It was during a recent trip to Australia that whilst playing with the cards that I pulled out the sun card, but in the reversed position (upside down.) Probably the most joyous card in all the Tarot is the sun card, the sun is warm, spreads illumination and is a big yes to whatever the question might be.

The Sun is an image of optimism and fulfilment, the dawn that follows the darkest night. As the source of all life on earth, the Sun represents the source of life itself. The child playing joyfully in the foreground represents the happiness of our inner spirit when we are in tune with our truest Self. He is naked, having nothing to hide. He has all the innocence and purity of childhood. The white horse upon which the child rides represents strength and purity of spirit. The horse is without a saddle and is controlled without the use of the hands. This is a symbol of perfect control between the conscious and subconscious. The child holds an orange banner in his left hand, showing that control has passed from the conscious to the subconscious. The orange banner represents action and vibration, and the rays of the sun represent the same thing. The straight rays are action while the wavy rays represent vibration. The sunflowers in the background represent life and the fruitfulness of the spirit under the nourishment of the Sun. There are four sunflowers, representing the four suits of the Minor Arcana, as well as the four elements. The astrological correspondence to this card is the Sun, of course.

Therefore, when the sun is reversed all these positives are not quite connecting in such a great way!

Sometimes the sun can be very fierce and quite harmful, the number of skin cancer clinics in Australia reminded me of the importance of being careful in the sun, because even though the sun is a lovely thing it too can be damaging, so I guess the moral of the story is that whilst being out in the sun is lovely, be sure to wear your sun cream!

The Ace of Swords shows a hand, cloaked in white, holding an upright sword, symbolic of the mind and the intellect. At the tip of the sword is a wreath, indicating success and victory, and a crown, indicating mental clarity. However, the barren, mountainous landscape below the sword reflects the often cold nature of intellect.

The Ace of Swords shows the beginning of a situation whose potential is as double-edged as the blade of the sword itself. The Ace implies the use of great power, even excessive power at times, to further one’s ends but what is not clear is how those powers will be used, or what it is that you are trying to achieve. No matter what the goal, there is always great power behind the attempts to reach it and, as such, very little can stand in the way of the energy of the Ace of Swords without being destroyed.

The power of the Ace of Swords can be drawn up by anyone whose heart, mind and will are strong. However, it is up to the bearer of the Sword to tap that potential and use it in a way that is beneficial for the greater good.

The Ace of Swords represents a period of great insight and mental clarity. It signifies a ‘break-through’ or an ‘aha’ moment where suddenly conscious understanding and mental reasoning reach their peak, and achievement of goals suddenly becomes a lot easier. You have a new understanding of some issue that has been of concern, or, in a broader sense, a new world view. This is a perfect time to clear away the fog that has kept you from seeing the inner truth, so that you can now cut to the heart of the matter. This is also a good time to act, and if you set your mind to accomplishing your goals, you can achieve anything you desire.

The Ace of Swords highlights a new idea, inspiration, original thinking and creative vision. It represents a point at which you have a new way of thinking and the energy to go with it. You are excited to pursue new opportunities that draw upon your creative and mental abilities.

The Ace of Swords also encourages you to seek out the truth of the matter and to find justice. You may be championing a cause or standing up for your rights or the rights of others. Thus sometimes, the Ace of Swords can suggest that you are prepared for ‘battle’. You have great clarity on a situation and can now argue your case with the view to come out victorious. You may have a new idea for which you are ready to fight, or you may be all fired up on an issue that you are particularly passionate about, such as human rights, the environment or your personal beliefs. This card invites you to use mental force and to use your intellect and critical reasoning. If faced with a challenging situation, you need to be ready for ‘battle’ and be prepared to find the strength to overcome these challenges.

The reversed Ace of Swords suggests that you lack clarity around what your true goals and aspirations are. You have a high-level understanding but have you been able to define this in more specific terms? This card often appears when there is a lack of clarity or complete understanding of the task at hand, and asks you to spend some more time on clearly defining in very real terms what it is you want in life. Set yourself some SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) so you can be really clear on what you are working towards. Focus on the basics and do some better planning.

The Ace of Swords reversed also reflects an idea or concept which you have not yet put into action, perhaps because you are unsure about whether or not it will bring the results you want. You are having difficulty with the early stages of formulating an idea, a plan or your goals. You may have too many ideas on the go and are unable to make a decision, creating challenges with completion.

The Ace of Swords reversed identifies clouded judgement and lack of mental clarity around a specific situation. You are missing important information or evidence that will assist you in your predicament, so invest your time and energy into seeking out the truth, rather than simply taking things at face value.

The reversed Ace of Swords can also suggest that a situation has regressed into to a state of complete chaos and confusion. Whatever clarity you had about the specific situation is now gone, and instead it feels like there is just one big mess.

The Death card shows Death himself riding on a white horse, holding a black and white flag.

Death was the 4th horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelations 6:8) and none could stand in his way. Death is portrayed as a skeleton as the skeletal bones are the part of the body that survives death. The armour he is wearing indicates that he is invincible and unconquerable. Indeed, no-one has yet triumphed over death. The horse that Death rides is white, the colour of purity. Death is therefore the ultimate purifier. All things are reborn fresh, new and pure. Notice even the bishop paying homage to him. All sectors of the human race are represented here – men, women and children – showing that Death does not discern between age, race or gender.

The banner that Death carries has a black background, indicating an absence of light. The white rose, on the other hand, indicates beauty, purification and immortality. In the background of the card, there is a rising sun, a sign of immortality. The sun appears to ‘die’ each night but is reborn fresh and new every morning. The two pillars are guarding the gateway to the sun, symbolising the knowledge needed to gain immortality. The boat on the water in the background is the ferry that transports the souls across the River Styx. The background is a neutral grey, again showing Death’s impartiality.

Death is ruled by Scorpio (the sign of ‘sex, death and taxes’) and the number is 13, sacred to the Goddess as there are thirteen moons in a year.

13 in numerology is 1 + 3 = 4, 4 is about stability and structure, so after the transition of death we reach a new level of stable.

The Death card is probably the most feared and misunderstood of all the cards in the Tarot deck. Just the mention of the card’s name has people shaking in their boots! In general, people tend to take the meaning of this card far too literally and fear that the indication is for the death of either themselves or others. Relax! The card of Death can be one of the most fruitful and positive cards in the deck.

Death is symbolic of the ending of a major phase or aspect of your life that may bring about the beginning of something far more valuable and important. You must close one door in order to open another. You need to put the past behind you and part ways, ready to embrace new opportunities and possibilities. It may be difficult to let go of the past at times but you will soon see how important it is so that you can bring renewal and transformation into your life. If you resist these necessary endings, you may experience pain, both emotionally and physically but if you exercise your creative imagination and visualise a new possibility, you allow more constructive patterns to emerge.

Similarly, Death indicates a time of significant transformation, change and transition. You need to profoundly transform yourself and clear away any of the old in order to bring in the new. Any change at this time should be welcomed as a positive, cleansing, transformative force in your life. The death and clearing away of limiting factors can open the door to a wider, more satisfying experience of life.

The Death card contains elements of a sudden and unexpected change. You may feel as though you are caught in the path of sweeping change and cannot escape its effects. Though the immediate thought is toward the negative, an end need not mean failure. The loss could be a series of unexpected surprises that bring an end to a period of turmoil or problems. You feel you can no longer go along with the status quo and want things to change radically. Many changes are going to take place to enable a new direction to emerge.

Finally, Death is an indication that you need to learn to let go of unhealthy attachments in your life to pave the way to a fuller, more fulfilled life of deeper meaning and significance. Death teaches you to let go of outworn and outgrown ways of life and move forward. This is a perfect card to use to break a bad habit or pattern of behaviour. This is a time of eliminating excess and cutting out what is not necessary in your life. This may be a good time to purge old belongings, memories and ‘baggage’ that is getting in your way.

The Ten of Swords shows a man lying face down with ten long swords embedded in his back. A red cape is draped over the lower half of his body, while his top half remains unclothed. The sky above him is pitch black and there is a general feeling of pain, loss, and misfortune. However, despite these ominous images, there are positive aspects to this card. The sea before which the body lies is still and calm and the sun is rising in the distance beyond the mountains, indicating that the darkness will soon be dispelled. Thus, each new beginning must come from an end, and with every defeat are sown the seeds of future victory.

The Ten of Swords usually symbolises a sudden and unexpected failure or disaster, whereby a power beyond your control crushes you without warning or mercy. Sometimes you will be able to alter the course of this impending disaster but most of the time you will simply have to let go and take the hit. This card can also indicate a time when you have been backstabbed or betrayed by someone you thought you could trust. You feel incredibly hurt and shocked by such a betrayal.

As such, the Ten of Swords is often associated with feeling the ‘victim’ in a situation. You may feel powerless as something comes to a crashing and sudden end, and you feel as if you are being attacked or backstabbed by someone else. You crave pity from others with a small sigh of, “Poor me!” You may even use this challenging time to portray yourself as a martyr, to show that you have put your interests last but have suffered as a result.

The Ten of Swords also indicates a difficult experience of endings, loss, pain or release. However, the saving grace is that you have a new awareness and a positive sense of relief that the difficulty and pain will soon be over and will evolve into something new. As with all endings there will be a new beginning, a rebirth, and a rejuvenation of the spirit. So, while this card may seem negative at first glance, it is a card of hope and an indication that your troubles will not be permanent.

Furthermore, this is the final ordeal, and no more pain will come to you from that source. It is darkest before the dawn, and as gloomy as it looks, the sun will rise again. It can only get better from here.

The Ten of Swords is about letting go and accepting your current circumstances. You no longer resist change but allow it to happen, even if it causes some initial pain and hurt to you. You accept that there must be change in order to facilitate renewal, and you allow it to occur rather than fighting it.

When this card appears after a painful situation, it is a signal to pick yourself up off the ground and to reflect upon what happened to you and why, and what you can learn from the experience. Hidden deep beneath the surface of the Ten of Swords is the ultimate power of the Swords suit – the ability to analyse the situation and your responses, and learn from yourself. True wisdom does not come from without but from within. The Ten of Swords is a sign that the pain and hurt you have endured has not gone without purpose. The positive power within you can be used to learn from your pain and draw wisdom from defeat.

It is worth noting that the Ten of Swords is very similar to the Death card of the Major Arcana. It is not a literal indication of actual death but is instead evidence of an impending change or ending which may initially be difficult to accept.

It’s interesting that the start of January is very much filled with celebrations and expectation for the year ahead, and this is where we start with the Four of Wands. It’s now moving into February and some of those initial plans lose their enthusiasm, so how can this card help here.

In the Four of Wands, a couple dances beneath a welcome wreath, tied between four crystal tipped wands. The canopy of flowers on the four wands is also similar to the wedding canopy or chuppah of the traditional Jewish ceremony and thus represents a time of fulfilment and satisfaction at the attainment of a goal. In the background stand another group of people, just in front of a large castle, also decorated in flowers. It appears as if a celebration is being held, perhaps as a homecoming or a celebration from within the castle.

The Four of Wands heralds celebration, good times, a happy and harmonious home environment and good news. In numerology, four symbolises stability and firm foundations, and in the case of the Four of Wands, you are now enjoying a period of happiness and stability. This card indicates a sense of harmony and balance as well as completion, and thus symbolises a time of peace and joy in life that come as the result of often difficult and challenging effort. The Four of Wands is one of the most positive cards in the Tarot deck and indicates general good fortune, satisfaction, and fulfilment.

With the Four of Wands, it is the perfect time to get together with your family and friends and to celebrate all the wonderful times that you have had together. Often, this card reflects the holiday period where you get together with the extended family and join in a celebration. Alternatively, it may be as simple as inviting your closest friends over for an intimate dinner and a few glasses of nice wine. The Four of Wands often points to a marriage, engagement, birth of a child, a birthday, graduation or other type of celebration that marks a special milestone.

If you have been working on a project, you will reach an important milestone and will have cause to celebrate. You have completed a significant phase of the project and can feel very proud of what you have accomplished so far. This card augurs a time of joy and satisfaction in life and represents the personal gratification of a job well done, a goal attained, and a vision beginning to be realised.

Given the Four of Wands is closely associated with the home environment, you may be working on improving or renovating your home. You may have recently purchased a new home or are very close to finding a new home and getting ready to settle down in your new environment.

The Four of Wands indicates peace, harmony and tranquillity. You may find a refuge from the turmoil’s of life, perhaps by meeting someone new in a romantic setting, or by finding a new place to live that is ‘away from it all’. If you have been experiencing any disagreements with others, now will be the time to make a peace offering and instead focus on creating harmony in the relationship.

The Four of Wands provides encouragement when things seem too daunting. The card serves as a reminder that most things in life do not come easily, and so when you do accomplish a major milestone, you should be proud of everything that you have achieved. The Four of Wands is also representative of move from one stage to another, and moving past mistakes and challenges to a place of peace, acceptance and happiness.

So at this stage in the year recognise that every day is a new start and build on the good accomplishments you’ve already made, rather than second guessing what you’ve already worked for, enjoy and rejoice in where you are, remember ask, then believe and then receive.

As it’s a new year I thought we would look at this years universal number which is the number 9 year (2 + 0 + 1 + 6 = 9). A 9 Year brings fulfilment, accomplishment and resolution. It represents the end of a 9-year cycle and offers the opportunity to close out any unfinished business or to bring major projects to completion.

In the Tarot, Card 9 is the Hermit and so 2016 is governed by the energy of the Hermit Tarot card.

The hermit stands at the top of a snow-covered mountain, with a staff in one hand and a lantern in the other. Inside of the small lantern is a star which never stops shining. The light of wisdom illuminates the path ahead for the hermit as he travels on his spiritual journey.

The Hermit is therefore a card of spiritual enlightenment, inner wisdom, journeying and deep insight.

Partnered with the energy of the 9, this represents a year when you will experience the culmination of your spiritual journey. And you will come to trust your inner source of wisdom to guide you on your path.

Important aspects of your life are now coming to a head. You have travelled a long way on your path. Now, in 2016, you have the opportunity to reflect on what you have learned along the way and integrate it into your life, ready for the next 9-year cycle to begin in 2017. You have the choice as to whether you will listen to your inner wisdom and let it guide you.

To truly harness the opportunities of the Hermit in 2016, allow yourself the time and space to pursue your spiritual interests and to honour your spiritual practice.

Schedule time throughout the year so that you can go on retreat. By withdrawing for short periods of time, you will allow yourself the opportunity to silence your mind and truly tune in to your inner wisdom.

However, remember that you will not always have ALL the answers at your immediate disposal. Guidance comes through at its own gentle pace.

While the hermit’s lantern illuminates the path, it only lights up part of the path. It shows only just enough of the path for the hermit to take a few steps forward and once the hermit takes those steps forward, more of the path begins to unfold.

As you tune in to your inner wisdom this year, know that you will only see part of the path – and that’s OK. You don’t have to know everything straight away. It will become illuminated the further you travel.

So remember to commit to your spiritual practice this year and give yourself the time and space to truly hear your own inner wisdom. All the guidance you ever need is already within you.

Have a wonderful, enlightened year ahead!

On the Ten of Cups we see a loving couple united by the bonds of true, everlasting love. They not only have each other but all that they wish for in life as well, represented by the two children frolicking at their side and the small but comfortable home in the distance, surrounded by trees and water. The family home symbolises stability and homely comforts, while the green garden symbolises fertility and the river symbolises a free flow of feelings. A rainbow of cups is overhead, blessing the scene. The cups symbolise an abundance of heavenly gifts and the rainbow signifies the end of hard times and is also is considered to be a highly spiritual omen in many of the world’s religions. It is a sign that the idyllic scene we see represented has been blessed from above and reinforces the idea that the achievement of perfect love is one sure way of experiencing the glory of the heavens here on earth.

The Ten of Cups embodies happiness, joy, contentment and emotional fulfillment, particularly in the area of your relationships and family. It represents almost an idyllic state of peace, harmony and love where all your dreams and wishes have come true and you are delighting in your good fortune. Given it is a Ten, this card indicates attainment of this idyllic state so stop for a moment to appreciate everything that you have accomplished and be incredibly grateful for the blessings that fill your life right now.

With the image of a happy family and a comforting home in the background, the Ten of Cups is indicative of a harmonious and loving family life. All family members are getting along with each other and there is a lot of happiness and love shared. No-one is fighting or causing any tension. Instead, it is an environment of peace and happiness that lends itself to warm and loving relations. The presence of the Ten of Cups may even reflect an upcoming family holiday where you can rest and relax together, creating fun and happy family memories. There may be a family reunion or a family celebration where members of your extended family come together. This is a wonderful time to bond with your family and lay the foundation for a happy and harmonious future together.

The Ten of Cups is also a very positive card in terms of romantic relationships and may indicate either the beginning of a new, very happy relationship, or the ultimate satisfaction of a long-term relationship. Commitment and love are the requirements of such satisfaction, yet this card promises that with the required effort a lasting love can be built. The time will also be made for the enjoyment of pleasures, which may be shared with another person whom you love.

Outside of relationships and the family, the Ten of Cups is also reflective of your personal values system and what you believe will bring you the ultimate fulfillment and happiness in your life. This card represents a time when you are very clear on where your personal beliefs and values lie and you have successfully created a life that is aligned to those values. It may reflect a spiritual or religious person who lives in peace and harmony. It may also reflect strong family values that were instilled within you early in life which are now helping you to create a fulfilling lifestyle.

Of course families are often full of opportunities to grow and evolve and not always harmonious and peaceful, but with all their imperfections, families are perfect and at this time of year especially its a great time to heal some rifts and be grateful for all the great things we do have in our little and bigger world.

The Knight of Wands is seen riding upon his horse, which rears up in the intensity of the Knight’s quest for success. The Knight’s face bears the determination of one bound to succeed. The plumes from the Knight of Wands’ helmet and the decorative tassels hanging from his back and arms are the colour of flame and he, like the Page, wears a shirt covered with the symbol of the fiery salamander.

Whereas the Page of Wands indicated the initial spark of a new idea, the Knight of Wands indicates the actual pursuit of that idea. There is significantly more action associated with this Knight and he has a true commitment and energy to make sure his ideas are put into action. His courage is incredibly strong and he has no fear of anything. He simply charges forth with his ideas and visions to make things happen. Thus, the Knight of Wands suggests that your confidence levels will rapidly increase and you will feel ready to take on the world with your vision. Tackle any challenges that stand in your way and always be ready to help others who lack your determination and exuberance but who desperately need it.

The Knight of Wands is an ‘act first, think later’ type of guy. He is impatient and impulsive, with a love for action. The downside to the Knight of Wands is that while he is bursting with energy and enthusiasm, he has a tendency to rush into things without much consideration for the consequences of his actions. He sets off on his journey in haste and often fails to have a clear plan of attack and this may negatively impact his chances of longer-term success. He is so focused on being the best and of fame and glory that he almost forgets to plan ahead and to keep sight of reality. The Knight of Wands can also come across as aggressive and overly ambitious. He is highly insistent even if others stand in his way, criticise him or challenge him.

When you encounter the Knight of Wands in a reading, it is important that you start your creative projects with great enthusiasm and energy but you also temper this with a well-rounded, realistic and balanced view along with a well-considered plan that takes into account any future consequences of your actions. You need to show ambition and move from where you are now to where you know you should be to increase your effectiveness in the world. There is nothing wrong with ambition if it is channelled in the right way. Be a pioneer and take calculated risks.

The Knight of Wands may indicate an event that enters your life quickly and unexpectedly. Coupled with the Eight of Wands, you can expect to see a lot of change and action occurring around you, and you will no doubt be swept up by the restless, ‘busy’ energy whether you like it or not! An important matter is likely to enter your life and demand your attention until it passes. Rather than resisting it, make the time to give it your full attention. Oftentimes, the Knight of Wands can indicate a hasty change of residence, job or other living arrangement. You need to be ready to react quickly and go with the flow as resistance is useless

The Devil is not the greatest of cards to get in the Tarot, but it is one of the most helpful.

The Devil card carries a great deal of information for us to work on, the Devil character sits between the man and women holding up his hand in the Vulcan greeting, is he saying “Live long and prosper”, what is that about? The devil is actually holding his hand in a traditional Jewish blessing and recites the phrase ‘may the lord keep you and bless you’ (Numbers 6:24)

So whilst he’s always had a bad rep the Devil actually tricks us into thinking that we cannot get away from him and our bad habits, and that is exactly what this card is about, taking responsibility for our bad habits and owning them, then doing something about them.

If you look at the two people in the card they look quite happy and content even though they are chained up. Look again at the chains, they are not holding them in position, they actually could if they choose take them off and walk away.

There is the challenge, do we carry on doing what the devil encourages us to do or do we change, evolve and adapt? It’s up to you.

The number on the card is 15, which in numerology reduces to (1+5) 6, which is the number of ‘cosmic parent’ and is the vibration of home and family it is about satisfying our base/human needs, the 6 has a ‘full belly’ it quite selfish and struggles with acceptance and therefore blames the Devil rather than accepting its own part to play here the Devil can be seen as actually giving us his blessing in doing what is intrinsically not good for us.

The number of the beast is 666, in numerology we reduce that to a single digit, so 6+6+6 = 18, 1+8 = 9, and 9 is the number of humanity therefore there is a beast in all of us. Again the presence of 6 highlights man’s lower nature.

Again we have the power to take charge and make a change,

With it being the start of a new school year, the subject of bullying and name calling always comes up and I remember the rhyme

 “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!”

but you know what names and verbal confrontations can be pretty rotten and hurtful!

the 5 of Swords comes from the suit of swords and that relates to the mind and the intellect and whilst the sword itself often depicts truth and justice it does in this case represent the sharpness of the tongue!

We’ve all been the victim or perpetrator of a sharp tongue at one time or another and that is exactly what is going on in this card. There are 3 characters, the one right at the front is the ‘winner’ he holds all the swords (or has them on the floor) and there is a smug look on his face. The person in the middle looks to have just given up and walked away, whilst the character furthest away looks to have been ‘defeated’ and is sobbing into their hands.

Of course the real question is who are we in the picture, the victor, the loser or the one who just gives up? maybe we are all three, Pythagoras the philosopher, who had a love of triangles said that every situation and debate has 3 sides to it, yours, theirs and the side that joins the other 2. That said in this case no one really wins because the winner has lost his two ‘friends’ and you never really win in an argument you only alienate.

So the next time someone lashes at you with their tongue take a second and think, ‘Who do i want to be in this situation?’ the victim, do i want to reply, or do i want to give up…..

Well that’s up to you, and the beauty is you can do all these things at any time….

If you want to know more about the 5 of Swords or have an Understand yourself Tarot or numerology session then get in touch.