With the 5 of Wands, we enter the realm of Leo - the province of the Strength or Lust card.  Here is the search for the limelight, the quest for fame and glory, the hunger for one's moment in the sun!  But there is no victor without a tournament first.  You can almost sense the blood pounding, the adrenaline racing.  It's audition time - reach for the beta blockers! Let the games begin!

In the 4 of Cups, we encounter questions surrounding what is enough, and what is left to be desired.  It is a complex card, because it governs opposing states: scarcity vs. surplus, temptation vs. apathy.  An outstretched hand offers a cup full of who knows what - fine wine? arsenic? divine grace? freedom from pain? Whatever it is, our jaded friend is having none of it.

 On the face of it, the 3 of Cups is not a complex card.  Three dancing, flower-crowned women raise their cups in a celebratory toast. The atmosphere is one of relaxation, mirth, and enjoyment.  In this decan, fruits swell on their trees in the northern hemisphere's summer.  We enjoy abundant food and drink, as well as abundant good will. Most tarot readers can recall drawing this card on the occasion of a meal or celebration with female relatives or close women friends.

After the restless winds of Gemini, the first sweet decan of Cancer has arrived. The summer solstice is upon us! and with it, the card known as the "Lord of Love".  In the 2 of Cups, Venus rules over Cancer I. The cardinal sign of Cancer is ruled by the Moon, our nocturnal luminary; Venus is the benefic of the night sky.  The 2 of Cups is no guarantee that you have found "the One," I tell my clients, but it's an excellent start. 

On the face of it, the 10 of Swords has to be the most terrifying of the 56 minor arcana.  In fact, it's such a figure of fright I usually show it to new clients right up front, along with the Death card, and I tell them how often I get it (31 times since 2015 alone).  Once they have satisfied themselves that I appear to be in reasonably good health, we can talk about what it really means.

 In the 9 of Swords we see a moment of tremendous stress. In readings for others, I've found it to be a strikingly relatable card, often prompting clients to point and exclaim "That's me!".  The 9 of Swords can validate the experience of someone whose pain has been dismissed by themselves and others. That said, it is no walk in the park. Anxiety, regret, and insomnia are common symptoms. When we look at the card's related majors - The Tower (Mars) and the Lovers (Gemini) - we obtain some clues as to why.