02/03/2026
Today's 3 card Tarot Reading...
== Situation As It Is==
~~ Five of Swords ~~
Full Meaning
Keywords for the Five of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: * Faith * Action * Change * Strategy * Sacrifice * Amputating * Standing firm * Meeting a challenge * Victory by surrender * Choosing a direction * Confidence of position If you've done your fair share of researching various perspectives on the five of swords Tarot card meaning, you'll know interpretations for this card are all over the place. Some sources take a stance of cruelty emanating from the card. Others see themes of self-sacrifice in the card. Still others offer interpretations of trickery. When in doubt, I always look to the card preceding the one I'm focused on (in this case the Four of Swords meaning) for clarity. Why? Just like any good book, the Tarot builds momentum, its plot thickens. Knowing one card is a product or has been birthed from the previous card gives us a foothold on meaning. With that in mind, the five of swords Tarot card meaning is born out of a place of deep inner reflection and contemplation as seen in the fourth sword card. An interpretive snapshot: Our figurehead has emerged standing triumphantly from a challenge. He is the victor, having won the challenge that threatened his beliefs. Where am I getting this? We know the suit of swords speaks to us of thoughts and beliefs. Our victor stands holding the majority of his shares (thoughts/swords) in tact. He has gotten his point across, and is met with no further conflict by would-be nay-sayers. Indeed, these usurpers seem to concede, or surrender; relinquishing the honor of righteousness to our figurehead in the card. The concept of challenge surfaces in the presence of mountains in the cards. We get the feeling a long-standing opposition has been held, and through quiet persistence (as visited in the four of swords) the mountain has been conquered. I get the idea that faith or beliefs are either upheld or amended in this imagery, primarily from the Morgan-Greer version (center card image up top). Notice how the fallen swords are in the formation of a cross - an orthodoxy-like (entrenched-faith) connotation? Meeting at a crossroads in traditional beliefs? Unquestionably, the best interpretation I've encountered for this card is provided by Onno and Rob Docters van Leeuwen in their book: The Complete New Tarot (if you don't have this book, it's a must-have in any Tarot scholar's library). Onno and Rob classify the five of swords Tarot card meaning as: "Remembering the Self." To paraphrase their interpretation: "Through the reflective time in the Swords Four, we have overcome ourselves and our inner enemies and identifications which sap our energies. These are personified by the defeated persons walking away in the background. These having dropped off from our experience, a new goal and plan for life originates." I'm particularly fond of the keyword "amputation." The implication urges us to cast off, or amputate those aspects of our lives that no longer serve the goal or plan the van Leeuwens' speak of. Some featured symbols in the Five of Swords Tarot card meaning: Mountains: Seen on many of the cards, mountain symbol meanings deal with triumph, challenge, attainment, and realization. Mountains also represent timelessness and an endurance that is infinite. When those mountains peak out of the cards into our attention, we may consider the vastness of our universe, and contemplate our place within it. We may also want to consider the heights to which we are climbing, and what the realization of our goals may mean for us and those around us. Ocean: Ocean symbol meanings deal with infinite possibilities. Consider the ocean, and you will be considering the essence of vastness, mystery, and depth. It seems in exhaustible and the holder of wonderous things unseen. When the oceans in the cards crash their waves against our consciousness, it is time to pay homage to the great divine - meaning we should recognize the burgeoning power around us, the animating force that runs through us - the expansive and expressive nature of the universe. In other words, we must acknowledge that there may be other (higher) powers at work in our lives and it may be time to release our control in order to allow these powers to open up incredible opportunities to us. Questions the Five of Swords asks us: What has got to go so that the "real me" can stay? Can I break from orthodoxy? Do I want to? Will that serve me? What challenges have I met with calm dignity? How can I meet present and/or future challenges with that same calm assurance? How do I feel about the need to be right? Can I drop that compulsion to be right all the time?
== Course of Action to be Taken ==
~~ Ace of Cups ~~
Full Meaning
Key Words for the Ace of Cups:
* Love * Peace * Patience * Harmony * Assurance * Tranquility
* Compassion * Acceptance It's been said that love is the most powerful, effective emotion known to mankind. If we keep this in mind while contemplating the ace of cups Tarot card meaning, we more easily understand the profound message it has for us. Visually, this card is undeniably potent. I particularly gravitate to the Thoth rendition (shown left) of this card because it shows prominent emanations of energy spanning out in a web of connectivity. I perceive these waves of energy composed of compassion and love. As such, this card illustration reminds me of the power that love has over all things. Yes, if you are wanting hard and fast ace of cups Tarot card meanings, most certainly it is a card symbolizing love as well as a signal of new relationships beginning (aces signifying new beginnings), but it's much more than that. This card is a sign of blessing. A blessing that assures us if we hold ourselves (our thoughts, feelings, body, etc) in a place of love there is no end to the beauty we may allow to flow into our lives. The ace of cups is a message for us to start at the place of love. Whatever our intent, need, desire, direction may be; if we initiate your action from the starting point of love and compassion then our result will be blessed. Consider some of the prime symbols we see on this ace. Key symbols to the ace of cups Tarot card meanings: Water: Water is a symbol of emotion and subconscious. Water also symbolizes purity, cleansing, and rebirth. It is associated with the moon too which causes its symbolism to lean towards femininity. This is in line with the core ace of cups Tarot meanings that deal with love and compassion. Although males are surely just as capable of love as women are - human history primarily hands over the softer, nurturing, compassionate concepts of love to women. There is further connection here because many First People (ancient cultures, primitive man) believe the earth was formed from a watery womb. Here we are seeing water as a symbol of love rebirth and all the other associations that go along with these. Lotus:Traditionally, the symbolic meaning of lotus deals with ascension (rising up to or above the occasion). When we see the lotus unfolding its petals beautifully in the midst of inky, murky soils we can liken ourselves unfolding as divine beings emerging out of unclear situations or states of consciousness. Simply put, the lotus in the ace of cups Tarot card tells us there is beauty in all things as long as we have the inner eyes to select only the beauty among us. This enhances the other prime symbols of the card as it dovetails into the idea that love, peace and regular renewal are keystones to igniting the new emotional highs in our life. These are powerful symbols, and this is an incredibly potent card. In a reading this card indicates new sparks of passion are being lit up in your life. It also tells the querent to start all endeavors from a place of love, and the results will always be blessed. We can also see this card as a sign of renewal, rebirth, or starting over. Observe the other cards surrounding the ace of cups to obtain more clarity about this card's meaning in your reading. For example, if you are reading for yourself, and health is in the uppermost of your thoughts, the surrounding cards may indicate you are experiencing a renewal in health. In one of my readings I had the ace of cups Tarot card meaning reveal a remission in cancer was imminent. After talking with my client (and assuring her I was not a doctor, or extending medical advice) I shared with her I saw a relief in health concerns, an uplifting experience in matters of physical body. My client proceeded to tell me she had cancer, and was waiting on oncology tests confirming she is just recently entering a remission. Some questions we can ask ourselves when we're determining the ace of cups Tarot card meaning: Am I approaching this task (event, issue, project, relationship, etc) from a position of love? Am I stilling my mind and emotions long enough to emerge from confusion? Am I ready to start a new relationship? Am I giving myself the compassion, love and understanding I need? Can I utilize compassion to resolve what it is that is hurting me in my life?
== New Situation that Will Evolve ==
~~ King of Wands ~~
Full Meaning
Some keywords from the King of Wands: * Honest * Liberal
* Creative * Integrity * Effective * Integrity * Trustworthy
* Harmonious * Conscientious * Compassionate * Entrepreneurial
"I am the King of Wands and this is my legend. I maintain my people with high-spiritedness and integrity. I have high family values, and my perception of family is extended to every person in my realm (not just my wife, and children). I am an innovator, and I enjoy trying new things in my kingdom. As the King of Wands, I listen to my people when employing new systems of law, communication and beautification within my kingdom walls. I believe the best ideas come from the people who are intimate with the work. For example, the farmers are the ones with the greatest ideas of improvement in agriculture, so I listen to them and find better ways to work the land for my people's common good. I am also a visionary, and I use the arts to express my forward thinking. In fact, the realm of wands is the most advanced art community in the Tarot because I heavily endorse the cause of artistic expression. I combine a unique blend of spirituality and artistic expression to create an atmosphere of harmony in my kingdom. In fact, compared to my brothers (the other Kings of the Tarot), the people under my rule are harmonious and peace-loving. I can't take all the credit for that, but I believe I maintain an honest rule, and the people recognize that, thus making a peaceful existence possible.
Tarot historians compare me to Alexander the Great. Indeed, I do have immaculate skill in areas of strategy, determination and unifying people for a common goal. I have a keen gift at "seeing things from the end." Meaning, I can visualize the end result and work backwards to attain that goal. I believe the power of the mind is greater than the power of the fist. I am also extremely flexible and adaptable, and this serves me well in moving my strategies and people in the proper direction effectively. My eyes are fixed on the western skies as I am always looking for accomplishment in my endeavors. As the King of Wands, I always have the final word and I emphasize my authority with passion, generosity and honesty. My appearance belies my aristocracy because my looks are quite average. Indeed, in regular dress I can blend in among the common people. I have reddish brown hair, a strong jaw, and I tend to be burley and ox'ish in my build. My eyes are my most telling feature. Changing from greenish to copper depending on my mood, my eyes are soulful and deep. They express my penchant for honesty and bright thought. When I show up in your cards, I am the authority figure that encourages innovative, entrepreneurial leadership. The kind of leadership that is uncompromising in honesty. I will encourage you to take the righteous route to your goals, and lead with the highest intent and equally high moral standard. Honesty, creativity and soulful purpose are my watchwords." Some symbols from the King of Wands: Bird: (Note: In the King of Wands cards for only some deck renditions) The symbol meanings of the bird deals with higher thoughts and matters of the spirit. They are creatures of the air, so they symbolize higher ideals. They also represent freedom and ascension. When the bird symbol pops out at us during a reading it is a message that we are rising to a higher level, that we need to free ourselves from bo***ge and we must make our hearts light. See other (Rider-Waite) Tarot cards gone to the birds. Lion as shown engraved in the chair: Signifying one of the four fixed signs of the zodiac, lion symbol meanings deal with strength, courage, royalty, and protection. Much like lightning, the lion is viewed as both savior and destroyer in ancient cultural myth. The lion is a bit of a paradox - while standing as a symbol of spiritual valor it is also a symbol for the beastly needs of the flesh. When the lion roars at us in the cards we are encouraged to consider the level of our courage. Are we seated in faith or flesh? Are we protecting others or ourselves? Are we being strong or just stubborn? Some questions the King of Wands asks: Do you lead with integrity and honesty? Do not compromise in this area. Your success in leadership depends on your integrity How adaptive and flexible are you? As much as I love tradition (especially family traditions), I keep my mind and strategies open to new ideas so I can rule with flexibility. With focus, you can too. Are you a spiritual leader? You do not have to be an evangelist to spiritually lead. Just lead by honor and humility.
AWEN /'i'\
Blessed-Be
