The Path #1 is laid out in a grid utilising two columns and three rows.
The first of the three rows shows rational or intellectual thoughts concerning the question. The second row is concerned with emotional attitudes, meaning feelings. The bottom row represents your posture or stance, meaning how you project yourself outwardly, to the world.
The left column shows how you currently think, feel, and act regarding your concern. The right column suggests advice on how to change your attitudes on these three levels to provide the most beneficial outcome. The trick is to compare and contrast the two columns, which gives hints as to what the cards mean and how to make changes, small or large.
| Current | The Significator The Fool |
Suggested | |
| Thought |  10 of Wands |
 King of Swords |
|
| Emotion |  5 of Swords |
 4 of Wands |
|
| Posture |  The Emperor |
 9 of Wands |
The Significator
A watchdog warns a foolish youth that he is about to carelessly walk off a cliff. The Fool seems totally ignorant of his surrounding and the danger he is in.
Reversed Meaning:
Negligence, inertia, carelessness, apathy, mistake, trespass, transgression, blunder, failure, bungle.
A man oppressed by the weight of the ten staves which he is carrying.
Upright Meaning:
Fortune, gain, success, false-seeming, disguise, perfidy. The rods that he carries may be bad news to the place he brings them. Success is stultified if the Nine of Swords follows.
He sits in judgement, holding the unsheathed sword. He recalls the conventional symbol of justice in the Major Arcana, and he may represent this virtue, but he is rather the power of life and death.
Upright Meaning:
Power, command, authority, militant intelligence, law, defensiveness, security, high office, duty, public service.
A disdainful man looks after two retreating and dejected figures. Their swords lie upon the ground. He carries two others on his left shoulder, and a third sword is in his right hand, point to earth. He is the master in possession of the field.
Reversed Meaning:
Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, desperation, defeat, disappointment, dissolution.
From the four great staves planted in the foreground there is a great garland suspended; two female figures uplift nosegays; at their side is a bridge over a moat, leading to an old manorial house.
Upright Meaning:
Country life, haven of refuge, a species of domestic harvest – home, repose, concord, harmony, prosperity, peace, and the perfected work of these.
The Emperor sits on his throne holding his sceptre. He represents a male figure of power and authority.
Reversed Meaning:
Creditor, borrowing, confusion to enemies, obstruction, immaturity, annoyance, irritation.
The figure leans upon his staff and has an expectant look, as if awaiting an enemy. Behind are eight other staves – erect, in orderly disposition, like a palisade.
Reversed Meaning:
Obstacles, adversity, calamity, troubles.