The Fool
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The Fool is the first or last card. He is represented in the act of preparing to leap off a cliff, or set on a journey accopanied only by his dog and his own instinct. He represrnts the first step taken by man into the world at birth. He is Jung's 'inner child' the essential self stripped of worldly trappings, the real person that integrates our caring and competitive sides. In literature he is Shakespere's king Lear who is not afraid to speak the unvarnished truth though he may suffer for it. On a positive level it represents untapped potential, a step into the unknown that will bear fruit, enthusiasm for a new venture, seizing an unexpected opportunity that can involve change. His challenging aspects are his indecisiveness, irresponsibility, inability to stick to one's course or gullibility.
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The Magician
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The Magician is the card of creative energies and is the archetypal trickster / innovator who holds the key to enlightenmnet. He is associated by some with Mecury, the god of travel, communication and health, who carried the power to heal in his caduceus. Also the god of commerce and thieves. He is often pictured as one of the ancient alchemists who manipulates the four elements to create the fiftfh - spirit. He links the everyday sphere with the magical and spiritual world beyond and seeks the all powerful philosopher's stone that can turn base mtals into gold and might hold the key to immortality.. His positive attributes are creativity, originality, using inspiration rather than logic, versatility, willpower, translation of thought into action, contol and skill. His challenging aspects can be his lack of will, deviousness, unreliability, manipulative tactics or unpredictability. |
The High Priestess
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The High Priestess represents the spiritual, mystery aspect of the feminie getting her name from the legendary Joan Pope in the ninth century. She is often associated with virgin goddesses such as the Moon Goddess, Artemis or the Celtic Brigid (patroness of healers and poets.) She is frequently pictured between two pillars whether darkness and light, with the crescent moon at her feet, or mercy and severity behind her leading as a path to the unknown. Her positive characteristics are her spirituality and detatchment from trivial concerns, independence from the approval of others, her trust of intuition. Her negative points can be a self-centeredness, indifference to the emotional needs of others and obsession with detail.
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The Empress
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The Empress is the card of motherhood and mothering. She represents the Mother Goddess and Earth Mothers typifyed by Ceres, or Demeter the Classical Corn Goddess, Cerridwen of the Celts, Goddess of the Full Moon, or Figg in the Norse Legends, Goddess of Women and mothers and the Northern housewife. In many packs the Empress is surrounded by corn, fruit, and flowers and can be seen in the aspect of the early mother satus in the full flower of pregnancy. Positive Interpretations: Motherhood; nurturing those who are vunerable; fertility in ventures or in reproduction, creative giving and empathy with others' problems and weaknesses. The challenging aspects are martyrdom on the alter of other's wishes, possessiveness, loss of individual identity, preoccupation with the lives of others.
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The Emperor
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The Emperor is the card of fathering , determination, and early power. he is ultimate authority figure before whom all bow, Father God and the consort to the Empress Mother. the Emperor is the All -father of many traditions:Zeus in Classical mythology, the Norse odin the Wise One or Woden in the Anglo-Saxon Tradition. He is pictured enthroned, often in battle dress, for he is an experienced warrior as well as leader of his pupil. But, although he is the giver of law and desicions, his laws may not always be just and his decisions are not always wise. His positive traits are focused energy in carrying through objectives, logic, assertiveness, cofidence. His challenging aspects are his overcritical attitude to the weakness of others, dominance and disregard of others' wishes, aggressiveness and impatience.
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The High Priest (Hierophant)
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The Hierophant, Pope or High Priest represents traditions of all kinds and accumilated spiritual wisdom. In the Classics he is Saturn, or the Saxon's Seater, the god of limitation and fate. In some packs he is called Jupiter, the Roman name for Zeus. He mirrors the Emperor, his alter-ego, but in wisdom and knowledge rather than authority. His wisdom is that of conventional and learned insight, gained through application. His positive characteristics are: seeking wisdom from a wise source, whether a person or a book, adhering to traditional values on an uncertain path, learning by application, enlightenment, compassion, kindness and altruism. His challenging aspects are his inability to go against conentional behaviour, unwillingness to accept innovations, being dominated by redundant fears, rejections and prohibitions.
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The Lovers
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This is the card of love and emotions, relationships and the family. The Lovers are usually portrayed with a third party present, whether Venus, Cupid, and an Angel, or even the Devil. The Lovers may represent Adam and Eve or the Alchemical Sacred Marriage of King Sol and Queen Luna. The third person, usually a woman, suggests choice, between partners, family members or earthly and spiritual love. In such cases the youth is seen as the Fool on his journey through life. Originally the Lovers were a family group with a child between them who became Cupid. The positive traits are happiness in love or through relationships, emotional or love choice that bring satisfaction, new love or a friendship needing involoving the need for trust or commitment. It's challenging aspects are problems in love or relationships that should not be ignored, isolation, unwelcome chices in love or family.
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Mastery (The Chariot)
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This is the card of change, challenge and triumph. Appollo the Sun God rode his golden chariot across the sky so that day might progress. Mars, the young god of war , rode his firy chariot into battle and conquering Roman generals used them to return to Rome for their 'triumph,' a victory procession through the streets in which they would ride in a chariot. The card indicates that the rider has harnessed opposing powers to gain the impetus to succeed. It can mean making positive and often sudden change, overcomming obstacles to success by intergrating opposing factors, taking action required to achieve an objective, controlling the direction of life. It's challenging aspects can be impulse decisions, restlessness leading to change for its own sake, failing to face reality, wavering between extremes.
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Justice
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Justice is the card of principles and speaking true, sometimes connected with official matters of all kinds, not only legal, but a personal desire for what is right in matters of all kinds, not only legal, but a personal desire for what is right in matters large and small. In Egytian tradition, after death a man's heart was weighed against a feather from the head of Ma'at, goddess of Truth and Justice. If the scales balanced then the the heart was free from sin and the deceased might pass to the after-life. Justice is often picured with scales and a blindfold, an indication that justice should be impartial. Positive Interpretation: tackling officialdom using facts and accurate details, need for action to right an injustice, upholding vital principles. It's negative aspects are: accepting injustice in exchange for a quiet life, unfainess to others, putting principles before people.
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The Hermit (Wise One)
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The Hermit is the archetypal wise old man, the inner voice and withdrawl from the outer world to the inner world. Although he is wise it is the wisdom of inner comteplation, and inner illumination , as shown by the lantern he carries in many of the packs. His wisdom is that favoured by the Buddhist teachings: of seeking answers to your own questions. He is the gate to the collective well of unconscious wisdom, Jung's two million year old man in us all. The Hermit is defined as Hermes Trismegistus, the semi-mythelogical patron saint of alchemy. According to the old texts, Hermes Trismegistus (Hermes thrice greatest) held 'three parts of the wisdom in the whole world.' The answers to immortality were there to be found through spiritual as well as physical searchings, not set in any book. His positive attributes are: Listening to the inner voice, withdrawing from the worlds demands for creative renewal, seeking solitude and letting the answer come. His challenging aspects are ignoring the wisdom and advice of others, opting out from situations, failure to communicate, foolish or immature behaviour.
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Wheel of Fortune
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Wheel of Fortune represents the input of the unexpected both good and bad into one's life and his or her response to fortune or misfortune. Thw wheel of fortune varies in different packs. the key aspect being who is turning the wheel. Foe exapmle it may be the blindfolded goddess Fortuna, suggesting that man is subject to the whims of fate. Others show the Egyptian Jackal-headed God Anubis, conducter of dead souls, or the Egyptian God Amon, Controller of Destiny and Life, who is linked with the Sun God. The wheel may be regarded as the sun wheel. In Buddhist philosophy the Wheel of Birth, death and rebirth is controlled by man's own actions in different incarnations, so this symbol contains the elements of choice and responsibility. The card never predics good or bad fortune will strike, but usually refers to a fear of disaster, hop od fortune, or some twist of fate that has occured at the time of reading. Positive interpretations: an unexpected chance or opportunity that if followed, promises good results, a person who may offer a new outlet for your talents, making a supreme effort to advance your cause. It's challenging elements may be: letting others control your destiny, a feeling of helplessness, inability to control events, waiting for the magical solution to tun up.
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Strength
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Strength is symbolic of strength and courage to overcome adversity, or the patience and endurance to see a relationshop through to fruition or a natutal ending. Sometimes strength is depicted as a woman closing a lion's jaw, noth through brute strength but with quiet persuasion and determination. She is Cyrene, a maiden of Artemis, the waxing moon goddess, whom Apollo the Sun God, saw fighting and winning a battle against a lion. As areward he took her to thr realm of the Gods. Other packs depict Herceles wrestling with a lion. Positively this card symbolic of courage to overcome opposition, patience and perseverance under difficulty, hidden strengths. It's challenging aspects are a fear of facing opposition to plans, being too patient in a hopeless situation, not listening to the arguments of others.
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The Lone Man (Hanged Man)
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This is the card of sacrifice or voluntary loss in order to gain a greater advantage. In traditional tarot packs he is often represented as the Norse God Odin, the All-Father who hung by his feet from the world tree, Yggdrassil, for nine days and nights without food or water in search of wisdom. At last Odin saw the runes beneath him, and in reaching down from them he let go of all his worldly expectations, found he was free. The tree may be seen as a living entity, giving life as well as taking it. The Hanged Man is a symbol of rebirth and renewal, just as the corn gods in many traditions were cut down in the Autumn to be reborn in the spring in the new seed so that the crops would grow. Many religions have the divine sacrifice as the central tenent. Contrary to some gloomy tarot readers, this card in no way presages loss, but a letting go, whether an inner change in perspective or a decision to carve out a betterv life by giving up immediate advantage or making a great effort that will not bring instant rewards. Positive traits: Long term advantageous plan that will require great input or short-term loss, giving up unrealistic plans or redundant ways of living, unselfish actions. Challenging aspects: Inability to let go in an unfulfilling situation, sacrificing personal happiness for an unworthy cause, concentration on short term gain and ignoring the long term view.
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The Close (Death)
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This is the card of natural change and progression and its positive meanings far outweigh any negative connotations. Death is portrayed as the medieval Grim Reaper with scythe, as a black skelenton, or as a knight in black armour with a skull revealed through the helmet. All are seen to fall before him: bishop, king, lovely maiden, the lovers, and a child, who unlike the others is not afraid. Many of these also appear in the Sun card of Judgement. The Momento Mori, the Death's Head Symbol was carried by people in Medieval and Tudor times as a taliman and reminder that death was ever present. Because healthcare is is now advanced in the western world and most people live into old age, the concept of death has becom a taboo and so the death card is a reminder that our lives are infinate. Positive interpretation: Natural change points, endings that if accepted will lead to new beginings; indications that decisions or changes that have been deffered can now bw made. Challenging aspects: Change in a particular area may be long overdue, reluctance to move forward, undue pessimism about the future.
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The Guide (Temperance)
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The guide of harmony, healing and moderation. Temperance is one of the four Christian virtues as one of the four classical virtues, it associated with time in the sense of letting time heal and allowing things to pass in their own time. Usually the figure is seen passing water from one container to another or from fountain to jug and bach again, to symbolise the interplay between conscious and unconscious, mind and body, self and the others, and the constantly flwing path of time. Temperance is also associated with Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow and messenger between Underworld, Earth and Heaven. She is also depicted as an Angel, sometimes holding the key to the Heavenly City, the key being moderation, acceptance and peace. Positive traits: The need to let events take their course, finding a compromise, healing whether by others or to others. Challemging aspects: Concentration on other peoples's harmony to the detriment of one's own, opting out of unpopular decisions, being too naive about others' motives and intentions.
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Temptation (The Devil)
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This has nothing to do with black magic or the Devil but reflects the shadow side of the human personality and the importance of acknowledging negative thoughts and emotions. The Devil is a judeo-Christian concept. Milton's Satan was a fallen Angel of Light, a power to be irradicated. This contrasts with some Oriental and Western philosophies that say that evil is the opposite pole of good and that both are necessary for balance. Incorporated into many demonic images is the goat footed pagan Pan, the Horned God of Nature. He represents natural insticts, Freud's Id that if unbridled would destroy man's civilised world. Neverthelss, as Freud recognised, those instincts were necessary for survival and procreation, providing a root source of energy and drive necessary for action. The enslaved figures depicted often hold their own chains. Were they to use their negative traits to bring about positive change, they would be free from the thrall of inner darkness. If we destroy or project onto others our shadow side, we are losing an integral part of ourselves. Positive characteristics: Using negative feelings to bring about change and put right injustices, accepting that negative feelings about a person or situation are justifyable, acknowledging a negative situation or influence. Challenging aspects: Repressing justifyable anger and resentment so that they turn into self-hate, allowing the negativity of others to affect us, continuing in destructive patterns or relationships whilst blaming others.
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The Tower
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The Tower is a symbol of liberation from restrictions and stagnation. the new beginning promised in the Death card, with which it frequently appears in readings. in some packs it is called the Tower of destruction or La Maison Dieu which is not (as literally translated) the House of God but a corruption of Diefel, the Biblical tower of Babel. the Tower of Babel was built by the descendants of Noah in an attempt to climb up to the heavens to avenge themselves on God for sening the flood. As punishment God sent down a confusion of tounges and henceforward it was said that different languages cause discord among mankind. In fact, this itself was a liberation so that diversity, not only an expression of ideas, could germinate to prevent stagnation. A lightning flash cleaves the Tower. However, those who fall from it are not destroyed but freed from a prison. Like Rapunzel in the fairy story. What is destroyed is the narrow perspective of life viewed from narrow windows and the false security that comes from limited horizons. This card does not predict coming disaster, but points out weaknesses of which the questioner is aware, the cracks that are already appearing , that, if recognised, can offer relief from stagnation. Positive Interpretation: Liberation from restrictions, a widening of possibilitues, the apparent destruction of plans that did not have firm foundations, the chance to build a more secure future. Challenging aspects: Loss of a temporary refuge fromreality, fear of losing familiar if restricting routines, temporary setbacks and disruption that cannot be avoided.
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The Star
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The Star is the card of hope, of inspiration, and of the illumionation that heralds a happier future. Stars have been a symbol of promise in many cultures. For the ancient Egyptians, the apperance of Sirius heralded the annual flooding of the Nile which brought fertility to the parched land. The Magi followed their star to Bethlehem The Norse god Tyr, God of courage and War , who sacrificed his sword arm to save the other gods by binding Fenris Wolf, is known as the Star or Spirit Warrior. Some tarot packs show the star as a naked maiden , pouring water onto the earth to nourish it. In the same way, dreams and hopes are nourished by practical action. Although we are wishing on as star, those dreams most likely to come true are those we make come true ourselves. Positive aspects: signs of hope after a difficult period, pursuing dreams that can come true with effort and belief in oneself, finding sudden inspiration that heralds future happiness. Challenging aspects: pinning hopes on unrealistic expectations of perfection in people or situations, being attracted by surface glamour or excitement, spending too much time wishing so that real opportunities are missed.
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The Moon
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The moon is a symbol of mystery, magic, and the cycle of life, with its ebbs and flows, its constant promises of renewal and new beginnings. The Moon Goddess was worshiped from early times in her three aspects that reflected the life cycle of the Maiden, mother, wisewoman, (birth, growth, fuition, wisdom, death and rebirth) that are mirrorde in the seasons. To Artemis, the Virgin Goddess, and Selene, the Mother, the High Priestess and Empress of the earlier cards, the symbol of the moon adds the third dimension - that of the Crone, Hecate, hag of the night, the wisdom of experience and acceptance of endings in the dark of the moon, to return as new life in the crescent. The wolves seen baying on some of the cards are a primitive call of nature.The crayfish, one of the oldest survivng creatures who cohabited with the dinosaurs, crawling out of the water, is the envoy of timelessness. This, then is a very soecial card, containig elements of many of the others. Positive interpretation: trusting dreams, visions, and psychic insights , using imagination rather than logic , using the natural ebbs and flows of energies to know the right time to act and the right time to wait. Challenging aspects: Living purely in a world of dreams, following the easy path, being unnecessarily secritive.
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The Sun
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The sun is the card of pure energy, optimism, joy and sucess in the world's terms the alter-ego of the Moon. Sun Gods have a central role in many mythologies' the Egyptian Ra who ferried the Solar boat across the sky each day, Helios of the Greeks, who was regarded as the sun himself, and ascended the heavens in the morning in the chariot , drawn by wingged snow-white horses, and in the evening plunged into the ocean. Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec plumbed serpent deity of the Sun. The Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year is heralded as the day of maximum power, and pagan ceremonies - from Druidic observances at stone circles, aligned to the Dawn sunrise, to the American Indian Sun Dance - acknowledge the powerful energies associated with solar light and warmth. Positive Interpretation: The perfect moment to seize an opportunit, unfulfilled potential, the energy and ability to succeed in any action or plan. Challenging aspects: Competitiveness in a destuctive sense, obsesion with perfection, exhhaustion due to burn out. |
Karma (Judgement)
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Judgement or the Angel is the symbol of renewal and reconcilliation. it symbolises the day of reckoning, not in the medival sense of the alloting of rewards and punishments, but self judgement - recognition of one's own and others' worth and accepting the weakness and folly both of ourselves and others. Once the books are balanced, any redundent feelings of bitterness, anger, failiure or guilt can be left behind, as the essential person refined through experience is ready to move forward. Positive traits: the ability to evaluate success, ability to forgive and forget, using experience good and bad , to avoid future mistakes. |
The World
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The World is the card of expanding horizons and limitless possibilities and is a card of movement, whether involving actual travel or being open to new fields and ideas. In the centre of what is sometimes portrayed as an ellipse, the cosmic egg is the dancer, 'at the still point of the turning world', as T. S. Eliot said in his Four Quartets. The dancer is sometimes flanked by the symbols of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, also representing the zodiac signs Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio. These are the signs of the four elements of Air, Fire, Earth and Water that are integral to the Tarot. In a sense the dancer is the synthesis of the four elements, the elusive philosopher's stone, key to immortality, or perhaps the Fool refined and transformed. Positive: New Horizons, beginning of an exciting mental or physical phase, the need to move further afield, or to try new ventures, a sense of completeness and self worth. Negative: Ignoring what is of value close to home, frenetic activity with no time for contemplation, refusing to expand the boundaries of possibility. |
