Hercules kingly cousin, in an ongoing attempt to get him killed, sent him to deal with a huge, nasty tempered boar. Herc did it, and then brought the boar back alive, to terrify his much less macho tormentor! Feeling betrayed? Has a close relationship gone to hell? The Three of Swords understands, but inflicting your pain on others rarely helps.

Bellerophon killed a monster, married a princess, and seemed set for happily ever after. Except that all that wasnt enough. He started to think that his true place was among the gods. And since he happened to have a magical flying horse, he took off for Olympus . . . and was promptly thrown back to earth for his hubris. Beware arrogance and rash decisions now.

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.

Youre bored. Bored with a capital B as in, my God, how did I turn into my mother/father/dull-and-fairly-peculiar-uncle? You were going to be the daredevil, the world-traveler, the rock star. Instead, you have three kids, a mortgage and a twelve-year-old incontinent collie dog. Seriously, call the babysitter. You have some hell to raise.

Erichthonius, king of Athens, established the Panathenanic games (precursor to the Olympics) to honor his adopted mother, Athena. He was himself lame, but didn’t let that stop him from competing. He just invented a four wheeled chariot, and used it to beat out many more mobile competitors! Learn from Erichthonius, and don’t let obstacles hinder your success.

Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, is our Queen of Cups. Upright, she is sunlight on water, all sparkling joy and calm serenity. Reversed, however . . . not so much. Think of the deep, unfathomable ocean, cold and merciless. Or a storm tossed sea, volatile and dangerous. You or someone near you isnt controlling their emotions, their emotions are controlling them.

The Five of Wands reversed can indicate an end to the crazy, or at least the beginning of the end. Eros up there is still causing mischief, but his victim is getting wise to his games.

The horai, goddesses of the seasons, were also goddesses of proper timing. It doesn’t take much to throw off a harvest: rains that come too early or too late; cold that lingers a bit too long; planting before you should, etc. Likewise, the four reversed warns that your timing may be off just now. Accept that delays happen, and pace yourself.

Karen Chance