The 10 of Flames - In the forge

UNDER PRESSURE...
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for(...)
It's the terror of knowing 
 ~ Billy Joel

Builder of Disks - Master of Manifestation

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Ace of Swords - New thought

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ― Albert Einstein

The Ace of Swords represents the potential, or seed form, of the Element of Air. The essence of this card is not easy to capture in an image and the card you see here is my second attempt. The overlay is an image of the Archangel Michael, holding the scales of judgment.

9 of Disks - Not a damsel in distress

“I have not lived as a woman. I have lived as a man. I've just done what I damn well wanted to, and I've made enough money to support myself, and ain't afraid of being alone.” ― Katharine Hepburn 

For the 9 of Disks (Venus in Virgo), I went with rather traditional imagery, minus the bird of prey. I wanted to show abundance but also someone in the process of achieving it. The young lady is preparing a meal in her kitchen. For someone doing the cooking, she's wearing quite fanciful clothes - as if to make the point that every day is a feast.

10 of Cups - Communion

“In the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically.” ― Vincent van Gogh


For the 10 of Cups (Mars in Pisces), I have chosen communion as the theme. This card can represent family, both in a physical and spiritual sense. Having Mars in Pisces myself and being very familiar with this energy from a life force point of view, communion seemed an obvious choice rather than traditional 'happy family' scene portrayed in Rider Waite style decks.