.
Meaning
Positive
Try to fully understand the other party or parties before telling your own story. This will give you an advantage in negotiations.
Neutral
This is a time of passing through dangerous territory, with constant course adjustments to stay out of danger. You'll need to stay diplomatic to avoid making too many enemies, but you should not let yourself be fooled by the plenty of people who seek to gain at your expense. Communication is your weapon.
Negative
You're trying to think about too many vectors at the same time. Your gut and feelings can provide you with help.
2 of Pentacles
Explanation
The 2 of Pentacles is an assignment number card, and the assignment here is to maintain a happy and relaxed attitude during a wait for results of what you started.
Meaning
Positive
You might be able to do some preliminary work while you wait. Try to relax a bit as well.
Neutral
You've started something that now practically requires you to wait a bit for results to come in. This gives you the chance to relax, and to do some final polishing as well.
Negative
You don't actually have to wait for results right now, you can proceed with your efforts, perhaps from a different angle.
The Devil
Explanation
The Devil has since ancient history been the adversary of God, the opposite of God.
The Devil has many faces and is always waiting to make new victims.
In a psychological sense, every human has his/her positive sides, and his/her negative sides. Only by being aware of your negative sides can you overcome them.
Place in the cycle
The number this card carries is 15, composed that is 6. The resemblances to the first '6' card (The Lovers) are remarkable; in both cards security is a central theme.
With The Lovers, you made the choice against old securities yourself, with The Devil you will lose them due to outside influences.
The Devil is a very important card in the cycle. An enormous amount of work has to be performed at The Devil. Facing your fears will be a large part of that work.
The Devil kind of forces you to face your future.
Meaning
Positive
Don't avoid change. Seek some security outside yourself, away from your inner troubles.
Neutral
The Devil announces a bad time in your life, which also allows you to experience new heights later. After this bottom at The Devil you can only go up. You're busy changing, and in that process you now encounter your own fears. And you might not even recognize this!
Negative
This is not the time to face your own fears. Other issues in your life had better take priority.
Temperance
Explanation
Temperance is the third of four mideaval values, and the last mideaval value in the Tarot.
According to mideaval understanding this value is about reaching the golden middle ground in a field of opposites. Not too happy, not too angry, not too sad. In everything balance has to be achieved, extremes were not appreciated.
Place in the cycle
Temperance carries the number 14, composed that is 5.
5 is an assignment number, which indicates there's work to be done.
With Death, an important decision made with The Hanged Man was given shape by letting go of the old. Now you're in a transitionary period and this Temperance card is a place of rest during the journey through the underworld.
Meaning
Positive
Experiment, search for what you think will be good for you. Try everything and don't get discouraged when you don't immediately feel some gains. Know that chances don't come around every day and it's up to you to find and shape chances. You have got to work for it.
Neutral
This transitionary period has it's downsides. You may feel you're making progress one moment, then falling back the next. But in the end, you are making progress even though at times you feel you're not. You are more careful and more of an adult when making your choices. You're more flexible, because you know there may be something unexpected just around the corner. You don't fully realize yet how far you've already come.
But be careful you don't end up in an endless quest for compromise. Draw conclusions for your experiments, because otherwise the effort might have been in vain.
Negative
You're looking for compromises a bit too hard.
Page of Cups
Explanation
The Page of Cups is about cautiously exploring your own emotions (about the course ahead).
Meaning
Positive
Now is the time to carefully show your emotions to those around you, but don't go overboard straight away. Only show as much of your emotions as you need to get good advice.
Neutral
You've been rational about your choices for a long time. Now is the time to consider your emotions, and to cautiously discuss those emotions with those whose advice you value.
Negative
You're too cautious at the moment, it might be wise to discuss your emotions with others just a bit more.
