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.
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 Hermit
Explanation
The Hermit shuts out the world and retreats into solitude to better understand some spiritual aspect of life. He opens to the cosmos and lets it's wisdom sink in. Hermits are often seen as wise old men who can guide a traveller along a journey.
Place in the cycle
The Hermit carries the number 9. This is the highest base number. After 9 the composed numbers emerge. Therefore the number 9 is the gateway to a higher order. It is also a place to rest before embarking on the next leg of the journey.
Meaning
Positive
Rest, but at the same time prepare for the next leg of your journey. Empty your mind of things past, and wait for inspiration to hit you. Wait for a sign, it'll be there in time.
Neutral
When the card of The Hermit is drawn, it means you can relax a bit and recall the leg of the journey that you have completed. Up to now everything has been guided by your own choices, now it is time to let the universe guide you along the next steps. The card signifies a waiting period.
Negative
Don't be too passive, now is not the time to rest.
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.
The Magician
Explanation
A magician is a master of illusions. He can create and destroy illusions.
Place in the cycle
It is the second card in the entire deck, and signifies the start from dream to practical idea.
Meaning
Positive
It's time to talk about your ideas with others and to define them a bit more clearly.
Neutral
It's time to talk about your ideas with others and to define them a bit more clearly.
Negative
Be careful that you won't be sprouting pie-in-the-sky ideas to others without following through with them.
Page of Pentacles
Explanation
Pages explore and gather information about the road ahead, with an almost naive attitude. The Page of Pentacles is sometimes described as a bridge builder; Pentacles is the suit where the actual work is done, and the Page here enables those that follow to quickly cross difficult terrain.
Meaning
Positive
Don't do anything reckless right now, you need to consider carefully what each likely outcome of each of your potential choices is. Consider the other forces at play in your field carefully as well.
Neutral
Either things have been fairly chaotic for you lately, or you're facing one of your more murky choices, when this card falls. If things have been chaotic, this card will bring some rest and clarity. If you're facing a difficult choice, it'll help you take the time to carefully consider your options.
Negative
You could want security and clarity _too_ much, you know. Sometimes a bit of chaos and unclarity can be fun and exciting, while allowing you to find options you haven't considered yet.
If this card falls upside down (or, in a "negative" way), don't crave clarity and securities; embrace adventure instead.
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.
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.
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.
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.
