A full spread.
YOU DREW TEN CARDS:
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Environment
Two of Swords
Swords: Defending. Self-defense and setting boundaries. Think of drawing a line in the sand with a sword point.
Two: It takes two. A dialogue. Weighing and comparing different possibilities.
A hoodwinked figure balances two swords upon her shoulders. Divinatory Meanings: Conformity and the equipoise which it suggests, courage, friendship, concord in a state of arms, affection, intimacy. Reversed: Imposture, falsehood, duplicity, disloyalty.
You can’t decide. Instead, you close your eyes to what faces you. You step back from the situation, taking time to get your emotions in check, to ponder things in silence. You can’t remain aloof forever; soon you will have to decide. Reversed: Although a decision has been made, and action has been taken, it is too early to tell if it was the right thing to do. Only time will tell. Either way, things are beginning to move.
A blindfolded woman balances two swords upon her shoulders. She sits on a bench with her back to the sea. The crescent moon looks down upon her. Divinatory Meaning: Balanced forces, stalemate, indecision, impotence, a temporary truce in family quarrels. Reversed: Release, movement of affairs, sometimes in the wrong direction. Caution against dealings with rogues.
Gold circumstances rising out of adversity.
The intellect remains passive, waiting for an action.
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Obstacles
Eight of Wands
Staves: Creating. Creative energy. Think of building a house with wooden planks.
Eight: The efficiency expert. Through the use of discipline and structure, you reach peak efficiency.
The card represents motion through the immovable — a flight of wands through an open country. Divinatory Meanings: Activity in undertakings, the path of such activity, swiftness, as that of an express messenger; great haste, great hope, speed towards an end which promises assured felicity; generally, that which is on the move; also the arrows of love. Reversed: Arrows of jealousy, internal dispute, stingings of conscience, quarrels.
Things are moving fast, bringing you closer to your goal. Results are coming in quickly — and you must keep things in order. Sometimes indicates a journey. Reversed: You can’t handle the pace. Things are stacking up against you. Events may overtake you. Life is passing you by while you stand still.
A flight of wands is shown passing through open country; they seem to be coming to the end of their course. Divinatory Meaning: Haste, hope, movement in affairs. The arrows of love, messages, letters, journey by air. Reversed: Arrows of jealousy, quarrels, domestic disputes.
Confidence brings success.
The perfection in this center is displayed by extreme concentration, things reduced to their essentials, represented by the two cut flowers. Creativity has become extremely focused: this is the perfection of someone who knows how to draw a circle in a single line. In sexuality, we reach sublimation, pure creative energy, orgasm. Power becomes non-violence, the ideal of the martial arts: combat without combat. Authority emanates from the individual and imposes itself without a gesture. In this state of extreme contemplation, effort no longer exists, and we are tireless. If this card should have a negative side, it would be paralysis, the stopping of all movement, an extreme perfectionism bordering on asphyxiation.
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Above
Seven of Wands
Staves: Creating. Creative energy. Think of building a house with wooden planks.
Seven: Going deeper. You become aware of deeper levels of meaning and hidden motivations. You’re no longer satisfied with superficial answers.
A young man on a craggy eminence, brandishing a staff; six other staves are raised towards him from below. Divinatory Meanings: It is a card of valour, for, on the surface, six are attacking one, who has, however, the vantage position. On the intellectual plane, it signifies discussion, wordy strife; in business– negotiations, war of trade, barter, competition. It is further a card of success, for the combatant is on the top and his enemies may be unable to reach him. Reversed: Perplexity, embarrassments, anxiety.
You are facing adversity and challenge — and still holding your ground. You must draw on your inner strength and personal faith to deal with this latest challenge. Something is coming to a head. An unexpected confrontation looms on the horizon, yet you are not afraid. Reversed: Not willing to confront your problems. Would prefer to turn and run. Feeling a sense of anxiety. Uncomfortable about what’s ahead. Disturbed by choices facing you. Lacking willpower.
A young man on a rocky hill grasps a flowering wand. Six others rise up against him. In Queen Elizabeth I’s time, men fought in this manner. Divinatory Meaning: Man holding his own against adversaries. Strife, stiff competition in business, war or trade; success against opposition; courage in the face of difficulties. Reversed: Perplexity, embarrassment, anxiety. This card is also a caution against indecision.
Today’s problems lead to future.
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Below
Four of Swords
Swords: Defending. Self-defense and setting boundaries. Think of drawing a line in the sand with a sword point.
Four: Making it happen. Your efforts result in concrete manifestation. Initial success.
The effigy of a knight in the attitude of prayer, at full length upon his tomb. Divinatory Meanings: Vigilance, retreat, solitude, hermit’s repose, exile, tomb and coffin. Reversed: Wise administration, circumspection, economy, avarice, precaution, testament.
Once again it is time to back away from your troubles, to make time for quiet contemplation. Your problems will still be there when you return, but you’ll be energized and able to approach things with a clearer head, wiser from your rest. Reversed: No time to rest. Action is needed. You are being called back. Because you may not be ready to act, take care before committing yourself. Use caution.
The effigy of a knight lies at full length upon his tomb, in an attitude of prayer. One sword lies beside his tomb, while three hang over him. Divinatory Meaning: Rest from strife; retreat; solitude. Hermit’s repose; convalescence after illness; exile. Not a card of death. Reversed: Activity, social unrest, qualified success. Use precaution, economy and circumspection.
Harmony, calm, reprieve from struggle.
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Behind
Queen of Swords
Swords: Defending. Self-defense and setting boundaries. Think of drawing a line in the sand with a sword point.
Queen: Encouraging. Getting things done in a calm, understated way. Using persuasion rather than force.
Her right hand raises the weapon vertically and the hilt rests on an arm of her royal chair; the left hand is extended, the arm raised; her countenance is severe, chastened, and suggests familiarity with sorrow. Divinatory Meanings: Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation. Reversed: Malice, bigotry, artifice, prudery, deceit.
Learn to rely on your mind; hone your intellectual abilities. Learn to see both sides of an issue, analyze carefully, free from emotions before deciding which action to take. Reversed: Don’t look at things from a narrow perspective. Don’t shut yourself off from the truth by closing your ears to other points of view.
A queen seated on a throne looks out over a cloud-filled landscape. Her right hand raises a sword whose hilt rests on the arm of her throne. She looks sorrowful and grave. (Note the storm clouds in all the Court cards of the Swords.) Divinatory Meaning: A dark-haired, brown-eyed woman, subtle, keen and quick-witted. May signify widowhood, sterility, privation, separation, acquaintance with sadness. The sword of spirit penetrating matter and informing it. Reversed: A woman of artifice, prudery. May betoken narrow-mindedness, intolerance, bigotry.
A sharp, clever, highly qualified woman who demands respect will offer advice.
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Ahead
The Fool
Foolishness. Nonconformity. Devout. Humor which illuminates a situation. Unexpected good advice.
Folly, mania, extravagance, intoxication, delirium, frenzy, bewrayment. Reversed: Negligence, absence, distribution, carelessness, apathy, nullity, vanity.
Who but a fool would leap headlong into the void, seemingly uncaring about the potential dangers, trials, and challenges that lie ahead? The Fool’s innocence is also his charm and what makes him so attractive. The Fool is untouched by life, but ready for the experience. He represents purity of action. There is no time for analysis or strategy. He doesn’t look behind him. He only looks forward. The Fool needs no encouragement to begin the journey. He does not need to test the water. He’ll find out when he steps in it whether it is warm or cold.
His motives are pure. He seeks to discover. His quest is for life — and he is willing to give it a chance, come what may. The Fool lives to live.
The Fool is a believer in all things, especially the potential that life holds. But ask him to be elaborate, and he’ll smile and say, “Find out for yourself.” His source of knowledge comes from inside. He trusts his instincts — he instinctively “knows”.
The card tells us to take the plunge, follow our heart, listen to the inner call. We are being told to face the risks, even tempt fate. The card also reminds us of the power of our imagination and our dreams. The message is simple: all things are possible. Reversed: A thin line divides the act of The Fool from foolishness. The need to exercise caution, not to charge ahead foolishly. It also could mean that you are holding yourself back, not paying attention to your instincts. You say to yourself, “if in doubt, don’t do it.”
The Fool is depicted as a youth lightly stepping to the edge of a precipice surrounded by lofty mountains. He looks out into the distance; the abyss at his feet holds no terrors for him. A dog barks at his heels. The wand over his shoulder is a symbol of the will, and the wallet contains the stored-up knowledge of universal memory. The rose he carries is white, to indicate freedom from lower forms of desire.
The Fool is about to enter the supreme adventure — that of passing through the gates of experience to reach Divine Wisdom. He is the cosmic Life-Breath, about to descend into the abyss of manifestation. Every man must journey forward and choose between good and evil. If he has no philosophy, he is The Fool. He must pass through the experiences suggested in the remaining 21 cards, to reach in card 21 the climax of cosmic consciousness or Divine Wisdom.
Divinatory Meaning: The subject of the reading faces a choice in life — a choice of vital importance to him. Therefore he must be careful to use all his powers to make the right choice. Reversed: The choice made is likely to be faulty.
Unencumbered and unnumbered. Although the Fool may seem like an innocent, it is one of the most complex and human of all cards, containing as it does the holy innocence of a wise man. But the fool is also a trickster and a charlatan, with all of the human contradictions and problems that we all face every day. The fool is neither male nor female, good nor evil, angel nor devil. It is the symbol of human potential and new beginnings, rising up to meet all new challenges that come to it on its long road. The Fool prefers to look forward to the future rather than dwell in the past. Reversed: Beware of foolish lack of forethought.
Freedom, Great Supply of Energy
The fool has a name, but he does not have a number. He represents the original boundless energy, total freedom, madness, disorder, chaos, or even the fundamental creative urge. The key phrase of The Fool could be “All paths are my path.”
The Fool evokes an enormous burst of energy. Wherever he goes, he brings this vital impulse with him.
This card, an inseminator of energy, will exacerbate, nourish, or despoil the surrounding cards. The Fool is a mirror of The Nameless Arcanum, which could well be his skeleton. The Fool shows us that the capacity to act is also acquired through the initiatory crossing through madness and death.
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You
Four of Wands
Staves: Creating. Creative energy. Think of building a house with wooden planks.
Four: Making it happen. Your efforts result in concrete manifestation. Initial success.
From the four great staves planted in the foreground there is a great garland suspended; two female figures uplift nosegays; at their side is a bridge over a moat, leading to an old manorial house. Divinatory Meanings: They are for once almost on the surface — country life, repose, concord, harmony, prosperity, peace, and the perfected work of these. Reversed: The meaning remains unaltered; it is prosperity, increase, felicity, beauty, embellishment.
Your accomplishments leave you feeling satisfied. Because your goals have been achieved, you feel a sense of peace, security, and happiness. You can take time to rest, relax, enjoy, and count your blessings. There’s a feeling of harmony in the air. Reversed: The same as upright, but with somewhat less intensity.
A garland is hung from the tops of four flowering wands; two maidens lift up bouquets of flowers; near them is a bridge over a moat, leading to an old castle. Divinatory Meaning: The coming of romance, harmony, prosperity, peace. The bounty of the harvest home, perfected work, haven of refuge. Reversed: Here the meaning remains unaltered; it is still prosperity, increase and bounty, but in lesser degree.
Unexpected wealth brings popularity.
Desire has become reality. The work of the artist enters the world and enjoys success.
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Others
The Magician
I – The Magician. Tricking or taking advantage of others, or you are the one being tricked. Thriving outside society’s norms; “beating the system”. Physical or mental dexterity. Travel.
Skill, diplomacy, address; sickness, pain, loss, disaster; self-confidence, will; the Querent, if male. Reversed: Physician, Magus, mental disease, disgrace, disquiet.
The Magician is one of the most practical of the Tarot symbols. He represents the powers we each possess to create meaning and purpose in our lives. With one hand pointed to the heavens, the other pointing downward, The Magician tells us that this creative power resides both within and outside ourselves — but always within reach. The Magician seems to be saying, “Open yourself to the forces surrounding you, the life-giving powers, the powers of creation — draw them to yourself, transform yourself into whatever you wish to be.” Reversed: You are blocking your creative energies. Or you are afraid to experiment, to try new things. Your self-confidence is lacking because you are unsure of yourself. At the same time, the card could be telling you not to be so self-assured, that what worked once may not be right this time.
The Magician has above his head the cosmic lemniscate shaped like a figure 8 on its side, symbol of eternal life. Above his waist is a serpent devouring its own tail — a well-known symbol of eternity. In his right hand is a wand raised toward heaven, while his left hand points to the earth. He is drawing power from above and directing it into manifestation. On the table are the symbols of the four suits of the Minor Arcana, signifying the natural elements of life: air, fire, water and earth. Roses and lilies in the garden about him show the cultivation of desires. He represents the personal will in its union with the Divine, which then has the knowledge and power to bring things into manifestation through conscious self-awareness. Divinatory Meaning: Will, mastery, skill, occult wisdom, power, diplomacy. The ability to take power from above and direct it through desire into manifestation. Reversed: The use of power for destructive ends. Weakness, indecision.
This card is only one step away from the Fool. It relates more to a stage magician or entertainer than a character of high holy magic — more like just another trickster you might meet along the way. This is a fortunate draw because it suggests progress, moving forward in your life towards success. It also tells of a deeper, worldly understanding of your environment. This card suggests that a decision needs to be made with confidence, but that it should be well thought out. Reversed Meaning: Beware of hesitation or unwillingness to confront reality.
Beginning and Choosing
The Magician bears the number one. This figure contains the whole in potential; it is like the original point from which a universe emerges. For The Magician all is possible.
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Illusions
Justice
Justice: Fairness. Impartiality. The institution of justice, i.e. the judicial system, courts, lawsuits, judges, lawyers, etc. Judging someone’s deeds. Being judged by others.
If a balance in your life has been reached, success cannot be too far behind. Sound judgement and awareness are called for here. Complete triumph of the spirit is impossible unless you tap into your soul and mind. Only then will material success be within your grasp. This card means that you may be judged for your actions in the world soon. This may be positive or negative — it depends whether or not you’re found wanting. Reversed Meaning: Injustice, harsh or unfair judgment by others.
Fulfillment, balance, perfection; not synonymous with symmetry.
Strength: Power, energy, action, courage, magnanimity. Reversed: Despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord.
A woman over whose head we see the cosmic lemniscate, symbol of eternal life, the same as that shown in the card of the Magician. She is shown confidently closing the lion’s mouth. Around her waist is a chain of roses — the union of desires which creates such strength that wild, unconscious force bows before it. For a consciousness that is aware of the sign of Eternity above it, there are no obstacles, nor can there be any resistance. Divinatory Meaning: Spiritual power overcomes material power. The triumph of love over hate, the higher nature over carnal desires. Reversed: The abuse of power, the domination of the material, discord. This card suggests the need for meditation as a help in controlling the animal passions.
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To Come
Ten of Pentacles
Coins: Obtaining. Providing for yourself. Establishing a comfort zone. Taking risks with resources. Think of the thoughts and feelings you experience when you buy a lottery ticket.
Ten: Enough already. You’ve attained your goals, but find them unsatisfying. Time to begin something new.
A man and woman beneath an archway which gives entrance to a house and domain. Divinatory Meanings: Gain, riches; family matters, archives, extraction, the abode of a family. Reversed: Chance, fatality, loss, robbery, games of hazard; sometimes gift, dowry, pension.
You’ve achieved much of what you want, but you don’t know if it’s enough and you should seek more, or if it is as satisfying as you hoped it would be. At a minimum you are secure, have comfortable home, and sufficient wealth. Reversed: Financial security in jeopardy. Not a good time to invest in new projects, gamble on possible return. You are facing a multitude of financial problems. You feel constrained, unable to do anything to improve your lot.
A patriarch rests at ease in the foreground, surrounded by his family and dogs. An archway emblazoned with his coat of arms opens onto an impressive house. Divinatory Meaning: An established family of material prosperity and lineage. Gain, riches, family matters, inheritance. May refer to money spent on a house or business property. Reversed: Chance of loss of inheritance. Family misfortune or loss of family honor. Robbery, gambling. Caution against getting involved in project that may be a poor risk.
Unexpected wealth from an outside source.
Once prosperity has been obtained, there is a complete spiritual work to be accomplished with the riches we’ve amassed. The way of prosperity has closed. In the material domain, it is time for creativity to enter into action.