Eight of Cups

The Moon is eclipsing the Sun as a person walks away from the edge of a bank.  The Moon is symbolic of psychic power, life cycles, intuition.  The man is walking up a hill or incline, ready to take on challenges - he's moving forward, the past is the past but has learn it's lessons, both good and bad.  The hill or incline is also representative of moving to a higher place spiritually, becoming closer to the Creator.  The staff in the persons had is representative of pilgrimage or guidance.

So the theme of this card is moving forward to gain a deeper meaning to issues or circumstances  to life's challenges.  Not to make judgments, not to hide in a corner and think about "what if", but to contemplate and learn from experience.

Page of Swords

The Page of Swords shows a young person, full of energy and focused facing a head wind.  The head wind, in my opinion, would be representative of challenges or opposition.  There are many times in our lives that after we've tried negotiations and civility that we must prepare for a fight.  This is exactly what the Page is doing here.

The ground the Page stands on is uneven and there are hills/mountains in the background.  Again, I would interpret these as challenges, past triumphs, obstacles.  The ground also seems to be green and there are trees in the background - I would interpret this as growth or a growing period.

The circle of birds above the Page are representative of higher thinking, relying on the Universe for answers, or intuition.  Many times when we face challenges we have to sometimes put away conventional thinking and seek the Universe for answers.

The clouds could either represent revelation - as the wind blows the clouds away it could be that the situation or person we need to face really isn't that big of a deal after all.  The clouds could also represent that which is hidden or confusion - it would all depend on what the question being asked is or what the other cards are in relation to this card.

The Chariot

The Chariot shows a man in a chariot with two unbridled sphinx.  Sphinx are guardians and a symbol of protection.  The man is clearly in command, his right hand holds a staff which is a symbol of power, direction, creativity.  The man has moons on his shoulders, he's guided by intuition and his covering on the chariot is covered in stars - he's taking his directions from the Universe.  The crown on his head has a star, stars are symbols of guidance but this on in particular suggests that he's guided by a third eye, again intuition.

The unbridled sphinx would indicate that he's able to command them, without reigns, by either voice or intuition.  He's a skillful master of his vehicle, he can change directions quickly.

Nine of Wands

A man with a bandage on his head, standing in font of a budding fence.  He may be scared, but he's not discouraged as he's ready to take on the next attack that may come his way.  Scars remind us of yesterday's pain - all of the words exchanged between 2 or more parties, mistakes, ill executed plans and we learn from that experience.  The mountains, which are behind the man, represent challenges, triumphs, and disappointments.

The man is standing on flat ground, representing mental stability, or being "on the level".  He wears a brown shirt, brown signifying that he's down to earth, level headed, is thinking things through.  The white undershirt represents he has pure intentions, the green pants and shoes represent growth.  One could say that this card represents a time of growth, rebirth, or learning from experience.

Page of Wands, reversed

The Page of Wands shows a young person staring at a budding wand or staff.  He appears confident that this staff or wand is part of or contains all of the solution.  The staff is a symbol of leadership, direction, while the buds represent growth or a growth opportunity.   The lizards on his shirt represent renewal, rebirth, change.  The feather in the cap represents higher spiritual thought.

In the reverse, we can say that this card represents lack of direction, being stagnant spiritually, or unwilling to change or accept change.

When this card appears in reading, one should look and take inventory of the situation and themselves to determine the best course of action to move from being in the rut and back to a place to begin or start fresh again.

The Hermit

The Hermit is an individual who is standing on top of a mountain, he holds a light in his right hand, which has the Star of David.  He is a person who is a beacon of hope and light to those who seek for him but at the same time he's always searching for deeper truths and understanding.

He also holds a staff in his left hand, the staff is a symbol for guidance, direction, and sometimes even correction.  The mountain the Hermit stand on represents journeys, accomplishment, overcoming obstacles while his grey beard symbolizes experience.

The Hermit is a private person, in this image there are no trees, houses, rivers, buildings, he has retreated to the most solitude place - on top of this mountain he is closer to the heavens and able to her it's voice clearer without having to filter out the noise of everyday life.

"The wheel in the sky keeps on turning, don't know where I'll be tomorrow..." the song says.  The Wheel of Fortune is commonly called the change card, or associated with fate, destiny, or fortune - whether for better or for worse.  The wheel is controlled by two opposing forces, one a sphinx like creature and the other by a form of the devil, each acting like a brake.  The snake, which is a symbol for change or rebirth, controls the wheel.

The clouds are representative of higher, spiritual thought thus putting hope or trust into the Universe.

The number of this card is 10, which represents the end but if reduced using Numerology the number 1, which typically represents beginnings, so in this card we have beginnings or ending, depending on what the question is.

Knight of Swords

The knight of Swords shows an person cladded in armor with a yellow covering, which has lizards on it.  The knight is looking, assessing the situation and looking for an opening to attack or to stand down.  The horse is ready to move at his command, and is a symbol for movement or moving forward, quickly.  The lizards are also a symbol for quickness but also for transformation.  The feathers on the armor remind me of fire.  The ground below the rider is level and I would read this as being level-headed or in command of emotions.

When this card appears in a reading the question needs to be asked, "is this situation worth going after?"  "Will there be more harm than good?"  "What are the ramifications and who will benefit or suffer?"

The Sun

The Sun blazes brightly and uninhibited in the sky.  There's a wall with flowers, the flowers are facing away from the Sun.  Flowers are symbolizing growth, regeneration, community, like mindedness.  The rider of the horse seems to be a naked young girl who is happy and uninhibited and waving her huge flag high.  The flag represents freedom, a new day and is brown, which I interpret as being down to earth or level headed.  There is a horse, symbolizing strength and motion - the horse and rider are moving away from obstacles towards the unseen future.

This card radiates positive vibes, energy, new beginnings or cycles, looking to the future.

Strength

Courage, strength, charm, compassion, understanding are needed when approaching a situation or person that is difficult.  This woman has found the the lions spot where the "itch" is taking advantage of her position.  We see that the lion's tail is between his legs, he's totally enjoying the attention.

For the moment, the lion is enjoying the left hand on the head and the right under the chin where he's being scratched.  If the lion gets out of hand the woman can easily take the lion by the head and give it a quick crack!  This will surely subdue the lion.  Not every situation requires "guns blazing" to deal with the difficult people or situations, sometimes just having a silver tongue, using intuition, then finding the weakness many times is all we need to overcome difficult situations or people.

Nine of Pentacles

The card shows a woman, very well dressed, standing in a lush vineyard, with a falcon on her left arm.  The bird/falcon is representative of higher thought, more sophisticated thinking, strategic thinking/planning or looking for opportunity.  The bird/falcon can see things from great heights, then when it finds what it's looking for, swoop down and snatch it.

There are mountains far, far behind her and the ground she stands on is relatively flat - I would interpret this is challenges or issues are easily over come because there are more than enough ready and available assets at hand to respond to situations or individuals.  The snail is representative of being steady - there's no hurry here, we're looking at all of the options, we're patient.

In the reverse though, there is lack of planning, not using all available resources to their fullest potential, being in a hurry to obtain the quick and easy pickings and not focusing on the long-term.

Four of Swords

A person, lying in repose and resting.  Light is beaming in on him from a stained glass.  Typically this card represents rest, rejuvenation, being at ease. Sometimes in life we just need to find time for ourselves and rest, be quiet, and allow the Universe to speak to us - either in that quiet, still voice or in dreams.  In dreams we can envision the future, we can see possibilities, or gain different perspectives about someone or a situation.

The Fool

The Fool, a young person, who's gender is hard to tell, is approaching the edge of a cliff as if to take flight.  The sleeves on his shirt seem to appear as wings.  He has a staff in his hand with a bag tied to it.  The staff is representative of guidance, wisdom, direction.  The bag carry's his belonging and often is referred to as the baggage of the past.  The mountains behind him are symbolic of challenges and triumphs - he's in the after glow of yesterday and is looking forward to the new challenges ahead.  What is unknown is what lies ahead of the fool.  Is it a drop off into the abyss or is there a safe landing spot below.  We don't know and many times life is that way - we don't know what lies ahead and sometimes we just have to "go for it!" and take flight, for better or for worse.

Judgement

Judgement, an archangel blowing a horn signaling a time for change, liberation, heeding "the call", a day of judgement.  The horn is a vehicle for official announcement form on high, the flag is a symbol for change, a new order, a new leader.

Coffins are floating on an somewhat rocky lake/sea.  The coffins are an enclosure, a place to die and a place to hide.  Some folks bury themselves at work or in public, not wanting to be seen - they want to go about their business in private.  There is a time for being alone, that's for sure but there's also a time to break out and do something new or change ways or habits.

The people are without clothes, most with their arms wide open, waiting to receive - to me this represents that the old ways, old mind sets, old ways of thinking have been rejected and there is an open welcome to something new. It's interesting that the archangel is looking directly to the woman on his left, she has caught his attention.  Also interesting her hair is blonde/gold/yellow while everyone one else's hair is black.  Yellow is the symbol for radiating, or being positive - perhaps her attitude is more positive than others?

It's also interesting that there are more women and children depicted in this card oven men and the women and children arms seem to be open wider than the men.  It think this goes back to women being more receptive to change where men are not.

It's also interesting that the people are gray in color - grey typically represents uncertainty which is natural.  Regardless of all the planning, preparation, hope, and training, still change can be a bit frightening as there's always a question of "how will change be received".

Death

In this card we see a skeleton in a suit of black suit of armor riding a white horse and holding a flag.  When this card appears in a reading it does not mean the person asking for the reading is going to die - this is hardly the case.  This card does mean that change, perhaps strong and forceful change is coming.  The old way(s) of doing things is over or ending very quickly.

The flag represents a new order, new leadership, or a new way of thinking.  The dead person under the horse with the crown off to one side represents the old way of thinking, the old leadership, the old paradigm.  The religious figure, in gold color, seems to be begging for mercy, or an easing into the new leadership or change.

The two children on the ground, kneeling are interesting.  The younger child is looking directly at the horse and rider, perhaps in a hopeful manner while the older child seems to be repulsed by the situation.  And so it is with change, there are those who seem to embrace change and those who are resistant.

The boat in the water, behind the scene, represents moving forward uninhibited, it seems to be moving at an easy pace, sailing seems to be smooth.

The two towers on the hill, to me, represent a door way, the Sun is setting behind the towers.  The Sun is setting on the day, a new one begins tomorrow - change always is cyclical, much like the Sun.  In my experience this card typically has a positive meaning but whether this card is positive or negative really depends on the question the client has asked.

Four of Pentacles

The Four of Pentacles shows a male energy sitting on a concrete bench, dressed in red, with either a blue trim or blue undergarment of some kind.  Red, as discussed before, symbolizes passion for achievement or passion for a belief, even aggressive while the blue represents clam, order.  I would read these colors together as being a go getter but is calculated and opportunistic.  Caution is warranted when dealing with a person like this.

The male energy has his feet on two coins/pentacles while clutching another - meaning this is mine and possibly I might consider making yours mine, as well.

The coin/pentacle balancing on his head, to me, means that alot of thought goes into the process of acquirement of possessions or things - he doesn't go after everything.  Somethings are taken or acquired because he wants them, other times they are taken because he knows you want them.  So, in other words, things are taken out of spite.

The city behind him would symbolize that he is stable, unmoved, he feels at home in your situation - again, caution is warranted with this person.

Ace of Swords

The Ace of Swords shows a beaming right hand with a sword that is coming out of a cloud.  At the top of the sword is a crown with two different types of foliage on either side.  The clouds typically represent the unknown or what is not seen - depending on the question clouds could also represent confusion.  The sword itself represents the air, but could also represent force, being aggressive, using logic and reason.  Swords cut through the air and could dispel the cloud - that said, another interpretation could be that the sword represents choices and I would say that is also what the different types of foliage represent.

The background shows mountains, which represent challenges, overcoming obstacles, attainment.  Sometimes we have to dig deep within ourselves to overcome issues and situations - we need to have a "fire in our belly" to do this, sometimes.

Four of Cups

The Four of Cups shows a young man sitting on top of a hill looking at the ground, and appears in deep thought.  There are three cups in front of him and looks like he's either thinking about options or situations and wondering either what to do or how to address the situation as a whole.

There is a cup that seems to appear out of thin air, but he doesn't see it.  This would represent possibilities, a change in the situation, and unexpected change in course or direction.  The cup is also presented from the right hand so this change or new situation would be a positive, from the hand of strength, or privilege.

Page of Cups

This card shows a young person staring at a cup with a fish in it, behind the person there are some slight waves in the water.  The fish represents our thoughts and, like a fish, they can be in constant motion vacillating between two points of view, which can vex the mind at times.  While there are slight waves in the water the person is standing on level, secure ground so I would interpret this card as being level headed in adverse situations.

Three of Wands

This card shows a male energy holding a staff and standing on a hill, two staffs planted in the ground - one on the right and left of him.  I see these two staffs as a doorway leading to somewhere.  What is unknown here is if the hill he is standing on is indeed a hill or a cliff.  We do know that there is a body of water with ships sailing on it, representing motion, possibilities, or travel.  The water here is deep and this could mean the person represented here is in deep thought.

In the reverse though the opposite would be true - there is no deep thought or consideration, he's not planning for anything, or taking advantage of the perspective in front of him.  This would be a time to pause and reconsider the direction or purpose that is being undertaken.

Ten of Cups

The Ten of Cups shows a man and woman standing together, the man has his right arm around the woman, while the woman has her left arm by her side.  The man has his left arm raised, the woman her right as if to say, "this is the paradise we've created!"  The children are playing, probably singing, laughing and carrying on.  The ground which they stand is completely flat - they are stable, on even footing.  Being that the ground is brown, this would indicate this family is grounded, even tempered, they look at all of the facts/issues or the entire situation prior to giving a judgement.

They have a home on a hill, indicating achievement, trees and rich green grass surround their house - indicating vibrancy, growth, nurturing. The rainbow would represent colors in the chakra's meaning this family is self actualized, their needs are met, everyone's happy, healthy, and hopeful.

Queen of Pentacles, reversed

The Queen of Swords sits on a sturdy throne, the throne has the face of an angel signifying honesty and trust.  The butterflies on the throne and on her crown signify her ability to change or transform things or situations.

Her flaming red hair signifies her passion about her position and the clouds behind her and on her cape symbolize the unknown or unexpected - some times great ideas come out of the clouded unknown.

The lone bird above her head and the prayer beads on her left wrist symbolize her devotion to prayer or Spiritual things.

In the reversed position she is someone who has made her position known, she is calculated, she thinks about herself with disregard for the situation, who might be involved, or who might be affected.

Two of Pentacles

A person standing on a very flat, stable surface juggling and dancing a jig.  Two boats are in the background riding the waves.  The waves represent turmoil, not being at peace, uneasy.  What is interesting about the waves is prior to the first one on the left and after the third one on the right the the line is level while in between the waves there is a definite curve between the waves.  To me this would indicate that the situation is temporary or that much ado is being made about nothing.  The two ships are interesting, the ship on the persons right is much smaller than the one on his left - even the wave on his right is much smaller than the one on his left..  The person in the image is also looking to the left.  The left is a symbol for weakness or from a position of disadvantage.  Ironically, the position of the persons left hand seems to be closer to the wave on his left - perhaps this is a subconscious move to try and calm or push the wave down and try and bring balance to the situation.

Certainly there is a look of concern on the persons face; he's also dressed in red.  To me, this reaffirms his concern.

Also this card could mean that he's just going along and trying to get through this situation the best he can and making the best of it.  This is best symbolized by the Lemniscate, which is the green infinity symbol.  So, while this person is concerned about the situation, whether great or small, he's determined to make it and his persistence will pay off.

One other interpretation for this card is cycles - in this case there could be two opposing cycles which could be at odds with one other or cycling at the same time - it would depend on the question.

Knight of Pentacles

A person on a horse, wearing a suit of armor with the face visor open.  The horse is a rugged, sturdy - this horse is not a race horse but more like a working horse which is able to carry heavy loads.  This would be a symbol for consistency, stable, even-keeled.  The horse is black symbolizing regeneration or change.  I feel this is verified by the hoed rows that are in the field behind the knight.  Seed is planted, it is transformed into some form of life to serve another purpose.

The knight appears to be presenting the coin/orb/globe to someone - he's in a posture of humility.  The armor here I feel is sort of like a shell or skin on a seed - we see the visor opened on his head which to me symbolizes being open to new things.  With the visor open he can see clearer, he can see the peripheral, and part of his mind is open to the Spirit.

So perhaps this card is really telling us that in order for us to grow we need to die to the self, shed off the old skin/armor and allow the Spirit to come in so that it's work can be done through us.

Seven of Pentacles, reversed

The Seven of Pentacles shows a man leaning on a staff contemplating a hearty, sturdy bush which is covered in Pentacles.  There is a Pentacles on the ground on the left of the staff, I see this representing once of the choice "fruits".

The mountains behind the male energy are in the far distance representing the struggle, the work, to get to this point are in the past.

The blue in the male energies garment symbolize Spiritual things while the brown represent  earth energy or human energy - so in essence, the male energy believed in the Universe to provide then acted on his belief to produce this fine green specimen.

Typical meanings for this card are enjoying the fruit of labor, reflecting on the past, reward, nurturing a dream, among other things

In the reverse, this card could mean not working hard enough, lack of return, lack of nurturing, unfulfilled dreams, lack of direction.

Queen of Cups, reversed

We see the Queen of Cups sitting on a secure throne and gazing intently into a cup, but it's not just any cup, it's decorative and has angel wings.  I've read here and there that the cup represents the Holy Grail and this queen is the Queen of the Grail.

The throne the queen sits on is interesting.  The back of the throne is curved, near the top is a shell - I feel this allows the queen to hear more intently, not only to what is physically spoken to her but also allows her to hear the Spirit.

The cape that the queen has on reminds me of a waterfall symbolizing the volumes of wisdom, knowledge, experience she passes to those who will listen to her.

The water at the feet of the queen is calm symbolizing that while she is earnest in the pursuit of her answer she's very calm, cool and about her wits.

The cliff behind the queen is also very interesting, while there is a sharp, steep cliff, the rise in the land is very easy - perhaps this is telling us not to over think the solution.  Another interpretation could be that there might be great effort, struggle or sacrifice to get the answer or resolution but then after that things will become easier.

In the reverse this card could mean that one is distracted or not looking at all of the options.  It could also mean that the situation is not as dire and one is worrying too much over nothing.

Page of Pentacles, reversed

The Page of Pentacles shows a young person gazing into an orb/globe/coin as though he's envisioning the future.  On his head is a red hat, symbolizing higher thought, however since it's red I would interpret this as having passionate thought, ideas that push the envelope on established thought, new ideas that may go against the establishment or ideas that challenge conventional wisdom.

The green shirt symbolizes vitality, direction, and sensation while the brown symbolizes being grounded, practical - so we can say that while he's giving thought to new ideas that he truly believes in, he's also being practical - he's not going to cut off his nose despite his face!

The field at the lower right with it's rows symbolizes growth, breaking new spiritual ground, opening ones self up to new ideas.

In the reverse position, there would be a lack of passion, direction, slow or no growth.  This would indicate it's time to pause and take inventory of what the issue(s) might be and allow the Spirit to come in and provide guidance, wisdom and direction.

Temperance

Temperance depicts an archangel mixing water between two challis, one of her feet is in the water while the other is on land.  Her wings are spread wide as if she might take flight.  Typically this card would mean there is a balancing process going on but I see this as a sign that it's probably the right time to take a risk as one foot is on land, symbolizing what is secure, familiar while the water represents the unknown.  As mentioned in other explanations the water symbolizes emotions - here the water is calm, just slight ripples as the archangel makes her way into the water.

The lush green vegetation represent growth, being well cared for, nurtured - again a sign that it could be time to move forward and pursue something new

There is a path behind the archangel, symbolizing that there is a road ahead full of opportunity and promise.  The ground is green but hilly - just like life full of growth opportunities as well as ups and downs; however in this scene the ground seems to be on a steady incline to the mountains indicating that while there may be ups and downs the overall experience should be positive.  The mountains would represent the achievement, while the Sun would represent the Light, seeking spiritual growth possibly.

The halo around the archangels head would mean the mind is fixed on higher spiritual things, pure heart and motives.

What is particularly interesting in this card is more of the right wing is showing than the left - I've not seen this until the time of writing this, however I believe this is symbolizes strength as strength or affirmation typically comes from the right side.

The sky is clear behind the archangel indicating all is revealed, have confidence and move forward with the dream, plan, or goal.

Ace of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles shows a right hand with a coin/sphere coming in from the left side of the card.  The right hand is a symbol for strength or influence while the coin/sphere can represent money, opportunity, possibly even being an Earthy or down to Earth person.

The scene is set in a garden or arbor.  There's lush greenery symbolizing growth, prospering, thriving in a controlled environment.  There's lush green fence, symbolizing boundary but there's also an opening or a doorway of sorts leading to the outside or other side symbolizing opportunity, new dreams, new opportunity, possibilities.

The mountains in the background represent challenges, opportunity, future triumphs and success.  All one needs to do is take the path and go through the door to find and experience the world has to offer.

Page of Swords

The Page of Swords is facing a stiff wind - he looks as though he's practicing for a future engagement who could possibly be unknown.  The unknown is symbolized by the wind but also by the clouds.  The Page is standing on a hill and the landscape seems to be hilly as well symbolizing life's ups and downs.

The flock of birds in formation above the Page appears like a halo - to me this means higher though, intuition, his mission is right, true, justified.

The Pages brown shirt would indicated that his heart is grounded while the red boots would indicate his desire to rush into the situation and take care of business.  I would say in this instance the Page's heart is over ruling his urge to rush in.

Seven of Swords

The Seven of Swords is typically interpreted as a man running away from something.  What is interesting to me is that the ground the man is walking/running on is flat, smooth, stage like unlike the ground behind him where it's hilly.  This leads me to pause as to what is really going on here.  We could say that the person is indeed running away but he's just crossing the stage?  For what reason?  To me he's leaving a temporary situation, which is represented by the tents, which are mobile, they provide shelter but they lack the stability of a home built on a foundation.  This is a situation he's given much thought to which is why the area he's running along is flat, as opposed to the ground behind him.

We also see in this card that the flags are flying in a brisk wind, I see the winds as opposition, challenge, uncertainty.

There's also a meeting going on behind the man.  An elder is holding a very long rod and it appears there is one person in the group challenging him - perhaps, whatever the disagreement is about is the very reason why this person is leaving the situation.

The two swords in the ground, very close together, represent a door to me.  Being that the swords are so close together would tell me that there's limited opportunity or that there is an environment that's dictated by many rules.

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man is tied upside down to a post, and by the look on his face he seems to be compliant with his situation - perhaps this is something he volunteered or perhaps because of a past decision he has accepted the outcome.  There is greenery on the tree, symbolizing growth so perhaps for the Hanged Man, this cycle in life is a growth period.  Being that he's alive and not dead - there's no sign of beating or blood, he will live again.

The red pants, to me, symbolize passion and the legs symbolize action and led himself to this situation.  The yellow shoes on his feet and halo symbolize hope - just because there was an unfortunate situation in the past doesn't mean that it can't be corrected; and if the situation can't be corrected then this is a good learning experience to not make that choice again

The blue shirt symbolizes calm so I would  gather that also the Hanged Mans heart is calm, at peace..  He's also suspended by a single rope with a single not.  Being patient, not struggling with this state will allow keep the knot as it as struggling will cause the knot to tighten and possibly prolong the situation.

The crossed leg is a cross of sorts, each point pointing to the for winds or the four elements - to me this symbolized that he has faith and that some how his situation will improve.  So the moral of the story kiddo's, let the past go and don't dwell on past mistakes or the sequence of events that lead up this an unfortunate circumstance - acknowledge that it is what it is, get through it and move on.

Three of Pentacles, reversed

The Three of Pentacles is a card I like to commonly refer to as 'the consulting card'.  In the image we see three people, a master craftsman standing on a bench and two others holding a plan.

There are several ways which I've typically read this card in the past.  The first way is the master craftsman is saying, 'yes, the plan has this outlined however have you consider this other idea?'  The second is the master craftsman is telling the two, 'your plans have this here however I'm seeing structure issues and doing following the plan could have these ramifications.'  Finally, the two people come to the master craftsman and basically say, 'dude, you've gone off the reservation and deviated from the plan.'.

Another way to read this card is that there is general, engaged conversation - it's civil, everyone is calm and having a productive meeting.

In my opinion, the two people, male and female represent not only a literal man and woman but a single balanced energy - so in other words, when there is a need to have a conversation at a serious level, there needs to be an emotional balance and have facts in order when approaching the male energy, which is the craftsman in this case.

I also find the passageways in this card interesting as it is unknown if the pillar dividing the two entries lead to a single, larger area or if they are two smaller independent areas.  So one way of reading this would be, if it's interpreted that there are two opening to a larger area is the two parties are not far apart in their agreement.  Or depending on the question it could also be said that the two parties are far apart or are not even on the same page.

In the reverse position I would read this is both parties are in disagreement over the plan of action, the plan could be faulty, or there is no leader or direction.

Five of Cups, reversed

When this card appears in a reading typically many interpretations of this card are grieving over what was lost rather than being thankful that all was not lost, ignoring that out of a bad situation there's still hope, and other interpretations.  There are several clues in this card that draw me to this conclusion - there is a bridge over the river - the bridge can take us where we are to a new and different place.  What we need to do is get moving and accept that perhaps there was a setback but there's always hope and the ability to recover; of course sometimes recovery might take time.

There's also a house or fortress on the other side symbolizing a safe haven, a place to where we can recoup and recover, be surrounded by friends and family who will love us despite ourselves.

In the reverse position things are great, fabulous, situations that come up are petty and not worth dwelling over.

Three of Swords, reversed

When the Three of Swords appears in a reading, typically general meanings include heartbreak, clarity, the hidden is revealed, focus or extreme focus, weighing heavy on the mind, among other things.  The heart is the life source for adults as well as animals - when the heart hurts, our whole being hurts and typically very little will be of any comfort or consolation.

However, in the reverse position, there is a letting up of the burden, the nightmare of the situation is coming to a close and the healing can begin.  It may not be something that happens overnight but being open to coming to terms with the situation along with wise council can help the healing process.

King of Cups, reversed

The King of Cups sits securely on his throne floating along a rather rough sea, there's a ship in the background.  The king is wearing a yellow cape and a blue gown - yellow is a symbol for hope and blue is a symbol for being calm.  So even when things are a bit rocky, shaky, you're unsure of what's happening or even what's, what - there's always hope.

However, in the reverse position though, faith and hope are shaken, there is some insecurity of how things will turn out.  It's at these times when it may be necessary to call in close, trusted friends - friends who truly have insight into your life, friends who know you and who will give you honest and truthful council.

Other things I find interesting about this card are the shoes the king is wearing - they appear to be like fish scales - I see this as being adaptive to the environment.  The ship passing by are like thoughts traveling too and fro, when things are rocky in life sometimes the mind...well, it gets crazy thoughts.  Again, this is when faith and friends can help bring clarity to the situation.

Seven of Cups

When this card appears in a reading it can mean a variety of things like ideas, options, making choices, tough choices, confusion, not certain of the consequence, disorganized, clutter or even things to do..  Perhaps even over indulgence or extravagance.  What is unknown are the things not seen in the cloud - the consequences that come from choosing one decision over another.  Choose carefully, consult with a close confidant, and know your motive for making the decision.  Sometimes the most rewarding decision is the hardest one to make.

9 of Cups

The 9 of Cups has a man sitting on a wooden bench, a row of cups are displayed on an elevated covered table or bar.  He sits proudly showing off his accomplishments.  Sitting is a symbol that can mean taking time to reflect or relax - in this card it could mean taking time to reflect on the past and contemplate the things that worked and examining areas that could be tweaked.

Many books call the 9 of Cups "the wish" card - I disagree with this interpretation because it is in having and executing a plan do dreams and wishes become fulfilled.  As the "good book" says, "...faith without works is dead..."

Yellow/gold is also the dominant color in this card - it's a happy color, reminds me of a gold medal or the phrase "let the Sun shine in".  The man is wearing a white robe, symbolizing celebration and purity, however there appears to be touches of grey so perhaps there was a bit of trickery involved in making his achievement?  Not all trickery is bad - in sports a trick play can be used to score points while passing a few bucks under the table in a business situation is certainly unethical, if not illegal in some instances.

The man to me represents a dominant energy not necessarily a male.  So when this card appears in a reading, generally I would say there was a plan that succeeded and there was great pride taken in the successful execution of the plan - depending on what the other cards and the question is, this could be good or bad.

Six of Cups, reversed

The Six of Cups, generally represent coming together, new or renewed relationships, meeting an old friend or a new friend, among other interpretations.  In the reversed position, generally this would mean that relationships are strained, on the verge of coming apart - if they haven't already.  A relationship that has grown cold.

When this card appears, it's time to think about if the relationship is salvageable; and if it is what effort must be invested to make things right.  Are both parties able to move forward despite the events of the past.

The High Priestess, reversed

The mysterious High Priestess sits quietly on a small bench and adorned in a blue garment.  There is an appearance of a waterfall the way her garment is draped from the knee to the ground - for me this is a symbol of  her wisdom and intuition flowing freely out of her soul.  The moon is also a symbol of intuition or psychic power.  The crown on her head contains an orb, for me this symbolizes the third eye, intuition, or psychic power.  The High Priestess sits between two pillars, one black with a "B" on it and the other grey with a "J" on it.  I've read in various places that the "B" stand for Boaz, which is a character from the Bible and his name means strength and the "J" stands for Jerusalem - two pillars represent the pillars in Solomon's temple.

There is a tapistry hanging between the two pillars of pomegranets, symbolizing growth and rich knowledge.  Behind the High Priestess is a body of water showing a few ripples here and there, symbolizing life.  Calm water also can mean being at peace.  There is a cross on the chest of the High Priestess, symbolizing the four wind directions or the 4 elements and cradled in her arms is a scroll, which is partially hidden but partially shown - to me this represents the truths that can be revealed if the right question is asked.

In the reverse this card has the same meaning but it is to a lesser degree.  Intuition could be blocked, there is a lack of wisdom, not being at ease and allowing the Universe to flow freely through ones self.

The Hierophant, reversed

I've had this card appear in various readings and have had a surprising number of interpretations which include seeking council from a higher authority (God , the Universe, clergy, an elder or someone of high regard in your life), presenting a case before a judge or someone in authority, seeking answers, arguing a case..etc.

The Hierophant is a person of authority and influence and sit's securely on his throne, between two solid pillars.  The pillars could mean faith, security, balance, duality, taking the middle road.

The keys on the carpet represent authority, faith - holding the keys to the kingdom.  The two people standing in front of the Hierophant are wearing different colors, symbolizing two different ideas, arguments, or ways of thinking.

Being this card is presented in the reverse it would mean less authority, perhaps not so balanced, failing to consider all points of view, or perhaps lacking in faith.

The Moon, reversed

Typically the Moon represents disillusionment, bewilderment, confusion, fear and so forth, in the reversed position there is a dispelling of fear, confusion..etc.  Things are a bit clearer, however it will take discerning, intuition, and direction from the Spirit to make progress in the situation.

More information about The Moon can be found in last weeks overview.  I do find it interesting that the first posting I did was the Moon, it's a reminder of the cycles of life.

The Emperor

The Emperor is a rugged, experienced man adorned in red sitting on his throne.  Mountains are to his back, symbolizing life's triumphs, challenges and even loses.  His throne has rams on each of the four corners, which is the Zodiac symbol for Aries, it is strong, unshakable, unmovable, sturdy - he is secure in his position.  The Emperor can be stern, ruling, unmovable in his position and opinion, and is a regulator.

The crown adorns his head signifies that he is in charge, he's wearing armor and ready for the fight, however he's also adorned in a red garment, signifying that he does have a softer side that could be appealed to.  The garment also makes him approachable.

In the background there is a small, calm stream - water is symbolic of emotion and the calm water here confirms or validates that the Emperor is a very calm, patient individual.

The Emperor holds an orb in the left hand, symbolizing the Earth - he's in control, he's also using experience and intuition to analyze and ponder events that come his way.  In the right hand he holds cross - it's also a symbol of balance between the four elements and he understands how each of the four elements can interconnect and influence life.

9 of Swords

When this card appears in a reading, typically it's associated with self doubt, worry, self-delusion, agony, denial, insomnia, becoming aware of the situation.

The bed is where we relax and many times the hidden things in the back of our brains come to the forefront in dreams, like the carved image under the bed.  The image shows a dominant person with a stick of some kind lurching forward on an unarmed victim, sometimes this is how our brain works during the night, replaying over and over ad nauseum all of the decisions, the words, the situations that we unpleasant and exercised poor judgement, or said hurtful things.

The black or the dark is symbolic of the unknown while the cover represents security.  The images on the cover are interesting - there are flowers, representing beauty and growth along with symbols of the Zodiac, which to me, represents faith in the stars or wishing upon a start.  Yet even in faith, our faith can be shaken.

The Lovers, reversed

When this card appears in a reading, many times it is indeed related to love , relationships, marriage but on a larger global scale, this card to me represents relationships, duality, groups, being honest and bearing ones soul.  The trees behind the man or the male energy is on fire - symbolizing passion, drive, determination while the tree behind the woman is strong, fruitful and abundant, however there is that pesky proverbial snake lurking around.  I know what you're thinking, he's whispering something into the woman's ear and is going to drive her into some wild-eyed lunatic fringe and cause trouble for the male.  Well....perhaps, depends on the question that is being asked when this card appears.  Generally speaking, the snake represents renewal, regeneration, or growth and shed their skin - they are adaptive and flexible creatures.

 Between the two is an angel orchestrating and possibly facilitating the interaction between the male and female energies and will be a help, provided that both people have an ear towards the heavens.

The above applies when the card is in the upright position, however the card shown is in reverse and has the opposite meaning.  There is possibly tension between the two opposing energies, things aren't going as planned, the two are not listening to each other or could be hiding something. It would be a good time to call time out and discuss what barriers or obstacles are facing the relationship and clear the air so that the relationship can continue or come to some agreeable terms to dissolve the union.

The Moon

When this card appears many times I think of the right and left side of the brain because of the path that runs through the middle of this card.  Both sides of the brain look alike but can have different functions, like this card.  There are towers on the right and left, the are are dogs/wolfs on the right and left.  The Sun, Moon, and lobster are both in the center.  The ground is both hilly and mountainous on both sides.

So on the left side the dog appears to be howling or yapping at the moon while on the right the dog is bearing it's teeth and has pointed ears, suggesting it's a bit more irritated that the dog on the left.  What I see here is the dog on the left is urging us to do the right thing, even if there's some emotional pain involved while the dog on the right wants vengeance, action, retribution and will worry about the cost of that action at a later date.

The lobster is climbing out of the water suggests that we should rise above the situation, move from our comfort zone and address the issue at hand.  The Moon eclipsing the Sun would suggest that we should rely on our own intuition - we know more than the mere physical situation, we need to stop and find a quiet place and 

meditate on the situation.  The Moon eclipsing the Sun could mean two things - either it's blocking the rays of the Sun suggesting a time of cooling off is needed or that things that are hidden in the shadows which are unclear will be revealed in the broad day light and the situation will fully come to light.

 I also see the two towers as a doorway - either you can stay where you are or move forward and face the challenges, represented by the mountains, which lie ahead.