11/13/15 Ten of Cups and Six of Wands reversed

I was drawn back to the Hermetic Tarot today, and threw the Ten of Cups and the Six of Wands reversed. 

The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) in an upright position offers the manifestation of happiness, simple joys, and fulfillment. The number Ten is about the completion of a cycle or manifestation, and the suit of Cups is about emotions, feelings and the inner self, so this card offers the bounty that comes with the successful experiencing of all the lessons of the Cups cards.

The Hermetic Tarot Ten of Cups presents the traditional image of water flowing in a connected way into ten Cups, with a few interesting additions.  The water is flowing from a lotus blossom, which represents the ability to rise above the mud and murk in order to bloom and achieve enlightenment.  How auspicious that the water on this card is sourced from a lotus blossom!  Some of the water is being poured from a Cup being held by a hand; again a hint that the pleasures and contentment of this card have a higher source. 

The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  This card is about the sense of accomplishment and the recognition that happen when we stick to our own plan despite adversity.  Good standing and recognized authority, and the hands on the reins.

The Six of Wands in the Hermetic Tarot is called the Lord of Victory, and indeed, victory is one of the keywords commonly assigned to this card.  One of the descriptions of the Hermetic Tarot Six of Wands is “success through energy and industry,” and that sums up the way that conquest and triumph are presented to us by this card. 

Any happiness I experience today will be of a higher nature, and that is cool because that happiness will be there whether things in the physical world go as planned, or whether things beyond my control strive to derail my journey.  Simple interpretation, but important message!

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