The sea nymph Galatea was in love with Acis, a handsome Sicilian shepherd boy. Until the cyclops Polyphemus murdered Acis in a fit of jealousy, that is. Which got him exactly nothing, because Galatea turned her lover into a river and went off with him anyway. The Four of Cups warns of an inability to enjoy what you have/can have, and a destructive focus on what you dont.

The Devil card usually stands for temptation, sexual desire and ambition, none of which is bad in and of itself; it all depends on how far you let them go. Pan (who became the model for the medieval image of Satan) was the Greek poster boy of pushing the limits. But then, he was a god. For us mortals, a little restraint can go a long way.

Our Ace of Cups is Oceanus, believed by the ancient Greeks to be the physical manifestation of the wild, rolling oceans. That makes sense as Cups is the suite most associated with water. It is also the suite of our emotional life, and the ace is overflowing with all sorts of emotional rewards: love, joy, and productivity are in the cards for you now.

Thats Hades up there, Lord of the Underworld and our Death card. But although hes busy dragging off one of the recently deceased, the Death card rarely indicates actual, physical death. Most of the time, it heralds the passing away of something old a destructive relationship, an unhealthy way of life, a job you hate so that something new can grow.

Most children of the gods got superpowers, good looks, and a home on Mt. Olympus. What did Triton get? A fish tail. But instead of doing the fishy version of emo, he lived it up, siring a whole race of merpeople and stirring up storms with his magic conch shell. Triton was a glass half full kind of guy. And with the Eight reversed, you can be, too.

Achilles, the demigod son of the sea goddess Thetis, is our Six of Swords. As a young man, Achilles was dressed as a girl by Thetis, who didnt want him going off to war. But a general saw him looking longingly at some weapons on display, and figured it out. Likewise, the Six is about making a transition to a future that suits you better.

The Dioscuri, twin gods of horsemanship and protectors of guests and travelers, were charming, handsome and brave. But they could also be rash and impulsive, getting themselves killed in a family feud after kidnapping their cousins girlfriends. They never learned that, just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.

History is cyclical -- just ask Clio, the muse of history, on your card. Right now, you may be going through a challenging time. But she would like to remind you that, like the good times, the bad ones never last. There, don’t you feel better?

Hestia, sister to Zeus, was goddess of the home, hearth, and hospitality. Giving food and sanctuary was considered a sacred duty in the ancient world, especially by the followers of Hestia, who would take in even the lowliest of beggars. You may be feeling poor in health, money or acceptance right now, but look around and you will find those willing to help.

Karen Chance