Lesson 5 - Assignment

[Amethyst Rose]

OMG, you guys, I'm so sorry about this.... I accidently put the assignment for this lesson in the archives. So sorry....I'll extend the due date on this a bit to make up for the time that was lost. (Thanks Lisa for bringing it to my attention).


Due June 3rd


1. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your favorite.

2. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your least favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your least favorite.


Bonus Points:

Choose a favorite and least favorite card for each suit. Describe each card (there should be 8) and explain why they are your favorite or least favorite.

OR

Do a general one card reading (posted in this thread) for (on) me.

[FaerieGothMommy]

This is gona be tough, there are lots of minor arcana i like, but i will go with the assignment, and pick 1!
I will probably do both the bonus points. I love giving readings, and getting the feedback and i can pick more cards i like a dislike. This is taken from my spiral deck, and i will attach images.

1. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your favorite.

Ten of Cups. I chose this card because of 3 things really, the fact that it's cups, the image on the card and the meaning.
I love the suit of cups - i am a strong watery pisces sign and so usually link quite well the cups suit. And it has always been my favourite suit in a deck.
The image is that of a woman, half nude with her bottom half covered by flowing material, she has blonde hair which looks like it is being blown away. She is standing next to a huge vase type thing, with the spiral symbol on, and the ten cups leaping out of the vase, with glitter, colourful bits etc... Faintly behind the cups is a rainbow.

This card to me shows a joyus time and lots of good things happening around the querent.

I love getting positive cards in spreads, especially in future influences, as then the querent has something to look forward to and aim for.
As i am a very emotional and sensitive person myself, i like this card appearing in my own spreads, it gives me hope for emotional happiness and contentmant.
http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/cups/spiral_cups10_ten_of_cups.jpg

2. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your least favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your least favorite.

Five of Wands. This card is all about struggle and competition to me. I am not a person to like competition, i like everything to be fair and i am always complaining about why the world are in so much competition with each other, and against each other so much!

In this card it shows a group of young lads, all holding a stick (wand), with 1 lad coming towards the group also holding a stick, but holding in a manner of using it as a weapon. The group look more defensive. They are standing on a sloped pavement.

I am not keen on getting cards that can inidicate negativity. Of course, we all have negativity in our lives and it can't be ignored, but this one is a card that usually shows a situation i am most against, as i said above, competition.
It's about struggling to cope with what you have, fighting inner and outer enemies and compeition with those around you.
Life shouldn't be about this, unfortunatly it's an aspect of life, but one i would like to exclude.
http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/wands/spiral_wands05_five_of_wands.jpg


Do a general one card reading (posted in this thread) for (on) me.

Ace of Swords - Right now you are hiding yourself away from the outside world, and it is about time you came out of your 'shell'. You haven't been doing the things that you would like to, it's as though you have mostly kept yourself indoors, or avoided social contact with certain people. This is about starting fresh, and pushing yourself to communicate more and not hiding your inner talents and beauty. I don't think you have realized in the past how much people admire you when you come out of your 'shell', and it's around about now that it'd be a good time to do this.
http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/swords/spiral_swords01_ace_of_swords.jpg

Choose a favorite and least favorite card for each suit. Describe each card (there should be 8) and explain why they are your favorite or least favorite
I hope you don't mind me also adding images of these cards, i think it really helps you see though what i'm explaining and describing about the card.

4 favourite from each suit : Six of Swords, Queen of Pentacles, Ace of Wands, Queen of Cups.

http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/swords/spiral_swords06_six_of_swords.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/pentacles/spiral_pents13_queen_of_pentacles.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/wands/spiral_wands01_ace_of_wands.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/cups/spiral_cups13_queen_of_cups.jpg

1. I chose the six of swords because of the image and meaning. The image is beautiful. It shows a person wearing a hooded cloak on a small raft/boat crossing over a river, with the six swords in the boat. Theres an angel type figure gliding along, who is pointing forwards towards a light in the distance as though she is showing him the way. Its set at night time, and i think it is just a stunning card to look at.
It shows me finding your way after getting lost. If you have been through a difficult situation, things are getting better. Or relief and safety after anxiety and panic. I can relate to the meaning so much from a personal view, and i think thats what i love this card.
2. I chose Queen of Pentacles mainly for the meaning of the card. It shows a wise looking woman, maybe early 40's if i was to give her an age. She is sat down on a thrown made out of grass, she is surrounded by flowers, plants with a bit of blue sky showing and 2 white birds playing together. She has her arm over a pentacle, i'm not quite sure what she is holding in her other hand, and she is resting her right foot on a book.
This card shows nurture and caring to me. This is why i like it, i get a feeling of love for nature and all things beautiful. And also, she seems to know what she is doing, she can make something out of nothing.
3. I chose Ace of Wands because i love fresh new beginnings concerning energy and growth. It's like a new lease of life has formed, which is blossoming wonderfully and i love the feeling i get from the card.
It shows a sprouted plant, with a hand coming down from the sky, the tips of the fingers just touching the plant. In the background is a watercolour of greenery and sunset/sunrise. It's full of energy.
4. I chose Queen of Cups because this card holds some of the best qualities of the typical cups suit/water sign. It shows a young lady sitting on her thrown made from an oyster shell, theres water and sealife flowing all around her, while she is sitting their content gazing into the chalice she is holding up.
There is a sea horse at her side.
This card is all about psychic awareness, intuition, nurturing, sensitivity. And i feel i can relate to this card on a higher level. If i had to pick out a significator for myself, i would choose this card.

4 least favourite from each suit : Five of Swords, Five of Pentacles, Ten of Wands, Five of Cups

http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/swords/spiral_swords05_five_of_swords.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/pentacles/spiral_pents05_five_of_pentacles.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/wands/spiral_wands10_ten_of_wands.jpg http://www.ima-adama.co.il/images/know_yourself/tarot/spiral_tarot_deck/cups/spiral_cups05_five_of_cups.jpg

1. I chose Five of Swords because the image to me is not appealing and i'm not keen on the feelings i get from the card.
It shows a man standing on a raft out at sea, the sea looks rought. He is standing up firm and confident though, while there is a person in the sea clinging onto the raft, the man standing up seems arrogant and knows he is there, yet chooses not to help the poor man in the sea. The sky is red and blue, it shows a storm brewing.
I get the feeling of failure from this card. A feeling of intimidation and humiliation, 2 things i am not good at dealing with myself, so i think thats why i don't like the look of the card and so, had to become 1 of my least favourite.
2. I chose Five of Pentacles because of the meaning of this card. Now although i think how the card is done is nice to look at, when you really look at the card and see the meaning, it's kind of depressing a bit. It shows a person in a hooded cloak (i'm asuming the mother) holding a childs hand, who is also wearing a cloak. They have no shoes and are walking outside on snow. Behind them is two pentacles on the floor. They are passing a house and looking into a window, where there is a couple holding each other in the warmth of their home, the window is embossed with 3 pentacles.
To me this is about some sort of financial loss. Either worrying about where your finances are going, or going through a stage of struggling quite a lot with finances, to a point where your desperate. Seen as they are outside looking in, it shows being left out, rejection. So if i was reading this card for someone i may see it as they have been rejected from family, and had their backs turned to in desperate times of need.
3. I chose Ten of Wands as this card shows burden and being taken advantage of all over it! It shows a woman, with a brick wall in front of her, she is walking a long a cobbled road, hunched over with the ten wands on her back. She looks to be struggling to carry them.
Now the image itself isn't too appealing, but the meaning to go with it, makes it my least favourite from the wands suit. I get the feeling that the woman in the card is having to deal with everyone elses problems aswel as her own, people can see she is struggling, yet they still take advantage of her and she is loaded with burdens. It's a sad card, and i actually feel sorry for the poor lady in the card.
4. I chose Five of Cups as it signifies disappointment, sorrow, loss, failure. And it's not a very nice card to come up in someones spread. It shows to me that whoever the card is for has been through a great ordeal of sorrow and disappointment.
It shows a woman and she looks to be running away from something. Behind her is a golden tree, with 2 cups around it, and in front of her are 3 cups that are being tossed all over the place.
To me, as the golden tree is in the background it shows that she may have been in a beneficial/positive situation at some point, which she lost and now has nothing, or at least thats what she feels like.

As you can see i'm not a big fan of the negative looking cards, mostly due to the negative feelings/vibes i get from them.

[LisaT4P]

(Thanks Lisa for bringing it to my attention). LOL, now I feel like the kid at the end of the day who says to the teacher "But what about our homework!" *Lisa dodges the thrown pencils, books and tomatoes* ;)

[Nellie]

Favourite in the Cup suit: 10 of cups

Happy families. There is much loving and warmth from this card. It makes me smile. It's as though everything is complete - the house, the family unit, all happy together. The 10 cups lay around the family, an indication of the family surrounded with love.

Least favourite in the Cup suit: Knight of Cups

Can't really say I don't like any of them, but the feeling of the least appealing when going through them was The Knight card. He is sat on a white hourse holding a cup in his left hand. He appears to be looking down in front of him rather than focusing on where he goes. He appears in contemplation, almost resigned/sad. Even the horse looks fed up and is moving very slow. There appears to be no energy in this card. It makes me feel dejected. Things moving slowly, perhaps some force is needed - self motivation.

Favourite in the Pentacles suit: 8 of Pentacles

I was drawn to this card more than any other. A carpenter is working making pentacles. He looks happy in his work. Above him already made and hanging on the shed wall are 7 pentacles. Outside the doorway appears to be lush grounds. I get the impressions that this is a labour of love. This is for creativity and a want rather than a need. I too am fortunate to have (the beginnings of) a career that I do for enjoyment rather than necessity and feel honoured. I feel as long as this is not taken for granted, this will continue.

Least favourite in the Pentacles suit: King of Pentacles

I just don't like this card, or at least the artwork. The king sat on his throne surrounded by vines and in front of a big castle, looks pompous. His robe is very busy and unattractive - I guess it could be a symbol of the fruits of his success. In his right hand he holds upright a pentacle (action side - perhaps he has worked to get where he is now.) In his left hand he holds an Orb. The vines look as though they grow into him and his throne. For all the wealth he has, he doesn't appear to be happy about it. Maybe he needs to look at what really would make him happy in life besides material wealth!!

Favourite in the Swords: King of Swords

I like this King - he seems fair somehow. Like he would listen. He is very colourful - a blue dress with a beautiful big butterfly on his chest and a vivid purple shawl around his shoulders. He has his purple boots placed on a red cushion. Symbolism of colours, as I recall are blue for communication, purple for wisdom and red for passion/purpose. I would say that fits him well. Engraved on his throne are 5 butterflies - the symbol of transformation and change. He holds his sword upright in his right hand. Two white doves fly behind - a sign of peace. The sky is almost clear. This is a peaceful card - but he is not somebody to be taken lightly. While all around create, he sits back and watches. I feel almost like a kung fu master - very rarely, if ever the need to use his weapons. I feel this card is all about change - change for the better. I really like this card!!

Least favourite in the swords: 8 of Swords

A woman is blindfolded and bound by rope stands in the middle of 8 swords. Behind her looms dark clouds above a castle on the top of a rocky hill. Above the girls head flies a raven/crow. Her bare feet show under her long dress - a sign of her vunerability. She appears held captive by her own accord, as nobody else is present and her hands are free. Quite a depressing card. It feels like there is no where to turn, or she is unsure of the best way forward, as she feels stuck. Perhaps if she was to free herself and move away from the situation she would have a better choice.

Favourite in the Wands: Knight of Wands

Very energetic card. The horse is moving so fast, it's hooves don't even touch the ground. The knight looks victorious as he holds the wand upwards in his left hand. There is a sense of urgency - almost like he is rushing to share his news or good fortune. This card in a reading would bring with it excitment and much needed energy.

Least favourite in the Wands: 7 of Wands

A man appears to be fighting the wands - nobody else is in the card, so he must be fighting something within. He looks frustrated and surprised by this outcome. He also appears to be stood in a circle of fire. Perhaps he's taken on too much and everything is fighting for his attention - I totally relate to this card.

Out of all the suits my favourite would probably be the Ten of Cups, as this is a card I aspire to be like in my everyday life, with my family!! My least favourite would have to be the 7 of Wands, mainly because I am that guy all the time....I just can't say no to projects!

[nightstream]

My Favorite Minor Arcana Card: The Queen of Cups - Intuition

This card turns up a lot in my readings, and it's odd that I didn't like it that much when I first bought the deck, but now it's become my favorite. Glastonbury Tor is in the far background, and the sky colored in warm, muted sunset tones. A border of blackberries frames the horizon, and below the blackberries, a woman is wading toward the shore of a lake, toward the viewer. She is wearing a loose, flowy, light blue bown and carrying a golden chalice. She has a serene look on her face, and she has turned her face up almost like she's day-dreaming. A kingfisher flies over her.
I love the picture of the card itself, and the meaning that it's developed for me. It's a card that I feel very comfortable with, and I identify with it a lot.

My Least Favorite Minor Arcana Card: 9 of Swords - Suffering

This card has a meaning that I really don't like to see in my readings, and the picture itself is disturbing to me. The nine swords cross with each other in rows, with the odd sword crossing the others vertically, and the background is thick, tangled forest growth, but the most disturbing thing is the color of the swords. There's a little glimmer of gold from underneath them, but they look discolored with blood and rust and blackness. The picture just makes me feel ill, and the meaning is scary to me.

My Favorite/Least Favorite Cards of Each Suit (other than the ones I’ve already picked):

Swords:
Favorite: 6 of Swords - Solace
This card has a really beautiful meaning, and there's something that I absolutely love about it - the six swords take most of the visual weight of the picture, but the background is beautiful They're floating above a pretty pond and a lush, green forest with an old tree. But the best part is that there’s a cute little rainbow-colored butterfly hiding in the top right corner, and it’s easy to miss unless you know it’s there. I just love that : )

Least Favorite: 3 of Swords - Discord
This is another card with a meaning that I don’t like to see very much. It pictures three dark, discolored swords crossing each other, floating over a clouded sky and rocky, craggy mountains. I couldn’t think of a better picture to say conflict, upset and discomfort.

Wands:
Favorite: 3 of Wands - Foundation
Three wands stand in the ground, with strawberry vines twining up them. A golden field is behind them, with low hills on the horizon, and a faint rainbow (another easy thing to miss if you’re not looking!) in the sky. Both the strawberries and the field really speak to me of foundation - the strawberries remind me of my grandma and my family, and the field reminds me of farming, growing crops, building and maintaining a farm, which is something that really says “foundation” to me.

Least Favorite: Queen of Wands - Illumination
I don’t really have a problem with the meaning of this card - I just feel like the picture really doesn’t connect me with the meaning. There are two main things I don’t like about the picture - the sun that is rising in the background is coming up into a sky that looks almost green to me, and that makes me think of tornadoes and storms. It feels kind of dumb to have that association, but that’s just where my brain jumps to, and it’s bothersome. There are also some problems I have with this deck with the pictures that they choose of people - I feel like a lot of the time, it seems that the people don’t “fit” the picture, with the feeling that they’ve been pasted into it, and this is probably one of the worst cards that gives me that feeling. And, as someone that’s worked in costume design for two years, the dress she’s wearing makes me think of a granny-style nightgown. I feel like I have dumb criticisms of this card, but… well… that IS what I think of when I see it. I love the fox and the fire, though - just wish the other elements worked better.

Cups:
Favorite: 9 of Cups - Stability
This is another card with Glastonbury Tor in the background, which connects it in my mind with the Queen of Cups card, but what I love the most about it is the clover flowers that are in the nine stacked chalices. I grew up with clover around my house and in my grandmother’s back yard (along with the strawberries with the Wands card!), and I have a lot of personal imagery connected with it. This card also has an important meaning in my life, and I like seeing it turn up.

Least Favorite: 7 of Cups - Delusion
This card has a meaning that usually means trouble for me, and that’s reflected in the picture itself. The seven cups are transparent - you’re not sure whether they’re really there or not - and the landscape beneath them just seems weird to me. There’s a stone circle on green mossy ground, but the color of the moss and grass is disturbing in its brightness against the dark treeline in the background. I don’t like feeling like I’m in the dark about what’s really going on, and that’s what I feel a lot of in this card.

Discs (Pentacles):
Favorite: 6 of Discs - Bounty
This is another really pretty card with a positive meaning. I love the picture - a crescent moon hovers in the early evening sky, over the opening to an earthen tomb, and six of the golden targe-shaped shields that are often used to represent discs in this deck stand before the entrance. Pretty pink flowers (the book says it’s “Centaury” plant, something I’ve never personally seen, though) intertwine around them.

Least Favorite: 5 of Discs - Restriction
Five old and discolored (why are all the things I don’t like discolored?) float over the same weird and uncomfortable background as the 7 of Cups card, this time with more of a brown-green-stormy-looking cast to the sky. The shields are crossed and bound with some sort of thorny plant. Same freaky background, same freaky discoloration, nasty-looking thorns… it doesn’t really surprise me that these cards I don’t like share a lot of the same characteristics. The meaning here also is something I have trouble and feel uncomfortable with.

One-Card Reading for Amethyst:

The Lovers
This card pictures a young man wearing green standing on a hillside with a gound woman wearing a red dress and a crown of flowers. They both hold ribbons, which twirl and flutter out to the border of the card, intertwining with each other and connecting to what (I think) is a May pole at the card‘s border. There is a tree at the top of the hill, and two birds dance in their flight above. A Jack-in-the-pulpit flower is on the bottom right-hand corner of the card.
To me this card suggests both joy in something new and exciting, a new love of something in your life, but also cautions against becoming blinded with infatuation. Perhaps it’s a good idea to try and be aware of how your love of something in your life might be making an issue hard to see in its complete picture?

[i_am_serenity16]

Favorite Minor Arcana Card IX Of Swords: In my deck this card shows a person sitting up in bed. I cannot tell if this person is a man or a woman. They have short blonde hair and are covering their face as if crying into their hands. The interesting thing about this card is that the bed is made entirely of swords. This card seems to be telling me that the person is going through a hard time and is suffering through much mental and physical pain. I like this card mainly because of the uniqueness of the artwork, it just seems so interesting. The only colors in it are gray (the swords), peach (the skin of the person) yellow (they persons pajamas) and yellow (the persons hair)… but it is still a powerful card that really speaks to me for some reason.

Least Favorite Minor Arcana Card III Of Cups: This card is my least favorite because artwork wise it is the most BORING card in my entire deck. It shows three cups. Each cup is yellow with a red heart on the side and completely empty. That’s it… that’s all the card shows… everything else is black. I never get any sort of vibe from this card and always have a really difficult time determining it’s meaning.

Extra Credit Since I described my favorite Sword card and least favorite Cup card above this part will describe my favorite Cup, Pentacle, and Wand Cards and my least favorite Pentacle, Wand, and Sword. I’ll do the favorites first…

Favorite Cup VI Of Cups: This card shows a person (another androgynous card) with long blonde hair a blue shirt and blue pants with no shoes looking up at a cloud above them. This person is leaning up against a well that appears to be made of wood; at the top of the well rope is a large yellow cup with a heart on it. On the ground near the person are five more cups similar to this one, except they appear smaller. It appears the person was retrieving water and decided that they’d rather sit on the ground a watch the clouds overhead. To me this card gives off a sense of relief and the need for a break from responsibilities. I like the artwork in this card.

Favorite Pentacle King of Pentacles: This card is very colorful and that’s why I like it…it shows a man seated on a throne and wearing a crown. The throne is red a green and gold and very elaborate. Directly above the mans head is a pentacle that appears engraved in the gold on the throne. The man is wearing a crown, a purple robe with white trim, and brown shoes. He seems to be very content and happy. He gives off a sense of power and wealth. I love the way the colors mix so well to create a beautiful card.

Favorite Wand X Of Wands: This card shows a man who is struggling under a great weight. He is carrying a bunch of logs and walking around in long pants, a long sleeved shirt, a hat and no shoes. His face is red from the weight he is carrying. He has on a pack that is full of wood on his back and his arms are loaded with more wood so he cannot see in front of him. The reason I like this card is that it always gives me a strong feeling that someone is going through a test of strength and will have to bear a huge burden.

Now for the least favorites…

Least Favorite Pentacle V Of Pentacles: This card shows a snaking green crocodile coiled around four pentacles. The crocodile’s mouth is wide open and bearing its huge teeth. Only one of its eyes is visible but yet it is not an eye. Instead it is a large pentacle made of gold. I dislike this card because it sort of creeps me our, I’m not sure why… the way the crocodile is positioned and its eye just seem so realistic that the card creeps me out slightly.

Least Favorite Wand IX Of Wands: This card shows a woman who is looking directly at you through bars in a prison. Her eyes are dark greens and sad and she seems very depressed. She is in a long blue dress and has long blonde hair. Her face is pale but her cheeks are bright pink as if she has put on makeup. I dislike this card because the woman seems so sad; she almost seems to speak to you when you look at her… begging you to help her.

Least Favorite Sword VIII Of Swords: This card shows a man dressed all in red. He has dark red hair and his face is white. He is wearing a red blindfold and is juggling swords. I dislike this card because it seems to scream danger.

One Card Reading For Amethyst Rose: I drew the IX Of Pentacles This card shows a vine growing out of a golden crown. On this vine, as if it were fruit are nine gold coins, each with a pentacle on them. My intuition tells me that this card heralds good fortune… the concept of a money bearing plant seems to mean that money will soon be coming your way and be in abundance. To me this card also means success, since, in this society, success seems to be measured by how much or how little money you have.

Wow that was a long one… but fun. :D

[phoenix1010]

I use the Universal Waite Deck.
1. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your favorite.
It is really hard to find just one card that I like from the minor arcana! The Nine of Pentacles has come up in alot of readings for me. I really like the imagery on this card. It shows a well-dressed woman standing in a lush garden of grapes (vineyard). She has a hooded falcon perched on her gloved left hand. The sky is yellow, there are mountains and a castle in the background. In front of her are 6 pentacles and 3 are behind her.

2. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your least favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your least favorite.

The 8 of Wands is my least favorite card. It just shows 8 wands hanging in the blueish white sky. There is a nice little home on the horizon with green rolling hills and a river. You don't see the whole of the wands, just one end. What are they doing there? Are they flying at someone? Sticking out of something? What?!?! I just don't get this card. My interpreted meaning of this card is that things are suspended, hanging in the air, deadlock. My LWB has a total different meaning. I am waiting for it to come up in a reading to see how it acts then but it hasn't shown itself yet.


Bonus Points:

Choose a favorite and least favorite card for each suit. Describe each card (there should be 8) and explain why they are your favorite or least favorite.

Favorite cards:

King of Swords. I am drawn to the very fatherlike figure; powerful yet knowledgable and approachable. He is very determined in what he does without being to destructive. He is dressed in blue, red and purple, he has a gold crown on his head. He holds a sword in his right hand. His throne is adorned with butterflies on it. The sky has some clouds in it and some birds. The background landscape just shows some trees. I think this is my favorite of the four kings.

Six of Cups. This card shows an adult or older child giving a cup full of white flowers (lillies) to a little girl. Both appear to be well-dressed and are in the courtyard of a nice home. It appeals to me as being a very "happy childhood" image. It's a sweet image that stirs those long lost emotions of youth.

Queen of Wands. I really like alot of the imagery on this card! It shows a Queen sitting on a throne adorned with Lions and sunflowers. There is a black cat sitting in front of her. She holds a sunflower in her left hand and a wand in her right hand. She is dressed in yellow and brown with a gold crown. She looks off to her left quite confidently, like she is waiting for something. The background landscape is very bare...a few sand dunes. Sunflowers are my favorite flower. In my life whenever I decide to get a cat I always end up with a black cat, so they have become my favorite animal.

Six of Pentacles. This card shows a well-dressed man giving money to the poor. He holds a scale in his left hand. I hope in my life there comes a time when I can be very generous and give back to those who have helped me; this is what this card represents to me. I am a Libra so that scales also pull me in.

Least Favorite Card:

Five of Cups. This card shows a man in a long black robe standing near three knocked over cups and two standing cups. He is hiding his face like he is ashamed or distraught over something. This card represents wasting your life or talents or love, etc. That is just so depressing to me.

Four of Pentacles. This shows a man with a crown on his head, seated on a throne in front of a vast kingdom. A pentacle is over his head, he is holding one, and two are under his feet. To me this represents hoarding and being ruled by money and/or material things. That is one of the worst things you could do with your life.

Knight of Swords. My card shows a knight charging to wards something with sword drawn. The trees in the background are wind blown. The birds flying in the sky are all over the place (as opposed to being in formation). The horse looks startled. It is a very violent, aggresive image which makes me feel uncomfortable.

Eight of Wands...see above.

Do a general one card reading (posted in this thread) for (on) me.

I drew the Three of Wands. This card shows a man, who is facing away from us (i.e. can't see his face), watching ships in a harbor. He is wearing a red robe with a stripe of black and yellow checkerboard in it. There is some green fabric iver the left shoulder and the right sleeve is blue. He appears to be standing on a cliff overlooking the harbor. The sky and the sea is yellow. He is holding one wand in his right hand and the other two wands are behind him. All three wands are firmly planted in the ground.

The ships on the card could represent trading or business. This man is waiting for his ship to come in as the old saying goes. I feel this card is telling you to take action in a business venture you are involved in. The yellow sea and sky could indicate a dawning or awakening... you need to get started on something involving your business. The red robe could inspire the passion in you for what you do.

[LisaT4P]

This assignment was a bit difficult for me. I've not thought about favorite and least favorite cards for a long time, I sort of just accept whichever cards show up. :) So, I had to approach this from the standpoint of "Which cards do I most or least like to see show up in a reading for me?" I'm using the DruidCraft Tarot


1. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your favorite.
Description: A dark haired woman in a white dress / gown stands alone before a tree and a low stone wall. She is holding a bird on her hand. There are 9 pentacles inscribed on the wall.

I most like to see the 9 of Pentacles appear in a reading for myself. I view this card as a woman who is strong, self-assured and competent. She has accomplished her goal and can now take a break to stand back and admire her handi-work. This card is inspirational for me, it is what I aspire to be.

2. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your least favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your least favorite.
Description: An older man sits at a table where there are 8 cups laid out in 2 rows. He is holding the 9th cup in his hand. He seems to be smiling up at a tapestry that hangs from the wall opposite him. There is a fish on a platter on the table in front of him. He might be raising a toast to someone.

The card I least like to see appear in a reading for myself is the 9 of Cups. I view this one as the Monkey's Paw card. It makes me very nervous. It means I'm about to get something I want, but at a cost I may not be willing to pay for it.


Bonus Points:

Choose a favorite and least favorite card for each suit. Describe each card (there should be 8) and explain why they are your favorite or least favorite.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/RGareth/PentCups.jpg


Pentacles:
Favorite: 9 of Pentacles (see above)
Least Favorite: 5 of Pentacles
Description: A dejected woman leans, tiredly, against a tree. She has 5 pentacles strung on a belt at her waist. The sun is setting in the background. There is a dog chasing a hare down the hill in the background as well.

When the 5 of Pentacles appears in my readings I know that it is time to ask for help. Since I am the type of person who HATES to ask for help from anyone, this card just irks me. LOL I know it's for my own good, I don't have to do it on my own, but damnit... I'm just trying to be a responsible and independent person here! :bastard:


Cups:
Favorite: 3 of Cups
Description: 3 men are raising a toast and enjoying themsevles together at a table that could be in a pub, or someone's home. They have bread and apples on the table in front of them.

In my readings this is the "party time" card. It means that good things are coming, I'm going to get together with some like-minded folks and really be able to let myself be myself and just have a good time. Once, this card appeared just before I met some of the people that later became part of my coven. :spinner:

Least Favorite: 9 of Cups (see above)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/RGareth/SwordWand.jpg


Swords:
Favorite: Ace of Swords
Description: The sun is rising between 2 hills in the background. In the foreground we see a hand rising from the water holding a sword upright.

When this card appears on one of my readings I know that I'm in for a treat. I'm going to be brainstorming and coming up with new ideas. I might get some inspiration in the mail or on the phone. I'm going to be thinking about things and planning and becoming excited about a project. I love getting this card! :woot:
Least Favorite: 5 of Swords
Description: A stormy sky looks down on 2 men, one has achieved a victory and walks away with the swords of the fallen as his spoils, but he doesn't seem happy about it. The man in the background walks away with his head hung down, beaten.

:flamer: I do not like getting this card. It plauged me not long ago for almost 2 weeks straight! When I see this card it means someone is not playing fair, it could even be me (and who likes to be reminded that they need to play by the rules?).


Wands:
Favorite: 4 of Wands
Descripton: 4 poles from which garlands of flowers are hung surround a central fire pit. The area surrounding the fire pit looks as though it has been prepared with boulders for people to sit on. The fire pit / hearth appears to be regularly used. There is a cottage in the background, the sky is clear with puffy white clouds.

This is the marriage card in my readings. It means I've built a strong foundation and really put in the work I needed to. It also means happiness and home to me. I love the symbolism of the chuppah (hope I spelled it right). One of my favorite images of this card is in the World Spirit Tarot.
Least Favorite: 7 of Wands
Description: A man stands atop a fortress wall staring down at his attackers and brandishing his spear.

When this card appears it means I am on the defensive. Things are coming at me from all sides and I need to watch my back, front and every other part to make sure that the attack can't get through. I don't like being that much on edge, can't we all just get along?


Do a general one card reading (posted in this thread) for (on) me.
Princess of Swords
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/RGareth/PrincessSwords.jpg
Description: A lovely, dark haired young girl stands atop a low hill, she is holding and staring at a short sword. The wind is whipping her cloak around her. There are flowers in the foreground of the card.

Be on the lookout for messengers, accost your mailman! Notice any animal or bird messages you might be receiving. You might find inspiration in strange, out of the way places. Listen to your kids, "out of the mouths of babes" is a good buzz phrase for this card. Communication is key. Fresh perspectives are going to happen, enjoy them!

[PeleRising]

http://www.rainnhawksaerie.com/Graphics/card%20set1.jpg
My favorite Minor card in the Robin Wood deck is the Queen of Pentacles. This card shows a dark haired woman sitting on a chair in a field. She is holding a pentacle in her lap that is gold with ivy as decoration. She is wearing a long green gown with a brown over tunic that has been embellished with fruit and vegetables and greens… it’s rather harvesty… She is wearing red and white flowers in her hair and a gold crown. Above her head are branches and vines with succulent fruit hanging from them. At her feet is vivid green grass, baskets of fruit and veggies, two small garden snakes to the left of the card and two little bunnies on the right. There are flowers growing behind her and off in the distance you see green lush hills and a bright blue sky. I like this card best because it speaks of generosity, strength in a quiet unassuming way. She may not be flashy but she is the heart of the home, the true provider, the nurturer. I find this card quite calming, and I know that this woman has the answers to any question I could ask.

My least favorite card in the deck is the 9 of swords. This card frightens me. There is a blond woman sitting up in bed, one hand is clutching her forehead, and the other has a tight grip on her bedding. She has white sheets and a pillow on her bed, and is wearing a white shirt. She has a pale blue blanket and over that is a dark blue quilt with astrological symbols on it, as well as a crescent moon. The wall behind her bed is dark gray, and hanging on the wall are 9 swords… but they are all exactly the same. This card says to me depression, endless worry, waking up from a nightmare and finding out it wasn’t a dream.

Bonus~

I picked 4 favorite cards (one from each suit) they are … the page of Pentacles, the 6 of swords, the 9 of wands, and the 3 of cups.

http://www.rainnhawksaerie.com/Graphics/card%20set2.jpg
The page of pentacles is a young girl with three long black braids, standing in a field. She is wearing a brown tunic with gold red and green trim, with a green undershirt. She is holding a pentacle much as the Queen was… but it is held up in front of her with 8 streams of light shining from it. She is looking at it quite intently, almost as if it has the answers to all the questions she has. At her waist is a brown belt and attached to the belt is a green red and gold book. Her feet are bare and at her feet are small yellow flowers growing. Off in the distance you can see a plowed field, a field ready to be plowed and hills with a dark blue sky. This card says to me youth, growth, knowledge, I see a young girl, young fields, young flowers… and yet the possibilities are all there.

The 6 of swords card has a man sitting in a swan boat in the middle of a lake. He is blond, and has a circlet on his head. He is wearing a white flowing shirt with a purple cloak and red pants. He has gray armbands around his upper arms, I see them as a way to keep his sleeves out of the way if he should have to fight or get physical. On either side of him are 6 different swords hilt up stuck in the sides of the boat. Behind him is a ghostly presence wearing a long robe, using a pole to propel the boat through the water. Off in the distance you see land, and there is a light in the shape of a star, to guide them to shore. On the land… hardly visible there is a small building/structure on top of a high hill… The sky is blue with white puffy clouds. For me this card is all about the going home after you have completed your task. Having a light to guide you or even a higher self (as in the ghostly presence)

http://www.rainnhawksaerie.com/Graphics/card%20set3.jpg

The 9 of Wands in an old friend of mine *smiles* There was a time when I would get the card all the time in readings for myself. This card shows a man wearing brown pants and a belt, standing bare foot holding on to a long wand. It has a quartz crystal in the end and it is shining. Behind him are 8 other wands; all with their points up… and each has a different stone or crystal in the end. This man has a bandage on his head, and a bit of blood. He has an amulet around his neck and his chest is bare. This man has been in battle, he is tired and worn out… but he is not defeated. He is strong… and he is ready for anything. I see him as a defender… a champion… the quiet, strong “ I get knocked down but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down” kind of person.

My last favorite card is the 3 of cups. My deck shows a green grassy area with a brilliant blue sky. In the middle of the card are three young women, and they are holding cups and laughing while they dance. At their feet are a flute, a flat drum or tambourine and an artists palette which are laying with three bowls of fruit, one is wooden, one is silver and the other woven from vine or willow. The three girls are holding golden cups with the three symbols you see representing the triple goddess… ) O ( sort of like that, each girl has a different part of that symbol on her cup… Above their heads are three birds flying and grapes growing. This card to me is about community… three different women together… dancing, playing music… it’s about sisters and love and music… creativity and companionship.

The four cards I chose that are my least favorite cards are the 5 of pentacles, the two of swords, the 10 of wands and the 5 of cups.

http://www.rainnhawksaerie.com/Graphics/card%20set4.jpg

The 5 of pentacles shows two out of luck people outside a stone building with stain glass windows. There is light inside that building… but outside it is snowing and cold. There is a woman sitting on the ground with her raggedy robe up around her head… all you can see is the top of her head and one hand she is holding up beseechingly. She doesn’t appear to expect anything… but she can’t stop trying. The other person on the card is a man wearing a ragged tunic that has been patched over and over. He is missing part of one leg and the other is wrapped in bandages. He is using a long stick as a crutch… and his wrists are bandaged up as well as one eye. He is wearing a piece of a tartan as a cloak and has a sort of warm wrap around his head. His nose and cheeks are bright red… as are his fingers. He brings to mind a soldier who isn’t of any use to his garrison any longer so he has been let go, but for all that, he is at least trying… while the woman has retreated almost completely. This card says despair to me… hitting the bottom, selfishness and need. Do the people inside that brightly lit building even know there are people outside with no where to go? Inequity, sorrow, loss, being on the outside looking in… with no hope of joining.

The two of swords shows a woman with long dark hair sitting on top of a stone. On either side of her “seat” are arches. Below where she is sitting is frothy ocean water and rocks. On either side of the card are black cliffs and rocks… with the water melding into the dark dark blue sky and gray clouds. There is a crescent moon in the sky. The woman is wearing a long white robe, and is barefoot. She is blindfolded and has her arms crossed over her chest, each hand holding a sword. I often get this card when I am stuck in a hard place and don’t want to choose one side or another. This card speaks to me of the proverbial “being between a rock and a hard place”

http://www.rainnhawksaerie.com/Graphics/card%20set5.jpg

The 10 of wands card shows a blond man wearing a red shirt, gray pants, tan “socks” and gray shoes walking down a path towards a village that is a ways off. He is carrying in his arms 10 wands and he can not see through them or over them. The path he is following is winding, and there are several hills in his way. This card speaks of being overwhelmed, burdened, and yet if the man put the wands down he would be able to see… he could make several trips… but he chooses not to. Being unwilling to let go of things… be they burdens, troubles, things you carry with you even though you would be better off perhaps without them.

The 5 of cups shows a figure in a black robe with the hood pulled up. You can see just a hint of a nose and a few fingers. At this person’s feet are three spilled cups of red wine, and he is looking at them. Beside him are two cups, still filled with liquid, but he doesn’t seem to notice them. Behind him there is a road that leads to a bridge before it winds its way up a hill towards a building or structure that looks a bit like the one in the 6 of swords. Off to the left of the man are high cliffs with a town of sorts on it… the sky is gray with a few birds in flight. This card says despair, loss, withdrawal… but it also says (like the 10 of wands) that you have a choice… you can choose to only see the bad… only carry the burdens (as in the wands) or you can look around you and see if the situation is really as bad as all that. If the person only looked they would see that not all is lost… there are still cups that are full…

[Khaelo]

This should be interesting as I've got these non-traditional minors. Once I tame the wild scanner, there will be pictures. :) Most of the cards are favorites or not based on the art. I like art which helps, not hinders, interpretation...even if that interpretation isn't what the LWB says. ;)

Since my two extremes are both in one suit, Swords, I'll just go ahead and add the other suits afterwards. The colors, by the way, are the backgrounds for the card numbers in each suit.
(Edit: Scanner successfully wrangled! Some wording rearranged, and an additional card mentioned.)

Favorite: Queen of Swords
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/swordsqueen.jpg
The stained-glass window storylines take some getting used to, and I'm not used to them yet. ;) So, a court card it is. The Queen of Swords is my favorite because she's so intense. She hunches over her sword, wild-haired, wild-eyed, grasping both the handle and the blade with her bare hands. Her hand is bleeding. Her cloak is rumpled around her. Behind her, a pattern of flames and tulips swirls in a vivid whirlpool. The loose "headband" of orange drops does not restrain her tousled dark hair, and there are tears in her heavily shadowed eyes. This is someone on the very edge of a breakdown.

Least Favorite: 4 of Swords
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/swords4.jpg
We see a sword floating in mid-air over rolling hills. It's surrounded by stormy gusts. There are no people at all. What the...? I don't like this card because there's not much there. According to the LWB, this is a peaceful card because "the man and the woman have absented themselves from the struggles the sword represents." The result is a card that looks disconcertingly like the Aces of other decks, only emptier. Not intuitive at all.

Couple from the Swords suit: 8 of Swords:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/swords8.jpg
Since some people are using this class for scoping out different decks, here's a Swords card which actually includes the Swords couple. :) Personally, I find the Rider-Waite 8 of Swords art far more evocative (remenincent of the Devil, in a way), but this isn't bad. LWB says that the man is abducting the woman -- "she is furious at him and her inability to stop him."


And the rest of the suits:

Favorite: 3 of Cups
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/cups3.jpg
The man is holding up a baby, doing that thing that dads do with babies. The woman has a full cup in one hand and holds the other out to the man. It's obviously a happy, playful card. The meanings are clear: peace, fertility, joy, potential, family, fruitation. This is a helpful illustration. Card 4 is similarly clear, although not as joyful.

Least Favorite: 6 of Cups
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/cups6.jpg
Not much going on. The man stands on a jetty, gazing over the ocean, an empty cup in his hand. He had a fight with the woman back in card 4 and was looking morose (cup on its side and spilling) in card 5. By card 7, he's dreaming of the woman again and takes to stalking her in card 8. So, I don't know what's going on in card 6, and the picture isn't helping me any. He could be thinking of moving on, or he's still moping, or maybe he's just thirsty. There are clouds in the sky and wind enough to blow his cloak around, for what that's worth. LWB says that the man is "remembering all he has lost," but that's not well distinguished from card 5, where he's "separated from the woman... unhappy."

Favorite: 8 of Coins -- actually, the whole Coins sequence is the best, IMHO. Each point of the story is clear in both plot and meaning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/coins8.jpg
On the 8 of Coins, the woman and man are immersed in the actual creation of the coin. This creative venture ends up being a stained glass window, appropriately enough, but in this card, the woman uses a chisel while the man holds the frame. Their heads are low together. They're both concentrating on their work, cooperating. While they have not reached their goal, they are getting there. Above them, the window where the finished product will go is empty, showing a salmon-colored sky. This is the creative process, the immersion, the work, that ambiguous time between when the project is just an idea and when you've got the finished product in your hands. I like this card because it's a scenario I can relate to, and the card is like the rest of the Coin sequence in its intuitive interpretation.

Least Favorites: Knight of Coins/King of Coins
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/coinsknight.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/coinsking.jpg
They look the same! Right down to the outfit! (Gold shirt with a three-pronged pattern that resembles propellers, sleeves bunched up to the elbow, burgundy pants, gold cowboy boots, a burgundy cloak swept across the chest with yellow drops, no headgear) And they both look like refugees from the late eighties or early ninties. That's distracting. :eyebrow: Both men hold a coin, but neither seems to interact with it (it's just a prop?). The King sits in front of an Earth-motif circle with ferns and weasels. The Knight has a nighttime sky background. He looks a bit more dreamy, his eyes sort of distant or glazed over. The two of them are just very blah.

Favorite: 10 of Staves
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/staves10.jpg
There are two thrones side by side. The one on the right is empty. On the left, the man sits with the stave across his lap and his head in his hands. The desolation and lonliness of this card is palpable. The man has gotten what he supposedly wanted but lost his partner in the process. It is a marked contrast with card 2, in which the man and woman sit together, each with one hand on the upright stave, sharing power. This is not a happy card, but I appreciate its stark message. The art accomplishes its purpose admirably.

Least Favorite: hmm, can't find one. I guess I'll pick on the Page of Staves because he's not drawn as well as the rest of the court.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/khaelo/tarot/stavespage.jpg
I'm not overly fond of these Pages, anyway. They all stand with a symbol of their suit in front of the same elemental window which forms the background for the King (Queens get a separate background). In this case, the Page isn't doing anything with his stave -- contrast the Page of cups who intently examines his chalice. The backdrop is a circle of vines and red-and-blue birds, set in a blue wall tinged with green (looks like algae). The Page wears a half-length spring green cloack over a vest-like garment or possibly a patterned shirt, over a red undershirt. His pants and boots are dark red. The King of this suit is a blond and the Queen a redhead; the Page is something of a strawberry blond. I don't think the cookie-cutter approach to court cards is very helpful.

[Rhianna813]

Here are mine!

Favorite card in the Minor Arcana: 10 of Cups
This is an overall happy and wonderful card and the DruidCraft depiction is very sweet! It shows a young family casually sitting outside their home. Mom’s read hair is braided up in a bun. She wears a golden skirt with a red overdress. She holds her baby naked in arms and looks at her lovingly. Dad sits close by, he has blonde hair and wears plaid pants and shirt with a blue cap. He looks so relaxed and at ease – his gaze towards his son who stands at his knee, arm around his shoulders. The son has his Dad’s hair and wears a blue tunic and no shoes. In the foreground is a simple wood table with10 pottery jars. In the background is a blue sky with a rainbow.

This card shows so much emotional closeness and love. It’s warm, tender, protective, hopeful, and filled with simple abundance. They have everything they need.

Least Favorite card in the Minor Arcana: 4 of Swords
The card shows a man, looks like a warrior sitting at the base of a tree where the rocky ground has made a natural chair. He is only wearing a small tartan wrap. He has red hair with a short Mohawk on top but with hair down the back and braids on the sides. He has a very intense, almost brooding look on his face. Not so pleasant. His arms rest on the tree limbs and his hands meet at his chin where his fingers lace. A sword is laid over his crossed legs and the 3 others to the side, points up. The background is mostly a large gnarled tree and the pink hues of a sunset.

I usually take this card as quiet, meditative, restful. But when looking at this image he seems just really pissed off! His eyes are darting a lot of unsettled, brooding, grumpiness and not so much meditative, restfulness.

Extra Credit.

Favorite cards from each suit:

Favorite Cups: 8 of Cups
I find this card to be rich with symbolism and when I first drew this card I spent so much time just looking at it. The first thing I noticed was that the 8 cups were stacked 5 on the bottom and 3 on the top, instead of 4 and 4 (RWS deck). At first this looks like a cup is missing but it’s not. AHA! So when looking at the cloaked figure (who is so reminiscent of the Hermit) heading off with his back turned to them I definitely understood this card. Although the cups are nice and good repair, the figure needs more. S/he is off to find what’s missing, inside.

Favorite Pentacles: 3 of Pentacles
The card shows a man hard at work. He is kneeling down and using a hammer and chisel he is carving into a large stone. Within the carving is the 3 pentacles. Looking on very intently are 3 people. An exotic looking stripped cat is rubbing up against his leg. He wears only light brown breeches and a cap. He looks to be concentrating only on his work

This card has always fascinated me and I enjoy comparing this depiction to that of other decks. I am very curious about the cat and what it means. .

Favorite Wands: Princess of Wands (page of wands)
The card shows a confident and stately young woman with very long flowing auburn hair. She wears an orange strapless tunic with green salamanders on it and a green cape over her shoulders. She holds a long staff and her posture is very strong and self assured. With one foot forward she is walking down a path on a lovely summer day.

Just gotta love this card! It shows so much confidence, fire, adventure, and beauty. The orange and green together is very striking.

Favorite Swords: Princess of Swords (page of swords)
The DruidCraft shows an absolutely beautiful rendition of this card. And you can see a copy of it above in LisaT4P’s post. The very Pre-Raphelite woman has flowing dark hair, bright blue eyes, and wears a blue and purple gown with a wind blown royal blue cape. She holds her sword at eye level while pulling on a cord that is wrapped around it. A hawk flies above her and there are flowers at her feet.

The card is very attractive and the intensity in her face shows innocence and confidence. I am also intrigued by how she holds her sword. It’s almost like they are equal and in balance. There is a stillness there amidst the wind blown garments.

Least favorites.

Least Favorite Cups: 5 of Cups
In the DruidCraft deck this is not one of my favorite depictions, although the picture is well painted! It shows a person in a long hooded grey cloak standing on a rivers edge. He is look out over the still water and we can not see his face. There is a salamander or something chasing a fish over the water. There are the classic 3 overturned cups in the foreground and 2 upright cups to the side. The colours in the image are all muted greens giving it a somewhat dullied and perhaps ill look. Very melancholy.

To me this card can be really severe with grief and a feeling of love or opportunities lost. This card just doesn’t show that and seems way too senic.

Least Favorite Pentacles: 5 of Pentacles
You can also see an image in Lisa’s post! Again there is a big change from the classic image of this card and one that I need to further investigate. It just shows a brightly dressed woman leaning on a tree with her hands and arms over her eyes. There are 5 pentacles strung from her belt. In the background a hound chases a rabbit (similar to the 5 of cups).

At first glance I get no strong feeling from this card and definitely not the usual meaning of desolation, poverty, and physical suffering. She seems like she’s hiding from something and perhaps a little upset but…. That’s about it.

Least Favorite Wands: 8 of Wands
The card shows a man throwing a long straight stick from a top a hill. 7 more sticks are standing next to him. The blue cloud streaked sky is very sweeping.

There is more action is this rendition than usual. And I love the meaning of the card but I always want more when it’s depicted.

Least Favorite Swords: 3 of Swords
This image is somewhat different than the usual RWS so my mind is struggling of what to make of it. It shows 3 swords resting on a heart shaped stone, their blades pointed up against a tree. The tree is missing it’s bark where the blades touch and there are 3 holes that look old and worn. The image has a cold and forboding look to it.

Perhaps it’s just the unusual symbolism but it’s not my favorite of this deck.

[Amethyst Rose]

Khaelo...I"ve gotta say.... your cards are absolutely stunning!! I love the stained glass look! What deck is it again?

An everyone....everyone has done amazing amount of work and I"m incredibly impressed. I don't want everyone thinking you have to do all of it though, it's for bonus marks for a reason....if you were thinking was just too much. :)

I'm looking forward to the rest of the assignments. Remember, they're due Friday! :)

[Khaelo]

This is the Art Nouveau deck. :)

I found a new least-favorite card, based on meaning rather than art. It's not actually part of the Minor Arcana, though. It's the Artist Self Portrait Card. When it comes up in readings, it means "Look at what the reader forgot to pull out of the deck before shuffling!" :abanana:

[Amethyst Rose]

LOL! I hate that one too. :)

[FaerieGothMommy]

An everyone....everyone has done amazing amount of work and I"m incredibly impressed. I don't want everyone thinking you have to do all of it though, it's for bonus marks for a reason....if you were thinking was just too much. :)



Nope not too much at all :) I love doing the bonus ones too.

[Catiana]

1. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your favorite.

Queen of Swords - I like this card mainly because of the art. The queen, dressed in scale armor with Celtic accents stands with a flaming sword in her hand. A large fire dragon is wrapped around her protecting her as it breathes fire. Three small dragons fly around her. I find the visual of this card beautiful. I also like this card because it make me feel safety and protection.


2. Tell me which of the minor arcana is your least favorite. Describe the card and explain why it is your least favorite.

Knight of Cups. I dislike this card mainly for the art. A boy is riding a water dragon through the air. A portrait of a girl is above him with a dragon swirling around her. This card does seem to fit with the deck and comes off as very cartoonish. The water dragon seems too much like some of Loch Ness monster type thing. Also, looking at the card for some reason leaves me feeling cold but also uneasy.



Bonus Points:

Choose a favorite and least favorite card for each suit. Describe each card (there should be 8) and explain why they are your favorite or least favorite.

SWORDS
Favorite – Three of Swords - This card has three fire dragons flying in a Celtic design with light bursting out from the middle. I like this card because it makes me think of power and I really like the design the dragons make.

Least Favorite –Seven of Swords. There is an empty chest in a hallway. A man is sneaking down the hall with the scrolls he stole from the chest. There are two small dragon sitting a shelf breathing fire in anger at the man for stealing the scrolls. I really dislike this card for the sneakiness of the man and I don’t like that the man is a thief.

WANDS
Favorite – Three of Wands – Two dragons are fighting above a beach. Each holds a wand. A third wands is sticking out of the sand, it is shooting lightning bolts into the wands being held by the dragons. I like this card simply for the art. The dragons have been portrayed perfectly and their anger seems palpable.

Least favorite – Five of Wands – two kids dressed white are running through a forest fighting with wands. Dragons are flying above them and their parents are in the background. I dislike this card simply for the fact that its ugly.

CUPS
Favorite – Two of Cups – a man and woman are standing in a garden. A full moon is shining behind them with a large dragon seemingly coming out of the moon. The couple are holding a cup and the dragon is pouring water into the cup the couple is holding in what seems to be a uniting way. I like this card because the dragons looks very cool.

Least favorite - Knight of Cups - I dislike this card mainly for the art. A boy is riding a water dragon through the air. A portrait of a girl is above him with a dragon swirling around her. This card does seem to fit with the deck and comes off as very cartoonish. The water dragon seems too much like some of Loch Ness monster type thing. Also, looking at the card for some reason leaves me feeling cold but also uneasy.

PENTACLES
Favorite – Ten of Pentacles – A man and a woman are walking across a bridge about to enter the gate of a castle. Three cats are surrounding them. A large fire dragon is sitting on top of the gate watching the couple. This card speaks to me because of the realness of the dragon. He looks menacing yet awesome at the same time. Also like how cute the little cats are.

Least favorite – Three of Pentacles – A man is standing is front of a door painting pentacles on it. Three small dragons are watching him from the ledge above the door. This card just strikes a wrong chord with me. I can’t really pinpoint the reason but I dislike the look of the man.

[gypsy0108]

I will have the assignment up by the end of monday it has been real hetic arround here So i have not been able to concentrate.

[BelovedDru]

Favorite for Cups: King of cups. This is my favorite card for the suit, the person it represents reminds me strongly of my father. Depicted as a man who sits calmly in his throne, but still looks a bit forlorn, this too reminds me a lot of my father.

Favorite for Pentacles: A card that represents kindness and generosity, I feel that this card represents a part of what I want to be when I get older. I’ve always wanted to help others in any way possible and be the best person that I can be, and so I feel a sort of attachment to this card.

Favorite for Staffs: Four of Staffs. This card shows a beautiful castle on top of a hill through four trees. At first, you think that home is not far away, and it feels kind of peaceful. In truth, it means a lot of positive things, such as romance, prosperity, tranquility, harmony, and the fruits of labor. It seems like the kind of card I’d want to turn up in my future slot in a reading—not material gain or wealth, but the spiritual and emotional kind of fortune.

Favorite for Swords: Four of Swords. In this card, there’s a resting unicorn. Three swords are pointed down to harm her (or at least, that’s my take), and the forth one is horizontal to stop the other swords from striking her (again, this is my feeling). I get the feeling that she’s being protected and looked after in this card. Actual meanings—“respite, rest after illness, response, replenishment, solitude, exile, retreat, abandonment.” Ok, so it’s not the most positive card in the suit, but I just feel as though this also means that there’s some other meaning behind it, like a person behind the rest, or even that it’s actually a card of temporary peace.

Favorite Overall: It’s a tough choice between the Four of Swords and the King of Cups. As I’ve stated, I get a sort of feeling of protection from the Four of Swords, and the King of Cups reminds me of my father. Either way, both cards make me feel a little safer and secure, and also makes me feel a bit better about life.

Least Favorite for Cups: Seven of Cups. The seven of cups depicts seven cups (possibly as a metaphor for humans) sitting on clouds, while a castle sits in the background. As a card that represents wasting your life away on foolish dreams, I feel that this is the worst card in the suit, and at the same time, the best card, as it may also serve as a warning, trying to tell the one it is being read for that they must be careful to not be too foolish, or they too could fall.

Least Favorite for Pentacles: The Five of Pentacles. The five of pentacles is the most negative card in the suit. The card itself is a desolate setting, with two women in rags walking through the snow. The card represents destitution and failure. I don’t like the way I feel when I see this card, like everything’s going downhill.

Least Favorite for Staffs: Five of Staffs. This card represents violent struggle and strife that is to appear in the near future. Need I say more?

Least Favorite for Swords: Nine of Swords. The Nine of Swords consists of nine swords pointing to a woman who is obviously in emotional pain. Whenever I see this card, I can’t help but feel like something’s gone wrong and the pain is only about to go farther. When I actually looked the card up, it said, “Concern, miscarriage, anxiety over a loved one, despair.” I think that’s probably the reason why I hate it the most—my cousin’s currently pregnant, and since she’s had problems with a tumor, I’m extremely scared for her and her baby. So current personal feelings dominate my choice for this one right now.

Least Favorite Overall: Nine of Swords. See above.

[Amethyst Rose]

Thanks to everyone who got their assignment in on time, and those of you who pmed me, I really appreciate it.

I'll be posting marks tomorrow afternoon.

[gypsy0108]

favorites:
Wands: The Ace of Wands is my favorite in this suit as it shows creativity,
inventiveness, ambition and enthusiasm, future success,
swords: Ace of Swords - victory, conquest, fortitude, justice, clarity of mind. clarity of mind is something
greatly needed in all situations.
coins: 2 of Coins - two situations at once, keeping balance, being flexible yet having fun. this is the goal i am aiming for in my life.
cups: Ace of Cups - the beginnings of a relationship or new love, this card give hope
that there is love to be had.

least fav's

cups 5 of Cups - regret, misfortune, sadness, disappointment in a relationship
it is such a dismal card.

wands 5 of Wands - struggle, competition, strife, opposition, tension, quarreling,
competition, cruelty, violence. Violence really bothers me as well as quarreling,

swords 5 of Swords - weakness, slander, failure, loss, dishonor,
malice, degredation, empty success. I hate to fail at anything so i really dislike this card.

coins 7 of Coins - failure, hopes decieved, disappointment, little or no gain.
once again a card of failure.

[Naiad]

Sorry it's late!

Favourite Minor Arcana Card

9 of Water (Gaia)

The main focus of this card is the face of a woman in the middle of the card. I think she embodies the name of the card – Gaia, Greek Goddess of the Earth. Below her you can see a small segment of the Earth and above her is a satellite. There is a wavy red line going between the Earth and the satellite. Her head is tilted to one side and she looks very peaceful. There is a very good feeling of wholeness with this card and that’s how I feel when I see it.

Least Favourite Minor Arcana Card

10 of Fire (Strike)

I’ve always felt uncomfortable with this card ever since I first saw it. I think the thing that bothered me the most was the split yin-yang in the top right. This gives me such a strong feeling of imbalance. Also on the card is Bruce Lee in an equally matched battle with his shadow and a rocket in the bottom left. I think the rocket is a little unnecessary as the other two images seem to get the meaning across fine which is balance in imbalance. Although the word for this card in the LWB was overkill.

Favourite from each suit

My favourite card from water will be the same as above so I won’t repeat myself.

6 of Fire (Torch)

A determined looking blonde, medieval woman in a tattered turquoise dress is holding an also tattered red flag. Behind her a nun praying. The background behind them is a pale pinky purple. I like this card because the woman looks so determined and like she’s been through a lot but can still keep going. She looks as though she’s about to head into battle although the nun looks as though she’s praying for the woman as if she knows the woman isn’t going to make it.

Mother of Earth

A woman in green balances a stick on her fingers. In front of her is a rose and from this rose there seems to be energy radiating from it. This energy to me feels good. To the left and right of the woman is the sun and moon. The woman does indeed look very motherly and seems quite curvy. The stick she is holding is slightly tilted upwards in her left hand toward the moon. This to me shows that although things are quite balanced she has a leaning towards the female side of things. This card to me is very much about the strength of women and motherhood and I like that.

3 of Air (Breeze)

In the middle of this card is a big round table with all these cartoon people sitting at it as if attending a conference meeting. From the centre of this table is a pilot on a paper aeroplane. In the top left is a winged horse and at the bottom is two hands shaking. This card seems to me about getting things done and creating new and good things and has a productive busy feel about it.

Least Favourite from each suit

Again, my least favourite from fire is the same as my least favourite card overall. Funny, all my least favourite cards are tens, I didn’t on purposefully do this, I have nothing against the number ten and my choices were made primarily on art as opposed to meaning. Maybe it has some significance.

10 of Water (Deep Blue)

I have relatively neutral feelings towards this card but I do feel it is a little unfair. On the card there is a lone rowing boat with no paddles and no one on board on a still, calm sea. In the distance there is this huge tornado heading straight towards the rowing boat but you do get the feeling that the boat is going to with stand the storm or maybe the tornado is going to change its mind and head the other way.

10 of Earth (Desert)

On this card there is an outline of a man who looks so frustrated and in despair; he’s practically tearing his hair out. I feel really sorry for the guy but I don’t know what I can do to help him. At his feet are ten yellow circles which according to the LWB are supposed to be coins but you’d never guess that from looking. Next to the man on the far left are ten little seedlings which to me signify that there is some hope for him.

10 of Air (Cyclone)

Two identical pink faces are spinning away from each other and I think they are supposed to be but they look anything but. If you were to say they were happy it’s a forced sort of happy, the kind clowns have and it looks quite disturbing and scary. I think they look more in pain than anything. There are blue crosses in the background and the faces seem to be breaking away from them, at the bottom is a blue honeycomb type thing.

[Niamh celtic mist]

I'm finally feeling better...here's my assignment...


My favorite court card is the 10 of Cups.
In the Gilded Tarot this card shows a woman and her daughter seated outside their home..They are working on what appears to be embroidery. There are bees that are present in this card are a symbol of their industriousness of their lives...The cat that is seated at their feet represents the playfullness that is in their lives...This card shows the contentment and fulfillment that can be found in family life...There is a peacefulness and safety in this scene that I like...

It shows the rewards of a well organised household as well as the importance of working together to keep a family close...There is a definite feeling of love of family and family life in this card...This is what appeals the most to me....It brings to mind a simpler time when homelife was truly centered around family....daily chores kept families in close contact and they relied on each other for their survival..Hearth and Home were truly connected....

This card also is a reminder that to keep a family close and happy takes time and hard work..but, the rewards are worth all the effort that is put into it...



My least favorite card is the 9 of Swords.
In the Gilded Tarot this card depicts a woman sitting up in bed as if awakened from a bad dream...her hands are crossed over her heart. She is surrounded by hovering swords...There is an owl close by on the window sil.
This card has always made me feel very sad..I can feel the sadness and opression of this card....Troubles that torment your sleep are the worst...To not be able to escape your trouble and fears in slumber is the worst kind of restless torture...Perhaps because I have had such troubled times that..this card reminds me of them.....But, I know that these times are temporary...that the owl symbolizes wisdom and comfort for this troubled woman...that she need only reach out and it help will be given.....

But, I do get such a feeling of sadness when I see this card....



Extra Credit


Card for Amethyst Rose

The card I pulled for you was the Ten of Swords.

In the Gilded Tarot this card shows a man laying on the ground with ten swords hovering above him shedding an illuminating light over him...From the dark shadows a deer looks on...


This card depicts some hard times that have been occuring. It also shows that these hard times will soon come to an end..The message of this card is not to lose hope...the trouble and strife is about to end.... _vb_

Blessings,

Niamh