Pronounced, "ta-row", Tarot cards have been used for ages for the purpose
of divination. The cards date back to ancient times and are still in use
today for the same purposes (obviously).
Interpreting the Cards:
Many people believe that one should disregard the little book that comes
with the cards. They believe that when laid out, the meaning shows itself
by how you, personally interpret them. Others, like myself, like to find
the hidden symbolism of the cards. I do like using the little book
to get a basis of how the creator of the deck say the cards to be.
Any way you look at it, it's your own, personal choice. There is no
set way to read them, or store them, or anything. They are tools. Take
care of them and they'll do you much good.
Laying the Cards
There are many ways to lay your cards... Most serious Tarot readers know
the one that comes with most decks. But I've also heard of another way...
The Celtic lay is called "Seventh Card". What you do, basically, is
simple. Lay six cards face down, then turn over the seventh. Do this with
all the Major Arcana (which gives you three turned up) and then interpret
the cards. Easy, eh?
Inverted Cards:
When laying the cards, if the card falls where it is upside down as you
look at it, then the meaning is traditionally interpreted as being the
opposite of the original meaning.
From "The Medival Scapini Tarot"
Major Arcana
0 The Fool
A new adventure. Enthusiasm. Initiative. Unlimited possibilities. Pleasure.
Passion. Frenzy. Obsession. Mania. Folly. Thoughtlessness. Lack of discipline.
Immaturity. Irrationality. Frivolity. Inconsiderateness. Delirium. Spontaneity.
Levity. Exhibitionism. Unrestrained Excesses. Carelessness in promises.
Infatuation. Indiscretion. Tendency to start a project without carefully
consider all the details. Reluctance to listen to advice from others.
I The Magician
Originality. Creativity. Free will. Imagination. Self-reliance. Willpower.
Self-confidence. Dexterity. Ingenuity. Flexibility. Craft. Guile. Masterful
ness. Self-control. Trickery. Deception. Sleight of hand. Unity of thought
and emotion. Determination to see through to completion. Ability to influence
other people.
II The Popess
Wisdom. Sound judgment. Common sense. Learning. Serenity. Objectivity.
Penetration. Education. Foresight. Intuition. Perception. Self-reliance.
Hidden emotion. Purity. Virtue. Severity. Platonic relationships. Avoidance
of emotional entanglements. Volubility. Teacher.
III The Empress
Feminine progress. Action. Natural energy. Development. Fertility. Accomplishment.
Interest in details of daily life. Mother. Sister. Wife. Feminine influence.
Evolution. Ability to motivate others. A leader. Decisions founded on all
the facts at hand. Businesswoman. Level-headedness. Practicality. Decisiveness.
Intuitiveness.
IV The Emperor
Worldly power. Confidence. Wealth. Stability. Authority. Indomitable spirit.
Leadership. Maturity. War-making tendencies. Paternity. Father. Brother.
Husband. Male influences. Direct pressure. Domination of intelligence and
reason over emotion and passion. Patriarchal figure. Desire to increase
domination in every direction. Masculinity. Worthiness to exercise authority.
A capable and knowledgeable person. Willingness to listen to council.
V The Pope
Ritualism. Ceremony. Mercy. Humility. Kindness. Goodness. Forgiveness.
Inspiration. Alliance. Compassion. Servitude. Overt reserve. Captivity
to one's own ideas. Tendency to cling to idea and principles even if outdated.
A person to whom one has recourse. Conformity. A religious or spiritual
leader. Inability to adapt to new circumstances and changing conditions.
A person with a sense of the importance of history.
VI The Lovers
Love. Beauty. Perfection. Harmony. Unanimity. Trials overcome. Trust. Honour.
Possibly the beginning of a romance. Infatuation. Deep feeling. Optimism.
Being oblivious to possible consequences. Letting oneself go. Freedom of
emotion. The necessity of tests or trials. Struggle between sacred and
profane love. Examining. Yearning. Temptation. A person deeply involved
in the emotions and problems of a friend or relative. A meaningful affair.
VII The Chariot
Major effort. Possible voyage or journey. Escape. Rushing to decision.
Riding the crest of success or popularity. Perplexity. Trouble. Adversity,
possibility already overcome. Conflicting influences. Turmoil. Vengeance.
Need for supervision. Need for attention to details. Urgency to gain control
of one's emotions. Greatness can be achieved when physical and mental powers
are kept in balance.
VII Justice
Fairness. Justice. Harmony. Balanced conduct. Equity. Righteousness. Virtue.
Honour. Virginity. Just reward. Good intentions. Well-meaning actions.
Firmness of character. Adive. Self-satisfaction. The eventual outcome,
whether favourable or unfavourable, will truly be fair. Equilibrium. Poise.
Impartiality. Ability to perceive temptation and avoid evil. A person who
responds favourably to the good nature of others. A considerate person.
VIII The Hermit
Council. Knowledge. Solicitude. Inner strength. Self-illumination. Prudence.
Discretion. Vigilance. Patience. Circumspection. Self-denial. Withdrawal.
Sometimes represents recession and regression. Desertion. Annulment. Insincerity.
Coldness. A loner or a person incapable of interaction with another person.
Fear of discovery. Failure to face facts. Possessor of secrets. Unutilized
knowledge.
X Wheel of Fortune
Destiny. Fortune. Fate. Outcome. Felicity. Godsend. Special gain or unusual
loss. Culmination. Approaching the end of a problem. Inevitability. Unexpected
events may occur. The course of things from beginning to end. Advancement
for better or worse. Progress. Good or bad luck depending upon nearby cards.
XI Force
Control over a situation. Strength. Courage. Fortitude. Energy. Resolution.
Defiance. Action. Awareness of temptations and the ability to overcome
them. Confidence. Innate ability. Zeal. Fervour. Mind over matter. Accomplishment.
Attainment at considerable peril. Conquest. Hidden forces at work are challenged.
Heroism. Virility. Strength to endure in spite of all obstacles.
XII The Hanged Man
Sacrifice. Life in suspension. Transition. Change. Reversal of the mind
and one's way of life. Apathy and dullness. Boredom. Abandonment. Renunciation.
Events with an uncertain outcome. The period of respite between significant
events. Repentance. Readjustment. Efforts may have to be made to reach
a goal, which still may not be attained. The approach of new life forces.
This is the time to condition oneself for new experiences. Surrender. Lack
of progress. An unappreciated person.
XIII Death
Transformation. Clearing away the old to make way for the new. Risk for
renewal. Unexpected change. Alteration. Abrupt change of the old self,
though not necessarily physical death. The ending of a familiar situation
or friendship. Loss of income or financial security. Illness, possibly
even death. Streak of bad luck. A loan that will not be repaid.
XIIII Temperance
Moderation. Temperance. Patience. Accomplishments through self-control
and frugality. Accommodation. Harmony. The mixing or bringing together
into perfect union. Management. Compatibility. Fusion. Adjustment. Good
influences. Consolidation. Ability to utilize the material and intellectual
manifestations available to oneself. Possibly a person without excessive
tendencies. A well-liked, highly regarded person. Confidence and placidity.
Possibly being too temperate and moderate to achieve a goal presently out
of reach.
XV The Devil
Subordination. Ravage. Bondage. Malevolence. Subservience. Downfall. Weird
experience. Bad outside influence or advice. Black magic. Unexpected failures.
Seeming inability to realise one's goals. Dependence upon another person
that leads to unhappiness. Violence. Shock. Fatality. Self-punishment.
Temptation to evil. Self-destruction. Disaster. Astral influence. The tearing
apart of self-expression to such an extent that one becomes ineffectual.
An ill-tempered person. Lack of humour except at another's expense. Lack
of principles.
XVI The Falling Tower
Complete and sudden change. Breakdown of old beliefs. Abandonment of past
relationships. Severing of a friendship. Calamity. Misery. Disillusionment.
Bankrupsy. Termination. Downfall. Undoing. Disruption. Loss of stability.
A sudden event that destroys trust. Loss of love and affection. Setback.
Terrible change.
XVII The Star
Hope. Faith. Inspiration. Bright prospects. Mixing of the past and present.
Promising opportunity. Optimism. Good omen. Spiritual love. Ascending star.
Astrological influence. Accumulation of past knowledge for use in the present.
Results will come from energies expended. Fulfillment. Satisfaction. The
proper balancing of desire and work, hope and effort, love and expression.
A favourable card suggesting that desire and energy are essential to happiness.
XVIII The Moon
Deception. Twilight. Obscurity. Trickery. Danger. Error. A warning. Bad
influence. Ulterior motives. Insincerity. False friends. Double-dealing.
False pretenses. Disgrace. Slander Superficiality. Unknown enemies. The
meeting of many divergent influences. Falling into a trap. Failure to avoid
dangers. Unforeseen changes in plans.
XVIIII The Sun
Satisfaction. Contentment. Successes. Favourable social relationships.
Love. Joy. Devotion. Unselfish sentiment. Engagement. A happy marriage.
Pleasure in daily existence. Earthly happiness. The contentment derived
from extending oneself to another person. A good friend. High spirits.
Warmth. Sincerity. The rewards of a new friendship. Pleasure from simple
things. Achievement in the arts. Acceptance of life.
XX Judgment
Atonement. Judgment. The need to repent and forgive. The moment to account
for the manner in which we have used out opportunities. The possibility
that present conduct toward other people is unfair and unkind. Rejuvenation.
Rebirth. Effort that ends in reward. The desire for immortality. The possibility
exists that someone is taking unfair advantage, which they will come to
regret. A lawsuit or personal conflicts is concluded.
XXI The World
Attachment. Completion. Perfection. Recognition. Honours. Ultimate change.
The end result of all efforts. Success. Assurance. Synthesis. Fulfillment.
Triumph in undertakings. The rewards that come from hard work. The paths
of liberation. Eternal life. Admiration of others. Inheritance. The outcome
of events in spite of other signs. This is a very favourable card, especially
if surrounded by other favourable cards. |