Suit Of Wands

The Suit of Wands (here drawn as sticks, pencils, arrows, paint brushes, etc.) are associated with fire

and deal with passion, desire, creativity, activism, and ideas. If wands were personified, they would

be the muse: potential, ideas, and moments of epiphany that fire up creativity within. The Suit of

Wands is also the suit of the spirit, primal energy, and our core selves. Wands are often trying to tell

us about our personalities, our driving forces, and what is best for us at the centre of our being.

Wands are pure inspired energy, burning hot in your gut.

Ace of Wands

The Green Light

A hand that is reminiscent of the hand of God holds a wand for you,
blossoming with possibility. Aces are potential beginnings. Wands are
passion, fire, drive, and creativity. Wands are about the love of life. Combine
these two concepts, and the Ace of Wands is raw creative energy.

The Ace of Wands is an epiphany. If any card says, “YES! GO FOR IT!” to your
crazy idea, it’s this one. In the scenery, we see many examples of innovation,
and the river flows freely. Human creativity has great potential, and this
wand is for you. What’s driving you lately? What are you all fired up about? If
you have a dream, it's time to chase it.

If you don’t feel like you have a dream right now, then be on the lookout for it. It’s likely coming your
way. If not, the Ace of Wands may be asking you to delve deeper. Have you given up on dreams, or
postponed them indefinitely? Dredge them up. The Ace of Wands gives you its enthusiastic blessing
Two of Wands

The Travel Card

A young woman sits on the hood of her car, contemplating a road map. The
world is literally in her hands. She could go anywhere, but she’ll have to pick
where that is first.

When the Two of Wands appears in a reading, you need to make a change—
travel, start a new project, pursue an opportunity. I affectionately refer to the
Two of Wands as the travel card, because it urges you to go somewhere. Are
you feeling like you want to move, travel, change careers, further your
education, or start a project? It’s time to get out your map and start
researching.

The Ace of Wands is pure potential. Creative fire is wild and chaotic, without direction. The Two of
Wands urges you to snatch a bit of that wild energy and begin sculpting it into something real.
Reduced to reality, the creative flame is smaller, but it is also becomes something you can actually
use. It can be terrifying to narrow limitless potential into a single choice, but how else will you start?
Don’t just daydream; plan. You’re on your way.

Three of Wands

The Intern

The Three of Wands is here to tell you that you are on the right track to
where you want to be. I think of this card like an intern, working hard toward
the career of her dreams. She’s not exactly where she wants to be yet, but she
knows she’s on the right path. She looks out at the sea of opportunity from a
high vantage point, where she has a good view of upcoming challenges and
possibilities.

While the Two of Wands suggests you are preparing to leave the nest, the
Three comes to you when your flight is well under way. Maggie Steifvater
described the Three of Wands in a way that really stuck with me: “It is not a
ferocious flame that needs to be tamed; it’s a campfire that requires your attention in order to
persist.” (161)

Threes are always about interaction and communication with others. At this point in your path, you
will benefit from community. Take advantage of opportunities and be prepared to keep moving. You
have not reached your final destination, but you are on the right road.
Four of Wands

A Joyful Resting Spot

This is one of the few truly warm, optimistic, and happy cards in tarot! The
Four of Wands is here to remind you that you have wonderful things in your
life, and you should celebrate and appreciate them. The house in the
background suggests the concept of home, connecting this card to the idea of
family, whatever that means to you. It is the fiery passion energy of Wands
brought into a domestic setting. It is a card of holidays, of weddings, of going
home to visit loved ones, of new family members, and parties.

This is card is an excellent omen if you are building a home, growing or

combining families, or otherwise adjusting the state of your domestic life. If
you have recently accomplished something, the Four of Wands urges you to celebrate it. Graduating?
Finishing a big project? Falling in love or welcoming a baby into your family? Revel in it! Enjoy the
moment. That is a downside to the Four of Wands. It depicts a beautiful moment, not a permanent
state.

So enjoy your milestone! It’s okay to be happy. Everything is temporary, and right now, things are
good. Don’t let this moment pass without being thoroughly appreciated.

Five of Wands

The Pointless Conflict Card

The Five of Wands is a card of conflict. This is a fight, not a heroic battle. I
chose to draw dogs fighting over sticks. What’s most important to notice
about the Five of Wands is that no one is really getting hurt. There is no
blood or grave injury. It’s a pointless low-stakes conflict that leaves everyone
bruised.

When the Five of Wands pops up, you can expect little to go right for you. I
often find myself describing a pain-in-the-ass morning of missing my bus,
stubbing my toe, and being harassed by strangers as a ‘Five of Wands kind of
day.’ The Five of Wands can also suggest that certain groups of people don’t
work well together or aren’t working well together right now.

The Five of Wands is here to tell us that these conflicts are not worth it, ultimately do not matter, and
aren’t doing you any good. Whether this is a conflict with real stakes or a pointless slap fight, it’s
annoying and it’s getting in your way. Distance yourself from it or let it go. Choose not to care so
much, if you can.
Six of Wands

Public Recognition of Victory

Congratulations, you’re a winner! The Six of Wands depicts a victory parade,

complete with laurel crown and victory wreath. This card depicts public
recognition of triumph or reaching a major creative milestone. Not only have
you succeeded, people know it.

If it’s a Six of Wands moment for you, enjoy it! Get that external validation.
You’ve worked hard to achieve whatever it is you have achieved, so let your
confidence grow. If imposter syndrome is preventing you from basking in the
glow, throw it right out the door. You’ve shown everyone that you deserve
this victory. Let yourself believe it as well.

All this being said, pay attention to where the Six of Wands is positioned in your spread. Is it an
omen of victory, or a suggestion that your goals are based on others recognizing your success? Public
recognition is wonderful when you earn it, but it’s not great as a motivating desire. Even at its most
pure and glorious, the Six of Wands doesn’t mean that you’re done. Take the time to revel in your
many laurels, but don’t rest on them. Enjoy the moment, let it fuel your confidence, and keep going.

Seven of Wands

King of the Hill

The Seven of Wands shows someone being attacked from multiple angles.
They’re outnumbered and forced to defend their position, but they’re not
afraid. There’s determination in their expression. The threats will be a trial to
endure, but they will not unseat them.

I affectionately think of this card like the game ‘King of the hill,’ in which one
player will claim an area of high ground and defend it from a group of
challengers trying to knock them off. While the Five of Wands is a raucous,
unorganized free-for-all, the Seven of Wands is a coordinated attack.
Everyone is ganging up on you.

The Seven of Wands urges you to hold your ground. Someone, most likely multiple someone’s, are
trying to unseat you. Don’t let them. Your strength and perseverance will keep you on the hill so long
as you believe strongly in what you are fighting for. Stay the course, but do not compromise the best
things about yourself in order to win. That wouldn’t be winning at all.
Eight of Wands

Aim True and Move Fast

It’s time to go! The eight arrows (wands) of the card fly with great
momentum towards their target. There’s so much energy here. The sky is
clear. Everything is moving fast, all in one direction.

This is not the carefree ‘go with the flow’ energy of the Fool. There’s flow
here, but it’s strong, fast, and cohesive. Circumstances may have aligned, but
you are the driving force. Have you been planning a project? Working
towards a goal? Babying a dream? Time to let that arrow fly.

You are past the stages of careful planning or biding your time. Don’t slow
things down because you are afraid. You will only lose the momentum. You have the experience, you
have the skills, and now it’s finally the moment. Don’t hesitate. This is not just a green light, it’s your
foot on the accelerator.

Nine of Wands

The I’m-Still-Standing Card

Nines are about maturing and seeing things clearly. Often, ‘awareness’ means
showing how suits deal with problems inherent in their nature. If you live a
life of fiery Wand passion, you are likely to get beaten, tired, and bloodied
more than once in your pursuit of what fuels you. In the Rider-Waite-Smith
version of the Nine of Wands, a man who has clearly had the snot kicked out
of him stands ready to fight another day.

I chose to draw someone hard at work, after many hours. The chewed pens—
our wands—symbolize creative energy. It’s what keeps us going. As a self-
employed artist, I connect to this character deeply. In working this hard, he
has neglected other aspects of his life, which might include sufficient sleep, a social life, or moments
of leisure.

Whatever the conflict is, keep fighting. What is important to note about the Nine of Wands is that it
tells you to hold your ground through the final push, not to live like this forever. This hardship is
worth bearing, but don’t make it your whole life. You are strong. You have endured, and you need to
keep enduring. The end is in sight.
Ten of Wands

More Weight

The figure carries a large bundle of sticks, back bent under the weight. The
wands are our projects, passions, desires, accomplishments. Wands are
generally good things, but they are also work. Wands can be heavy.

The Ten of Wands comes up for me a lot, which I assume is because I have a
long-standing habit of taking on too much. Each new project is exciting,
something I really want to do, but as they accumulate, I am crushed under
the weight. It has gotten to the point where every time I tell my girlfriend
about a new job or opportunity, she says, “Oh, another stick?”

If the Ten of Wands comes for you, you are at the end of a creative journey. If you are still carrying
the weight of the entire journey, you might be at a breaking point. When you take on more
responsibilities than you can handle, the burden must be lifted. Can you leave some sticks behind,
organize them more efficiently, ask for help, or carry them in smaller batches? Can you let the
project end? Don’t you want enough energy left over to start the creative cycle again?
Page of Wands

Student of the Creative Spark

The Page of Wands is a small flame ready to catch and grow. Actually, she’s
many small flames all burning side by side. Which one will find tinder? The
Page of Wands is for those of us who want to do everything. My Page’s wand
is a ukulele, because what other instrument better represents the joyful
combination of unbridled enthusiasm, creative expression, and enjoying
yourself?

If the Page of Wands is a person in your life, they are likely young. Or maybe
they just act like they are young. While they are also delightful, you probably
shouldn’t hold your breath for them to follow through with their ideas. They
may be easily distracted and have difficulty focusing, but what is wonderful about the Page of Wands
is that they welcome new opportunities with a beginner’s mindset. They are delighted to learn and
grow.

If you are the Page of Wands, there’s a lot of potential in your life right now. Don’t limit yourself. Life
is crackling with endless possibilities. At some point, the Page will have to narrow her path to give
full attention to a smaller selection of passions, but for now at least, life offers countless open roads.

Knight of Wands

The One Who Rides Like She's on Fire

Knights are agents of action, and the Knight of Wands has the most action of
all. She has the energy and commitment to make it happen. She is impulsive
and enthusiastic. There is a beautiful, wild fire burning inside of her. She is in
love with her ideas and the idea of pursuing them. On the other hand, the
Knight of Wands may rush in without a clear plan and lose sight of the big
picture. She is often not a team player, coming off as aggressive or unyielding
to others.

Sometimes, what you really need to get moving is that fire-under-your-ass

Wands energy. In a reading, the Knight of Wands encourages you to start
your creative project with enthusiasm. The Knight also serves as a warning to temper all that
momentum with a well-considered plan that takes into account possible obstacles and
consequences.

The Knight of Wands needs the influence of discipline to save herself from burning out. Paired with
Swords’ intellect, Cups’ emotional consideration, and Pentacles’ grounding, the Knight of Wands can
provide the self-confidence needed to move you forward. There is nothing inherently wrong with
gusto. Just think it through and point it in the right direction.
Queen of Wands

Our Lady of Creativity

The fire burning inside of the Queen of Wands is something she has learned
to tame, nurture, and make work for her in the best of ways. She is ambitious,
but not competitive. She’s making her dreams come true and she wants the
same for you. The flower she holds glows with life, representing her vibrant
creativity. The black cat represents her connection to her darker self. The
Queen of Wands embraces darkness along with the light.

I chose to draw the Queen of Wands as a friend of mine who never ceases to
amaze me. She is an incredible artist and a wonderful mother. When she
writes, she digs deep. She prioritizes friendship. She embraces a joyful life
and she wants the same for you. If the Queen of Wands card stands for someone in your life, then you
are very lucky indeed.

The Queen of Wands encourages you to work with your own flame of inspiration. At the same time
she reminds you to focus on work/life balance. Her passion is not just for projects but also for life
itself—friendship, family, love, the whole shebang. Channel confidence from the Queen of Wands and
embrace life with boundless courage.

King of Wands

Leadership Through Passion

Queens embody the ideals of their suit. Kings push those ideals outward,
onto the world around them. Kings are not satisfied to live the best of their
suit; they want to build something that others take part it in. In Wands, the
suit of creativity, this is a natural transition. The focus of the King’s creative
fire is community-minded. Their passion is most likely an organization or
movement. The King’s strength lies in leadership.

I chose to draw the King of Wands as a friend and collaborator of mine, who
founded and runs an inclusive and comprehensive sex education website.
This person built an entire organization involving many volunteers and
millions of users and has offered quality sex ed for over 20 years (and counting). They saw a way to
use their passion to make the world a better place, did it, and then kept it up.

If you are the King of Wands, then it’s time to put your leadership skills to work. You may feel like
you’re doing less actual creating than you used to, but remember that you’re building something
bigger than yourself. You can bring people together. You can make them stronger.
 Suit Of Cups
The Suit of Cups is associated with water, and the meanings of the cards are associated with

emotions, relationships, and connections. Cups are romantic and vibrant. They deal with the full

range of emotions, the good and the bad, the intentional and the chaotic. Cups are about the heart,

displays of feelings, and emotions in relation to people in your life. Cups focus on intuition over logic:

they suggest that you are, or that you should be, making decisions with your heart over your head.

Ace of Cups

Your Cup Overfloweth

Aces are potential beginnings, should you choose to take them. I think of each
Ace as the hand of the universe, or God (if you are so inclined), offering you a
chance. The Suit of Cups is about emotions, relationships, and connections.
Therefore, the Ace of Cups is an emotional chance.

In readings, the cup usually represents a glorious opportunity being offered

to you, but it is your choice to drink or not. The card will often come to us
when we are close to a new experience that will grow our capacity for giving
and receiving all forms of love and fulfillment.

The Ace of Cups is a great card for romance, but I encourage you to not
narrow your ideas of an emotional opportunity to romantic relationships alone. Your Ace of Cups
could be anything that enthralls your emotions: a new friendship, a pet, a project, or a community.
Aces are just the beginning of a cycle with its own set of ups and downs, but right now, this one feels
damn good. Take the cup.
Two of Cups

The Long-Term Love Card

The Two of Cups is about love! Lasting love that is supportive and heartfelt.
Above the two figures is a winged lion and intertwined snakes. The
intertwined snakes reference the caduceus of Hermes (Greek messenger
god, Roman Mercury), and symbolize peace and balance. The winged lion
head symbolizes passion and fire energy. While many refer to the Two of
Cups as the ‘marriage’ card, it does not refer exclusively to any permanent
commitment. The love the Two of Cups speaks of is life-changing, but not
necessarily forever. Forever is not a promise any card can make.

In a reading, this card is a great sign for any relationship, suggesting that
your connection is genuine. Your partnership is special and fulfilling for both of you. Whether
platonic or romantic, this relationship will fill your heart with joy and improve your life.

If you feel like your love cup is empty right now, chin up. Something or someone good is probably
coming your way soon. Perhaps you are in unrequited love or recovering from a breakup. Even if
your love affair ends in fire and ruin, there is a valuable lesson in the Two of Cups: you are capable of
love.

Three of Cups

The Party With Friends Card

Cheers to you and yours! This is a pure and powerful love card for you and
your friends. These women dance, they toast each other, they celebrate.
Your close friendships are precious. If this card comes up for you in a
reading it is time to be with your squad.

Most often, the Three of Cups is telling you to party with your crew. This
card can signify an accomplishment within your group or by someone close
to you that deserves to be celebrated. Alternatively, it could just be a push to
celebrate the friendships themselves. Just having people who truly care
about each other is something worth dancing about.

Sometimes, the Three of Cups may come to you in a time of strife. In these cases, think of your
friends. If you turn to them now, you will likely find the compassion and support you are looking for.
It may be the case that you have been neglecting your friendships, either due to a romantic
relationship or life stresses. Well, cut it out! Your pals are important, appreciate the hell out of them.
Four of Cups

The Too-Busy-Self-Reflecting-To-Take-The-Dang-Cup Card

Hey! Buddy! Look around you. This girl has all these beautiful full cups just
sitting in the dirt, but she’s too busy sitting there with her eyes closed to
notice them.

In tarot, the cups are your emotions. Upright cups represent potentially
fulfilling opportunities like friendships, romantic relationships, family, or
pets. The cups in this card are good things in her life. They’re just chillin’ in
the grass waiting for her, but she’s too busy meditating or pouting or
thinking about herself to see them.

If the Four of Cups comes up for you in a reading, it’s time to snap out of it! You are likely stuck in a
mental loop. Perhaps you are having a narcissistic moment, or you are secluding yourself for
introspective reasons. Maybe you’re just a puddle of self-pity. Well, the Four of Cups wants you to
look up. The cups being held out to you are most likely gifts. Notice them.

Five of Cups

The Sad-Boy-Crying-Over-Spilt-Cups Card

Something bad has happened to the person in this card. His heart aches.
Three of his cups lay before him, spilt, their contents lost forever. It is a loss
he cannot get back. He is grieving. He is at an emotional low, and he doesn’t
recognize the two full cups behind him. Across the river is a building,
potential shelter, somewhere that could improve his life. A bridge in the
background could get him to these greener pastures, but he makes no move
to cross it. He’s too busy being miserable.

In a reading, the Five of Cups signifies that you, or a person close to you, is
wallowing in disappointment. Often this card signifies depression. Despair
has left you unable to recognize opportunities and good things still in their life. When you are ready,
lift your weary head and see the two upright cups in front of you.

Alternatively, the card could be refer to someone close to you who is in this emotional state. They
may need your help, or they may be beyond helping. You might be one of the upright cups they
cannot see.
Six of Cups

The Childhood Nostalgia Card

Two children plant a garden together on a fire escape. The Six of Cups has a
deep connection to happy memories of childhood and the past. It is about
naivete and joy that is harder to access as an adult. It’s about a sense of
wonder.

When the Six of Cups pops up, it is often encouraging you to access this kind
of delight again. Locate the kid inside yourself and look at the world with
fresh, joyful eyes. In a more literal sense, the Six of Cups may be encouraging
you to spend time with family or a specific friend from your past. When did
you last feel child-like joy? Can you reach out to someone and reconnect?
This card could also suggest engaging in simple wholesome pleasures, like potting flowers.

I am often reminded that the Six of Cups is a context-dependent card. If your childhood was difficult,
the Six of Cups may signify that childhood issues are rearing their ugly heads for you again. Try to
remember how you have grown since then. Perhaps you didn’t get to have much wonder as a child,
but what’s stopping you now?

Seven of Cups

Frozen By The Fantasy of Options

The person in this card is confronted with exciting options, each with an
unknown outcome. A graduate’s mortarboard—perhaps she will further her
education? A bird’s nest of chicks—maybe she will start a family? A tiny
house—to buy or build a home. A snake that stands for wisdom, a globe that
stands for travel, a lotus that stands spiritual pursuits. A money tree growing
out of a bed of coins that stands for… well… money. The options present
varying levels of safety and danger, but she doesn’t pick one.

Instead, she remains in a dreamy state of indecision. If she chooses to pursue one of these options, is
she leaving the others behind? Are all of these choices even real options? How will she choose?

If the Seven of Cups comes up for you, it’s time to stop daydreaming and start doing. This is a card of
magical thinking, where the idea of doing something, or doing many things, is so wonderful that you
never make a move. However, these options are not even real things; they are just ideas. Don’t let
yourself become overwhelmed or stuck in the static delight of fantasy. Choose a direction, and start
moving.
Eight of Cups

The “I’m Leaving My Cups Behind Me!” Card

This is a card about abandonment. It is a card of emotional exhaustion, burn-

out, and the discovery that something you have worked hard for does not
bring you fulfillment. Your emotional situation is not working for you. It is
not fixable.

The person in the card has left their cups, and therefore their emotional
entanglements, to pursue an adventure of unknown outcome. Some of these
cups are shattered, while some are still whole. A situation is usually not
entirely broken, but this person has determined that moving on is a better
move than trying to salvage the situation. Because this is the Suit of Cups, it is
likely that the thing you need to leave is a relationship. This is absolutely no fun, but ultimately the
right decision.

If the Eight of Cups comes up for you, it may be time to abandon a situation or set of ideals that you
have been holding you down. Alternatively, you may have recently left something behind, and you
are on the right path now because of it. While the abandoned cups represent the sadness of leaving
something behind, the mountains are a new journey to look forward to, free of previous burden.

Nine of Cups

The Happiness Card

Look at this happy dude and all his cups! He made these cups, he loves them,
and now he is going to bask in their glory and enjoy them. I often wonder
which comes first: happiness or gratitude. Are you grateful because you are
happy or are you happy because you are grateful? Of course it’s not that
simple, but you get my point. The man in the Nine of Cups is both. This is a
card you really, really hope comes true.

Whatever you have been working for in your emotional life—your

relationships, your hobbies, your home—it’s all here, and it’s beautiful. The
Nine and Ten of Cups are both about happiness, but I see the Nine as about
internal happiness. I drew the man in this card as a potter because he is creating his own joy. He
carries his optimism inside him. He is aware of his blessings.

Sometimes the Nine of Cups heralds a dramatic accomplishment, but often it is simply about
gratitude and appreciation. Take a deep breath and marvel at your life. Celebrate where you are and
find joy in the moment.
Ten of Cups

The Happy Family Rainbow Card

A beautiful family basks under a rainbow of upright cups! The Ten of Cups
embodies joy and fulfillment in your family and friendships. As a ten, this
card is the grand finale of the ups and downs of your emotional life. The road
may have been long and winding, but now you are here with your fam under
this sick rainbow. Nice.

The Ten of Cups is about family, but the definition of family here is broad.
Many people, especially queer people, find family outside of the one they
were born into. Your family may be biological, chosen, or adopted. Your
family could be friends, roommates, or your pet lizard. This card encourages
you to think about who your family really is.

The Ten of Cups represents an external kind of happiness that comes from your life just sort of being
really great right now. Bliss can’t last forever, though, so enjoy it. Stockpile those idyllic memories
while you can. A familial relationship is never perfect and always in flux, but the Ten of Cups is a
moment of love and gratitude for the people in our lives.
Page of Cups

Student of Inspiration

The Page of Cups has found a fish, and they are driven to keep and nurture it.
The Page of Cups is a person who truly feels everything as it is happening,
fully, and without shame. They love and laugh easily. They emote. They never
lost their sense of wonder, and they bring it everywhere with them.

Pages represent beginnings, and in the realm of Cups, beginnings are

emotions before they have risen to full consciousness. I’m talking about
dreams, inspiration, and strong-but-not-totally-understood, intuition. The
Page is ready to take the Ace of Cups, but they don’t quite know what to do
with it yet. As an emotional being, the Page lacks the experience of the Queen
or King. If you are the Page of Cups, you are likely on an emotional path you don’t quite understand
yet.

If the Page of Cups is a person in your life, you likely felt an instant and inexplicable connection with
them. They may be a person who would benefit from your guidance and/or protection. They are also
probably an artist of some kind. They might not fully have their feet on the ground yet, but the Page
of Cups is often a joy to be around. They have an infectiously open heart.

Knight of Cups

The One Who Rides for Love

Summarized eloquently in Modern Tarot by Michelle Tea, “The Knight of

Cups is in love with love.” (329) I interpret this in two ways. First, the Knight
of Cups is enamoured with romantic love. Second, the Knight of Cups
represents sensitivity.

In both interpretations, the Knight of Cups is ruled entirely by the heart. If

the Knight of Cups is a person in your life, you’ve likely already fallen for
them. If your Knight seems mature and able to align their love of love with
the real world, great! If this all feels too good to be true, then it likely is. Be
wary of anyone who becomes emotionally intimate with you too quickly. Consider your Knight
without your rose-colored glasses on. They may be all about the glamour of love, but are they up for
the difficult moments too?

If you are the Knight of Cups, take a breath. Maybe you are swept up in a romantic whirlwind and
ignoring the other aspects of your life. Maybe you are just too busy dreaming to live in real life.
Perhaps you are more the pining type of Knight, in love with a love that isn’t giving you enough back.
Snap out of it. Turn your love toward yourself.
Queen of Cups

Our Lady of Intuition

If land is the ‘real world,’ and water the subconscious, then the Queen of Cups
has her throne set in both. She has a deep connection to emotional
knowledge, but also possesses the ability to sculpt that inner world into
outer reality. The Queen of Cups is very much like The High Priestess, except
for the defining difference that the Queen of Cups is interested in other
people. She believes that life is to be enjoyed and that joy comes from
relationships and experiences.

If the Queen of Cups is someone in your life, you will get a psychic vibe from
them instantly. I drew the Queen of Cups as my mom, because she is the kind
of person who intuits things about you that you haven’t even figured out about yourself. She is rich
in love, smarts, and creativity, and she has probably already figured out how you are feeling about
any given thing.

If you are the Queen of Cups, it’s time to cultivate your intuition. If your gut is telling you something,
listen to it. Respect privacy and try not to freak everyone out with your witchy insights. Trust your
heart over logic or obligation. Let love be your driving force.

King of Cups

Leadership Through Emotional Strength

There are multiple views on how to read the King of Cups, but here’s mine.
Look at the water surrounding the King. It is tumultuous and stormy. In tarot,
water represents emotions and the unconscious. This King certainly has a lot
going on. But his face is placid. He is content. He is taking it all in stride.

I drew the King of Cups as my grandfather, in a dinghy where we made many

happy memories together. My grandfather has Alzheimer’s. His short-term
memory leaves him, a situation which he understands, but does not battle. He
is aging with grace and cheerfulness that I can only imagine. He knows he is
loved, and he is happy. The King of Cups shows true emotional strength in
the face of difficulty. In this way, he supports the people around him.

If you are the King of Cups, you are likely being called upon to balance your emotions. Whether your
choppy sea has to do with internal strife or outside forces, it is time to manage your feelings without
repressing them. How can you listen to your unconscious without being overwhelmed by it? How
can you best show compassion for your community while still taking care of yourself?
 Suit Of Swords
The Suit of Swords is associated with air. Swords are cards of the mind. They’ve got seriously cool,

calculated, and harsh vibes. The Suit of Swords is driven by thought, and often tends to deal with

decision-making, intellectual pursuits, planning, and analysing. I often think of each sword in a card

as a thought. Many of the sword cards are glyphs for overthinking, madness, or thoughts in conflict.

The Suit of Swords stands in contrast to the Suit of Cups and suggests that choices are being made

with the head over the heart.

Ace of Swords

Cut Through the Bullshit

Aces represents beginnings and the essence of the suit. Swords are intellect.
The Ace of Swords is honest perception. Most of the other swords in tarot are
held at an angle, to suggest logic tempered by flexibility or emotion. Not here.
The Sword is held straight up and down. Whether you like it or not, the Ace
of Swords is truth.

At its best, the Ace of Swords is when you know you are right. Sometimes this
comes as an innate flash of knowledge. Sometimes it comes through research.
Notice the dark clouds surrounding the sword without obstructing it.
Assumptions and feelings do not factor in. This is a card for setting aside how
you feel about an issue in favour of objectively recognizing what is actually happening. This isn’t
intuition; it’s knowledge.

If the Ace of Swords comes for you at a time when you aren’t feeling this unbridled confidence in
your judgment, then it’s time to cut through the conflicting feelings. The Ace of Swords is double-
edged. Most likely the truth that you need to discover is about yourself.
Two of Swords

You Have Two Options and Both of Them Are Bad

The Two of Swords is a crossroads. The woman in the card holds two knives
crossed in front of her. The tide comes in. She is very still. She wears a
blindfold that she could easily cut off. She might as well be stuck at a fork in
the road.

The Two of Swords comes to you when you have a decision to make, and you
really don’t want to. You don’t like either option. This whole situation just
sucks. The blindfold, which this woman has willingly put on to avoid
confronting what is in front of her, symbolizes denial. It’s an ableist
metaphor; even blindfolded, you could still be considering your options,
making a plan, or asking for help. Your vision is not the problem here—the situation and your lack of
response to it is.

Whelp, you’re not going to like this, but the only way out of this situation is to pick a sword. Maybe
you’re in denial, unable to think clearly, or honestly don’t know what the right choice is. Regardless,
you’ve procrastinated long enough. Face the situation as objectively as you can. The problem isn’t
going to go away just because you ignore it

Three of Swords

The Heartbreak Card

Ooof, I’m sorry. This is a rough one. The Three of Swords is the heartbreak
card, pure and simple. Something has hit you like three swords through your
chest. This is a card for breakups, grief, accidents, betrayal, difficult
diagnoses, and disasters. Whatever happened, it has left you feeling broken,
and you’re not sure how to put the pieces back together again.

In desperate times, sometimes all you can do is quote Robert Frost and
remember that, “the best way out is always through.” This isn’t a heartbreak
you can escape. You have to feel it. Accept that something deeply awful has
happened. Express your pain, and eventually, you will be able to begin
moving on. The danger of the Three of Swords is that you will absorb this pain into your identity. Let
yourself feel deeply, but don’t get stuck here. There is joy to be felt again. There’s a lot more life to
live.

If you are not feeling heartbroken right now, take a look around you. The card might be referring to
someone else in your life who is feeling this way—perhaps coincidentally, but possibly because of
your actions. Break any hearts recently?
Four of Swords

Take a Break

A woman sleeps. She has set three of her swords aside for now. She holds one
in her hands even while she sleeps, so she can return to the fray when she
has recovered. Fours are about stabilization.

In a reading, the Four of Swords is telling you retreat and prepare for the
next battle. You are in the midst of a challenge. It is of utmost importance that
you take a moment to recharge your energy, so that you are better able to
take on tomorrow’s challenge. If you, like me, are a type-A workaholic and
find relaxing quite difficult, this card is even more important.

If the Four of Swords comes to you at a time when you are working too hard or in the midst of
turmoil, you need to do whatever works the stress out of your body. For most, this is exercise
followed by a good night’s sleep. Turn off your phone, go for a run, take a bath, go into nature, or
spend a day reading in bed. Withdraw and recharge. You still have one sword in hand. You’ll return
when you are ready.

Five of Swords

You Won But You Were a Jerk About It

All fives show conflict or misery. In this case, the figure in the foreground has
won. He has defeated his enemies and taken their swords. At first glance we
see a victory, but that victory is hollow. He doesn’t need all those swords. He
can’t even hold all of them! The unfortunate losers weep in the background.
The man has won, but he was a jerk about it.

When the Five of Swords comes up for you, there is a conflict involved. If you
identify with the figure in the foreground, you will win, but the cost will be
heavy. You’ll probably feel quite mixed up about it at the end. Alternatively,
you may be one of the crying figures in the background, in which case,
someone is about to screw you over.

If conflict is brewing, maybe cut your losses now and leave the situation. No matter who wins,
everyone is going to lose. If the conflict has already happened, you are likely starting to realize that
you lost as much as or more than your opponent. The Five of Swords urges you to re-evaluate why
and if winning was worth it, and if not, to find a way to make it right.
Six of Swords

The Refugee Card

The water behind the boat is choppy. The man in the boat moves forward,
toward smoother waters and a brighter horizon. He is on a journey to a new
land, leaving a difficult situation behind him.

When the Six of Swords comes up for you, you are likely in a bad situation,
and need to make a difficult choice about whether to stay or leave. This card
urges you to make a journey. Because this is a Sword card, we know that
your choice should be made with the power of your logic and intellect.

Maybe you are in a bad relationship, or maybe it’s time for you to break ties
with a situation that isn’t working. You might be considering a literal geographic move. I call the Six
of Swords the refugee card because it makes me think of people who are forced to make the brave
choice to leave their country to escape grave danger. The immediate repercussions of this choice will
be difficult, but in the long term, you will be happier and safer in your new destination.

Seven of Swords

Watcha Gunna Do With All These Stolen Swords?

The Seven of Swords is a card of dishonesty, theft, and manipulation. This

man has clearly stolen all these swords, and the figure in the window knows
it. Are you planning something diabolical? Sneaking behind people’s backs?
Hoping to go undetected?

Unfortunately, this card doesn’t tell you whether you will be caught or get
away with it. In a reading, the intention of the Seven of Swords is to point out
the deceitful nature of your action, not to predict the outcome. Be aware of
the methods you are using to gain advantage and solve your problems. They
will likely catch up with you eventually, and even if they don’t, is the cover-
up and dishonesty worth it?

Alternatively, you may be a victim of someone else’s theft or plotting. If you really can’t find a way to
connect with the thief in this card, then it’s time to look out for sneaky behaviour in others. Someone
you trust may be deceiving you.
Eight of Swords

You’re Not As Trapped As You Think You Are

A woman is blindfolded, bound, and caged by eight swords. She appears

completely trapped by her restraints, but on closer inspection we see that
this metaphorical trap is not inescapable. There is so much she could still do
with limited sight and movement. She could yell for help, she could scheme
her way out, or she could grab a sword. In her hands, any of the swords
caging her would become an asset. She thinks she is out of options, but she
isn’t.

The Eight of Swords is about feeling so deeply stuck that you have stopped
looking for ways to save yourself. If you act, you’ll be forced to acknowledge
that you have some power over this garbage situation, which is a hard thing to admit. This card
makes me think of my experience with depression, where I found it difficult to pursue happiness and
make choices that would have improved my situation.

Don’t waste time blaming yourself. There is probably a very good reason that you feel trapped.
Shame will only increase your feelings of helplessness. What is important now is to recognize your
power and cut yourself free.

Nine of Swords

The Nightmare Card

Nine swords surround the head of a woman who is overcome by mental

anguish. Swords represent thoughts, so here we have a glyph for
overthinking. The Nine of Swords rules anxiety, depression, chronic stress,
insomnia, night terrors, and paranoia. When the Nine of Swords comes up for
me, I always take it to mean the same thing: it’s in your head, but that doesn’t
mean it isn’t real.

Crises of mental health and chronic stress are serious health problems that
need to be dealt with. Your mental torment may be internal or stem from an
external source such as trauma or a person intentionally gaslighting you.
Regardless of the problem, your emotional prison is not helping. What you need to do now is break
the anxiety loop.

The Eight of Swords teaches us that we are not as powerless as we feel. When the Nine of Swords
comes, remember coping mechanisms that have worked for you in the past. Turn the swords away
from yourself. I suggest reaching out for help from friends, family, community, or a mental health
professional. Talking about what is going on will be the best way to get out of your own head.
Ten of Swords

The Rock Bottom Card

Well, clearly nothing good is happening here. This person is stabbed like a
pincushion, and she doesn’t seem to be getting up any time soon. Generally,
the Ten of Swords comes to us when we are hitting, or are about to hit, rock
bottom.

If the Ten of Swords comes up for you, take a deep breath. Swords deal with
the realm of the mind. Physically, you are probably okay. If this card is in the
future position, you are being asked to take a good hard look at the path you
are going down. Possibly, this event can be avoided, because the Ten of
Swords is always a little bit our own fault.

If the Ten of Swords is unavoidable, or if it is already happening, then the good news is that the only
way to go is up. As a ten, this card is the end of a cycle. It’s time to pull the swords out of your back.
Let go of the identity of someone who has been entirely screwed over by life’s circumstances. Now
that the worst has happened, you get a hard-won lesson, freedom, and the gift of moving on.

Page of Swords

The Student of Ideas

The Page of Swords is all about ideas. He has a lot of energy and many areas
to focus it on. He thirsts for knowledge and tirelessly pursues new
information. The Page’s interests and pursuits might not be thought out or
destined for success, but they will certainly be started with great enthusiasm.

If you are the Page of Swords, you are likely bursting with ideas. You may be
starting a new project or career, or learning something new. Can you keep it
up? The Page of Swords tends to have so many new ideas that his attention is
spread thin. Don’t be discouraged by the first hardship or mistake. You’ll
need more than new-thing energy to bring your new journey to completion.

If the Page of Swords is a person in your life, they are probably young, eager, and lacking experience.
These people can be inspiring to be around, and hopefully reignite a zest for learning in you that may
have fallen by the wayside. Sometimes, the Page of Swords can stand for an adult who never really
managed to grow up all the way, has difficulty following through, and starts more things than they
finish.
Knight of Swords

The One Who Rides With Great Momentum

The Knight of Swords races forward. They are a powerful figure full of
strength, determination, and eagerness to overcome all obstacles. On the flip-
side, this Knight is obsessed with making an idea reality, and this desire can
make them unaware of the difficulties they may encounter and the potential
consequences of their actions. They expect all obstacles to fall before them,
and are unlikely to react gracefully if they do not.

If you are the Knight of Swords, you are likely focused on reaching a goal.
What could possibly stand in your way? The Knight of Swords may signify
that you are an unstoppable freight train of ambition on the fast track to
success. It could also signify that you are cutting corners, charging forward without a plan, or
refusing to see the potential negative impact of your valiant quest.

If the Knight of Swords comes up for you in a reading, take the time to consider if racing forward at
full steam the best way to get where you want to go. Should you take a moment to pause and
reconsider your plan of attack? Is there a possibility that this plan is dangerous, or shouldn’t be
pursued at all?

Queen of Swords

Our Lady of Mental Clarity

The Queen of Swords is one badass bitch. She’s ready to cut through all the
bullshit the world piles at her feet. Her decisions are based on logic. She takes
emotional factors into account, but doesn’t deem them the most important
part of the equation. This Queen brings truthfulness, clarity, self-awareness,
and clear skies.

If the Queen of Swords is someone in your life, you can trust her. She will be
honest when you need it. She may come off as cold and overly logical
sometimes, but she will go to bat for what she believes is right and the people
she cares about. Her right hand holds the sword straight up, representing her
desire to cut to the truth. She opens her left hand to the world. She’s incredibly smart, and you’re
never going to get one past her. She’s intimidating as hell, but she’s a friend who you want on your
side.

If you are the Queen of Swords, it’s time to take on her noble virtues, even if they are not the most
comfortable for you. Be honest and communicate clearly, putting your emotions aside when they do
not improve the situation. Stand up for yourself and others.
King of Swords

Leadership Through Unbiased Judgement

If the King of Swords looks a little judgmental, that’s because he is. This King
is skilled at cutting to the truth of a situation. While he is stern, he is also
deeply ethical and trustworthy. Were he a politician, his strong moral code
would make him impervious to corruption?

If the King of Swords is a person in your life, they are likely a fair and just
leader. This King might be emotionally detached at times, but all his choices
are guided by a desire to make things better for the community at large. I see
this archetype a lot in fiction. He is the tough but-fair-police chief, the
emotionally distant strong father figure, or the teacher who is a pain in your
ass in a way that forces you to grow. In real life, I rarely see this combination of leadership, stern
fairness, and good intentions.

If you are the King of Swords, you are likely in a position of power. Be fair, work hard, and selflessly
serve your community. Often, this card suggests that you are in a situation where emotions just
won’t serve you. For now, at least, you may need to function seriously and logically in order to thrive.
 Suit of Pentacles
The Suit of Pentacles (here drawn as coins) is associated with earth, and covers the material aspects

of life. Pentacle cards tend to deal with career, money, and our material possessions. Pentacles are

about our bodies, the solid world, and all the joy and hard work that comes with physicality. I think

of the Suit of Pentacles as the results brought about by the actions of the other suits. In other words,

emotion (cups), thought and action (swords), and spirit (wands) bring about the events and physical

manifestations of reality (pentacles). Of course, pentacles are not solely an end result, as everything

is part of a connected cycle, and our real life circumstances affect all other aspects of our lives as

well.

Ace of Pentacles

Get That Garden

Like all Aces, the Ace of Pentacles represents an opportunity. The Suit of
Pentacles is about corporeal things, the real stuff that results from all the
thinking, feeling and dreaming that we do in the other suits. The Suit of
Pentacles is grounded in reality; thus the opportunity of the Ace of Pentacles
represents is a tangible one.

This is a card for new jobs, new homes, money coming your way, or a new
relationship with your body. It is not a promise that any of these things will
work out perfectly for you, but it is an open door. Beneath the god-like hand
offering you the shining golden pentacle is a verdant gate. Past the gate is a
beautiful garden, lush with fruit and opportunity. Will you go inside? What seeds will you plant
there?

In readings, the Ace of Pentacles encourages you to nourish whatever opportunity is being presented
to you. If none seem to be coming your way, seek them out. Apply for that job, plant a garden, get a
gym membership, or start selling your handmade jewelry on the Internet. Sometimes we have to
make our own opportunities.
Two of Pentacles

The Juggler

You’re juggling a lot right now, aren’t you? You’ve got multiple balls in the air,
but you haven’t dropped them yet. The Two of Pentacles suggests that there’s
more than enough going on in your life, but you are keeping it together, and
maybe even enjoying the multi-tasking rush of it all.

The key here is balance. I drew myself into this card because I feel like I’m
always juggling about a million projects in addition to my social life,
relationships, errands, chores, and keeping my cat fat and happy. You
absolutely need to balance these disparate elements or else the pentacles will
fall to the ground and your juggling act will fall apart.

Even if you are struggling to keep it all together, the Two of Pentacles suggests that you’ve got this.
This is a time to be adaptable, and handle your many challenges with grace and efficiency. If you
don’t feel able to enjoy your current work/life balance, perhaps it’s time to reorganize. What
metaphorical pentacles do you need to drop? Which ones could be thrown differently? Whatever it
takes to restore balance to your life, do it.

Three of Pentacles

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Threes are about how we relate to others, and in the Suit of Pentacles, this
generally means work or some other kind of group project. In the Rider-
Waite-Smith deck, an apprentice shows his work on a cathedral to a couple of
monks or architects. In this deck, three craftswomen work together to
complete a sculpture. They are all on the same team, working together to
make the best piece of art they can.

The Three of Pentacles beseeches you to welcome teamwork, collaboration,

and cooperation. Combining forces with others whose skills complement
yours will create a result that is greater than its parts. If you work on a team,
embrace it. If you work alone, reach out for feedback.

Pentacles are not overly interested in your feelings, but this card does suggest that you are (or could
be) happy and content with your work and the people you are working with. If you are not feeling
this at your work right now, it is a reminder that a positive collaborative environment is something
you can build.
Four of Pentacles

The Miser

This is a card about your relationship to your possessions, time, and money.
This man has his pentacles, and no one’s taking them from him, no way, no
how. A beautiful city beckons him from the background, but he is too
dedicated to his earthly things to move.

It’s good to be prudent with resources, but are you hoarding at your own
expense? Does your attachment to your earthly goods prevent you from
engaging in the experiences that make life great? It’s time to ask yourself why
you are being so tightfisted. Maybe you’ve always been privileged, or maybe
you know what scarcity feels like and you are terrified to go back. The only
people who say money doesn’t matter are people who’ve always had it, right?

Regardless of the reason, this dynamic is holding you back. Your money and your things are meant to
serve you, not hold you down. The Four of Pentacles may be a suggestion to loosen your hold and
enjoy your life. If you are capable, use your resources to help others enjoy their lives as well.

Five of Pentacles

The Dying Alone in the Cold Card

I think of this card as a choice. Two figures, down on their luck, struggle
through harsh weather. If they continue in this state, it is likely their
condition will worsen; they might even die of exposure. Behind them, a
church window glows with warmth and light. The church is a place where
they could stop, seek out relief, and make it through the night. Will they
notice this place of respite, or are they too stuck in their pain to see it? If they
do, will they be willing to accept the hospitality?

The Five of Pentacles asks you to acknowledge that you have come upon hard
times. It strongly suggests that help is available to you. There are no trophies for misery. Are you
depressed? Find a therapist. Are you injured or sick? Seek medical attention. Do you need a friend?
You probably have friends—call them. Are you in denial about a relationship, or afraid to leave a
toxic partner? It’s time to make a change.

There are people who love and will offer you support. You are not alone in this. Whatever your cold
dark night is, seek warmth and assistance. Accept help.
Six of Pentacles

The Charity Card

The Six of Pentacles is a card of haves and have-nots, but it is also a card
about generosity. A bougie woman rains coins down on some outstretched
hands. Are you in a stable enough place to extend help to others? Be
generous! Do you identify with the outstretched hands? Accept help without
self-judgment.

We live in an unfair world. Wealth is not equitably distributed, and much of

our self-worth is tied up in what we have and our ability to earn. Look at the
scales. The Six of Pentacles urges you to consider how you can bring balance.
If you are financially fortunate, how can you give back? If you require
assistance, is stubbornness stopping you from accepting it? Often we can conceptually accept that
our economic standing is mostly a product of systematic circumstance, but we are still selfish with
good fortune, or embarrassed to accept aid.

It is worth noting that the pentacles here do not just stand for any gift of value, not just money. They
could stand for a job referral, hand-me-downs, hospitality, or donated time. The Six of Pentacles
urges you to give and receive freely, without judgment or shame.

Seven of Pentacles

Take a Contemplative Break

Sevens are about reflecting upon your situation. The person in this card has
paused working to consider his garden’s progress. Your garden is a thought-
out investment that is intended to sustain you in the long term. It’s time to
observe what you have built so far and ask yourself if you are still on the
right path.

And maybe you are! The Seven of Pentacles isn’t here to pat you on the back
OR tell you that you need to start over. It’s simply asking you to take a
moment and think about your project (or your job/house/relationship to
your body/whatever else you’ve been working on), and how it is affecting
you. Is this path sapping your energy and not giving enough back? Perhaps something can be done to
improve the situation. Maybe this project, job, exercise routine, or idea just isn’t worth your time. Or
maybe everything is going great—in which case, good job, you! Take a moment to bask in your
imminent success.

Regardless of how prolific your efforts have been, the Seven of Pentacles asks you to intentionally
reflect on their result. If your garden is good, admire it. If it sucks, figure out why.
Eight of Pentacles

The Apprentice

A man labors over the creation of eight coins. The task takes up all of his
attention, and he is absorbed in his work. I call the Eight of Pentacles the
‘apprentice’ card because an apprentice, whether actual or metaphorical, is
learning skills with diligent determination to become a master in his craft.

In some cases, the Eight of Pentacles simply speaks to the satisfaction of

creating something with your hands, and encourages you toward tactile
creative pursuits. I based the figure in this card on a friend of mine who was
an apprentice machinist at a shipyard and taught classes at his local
Makerspace Cooperative. He worked hard and took great satisfaction from
making things with his hands. Even if I hadn’t seen this friend in years, he’d greet me with a
handmade gift.

If this card comes up in a reading, you need to put in the work to hone your skills. While the day-to-
day labor or education may get boring, it will all be worth it. If you are not currently engaged in any
‘apprentice-like activities’ such as education, work, or learning a craft, the Eight of Pentacles is
probably suggesting that you should be.

Nine of Pentacles

Chilln’ in My Bitchin Garden With All My Accomplishments

Nice! This cool-ass lady has her garden, her sweet clothes, her house, and
her sick bird friend. She’s really living her best life. The lush landscape
represents her accomplishments. The calm falcon symbolizes intellectual
power and self-control.

Here, you finally get the bounty you have worked for. You have attained the
glories of stability, material comfort, leisure time, and a big ol’ garden. You
have made this happen through your choices, self-discipline, and risks that
were ultimately successful. Worries about finances no longer take up
valuable space in your brain. You can make choices more freely, not driven entirely by material
needs.

The Nine of Pentacles suggests you’re self-confident and self-sufficient. Let this card reassure you
that you are doing well. Perhaps you are already in this state of luxury, in which case,
congratulations! If the glory of the Nine of Pentacles feels out of reach to you, this card is here to tell
you that it is not. You are still doing okay. You are moving in the right direction, closer to your
garden. Think of the Nine of Pentacles as a goal, and continue working towards it.
Ten of Pentacles

Prosperity You Can Pass On

An elder looks upon his home from a position of pride and comfort. He is
surrounded by his multi-generational family. He is financially capable of
sharing with his family and ensuring they will be supported in the future,
which leaves him feeling happy and content.

This is a card about finishing on a high note. When the Ten of Pentacles
appears for you, it affirms that your choices and actions have culminated in
material stability. If you are in a Ten of Pentacles position, use your excess
wealth for good. If you have a family, consider their future and set them up
for success. Be charitable to good causes. How can you help the next
generation?

If this card comes to you at a crossroads, or when the comforts of the Ten of Pentacles feel
impossibly far away, it is time to start thinking long-term. The Ten of Pentacles suggests that your
time of scrappy living should come to an end. This is a great time to plan for the future, invest in
something secure, or allow your personal life to develop into a family. Picture your ‘high note’ and
make decisions that will get you closer to it.
Page of Pentacles

Student of Ambition

Like all the Pages, The Page of Pentacles is a dreamer. She stares, transfixed, at
the golden pentacle as she wanders through blooming fruit trees and freshly-
sown fields. She may have little to no experience, but she has aspirations to
manifest her goals in the material world. The Page of Pentacles is the sort of
person who will take the opportunity presented in the Ace of Pentacles and use
it.

If you are the Page of Pentacles, it is time to gather your motivation and channel
that energy towards action. Take those crucial first steps. Stay realistic, and
create a plan. Sign up for a class, reach out to a mentor, or just start doing it.

If the Page of Pentacles is someone in your life, they are likely an optimistic and ambitious person in
need of your mentorship or support. I based the Page of Pentacles off my friend and former intern,
who I think is incredibly talented, bright, and willing to learn new skills. I have no doubt that she’s
going to wow us all. If you are willing to give time and guidance to the Page of Pentacles, this
relationship will be rewarding for you both.

Knight of Pentacles

The One Who Rides All the Way Through

The Knight of Pentacles is grounded. He has duties and responsibilities, and

he is going to live up to them with diligence. With a work ethic like his, he
will be successful and find joy in that success. He is reliable and often a
perfectionist.

If you are the Knight of Pentacles, it’s time to knuckle down and take
satisfaction in your work. You have the opportunity to build something
stable. Don’t slack, cut corners, or run off and mess it up. If the Knight of
Pentacles comes to you, it’s a clear sign that you are going to have to stick a
situation through. Sometimes, the Knight of Pentacles comes up when your
vision has become too limited. You know you have what it takes to put in the work. Can you dream
bigger?

If the Knight of Pentacles is someone in your life, they are a reliable person. I chose to draw my dad
as the Knight of Pentacles because he is hard-working and diligent. He is always there for me. He
works hard all day, cooks delicious meals every night, and fixes the garage door on the weekends. My
dad is my rock, and therefore, my Knight of Pentacles.
Queen of Pentacles

Our Lady Who Has It All

“Can women have it all?” To this infuriating question the Queen of Pentacles
answers a resounding YES. This Queen is one capable bitch. She earns a
decent income, keeps a beautiful home, and takes loving care of her family.
She enjoys the material spoils of her labour and uses them to enrich her own
life as well as the lives of her loved ones.

If you are the Queen of Pentacle, it is time to channel all of her positive traits.
How does she do it? The answer is stability. The Queen may seem capable of
doing just about everything, but the truth is, she has made calculated choices
to build a life that is sustainable and within her means. She’s not about to run off after an outrageous
idea or a risky love interest. She is efficient, capable, and does not take irrational risks. Sometimes,
building this kind of fruitful stability requires sacrifice and a narrowed focus.

If the Queen of Pentacles is someone in your life, she is likely someone incredibly nurturing. She is
practical and reliable. She is a good friend and dedicated family member. If she has come into your
life, then you are very lucky indeed.

King of Pentacles

Leadership Through Abundance

The King of Pentacles reigns over leadership, ambition, and generosity. He is

rich in material goods, which he accepts without hesitation because he has
no doubt that he has earned them. The King of Pentacles fully enjoys the
fruits of his labour and delights in the physical aspects of life. Most
importantly, the King of Pentacles uses his wealth to enrich the lives of
others. He comes by his abundance honestly and gives generously.

If you are the King of Pentacles, it is time to use what you have to help others.
Consider giving some of your wealth to a charitable cause or using it to build
something that will do good in the world. What you give or build depends on your interests, position,
and skills. It could be money, material goods, expertise, or your time. The King of Pentacles says: if
you have it, give it.

If the King of Pentacles is a person in your life, they are likely a leader in some way. You may be put
off by their materialism, but try not to hold their authoritative position, popularity, or wealth against
them. This is a generous person who will enrich your life and your community.
 The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana consists of 21 numbered cards, and card 0, The Fool. The Major Arcana tells a

story, a metaphor for the journey of life often referred to as ‘The Fool’s Journey.’ The Fool is fresh,

new, and spontaneous: the card of beginnings. The cards of the Major Arcana depict various

archetypes and universal themes that are encountered along the way. Some consider this journey a

linear path, while others believe that any stage of the journey could happen at any time. In readings,

Major Arcana cards deal with the most significant aspects of life. They are a big deal. When a Major

Arcana card comes up, it is to be listened to.

The Fool

The Fool bears the number 0 because he is the protagonist of the Major
Arcana. Though the Fool is often considered an archetype, he is also a stand-
in for the self as we progress down the different roads of life. The Major
Arcana is often called the ‘Fool’s Journey’, and we can think of The Fool as
present in each card, experiencing the moment with us.

The Fool is about joyfully commencing an unknown journey, filled with the
belief that although you don’t know where you are going, it’s the right
direction. This is a card of limitless possibility. In readings, the Fool urges
you to throw caution to the wind and go on a wild adventure. Leave behind
any fear of what might go wrong and throw yourself wholeheartedly into
new experiences and growth.

What this means for you specifically can vary, but it has to involve taking a risk. Take a road trip, go
on that date, get a dog. If it’s kind of brilliant and kind of insane at the same time, the Fool wants you
to do it. Now is not a time to be still. You are wild, free, and excited about it. Jump, and trust the
universe to catch you.
The Magician

The Magician is a lightning rod. He holds a wand up to the sky, drawing

energy down from the universe. His other hand points down, channeling the
magic through his body to the earth below. The objects of the four suits float
around him.

The Magician symbolizes the concept of manifestation. He draws energy from

his surroundings and directs them to create or manipulate something. This
card wants you to do the same. Channel all your obsessions, experience,
excitement, and resources. Get in there and make something.

In readings, the Magician urges you to dream big, and get ready to make it
happen. Let’s go back to the lightning rod metaphor. The Magician draws the energies down, through
him, then releases them into the earth. This is not the kind of energy one can keep up 24/7, and you
may associate it with mania or obsessive tendencies. The key is to channel and release this energy in
a productive way. To act is to direct your strength in specific directions. In her book Kitchen Table
Tarot, Melissa Cynova says, “This card always reminds me that we are magic” (38). When the
Magician card appears, it adds potential to the entire reading. You are creative and powerful. Make it
happen.

The High Priestess

The High Priestess is a woman of mystery. The veil behind her is decorated
with pomegranates, linking her to Persephone (Roman Proserpina), goddess
of spring and queen of the underworld. She wears the triple moon symbol of
the goddess on her head, linking her to femininity and lunar power. Behind
the veil, we glimpse water, which in tarot symbolizes the unconscious. We
are not forbidden from walking between the trees; we just don’t know how
yet. The High Priestess holds a book, which many think of as the Torah,
representing divine wisdom. In older decks (see Tarot of Marseille for an
example), this card is labeled ‘The Papess,’ meaning woman pope.

The High Priestess is darkness, psychic power, and all the mysterious sides of
the feminine archetype. She has access to the collective unconscious. The Fool meets her early in his
journey, before he is ready to understand what that means.

The High Priestess instructs you to turn inward. We are like the High Priestess every time we read
the cards. Meditate, journal, make art, do anything that gets you in touch with that part of you that’s
difficult to consciously access. This may look, in practicality, like stillness. You don’t have access to
what is behind that veil yet. Take your time, look inward, and believe what you see.
The Empress

The Empress sits surrounded by nature. Grain grows at her feet, linking her
to the cycles of the earth, the harvest, and the goddess Demeter (Roman
Ceres). The sign of Aphrodite (Roman Venus) is carved on the stump beneath
her. Her crown bears twelve stars for the signs of the Zodiac. Poetically put,
“she wears the universe as her jewellery.” (Pollack 46)

The Empress embodies the warmer aspects of the feminine archetype. She is
the nurturer. She is abundance. She represents gentleness and connection to
nature, as well as both motherly and romantic love. Despite the fact that
these qualities are clearly ideas about women written by men, and do not at
all describe a multi-dimensional person, the Empress represents something
quite grand. Whether we are discussing her as a mother, a lover, or a connection to nature, there is
one brilliant common thread: a whole-hearted and unreserved approach to life.

In some readings, the Empress may specifically be a stand-in for your mother, a maternal figure in
your life, or the mother of your children. In a more general sense, the Empress urges you to live as
passionately as she does. Love your partners, all children, the earth, and yourself. Live passionately,
kindly, and with unconstrained feeling. Context will determine what ‘living passionately’ means to
you.

The Emperor

If the Empress is the maternal archetype of tarot, than the Emperor is the
father. The ram links him to Ares (Roman Mars), but also signifies a strong
wild animal, domesticated. As the Empress is associated with nature, the
Emperor represents the worlds built by men that are “married to nature,”
(Pollack 49). Behind him looms a painting of a mountain range, representing
a solid foundation that is resistant to change. He symbolizes society and the
laws that both bind and support it.

The natural world is chaotic and dangerous, and the structures built and
enforced by society protect us from this chaos. At worst, the Emperor
represents a constrictive hierarchy that many of us recognize as systemically
racist, sexist and classist. Progressively, we can choose to read the Emperor as a civilization that can
be democratically shaped for the better.

In readings, the Emperor often represents your father or a father figure. He may also represent any
authority figure who holds power over you: your boss, a cop, a soldier. The Emperor could also
represent a masculine romantic partner, especially if there is a power imbalance in the relationship.
In situational readings, The Emperor urges you to stand up for yourself, assert leadership, create
structure, and think rationally through a situation.
The Hierophant

The Hierophant is a leader within an organized religion. Traditionally the

Hierophant is drawn as the Pope. Historically, the word ‘Hierophant’
(displayer of holy things) refers to the chief of the Eleusinian cult in ancient
Greece, best known for the Eleusinian Mysteries, a celebration of
Persephone's return from the Underworld to her mother Demeter. I chose to
draw my Hierophant card as one of these ancient Greek priests, backed by
statues of Demeter and Persephone.

The Hierophant is a religious leader who is learned in a particular tradition

and passes that knowledge on to others. In a wider sense, this could be any
teacher or leader within a community who holds a reverence for tradition.
He can also symbolize how we are affected by these types of structures, such as internalized values
taught to us by traditional organizations and authority figures.

In readings, the Hierophant signifies a path that is laid out for you, a teacher-figure, an organized
religion, or education within a structure. At best, this card reminds you that there is much to be
learned from community and a well-tested path. At worst, it can signify a desire to follow a leader
and surrender responsibility. The Hierophant also asks you where you place your faith and why.
How it has affected you? Does that need to change?

The Lovers

Two figures embrace in a lush garden. Behind them is Eros (Roman Cupid),
the god of love, holding an empty bow. Mythologically, Eros was responsible
for lighting the flame of love with arrows or a flaming torch. We can see by
his empty bow that the flame has already been lit. In the Rider-Waite-Smith
deck, the winged figure is a biblical angel, and the garden is the Garden of
Eden. In earlier decks (Tarot De Marseille) the Lovers card shows a choice
between two potential romantic partners.

In the Fool’s Journey, the Lover’s card asks what role love plays along our
path. One figure holds their partner, while the other looks up to the sky. In
love, we often give up the part of the ego that isolates us, even if it is just
temporary. While many interpret the Lovers card to be purely about romantic and sexual love, there
are many types of love in this world. The Lovers card can be about any relationship in which love is
felt intensely and deeply.

In readings, the Lovers card represents the choices surrounding who you want to be and whom you
want to be with. The Lovers card often symbolizes a choice between what you desire and what you
consider morally right.
The Chariot

Damn, she’s such a boss that she has not one, but TWO motorcycles. There’s
absolutely no way she can move forward safely. She’s literally standing on
the seats, and her hands aren’t even on the throttle. Despite this, the Chariot
is about swift, confident movement. How does she do it?

To drive a two-horse vehicle requires control over both driving forces. If the
motorcycles move in the same direction, then the Chariot moves swiftly. If
they do not, it can’t move at all. Throughout the Major Arcana (the Chariot,
the Hierophant, the Lovers, the High Priestess), we see a triangular motif
where the two side-by-side elements represent a duality and the top centre
element represents a mediating force. The Charioteer’s mediating force is
willpower.

If this card comes for you, then it’s time to find some balance between your badass self and your
softer side. You have the ability to hold together contradictory forces and charge towards your goal.
The Chariot is about victory through strength of will, after all. Give yourself a pep talk, pull on your
armour, and accelerate full throttle. Don’t feel confident? Fake it till you do. As long as you are acting
with determination and balance, you will surely succeed.

Strength

A woman calms a lion, holding it gently by the mouth. The lion represents our
wild selves, usually smoothed over by the demands of living in a civilized
world. The woman tames him gently, not forcing or coercing his cooperation.
The lion is ready to be tamed. They adore each other without trying to change
each other.

You are both the girl and the lion. There are parts of you that are wild and parts
of you that try to bring wild aspects of your character under control. When the
Strength card appears, it is time to look at both of these parts. Open the
Pandora’s box of your personality. What do you see?

The golden trick of inner strength is love. The girl has boundless affection for
the lion and all his wild tendencies. Have compassion for yourself. Do not demonize your demons.
Instead, work to bring them under your conscious control. The Strength card encourages you to find
the fortitude to begin or continue the difficult project of self-betterment, or to use the strength you
already have to face outside obstacles. Recognize your fears and insecurities, and the parts of
yourself you aren’t too keen on. Gently accept them. Know you are strong.
The Hermit

The Hermit stands alone on a snowy mountaintop, holding aloft a lit lantern.
In tarot, the night represents the unknown. The lantern is her inner guiding
light. The six pointed star within the lantern is a symbol that has been used
by many cultures to represent the merging of dichromatic entities. You may
recognize it as the Star of David, or the Hindu Shatkona. Within the star, we
see the alchemical symbols of all four elements merged.

The Hermit is surrounded by snow. “If water is the emotions and air is the
intellect, then snow is the emotions made tangible and understandable, by the
cold air of logic.” (Tea 68) Many people who do not wish to be alone loathe to
see the Hermit card. Try not to fight it. As is true with any card that you don’t
want to see, resisting will only make it a bumpier ride.

This doesn’t mean you need to quit therapy, rent a cabin in the woods, and throw your cell phone in
a river. You just need to withdraw enough to listen to yourself. You have everything that you need
inside of you, but you need the quiet to hear it. Let your inner voice be a lantern to guide you through
the night.

The Wheel of Fortune

There’s a LOT of symbolism in this card. On the wheel we see TARO spelled
out in Roman letters, creating the word ‘TAROT’ read in an endless circle.
Counter clockwise it reads ‘TORA’, referring to the true Torah of Judaism, and
thus higher knowledge. The Hebrew letters on the wheel’s rim are Yod, Heh,
Vav, and Heh. They represent the name of God.

In the corners of the card we see the alchemical symbols of the four elements.
The sphinx represents life’s riddles and knowledge. Despite all this
complicated symbolism, the meaning of the Wheel of Fortune is actually
quite straightforward: the wheel turns.

The Wheel of Fortune is here to tell you that the situation is out of your
control. The circumstances of life are always changing, and after this change, they will change again.
There may not be any direct reason for your fortune or misfortune. In divinatory readings, the
outcome is context-dependent. If things are great for you right now, it will not last forever. If life is
difficult, chin up. It’s going to get better! The wheel keeps turning. Few like change, but it is
important to make peace with the inherent impermanence of life. This too shall pass.
Justice

The tarot archetype of Justice derives from the Greek Titaness Themis, her
Roman counterpart Justitia, and Themis’ daughter Dike. The modern symbol
of many legal systems, ‘Lady Justice’ is an amalgamation of these three
goddesses. The scales represent balancing both sides of a dispute, and the
double-edged sword represents choice and the power that justice holds.

When the Justice card comes up for you, it is time to make choices. She urges
you to make those decisions in a way that is true and fair. In positions
regarding the past, the Justice card may indicate that circumstances now are
‘just’ because of past actions. The Justice card can also indicate that you (or
someone else, perhaps someone who has wronged you) will not escape
justice for wrongdoing.

In tarot, this card symbolizes a conceptual form of justice, dependent on seeing the truth about
ourselves and our world. When the Justice card comes for you, it is telling you to do what is right. Act
fairly, weigh both sides of the issue, and make a just decision, even if the ‘right’ choice is not the
choice you would prefer.

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man looks oddly serene for a person dangling upside down by
his foot. Clearly, hanging inverted is uncomfortable, and yet he looks
peaceful. How did he get in that position? What will he do now that he’s in it?
Contemporary understanding of this card is that the Hanged Man represents
a period of discomfort in the interest of self-growth, and the enlightenment
one can achieve by removing oneself slightly from the world.

We can think of the ‘surrender’ as an active step, not a passive one. His pose
strongly resembles that of a chrysalis. Something new is developing, and he
must pause, withdraw, to let go to allow it to come forth. My friend Quinn
recently went through gender-affirming ‘top surgery’ (double mastectomy).
During their recovery, they drew themselves as the Hanged Man. They described the experience as,
“letting go and making sacrifice for something deeply, clearly worth it.”

At its simplest, we can think of the Hanged Man as a literal reversal of perspective. Turn the world
upside down and what do you see? New perspectives, or even new solutions? In readings about
conflict, problems, and disagreement, the Hanged Man instructs us to look at the issue from a
different viewpoint. Accept your circumstances, allow your perspective to shift, and let go.
Death

First of all, the Death card doesn’t mean you are going to die. It just
means something is going to die, and that, despite your fear, you need to let
that happen.

Death rides a white horse, arriving to strike down the four figures in the
foreground. The figures represent the idea that death comes for us all,
regardless of our status or the way we live our lives. Money will not save the
rich man, prayer will not save the pious man, acceptance will not save the
young woman, and innocence will not save the child. In Death we find a
powerful metaphor for change. People, plants, and animals are always dying
and being born. Death is required for life. If the Death card shows up in a
‘past position’ in your spread, the Death card can represent grief, either for an actual death or a
metaphorical one.

When the Death card comes for you, something in your life must die to make way for something new
to come into being. It could be anything—a relationship, a career path, an aspiration. Change is
unavoidable. The Death card shows us the moment when we allow a change to take place. Let it go,
and know that a setting sun will always rise again.

Temperance

An androgynous angel stands with one foot on land, symbolizing the solid
world, and one in water, symbolizing the unconscious. The Temperance card
in This Might Hurt Tarot borrows imagery from the B.O.T.A (Builders of the
Adytum) deck, and depicts the angel combining fire and water. The merging
of fire and water, multiple genders, and of water and land all represent the
combination of opposites.

The Latin word ‘temperāre’ means to combine, compound or blend properly.

The modern definition of ‘temperance’ is moderation and restraint. In these
definitions we can see the multi-layered meaning of the Temperance card.
Dichotomies are illusions. We can and should combine opposites within
ourselves.

In readings, the Temperance card encourages you to act from moderation and bring disparate
elements of your life together. If the Temperance card comes for you at a time when your balance is
all out of whack, then it’s a call-out. If the Temperance card comes to you when you are trying to
make a choice, consider that your options might not be polar opposites; if there is a middle path,
take it. I once pulled the Temperance card in a reading for a friend who was deciding whether to
pursue his career or try to start a family. The answer was: do both.
The Devil

The Devil, depicted in the form of Baphomet (The Sabbatic Goat, an intersex
magical deity used in modern Western mystic traditions, often used visually
as a stand-in for Satan), lords over a crowd of blissfully unaware party-goers.
Focus on the chains. Each person in the crowd is engaged in destructive
behaviours: sex, alcohol, drugs and conflict. Any of these behaviours might be
fine in moderation, but the Devil is about ruinous extremes.

When the Devil card comes for you, it is time to ask yourself: what are you
chained to? This is a card of addiction. You are tethered to some negative
force bigger than yourself, be that alcohol, drugs, an obsession, or a toxic
relationship with sex or a particular partner. You know those feelings of
helplessness and shame that follow giving into a desire that did real harm, either to yourself or to
someone else? That’s what the Devil is all about.

The Devil card can also indicate evils that are out of our control. We can be chained by unjust
societies and abusive situations. More broadly, the Devil indicates that you are trapped by a lie. The
power of the Devil is the belief that there you have no alternatives. But you do. Once you have
figured out what your Devil is, your job is to slip free of the chains.

The Tower

The Tower is an omen of earth-shattering, catastrophic change. It is a

lightning strike that tears down our walls, leaving nothing but rubble. The
Tower itself is often a metaphorical structure of denial, a prison we raise
when we do not live a life in alignment with our true selves. When this
happens, pressure builds inside. It will find some way to explode. In other
situations, the lightning strike of the Tower card may be an external event
outside of your control.

There’s no way to stop the Tower from coming down. Perhaps you have been
clinging to a job or relationship that is no longer serving you. Maybe you have
been refusing to acknowledge an addiction or harmful lifestyle. In these
situations, The Tower needs to come down. The pain of this moment won’t last forever, but you will
always have the resulting freedom.

In other situations, the Tower is a catastrophic event that comes at you sideways. My friend Laura
says, “Some things don't get an upside. Sometimes the best you get is when you're on the other
side—wiser, more compassionate, and more aware of your own resilience.” In both versions of the
Tower, the process will be more painful the harder you cling to the crumbling walls. Reduce your
pain by letting go.
The Star

A woman pours water from two bottles, with one foot on land and one in
water. We see her not only accessing the unconscious, but adding her own
creativity into the collective pool. She is nude and her posture is relaxed. She
is free.

In the Fool’s Journey, the Star is the calm after the storm. At the beginning of
the Major Arcana we peered behind the High Priestess’ veil, glimpsing the
inaccessible waters of the unconscious. In the card that comes before the
Star, the Tower is violently destroyed. The Tower often represents a self-
imposed structure of denial. Through the destruction of the Tower the veil is
torn away. The pool in the Star card is the same water that we glimpsed
behind the High Priestess’ veil.

In readings, the Star suggests a time of recovery after a traumatic event. This is also a card of
inspiration. The birds that surround her are ibises, symbols of the Egyptian god Thoth, inventor of all
arts. This is a time when creative expression will run through you freely. If you have a dream, the
Star card says that now is the time to pursue it. She pours water not just back into the pool, but also
onto land, signifying that she is also creating within the real world. Making art can be healing. The
water poured on land flows back into the pool, replenishing her well of inspiration.

The Moon

The Moon card does not align with my personal relationship to the moon. I
absolutely love the moon. In tarot, the Moon is the unreliable light source in a
nightmare. The trees in the background are the same trees on either side of
the High Priestess. We are beyond the veil, seeing them from the other side.
The wolf masks represent our animal selves. Waite describes the lobster as,
“the nameless and hideous tendency which is lower than the savage beast.”
(44) The lobster symbolizes our worst impulses or our most debilitating
fears, rising from the unconscious.

The Moon can be a challenging card to read. “You are confused and unsure,”
the Moon says. Oh gee, tell me something I don’t know. This card is about
intuition, but not the cute, fun kind. This is the kind of intuition that tells you ‘that man is dangerous’
or ‘I am being lied to.’

The Moon is also about the unconscious and repressed memory. Think of the phases of the moon.
Some part of the moon is always hidden, but as she waxes she reveals more of herself. Not knowing
is terrifying, but incredible ideas and insights can come out of this space of darkness and unease.
Trust that, over time, more information will be revealed to you. The sun always rises.
The Sun

Oh, happy day! In the light of the Sun, everything is bright and joyful.
Suddenly, isolation and day-to-day drudgery fall away, and you feel yourself
as part of an interconnected, vibrant world. It makes you feel alive. You are
blessedly whole, able to joyfully experience the spiritual in the physical
world. A child rides out of a garden in a burst of freedom. Fun fact: I drew
this child as a younger version of myself, surrounded by the two dogs I grew
up with. I can’t think of a better metaphor for happiness than those dogs.

When the Sun card comes for you, you must enjoy the day. Go outside, eat ice
cream, lay in the grass and think about how you are just a small part of a vast
and glorious universe. “Enlightenment is an experience, not an idea.” (Pollack
131) The Sun card is a picture of that experience. It is important to remember that the Sun depicts a
moment, not a perpetual state. Constant sun will make a garden a desert. Human beings are built to
oscillate between modes of being.

What the Sun signifies is seeing the world with a sense of wonder. Have you ever looked at
something simple and it made you smile with delight? That is what the Sun card is all about.

Judgement

This is the card for which I deviated the most from the Rider-Waite-Smith
imagery, which depicts the rapture, complete with an angel blowing a
trumpet to beckon all good Christians out of their graves and into heaven.

Instead, I chose to draw Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of the dead.
The ancient Egyptian understanding of divine judgment involved reciting the
‘Negative Confessions,’ a list of 42 sins that the soul had not committed. After
this Anubis would weigh the heart of the recently deceased against the
feather of truth. If the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would
ascend to the afterlife. If the heart was heavier, the heart and soul would be
devoured and destroyed. Yikes.

But we are not dead yet. Thus, the reckoning is not external. It is an invitation to look objectively
back on your life and your choices. Who have you been, and who do you want to be? Judgement is a
big deal card. It is an opportunity to learn from your past, to answer a calling, to intentionally
become something new. Maybe you like what you see and don’t wish to change. This is also okay, as
long as it is a decision, not stagnation. You are both Anubis and the heart; you judge yourself. Who do
you want to be?
The World

Oh, the World! The World is the last card in the Fool’s Journey. At the corners
we see the four suits, presented to us as they are in the Aces. The wreath is
an ouroboros, a symbol with ends that are not actually ends, because
everything circles back again. The woman floating in the center of it all is
nude and joyful. She dances. She loves herself, and she has no shame. She is
full.

We could call the World so many things: enlightenment, the end of a cycle,
transcendence. I prefer to think of it as self-actualization. It is about your
inner self coming into alignment with how you live your life. It is not about
banishing the parts of yourself that you don’t like, but learning to love them
to become a complete and whole you. It is also about accepting and seeing yourself in connection
with the universe at large.

In readings, it may be difficult to hold onto the grandness of the World, which seems to slip between
your fingers when held up against day-to-day reality. In the most mundane sense, the World could
mean that a cycle will be completed in achievement and satisfaction. I prefer to think of the World in
a more glorious sense: you will live an extraordinary life.