Judgement

Card: Judgement #20 Major Arcana

Description: The naked dead (men, women & children) stand inside their coffins while floating in the sea. They stand with arms upraised or clasp in prayer. Above them, an archangel blows on a golden horn from which flows a banner of an orange cross on a field of white.

My thoughts: Day of happiness, a day of change.

Traditional meaning: To summon the past, forgive it, and let it go. There are wounds from the past that we never let heal, sins we've committed that we refuse to forgive, bad habits we haven't the courage to lose. Judgement advises us to finally face these, recognize that the past is past, and put them to rest, absolutely and irrevocably. This is also a card of healing, quite literally from an accident or illness, as well as a card signaling great transformation, renewal, change.
Reversed: Fear of death, illness, being judgemental or being judged

Hagalaz

Rune: Hagalaz (haw-gaw-laws) #9 The goddess Hella and belonging to the god Hagal

Hella is the goddess of the underworld and death. Her father is Loki and her mother the giantess, Angrboda. She has two siblings Fenris the Wolf and Jormungand the snake. Her home is Hel, where she is surrounded by death mist and corpses. She looks after all those that died of disease or old age. She is described as having an upper body of pink skin, but her lower body is dark, decaying greenish black.

Symbol: Hail
Color: Indigo

Meaning: uncontrolled forces, disruption, risks
Reversed: beyond any control, negativity

Fehu

Rune: Fehu (fey-who) #1 The goddess Freya

Freya is daughter to Njord, the god of the sea, and twin sister to Freyr. She is beautiful, with long blond hair and blue eyes. She married Odur. When she parted from him, she traveled the world crying, searching for him. Her tears fell into the earth and seeped under the ground where they turned into gold. She was a bit promiscuous and often fulfilled her desires by granting sexual favors. It was said that she obtained her most valued possession, the necklace Brisingamen, by granting sexual favors to four dwarves of Svartalfaheim. Freya was the goddess of love, war, beauty, and witchcraft.

Symbol: cattle (wealth)
Object: necklace
Animal: cat
Tree: elder
color: red

Meaning: prosperity, fulfilled love
Reversed: thwarted love, disappointment, financial problems

Uruz

Rune: Uruz (ooo-rooz) #2 The god Vidar and belonging to the goddess Freya.

Vidar is the son of Odin and the giantress Grid. He is very reclusive and lives in a forest palace. Due to his giantress mother, he is very strong and a force to be reckoned with. He can usually be found wearing armour and carrying a large broad sword. He wears on his right foot a shoe of segmented iron. It was used on the last day of the world to defeat the Fenris Wolf. This conflict would end in total devastation, but Vidar would survive to rule in a new world. The rune, Uruz, is a rune of endings and beginnings.

Symbol: Aurochs (bison)

Object: Shoe

Animal: Aurochs

Color: Purple

Meaning: Change, progress, strength and well being.
Reversed: A lost opportunity

The Empress

Card: The Empress #3 Major Arcana

Description: Empress sits on a cushioned seat. She is dressed in a long flowing gown decorated with pomegranates. She wears a crown of stars and holds a round balled scepter in her right hand. Behind her is a lush forest with a clear, blue watered stream flowing through it. Overhead is a bright, yellow sky. Before her grows yellow wheat. Her throne is decorated with a heart on which is engraved the symbol of Venus.

My thoughts: A benevolent queen who rules over nature.

Traditional meaning: nature, birth, life, creation
Reversed: infertility, poverty

Sowulo

Rune: Sowulo (soe-wee-low) #16 The god Baldur and belonging to the god Hagal.

Balder is the god of the sun. He was the son of Odin and Frigg. He was gentle and much loved by the gods and men alike for his gentle nature, his mercy and his ability to make wise, sound judgements. His twin brother, Hodur, was the opposite. Some contribute the two with creating summer and winter. Balder suffered from nightmares that eventually came true. His brother Hodur killed him with a lance made by Loki. The lance was fashioned from misletoe taken from a plant that grew on an oak tree at Valhalla's entrance. His wife Nanna, died so that she could join him in death.

Symbol: The Sun
Object: Shield
Animal: Eagle
Tree: Oak
Color: Green

Meaning: Clear vision, clarity, achievement
Reversed: Self-centered and egotistical

Nine of Wands

Nine of Wands: Minor Arcana

Description: Wounded man stands in a road in front of a fence of 8 wands. He holds one in his hands like a staff. The sky is clear and in the background are green hills.

My thoughts: He has suceeded in his task, but it was a very hard won battle. He is suspicious and worried that someone will take what he has away.

Meaning: Strenght in opposition. If attacked, fight back boldly.
Reversed: Adversity, chaos.

Page of Swords

Page of Swords: Minor Arcana

Description: Youth stands atop a hill holding a sword upright while he looks the other way. The sky is blue with clouds. A flock of 10 birds fly in the distance.

My thoughts: The youth seems to have his head in the clouds, not looking what he is doing. He seems impulsive, yet thoughtful. Pages traditionally symbolize messengers. Swords symbolize wisdom.

Traditional meaning: Authority or overseeing of projects, vigilance or spying.
Reversed: More evil side of these qualities. That which is unforeseen. Being unprepared. Could also mean sickness.

Gebo

Rune: Gebo (gee-BOW) #7 - The goddess Gefjon belonging to the Goddess Freya

Gefjon was the goddess of unwed women. She dwelt in Frigg's palace where she welcomed unwed women when they died and offered them her protection. She was also associated with plowing. It was said that she had 4 sons by giants. She turned them into oxen. Gefjon requested land from King Gylfi of Sweden. The king told her she could have as much land as she could plow in 24 hours. She and her sons plowed land which she then separated from the mainland. It became known as the island of Seeland.

Symbol: Gift

Animal: Ox

Object: Crystal or glass

Color: Blue

Meaning:loving partnership or relationship; gifts

Reversed:emotional problems

Ace of Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles Minor Arcana

Description: Hand emerging from a cloud holds a shining pentacle. Below, a fence and gate of ivy opens into a garden of lilies. Beyond the gate, one sees a mountain range.

My thoughts: An offering of great wealth, perhaps in the form of a present, a gift, the lottery. The garden indicates a secure, happy place and the mountains indicate a change to attain great heights. Reversed it could mean loss of money, wealth, security or happiness.

Traditional meaning: Prosperity and comfortable material conditions.

Reversed: The evil side of wealth and greed.

Laguz

Rune: Laguz (LAH gooz) #21 - The god Njord belonging to the God Tyr

Njord was the husband of Skadi and the father of Frey & Freya. He was the diety of the seas and god of the winds that controlled them. He was the patron god of seafarers and blessed and protected them, their ships and their cargo. All the ocean and plantlife near the seas belonged to him. He is also linked to the harvest. He was a member of the 12 at the council hall of Asgard.

Symbol: Water
Object: Axe
Animal: Seal & Seagull
Tree: Willow
Color: Orange

Meaning: Intuition, psychic ability, acquisition, sucessful pursuit, birth
Reversed: Work within your limitations.

Sun

Card: The Sun – Major Arcana card #19

Description: Child (cannot tell if boy or girl) with blonde hair and a crown of flowers sits naked atop a white horse. In its hand it clutches a banner of flowing orange material. The child looks happy and the horse seems gentle and patient. They sit in front of a brick fence that has sun flowers planted on top. A benevolent sun shines overhead in a clear, blue sky.

My Thoughts: I began this same exercise over a year ago and got out of the habit. My first card was the "Sun". How odd that I randomly drew the same card as I began my journey again.

Meaning: A positive card that means success, happiness, all the things that make up a clear, sunny day. Above all the energy and power that comes from the sun and the renewal after night's journey thorough the sky.

Reversed: Loss of energy or power, depression. Your path or journey has come to a roadblock or impass.