Like Hercules, who completed twelve supposedly impossible labors to win immortality, this card indicates a time in which you can overcome even the greatest of challenges.

Hephaestus, our Page of Wands, was famously married to flighty Dite, AKA Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sneaking around on your husband. Being constantly cuckolded did not improve Hephaestus temper, and having everyone know it didn’t help his self-esteem. Both of these areas are also likely plaguing someone who draws the Page of Wands reversed.

The horai were the goddesses of the three seasons the Greeks recognized: spring, summer and autumn. Together, they formed the team that saw crops from their start as tiny seedlings through to their culmination as bountiful harvests. Likewise, teaming up could bring you rich rewards now.

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.

Paris eloped with Helen because Aphrodite had promised him the most beautiful woman in the world for his bride. The fact that Helen was already married, and to the crazy king of Sparta, wasnt his problem, now was it? Ummm . . . . You know, enthusiasm is a great and wonderful thing, but maybe a little more thought needs to go into a certain situation just now.

Some pirates kidnapped a wealthy looking guy, but when they tried to tie him up, the rope wouldnt hold. And then he turned into a lion and attacked them! And when they jumped overboard, he changed them into dolphins and laughed as they swam away. Dionysius always did have a sense of humor. Hopefully you will, too, as you deal with the non-attainment of expected results.

Greek myths portray Artemis as Apollos sister, but other legends tell a different story: of a goddess older than all the rest, and one who never really fit into male-centered Greek mythology. Because she wasnt Greek. And she damned sure wasnt part of the patriarchy. She was the Great Mother of the Neolithic, who is bringing you fertility, growth and abundance now.

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.

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.

The Hermit card reversed speaks of someone so suspicious or bitter against the world that he refuses any help it has to offer. Diogenes, the famous Cynic, wanted to remake society, yet his often outlandish behavior resulted in men laughing at him more than they listened. Sometimes, being too suspicious can be as bad as the reverse.

Karen Chance