Mystic Revelations (tarot cards)

While the major arcana expresses universal themes, the minor arcana brings those themes down into the practical arena to show how they operate in daily events. The minor arcana cards represent the concerns, activities and emotions that make up the dramas of our everyday lives.

There are 56 cards in the minor arcana divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each of these suits stands for a particular approach to life.

Wands
The Wands are the suit of creativity, action and movement. They are associated with such qualities as enthusiasm, adventure, risk-taking and confidence. This suit corresponds to the yang, or masculine principle, in Chinese philosophy and is associated with the element Fire. A flickering flame is the perfect symbol of the Wands force. This energy flows outward and generates passionate involvement.
Cups
The Cups are the suit of emotions and spiritual experience. They describe inner states, feelings and relationship patterns. The energy of this suit flows inward. Cups correspond to the yin, or feminine principle, in Chinese philosophy and are associated with the element Water. The ability of water to flow and fill up spaces, to sustain and to reflect changing moods makes it the ideal symbol of the Cups suit.
Swords
The Swords are the suit of intellect, thought and reason. They are concerned with justice, truth and ethical principles. Swords are associated with the element Air. A cloudless sky, open and light-filled, is a symbol of the mental clarity that is the Swords ideal. This suit is also associated with states that lead to disharmony and unhappiness. Our intellect is a valuable asset, but as an agent of ego, it can lead us astray if it is not infused with the wisdom of our Inner Guide.
Pentacles
The Pentacles are the suit of practicality, security and material concerns. They are associated with the element Earth and the concrete requirements of working with matter. In Pentacles, we celebrate the beauty of nature, our interactions with plants and animals and our physical experiences in the body. Pentacles also represent prosperity and wealth of all kinds. Sometimes this suit is called the Coins, an obvious symbol of the exchange of goods and services in the physical world.

Each minor arcana suit has a distinct quality all its own. Our everyday experiences are a blend of these four approaches. Your tarot readings will show you how the different suit energies are impacting your life at any given moment.

The suits are structured much as our everyday playing cards with ten numbered cards (Ace - Ten) and four court cards (King, Queen, Knight and Page). Each card has a role to play in showing how its energy expresses in the world.

· Court Cards
The court cards are people with personalities that reflect the qualities of their suit and rank. The court cards show us certain ways of being in the world so that we can use (or avoid!) those styles when appropriate.

You are experiencing unbridled spiritual energy coursing through your psyche at this time. As with The Magician this card tells that you can bring anything to being through the sheer force of your will. You need to ensure that you remain enthusiastic & adventurous as soon you must grasp an energy or an idea that will lead you on a new adventure. Be courageous & reach within to harness the power that will drive you towards your new goal. Be aware of those around you that come under the power of the fire signs. Anyone who comes under the fire signs of Aries, Saggitarius or Leo will have energies that you need to acquire to drive you through this exciting phase.
The Ace of Wands often heralds the beginning of a new project, the start of a new course of learning. Your creative energy is peaking & anything to do with design or redecoration should be embraced with gusto. The Ace of wands symbolises the germination of a spiritual quest within yourself. You need to develop a mantra or chant to focus your mind when it begins to wander. You should be open to new experiences, an unexpected invitation from a colleague will surprise you & will open your mind to new & exciting avenues of enjoyment. As with all Aces the veil is temporarily drawn back to enable you to receive psychic messages from the higher realms. The Ace is to be acted on you have the will to get things done, make the most of this power. You are developing a new way of interacting with your world, allow yourself to be excited by these new ideas.

The divinatory meaning of this card shows you have achieved much through sustained effort. Your personality is projecting strength & confidence that will result in your ideas emerging in to the realm of reality. Use your powers wisely, breathe deeply, strive to apply yourself to a forthcoming challenge using all of your experience. You are wiser than you give yourself credit for. A windfall is possible, a trip will be offered. Do not lose faith in yourself, follow your ambition, a choice will be offered that is finely balanced. Consider carefully.

When The Three of Wands shows up things will literally fall in to place in the very near future for you. Long held dreams can now be pulled in to the realms of reality just by you allowing them to happen. Do you feel that you deserve a break ? Allow yourself to accept that you can now move aspects of your life forward. Opportunity will present themselves, you need to be fully aware & position yourself to capitalise on these . A new way of working will be successful for you, change your outlook, don't just do what you have always done, raise your game. Commit yourself, have courage in your present direction & success in all of your ventures will be forthcoming. All areas of your life are moving swiftly forward, be sure not to be left behind, and be sure not to allow your focus to drift from your intentions.

The Four of Wands - The Harvest home . Take time to enjoy the benefits of your exertions, spend some ' me' time, best laid plans & the completion of a project can be hindered by you not allowing yourself time to fully recuperate from your exertions. You are at a very innovative phase, you present a professional front. You are entering a transitional phase, a bridge needs to be crossed, you need to refine a presentation or portfolio. Ideas must be polished & well presented. Romance is possible for the unattached through an unexpected meeting. You should spend time expanding your consciousness, reading & cultural pursuits will enhance your social life. You are attractive & gregarious now, visits to any form of entertainment venue will be worthwhile but should be tempered by an interest in developing a comfortable home enviroment in which you can relax & truly be yourself. When you work together on a common goal, it will create more than the sum of its parts.The Four of Wands suggests a community effort that is more complete, and with more potential, than anything the individuals had envisioned on their own. A communal spirit is forming, and the consequences of your sober and important endeavor will have very far reaching effects.

You need to prepare yourself face a problem that cannot be avoided, disruption to your normal routine which will be irritating & test your patience.
Rise mentally above challenges & imagine that you are in a favourite place or on a beautiful beach. Whatever happens do not rise to the bait around someone who is trying to push your buttons or in extreme cases tricking you or presenting fraudulent information. You will triumph over what is a trying period if you focus your mind & use mental agility to make the most of challenging situations. People will appear to be in opposition to you, make them see your point of view, diffuse the situation through charm.
Overall the Five tells you a struggle is to be faced, by using stamina & relentlessly striving forward you can ensure success .

The Six of Wands is a fantastic card heralding extremely good news, your efforts will be crowned by recognition & those around you will congratulate you on a great outcome through perseverance. You should feel positive & satisfied with yourself. Now let go of unrealistic goals, release indecisiveness & you can achieve your ideals. You will rise to new heights & sidestep problems. You must use diplomacy & keep confidences with those around you. Do not force a certain development, allow it to develop at a natural pace. You will feel deservedly invincible, a period of triumph is your payback for surviving what has been a protracted & challenging period.

The Seven of Wands embodies the need for the person who receives it to realise that though they appear to face conflict, they have the power to return the attack. The problem may appear multi faceted & they should be careful to plan their response in advance before their actions actually end up making things worse. Under no circumstances should anyone turning over this card be drawn into ‘ battle ‘ unless the cause is truly woth fighting. Also knee jerk reactions to situations always cause trouble as the Seven stirs up strong emotions that may lead to speaking out of turn & regretting this for many months. Does the situation you find yourself in justify any response at all ? Would you be better served by remaining impassive. When you see the Seven, straighten your spine & be prepared for what you believe in, be true as your integrity may be challenged, the Seven gives you the strength to fight your battles.

The Eight of Wands brings a period of stagnation spectacularly to a close. All aspects of your life now start to drop into place & this phase should be allowed to just happen as intervention will slow the process. This is truly fast forward, you now have to release conditioned response & just go with the flow. Now for the first time you realise that EVERYONE is blagging it, you take the initiative, act with confidence & accept any opportunity that arises with open arms. An awaited communication will change your outlook. Electronic communication should not be hidden behind, something needs to be said face to face. When this occurs you feel released, something has been brewing & just by facing your fears you allow the wands to start their journey. The Eight Wands are not airborne for long, you get one chance here. Unspoken understanding between those who are important to you allow you the freedom to move into the next phase of your development. An important journey, indeed even a plan for a holiday that will provide time for valuable reflection. Foreign travel is especially important & will open your eyes to a new way of living. Success is waiting, move quickly, this window is not open for long.

As you draw the Nine of Wands you are emerging from a period of trial. You need to lick your wounds & persevere, this card always indicates that you have emerged from your latest battle fighting. Though pride may be dented & a bad experience has left you feeling burnt out you must be prepared to fight another day. Also remember when this card is drawn not to allow your feelings to colour how you react to others. You will have a problem trusting anyone around this card, you will feel defensive & paranoid.

The Ten indicates that you are facing an uphill struggle, where every gain feels like a fight. When this card appears, acknowledge it & ask those around you to ensure that you take things easy & lighten your load. If you continue under this kind of pressure then you are doomed to failure. The Ten of Wands indicates that your life is going to be tougher than usual for a time. You will have to fight uphill for every little gain. Each step will feel like a struggle. When you see this card, be kind to yourself. Lighten the load wherever you can, and let others help you. You don't have to handle everything yourself.

The Page of wands is a messenger. He often appears unexpectedly in a reading to symbolise that news is about to arrive that will change the course of the questioner's life. If they have applied for a course or are thinking of changing direction it is no surprise to see the Page appear. On many occasions I have noticed him arrive with unexpected news of an impending emotional entanglement that will lead to a major relationship. He has often led me to warn the questioner that their soulmate is set to make an appearance in their life, often they are not ready to accept this, however I know of at least two that were ready & indeed did find their significant other almost immediately.

The Knight of wands appears, if he heralds an actual meeting, expect to greet a very personable young man of a jolly disposition who makes every one he connects with feel at ease. A great host & an inspirational trustworthy friend beware that he doesn't bear fools gladly. He instantly will give unconditional friendship, however, once crossed he is a formidable adversary. The Knight in a reading often indicates that the questioner has connections with family abroad, who may even have emigrated many years ago. He is strong willed & tends to lead an uncomplicated existence. He analyses situations quickly & acts fast on his hunches impulsively. The Knight can symbolise interests that have not been fully developed, that re resurfacing in the questioners life. Any interest in music or the arts should be followed. The Knight often shows a person that has an incredible recall in one specific field, be it history, films, records, whatever, this person has an almost catalogue recall of everything that interests them. The Knight is incredibly organised & tidy though can tolerate disorganised friends. He has a Scorpio influence so is incredibly good at keeping secrets.

The Queen embodies adaptability, she is a force to be recognised & tells of the need to apply sustained force to a situation surrounding you until it bends to your will. When this card appears you are attractive & powerful, you can command respect from those around you & any deals involving relationships or business cannot fail to come through in your favour. When the Queen inhabits your reading remember to be kind & generous to those around you but beware that you have a short fuse, temper your outbursts though they may be short lived they can have long reaching repercussions.

The King of Wands is a master of diplomacy, he has unmatched wit & endless charm. The King always indicates interaction with an individual of incredible
intelligence who is on hand to offer sage advice. Experienced in all avenues of life the King is often involved in writing or teaching & has an incredible recall of information not only in his specific field, he also has an almost encyclopedic memory for almost any area of knowledge. A great ally in any form of quiz. The King can see any situation from an informed viewpoint, he is decisive and can be relied upon if an accurate 'snap' decision is required. All this academic brilliance is tempered by an exceptionally entertaining personality, The King is reliable & generous with his friendship. Once accepted as a confidante he will be a longstanding, important addition to any circle of friends , moving easily between any social situation. The salamanders & lion symbolise that though he can be intuitive & impulsive, once a subject grips him he will exhaust every detail before moving quickly on to some other form of entertainment. New ventures are the meaning of The King in a Tarot spread, an explosive period that will reveal if the area that requires attention has long term relevance, or whether the energy of the fiery King will indicate that a rapid change of direction is required.

The Ace of Cups, the very root of the suit of cups that correspond to water & the emotions. As we are composed mostly of water the power of the moon can have a strange pull on the emotions, this is never to be expected more than when the Ace appears in our reading. Often compared to the Holy Grail the Ace of Cups is always welcome though you need to be objective & make sure that your feelings are not obscuring it's true meaning.
The energy flowing through this card is purely elemental, emotions & feelings will run high. Relationships, partnerships even marriage are indicated by the Ace of Cups. As with all Aces here is a new beginning, go with the flow but be careful to not get carried away by the currents that run through this card stirring you to the centre of your very being.

As with all of the twos in the Tarot deck. The Two of Cups is about attaining balance, one force will inevitably challenge the other, black & white, man & woman, the two indicates a choice needs to be made. The suit of Cups is overflowing with emotion & unbridled feelings, this energy can be overwhelming when experienced by an individual. However when the added complication of another person enters the mix it can sometimes become confusing & disorientating. One of the most regular scenarios I encounter whilst reading Tarot for women is that they just cannot accept that men are indeed totally different animals. The woman will often bombard her suitor with endless calls, texts or emails which in fact usually just alienates the subject of her attraction. Usually, but admittedly not always it is the man who needs his space. He may be just as committed to the relationship but does not find it necessary to be chained to his partner & may well need time alone or indeed with friends to provide a break from the intensity of relationships.
This card more than any other embodies the good & bad that is inherent in every individual, the two serpents symbolise good & evil & warn that the emotions connected with the cups can easily turn the power of attraction to jealousy & dangerous infatuation. The lion has the wings of freedom indicating that true love can only prosper if you allow your intended room to live an independent life. If you let them go they will truly come back to you, often with renewed energy & with new experiences with which to add interest to your union. This card can indicate that a more intimate relationship can develop from an existing platonic friendship or even a business partnership. The Two of Cups shows that a deep understanding is set to develop. Be prepared to see the other point of view, any differences can be resolved by the two, feel free to ask advice of another, contain your emotional responses and any situation or partnership will be resolved in your favour.

Celebrations surround the Three of Cups. After an unstable period of hard work time should be taken to appreciate what has been achieved. The trinity of the Ace, Two & Three in the cups suit correspond to the planting of the seed or idea, germination & then joy as the Three blossoms, signifying a positive result. As with all cups the Three of Cups overflows with emotion, prudence is necessary, success must be firmly established & built upon before the potential of the suit of cups is fully realised & fulfilled. Often when interpreting the cards for clients the Three of Cups on an emotional level indicates that the first exciting flush of a relationship has blossomed in to the potential for a committed bond. The warning here is you must be prepared to accept the other ' warts & all '. It will also require you to ruthlessly look at yourself & identify traits that could be a challenge to a successful union, are you really ready to be that honest with yourself ? Each of the three featured cups correspond to an area of our earthly existence, spirituality, emotion and our physical self. When these three are in alignment we feel invincible, life is effortless & any challenge is accepted graciously, we are confident we are at the top of our game, we will rise to the occasion. When this card appears the Tarot is telling us that we should truly just enjoy the feeling of being alive. With the Three we accept experiences that take us beyond our comfort zone, celebrations of all kinds will arise from weddings & birthdays, to actual births, not only of children, also of ideas that will have far reaching repercussions on our lives. The Three of Cups temporarily allows you release from the nagging feeling that you will never be truly free, never have enough money, never find your true soul-mate. Step away from these worries & the power of this card combines with the Universe to bring whatever you desire. Express yourself when this card appears, you are in ' the zone ' & 'going with the flow'. Start any project that has been delayed, run laughing through the streets, whatever it is that will make you happy, the Three of Cups reminds you it is your life & you should live it like you mean it.

This image shows that if we focus on that which is presented to us we often ignore opportunities that exist just outside of our conscious focus. This card also warns against deliberating over a decision, action is required. Introspection should also be avoided, the questioner is delaying acting on a development as they want everything to be perfect. The message here is get something moving & then add finesse later. It is better to do SOMETHING before the moment is missed & the opportunity evaporates. Discontentment is key to this card. Even though there are three full cups indicating emotional, spiritual & emotional contentment, there is a longing for something more, something as yet undiscovered & indicated by the fourth cup being offered. The old adage ' The grass isn't always greener' should be heeded here & careful deliberation should be taken before an additional dynamic is introduced that may upset the balance of the readers life. When the Four appears you need to assess your situation & think carefully what, if anything, could improve your current existence. If you are genuinely unhappy with your lot then think long & hard about any action you take as the Four indicates that any disenchantment may be superficial & the emotions of the Suit of Cups may be clouding your judgment. The image of Buddha indicates that mulling over the decision at hand will be insufficient, only deeper thought, or even meditation will reveal your next step. The suit of cups is an emotional roller-coaster. The promise of new beginnings in The Ace are closely followed by the partnerships of The Two & then the celebration offered by The Three. In The Four reality bites & a choice has to be made between the comfort but predictability of the present & the unformed promise of excitement. Eventually everyone realises that true contentment is generated from within, no external relationship or material possession can make you truly happy. Though this is at the base of every belief system it is the hardest lesson to learn. If you rely on anyone or anything to make you happy, you are doomed to an unfulfilled existence. The promise of the Four of Cups may well reveal an exciting new path, providing the foundations built in the first three cards of the suit are stable. A shift in your perception will bring about a new personal reality, proving that the only thing you can change is yourself.

This relates to 'don't cry over spilt milk' when the 5 of cups appears we must always accept that if a scenario seems bleak there is always the hope that we can salvage the best from what is left. People who continuously 'look on the bright side' or who visualise their cup half full rather than half empty do seem to have a better run of luck than those who always expect the worst. The 5 is an uncertain number, it's position in the suit gives the impression that things could go either way. The 5 symbolises that we are regretting previous actions or indeed feeling a real sense of loss. Emotions are high in the suit of cups & we must always remember to see the situation from a balanced perspective. With the five it is almost too easy to think that we can epect a run of bad luck when in fact the underlying message is that we should count our blessings. When the five appears what have we actually lost ?, What can we save ?, how can we maximise on what is left in order to lift ourselves out of this challenging period. Often when this card appears in readings for clients they do not even accept that there are still two upright cups, they refuse to see that there is still reason to continue with whatever has thrown up this card. The stormy clouds will clear, we will notice the remaining cups & we will make it across the bridge where we can reassess our life, salvage what we can, learn our lesson & move on.

This card sparks feelings of nostalgia, of memories from long ago, from childhood perhaps. The danger here is that you are looking back through rose tinted glasses & remembering an idealised version of events. With regards to looking forward the image on my Six of Cups warns about building castles in the air, though day dreaming can visualise your dreams in to your current reality, you must ensure that you have solid foundations on which to build your future. Connections with the past are likely to reappear when the Six arrives, someone from your past may be trying to contact you without success. Past efforts are set to pay off, release yourself from nostalgia & be prepared to change behaviours. If something has not worked before be careful to not make the same mistakes. Likewise just because something has worked previously, it may not be relevant now, you may have to carefully analyse what was successful & update it for your current needs.

The message of this card follows on from the six, be careful not to chase rainbows, or build castles in the sky. Though daydreaming is helpful and enables us to create with our mind powerful images that we hope to materialise in our real world, if we only live in the world of imagination, then we are lost. Unrealistic dreams can be our enemy. The number two request on my wishing well is ' please let me win the lottery ', I sincerely hope this comes true for one of you but in reality the statistics point at a likelihood of 14,000,000 to 1. It may be wise to have a back up plan in case your 6 numbers don't come up any time soon. We must learn to create balance in our life. I spend a lot of time studying Tarot & other esoteric subjects as I know that is my destiny, I can however close down this side of my personality and function as any normal human being. The central Jesus like figure of this card tells us that though we should strive for spirituality and joy we have to deal with the thousand things that life presents us on a daily basis. If we find that the emotions of the cups are dragging us towards excessive daydreaming we need to temper this with swift dose of reality, pull in our emotions and refocus our energies.

As you will know I try to avoid the sugar coated view of Tarot favoured by many. The undeniable truth is that the Tarot covers all aspects of the human experience, certain cards simply do not have a happy interpretation. This card, The Eight of Cups is one such card. Whenever I am performing a reading for someone & this card is drawn from the deck I know that some emotional discussion is set to follow. In a relationship spread it usually indicates that a relationship has been suffering and it is time to accept, however painful, that it is in fact beyond repair. Depending on surrounding cards there is a slim chance that the relationship can possibly recover but only with superhuman effort on the part of those who are involved. I often see relationships between people who undoubtedly love each other, it is simply obvious that they can not be together. One example is a couple I know who are both fiercely competitive, both adamantly refusing to back down on any of their ( frequent ) disagreements. It is becoming uncomfortable to be around them, & I was not surprised to see the Eight of Cups selected in one of their readings. The message is if you continue to bang your head against the brick wall or continue fighting an impossible challenge, you will eventually lose. You may as well let go and relinquish this frustration, move on to new experiences. Your ego may tell you that you can turn the situation around, in reality this is practically impossible

The Nine of Cups is the wish card of the Tarot and it's answer is always the same, be happy with what you've got & search inside yourself, as this is where true happiness lies. Only you can create your own happiness. No external force or material possession can do it for you. You really do create your own reality, if you decide that from now you are going to strive to be happy & see the good in everything in your life, you will notice a tangible change in your circumstances. This is the central message of the Tarot, every card has several specific meanings, this card tells you that every happy thought translates in to your world as a joyous moment or successful venture. The Nine of Cups in a reading tells you that it really is possible now for dreams to come true, it is up to you to allow that success in to your life. The Nine also tells you that you need to find an alternative method to release the stresses & strains of everyday existence. If this card falls less than favourably in a reading it often symbolises that the questioner may have an addictive personality and relies on anything from food to drugs to take them out of themselves. It is usually exactly this type of person that responds well to meditation or exercise. When someone is shown that happiness can be achieved from within, the reliance on external stimuli tends to fall away. When the Nine appears to you accept unquestioningly that your desires are about to be realised. Rewards and a pleasurable time stretch out in front of us, give thanks to whatever power you believe in and accept the abundance and contentment that is set to wash over you.

The Ten of Cups is a beautiful card that embodies attainment & success. In relationships this can symbolise that the soul mate has been discovered & the questioner can now begin to enjoy life, safe in the knowledge that the partnership is permanent. The wish from the previous card in the suit has been fulfilled. Emotionally we are genuinely happy, we sense that everything is working out for the best. Trust is forming allowing you to experience true freedom, you can now follow your highest ideals, now is the time to fulfill your aspirations. Any partnership or relationships are set to last when the Ten of Cups appears in your reading, this card embodies the purest emotions inherent in the suit, now you feel your spirit rejoicing at the harmony that is set to flood every aspect of you existence. You can now kick back & go with the flow safe in the knowledge that those around you will always be there to provide the support that you need. Celebrate your life now, you are valued for exactly who you are. Stop searching and just enjoy the moment.

The creativity needs to be channelled if it is to be of benefit to the questioner. Often extremely creative individuals are incapable of using their talents to their advantage. My Page is a perfect example of this, he is represented by a dear friend of mine who is no longer with us. Were he to be I'm sure he would agree that although he was a fantastically talented designer and illustrator he simply could not turn his ability in to any product that could support him. He was endlessly scribbling fantastic ideas, unfortunately he never found a commercial outlet for his artistic endeavors. The red tulips can symbolise perfect true love is available to the questioner if they can only learn to keep their emotions in check, any damaging traits, such as a jealous nature need to be addressed before the message from the Page is development of relationships. The very basis of the Cups suit is the flow of water representing the emotions, the colours of this card combined with the gently rolling clouds tell us that when The Page appears we must be careful to keep our emotions in check as they may overwhelm our rational decision making process, we must be careful not to let our heart lead our head. The secondary meaning of the fish is that we are to expect news from an unexpected source, in this card the fish is passing on information that will ultimately be of our benefit if we are prepared to listen attentively. As the fish emerges we can expect a burst of creativity to course through our life, a new project will inspire us. If the Page in the spread appears to you as a real person then they will be an inspirational young energetic person who sparks off of you to fire your enthusiasm. The Page indicates a person who is extremely sensitive, I have known the page on several occasions to represent someone who was developing psychic abilities, especially clairaudience, the ability to hear outside of the normal range or even from paranormal sources. I have mentioned this to several questioners who confirmed this by saying " Oh yes I heard that just as i was waking " as if this is the most normal thing in the world. The message in the Page of Cups, as with all cups is new beginnings, new opportunities possibly even physical births. If the questioner is a pregnant woman then she can expect a sensitive artistic child. If we are sensitive emotionally & have recurrent emotional problems, perhaps by always assuming that things are our fault or failing to voice our opinions when we really know that we should to prevent resentment building. The Page has one final lesson, we need to stay with these emotions until we are at the edge of our comfort zone in order to build our resilience, only by facing the turbulence of the suit of cups can we hope to bring our emotions under control.

The Knight of Cups is the least dynamic but by no means least enigmatic of the Four Knights. HIs white horse shows deference with it's bowed head & is representative of the co-operative, measured atmosphere of this card. The river glimpsed in the background indicates the divide between dreams & reality that needs to be heeded at this time. We first experienced this in the 7 of Cups that warned us against drifting off in to daydreams & losing a grip on our purpose. This applies to the Knight, though he makes steady progress, we must be sure that he is progressing at a rate that will bring him to the desired destination. Spirituality is inherent in this card as with all cups and is represented here by the winged helmet. As artistic as his predecessor the Page the Knight is fastidious about details to the point that actually hinders progression of many projects.

The Queen of Cups is queen of the suit of emotion, this is indicated by her Cup, the only closed vessel in the suit. This symbolises that the Queen is conscious of her emotions but prefers to keep them hidden. This Queen is enigmatic and attractive, she has a strange draw on people. It takes a long time before the Queen allows anyone in to her court & they have to prove themselves as worthy friends or companions before this possibility is considered. The merbabys show that she is indeed Queen of the water and also that she has the strange attraction of the mermaid's siren song, so feared by sailors. Once her powers have overwhelmed you rationality will desert you, so be careful that you are not being seduced when the Queen appears in your reading. The Queen warns that you should be careful not to self absorbed at this time, whether you like it or not you must listen to the advice of those around you. The Queen has learnt how to completely detach from her ego and the message is you should learn to do the same. Are you too concerned with how current events are affecting you or are you able to see the situation from the perspective of all those involved. The Queen exists in a world just outside of our reality, here she lives a dreamlike existence & is receptive to messages from the subconscious. If the Queen represents a real individual in the spread of the questioner, they will definitely have some form of psychic ability and may well have experienced premonitions on several occasions.

The King is immensely creative, though he usually applies his creativity in an ordered, scientific fashion. He may well indeed have a scientific connection and though he is the head of the suit of emotions, he is the most analytical court member. The King finds displays of emotions a challenge & always remains in charge of his feelings, giving an air of detached aloofness. The small fish is a direct confrontation to his sensibilities indicating the King will be faced with something that forces him to directly face his emotions. This card often has a serious message, I have seen many times that if The King of Cups appears to a questioner he is making them confront unexpected mood swings where they feel helpless or trapped with no obvious cause. The message here is there is an underlying cause, the questioner just has to be ready to accept it.

The flagship card of the Pentacles suit represents enterprise that can lead to freedom through financial security. When this card appears in a reading enterprises or business propositions are guaranteed success. The Gardens symbolise there is a journey that needs to be made before all rewards can be reached before the full power of the Pentacles suit is realised. The archway that leads to a barren mountain-scape warns that this journey is not without risk. The Ace card is linked with the ego, the relationship between struggle for material gain crossing over into greed or legitimate worldly success that frees us from the daily existence needs to be considered. The Ace of Pentacles shows success is only attainable through our own hard work, no one is going to give this to it on a plate, however we can be sure that we have amassed the necessary skills to take this project to fruition. This card often symbolises a business that will be started from the home, and that the business will grow bringing prosperity and security.

The meaning of this card is that we must keep our heads and keep our eye on the ball in challenging situations. The never-ending juggling of the Pentacle symbols indicate that we are able to balance all aspects of our life, keep all our irons in the fire and keep our eye on the ball. When this card appears we must be able to respond to change in a positive fashion, at the same time we must ensure that all our commitments are met. Often after the promise of new business ventures in the ace, the two appears to tell us that we do in fact have the energy to take on new commitments and challenges. The turbulent sea and the crashing foaming waves remind us that life is never an easy ride, we must remain positive and be able to accept anything that is thrown our way. The symbol for Infinity on this card reminds us that all aspects of our life must be honoured, business commitments relationships social life and friends must all be fitted into our busy schedules in order to live a healthy balanced existence. The underlying reference in the two of Pentacles is that though things are set to fluctuate in our lives if we draw on our resources balance can be maintained. We need to look at the dark and the light the negative and positive, Yin and Yang. Fundamentally this card is all about keeping perspectives in challenging times. when the two appears new projects are on the horizon you will throw yourself at these with enthusiasm you have the resources that will be needed to promote the idea ferociously to others in order to make it a success. If the card appears in sequence with the ace of Pentacles, success is assured and your material happiness almost certainly guaranteed.

When the three of Pentacles appears your talents are recognized and any outstanding payments for work completed can be expected. Your reputation will spread in front of you, you have exceeded expectations and you've gone beyond your comfort zone to bring a project to conclusion in record time. Your talents are set to pay off, though you have not been great at blowing your own trumpet or showing exactly what you are capable of. In fact on several occasions you have allowed others to take recognition. Any form of challenge tests or exams, especially if related to business will have a positive conclusion. Now that you're confident in your abilities you should see this card as a springboard for your future, you should not rest on your laurels and should move swiftly to an even more challenging prospect. Someone in authority is set to recognize your true potential and several offers may be forthcoming. This card indicates that the person works not for material gain but purely satisfaction, they are not likely to stay in a job that doesn't fulfill them emotionally. Ambition will be important when the card arrives in your reading, you should think carefully about what would truly make you happy and strive to achieve it, this is certainly not a card that appears if someone lacks ambition. The Three of Pentacles symbolises someone who is in the zone, someone who can energise a team and can bring any project to a fast, professional conclusion. in some ways this card is a predecessor of the Eight Pentacles and appears frequently when someone is considering changing career to follow their dreams

The meaning of this card is that after certain material success, the questioner is unwilling to let go past successes and strive for improvement. The Four warns of becoming obsessed with material gain at the expense of everything else. Is the questioner concerned with keeping up with the Joneses, with acquiring the latest gadgets, has he lost sight of the true meaning of his existence ?. This card warns that true creativity can not occur if too much focus is placed on material possessions. Material things surely make us feel secure but to strive for this security hinders our creative process. The Four warns against becoming too greedy and withholding money, favours or even our feelings. When we become successful the problem we face is complacency, what would happen if success disappeared tomorrow. As with all cards in this suit we must strive to reach above and never stop moving forward to develop our lives. Whenever the Four appears challenge yourself, do not think " How can I possibly afford to follow my dreams?", the old adage that what ever you giveaway comes back twofold has never applied to another card more than the Four of Pentacles. Sometimes it is good to start again from scratch, to give things away, to develop a more flexible financial outlook. When we have fear of letting go we find that we become hemmed in by material circumstance.

When this card appears in reading we know that we are financially, spiritually or emotionally bankrupt. If financial problems are at the root of this situation, this is the least of our worries as we can always acquire more money and recover from financial loss. Worry is inherent to the meaning of this card and really is a useless emotion, the bright church windows in the distance show us that we need to reach inside ourselves, release negativity and allow hope to guide us forward. The questioner is definitely facing some form of turmoil, be it through relationship problems or a loss of faith in their ability, they truly feel that they have lost their direction. The questioner needs to reunite with their inner faith, they must realise that as in the previous card their current situation and external realities all stem from their internal dialogue. Self-confidence needs to be developed, if we allow ourselves to wallow in the feelings of loss associated with this card we are in danger of leading ourselves down a very long dark path. The message of this card is to take control of yourself, surprisingly, help often appears from unexpected quarters with the Five. The secondary meaning of this card is not to neglect the feelings of others. Often when the five arrives we become so wrapped up in a our own problems that we neglect our relationships and the needs of those around us, compounding the anxiety. This card is certainly an unsettling omen, though the light shining from the church windows indicates that after a period of struggle, our cloud will probably have a silver lining. Finally, the message of the Five it is to keep things in perspective, are things truly as bad as they seem or are they worse in your mind than they are in the real world?

When the six appears we need to take careful stock of our resources. The essence of this card is sharing and generosity, though it is essentially about friendship. The Scales in the background of the image indicate business, loans or questions of financial security. When the six appears we realise that the problems of the five are behind us, we are set to experience good fortune and success. The hand dispensing coins in the sky indicates that financial gain may arise from unexpected sources. This card tells us that it is essential we balance material concerns with spirituality and should be ready to share our success with those around us. In a reading this card always signifies that things are destined to go well, there is a hint of karma in this card that shows what we sow we will certainly reap. This card often appears when someone is about to repay a debt, giving them increased financial freedom. As with all Pentacles of course it is very important when success or wealth comes our way to enjoy it. When this card appears, enjoy the moment but also intelligently plan for your financial future.

This card symbolises that a relatively new path of application comes to highly successful fruition. Historically this image refers to reaping a large fortune, in fact it applies to gaining the benefit from past endeavours. When this card appears to you, you have been patient, you have persevered and tangible results of your efforts are within your reach. The Seven warns not to rest on your laurels, it is a card that after the initial rush of satisfaction tells you to focus your energies, to be conscious that every effort expended must work towards your final desire. The Seven of Pentacles has an underlying message that when we work very hard towards our targets we often forget to enjoy the experience, we must reconnect with her initial desire in order to visualise why we set out on this path. When the questioner chooses the Seven of Pentacles I tell them to relax they have achieved what they set out for, and now it is time to look back and reflect, to learn the lessons that have been afforded them. They may be undecided as to whether to continue on the same path or whether to start an entirely new project, it is not my place to advise and they must look inside for the answer. A person that turns up this card often loves new challenges and will not be perturbed by anything that appears to be holding them back. This card is a clear sign that you should indeed continue on your path, any frustrations should be laughed off, you should rally and re-focus your conquest. This card arrives just prior to very well laid plans coming to fruition and a celebration is indicated.

The meaning of this card is satisfaction derived from persistence & hard work. We tend to forget the pain of hard work when the final result is worth all of the hard effort. This card really embodies that practice makes perfect, think now, what is your long term goal ?, do you have the application necessary to bring those long held dreams to reality ?. Though certain people seem to have success fall in to their laps, in fact, usually if you scratch below the surface, an awful lot of hard work has gone on 'behind the scenes'. Attention to detail & giving above & beyond, working at 120%, all of these attributes apply to the Eight of Wands. The Eight also symbolises the need to expand our interests, to increase our offer to the world. In a material sense this card warns that you will have to seek external stimulation & be prepared to fight harder in the Global marketplace. Many people who consult me in a business arena & draw this card, often don't realise quite how cut-throat the world of business has become. I regularly have to say: " The reason you have stopped achieving is simply because you have become complacent, you are too nice!". This always shocks questioners who feel it doesn't sit well with their spiritual endeavours, if you are going to consult me about your business developments, you must expect a ruthlessly honest reply... Should this card appear, prepare for some hard work !

The meaning of this card is that we must investigate our relationship with money. Often this card appears when I perform readings for people who seriously undervalue themselves & their worth. The message of the Nine is that to live the life of your dreams you must accept that you will need to make money. Many people are locked in to a ‘poverty acceptance mindset’ that keeps them at a certain level. It is as if they are programmed to accept only a certain amount of abundance in to their lives, yes it is true that money cannot buy happiness, though it can certainly help many situations. I believe as long as you are providing value to the world & not harming anyone, able to sleep peacefully at night, then any financial gain is indeed deserved. When this card appears the questioner needs to be told that this is a true chance for them to escape their daily grind. If they are unhappily trapped on the treadmill of the 9 to 5, the Nine tells them that now is the time to pursue the career for which they know they were destined & would enjoy. For me, obviously, it is the Tarot. I am never happier than when interacting with my cards & find giving readings to truly interested questioners, though exhausting, provides me with my greatest satisfaction. A memory of a favourite garden can confidently be mentioned around the Nine of Pentacles. The scent of flowers & a distinctive perfume connected to a maternal figure. A hobby forgotten may be revisited & anything to do with the arts or ‘highbrow’ activities like theatre, opera, or classical concerts has occasionally appeared to me through this card. One warning, the success that is so ingrained in the Nine of Pentacles has one disclaimer, if the card appears next to the Moon card then be sure to check that the success is not illusionary or fleeting, especially if combined with lucid dreams.

The Ten of Pentacles represents that hallowed state of existence that arises from success driven purely by belief in your own abilities. By not only supporting yourself, actually experiencing a fulfilling & rewarding life through utilising your personal skill set & enjoying your daily life. When the Ten of Pentacles appears you know that though this card is inextricably linked to finance, the indications are that spiritually the seeker is in balance. The phrase 'money cannot buy true happiness' could have been coined for this card, the security of finances indeed needs to be balanced by inner peace. This card relates back to the Major Arcana Card of The Magician, he is using all of his skills at optimum power to experience what is known as the ' flow state ', where you are so absorbed in your task that it becomes effortless & totally rewarding. The same state of mind is present in The Ten of Pentacles, all elements are in sync & life is a dream. It is important when the Ten appears to emphasise that trying to analyse any period of happiness associated with this card is impossible, will break the spell & release the seeker on to the downward spiral. Once true happiness is within reach the only possibility is to have true faith in yourself & the Universe, knowing that you are on the right path, that life can only continue to surprise. The card is linked to the ten Sefirot of the Tree of Life, the central diagram of Kabbalah, ( Qabala ) , this only serves to enforce how important this card is among the lesser secrets of the Minor Arcana. The power of focus can help us achieve the feeling of being in the 'flow state'.

When the Page appears be sure to remain grounded, to remember what is truly important. The Page though fascinated by the Golden Pentacle realises that nature provides everything he needs & material concerns are really only an illusion. The Page is always a young person, or someone who has a young vibrant outlook that keeps them fresh & vital. The Page knows that finances are important & that he must plan fro the future, however this does not restrict him, he leaps on new challenges with relish and is always eager to learn. The Page has a sparkling personality though those close know he can also be introspective. He has a certain duality, Though he can be flippant he is never distracted from the task at hand & takes any commitment to a project extremely seriously. He is a perfectionist & is meticulous in everything, anything he turns his hand to is guaranteed to succeed. He doesn't mind hard work & often appears when the seeker is frustrated in their current career and is desperate to break free to face new challenges .

Great deal of hard work has been expended on a project and now in reflection the rewards will start to pay off. This card embodies the statement 'what you sow you will reap'. I love this card to appear in a questioners reading as it can only mean two things, they have already put the work in & now will see their efforts come to fruition, or, they are stagnated & need to find a focus to aim towards. Many people come to me saying ' I wish I was rich ' which is very unlikely to occur without serious thought & effort, unless you win the lottery at odds of 14 million to one. Life can be fantastic if you have something to get ou up in the morning, something at which to apply yourself, if you do not have a focus, something that drives you, that makes you happy, then you are lost. The Knight of Pentacles is an indicator of just moving slowly & methodically toward your goal. This Knight is solid and trustworthy, any task placed upon him can be forgotten about as you know he will complete it to satisfaction. This Knight is not as exciting as his counterparts in the other suits, he is grounded & gives real solidity to any reading. The Knight of Pentacles is at one with nature & has an attractive, calming effect on all those who come in to contact with him. As an event card the Knight is an extremely good omen as he symbolises an unexpectedly fruitful end to a troublesome period or project that has continued far too long

The Queen is a serene figure who reigns over her domain calmly & with the aura of a woman who is at peace with herself & accepted her position in the world. The Queen of Pentacles embodies the essence of the suit, she has known hard work, has made her fortune and now has made a conscious decision to enjoy life on her own terms. The Queen of Pentacles loves to have good things around her & likes to travel and enjoys foreign cultures. This Queen is good at setting her sights on something and working hard to achieve it, the satisfaction of having gained her prize through a committed effort is what drives her. A practical woman, The Queen of Pentacles is a committed friend & makes a favourable & fair acquaintance in business. Trustworthy & reliable she is of a generous disposition and will always provide sage advice based on her life experience.

The King of Pentacles when he appears in your reading is hinting that you need to use your abilities wisely to enhance your life & the lives of those who are important to you. An association with Aries or Taurus means that the card often warns that the seeker needs to curb their natural temperament, to always be aware that their fiery persona may overwhelm. An underlying meaning of this card is that compulsive behaviour needs to be identified & controlled. When the King has accepted these aspects of his personality mastery of any field he enters is guaranteed. The King is a natural leader with highly developed social skills, emotionally the King is centred with a developed spiritual side that gives him almost extra sensory skill to instantly read any situation. The King knows instinctively how to motivate people as he has experienced life to the full, he freely gives advice that though may appear blunt, will certainly be useful.

The Ace of swords is a card of decision, one that must be made swiftly. The Sword indicates victory & can slice through to the truth of any situation, however the blade has a double edge & must be handled confidently. The Ace of Swords can cut both ways & as the Swords suit corresponds to the element of air which in turn relates to thought, careful consideration must be given to any action connected to this card. The Ace of Swords is a very powerful card & can instantaneously change the course of a reading & indeed the course of the seekers life. The Sword has the power to bring light after darkness, joy after despair, promise from desperation. The Crown is a symbol of advancement & success, the branches represent peaceful victory. The sword will swing through the seekers reading, make sure that it connects with the target.

In a reading this card, the Two of Swords, indicates that you are refusing to face a current dilemma. Nothing can move forward or change until a decision is reached. Often I have seen this card represents stalemate in a relationship of a personal or business nature. The seeker feels frozen and the swords though perfectly balanced show the deadlock has been reached and the life changing choice is to be made. The point of no return has been reached, the decision must now be made before the blindfold can be lifted. The blindfold indicates a hidden choice that must be made through careful thought, external forces must not be considered. This card always indicates that the seeker is ignoring the situation in the hope that it may simply disappear. This is never the case and action must be taken before it is possible to move your life forward.

When the Three swords appears in the seekers reading, I know diplomacy is going to be necessary. The suit of swords is undoubtedly the darkest suit, and the three can be an exceptionally distressing card. I have found in many hundreds of readings that this card often symbolises the inability to move on from a relationship that has long since finished. If this card appears I know the seeker is more than likely to be obsessed with the thoughts of how their actions could have led to a different outcome. The three of swords is the definitive card of darkness before the dawn. Emotional upheaval surrounds this card and often leads to inability to move on from a painful situation. Regret and anguish must be released before the seeker can satisfactorily move into a happiest days of their life. Likewise any relationships that have reached a stalemate should be honestly reassessed, existing conflict must be faced and an honest discussion regarding the future of the relationship must be instigated.

When The Four of Swords appears a time of retreat renewal and regeneration is indicated. A great deal of thought and reflection over recent events will be necessary, deep contemplation is necessary here in order for the previous lessons to be learnt. This card often appears when an individual is so exhausted that they fail to see that they are extremely anxious and are certainly overreacting. The Four of Swords is an antidote to life's stresses and strains, only by retreat into solitude can the spirit be rebalanced. If the seeker is ready to accept that their thoughts and actions need reassessment then The Four of Swords offers a fast track to rebuilding their outlook. The Knight indicated on this card suggests that only by total acceptance that a period of contemplation and quiet is necessary, can the seeker hope to rejoin their quest refreshed. If the seeker refuses to withdraw and seek a period of relaxation then stress related illness or emotional exhaustion will almost certainly be the result. It is essential when this card is drawn to put the current situation into perspective, only by rebalancing the equilibrium can there be calm.

The Five of Swords indicates that we have accepted our limitations, that we have considered our position and are willing to accept losses in order to move towards a positive outcome. It when the seeker draws this card I often sense that disquiet around their personal relationships has left them resentful and wishing to seek revenge. The lesson here is that the only option is to be magnanimous, resign ourselves to any blocks in our path, and walk away with our pride intact. The two badly placed swords suggest that we are feeling overpowered or dominated in some way and that we must accept vulnerability to rise above the situation, stepped back and accept that through defeat we will only emerge stronger. The Five of Swords in conjunction with the previous card from the suit warns against striving for too much, we should only take on battles that we are confident we can emerge from victorious.

After the harrowing experience of the five of swords the six offers relief and allows the seeker to drift towards a more secure phase of their existence. Problems will have been resolved and mental turmoil will have been processed leaving behind a calmer state of mind. This card is a paradox, the inherent difficulty of the suit of swords, combined with the feelings of relief indicated by this card, show an interesting and enlightening period lies ahead. Though the vessel is drifting into safer waters, the final destination indicated by the Castle has not yet been reached, problems are fading away, however, the two-dimensional feeling of the figures in the boat indicate that we are not safe until self-limiting patterns of behaviour are truly left behind. This card indicates residual anxiety surrounds the seeker with regard to all aspects of their life. The future, by its very nature, remains unknown, the cards that surround the Six of Swords in any reading must come under scrupulous interpretation. When this card appears the seeker has surmounted many obstacles, has learned many hard lessons and is ready to accept that the future is set to improve. Outmoded friendships and destructive patterns of behaviour must be left behind in the turbulent waters of the six, a fresh cycle begins with this journey

When the Seven of Swords appears, be careful not to indulge in idle gossip as this will undoubtedly breed an atmosphere of failure that will return to undermine. The Seven warns that any uncaring lazy attitude will only weaken the position of the seeker. Relationships or projects undertaken under the influence of this card, will certainly be on unstable ground. The Aquarian element shows that the seeker is detached from their circumstances and are responding emotionally rather than with the rationality of thought. If this card appears you need to be tactful and be careful to use diplomacy in all of your dealings. Any underhand methods will be revealed and will leave the seeker feeling spiritually bankrupt. The seeker needs to believe 100% in their actions and needs to find a different approach to their current challenging situation. When this card appears then the cat is truly out of the bag and we must confront situations head on in order to defuse long-term repercussions. This card warns the only way to gain advantage is through hard work and by truly being the best incarnation of ourselves, perseverance is the only solution.

When the Eight appears the questioner is certainly restrained, though usually, in fact, by their own indecision. The bounds are easily broken & the cage of Swords is only held together by the fear of the seeker. Though the legs are not visible the seeker is free to walk away from whatever it is that they imagine has imprisoned them. And though the first few steps will be difficult, indicated by the marshland, each stride forward will free them further. This card is often related to stress, sometimes the questioner has become so stressed that they have built the cage of swords for themselves. It is the job of this card to tell them that they are free to move on, once they accept the circumstance that has led them to feel this way. If this is a recurring problem in the life of the questioner then they should seek help or advice from someone objective, away from their circle. Only an outsider can sometimes easily recognise self limiting or repetitive damaging patterns of behaviour. This card is claustrophobic & always indicates that contrary to their outward appearance, the questioner is feeling like they are a prisoner of circumstance. If this card appears in a reading, the seeker is to be encouraged to realise that they can break free from the cage of the Eight of Swords by accepting that they have been looking at life from the wrong perspective, shatter the cage of swords & escape the restrictions of self induced mental imprisonment.

The subconscious is challenged when the Nine appears. The seeker may be under duress & indeed at the point where they are not sure of what is real or of true importance. Depression or anxiety are never far away from this card, it is important to decipher what are real fears & which are in fact inventions of the questioner's troubled mind. Unsurprisingly this card often represents insomnia, the fears compounded in those dark hours just before the dawn. The seeker needs to be reminded that as in so many other cards of this suit, many of the fears represented are generated by the seeker themselves, if they strive to resolve any feelings of anxiety, they can begin to truly see which concerns are 'real' and which should be dismissed as creations of a period of unhappiness. Often in life things are indeed nowhere near as bad as we initially feared. If this occurs we must learn from the lesson, to decide to only see the positives in our future as to give in to troubling fantasies is a dangerous course that will inevitably lead us to extreme unhappiness. We must face our fears & then after having done so experience the surge of release, the sense of freedom that is generated.

Clearly not a jolly card, the Ten of Swords smacks of inevitability, of the need to make a clean break. Though very dark the dawn indicates a new beginning awaits after a major decision has been made to alleviate a troublesome period. Great uneasiness has been experienced before the ten appears, we are now resigned to a painful, though fresh start. We accept our lot as it really is, no longer view situations through rose tinted glasses & make our choice with conviction. There is certainly need for a clear outlook, the need to finally let go of an aspect of our lives, or even an element of our personality. Often when this card appears in the reading of a seeker, I know that they are not as yet resolved to how there lives are to develop. They may not know that there life will go through a complete transition. If this card appears I tread carefully as often unexpected changes to the questioner's life & even relationships are just beyond their comprehension. Though these changes may not always mean the end of a relationship, a significant shift is always indicated. This requires a completely new outlook, the seeker has to accept that they will need to be strong to forge the new dawn to their advantage.

As with all pages the Page of Swords is a messenger, whether you should trust him is another matter. He can symbolise a period of exceptional ideas being generated by the element of air. Will any of these ideas be followed to fruition?, unlikely if the Page is involved. As you can tell, the Page of Swords is a card of duality. He can represent a diplomatic thinker who speeds resolution to the most troublesome decisions. He can also represent a dangerous, unreliable, gossip who borders on deceit. The Page does not understand the power of his sword & will use it without thinking, or remorse, to get whatever he needs to from you. The Page is at best a gamble & in a reading represents the need to be alert to the actions of those around you. Certainly when he appears, the seeker should not take anything at face value. This is especially important around long term plans or anything involving finances. When the Page appears in a reading it must be stressed that the questioner must not be charmed into acting out of character, the Page is quick & his actions far reaching. He will be long gone when the repercussions arise, tread carefully.

The Knight of Swords crashes on through this the most dramatic suit of the minor arcana. This Knight is on a quest to, once and for all, put some element of his existence into order. The Knight of Swords embodies the intellectual root of this suit, once he has the facts he will battle ruthlessly for change to resolve long term dilemmas. If the Knight appears to represent the seeker in a spread, almost certainly dissatisfaction with an aspect of their lives has been building resentment. Sudden change of direction and a detached approach is shown around the Knight. He will say exactly what is needed to bring about resolution, often not sparing the feelings of those around him. His intelligence is obvious, though tact is definitely not his strong point.

This Queen is steadfast determined and totally self assured. If this card appears in the reading of the seeker then a powerful matriarch can be identified somewhere in there family. If the Queen represents the seeker themselves then they have almost certainly faced great challenges and learnt many of life's hardest lessons. The Queen indicates that the seeker has great confidence, intelligence and can be relied upon in times of adversity. She is not an easy acquaintance to make, though once you have entered her inner circle you have an ally for life. The suit of Swords is not an easy suit, the overwhelming feeling of this card is of unhappiness, of suffering or loss. This Queen is pragmatic though and does not dwell on past disappointments. Often if this card appears the Queen is questioning what the seeker intends to do with their life, she is a crad of industry, of business and does not tolerate time-wasting or frivolous behaviour. Often a loner, the Queen can make qualified decisions and can be trusted in business. If the Queen of Swords appears in an area of a reading relating to the seeker then the message is that either they are to meet someone who represents her character, or, that the seeker needs to emulate her powers in order to further their development.

When the King of Swords appears in the reading of another the need to understand and unravel the truth of their existence is paramount. The King can be a considerable enemy but will become a true ally to those who accept his unflinching code for living. He is set in his ways & is unwavering in his belief that his way is the right way. Though he has overcome insecurity the King has risen to be respected in his field and can be relied upon to diplomatically decipher even the most difficult and complex projects. The King is very careful to control his outward appearance and his emotions are hidden to even those who may get close to him. Personal relationships are nearly impossible as to the uninitiated he may appear completely self absorbed. This King is far happier giving advice around matters of logistics or business. The King is almost hindered by an incredible thought process that continues even when he sleeps. If he comes to represent another in a reading then he is almost certainly an insomniac who is obsessed with the small details. Likewise often the King of Swords can relate to a military connection and will possibly have friends scattered around the globe. Trustworthy & of strong character The King of Swords is a strong anchor to any reading. Should the King appear in an ill dignified position in the reading his focus can turn to unhealthy introspection, he can also appear to indicate that the questioner is severely lacking structure to their existence and needs to urgently develop a plan for how they want their life to progress.