Abductions in Greek mythology tended to be pretty tragic. But then theres Hylas, who was getting some water one day for him and his mentor Hercules, when he was abducted by some nymphs. But unlike in most stories, Hylas fell in love and happily chose to stay with the nymphs. Likewise, the Ten of Cups is about finding emotional fulfilment, particularly in relationships.

Hephaestus was the Olympian god of fire, metalworking, stonemasonry and sculpture -- a really creative guy. He made many of the magical items used by gods and heroes alike, including a golden throne for his estranged mother, which wouldn’t allow her to stand up! His challenge, and yours, is to channel creativity into positive things, instead of using it to get in trouble.

Eos, goddess of the dawn, leads the procession of the day. On the one hand, the sun is shining brightly on you and you have reached the pinnacle of success. On the other, you know what they say about the guy at the top of the hill: theres always someone trying to knock him off. Stand your ground.

After Achilles died, his good friend Ajax claimed his divinely made armor, but his army voted to give it to someone else. He flew into a rage so fierce that, if Athena hadn’t confused his mind, he would have slaughtered his own allies. He killed himself afterward, in shame for losing his temper and his honor. Guilt or despair may be plaguing you now, too. Dont give in!

Persephone had it all. Kidnapped by the god Hades, she realized that the god of the underworld was also the god of wealth, and was stupidly besotted with her. So she worked out a deal: half the year she lived with him; the other half, she went back to the world above to visit her mother Demeter. Likewise, the Ten is saying that you can balance wealth and family, too.

Plutus, god of wealth and good harvests, was blinded by Zeus so he would distribute his bounty without consideration of someones worthiness. Or as the old saying goes, the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. The Nine reversed indicates that you may be feeling envious of someone elses good fortune, or may feel under rewarded for your own hard work.

Like Ganymede, plucked away from his boring, earthly existence by Zeus and given immortality, this card signifies rapid progress and a change of fortune for you. Chance is on your side.

Kadmos, our hero, slayed a dragon with a rock (okay, it wasnt that great of a dragon) and helped to found a city. Unfortunately, the dragon was the pet of Ares who . . . didn’t take this well. Delay seems probable for you right now, and someone may become a problem.

Zeus, our emperor, was a strong, assertive, charismatic leader -- and, frequently, a real jerk. The Emperor reversed represents immaturity, loss of control and all around dickish behavior. Remember: bullying or deceptive tactics may get you what you want, but they rarely make you happy.

Karen Chance