Ace of Pentacles
Explanation
With Wands, you surveyed the world for worthy goals and ideals.
With Cups, you decided on a specific (set of) ideals to pursue.
With Swords, you faced some initial problems on your road towards your chosen ideal(s).
Now in Pentacles, it's about the remainder of the work (with procedures worked out by Swords) that gets you to completion of your chosen ideal(s).
The element attached to Pentacles is Earth. And it's attributes are perseverance, taking pride in boring hard work, discipline, order.
Pentacles are often refered to as related to money. But that's a bit of a narrow view. It's about the hard work that completes the journey to an ideal and thus give your life fulfillment.
The Ace of Pentacles has the number 1 attached to it, which is always the number of a new beginning.
Meaning
Positive
You've figured out what to do, you sort of know how to do it, then now is the perfect time to start doing it. And don't give up easily.
Neutral
When this card falls, it might serve to point your attention to whatever is new and fresh in your life; a new job, study, love relation, business relation, project, etc. Look to the other cards in the reading to see what more can be said about it.
Negative
The plans you made for getting to your ideal might not be the optimal course for getting there after all. Stay flexible, something you encounter might be a shortcut for you.
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.
The Judgement
Explanation
The Judgement is a card that is near the very end of the last cycle of the major Tarot. It represents an outside source making judgement over you.
Place in the cycle
The Judgement has the number 20 assigned to it, and therefore has a composed number 2 attached to it as well.
2's are assignemnt numbers. And assignments can even happen while in a reward cycle.
You would be wise to judge yourself on the points that the external authority might judge you. Then it's verdict will be less of a suprise to you.
Meaning
Positive
Re-live your past, small piece by small piece, to see what you've accomplished and what still hurts. Take it easy though, don't ask too much of yourself during this process. Try to keep focus primarily on the positive sides of your past.
Neutral
By re-living your past, you get rid of old blockages and throw away the last burdens that are left over from your journey. Re-living the past may be painful at times, but it helps you close off the past as well.
Negative
You run the risk of getting stuck in the past, because if you move beyond it, you'll have to face the unknown.
So don't dive into the past when the card is drawn upside down, apparently right now is not the time for it.
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.
The Sun
Explanation
The Sun has been admired as God or the symbol of all life by many cultures. Without the sun there is no warmth, light or life. The Sun is seen as a very positive force.
Place in the cycle
The Sun carries the number 19, a composed value of 1. This is the third composed 1 in the Major Arcana. It's the culmination of the 1's. The third 1 is a reward and a beginning at the same time. It also represents creative energy.
With The Sun the third and final cycle of Tarot is commenced. The first cycle was the upperworld or childphase, a place to start and gain inputs. Here you gained wisdoms, knowledge and ideas. The second cycle was the underworld or adult phase or assignments phase, the hard cycle where you had to really work for gains. This third cycle that starts at The Sun, is the phase of rewards, of enjoyment of results.
Meaning
Positive
Use this period in your life. If you do nothing you end up having a good time but not much else. If you use your strengths and powers of creativity, you will end reaping rewards for a much longer time.
Neutral
You've gone through a difficult time with lots of searching and experimenting, and you've made it on your own. This has lead to a new sense of self-confidence in you, you're ready to take on anything, it seems.
Negative
You're too optimistic and care-free. So much that you lose track of reality somewhat.
The World
Explanation
The world is large, but not as large as the galaxy or the universe.
The person in the center of the card has completed many journeys already, and is completely at ease. Yet she continues to move, for having reached your goals is no reason to stop moving.
Place in the cycle
The World carries the number 21. As a composed number that is 3. The World is the third 3 in the Major Arcana. 3 is a reward number, so the third 3 must be even more powerful.
This card falls when you've completed all assignments, overcome all obstacles and are completely at peace with yourself due to your accomplishments. Yet Tarot wouldn't be Tarot if it didn't challenge you to enter entirely new worlds and start the process all over again.
Meaning
Positive
Use your abilities to see into yourself, others and situations. Reconnect with your inner child and go back to The Fool, the first card in the deck, to learn yet new aspects of life.
Neutral
This card doesn't get drawn often in readings. When it does, it means you're entering a very important period in your life. You've reached a point where you're able to rise above yourself, to reach new heights. You're at peace with all that has happened, and your negative emotions find a (hopefully gentle) way out by themselves.
This card is not so much negative or positive, as it is special. It's the threshold between past and future.
Negative
This might not be the moment to embark on a new journey, something in your (recent) past is as yet unsolved.
King of Wands
Explanation
The Kings are the rulers. With the experiences of Queens, who integrated the experiences of Pages and Knights, they act.
The King of Wands uses the properties of Wands (vitality, optimism, enthousiasm) to go out with confidence. He is seen as a leader with charisma.
Meaning
Positive
Use the positivity that this card radiates. This would be an excellent time for a job interview or to apply for any other position where others determine your suitability.
Neutral
You function well at the moment, now might be the time to take on more responsibilities, to apply to a higher rung on the ladder of success.
Negative
You might be too arrogant to some at the moment. Modesty gets you further.
2 of Cups
Explanation
This the first assignment number of the Cups suit. Unlike Wands, with the Fire element, Cups, with the water element, has a lot more patience. Water is by nature more introspective, and this second card in the Cups suit is indeed about exploring yourself. The outcome is uncertain as always, but it usually results in better acceptance of yourself.
Meaning
Positive
Now is the time to take some rest and relaxation, not the time to go on wild adventures.
Neutral
You're going through a process of self-healing, and are perhaps almost unaware of that. You may feel a little tired, or confused, or wary, but along the way you will get more lenient with yourself, and give your soul the rest it needs.
Negative
You might be pressing for reconciliation with yourself a bit too hard. The middle road is not always the right one, and confrontations (with yourself or with others) should not always be avoided.
Knight of Cups
Explanation
The Knight of Cups is explores his own feelings, and the outside world might not even notice.
Meaning
Positive
Try to recognize your own true feelings, and try to come to some conclusion on where to move next. You may have to change a few things here and there.
Neutral
You're working with your own feelings about where to head next, about what makes you truely happy. Take your time for this choice.
Negative
Now is not the right time to express your feelings to others around you, you make yourself too vulnerable that way.
The Emperor
Explanation
Like The Empress, this card indicates power. But instead of spiritual power, this card indicates materialistic, worldly power. The Emperor is sometimes compared to Mars, God of war and courage.
Place in the cycle
The Emperor has the number 4 attached to it. This is the number of order and structure, the number of matter; with 4 things can be built and organized.
There are 4 seasons, 4 elements, 4 wind directions. The number gives stability and orginanisation and discipline and a steady strength to get done what needs to get done.
The number 1 brings the idea, the number 4 takes it on. This also means that with this number 4 things can be decided one way or another.
While the previous card, The Empress, indicates a time to relax and enjoy, with this card it is time to get things underway and for the work to commence.
Meaning
Positive
Of all the things that are heading your way you must pick just a few or even just one to focus on. Get your goals into focus and stick to your goals. Be careful not to get distracted.
Neutral
This card falls in a time when you're busy and facing challenges. This means there is a lot to do and a large need to organise and structure your activities.
You feel strong and full of energy, you have willpower and selfdiscipline and an ability to close yourself to distractions.
Negative
Don't be too rigid, you can't achieve your goals with just strength, often wisdom and knowledge are needed as well.
