Interpretations: The Major Arcana Flashcards
1
Q
- The Fool (Summary)
A
- A dreamer
- An absolute beginner
- Innocent adventurer
- About to begin an important journey
Hopeful - Idealistic rather than practical
- Blissfully ignorant of risk
- The cosmic egg, symbolized by the 0
- No formal value but a part of every card in his journey through the major arcana
- Carries No baggage of commitment
- Led only by his needs and desires
2
Q
- The Fool (Upright Meaning)
A
- Signifies calculated risk
- Danger may be ahead, but it’s time for a leap of faith
- Good for those embarking on new enterprises and educational courses, providing there’s sensible planning
- It’s time for optimism and a fresh perspective
- Opportunities to start over, feel young again
- Embodiment of our spirit
- Exploration and discovery
- New ventures will turn out well, provided we look before we leap
- It’s time to push forward and not look back
- Have courage
- Commit to our path
- Be fully in the moment
HOME: young person leaving home for the first time, surprise visitors, younger guests
RELATIONSHIPS: a new relationship; go with the flow at this point
CAREER AND MONEY: a sabbatical or new opportunity in our current or new career/enterprise; prioritizing is the key to moving ahead swiftly
3
Q
- The Fool (Reversed Meaning)
A
- Irresponsible
- Speaks before he thinks
- Unwise decisions
- The literal fool, or idiot
- Self-sabotaging
- Desperate
- Irrational
- Our proposal or an offer made to us may be a leap too far
- Think carefully before agreeing to a new approach to work
- Hold back from emotional commitments until you’re sure of your ground
4
Q
- The Fool (Symbolism)
A
- The dog: instinct and self preservation, trying to warn the oblivious Fool of the cliff (c.f. XVIII. The Moon)
- The white rose or butterfly: purity and innocence; the butterfly in some decks is a symbol of dreams and spirit (c.f. XIII. Death)
- The bundle: carries little with him on his journey
- The white sun: consciousness, purity of the spirit, the world shown in the best possible light (c.f. VI. The Lovers, XIV. Temperance, XIII. Death, XVIII. The Moon, and XIX. The Sun)
- The red feather: the Fool’s life force (c.f. XIX. The Sun and XIII. Death)
5
Q
- The Fool (Reflections)
A
- The minor arcana’s four Aces:
—- Ace of Cups (new love)
—- Ace of Pentacles (new money)
—- Ace of Wands (new initiatives)
—- Ace of Swords (new success)
Also: - Three of Wands (travel)
- Eight of Wands (movement, messages, and activity)
6
Q
I. The Magician (Summary)
A
- Holds a magic wand
- Stands before the implements of his trade (the suit symbols)
- Intends to create the fifth element of ether, or the quintessence (the mythological “breath of the gods”)
- Is ready to manifest his desires by aligning spirit and matter
- The conduit between earth and heaven (decisions and creativity)
- Roses and lilies growing above and below him: life can be beautiful when we commit to our passions
- One (1) is the first prime number, standing for primal energy, the individual, and oneness with the divine spirit or God
- C.f. X. The Wheel of Fortune (10 reduces to 1), XIX. The Sun (19 reduces to 10 and then 1) - these cards link with an awareness of realms beyond the earthly plane
7
Q
I. The Magician (Upright Meaning)
A
- It’s time for action: expressing our ideas and desires
- The inventor, traveler, self-employed, entrepreneur
- Beckons us to broaden our horizons
- To move our plans forward, we need:
—- new, creative approaches
—- lateral thinking
—- to ask questions
—- to trust our internal guidance
—- to let go of procrastination - We have the ability to transform anything (magic wand)
- Directs us to:
—- make the most of our skills and talents
—- step into our power
—- focus on our projects
—- capitalize on our personal strengths - Shows us connecting with our higher, or true, self and acting with pure intention
- Can also show a significant journey
HOME: house sale is completed, going forward with remodeling plans, many visitors and a lot of entertaining and being social
RELATIONSHIPS: If we’re single, love is coming; if we’re not, we’ll begin to see commitment. Communication between partners is excellent. Deep understanding of one another’s needs. Acting as one, so a joint project may be ahead.
CAREER AND MONEY: finding new employment or a new direction in our existing work. Inspired leadership from a grounded and enthusiastic individual.
8
Q
I. The Magician (Reversed Meaning)
A
- Trickster
- We may be misled by a charming manipulator
- What you see in someone is not what you get; it’s all show, not truth
- Delays to travel plans
- General miscommunication
- A creative block in projects
- Feeling torn between two paths or choices that impede progress
- It’s time to choose one option and commit to it fully
9
Q
I. The Magician (Symbolism)
A
- The lemniscate, or infinity symbol: balance, activity, and renewal (c.f. VIII. Strength)
- The magic wand: double-ended, or “as above, so below”; heaven and earth as mirrors (c.f. VII. The Chariot and XXI. The World)
- The four suit symbols: his resources that he draws upon to create the fifth element, the quintessence
- The red cloak: energy and action, practicality, being grounded in the material world (IV. The Emperor, V. The Hierophant, and XI. Justice)
- The headband: the mind and the intention to manifest desires
- His pose: he’s the conduit of energy between earth (downward left hand) and heaven (raised hand and wand)
- The serpent-girdle: serpents symbolize the element of Mercury, the Magician’s ruling planet. The serpent is the alchemical symbol of the ouroborus (its tail is in its mouth) which also stands for infinity and constant renewal
- The roses and lilies: red roses symbolize love and the lilies symbolize truth of purpose and pure intention (c.f. red roses in III. The Empress, V. The Hierophant, VIII. Strength)
- Yellow background: consciousness, clear sight and support (c.f. III. The Empress, VII. The Chariot, VIII. Strength, XI. Justice)
10
Q
I. The Magician (Reflections)
A
- The Magician is the ruler of the entire minor arcana (the cup, pentacle, sword, and wand on the table)
- Asks us to pay particular attention to the minor arcana cards in a reading where he appears
11
Q
II. The High Priestess (Summary)
A
- Her veil is decorated with pomegranates and date fruit
- Her horned moon headdress is like Egyptian goddess Hathor’s
- Crescent moon at her feet
- Holds a partly-hidden scroll bearing the letters t, o, r, and a, indicating the Torah, the Jewish sacred text
- Represents the divine feminine
- The divine Pope, virgin priestess (blue and white robes)
- Psychic, astrologer, or spiritual teacher
- Her spiritual path is above material values and earthly relationships
- Her gift is wisdom and knowledge of the world beyond the veil (the realms of gods, guides, and angels)
- Her number two (II) is represented in the two pillars of the temple of Solomon
- Her counterpart is V. The Hierophant or High Priest, another mentor, though he works in public office
- She tends her inner garden of spirit in secret, between the earth plane and the celestial realms beyond, separated by the pomegranate veil
- She lives a dual life
- Reveals that we need superconsciousness and self-awareness before we can wholly engage in abundant relationships with others
- Linked with cards XI. Justice (11; 1+1=2) and XX. Judgment (2+0=2), both of which illuminate the need for discernment, wisdom, and discretion
12
Q
II. The High Priestess (Upright Meaning)
A
- It’s a time for incubation, privacy, and to go inward and deepen our relationship with our higher self and to trust our internal knowing
- Confidentiality is key; if you have a secret or a project you’re nurturing, keep your own counsel
- Predicts learning and a mentor
- Is the card of psychic gifts (c.f. X. The Wheel of Fortune)
- If she appears in a reading can be a sign to follow your intuition and connect with your guides
- If she appears, the reading is a part of your spiritual journey
HOME: it’s a quiet time, family relations are calm but a little distant, with each member possibly buried in their separate lives just now
RELATIONSHIPS: being single for a time or, if you’re in a relationship, you or your partner choose to keep a part of life separate or secret
CAREER AND MONEY: success is coming, but contracts and new work are taking time to nurture; be patient
13
Q
II. The High Priestess (Reversed Meaning)
A
- An inappropriate mentor
- Choosing a temporarily wrong path
- Listening to bad advice
- Someone trying to persuade us to go against our intuition
- There are secrets that need to be out in the open as knowledge locked up too long can be harmful
14
Q
II. The High Priestess (Symbolism)
A
- The two pillars: The initials B and J refer to Boaz and Jachin, names on pillars in the Temple of Solomon which were decorated with pomegranate designs.
- — Boaz represents Water and Earth
- — Jachin represents Fire and Air
- — Black and white to show duality-male and female, darkness and light, and the earthly and heavenly dimensions that the High Priestess inhabits
- — The pillars form a portal to otherworldly experience and a deeper experience of the self (c.f. V. The Hierophant and XI. Justice, symbolizing balance)
- The scroll: the Sefer Torah, a hand-written scroll central to the study of Kabbala. It represents her spiritual knowledge (c.f. X. The Wheel of Fortune)
- The pomegranate: Denotes female fertility, linking with her aspect as the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and it can also symbolize the Sefer Torah, as it’s been taught the pomegranate has 613 seeds to echo the Torah’s 613 biblical commandments
- The veil: the otherworld beyond the material world
- The date: masculinity, complementing the female pomegranate
- The moon: the subconscious and the emotions that lie beneath the solar or eternal persona. It’s shown in three phases as a crown to echo Hathor/Isis, the Egyptian goddess of life and fertility who gave birth to Ra, god of the sun (c.f. XVIII. The Moon)
- The blue and white robes: white is for purity and traditional virginity, while the blue is for truth
15
Q
II. The High Priestess (Reflections)
A
- Queen of Swords: strength of will and following your path
- Eight of Pentacles: study, knowledge, and reward
