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".