The Empress
Explanation
The Empress expresses wordly power, but not without female influences like a sense of spirituality.
Of the four wisdoms that The Magician represents she represents the wisdom of the body and of feelings. She is compared to the love and harvest Godesses.
Place in the cycle
The Empress carries the number 3. This is the number of birth, of plenty, of harvest, of summer, of the first results. The number 3 stands for joy and fun, for creativity and fantasy, for warmth and humor.
The number 3 is a magical number; 1 is a dot, 2 a line but 3 the first number that generates space. The triangle and pyramid have positive and magical qualities. Add the numer 1 (male) to the number 2 (female) and you get 3 : the child. In many old cultures the number 3 was a holy number, generating balance and harmony.
Meaning
Positive
Enjoy your good feelings and make the best of them. Recharge yourself with new energy, do fun things or be pampered by others. You've earned it.
Neutral
When the card of The Empress is drawn, it means you're in tune with yourself, you have a balance between heart and mind, you're content with yourself and feel fine by yourself.
The card indicates a happy period in your life, with strength for what lies ahead.
Because you're content with yourself, you radiate that contentness to others who may pick up on it and find you attractive because of it. The card could even indicate a pregnancy.
Negative
Be careful not to get lazy or to enjoy this time passively. The good influences of the card may pass by without you capitalizing on them.
Knight of Swords
Explanation
The Knight of Swords lacks the naivety of the Knight of Wands, he has analyzed the terrain ahead and weighed his options there. He knows what his own nature can throw into the mix, but does not let himself be held idle by that. The activities ahead will likely include the solving of conflicts and problems on your road to your ideal.
Meaning
Positive
Don't avoid any confrontation right now. Face it head on and let yourself be heard.
Neutral
There will be some problems and possibly some confrontations on the next leg of your journey. You're advised to fight for your rights, but with constant attention to where the stream of events is heading. Stay relaxed enough to deal effectively with unexpected events.
Negative
Don't be too aggressive, or you'll scare away those that can help you. You don't always need violence to solve problems or conflicts.
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.
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.
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.
Queen of Pentacles
Explanation
The Queen in the suit of Pentacles becomes aware of her Earthly attributes; she's reliable and sober, able to give good advice.
When this card falls, it serves to make you more aware of what comfort relations with other people can bring.
Meaning
Positive
Now is not the time to be a hermit and avoid other people. Instead, seek out the company of those that appreciate or love you. If you feel like it, discuss your project or work or ideal with them, just to get a different perspective on things. Or just spend some time in silence with them, so your auras can replenish eachother.
Neutral
You might discover that you actually like the comfort of being with others in a safe environment, more than you previously thought.
Negative
You're too attached to the securities and good feelings that your loved ones provide you with. Those securities can hold you down too sometimes, and the tarot as a whole advises to avoid stagnation.
Knight of Wands
Explanation
The Knights often show a flurry of activity. They go out and make things happen. The cautious behavior of Pages is not shown by Knights, but they don't burden the weight of responsibilities that Kings have.
The Knight of Wands likes action and progress, but isn't too concerned with the usefulness of his actions or the ramifications to those around him.
Meaning
Positive
Have a good long look at whatever is coming your way when this card falls. It's probably worth your attention and activity.
Neutral
You might be feeling a lot of youthful energy in yourself as this card falls. You radiate this to others who might be infected by your enthousiasm. Just try to stay realistic.
Negative
When this card falls upside-down, you might be a bit too impulsive and careless at the moment. Try to take a moments rest to evaluate where exactly you're going.
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.
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.
