The Pictorial

Key to the Tarot

By Arthur Edward
Waite
Illustrations By Pamela
Colman Smith.

[1911]

Although there were many Tarot decks prior to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, and
many after, none has gripped the popular imagination as much as this set. Waite
covers the significance and deeper implications of each card, and gives practical
instructions as to how to conduct a reading. The symbolism of the Rider-Waite-Smith
deck is based on profound occult studies by Waite, and his exposition in this book of
its use and meaning is unexcelled.

Preface
IT seems rather of necessity than predilection in the sense of apologia that I should
put on record in the first place a plain statement of my personal position, as one who
for many years of literary life has been, subject to his spiritual and other limitations,
an exponent of the higher mystic schools. It will be thought that I am acting strangely
in concerning myself at this day with what appears at first sight and simply a well-
known method of fortune-telling. Now, the opinions of Mr. Smith, even in the literary
reviews, are of no importance unless they happen to agree with our own, but in order
to sanctify this doctrine we must take care that our opinions, and the subjects out of
which they arise, are concerned only with the highest. Yet it is just this which may
seem doubtful, in the present instance, not only to Mr. Smith, whom I respect within
the proper measures of detachment, but to some of more real consequence, seeing that
their dedications are mine. To these and to any I would say that after the most
illuminated Frater Christian Rosy Cross had beheld the Chemical Marriage in the
Secret Palace of Transmutation, his story breaks off abruptly, with an intimation that
he expected next morning to be door-keeper. After the same manner, it happens more
often than might seem likely that those who have seen the King of Heaven through the
most clearest veils of the sacraments are those who assume thereafter the humblest
offices of all about the House of God. By such simple devices also are the Adepts and
Great Masters in the secret orders distinguished from the cohort of Neophytes as servi
servorum mysterii. So also, or in a way which is not entirely unlike, we meet with the
Tarot cards at the outermost gates--amidst the fritterings and débris of the so-called
occult arts, about which no one in their senses has suffered the smallest deception; and
yet these cards belong in themselves to another region, for they contain a very high
symbolism, which is interpreted according to the Laws of Grace rather than by the
pretexts and intuitions of that which passes for divination. The fact that the wisdom of
God is foolishness with men does not create a presumption that the foolishness of this
world makes in any sense for Divine Wisdom; so neither the scholars in the ordinary
classes nor the pedagogues in the seats of the mighty will be quick to perceive the
likelihood or even the possibility of this proposition. The subject has been in the
hands of cartomancists as part of the stock-in-trade of their industry; I do not seek to
persuade any one outside my own circles that this is of much or of no consequence;
but on the historical and interpretative sides it has not fared better; it has been there in
the hands of exponents who have brought it into utter contempt for those people who
possess philosophical insight or faculties for the appreciation of evidence. It is time
that it should be rescued, and this I propose to undertake once and for all, that I may
have done with the side issues which distract from the term. As poetry is the most
beautiful expression of the things that are of all most beautiful, so is symbolism the
most catholic expression in concealment of things that are most profound in the
Sanctuary and that have not been declared outside it with the same fulness by means
of the spoken word. The justification of the rule of silence is no part of my present
concern, but I have put on record elsewhere, and quite recently, what it is possible to
say on this subject.

The little treatise which follows is divided into three parts, in the first of which I have
dealt with the antiquities of the subject and a few things that arise from and connect
therewith. It should be understood that it is not put forward as a contribution to the
history of playing cards, about which I know and care nothing; it is a consideration
dedicated and addressed to a certain school of occultism, more especially in France, as
to the source and centre of all the phantasmagoria which has entered into expression
during the last fifty years under the pretence of considering Tarot cards historically. In
the second part, I have dealt with the symbolism according to some of its higher
aspects, and this also serves to introduce the complete and rectified Tarot, which is
available separately, in the form of coloured cards, the designs of which are added to
the present text in black and white. They have been prepared under my supervision--in
respect of the attributions and meanings--by a lady who has high claims as an artist.
Regarding the divinatory part, by which my thesis is terminated, I consider it
personally as a fact in the history of the Tarot--as such, I have drawn, from all
published sources, a harmony of the meanings which have been attached to the
various cards, and I have given prominence to one method of working that has not
been published previously; having the merit of simplicity, while it is also of universal
application, it may be held to replace the cumbrous and involved systems of the larger
hand-books.

The Contents
PREFACE

An explanation of the personal kind--An illustration from mystic literature--A subject

which calls to be rescued--Limits and intention of the work.

PART I

THE VEIL AND ITS SYMBOLS

§ 1.--Introductory and General.

§ 2.--Class I. The Trumps Major, otherwise Greater Arcana.
§ 3.--Class II. The Four Suits, otherwise Lesser Arcana.
§ 4.--The Tarot in History.

PART II

THE DOCTRINE BEHIND THE VEIL

§ 1.--The Tarot and Secret Tradition.

§ 2.-The Trumps Major and their Inner Symbolism.
§ 3. Conclusion as to the Greater Keys.

PART III

THE OUTER METHOD OF THE ORACLES.

§ 1.--Distinction between the Greater and Lesser Arcana.
§ 2.--The Lesser Arcana, otherwise, the Four Suits of Tarot Cards
The Suit of Wands.
The Suit of Cups.
The Suit of Swords.
The Suit of Pentacles.
§ 3.--The Greater Arcana and their Divinatory Meanings.
§ 4.--Some additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana.
§ 5.--The Recurrence of Cards in Dealing.
§ 6.--The Art of Tarot Divination.
§ 7.--An Ancient Celtic Method of Divination.
§ 8.--An Alternative Method of Reading the Tarot Cards.
§ 9.--The Method of Reading by Means of Thirty-five Cards.

PART I
The Veil and its Symbols
§1
INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL
THE pathology of the poet says that "the undevout astronomer is mad"; the pathology
of the very plain man says that genius is mad; and between these extremes, which
stand for ten thousand analogous excesses, the sovereign reason takes the part of a
moderator and does what it can. I do not think that there is a pathology of the occult
dedications, but about their extravagances no one can question, and it is not less
difficult than thankless to act as a moderator regarding them. Moreover, the
pathology, if it existed, would probably be an empiricism rather than a diagnosis, and
would offer no criterion. Now, occultism is not like mystic faculty, and it very seldom
works in harmony either with business aptitude in the things of ordinary life or with a
knowledge of the canons of evidence in its own sphere. I know that for the high art of
ribaldry there are few things more dull than the criticism which maintains that a thesis
is untrue, and cannot understand that it is decorative. I know also that after long
dealing with doubtful doctrine or with difficult research it is always refreshing, in the
domain of this art, to meet with what is obviously of fraud or at least of complete
unreason. But the aspects of history, as seen through the lens of occultism, are not as a
rule decorative, and have few gifts of refreshment to heal the lacerations which they
inflict on the logical understanding. It almost requires a Frater Sapiens dominabitur
astris in the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross to have the patience which is not lost
amidst clouds of folly when the consideration of the Tarot is undertaken in accordance
with the higher law of symbolism. The true Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other
language and offers no other signs. Given the inward meaning of its emblems, they do
become a kind of alphabet which is capable of indefinite combinations and makes true
sense in all. On the highest plane it offers a key to the Mysteries, in a manner which is
not arbitrary and has not been read in, But the wrong symbolical stories have been
told concerning it, and the wrong history has been given in every published work
which so far has dealt with the subject. It has been intimated by two or three writers
that, at least in respect of the meanings, this is unavoidably the case, because few are
acquainted with them, while these few hold by transmission under pledges and cannot
betray their trust. The suggestion is fantastic on the surface for there seems a certain
anti-climax in the proposition that a particular interpretation of fortune-telling--l'art de
tirer les cartes--can be reserved for Sons of the Doctrine. The fact remains,
notwithstanding, that a Secret Tradition exists regarding the Tarot, and as there is
always the possibility that some minor arcana of the Mysteries may be made public
with a flourish of trumpets, it will be as well to go before the event and to warn those
who are curious in such matters that any revelation will contain only a third part of the
earth and sea and a third part of the stars of heaven in respect of the symbolism. This
is for the simple reason that neither in root-matter nor in development has more been
put into writing, so that much will remain to be said after any pretended unveiling.
The guardians of certain temples of initiation who keep watch over mysteries of this
order have therefore no cause for alarm.

In my preface to The Tarot of the Bohemians, which, rather by an accident of things,

has recently come to be re-issued after a long period, I have said what was then
possible or seemed most necessary. The present work is designed more especially--as
I have intimated--to introduce a rectified set of the cards themselves and to tell the
unadorned truth concerning them, so far as this is possible in the outer circles. As
regards the sequence of greater symbols, their ultimate and highest meaning lies
deeper than the common language of picture or hieroglyph. This will be understood
by those who have received some part of the Secret Tradition. As regards the verbal
meanings allocated here to the more important Trump Cards, they are designed to set
aside the follies and impostures of past attributions, to put those who have the gift of
insight on the right track, and to take care, within the limits of my possibilities, that
they are the truth so far as they go.

It is regrettable in several respects that I must confess to certain reservations, but there
is a question of honour at issue. Furthermore, between the follies on the one side of
those who know nothing of the tradition, yet are in their own opinion the exponents of
something called occult science and philosophy, and on the other side between the
make-believe of a few writers who have received part of the tradition and think that it
constitutes a legal title to scatter dust in the eyes of the world without, I feel that the
time has come to say what it is possible to say, so that the effect of current
charlatanism and unintelligence may be reduced to a minimum.

We shall see in due course that the history of Tarot cards is largely of a negative kind,
and that, when the issues are cleared by the dissipation of reveries and gratuitous
speculations expressed in the terms of certitude, there is in fact no history prior to the
fourteenth century. The deception and self-deception regarding their origin in Egypt,
India or China put a lying spirit into the mouths of the first expositors, and the later
occult writers have done little more than reproduce the first false testimony in the
good faith of an intelligence unawakened to the issues of research. As it so happens,
all expositions have worked within a very narrow range, and owe, comparatively
speaking, little to the inventive faculty. One brilliant opportunity has at least been
missed, for it has not so far occurred to any one that the Tarot might perhaps have
done duty and even originated as a secret symbolical language of the Albigensian
sects. I commend this suggestion to the lineal descendants in the spirit of Gabriele
Rossetti and Eugène Aroux, to Mr. Harold Bayley as another New Light on the
Renaissance, and as a taper at least in the darkness which, with great respect, might be
serviceable to the zealous and all-searching mind of Mrs. Cooper-Oakley. Think only
what the supposed testimony of watermarks on paper might gain from the Tarot card
of the Pope or Hierophant, in connexion with the notion of a secret Albigensian
patriarch, of which Mr. Bayley has found in these same watermarks so much material
to his purpose. Think only for a moment about the card of the High Priestess as
representing the Albigensian church itself; and think of the Tower struck by Lightning
as typifying the desired destruction of Papal Rome, the city on the seven hills, with
the pontiff and his temporal power cast down from the spiritual edifice when it is
riven by the wrath of God. The possibilities are so numerous and persuasive that they
almost deceive in their expression one of the elect who has invented them. But there is
more even than this, though I scarcely dare to cite it. When the time came for the
Tarot cards to be the subject of their first formal explanation, the archaeologist Court
de Gebelin reproduced some of their most important emblems, and--if I may so term
it--the codex which he used has served--by means of his engraved plates-as a basis of
reference for many sets that have been issued subsequently. The figures are very
primitive and differ as such from the cards of Etteilla, the Marseilles Tarot, and others
still current in France. I am not a good judge in such matters, but the fact that every
one of the Trumps Major might have answered for watermark purposes is shewn by
the cases which I have quoted and by one most remarkable example of the Ace of
Cups.

I should call it an eucharistic emblem after the manner of a ciborium, but this does not
signify at the moment. The point is that Mr. Harold Bayley gives six analogous
devices in his New Light on the Renaissance, being watermarks on paper of the
seventeenth century, which he claims to be of Albigensian origin and to represent
sacramental and Graal emblems. Had he only heard of the Tarot, had he known that
these cards of

divination, cards of fortune, cards of all vagrant arts, were perhaps current at the
period in the South of France, I think that his enchanting but all too fantastic
hypothesis might have dilated still more largely in the atmosphere of his dream. We
should no doubt have had a vision of Christian Gnosticism, Manichæanism, and all
that he understands by pure primitive Gospel, shining behind the pictures.

I do not look through such glasses, and I can only commend the subject to his
attention at a later period; it is mentioned here that I may introduce with an unheard-of
wonder the marvels of arbitrary speculation as to the history of the cards.

With reference to their form and number, it should scarcely be necessary to enumerate
them, for they must be almost commonly familiar, but as it is precarious to assume
anything, and as there are also other reasons, I will tabulate them briefly as follows:--

CLASS I
§2
TRUMPS MAJOR
Otherwise, Greater Arcana
1. The Magus, Magician, or juggler, the caster of the dice and mountebank, in the
world of vulgar trickery. This is the colportage interpretation, and it has the same
correspondence with the real symbolical meaning that the use of the Tarot in fortune-
telling has with its mystic construction according to the secret science of symbolism. I
should add that many independent students of the subject, following their own lights,
have produced individual sequences of meaning in respect of the Trumps Major, and
their lights are sometimes suggestive, but they are not the true lights. For example,
Éliphas Lévi says that the Magus signifies that unity which is the mother of numbers;
others say that it is the Divine Unity; and one of the latest French commentators
considers that in its general sense it is the will.

2. The High Priestess, the Pope Joan, or Female Pontiff; early expositors have sought
to term this card the Mother, or Pope's Wife, which is opposed to the symbolism. It is
sometimes held to represent the Divine Law and the Gnosis, in which case the
Priestess corresponds to the idea of the Shekinah. She is the Secret Tradition and the
higher sense of the instituted Mysteries.

3. The Empress, who is sometimes represented with full face, while her
correspondence, the Emperor, is in profile. As there has been some tendency to
ascribe a symbolical significance to this distinction, it seems desirable to say that it
carries no inner meaning. The Empress has been connected with the ideas of universal
fecundity and in a general sense with activity.

4. The Emperor, by imputation the spouse of the former. He is occasionally

represented as wearing, in addition to his personal insignia, the stars or ribbons of
some order of chivalry. I mention this to shew that the cards are a medley of old and
new emblems. Those who insist upon the evidence of the one may deal, if they can,
with the other. No effectual argument for the antiquity of a particular design can be
drawn from the fact that it incorporates old material; but there is also none which can
be based on sporadic novelties, the intervention of which may signify only the
unintelligent hand of an editor or of a late draughtsman.

5. The High Priest or Hierophant, called also Spiritual Father, and more commonly
and obviously the Pope. It seems even to have been named the Abbot, and then its
correspondence, the High Priestess, was the Abbess or Mother of the Convent. Both
are arbitrary names. The insignia of the figures are papal, and in such case the High
Priestess is and can be only the Church, to whom Pope and priests are married by the
spiritual rite of ordination. I think, however, that in its primitive form this card did not
represent the Roman Pontiff.

6. The Lovers or Marriage. This symbol has undergone many variations, as might be
expected from its subject. In the eighteenth century form, by which it first became
known to the world of archæological research, it is really a card of married life,
shewing father and mother, with their child placed between them; and the pagan
Cupid above, in the act of flying his shaft, is, of course, a misapplied emblem. The
Cupid is of love beginning rather than of love in its fulness, guarding the fruit thereof.
The card is said to have been entitled Simulacyum fidei, the symbol of conjugal faith,
for which the rainbow as a sign of the covenant would have been a more appropriate
concomitant. The figures are also held to have signified Truth, Honour and Love, but I
suspect that this was, so to speak, the gloss of a commentator moralizing. It has these,
but it has other and higher aspects.

7. The Chariot. This is represented in some extant codices as being drawn by two
sphinxes, and the device is in consonance with the symbolism, but it must not be
supposed that such was its original form; the variation was invented to support a
particular historical hypothesis. In the eighteenth century white horses were yoked to
the car. As regards its usual name, the lesser stands for the greater; it is really the King
in his triumph, typifying, however, the victory which creates kingship as its natural
consequence and not the vested royalty of the fourth card. M. Court de Gebelin said
that it was Osiris Triumphing, the conquering sun in spring-time having vanquished
the obstacles of winter. We know now that Osiris rising from the dead is not
represented by such obvious symbolism. Other animals than horses have also been
used to draw the currus triumphalis, as, for example, a lion and a leopard.

8. Fortitude. This is one of the cardinal virtues, of which I shall speak later. The
female figure is usually represented as closing the mouth of a lion. In the earlier form
which is printed by Court de Gebelin, she is obviously opening it. The first alternative
is better symbolically, but either is an instance of strength in its conventional
understanding, and conveys the idea of mastery. It has been said that the figure
represents organic force, moral force and the principle of all force.

9. The Hermit, as he is termed in common parlance, stands next on the list; he is also
the Capuchin, and in more philosophical language the Sage. He is said to be in search
of that Truth which is located far off in the sequence, and of justice which has
preceded him on the way. But this is a card of attainment, as we shall see later, rather
than a card of quest. It is said also that his lantern contains the Light of Occult Science
and that his staff is a Magic Wand. These interpretations are comparable in every
respect to the divinatory and fortune-telling meanings with which I shall have to deal
in their turn. The diabolism of both is that they are true after their own manner, but
that they miss all the high things to which the Greater Arcana should be allocated. It is
as if a man who knows in his heart that all roads lead to the heights, and that God is at
the great height of all, should choose the way of perdition or the way of folly as the
path of his own attainment. Éliphas Lévi has allocated this card to Prudence, but in so
doing he has been actuated by the wish to fill a gap which would otherwise occur in
the symbolism. The four cardinal virtues are necessary to an idealogical sequence like
the Trumps Major, but they must not be taken only in that first sense which exists for
the use and consolation of him who in these days of halfpenny journalism is called the
man in the street. In their proper understanding they are the correlatives of the
counsels of perfection when these have been similarly re-expressed, and they read as
follows: (a) Transcendental justice, the counter-equilibrium of the scales, when they
have been overweighted so that they dip heavily on the side of God. The
corresponding counsel is to use loaded dice when you play for high stakes
with Diabolus. The axiom is Aut Deus, aut nihil. (b) Divine Ecstacy, as a counterpoise
to something called Temperance, the sign of which is, I believe, the extinction of
lights in the tavern. The corresponding counsel is to drink only of new wine in the
Kingdom of the Father, because God is all in all. The axiom is that man being a
reasonable being must get intoxicated with God; the imputed case in point is Spinoza.
(c) The state of Royal Fortitude, which is the state of a Tower of Ivory and a House of
Gold, but it is God and not the man who has become Turris fortitudinis a facie
inimici, and out of that House the enemy has been cast. The corresponding counsel is
that a man must not spare himself even in the presence of death, but he must be
certain that his sacrifice shall be-of any open course-the best that will ensure his end.
The axiom is that the strength which is raised to such a degree that a man dares lose
himself shall shew him how God is found, and as to such refuge--dare therefore and
learn. (d) Prudence is the economy which follows the line of least resistance, that the
soul may get back whence it came. It is a doctrine of divine parsimony and
conservation of energy, because of the stress, the terror and the manifest
impertinences of this life. The corresponding counsel is that true prudence is
concerned with the one thing needful, and the axiom is: Waste not, want not. The
conclusion of the whole matter is a business proposition founded on the law of
exchange: You cannot help getting what you seek in respect of the things that are
Divine: it is the law of supply and demand. I have mentioned these few matters at this
point for two simple reasons: (a) because in proportion to the impartiality of the mind
it seems sometimes more difficult to determine whether it is vice or vulgarity which
lays waste the present world more piteously; (b) because in order to remedy the
imperfections of the old notions it is highly needful, on occasion, to empty terms and
phrases of their accepted significance, that they may receive a new and more adequate
meaning.

10. The Wheel of Fortune. There is a current Manual of Cartomancy which has
obtained a considerable vogue in England, and amidst a great scattermeal of curious
things to no purpose has intersected a few serious subjects. In its last and largest
edition it treats in one section of the Tarot; which--if I interpret the author rightly--it
regards from beginning to end as the Wheel of Fortune, this expression being
understood in my own sense. I have no objection to such an inclusive though
conventional description; it obtains in all the worlds, and I wonder that it has not been
adopted previously as the most appropriate name on the side of common fortune-
telling. It is also the title of one of the Trumps Major--that indeed of our concern at
the moment, as my sub-title shews. Of recent years this has suffered many fantastic
presentations and one hypothetical reconstruction which is suggestive in its
symbolism. The wheel has seven radii; in the eighteenth century the ascending and
descending animals were really of nondescript character, one of them having a human
head. At the summit was another monster with the body of an indeterminate beast,
wings on shoulders and a crown on head. It carried two wands in its claws. These are
replaced in the reconstruction by a Hermanubis rising with the wheel, a Sphinx
couchant at the summit and a Typhon on the descending side. Here is another instance
of an invention in support of a hypothesis; but if the latter be set aside the grouping is
symbolically correct and can pass as such.

11. Justice. That the Tarot, though it is of all reasonable antiquity, is not of time
immemorial, is shewn by this card, which could have been presented in a much more
archaic manner. Those, however, who have gifts of discernment in matters of this kind
will not need to be told that age is in no sense of the essence of the consideration; the
Rite of Closing the Lodge in the Third Craft Grade of Masonry may belong to the late
eighteenth century, but the fact signifies nothing; it is still the summary of all the
instituted and official Mysteries. The female figure of the eleventh card is said to be
Astræa, who personified the same virtue and is represented by the same symbols. This
goddess notwithstanding, and notwithstanding the vulgarian Cupid, the Tarot is not of
Roman mythology, or of Greek either. Its presentation of justice is supposed to be one
of the four cardinal virtues included in the sequence of Greater Arcana; but, as it so
happens, the fourth emblem is wanting, and it became necessary for the commentators
to discover it at all costs. They did what it was possible to do, and yet the laws of
research have never succeeded in extricating the missing Persephone under the form
of Prudence. Court de Gebelin attempted to solve the difficulty by a tour de force, and
believed that he had extracted what he wanted from the symbol of the Hanged Man--
wherein he deceived himself. The Tarot has, therefore, its justice, its Temperance also
and its Fortitude, but--owing to a curious omission--it does not offer us any type of
Prudence, though it may be admitted that, in some respects, the isolation of the
Hermit, pursuing a solitary path by the light of his own lamp, gives, to those who can
receive it, a certain high counsel in respect of the via prudentiæ.

12. The Hanged Man. This is the symbol which is supposed to represent Prudence,
and Éliphas Lévi says, in his most shallow and plausible manner, that it is the adept
bound by his engagements. The figure of a man is suspended head-downwards from a
gibbet, to which he is attached by a rope about one of his ankles. The arms are bound
behind him, and one leg is crossed over the other. According to another, and indeed
the prevailing interpretation, he signifies sacrifice, but all current meanings attributed
to this card are cartomancists' intuitions, apart from any real value on the symbolical
side. The fortune-tellers of the eighteenth century who circulated Tarots, depict a
semi-feminine youth in jerkin, poised erect on one foot and loosely attached to a short
stake driven into the ground.

13. Death. The method of presentation is almost invariable, and embodies a bourgeois
form of symbolism. The scene is the field of life, and amidst ordinary rank vegetation
there are living arms and heads protruding from the ground. One of the heads is
crowned, and a skeleton with a great scythe is in the act of mowing it. The transparent
and unescapable meaning is death, but the alternatives allocated to the symbol are
change and transformation. Other heads have been swept from their place previously,
but it is, in its current and patent meaning, more especially a card of the death of
Kings. In the exotic sense it has been said to signify the ascent of the spirit in the
divine spheres, creation and destruction, perpetual movement, and so forth.

14. Temperance. The winged figure of a female--who, in opposition to all doctrine

concerning the hierarchy of angels, is usually allocated to this order of ministering
spirits--is pouring liquid from one pitcher to another. In his last work on the Tarot, Dr.
Papus abandons the traditional form and depicts a woman wearing an Egyptian head-
dress. The first thing which seems clear on the surface is that the entire symbol has no
especial connexion with Temperance, and the fact that this designation has always
obtained for the card offers a very obvious instance of a meaning behind meaning,
which is the title in chief to consideration in respect of the Tarot as a whole.

15. The Devil. In the eighteenth century this card seems to have been rather a symbol
of merely animal impudicity. Except for a fantastic head-dress, the chief figure is
entirely naked; it has bat-like wings, and the hands and feet are represented by the
claws of a bird. In the right hand there is a sceptre terminating in a sign which has
been thought to represent fire. The figure as a whole is not particularly evil; it has no
tail, and the commentators who have said that the claws are those of a harpy have
spoken at random. There is no better ground for the alternative suggestion that they
are eagle's claws. Attached, by a cord depending from their collars, to the pedestal on
which the figure is mounted, are two small demons, presumably male and female.
These are tailed, but not winged. Since 1856 the influence of Éliphas Lévi and his
doctrine of occultism has changed the face of this card, and it now appears as a
pseudo-Baphometic figure with the head of a goat and a great torch between the
horns; it is seated instead of erect, and in place of the generative organs there is the
Hermetic caduceus. In Le Tarot Divinatoire of Papus the small demons are replaced
by naked human beings, male and female ' who are yoked only to each other. The
author may be felicitated on this improved symbolism.

16. The Tower struck by Lightning. Its alternative titles are: Castle of Plutus, God's
House and the Tower of Babel. In the last case, the figures falling therefrom are held
to be Nimrod and his minister. It is assuredly a card of confusion, and the design
corresponds, broadly speaking, to any of the designations except Maison Dieu, unless
we are to understand that the House of God has been abandoned and the veil of the
temple rent. It is a little surprising that the device has not so far been allocated to the
destruction Of Solomon's Temple, when the lightning would symbolize the fire and
sword with which that edifice was visited by the King of the Chaldees.

17. The Star, Dog-Star, or Sirius, also called fantastically the Star of the Magi.
Grouped about it are seven minor luminaries, and beneath it is a naked female figure,
with her left knee upon the earth and her right foot upon the water. She is in the act of
pouring fluids from two vessels. A bird is perched on a tree near her; for this a
butterfly on a rose has been substituted in some later cards. So also the Star has been
called that of Hope. This is one of the cards which Court de Gebelin describes as
wholly Egyptian-that is to say, in his own reverie.

18. The Moon. Some eighteenth-century cards shew the luminary on its waning side;
in the debased edition of Etteilla, it is the moon at night in her plenitude, set in a
heaven of stars; of recent years the moon is shewn on the side of her increase. In
nearly all presentations she is shining brightly and shedding the moisture of fertilizing
dew in great drops. Beneath there are two towers, between which a path winds to the
verge of the horizon. Two dogs, or alternatively a wolf and dog, are baying at the
moon, and in the foreground there is water, through which a crayfish moves towards
the land.

19. The Sun. The luminary is distinguished in older cards by chief rays that are waved
and salient alternately and by secondary salient rays. It appears to shed its influence
on earth not only by light and heat, but--like the moon--by drops of dew. Court de
Gebelin termed these tears of gold and of pearl, just as he identified the lunar dew
with the tears of Isis. Beneath the dog-star there is a wall suggesting an enclosure-as it
might be, a walled garden-wherein are two children, either naked or lightly clothed,
facing a water, and gambolling, or running hand in hand. Éliphas Lévi says that these
are sometimes replaced by a spinner unwinding destinies, and otherwise by a much
better symbol-a naked child mounted on a white horse and displaying a scarlet
standard.

20. The Last judgment. I have spoken of this symbol already, the form of which is
essentially invariable, even in the Etteilla set. An angel sounds his trumpet per
sepulchra regionum, and the dead arise. It matters little that Etteilla omits the angel,
or that Dr. Papus substitutes a ridiculous figure, which is, however, in consonance
with the general motive of that Tarot set which accompanies his latest work. Before
rejecting the transparent interpretation of the symbolism which is conveyed by the
name of the card and by the picture which it presents to the eye, we should feel very
sure of our ground. On the surface, at least, it is and can be only the resurrection of
that triad--father, mother, child-whom we have met with already in the eighth card. M.
Bourgeat hazards the suggestion that esoterically it is the symbol of evolution--of
which it carries none of the signs. Others say that it signifies renewal, which is
obvious enough; that it is the triad of human life; that it is the "generative force of the
earth... and eternal life." Court de Gebelin makes himself impossible as usual, and
points out that if the grave-stones were removed it could be accepted as a symbol of
creation.

21--which, however, in most of the arrangements is the cipher card, number nothing--
The Fool, Mate, or Unwise Man. Court de Gebelin places it at the head of the whole
series as the zero or negative which is presupposed by numeration, and as this is a
simpler so also it is a better arrangement. It has been abandoned because in later times
the cards have been attributed to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and there has been
apparently some difficulty about allocating the zero symbol satisfactorily in a
sequence of letters all of which signify numbers. In the present reference of the card to
the letter Shin, which corresponds to 200, the difficulty or the unreason remains. The
truth is that the real arrangement of the cards has never transpired. The Fool carries a
wallet; he is looking over his shoulder and does not know that he is on the brink of a
precipice; but a dog or other animal--some call it a tiger--is attacking him from
behind, and he is hurried to his destruction unawares. Etteilla has given a justifiable
variation of this card--as generally understood--in the form of a court jester, with cap,
bells and motley garb. The other descriptions say that the wallet contains the bearer's
follies and vices, which seems bourgeois and arbitrary.

22. The World, the Universe, or Time. The four living creatures of the Apocalypse and
Ezekiel's vision, attributed to the evangelists in Christian symbolism, are grouped
about an elliptic garland, as if it were a chain of flowers intended to symbolize all
sensible things; within this garland there is the figure of a woman, whom the wind has
girt about the loins with a light scarf, and this is all her vesture. She is in the act of
dancing, and has a wand in either hand. It is eloquent as an image of the swirl of the
sensitive life, of joy attained in the body, of the soul's intoxication in the earthly
paradise, but still guarded by the Divine Watchers, as if by the powers and the graces
of the Holy Name, Tetragammaton, JVHV--those four ineffable letters which are
sometimes attributed to the mystical beasts. Éliphas Lévi calls the garland a crown,
and reports that the figure represents Truth. Dr. Papus connects it with the Absolute
and the realization of the Great Work; for yet others it is a symbol of humanity and
the eternal reward of a life that has been spent well. It should be noted that in the four
quarters of the garland there are four flowers distinctively marked. According to P.
Christian, the garland should be formed of roses, and this is the kind of chain which
Éliphas Lévi says is less easily broken than a chain of iron. Perhaps by antithesis, but
for the same reason, the iron crown of Peter may he more lightly on the heads of
sovereign pontiffs than the crown of gold on kings.

CLASS II
§3
THE FOUR SUITS
Otherwise, Lesser Arcana
The resources of interpretation have been lavished, if not exhausted, on the twenty-
two Trumps Major, the symbolism of which is unquestionable. There remain the four
suits, being Wands or Sceptres--ex hypothesi, in the archæology of the subject, the
antecedents of Diamonds in modern cards: Cups, corresponding to Hearts; Swords,
which answer to Clubs, as the weapon of chivalry is in relation to the peasant's
quarter-staff or the Alsatian bludgeon; and, finally, Pentacles--called also Deniers and
Money--which are the prototypes of Spades, In the old as in the new suits, there are
ten numbered cards, but in the Tarot there are four Court Cards allocated to each suit,
or a Knight in addition to King, Queen and Knave. The Knave is a page, valet,
or damoiseau; most correctly, he is an esquire, presumably in the service of the
Knight; but there are certain rare sets in which the page becomes a maid of honour,
thus pairing the sexes in the tetrad of the court cards. There are naturally distinctive
features in respect of the several pictures, by which I mean that the King of Wands is
not exactly the same personage as the King of Cups, even after allowance has been
made for the different emblems that they bear; but the symbolism resides in their rank
and in the suit to which they belong. So also the smaller cards, which--until now--
have never been issued pictorially in these our modem days, depend on the particular
meaning attaching to their numbers in connexion with the particular suit. I reserve,
therefore, the details of the Lesser Arcana, till I come to speak in the second part of
the rectified and perfected Tarot which accompanies this work. The consensus of
divinatory meanings attached both to the greater and lesser symbols belongs to the
third part.

§4
THE TAROT IN HISTORY
Our immediate next concern is to speak of the cards in their history, so that the
speculations and reveries which have been perpetuated and multiplied in the schools
of occult research may be disposed of once and for all, as intimated in the preface
hereto.

Let it be understood at the beginning of this point that there are several sets or
sequences of ancient cards which are only in part of our concern. The Tarot of the
Bohemians, by Papus, which I have recently carried through the press, revising the
imperfect rendering, has some useful information in this connexion, and, except for
the omission of dates and other evidences of the archaeological sense, it will serve the
purpose of the general reader. I do not propose to extend it in the present place in any
manner that can be called considerable, but certain additions are desirable and so also
is a distinct mode of presentation.

Among ancient cards which are mentioned in connexion with the Tarot, there are
firstly those of Baldini, which are the celebrated set attributed by tradition to Andrea
Mantegna, though this view is now generally rejected. Their date is supposed to be
about 1470, and it is thought that there are not more than four collections extant in
Europe. A copy or reproduction referred to 1485 is perhaps equally rare. A complete
set contains fifty numbers, divided into five denaries or sequences of ten cards each.
There seems to be no record that they were used for the purposes of a game, whether
of chance or skill; they could scarcely have lent themselves to divination or any form
of fortune-telling; while it would be more than idle to impute a profound symbolical
meaning to their obvious emblematic designs. The first denary embodies Conditions
of Life, as follows: (i) The Beggar, (2) the Knave, (3) the Artisan, (4) the Merchant,
(5) the Noble, (6) the Knight, (7) the Doge, (8) the King, (9) the Emperor, (10) the
Pope. The second contains the Muses and their Divine Leader: (11) Calliope, (12)
Urania, (13) Terpsichore, (14) Erato, (15) Polyhymnia, (16) Thalia, (17) Melpomene,
(18) Euterpe, (19) Clio, (20) Apollo. The third combines part of the Liberal Arts and
Sciences with other departments of human learning, as follows: (21) Grammar, (22)
Logic, (23) Rhetoric, (24) Geometry, (25) Arithmetic, (26) Music, (27) Poetry,(28)
Philosophy, (29) Astrology, (30) Theology. The fourth denary completes the Liberal
Arts and enumerates the Virtues: (31) Astronomy, (32) Chronology, (33) Cosmology,
(34) Temperance, (35) Prudence, (36) Strength, (37) Justice; (38) Charity, (39) Hope,
(40) Faith. The fifth and last denary presents the System of the Heavens (41) Moon,
(42) Mercury, (43) Venus, (44) Sun, (45) Mars, (46) Jupiter, (47) Saturn, (48) A
Eighth Sphere, (49) Primum Mobile, (50) First Cause.

We mnst set aside the fantastic attempts to extract complete Tarot sequences out of
these denaries; we must forbear from saying, for example, that the Conditions of Life
correspond to the Trumps Major, the Muses to Pentacles, the Arts and Sciences to
Cups, the Virtues, etc., to Sceptres, and the conditions of life to Swords. This kind of
thing can be done by a process of mental contortion, but it has no place in reality. At
the same time, it is hardly possible that individual cards should not exhibit certain, and
even striking, analogies. The Baldini King, Knight and Knave suggest the
corresponding court cards of the Minor Arcana. The Emperor, Pope, Temperance,
Strength, justice, Moon and Sun are common to the Mantegna and Trumps Major of
any Tarot pack. Predisposition has also connected the Beggar and Fool, Venus and the
Star, Mars and the Chariot, Saturn and the Hermit, even Jupiter, or alternatively the
First Cause, with the Tarot card of the World.[1] But the most salient features of the
Trumps Major are wanting in the Mantegna set, and I do not believe that the ordered
sequence in the latter case gave birth, as it has been suggested, to the others. Romain
Merlin maintained this view, and positively assigned the Baldini cards to the end of
the fourteenth century.

If it be agreed that, except accidentally and

[1. The beggar is practically naked, and the analogy is constituted by the presence of
two dogs, one of which seems to be flying at his legs. The Mars card depicts a sword-
bearing warrior in a canopied chariot, to which, however, no horses are attached. Of
course, if the Baldini cards belong to the close of the fifteenth century, there is no
question at issue, as the Tarot was known in Europe long before that period.]

sporadically, the Baldini emblematic or allegorical pictures have only a shadowy and
occasional connexion with Tarot cards, and, whatever their most probable date, that
they can have supplied no originating motive, it follows that we are still seeking not
only an origin in place and time for the symbols with which we are concerned, but a
specific case of their manifestation on the continent of Europe to serve as a point of
departure, whether backward or forward. Now it is well known that in the year 1393
the painter Charles Gringonneur--who for no reason that I can trace has been termed
an occultist and kabalist by one indifferent English writer--designed and illuminated
some kind of cards for the diversion of Charles VI of France when he was in mental
ill-health, and the question arises whether anything can be ascertained of their nature.
The only available answer is that at Paris, in the Bibliothèque du Roi, there are
seventeen cards drawn and illuminated on paper. They are very beautiful, antique and
priceless; the figures have a background of gold, and are framed in a silver border; but
they are accompanied by no inscription and no number.

It is certain, however, that they include Tarot Trumps Major, the list of which is as
follows: Fool, Emperor, Pope, Lovers, Wheel of Fortune, Temperance, Fortitude,
justice, Moon, Sun, Chariot, Hermit, Hanged Man, Death, Tower and Last judgment.
There are also four Tarot Cards at the Musée Carrer, Venice, and five others
elsewhere, making nine in all. They include two pages or Knaves, three Kings and
two Queens, thus illustrating the Minor Arcana. These collections have all been
identified with the set produced by Gringonneur, but the ascription was disputed so far
back as the year 1848, and it is not apparently put forward at the present day, even by
those who are anxious to make evident the antiquity of the Tarot. It is held that they
are all of Italian and some at least certainly of Venetian origin. We have in this
manner our requisite point of departure in respect of place at least. It has further been
stated with authority that Venetian Tarots are the old and true form, which is the
parent of all others; but I infer that complete sets of the Major and Minor Arcana
belong to much later periods. The pack is thought to have consisted of seventy-eight
cards.

Notwithstanding, however, the preference shewn towards the Venetian Tarot, it is

acknowledged that some portions of a Minchiate or Florentine set must be allocated to
the period between 1413 and 1418. These were once in the possession of Countess
Gonzaga, at Milan. A complete Minchiate pack contained ninety-seven cards, and in
spite of these vestiges it is regarded, speaking generally, as a later development. There
were forty-one Trumps Major, the additional numbers being borrowed or reflected
from the Baldini emblematic set. In the court cards of the Minor Arcana, the Knights
were monsters of the centaur type, while the Knaves were sometimes warriors and
sometimes serving-men. Another distinction dwelt upon is the prevalence of Chrstian
mediæval ideas and the utter absence of any Oriental suggestion. The question,
however, remains whether there are Eastern traces in any Tarot cards.

We come, in fine, to the Bolognese Tarot, sometimes referred to as that of Venice and
having the Trumps Major complete, but numbers 20 and 21 are transposed. In the
Minor Arcana the 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the small cards are omitted, with the result that there
are sixty-two cards in all. The termination of the Trumps Major in the representation
of the Last judgment is curious, and a little arresting as a point of symbolism; but this
is all that it seems necessary to remark about the pack of Bologna, except that it is said
to have been invented--or, as a Tarot, more correctly, modified--about the beginning
of the fifteenth century by an exiled Prince of Pisa resident in the city. The purpose
for which they were used is made tolerably evident by the fact that, in 1423, St.
Bernardin of Sienna preached against playing cards and other forms of gambling.
Forty years later the importation of cards into England was forbidden, the time being
that of King Edward IV. This is the first certain record of the subject in our country.

It is difficult to consult perfect examples of the sets enumerated above, but it is not
difficult to meet with detailed and illustrated descriptions--I should add, provided
always that the writer is not an occultist, for accounts emanating from that source are
usually imperfect, vague and preoccupied by considerations which cloud the critical
issues. An instance in point is offered by certain views which have been expressed on
the Mantegna codex--if I may continue to dignify card sequences with a title of this
kind. It has been ruled--as we have seen--in occult reverie that Apollo and the Nine
Muses are in correspondence with Pentacles, but the analogy does not obtain in a
working state of research; and reverie must border on nightmare before we can
identify Astronomy, Chronology and Cosmology with the suit of Cups. The Baldini
figures which represent these subjects are emblems of their period and not symbols,
like the Tarot.

In conclusion as to this part, I observe that there has been a disposition among experts
to think that the Trumps Major were not originally connected with the numbered suits.
I do not wish to offer a personal view; I am not an expert in the history of games of
chance, and I hate the profanum vulgus of divinatory devices; but I venture, under all
reserves, to intimate that if later research should justify such a leaning, then--except
for the good old art of fortune-telling and its tamperings with so-called destiny--it will
be so much the better for the Greater Arcana.

So far as regards what is indispensable as preliminaries to the historical aspects of

Tarot cards, and I will now take up the speculative side of the subject and produce its
tests of value. In my preface to The Tarot of the Bohemians I have mentioned that the
first writer who made known the fact of the cards was the archaeologist Court de
Gebelin, who, just prior to the French Revolution, occupied several years in the
publication of his Monde Primitif, which extended to nine quarto volumes. He was a
learned man of his epoch, a high-grade Mason, a member of the historical Lodge of
the Philalethes, and a virtuoso with a profound and lifelong interest in the debate on
universal antiquities before a science of the subject existed. Even at this day, his
memorials and dissertations, collected under the title which I have quoted, are worth
possessing. By an accident of things, he became acquainted with the Tarot when it
was quite unknown in Paris, and at once conceived that it was the remnants of an
Egyptian book. He made inquiries concerning it and ascertained that it was in
circulation over a considerable part of Europe--Spain, Italy, Germany and the South of
France. It was in use as a game of chance or skill, after the ordinary manner of
playing-cards; and he ascertained further how the game was played. But it was in use
also for the higher purpose of divination or fortune-telling, and with the help of a
learned friend he discovered the significance attributed to the cards, together with the
method of arrangement adopted for this purpose. In a word, he made a distinct
contribution to our knowledge, and he is still a source of reference--but it is on the
question of fact only, and not on the beloved hypothesis that the Tarot contains pure
Egyptian doctrine. However, he set the opinion which is prevalent to this day
throughout the occult schools, that in the mystery and wonder, the strange night of the
gods, the unknown tongue and the undeciphered hieroglyphics which symbolized
Egypt at the end of the eighteenth century, the origin of the cards was lost. So
dreamed one of the characteristic literati of France, and one can almost understand
and sympathize, for the country about the Delta and the Nile was beginning to loom
largely in the preoccupation of learned thought, and omne ignolum pro
Ægyptiaco was the way of delusion to which many minds tended. It was excusable
enough then, but that the madness has continued and, within the charmed circle of the
occult sciences, still passes from mouth to mouth--there is no excuse for this. Let us
see, therefore, the evidence produced by M. Court de Gebelin in support of his thesis,
and, that I may deal justly, it shall be summarized as far as possible in his own words.

(i) The figures and arrangement of the game are manifestly allegorical; (2) the
allegories are in conformity with the civil, philosophical and religious doctrine of
ancient Egypt; (3) if the cards were modern, no High Priestess would be included
among the Greater Arcana; (4) the figure in question bears the horns of Isis; (5) the
card which is called the Emperor has a sceptre terminating in a triple cross; (6) the
card entitled the Moon, who is Isis, shews drops of rain or dew in the act of being
shed by the luminary and these-as we have seen-are the tears of Isis, which swelled
the waters of the Nile and fertilized the fields of Egypt; (7) the seventeenth card, or
Star, is the dog-star, Sirius, which was consecrated to Isis and symbolized the opening
of the year; (8) the game played with the Tarot is founded on the sacred number
seven, which was of great importance in Egypt; (9) the word Tarot is pure Egyptian,
in which language Tar=way or road, and Ro=king or royal--it signifies therefore the
Royal Road of Life; (10) alternatively, it is derived from A=doctrine Rosh= Mercury
=Thoth, and the article T; in sum, Tarosh; and therefore the Tarot is the Book of
Thoth, or the Table of the Doctrine of Mercury.

Such is the testimony, it being understood that I have set aside several casual
statements, for which no kind of justification is produced. These, therefore, are ten
pillars which support the edifice of the thesis, and the same are pillars of sand. The
Tarot is, of course, allegorical--that is to say, it is symbolism--but allegory and symbol
are catholic---of all countries, nations and times they are not more Egyptian than
Mexican they are of Europe and Cathay, of Tibet beyond the Himalayas and of the
London gutters. As allegory and symbol, the cards correspond to many types of ideas
and things; they are universal and not particular; and the fact that they do not
especially and peculiarly respond to Egyptian doctrine--religious, philosophical or
civil--is clear from the failure of Court de Gebelin to go further than the affirmation.
The presence of a High Priestess among the Trumps Major is more easily explained as
the memorial of some popular superstition--that worship of Diana, for example, the
persistence of which in modern Italy has been traced with such striking results by
Leland. We have also to remember the universality of horns in every cultus, not
excepting that of Tibet. The triple cross is preposterous as an instance of Egyptian
symbolism; it is the cross of the patriarchal see, both Greek and Latin--of Venice, of
Jerusalem, for example--and it is the form of signing used to this day by the priests
and laity of the Orthodox Rite. I pass over the idle allusion to the tears of Isis, because
other occult writers have told us that they are Hebrew Jods; as regards the seventeenth
card, it is the star Sirius or another, as predisposition pleases; the number seven was
certainly important in Egypt and any treatise on numerical mysticism will shew that
the same statement applies everywhere, even if we elect to ignore the seven Christian
Sacraments and the Gifts of the Divine Spirit. Finally, as regards the etymology of the
word Tarot, it is sufficient to observe that it was offered before the discovery of the
Rosetta Stone and when there was no knowledge of the Egyptian language.

The thesis of Court de Gebelin was not suffered to repose undisturbed in the mind of
the age, appealing to the learned exclusively by means of a quarto volume. It created
the opportunity of Tarot cards in Paris, as the centre of France and all things French in
the universe. The suggestion that divination by cards had behind it the unexpected
warrants of ancient hidden science, and that the root of the whole subject was in the
wonder and mystery of Egypt, reflected thereon almost a divine dignity; out of the
purlieus of occult practices cartomancy emerged into fashion and assumed for the
moment almost pontifical vestures. The first to undertake the role of bateleur,
magician and juggler, was the illiterate but zealous adventurer, Alliette; the second, as
a kind of High Priestess, full of intuitions and revelations, was Mlle. Lenormand--but
she belongs to a later period; while lastly came Julia Orsini, who is referable to a
Queen of Cups rather in the tatters of clairvoyance. I am not concerned with these
people as tellers of fortune, when destiny itself was shuffling and cutting cards for the
game of universal revolution, or for such courts and courtiers as were those of Louis
XVIII, Charles IX and Louis Philippe. But under the occult designation of Etteilla, the
transliteration of name, Alliette, that perruquier took himself with high seriousness
and posed rather as a priest of the occult sciences than as an ordinary adept in l'art de
tirer les cartes. Even at this day there are people, like Dr. Papus, who have sought to
save some part of his bizarre system from oblivion.

The long and heterogeneous story of Le Monde Primitif had come to the end of its
telling in 1782, and in 1783 the tracts of Etteilla had begun pouring from the press,
testifying that already he had spent thirty, nay, almost forty years in the study of
Egyptian magic, and that he had found the final keys. They were, in fact, the Keys of
the Tarot, which was a book of philosophy and the Book of Thoth, but at the same
time it was actually written by seventeen Magi in a Temple of Fire, on the borders of
the Levant, some three leagues from Memphis. It contained the science of the
universe, and the cartomancist proceeded to apply it to Astrology, Alchemy, and
fortune-telling, without the slightest diffidence or reserve as to the fact that he was
driving a trade. I have really little doubt that he considered it genuine as a métier, and
that he himself was the first person whom he convinced concerning his system. But
the point which we have to notice is that in this manner was the antiquity of the Tarot
generally trumpeted forth. The little books of Etteilla are proof positive that he did not
know even his own language; when in the course of time he produced a reformed
Tarot, even those who think of him tenderly admit that he spoiled its symbolism; and
in respect of antiquities he had only Court de Gebelin as his universal authority.

The cartomancists succeeded one another in the manner which I have mentioned, and
of course there were rival adepts of these less than least mysteries; but the scholarship
of the subject, if it can be said to have come into existence, reposed after all in the
quarto of Court de Gebelin for something more than sixty years. On his authority,
there is very little doubt that everyone who became acquainted, by theory or practice,
by casual or special concern, with the question of Tarot cards, accepted their Egyptian
character. It is said that people are taken commonly at their own valuation, and--
following as it does the line of least resistance--the unsolicitous general mind
assuredly accepts archæological pretensions in the sense of their own daring and of
those who put them forward. The first who appeared to reconsider the subject with
some presumptive titles to a hearing was the French writer Duchesne, but I am
compelled to pass him over with a mere reference, and so also some interesting
researches on the general subject of playing-cards by Singer in England. The latter
believed that the old Venetian game called Trappola was the earliest European form
of card-playing, that it was of Arabian origin, and that the fifty-two cards used for the
purpose derived from that region. I do not gather that any importance was ever
attached to this view.

Duchesne and Singer were followed by another English writer, W. A. Chatto, who
reviewed the available facts and the cloud of speculations which had already arisen on
the subject. This was in 1848, and his work has still a kind of standard authority, but--
after every allowance for a certain righteousness attributable to the independent mind-
-it remains an indifferent and even a poor performance. It was, however, characteristic
in its way of the approaching middle night of the nineteenth century. Chatto rejected
the Egyptian hypothesis, but as he was at very little pains concerning it, he would
scarcely be held to displace Court de Gebelin if the latter had any firm ground beneath
his hypothesis. In 1854 another French writer, Boiteau, took up the general question,
maintaining the oriental origin of Tarot cards, though without attempting to prove it. I
am not certain, but I think that he is the first writer who definitely identified them with
the Gipsies; for him, however, the original Gipsy home was in India, and Egypt did
not therefore enter into his calculation.

In 1860 there arose Éliphas Lévi, a brilliant and profound illuminé whom it is
impossible to accept, and with whom it is even more impossible to dispense. There
was never a mouth declaring such great things, of all the western voices which have
proclaimed or interpreted the science called occult and the doctrine called magical. I
suppose that, fundamentally speaking, he cared as much and as little as I do for the
phenomenal part, but he explained the phenomena with the assurance of one who
openly regarded charlatanry as a great means to an end, if used in a right cause. He
came unto his own and his own received him, also at his proper valuation, as a man of
great learning--which he never was--and as a revealer of all mysteries without having
been received into any. I do not think that there was ever an instance of a writer with
greater gifts, after their particular kind, who put them to such indifferent uses. After
all, he was only Etteilla a second time in the flesh, endowed in his transmutation with
a mouth of gold and a wider casual knowledge. This notwithstanding, he has written
the most comprehensive, brilliant, enchanting History of Magic which has ever been
drawn into writing in any language. The Tarot and the de Gebelin hypothesis he took
into his heart of hearts, and all occult France and all esoteric Britain, Martinists, half-
instructed Kabalists, schools of soi disant theosophy--there, here and everywhere--
have accepted his judgment about it with the same confidence as his interpretations of
those great classics of Kabalism which he had skimmed rather than read. The Tarot
for him was not only the most perfect instrument of divination and the keystone of
occult science, but it was the primitive book, the sole book of the ancient Magi, the
miraculous volume which inspired all the sacred writings of antiquity. In his first
work Lévi was content, however, with accepting the construction of Court de Gebelin
and reproducing the seventh Trump Major with a few Egyptian characteristics. The
question of Tarot transmission through the Gipsies did not occupy him, till J. A.
Vaillant, a bizarre writer with great knowledge of the Romany people, suggested it in
his work on those wandering tribes. The two authors were almost coincident and
reflected one another thereafter. It remained for Romain Merlin, in 1869, to point out
what should have been obvious, namely, that cards of some kind were known in
Europe prior to the arrival of the Gipsies in or about 1417. But as this was their arrival
at Lüneburg, and as their presence can be traced antecedently, the correction loses a
considerable part of its force; it is safer, therefore, to say that the evidence for the use
of the Tarot by Romany tribes was not suggested till after the year 1840; the fact that
some Gipsies before this period were found using cards is quite explicable on the
hypothesis not that they brought them into Europe but found them there already and
added them to their stock-in-trade.

We have now seen that there is no particle of evidence for the Egyptian origin of
Tarot cards. Looking in other directions, it was once advanced on native authority that
cards of some kind were invented in China about the year A.D. 1120. Court de
Gebelin believed in his zeal that he had traced them to a Chinese inscription of great
imputed antiquity which was said to refer to the subsidence of the waters of the
Deluge. The characters of this inscription were contained in seventy-seven
compartments, and this constitutes the analogy. India had also its tablets, whether
cards or otherwise, and these have suggested similar slender similitudes. But the
existence, for example, of ten suits or styles, of twelve numbers each, and
representing the avatars of Vishnu as a fish, tortoise, boar, lion, monkey, hatchet,
umbrella or bow, as a goat, a boodh and as a horse, in fine, are not going to help us
towards the origin of our own Trumps Major, nor do crowns and harps--nor even the
presence of possible coins as a synonym of deniers and perhaps as an equivalent of
pentacles--do much to elucidate the Lesser Arcana. If every tongue and people and
clime and period possessed their cards--if with these also they philosophized, divined
and gambled--the fact would be interesting enough, but unless they were Tarot cards,
they would illustrate only the universal tendency of man to be pursuing the same
things in more or less the same way.

I end, therefore, the history of this subject by repeating that it has no history prior to
the fourteenth century, when the first rumours, were heard concerning cards. They
may have existed for centuries, but this period would be early enough, if they were
only intended for people to try their luck at gambling or their luck at seeing the future;
on the other hand, if they contain the deep intimations of Secret Doctrine, then the
fourteenth century is again early enough, or at least in this respect we are getting as
much as we can.

PART II
The Doctrine Behind the Veil
§1
THE TAROT AND SECRET TRADITION
THE Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all
the implicits of the human mind, and it is in this sense that they contain secret
doctrine, which is the realization by the few of truths imbedded in the consciousness
of all, though they have not passed into express recognition by ordinary men. The
theory is that this doctrine has always existed--that is to say, has been excogitated in
the consciousness of an elect minority; that it has been perpetuated in secrecy from
one to another and has been recorded in secret literatures, like those of Alchemy and
Kabalism; that it is contained also in those Instituted Mysteries of which
Rosicrucianism offers an example near to our hand in the past, and Craft Masonry a
living summary, or general memorial, for those who can interpret its real meaning.
Behind the Secret Doctrine it is held that there is an experience or practice by which
the Doctrine is justified. It is obvious that in a handbook like the present I can do little
more than state the claims, which, however, have been discussed at length in several
of my other writings, while it is designed to treat two of its more important phases in
books devoted to the Secret Tradition in Freemasonry and in Hermetic literature. As
regards Tarot claims, it should be remembered that some considerable part of the
imputed Secret Doctrine has been presented in the pictorial emblems of Alchemy, so
that the imputed Book of Thoth is in no sense a solitary device of this emblematic
kind. Now, Alchemy had two branches, as I have explained fully elsewhere, and the
pictorial emblems which I have mentioned are common to both divisions. Its material
side is represented in the strange symbolism of the Mutus Liber, printed in the great
folios of Mangetus. There the process for the performance of the great work of
transmutation is depicted in fourteen copper-plate engravings, which exhibit the
different stages of the matter in the various chemical vessels. Above these vessels
there are mythological, planetary, solar and lunar symbols, as if the powers and
virtues which -according to Hermetic teaching--preside over the development and
perfection of the metallic kingdom were intervening actively to assist the two
operators who are toiling below. The operators--curiously enough--are male and
female. The spiritual side of Alchemy is set forth in the much stranger emblems of
the Book of Lambspring, and of this I have already given a preliminary interpretation,
to which the reader may be referred.[1] The tract contains the mystery of what is
called the mystical or arch-natural elixir, being the marriage of the soul and the spirit
in the body of the adept philosopher and the transmutation of the body as the physical
result of this marriage. I have never met with more curious intimations than in this one
little work. It may be mentioned as a point of fact that both tracts are very much later
in time than the latest date that could be assigned to the general distribution of Tarot
cards in Europe by the most drastic form of criticism.

[1. See the Occult Review, vol. viii, 1908].

They belong respectively to the end of the seventeenth and sixteenth centuries. As I
am not drawing here on the font of imagination to refresh that of fact and experience,
I do not suggest that the Tarot set the example of expressing Secret Doctrine in
pictures and that it was followed by Hermetic writers; but it is noticeable that it is
perhaps the earliest example of this art. It is also the most catholic, because it is not,
by attribution or otherwise, a derivative of any one school or literature of occultism; it
is not of Alchemy or Kabalism or Astrology or Ceremonial Magic; but, as I have said,
it is the presentation of universal ideas by means of universal types, and it is in the
combination of these types--if anywhere--that it presents Secret Doctrine.

That combination may, ex hypothesi, reside in the numbered sequence of its series or
in their fortuitous assemblage by shuffling, cutting and dealing, as in ordinary games
of chance played with cards. Two writers have adopted the first view without
prejudice to the second, and I shall do well, perhaps, to dispose at once of what they
have said. Mr. MacGregor Mathers, who once published a pamphlet on the Tarot,
which was in the main devoted to fortune-telling, suggested that the twenty-two
Trumps Major could be constructed, following their numerical order, into what he
called a "connected sentence." It was, in fact, the heads of a moral thesis on the human
will, its enlightenment by science, represented by the Magician, its manifestation by
action--a significance attributed to the High Priestess-its realization (the Empress) in
deeds of mercy and beneficence, which qualities were allocated to the Emperor. He
spoke also in the familiar conventional manner of prudence, fortitude, sacrifice, hope
and ultimate happiness. But if this were the message of the cards, it is certain that
there would be no excuse for publishing them at this day or taking the pains to
elucidate them at some length. In his Tarot of the Bohemians, a work written with zeal
and enthusiasm, sparing no pains of thought or research within its particular lines-but
unfortunately without real insight--Dr. Papus has given a singularly elaborate scheme
of the Trumps Major. It depends, like that of Mr. Mathers, from their numerical
sequence, but exhibits their interrelation in the Divine World, the Macrocosm and
Microcosm. In this manner we get, as it were, a spiritual history of man, or of the soul
coming out from the Eternal, passing into the darkness of the material body, and
returning to the height. I think that the author is here within a measurable distance of
the right track, and his views are to this extent informing, but his method--in some
respects-confuses the issues and the modes and planes of being.

The Trumps Major have also been treated in the alternative method which I have
mentioned, and Grand Orient, in his Manual of Cartomancy, under the guise of a
mode of transcendental divination, has really offered the result of certain illustrative
readings of the cards when arranged as the result of a fortuitous combination by
means of shuffling and dealing. The use of divinatory methods, with whatsoever
intention and for whatever purpose, carries with it two suggestions. It may be thought
that the deeper meanings are imputed rather than real, but this is disposed of by the
fact of certain cards, like the Magician, the High Priestess, the Wheel of Fortune, the
Hanged Man, the Tower or Maison Dieu, and several others, which do not correspond
to Conditions of Life, Arts, Sciences, Virtues, or the other subjects contained in the
denaries of the Baldini emblematic figures. They are also proof positive that obvious
and natural moralities cannot explain the sequence. Such cards testify concerning
themselves after another manner; and although the state in which I have left the Tarot
in respect of its historical side is so much the more difficult as it is so much the more
open, they indicate the real subject matter with which we are concerned. The methods
shew also that the Trumps Major at least have been adapted to fortune-telling rather
than belong thereto. The common divinatory meanings which will be given in the
third part are largely arbitrary attributions, or the product of secondary and
uninstructed intuition; or, at the very most, they belong to the subject on a lower
plane, apart from the original intention. If the Tarot were of fortune-telling in the root-
matter thereof, we should have to look in very strange places for the motive which
devised it--to Witchcraft and the Black Sabbath, rather than any Secret Doctrine.
The two classes of significance which are attached to the Tarot in the superior and
inferior worlds, and the fact that no occult or other writer has attempted to assign
anything but a divinatory meaning to the Minor Arcana, justify in yet another manner
the hypothesis that the two series do not belong to one another. It is possible that their
marriage was effected first in the Tarot of Bologna by that Prince of Pisa whom I have
mentioned in the first part. It is said that his device obtained for him public
recognition and reward from the city of his adoption, which would scarcely have been
possible, even in those fantastic days, for the production of a Tarot which only
omitted a few of the small cards; but as we are dealing with a question of fact which
has to be accounted for somehow, it is conceivable that a sensation might have been
created by a combination of the minor and gambling cards with the philosophical set,
and by the adaptation of both to a game of chance. Afterwards it would have been
further adapted to that other game of chance which is called fortune-telling. It should
be understood here that I am not denying the possibility of divination, but I take
exception as a mystic to the dedications which bring people into these paths, as if they
had any relation to the Mystic Quest.

The Tarot cards which are issued with the small edition of the present work, that is to
say, with the Key to the Tarot, have been drawn and coloured by Miss Pamela Colman
Smith, and will, I think, be regarded as very striking and beautiful, in their design
alike and execution. They are reproduced in the present enlarged edition of the Key as
a means of reference to the text. They differ in many important respects from the
conventional archaisms of the past and from the wretched products of colportage
which now reach us from Italy, and it remains for me to justify their variations so far
as the symbolism is concerned. That for once in modern times I present a pack which
is the work of an artist does not, I presume, call for apology, even to the people--if any
remain among us--who used to be described and to call themselves "very occult." If
any one will look at the gorgeous Tarot valet or knave who is emblazoned on one of
the page plates of Chatto's Facts and Speculations concerning the History of Playing
Cards, he will know that Italy in the old days produced some splendid packs. I could
only wish that it had been possible to issue the restored and rectified cards in the same
style and size; such a course would have done fuller justice to the designs, but the
result would have proved unmanageable for those practical purposes which are
connected with cards, and for which allowance must be made, whatever my views
thereon. For the variations in the symbolism by which the designs have been affected,
I alone am responsible. In respect of the Major Arcana, they are sure to occasion
criticism among students, actual and imputed. I wish therefore to say, within the
reserves of courtesy and la haute convenance belonging to the fellowship of research,
that I care nothing utterly for any view that may find expression. There is a Secret
Tradition concerning the Tarot, as well as a Secret Doctrine contained therein; I have
followed some part of it without exceeding the limits which are drawn about matters
of this kind and belong to the laws of honour. This tradition has two parts, and as one
of them has passed into writing it seems to follow that it may be betrayed at any
moment, which will not signify, because the second, as I have intimated, has not so
passed at present and is held by very few indeed. The purveyors of spurious copy and
the traffickers in stolen goods may take note of this point, if they please. I ask,
moreover, to be distinguished from two or three writers in recent times who have
thought fit to hint that they could say a good deal more if they liked, for we do not
speak the same language; but also from any one who, now or hereafter, may say that
she or he will tell all, because they have only the accidents and not the essentials
necessary for such disclosure. If I have followed on my part the counsel of Robert
Burns, by keeping something to myself which I "scarcely tell to any," I have still said
as much as I can; it is the truth after its own manner, and as much as may be expected
or required in those outer circles where the qualifications of special research cannot be
expected.

In regard to the Minor Arcana, they are the first in modern but not in all times to be
accompanied by pictures, in addition to what is called the "pips"--that is to say, the
devices belonging to the numbers of the various suits. These pictures respond to the
divinatory meanings, which have been drawn from many sources. To sum up,
therefore, the present division of this key is devoted to the Trumps Major; it elucidates
their symbols in respect of the higher intention and with reference to the designs in the
pack. The third division will give the divinatory significance in respect of the seventy-
eight Tarot cards, and with particular reference to the designs of the Minor Arcana. It
will give, in fine, some modes of use for those who require them, and in the sense of
the reason which I have already explained in the preface. That which hereinafter
follows should be taken, for purposes of comparison, in connexion with the general
description of the old Tarot Trumps in the first part. There it will be seen that the zero
card of the Fool is allocated, as it always is, to the place which makes it equivalent to
the number twenty-one. The arrangement is ridiculous on the surface, which does not
much signify, but it is also wrong on the symbolism, nor does this fare better when it
is made to replace the twenty-second point of the sequence. Etteilla recognized the
difficulties of both attributions, but he only made bad worse by allocating the Fool to
the place which is usually occupied by the Ace of Pentacles as the last of the whole
Tarot series. This rearrangement has been followed by Papus recently in Le Tarot
Divinatoire, where the confusion is of no consequence, as the findings of fortune
telling depend upon fortuitous positions and not upon essential place in the general
sequence of cards. I have seen yet another allocation of the zero symbol, which no
doubt obtains in certain cases, but it fails on the highest planes and for our present
requirements it would be idle to carry the examination further.
 §2
THE TRUMPS MAJOR AND THEIR INNER
SYMBOLISM
I

The Magician

Click to enlarge

A youthful figure in the robe of a magician, having the countenance of divine Apollo,
with smile of confidence and shining eyes. Above his head is the mysterious sign of
the Holy Spirit, the sign of life, like an endless cord, forming the figure 8 in a
horizontal position . About his waist is a serpent-cincture, the serpent appearing to
devour its own tail. This is familiar to most as a conventional symbol of eternity, but
here it indicates more especially the eternity of attainment in the spirit. In the
Magician's right hand is a wand raised towards heaven, while the left hand is pointing
to the earth. This dual sign is known in very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it
shews the descent of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived to
things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the possession and
communication of the Powers and Gifts of the Spirit. On the table in front of the
Magician are the symbols of the four Tarot suits, signifying the elements of natural
life, which lie like counters before the adept, and he adapts them as he wills. Beneath
are roses and lilies, the flos campi and lilium convallium, changed into garden flowers,
to shew the culture of aspiration. This card signifies the divine motive in man,
reflecting God, the will in the liberation of its union with that which is above. It is also
the unity of individual being on all planes, and in a very high sense it is thought, in the
fixation thereof. With further reference to what I have called the sign of life and its
connexion with the number 8, it may be remembered that Christian Gnosticism speaks
of rebirth in Christ as a change "unto the Ogdoad." The mystic number is termed
Jerusalem above, the Land flowing with Milk and Honey, the Holy Spirit and the
Land of the Lord. According to Martinism, 8 is the number of Christ.

What Is The Symbolism Behind The Magician Card Iconography?

Historically, the Magician is shown standing at his table, dressed in expensive clothing.
For example, in the Tarot of Marseille, Le Bateleur works at his table outside in nature.
The curve of the man’s hat form a lemniscate, or sign of infinity, similar to the number 8
above the head of the Magician, in the Rider Waite deck. He also holds a white wand or
baton.

The artist Pamela Colman Smith largely chose, or was instructed by Waite, to remain
within the iconographic tradition of past with her Magician. However, in a slightly
rebellious move, she inserted the image of her friend Edith Craig as the face of the
Magician. (An older Edith Craig reappears as a man in the King of Pentacles
symbols).

Craig was a pioneer of the woman’s suffrage movement in England, and she was the
daughter of the actress Ellen Terry.
Why is The Magician Pointing Up to The Sky and Down to The Earth with His Hands?

The Magician has a white wand in his right hand and raises it towards the sky. His left
hand points down towards the earth. The author A.E.Waite explains, “This dual sign is
known in very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it shews the descent of grace,
virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived from things below.”

In such a way, Waite connects this card with Neo-Platonic theory, as well as Christian
Gnosticism.

Right Hand Symbolism

The right hand draws down power, light and wisdom from the heavens. The left hand
transfers this knowledge to the earthly plane, in the form of mediumship, magik,
precognition and manifestation.

Left Hand Symbolism

The gesture of the Magician’s finger with his left hand demonstrates the principle of
concentration, and the ability to focus his attention on mastering his skills. We are
reminded that hard work is required to achieve anything worth while.

White Wand

The White Wand has two identical points to remind us, that what is above is available
below. This magical wand becomes the connection between Heaven and Earth,
humankind and spirit, the living and the dead.

⭐A dual wand: is also held by figure in The World Tarot Symbols.

What Tools Does The Magician Have on The Table?

Tarot Suit Symbols

On the table in front of the Magician are the symbols of the four Tarot Suits: pentacle,
cup, sword and wand. According to Waite, these tools signify, “the elements of natural
life, which lie like counters before the adept, and he adapts them as he wills.”

The elements of natural life, he refers to here, are fire (wand), air (sword), earth
(pentacle) and water (cup). The Magician has at his disposal, all of the natural elements
and their strengths: motivation (fire), intelligence (air), health (pentacle) and imagination
(water).
Table Symbolism

An orange table dominates part of the image. Orange is associated with intellect and
spiritual energy. The four legs of the table may represent the Four Worlds, the four
categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah. These four worlds are: Atziluth (Emanation,
the unchanging Divine world), Beriah (Creation, considered ‘Heaven’), Yetzirah
(Formation, the home of lower angels and men’s souls), and Asiyah (Action, the
Universe we live in).

Yellow Background

The bright yellow background in this card is symbolic of the state of consciousness
required for manifestation to occur.

Yellow is traditionally associated with optimism and positivism. Yellow is also connected
to the solar plexus chakra, our center of hope and inspiration. It corresponds to the
element Air and is often used in Tarot to represent intellect and the spiritual mind.

What is The Meaning of The Infinity Symbol in This Card?

The horizontal figure 8 symbol above the Magician’s head is the lemniscate or sign of
infinity. What goes around, comes around. Energy never dies, we are born and reborn
again.

Waite refers to this number 8 symbol “as the sign of life.” He continues, that “it may be
remembered that Christian Gnosticism speaks of rebirth in Christ as a change ‘unto the
Ogdoad’. This mystic number is termed Jerusalem above, the Land flowing with Milk
and Honey, the Holy Spirit and the Land of the Lord. According to Martinism, 8 is the
number of Christ.”

⭐Infinity symbol also appears here: Strength Symbols, Two of Pentacles

symbols and The Emperor symbols.

What is The Symbolism of The Magician’s Clothes?

Red Robe

The Magician wears a red robe. Every color in this card is chosen carefully for its
symbolism. Red represents fire energy and the spark of activation and manifestation.
His robe has no buttons, and can easily be slipped on and off, indicative of the
Magician’s ability to slip between levels of consciousness and spiritual dimensions.
Serpent Belt

The Magician wears a serpent belt, which according to Waite represents the “eternity of
attainment in the spirit.”

White Gown

The white robe, worn as an undergarment close to the body, is symbolic of our spiritual
body (also called astral body), being close to the physical body.

There are seven pleats on the robe, which represent the seven lower sephirot in
Kabbalah, a system of Jewish mysticism. These are: Chesed, Gevurah, Tipharet,
Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut.

Tetragrammaton
On the Magician’s uplifted right arm, there is a symbol of the Tetragrammaton. ΙΑΩ is
one way of writing the name of God. This reconfirms that the Magician is drawing down
power from Him, the mystic supreme force.

White Headband

A white headband encircles the Magician’s forehead, in the location of the crown
chakra. This draws the reader’s attention to the necessity to activate their crown chakra
if they wish to manifest in their life.

What is The Meaning of The Red Roses and Lilies?

Garlands of red roses and lilies create a sacred space for the Magician to work within.
As Waite writes, “Beneath are roses and lilies, the flos campi and lilium convallium,
changed into garden flowers, to shew the culture of aspiration.”

Note: Flos campi translates as the flower of the field. Lilium convallium are also known
as Lily of the Valley.
⭐Lilies and roses also appear here: Temperance Symbols, Two of Wands
symbols and Ace of Pentacles symbols.

II

The High Priestess

Click to enlarge

She has the lunar crescent at her feet, a horned diadem on her head, with a globe in the
middle place, and a large solar cross on her breast. The scroll in her hands is inscribed
with the word Tora, signifying the Greater Law, the Secret Law and the second sense
of the Word. It is partly covered by her mantle, to shew that some things are implied
and some spoken. She is seated between the white and black pillars--J. and B.--of the
mystic Temple, and the veil of the Temple is behind her: it is embroidered with palms
and pomegranates. The vestments are flowing and gauzy, and the mantle suggests
light--a shimmering radiance. She has been called occult Science on the threshold of
the Sanctuary of Isis, but she is really the Secret Church, the House which is of God
and man. She represents also the Second Marriage of the Prince who is no longer of
this world; she is the spiritual Bride and Mother, the daughter of the stars and the
Higher Garden of Eden. She is, in fine, the Queen of the borrowed light, but this is the
light of all. She is the Moon nourished by the milk of the Supernal Mother.

In a manner, she is also the Supernal Mother herself--that is to say, she is the bright
reflection. It is in this sense of reflection that her truest and highest name in bolism
is Shekinah--the co-habiting glory. According to Kabalism, there is a Shekinah both
above and below. In the superior world it is called Binah, the Supernal Understanding
which reflects to the emanations that are beneath. In the lower world it is MaIkuth--
that world being, for this purpose, understood as a blessed Kingdom that with which it
is made blessed being the Indwelling Glory. Mystically speaking, the Shekinah is the
Spiritual Bride of the just man, and when he reads the Law she gives the Divine
meaning. There are some respects in which this card is the highest and holiest of the
Greater Arcana.

Who Influenced The Design of The High Priestess Card?

The High Priestess card is one of the most esoterically rich cards in the Rider Waite
deck. We can assume that most of the esoteric symbols in this card were chosen
by Arthur Waite.

Few people were as advanced in esoteric studies as Waite, and while Pamela Colman
Smith was an initiate in the Golden Dawn, she never advanced with her studies to the
inner circle. Waite wrote in an article in the Occult Review, that Pamela was “a most
imaginative and abnormally psychic artist,” however, she still had to be “spoon-fed
carefully over the Priestess Card.”

Is The High Priestess a Female Pope?

 The Popess Tarot Card (c.1450)
The High Priestess Symbols
The Rider Waite version of the High Priestess card pays homage to the Popess Tarot
Card from the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck, c.1450. The Visconti-Sforza Popess, may in
turn, have been a reference to the story of Pope Joan, the legendary female pope of the
Middle Ages who is said to have reigned from 855 to 858 by pretending to be a man.
Her identity was only discovered when she gave birth.

The High Priestess is strongly connected to the concept of virginity and purity. She
references Eve, Mother Mary and all the virgin goddesses throughout history.

Waite describes her as the “Supernal Mother herself” and she is a reflection of
Shekinah. This word, Shekinah, in classic Jewish Kabalism represents a place where
God is present. Waite writes “there is a Shekinah both above and below. In the superior
world it is called Binah, the Supernal Understanding which reflects to the emanations
that are beneath. In the lower world it is Malkuth – that world being, for this purpose,
understood as a blessed Kingdom.”

Most interesting, he concludes that this “card is the highest and holiest of the Greater
Arcana.” It seems, it even surpasses the Heirophant, the male Pope in the Tarot deck.
Perhaps Waite was a feminist, after all!

What is The Meaning of The Hidden Scroll in The High Priestess Card?

The High Priestess holds a scroll in her left hand, which is partly hidden by her veil. This
scroll represents hidden or ‘veiled’ knowledge. She is protecting the information, what is
written is not for all eyes to see.

We are reminded here that as part of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Waite
was bound by secrecy. Even in his description of the cards, he revealed very little
esoteric knowledge. Knowledge is only to be revealed to initiates of the Inner Order at
the sixth initiation.

The word TORA is written on the scroll, which Waite writes represents “the Greater
Law, the Secret Law and the second sense of the Word.” Tora (or Torah) scrolls, are
sacred scrolls used in prayer services by Jews, and read from throughout the year on
the Sabbath and holidays.

Tarot Connection

The word TORA can also be rearranged to read TARO. Perhaps this is a clue to the
natural wisdom and law contained in the Tarot itself.

What is the Symbolism of The Moon Crown?

 Isis nursing Horus, a
sculpture from the 7th century BC.
Moon Crown

The High Priestess wears a horned diadem crown on her head. The crown is silver like
the color of the Moon. It shows the crescents of a waxing and waning Moon, with a full
moon as an orb in between. A lunar crescent also lies at her feet.

This is the crown of Isis, the Egyptian Goddess of motherhood, rebirth, death, birth and
rebirth; as well as her predecessor, Hathor, the feminine deity of pleasure, dance and
the arts.

White Cross

The High Priestess wears a “large solar cross” across her chest, according to Waite. A
solar cross is an ancient symbol from prehistoric times, which historians believe is
meant to represent the sun. Typically however, a solar cross has a circle around it, so
I’m not sure why Waite calls it a solar cross. It is much like a regular Christian cross.

What Is The Meaning of The Two Veils in The High Priestess?

Many people miss that there are in fact two veils in this card. The veil which the
Priestess wears tucked under her crown, and the patterned veil which stretches
between the pillars behind her.

Veils are the curtain of illusion which hide reality. In this card, the veils represents the
boundaries between worlds. All mysticism and religion is an attempt to see though the
veils, what lies beyond the psychical world. An occultist tries to develop his psychic and
mediumship skills to penetrate the veil.

Pomegrates Symbolism

Waite writes that “the veil of the Temple is behind the High Priestess: it is embroidered
with palms and pomegranates.”

The pomegranate is a universal symbol of the feminine because of its numerous seeds.
It is also the scared fruit of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, which reaffirms the
High Priestess’s connection to the spirit world.

⭐Pomegrates: A similar pattern can be found on the gown of the Empress.

Palm Symbolism

Green palms are symbolic of returning from a spiritual journey, and were often laid at
the feet of pilgrims returning home from a religious journey.

What Is The Symbolism of The Two Pillars in The High Priestess?

Black and White Pillar

The High Priestess sits between a black and white pillar. These pillars are symbolic of
all the negative and positive influences in the universe. She appears serene, able to
hold these forces in balance.

What Does The Letter “B” and “J” Mean?

The letter ‘B’ means Boaz. The letter ‘J’ means Jachin. According to the Bible, Boaz and
Jachin were the two pillars which stood at the porch of Solomon’s Temple, the first
temple in Jerusalem.

Lotus Flowers

At the top, or capital, of the pillar, we see lotus buds. They are buds, and not opened
flowers. The buds are another reminder that the High Priestess is a symbol of virginity.
What Is The Meaning of The Blue Robe and Sea in This Card?

Blue Robe

The High Priestess wears a flowing blue robe, which suggest water. Waite writes that
her “vestments are flowing and gauzy” as they curve around the crescent at her feet like
a tide. The garment flows like a stream of consciousness.

The implication is, being in her presence feels cleansing and healing. This is what it
feels like to be in the same room as a holy person.

Sea

The Priestess has her back turned to an expanse of water. There is a connection here
to the moon, as the moon’s gravitational pull generates high tides and low tides. The
suggestion here is of a ‘greater force’ influencing our lot in life.

⭐A person also has their back turned to water here: Two of Swords
symbolism and Two of Pentacles Symbols

III

The Empress

Click to enlarge

A stately figure, seated, having rich vestments and royal aspect, as of a daughter of
heaven and earth. Her diadem is of twelve stars, gathered in a cluster. The symbol of
Venus is on the shield which rests near her. A field of corn is ripening in front of her,
and beyond there is a fall of water. The sceptre which she bears is surmounted by the
globe of this world. She is the inferior Garden of Eden, the Earthly Paradise, all that is
symbolized by the visible house of man. She is not Regina coeli, but she is
still refugium peccatorum, the fruitful mother of thousands. There are also certain
aspects in which she has been correctly described as desire and the wings thereof, as
the woman clothed with the sun, as Gloria Mundi and the veil of the Sanctum
Sanctorum; but she is not, I may add, the soul that has attained wings, unless all the
symbolism is counted up another and unusual way. She is above all things universal
fecundity and the outer sense of the Word. This is obvious, because there is no direct
message which has been given to man like that which is borne by woman; but she
does not herself carry its interpretation.

In another order of ideas, the card of the Empress signifies the door or gate by which
an entrance is obtained into this life, as into the Garden of Venus; and then the way
which leads out therefrom, into that which is beyond, is the secret known to the High
Priestess: it is communicated by her to the elect. Most old attributions of this card are
completely wrong on the symbolism--as, for example, its identification with the
Word, Divine Nature, the Triad, and so forth.

Compare The Empress to Historical Tarot Decks

Historically, the Empress is seen seated on a throne, scepter in hand and crown on top
of her head. The Rider Waite Empress follows this traditional symbolism.

The Empress,
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Here we see The Empress from the Marseille Tarot deck, popular with the famous
French cartomancers Gerard Encausse and Eliphas Levi. In a divination reading
(fortune telling), this card has always been viewed as delivering a positive outcome for
the sitter.

What Is The Meaning of the Crown and Twelve Stars?

Crown

The Empress wears a large golden diadem crown, decorated with twelve stars.

The stars represent the 12 signs of the zodiac, as well as the 12 hours of day and night.
Thus the Empress becomes symbolic of the seasons, growth, decay and the passage of
time.

Yellow Hair

The hair of the Empress is yellow, like the Fool. This implies solar energy and radiance.
Both characters, the Fool and Empress radiate sunny positive vibes, optimism and good
health.

⭐Yellow hair can also be found: The Fool Symbols

Green Wreath

She wears a wreath of myrtle leaves, just below her crown. Myrtle was sacred to the
goddess of love Venus and Aphrodite. In the middle ages, it was worn by brides as a
head dress to symbolize marriage, fertility and erotic love.

What is The Meaning of The Scepter and Shield?

Scepter with Orb

Arthur Edward Waite writes, “The scepter which she bears is surmounted by the globe
of this world.” She is “all that is symbolized by the visible house of man.” In other words,
unlike the High Priestess who glides between this world and the next, the Empress is
very much connected to earth. This is why she is associated with Taurus, a practical
and sensual zodiac sign.
To emphasis this point, Waite points out that the Empress is “not Regina coeli” – a Latin
reference to the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven. Rather, he states she is
still “refugium peccatorum”, The Virgin Mary as the refuge of sinners.

In other words, the Empress is more down to earth and real. She is not “the soul that
has attained wings,” Waite concludes. The Empress is someone we can aspire to be, in
this life.

Heart Shield

A heart shield lies at the foot of the Empress. The shield bears the astrology glyph of
Venus, ruler of Taurus. Venus was a mythological Roman Goddess associated with
love, beauty and desire.

What Are The Symbols on The Gown of The Empress?

Gown

The Empress wears a white dress decorated with pomegranate fruits. The pomegranate
is a universal symbol of fertility because of its numerous seeds. It is often assumed that
the Empress hides a pregnant belly beneath her dress, because she is the archetypical
mother. Her pregnancy can be read in the literal sense, but also metaphorical when it
comes to interpreting this card in a Tarot reading. She can also represent the birth of
creativity and good ideas.

⭐Pomegranates can also be found: The High Priestess symbols

Pearl Necklace

The Empress wears a necklace around her neck. Pearls are associated with words of
wisdom.

What Is The Symbolism of The Landscape in The Empress Card?

Wheat Field

A ripe field of yellow wheat stretches before the Empress. For centuries, wheat has
been considered a symbol of wealth, luck and prosperity because of it’s importance as a
crop for feeding populations. Blooming fields of wheat crop were a sign of the earth’s
fertility.
Women were closely associated with wheat, because they used it to make bread to
feed their families. This is why, historically, one often finds wheat patterns stitched into
women’s clothing.

Yellow Sky

This is the same yellow sky of the Magician card. Yellow represents the subconscious
mind, and the power of manifestation and law of attraction. You attract what you think.
Healthy thoughts, create a healthy field of wheat.

Trees

The green trees of the forest are a symbol of Nature’s bounty.

In total there are ten trees, symbolic of each sephirot or emanation in Kabbalah. Two of
the trees are lighter in color which are symbolic of the two highest chakras which
provide our channel to the spiritual world, and manifestation. These chakras are the
third eye chakra and crown chakra.

Waterfall

The blue waterfall which gathers in a pool, in a subtle reference to the act of love
making and the combining of male and female energies to create a new life.

IV

The Emperor

Click to enlarge

He has a form of the Crux ansata for his sceptre and a globe in his left hand. He is a
crowned monarch--commanding, stately, seated on a throne, the arms of which axe
fronted by rams' heads. He is executive and realization, the power of this world, here
clothed with the highest of its natural attributes. He is occasionally represented as
seated on a cubic stone, which, however, confuses some of the issues. He is the virile
power, to which the Empress responds, and in this sense is he who seeks to remove
the Veil of Isis; yet she remains virgo intacta.

It should be understood that this card and that of the Empress do not precisely
represent the condition of married life, though this state is implied. On the surface, as
I have indicated, they stand for mundane royalty, uplifted on the seats of the mighty;
but above this there is the suggestion of another presence. They signify also--and the
male figure especially--the higher kingship, occupying the intellectual throne. Hereof
is the lordship of thought rather than of the animal world. Both personalities, after
their own manner, are "full of strange experience," but theirs is not consciously the
wisdom which draws from a higher world. The Emperor has been described as (a) will
in its embodied form, but this is only one of its applications, and (b) as an expression
of virtualities contained in the Absolute Being--but this is fantasy.

Compare The Emperor to Historical Decks

Traditionally, the Emperor is considered an archetype of maturity, and male authority.

He is depicted with a white beard, sits on a throne and holds a scepter tightly in his right
hand.
 L’Empereur (The Emperor)
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public domain
Pamela Colman Smith remains close to tradition in her version of the Emperor in the
Rider Waite Deck. She may also have been influenced by the Emperor from the 15th
century Visconti-Sforza Tarot, which depicts a ruler with a long white beard (reflecting
ripened wisdom) who additionally holds an orb in his left hand.

What do The Rams Heads Mean in The Emperor Card?

Rams Head Symbolism

There are four rams’ heads carved into the stone throne; two on the armrests, and two
on the back of the throne. A fifth ram can be found stitched into the Emperor’s cloak,
over his left shoulder. The ram is the symbol for the zodiac sign Aries, and we are to
understand that this card is symbolic of everything that Aries represents.

Aries and Mars

Aries is the first fire sign in the zodiac. It is a cardinal sign, ruled by the planet Mars.
Astrologers link Aries to rulership, government and leadership.

The color scheme in this particular card, is very Martian-like. We see lots of rusty
orange and red, set within a bleak mountainous backdrop which reminds one of the
surface of Mars. Astrologically, Mars rules military affairs, and activities with steel and
iron.

The Golden Dawn system attributes red to both Aries and Mars. Red is also the color of
transformation in alchemy.

Interesting: This Tarot card is associated with pyrokinesis, the ability to control flames
and fire with your mind; as well as petrification, the power to turn a living person into
stone (like the stone throne the Emperor sits upon).

What is The Symbolism of The Emperor’s Armor and Crown?

Crown

The Emperor wears a gold crown which is encrusted with precious stones. Gold is a
symbol of the Sun, which is exalted in the sign of Aries. Exalted means that the qualities
of the Sun, astrologically speaking, are magnified for people born under the sign of
Aries. This Emperor thus becomes a solar figure, powerful, bright, and energetic.

Infinity Sign

The top of the crown has an infinity sign. Like the Magician, the Emperor is conscious
of karma, the metaphysical and the spiritual realm. This Emperor is no shaman, he is
much too grounded, but he would certainly admit to experiencing moments of sixth
sense, dream telepathy or premonitions before battle.

⭐Infinity symbol also appears here: Strength Symbols, Two of Pentacles

symbols and The Magician symbols.

Armor

The Emperor is clad in steel armor. This corresponds to iron and steel, which are the
metals of Mars. The armor implies that he has waged battles and won.

In Tarot, the presence of armor also suggests a state of readiness. If the Emperor
tossed aside his red cloak, he would be instantly prepared for battle. In this respect, he
shares similarities to the King of Pentacles, the only other King in the Rider Waite deck
to wear armor.

Notice that his armor is blue is color. For Golden Dawn magicians, colour was of prime
importance. Colour was considered the instrument of a change in consciousness. Blue
and red were considered the traditional colors of the male and female energies which
come together to create new life. The Emperor wears blue, and the Empress wears a
white dress with red fruit.

As the Empress is mother, so the Emperor is father, giver of life, sower of the seed. As
Waite writes, “He is the virile power, to which the Empress responds.”

⭐Armor: King of Pentacles symbols

What is The Emperor Holding in His Hands?

Ankh Cross

Waite describes the Emperor as holding a “Crux ansata for his scepter and a globe in
his left hand.” The Crux ansata is a Latin term for a cross with a loop or handle on the
top. It is also known as the ankh cross. An ankh is a sacred symbol which alludes to the
manifestation which occurs by combining divine opposite forces, such as male and
female energies.

Globe

Traditionally, what is held in the left hand represents dominion, or what the person rules
over. The globe the Emperor holds in his left-hand refers to his dominance over the
natural world.

What is The Symbolism of The Background in The Emperor Card?

Orange Sky

The orange sky is another reference to the exaltation of the Sun in Aries. According to
the Golden Dawn system, yellow or gold represents the Sun, and red symbolizes Mars,
the ruling planet of Aries. Combine yellow and red and we create orange.

Mountains

Huge mountains loom largely, reflecting the heights of the power the Emperor has
attained. The mountains become a robust defense system, indicating how secure and
fortified his position has become.

River

A small river flows in the background, behind the throne. Water is a symbol of the
feminine and harbinger of life, necessary even in this masculine environment for life to
survive and propagate.
 V

The Hierophant

Click to enlarge

He wears the triple crown and is seated between two pillars, but they are not those of
the Temple which is guarded by the High Priestess. In his left hand he holds a sceptre
terminating in the triple cross, and with his right hand he gives the well-known
ecclesiastical sign which is called that of esotericism, distinguishing between the
manifest and concealed part of doctrine. It is noticeable in this connexion that the
High Priestess makes no sign. At his feet are the crossed keys, and two priestly
ministers in albs kneel before him. He has been usually called the Pope, which is a
particular application of the more general office that he symbolizes. He is the ruling
power of external religion, as the High Priestess is the prevailing genius of the
esoteric, withdrawn power. The proper meanings of this card have suffered woeful
admixture from nearly all hands. Grand Orient says truly that the Hierophant is the
power of the keys, exoteric orthodox doctrine, and the outer side of the life which
leads to the doctrine; but he is certainly not the prince of occult doctrine, as another
commentator has suggested.

He is rather the summa totius theologiæ, when it has passed into the utmost rigidity of
expression; but he symbolizes also all things that are righteous and sacred on the
manifest side. As such, he is the channel of grace belonging to the world of institution
as distinct from that of Nature, and he is the leader of salvation for the human race at
large. He is the order and the head of the recognized hierarchy, which is the reflection
of another and greater hierarchic order; but it may so happen that the pontiff forgets
the significance of this his symbolic state and acts as if he contained within his proper
measures all that his sign signifies or his symbol seeks to shew forth. He is not, as it
has been thought, philosophy-except on the theological side; he is not inspiration; and
he is not religion, although he is a mode of its expression.
Compare The Hierophant to Historical Decks

The Hierophant is derived from the Pope card in older Tarot decks.

Le Pape
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Hierophant Symbols
In most iconographic depictions, the Hierophant is seated between two pillars, right-
hand raised in blessing or benediction. He also typically wears a three-tiered crown.

In occult circles, the rebranding the Pope as the Hierophant was an attempt to
dechristianise the card meaning. The more modern name “Hierophant” was created
by Antoine Court de Gébelin (1725-84), a former Protestant pastor who was
instrumental in converting Tarot from a game of cards, into an esoteric method of
divination. According to Gébelin, a hierophant was the title of the chief priest in
the Eleusinian mysteries, a secret religious sect in Ancient Greece.

Despite the rebranding, the Rider Waite version still retains much of the symbolism of
Christianity.

How is The Hierophant Different to The High Priestess?

The High Priestess was traditionally called La Papesse or Popess. Both the High
Priestess and Hierophant are revealers of ‘the light’ and teachers. Waite writes
however, that the Hierophant is more concerned with “external religion” or conventional
religion, and the High Priestess with the “esoteric”.

The Hierophant represents more orthodox teaching, considered suitable for the masses.
He is more likely to use traditional terms like God, Angels, faith healing and miracles.
Whereas, the High Priestess prefers to teach in secret and to initiates, and is more likely
to talk about astral projection, seances, moon magic (selenomancy) and sorcery.

What Is The Symbolism of The Hierophant’s Triple Crown?

Golden Crown

The Hierophant wears the traditional triple crown of the Pope, known as the papal tiara
or triregnum. Three is a reference to the holy trinity, and we see the symbolism of this
number reflected throughout the card. There are 3 figures and 3 crosses on the
Hierophant’s white yoke (the tie-like garment hanging down the front of his robe).

Three is also a reference to mind, body and spirit; and the three states of
consciousness – the super-conscious, conscious and sub-conscious.

Letter W

The crown is topped with a black letter ‘W’. This letter may refer to Waite himself, as an
authoritative author of many esoteric subjects including freemasonry, divination,
esotericism, alchemy, Kabbalism and ceremonial magic.

More likely, it refers to the Hebrew letter Vau. It is believed that the ancient
pronunciation of the letter was more like a “W” and less like the “V” that it currently has
in the Modern Hebrew language.

Blue Scarf

The Hierophant wears a blue neck-tie or scarf around his throat. This part of the neck is
associated with the throat charka, and speaking truth. When we avoid saying what we
feel, for example, this can trigger an energetic block in the throat chakra causing a sore
throat.

What Is The Hierophant Holding in His Hand?

Scepter
The Hierophant holds a yellow scepter in his left hand. Waite describes this item as
a “triple cross”. Traditionally in iconography, whatever one holds in the left hand,
represents what the person has dominion over.

The scepter has three bars, another repetition of the symbolism of the number three.
This indicates, in a Tarot reading that the sitter is mastering the fusion of mind, body
and spirit; or is embracing God and the Holy Trinity.

Benediction

The Hierophant gives the ecclesiastical sign of benediction, or blessing. This is always
offered with the right hand. Three fingers pointing towards heaven to symbolize the
divine trinity.

⭐Benediction hand also appears here: Ten of Swords Symbols and Six of
Pentacles Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Two Keys at The Foot of The Hierophant?

Crossed Keys Symbolism

Two crossed keys lie at the feet of the Hierophant. These are familiar signs of the
papacy, and represent the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

In a Tarot reading, crossed keys mean that the sitter has access to knowledge which
people would like to hear about.
Circle with Crosses

The keys are placed on a square dais, or platform. Notice there are four encircled
crosses on the dais. These encircled crosses are globus cruciger, a symbol for planet
Earth. They resemble the sign of Venus, folded in on itself. Venus is the astrological
sign associated with this card.

The encircled cross pays homage to the mythological and cosmological systems which
portray the four corners of the world, which correspond to two solstices and two
equinoxes.

Who Are The Monks in The Hierophant Card and What do They Represent?

Two monks kneel before the Hierophant, listening attentively to his words of wisdom.
Their heads are shaved in the practice of tonsure, a common medieval act of religious
devotion in the Middle Ages.

The monks are symbolic of having an attentive audience. In a Tarot reading, they are a
sign that the world is ready to hear what you have to say.

The robe of the monk to our left as the viewer, is decorated with the red rose. In
Christianity, the rose was associated with the Virgin Mary, and eventually the creation of
the rosary prayer.

The robe of the monk to our right, is decorated with a while lily. The lily appears to
be Lilium candidum, also known as the Madonna lily, or white lily.

Note: The rose appears by itself in many cards of the Rider Waite deck, but the lily
never appears alone. Where you find a lily, you will find a red rose in the Rider Waite.
⭐Roses and lilies also appears here: Two of Wands Symbols, Magician
Symbols, Temperance and Ace of Pentacles Symbols.

What do The Pillars Represent in The Hierophant Card?

The Hierophant sits between two pillars. Some scholars claim these are two pillars of
the Tree of Life from the Kabbalah, one representing Mercy and the other Severity.
Others say they are a symbol of duality. In theology, duality is a belief in good and evil,
or God and the Devil.

VI

The Lovers

Click to enlarge

The sun shines in the zenith, and beneath is a great winged figure with arms extended,
pouring down influences. In the foreground are two human figures, male and female,
unveiled before each other, as if Adam and Eve when they first occupied the paradise
of the earthly body. Behind the man is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is behind the woman; the serpent is twining
round it. The figures suggest youth, virginity, innocence and love before it is
contaminated by gross material desire. This is in all simplicity the card of human love,
here exhibited as part of the way, the truth and the life. It replaces, by recourse to first
principles, the old card of marriage, which I have described previously, and the later
follies which depicted man between vice and virtue. In a very high sense, the card is a
mystery of the Covenant and Sabbath.

The suggestion in respect of the woman is that she signifies that attraction towards the
sensitive life which carries within it the idea of the Fall of Man, but she is rather the
working of a Secret Law of Providence than a willing and conscious temptress. It is
through her imputed lapse that man shall arise ultimately, and only by her can he
complete himself. The card is therefore in its way another intimation concerning the
great mystery of womanhood. The old meanings fall to pieces of necessity with the
old pictures, but even as interpretations of the latter, some of them were of the order
of commonplace and others were false in symbolism.

Compare The Lovers to Historical Decks

L’Amoureu
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
In most historical iconographic depictions of the Lovers, a single man is receiving
attention from two women, and he faces a choice.

The Rider Waite deck has changed the imagery for this card significantly, by reducing
the number of people to two. Arthur Waite admitted, that in a first draft, he initially kept
three figures, but decided later to favor two because this aligns the card with it’s Golden
Dawn astrological assignment of Gemini, the twins.

However, Waite’s version still manages to echo the sense of three people. He does this
by involving the angel in the card narrative. The man looks at the woman, but she looks
above to the angel. This conveys a sense of divine trinity and transcendental love.

The Rider Waite version depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This symbolism
emphasizes that one should be careful when choosing a partner, because there is no
coming back from a wrong decision. Once innocence, youth or optimism is lost, it is lost.
Who is The Angel in The Lovers Tarot Card?

Archangel Raphael

Waite describes a “great winged figure with arms extended,” in the Lovers Card. This
angel is generally accepted as Archangel Raphael, whose name translates as “God
has healed.”

Raphael spreads his arms out wide, as though to draw to the two figures below
together, or in divine blessing.

As well as being a healer, Saint Raphael is the patron of happy meetings and
matchmakers, which fits well with the theme of this card.

Element Air

Archangel Raphael is associated with the element Air, and Gemini (an air sign).
Raphael’s airy nature is emphasized by the way he floats in the air, as he emerges from
the clouds. The white clouds conceal the lower part of his body, much in the way Spirit
is hidden from direct view.

Flames in Hair

Green and red flames stream from Raphael’s head. Red represents conscious
thoughts and the green represents the subconscious. The two flames are working
together in tandem here. Flames are also symbolic of sexual passion.

Sign of Zayin

Written on the angel’s hands is the Hebrew letter zayin. In the Hebrew
bible, zayin means ‘weapon’ or ‘sword’, but in more modern times it has also come to
mean ‘penis’. Hence kabbalists and sages see zayin as a sign of power.

Yellow Sun

A luminous yellow sun dominates the background. In the Golden Dawn color scheme,
Yellow represents the Swords suit and element Air. This is a solar sun, shining at
midday in full strength. We are reminded that the sun is a great light-source and
radiates life into all biological lifeforms.

Note: Red represents Wands and Fire, Blue represents Cups and Water; and
Brown/Citrine and Olive represent Pentacles and Earth.

Angel Wings

The wings of the angel are red, denoting that Raphael is at One with the force of
Universal energy. The power charges through him. It is within his ability, to manifest a
meeting and union of the people below.

Red is also the color of transformation in alchemy. Once these two lovers unite in
physical union, a new life will be formed.

Invoking Angels for Magic Rituals

The Golden Dawn focused their attention on four archangels in their magic rituals; and
these four angels are depicted in the Major Arcana of the Rider Waite deck. These
archangels are Raphael (The Lovers), Michael (Temperance), Uriel (The Devil) and
Gabriel (Judgement).

INVOKING ANGELS
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (or LBRP) is a ceremonial magic
ritual devised by the Golden Dawn, since popularized in modern occultism. This ritual is
considered a basic preliminary to any magical work. Before spell casting or even
reading your Tarot cards, you are advised to says these words:

Before me Raphael,
Behind me Gabriel,
On my right hand Michael,
On my left hand Uriel.

Who Are The Couple in The Lovers Tarot Card?

Waite writes, “In the foreground are two human figures, male and female, unveiled
before each other, as if Adam and Eve when they first occupied the paradise of the
earthly body.”

The two figures are symbolic of Adam and Eve, and represent “youth, virginity,
innocence and love before it is contaminated by gross material desire.”
Thus the card becomes associated with desire, temptation and choice. Oh, to nibble on
the forbidden fruit or not!

The man and woman in the picture are standing on the same level, which means they
are equals. Stripped bare in their naked state, neither the feminine nor masculine
dominates. Symbolically, the man represents the conscious, thinking mind. He looks
towards the woman, and she raises her gaze towards the angel. The woman represents
the subconscious mind, and the angel represents the superconscious mind or
universal God mind.

The implication here is that the masculine principle of intellect cannot reach spirit
directly. He must go through the feminine subconscious mind of emotion. In other
words, you are less likely to connect with the spirit world through logic, but rather
through your sixth sense using tools such as meditation, scrying, or even reading Tarot
cards.

What is The Symbolism of The Trees in The Lovers Card?

Tree of Life

Behind the man in this picture is a black tree, which represents the Tree of Life or Tree
of Consciousness. It contains knowledge on all the different archetypes of people, one
might meet and or marry in life.

It has twelve leaves in the shape of flames. These are the signs of the Zodiac and each
flame is further subdivided into three because astrologers subdivide every star sign into
three parts called decanates. So we now have 36 different expressions of personalities.

Note: Each zodiac sign is subdivided into three decans, a decan being about 10 days. A
decan helps to give a more fuller interpretation of a person’s personality. For example, if
you are born in the first ten days of a particular sign (first decan), you are likely to have
slightly different traits to a person born in the last ten days (third decan).

Tree of Knowledge

Behind the woman is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, from the Garden of
Eden. It bears four red fruits (apples), these are the forbidden fruits from the Bible which
Adam and Eve were told not to eat. The number four refers to the elements of fire,
water, air and earth; and these elemental forces are connected to the five human
senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

⭐Apples also appear here: Three of Cups Symbols

Serpent

A green serpent climbs up the red tree trunk, and seems to whisper in Eve’s ear.
Snakes are traditionally associated with sexual energy.
In Hinduism, Kundalini (meaning coiled snake) is a form of divine feminine energy
believed to be symbolically coiled at the base of the spine in the muladhara or base
chakra. Kundalini is believed to be released through mystic practices such a meditation,
and it ascends the spine towards the head and crown chakra in four loops. Notice that
this serpent has four loops.

When Kundalini is trapped, then any encounter with the opposite sex is likely to
stagnate at the physical level. Only when it is released can the heart and soul be
touched.

⭐The Lovers Symbols

What Does The Mountain in The Lovers Symbolize?

The red mountain in the background forms the shape of a phallic symbol. This has to be
one of the ultimate lovers symbols, emphasizing heightened sexual tension or arousal.

We are also reminded that love can raise you up, expand your consciousness and
make you feel like you’ve reached the top of a mountain peak.

VII

The Chariot

Click to enlarge

An erect and princely figure carrying a drawn sword and corresponding, broadly
speaking, to the traditional description which I have given in the first part. On the
shoulders of the victorious hero are supposed to be the Urim and Thummim. He has
led captivity captive; he is conquest on all planes--in the mind, in science, in progress,
in certain trials of initiation. He has thus replied to the sphinx, and it is on this account
that I have accepted the variation of Éliphas Lévi; two sphinxes thus draw his chariot.
He is above all things triumph in the mind.

It is to be understood for this reason (a) that the question of the sphinx is concerned
with a Mystery of Nature and not of the world of Grace, to which the charioteer could
offer no answer; (b) that the planes of his conquest are manifest or external and not
within himself; (c) that the liberation which he effects may leave himself in the
bondage of the logical understanding; (d) that the tests of initiation through which he
has passed in triumph are to be understood physically or rationally; and (e) that if he
came to the pillars of that Temple between which the High Priestess is seated, he
could not open the scroll called Tora, nor if she questioned him could he answer. He
is not hereditary royalty and he is not priesthood.

Compare The Chariot to Historical Decks

 Le Charior
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
In most historical iconographic depictions of the Chariot, a princely figure is drawn in a
carriage by two animals, he holds a scepter in his hand and his shoulder pads depict
images of Urim and Thummin. The Rider Waite version of the Chariot, sticks fairly close
to this structure.

What is The Symbolism of The Charioteer’s Clothes?

This charioteer’s clothes are richly draped in esoteric symbolism.

Shoulder Plates

Waite writes, “On the shoulders of the victorious hero are supposed to be the Urim and
Thummim.” In the Hebrew Bible, Urim and Thummim were sacred breastplates worn by
the High Priest to communicate with God. The plates are connected to divination, in
particular cleromancy, a form of receiving guidance by casting lots. It was believed that
the will of God would be revealed, through the plates, in the form of a yes or no answer.
When asked a question, the truth would either be granted in a vision to the Priest who
wore the breastplates, or one of the jewels in the breast plates would light up to signal a
particular response.

⭐Interesting: Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons claimed to receive spiritual
knowledge from two seer stones called Urim and Thummin in 1827.

Moon Sign

On the charioteer’s shoulders, we also see two lunar crescents, signaling the Moon and
its related zodiac sign of Cancer, which the Golden Dawn attributes to this card.

Star Crown

The charioteer wears a Crown with an eight-pointed star. This is the star of destiny. It
means, he is embracing his destiny and what is ‘written in the stars’. This message is
echoed in the stars in the canopy over his head.

Victory Wreath

Our hero wears a victory laurel or wreath on his head, symbolizing he has just
triumphed over some obstacle.

⭐Laurels also appears in these Tarot cards: The World Symbols, Ace of Swords
Symbols, Six of Wands Symbols and Seven of Cups Symbols.

Belt

The charioteer wears a belt of the Zodiac. The decorations on the belt are not clear,
except for the astrological symbol for Cancer. The slanting position of the belt is a
reference to the ecliptic plane, or path that the Earth takes around the Sun every year.

Skirt

He wears a skirt which is divided into eight parts, ornamented with geomantic symbols.
These primary symbols used in divinatory geomancy can be used to make magical
talismans. The symbols are connected both to astrology and the ba gua used in
Chinese I Ching.

Square Amulet
On the chest of the charioteer is a white square amulet which is reference to the
number four (4 even sides to a square). The number four is symbolic of orientation and
direction, in contrast to the circle, which symbolizes limitlessness.

Wand

He holds the wand of power in his right hand, but his grip is loose. This is not a man
who feels the need to ‘grip’ onto power by force. Rather, his authority and reputation
begin to precede him.

What is The Meaning of The Chariot and Star Canopy?

Canopy of Stars

The canopy of stars over the charioteer’s head point to celestial influences and
metaphysical forces hanging over him. Destiny continues to impact the timing of his
victories. However, as we have already discovered, it is clear that the charioteer is a
person who is comfortable with divine timing and destiny.

Coat of Arms

The red shape on the coat of arms is called a Lingam-Yoni or Shiva linga. It is a Hindu
sign for the union of positive and negative in action. Red represents action in the Rider
Waite deck. The Lingam is a symbol of male and female energies working in harmony,
represented in Chinese philosophy by Yin and Yang.

Blue Angel Wings

Just above the Lingam-Yoni is a golden globe with a pair of blue angel wings. These are
the wings of inspiration, and represent ideas and dreams taking flight.

What do The Sphinxes Symbolize in The Chariot Card?

The Sphinxes symbolize the opposing forces of male and female. The white sphinx has
a male head and a female body, and the black one has a female head and male body.
This represents occult equilibrium. The animals have no harness, meaning that balance
cannot be bought about by force, but rather freewill.

The sphinxes also represent an enigma or riddle which the charioteer must solve. Waite
writes, “He has thus replied to the sphinx, and it is on this account … he is above all
things triumph in the mind.”
The riddle he refers to a famous one from Greek mythology. The sphinx asked this
riddle to all travellers, before letting them pass: What is the creature with one voice, but
has four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, and three feet at night? The
answer is “man” who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two feet as an adult and
needs a walking cane when old.

Landscape Symbolism in The Chariot Card

Town and Castle

Castles symbolize home and success at the end of a long journey.

Four Pillars

Behind the chariot, there are four pillars in the background. The number four refers to
stability and order.

Moat

A Moat surrounds the city wall. In Tarot, moats symbolize two different states of
awareness. There is this side, and that side of the water. On this side, you had a
challenge, and on the other side your challenge is over.

⭐A moat also appears in: Four of Wands Symbols

VIII

Strength, or Fortitude

Click to enlarge
A woman, over whose head there broods the same symbol of life which we have seen
in the card of the Magician, is closing the jaws of a lion. The only point in which this
design differs from the conventional presentations is that her beneficent fortitude has
already subdued the lion, which is being led by a chain of flowers. For reasons which
satisfy myself, this card has been interchanged with that of justice, which is usually
numbered eight. As the variation carries nothing with it which will signify to the
reader, there is no cause for explanation. Fortitude, in one of its most exalted aspects,
is connected with the Divine Mystery of Union; the virtue, of course, operates in all
planes, and hence draws on all in its symbolism. It connects also with innocentia
inviolata, and with the strength which resides in contemplation.

These higher meanings are, however, matters of inference, and I do not suggest that
they are transparent on the surface of the card. They are intimated in a concealed
manner by the chain of flowers, which signifies, among many other things, the sweet
yoke and the light burden of Divine Law, when it has been taken into the heart of
hearts. The card has nothing to do with self-confidence in the ordinary sense, though
this has been suggested--but it concerns the confidence of those whose strength is
God, who have found their refuge in Him. There is one aspect in which the lion
signifies the passions, and she who is called Strength is the higher nature in its
liberation. It has walked upon the asp and the basilisk and has trodden down the lion
and the dragon.

Compare The Strength Tarot Card in Historical Decks

The Strength card was originally called Fortitude.

We can see that the Rider Waite version of this card remains true to earlier historical
iconographic depictions. Traditionally, a female in flowing garments uses gentle force to
close the mouth of a lion. Notice however, in the Marseille Tarot, that the woman’s hat
forms an infinity symbol. The author, A.E. Waite replaced the hat with a hovering figure
eight, and amended the Magician in the same way.
 Force
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Strength Symbols
Waite writes that the only way in which his “design differs from the conventional
presentations is that her beneficent fortitude has already subdued the lion, which is
being led by a chain of flowers.” In other words, his lion is less feisty and has already
been tamed.

This small, but significant variation, shifts the meaning of the card from the struggle to
find strength, to the maintenance of strength.

Waite also swapped around the position of Strength with Justice, in order to make the
two cards fit better with astrological correspondences. Under the new system, allocated
by Samuel Liddell Mathers, founder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn,
Strength became No.8 which corresponds to Leo. Justice became No.11, which
corresponds to Libra.

Mathers based his attributions on information gleamed from ancient texts, called
the Cipher Manuscripts. These 60 scripts outline a series of magical rituals
corresponding to the elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire. In fact, the occult material in
these documents, essentially formed the basis for Western occultism in the 19th
century.

Who is The Woman in The Strength Card?

A golden haired woman gently closes the mouth of a lion. Her dominion over the lion is
through spiritual powers rather than brute force. She is using her psychic abilities to
connect with and reassure the animal.

She could be Cyrene, handmaiden to the Moon goddess Artemis. See how her body
forms the shape of a crescent moon, as she bends down towards the lion?

Greek mythology tells of Apollo the Sun god, who encounters Cyrene struggling with a
fierce lion. Cyrene won her fight, and Apollo was so charmed by her courage, fortitude
and beauty, that he whisked her off to paradise.

Flower Belt

She wears a belt made with flowers, which Waite writes acts as a chain for the lion. This
is no iron chain, and another reference to how little actual force is needed to tame the
lion.

The belt appears to consist of roses. Red roses represent desire in a Tarot reading, but
these roses have been tamed and cultivated into a garland.

Flower Garland

The woman wears a rose wreath in her hair. The wreath has four roses, which
represent the Four Worlds, or spiritual realms in Kabbalah. Notice flower buds sprouting
from the wreath up towards the Light. These represent the seeds or ideas of Divine
inspiration.

We are reminded that spiritual enlightenment cannot come from spiritual ideas alone,
we must also be prepared to do as we preach.

White Dress

The simple white dress implies purity of thought and action.

Yellow Hair

The woman’s yellow hair connects her both to the Fool and Empress. In all instances,
yellow hair symbolized radiant solar energy and the Life-Breath. I refer here to the
metaphysical meaning of breath: being inspired by high ideas. The breath of life is the
silent flow of God and spirit through the body.

“There is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding”
(Job 32:8).
What is The Meaning of The Infinity Symbol in The Strength Card?

The horizontal figure 8 symbol above the woman’s head is the lemniscate or sign of
infinity. It means, what goes around, comes around. We are born and reborn again.
The placement of the infinity sign above the woman’s head, signifies she is consciously
aware that her actions have consequences, if not in this life, then in the next.

This is the same lemniscate which occurs over the head of the Magician, inferring that
some of his magic powers have been transferred to the woman.

⭐Infinity symbol also appears: Two of Pentacles symbols, Magician

Symbols and The Emperor symbols.

What is The Symbolism of The Lion in The Strength Card?

The lion is the astrological symbol of Leo, the zodiac sign assigned by the Golden
Dawn to this card. We even see the pattern of the curved Leo glyph inside the curl of
the lion’s mane.

The red lion is a symbol of the primitive forces in nature, including within ourselves. Red
is associated with sexual prowess and muscular power. Interestingly, the Golden Dawn
attributed the Hebrew letter Teth to this card. Teth means serpent, which connects to
sensual kundalini energy, which is believed by some, to lie curled at the base chakra
waiting for release.

In Christianity iconography, the lion has been used as a symbol to represent Christ,
sometimes referred to as the Lion of Judah.

⭐Kundalini also referenced here: The Lovers Symbols

What Is The Symbolism of The Background?

Yellow Sky

This is the same yellow sky of the Magician and Empress cards. Yellow represents the
subconscious mind. The more yellow the sky, the more spiritual thoughts are flowing
freely from the subconscious to the conscious mind. Under such
conditions, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairvoyance and clairsentience will be
operating well.

Watery Landscape

The ground is green, but liquifying in parts into blue. We are not quite standing on solid
ground here, it could be Heaven or Earth. Deep curvy black lines create a fluid-effect.
Such black lines are a typical sign of the occult.

Blue Mountain

The blue mountain is a symbol of cosmic or universal memory. It can also be

understood to be the Akashic Records, a place where one can astral travel to, in order
to research past lives and other states of being.

IX

The Hermit

Click to enlarge

The variation from the conventional models in this card is only that the lamp is not
enveloped partially in the mantle of its bearer, who blends the idea of the Ancient of
Days with the Light of the World It is a star which shines in the lantern. I have said
that this is a card of attainment, and to extend this conception the figure is seen
holding up his beacon on an eminence. Therefore the Hermit is not, as Court de
Gebelin explained, a wise man in search of truth and justice; nor is he, as a later
explanation proposes, an especial example of experience. His beacon intimates that
"where I am, you also may be."

It is further a card which is understood quite incorrectly when it is connected with the
idea of occult isolation, as the protection of personal magnetism against admixture.
This is one of the frivolous renderings which we owe to Éliphas Lévi. It has been
adopted by the French Order of Martinism and some of us have heard a great deal of
the Silent and Unknown Philosophy enveloped by his mantle from the knowledge of
the profane. In true Martinism, the significance of the term Philosophe inconnu was of
another order. It did not refer to the intended concealment of the Instituted Mysteries,
much less of their substitutes, but--like the card itself--to the truth that the Divine
Mysteries secure their own protection from those who are unprepared.

Compare The Hermit Symbols in Historical Decks

The Rider Waite version of the hermit retains much of the iconography of older Tarot
decks. We see an old man, with a long white beard, hunched over a walking stick.

Waite writes, that the only “variation from the conventional models in this card is only
that the lamp is not enveloped partially in the mantle of it’s bearer”.

We can see how the lantern is partially hidden in the Hermit’s coat (mantle) in the
Marseilles Tarot.
 L’Ermite
Marseilles Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Traditionally the lantern contains a candle or hourglass, but in the Rider Waite version, it
has been converted into a six-pointed star.
 The Hermit
Visconti-Sforza (15th century)
Image: Public Domain
Who is The Hermit and What Does He Symbolize?

Hermit Symbolism
An old man, stands at the edge of the same mountain-top seen in the Fool. Like the
Fool, he is a wanderer but he is no longer young, and he no longer looks back over his
shoulder. The Hermit has assimilated the experiences of the past and he does not need
to scan the horizon for the future. He knows that wisdom comes from being present.

The Hermit is viewed as the traditional mystic, wise-man, shaman or oracle. He may
also be considered the Most Holy Ancient One, “which ever watch, and sleep
not” [Kabbalistic text]

He is a symbol of ageless wisdom, standing on the mountain of attainment. Yet, he

represents those of us who seek enlightenment because he is the eternal pilgrim soul.
His status is attainable to the devoted, which is why Waite points out that the Hermit
says, “where I am, you may also be.”

The Hermit is assigned to the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Yod, which in turn is
assigned to Virgo and the 6th House in astrology, which corresponds to health and
wellness.

Gray Cloak

The Hermit’s cloak is plain and discreet. In some decks, he partly covers the lantern
with his sleeve, as though to protect the Truth of the Source from unworthy eyes.

The cloak covers his head, not because he is cold, but as a mark of devotion and
respect. He is in commune with God.

What is The Meaning of the Star in The Lantern?

Lamp

The lantern is the Lamp of Truth, which the Hermit holds up to guide others on their
path in life.

Star

The light source within comes from a six-pointed star, possibly the Seal of Soloman.

The Seal of Solomon, also known as Ring of Solomon is a legendary ring belonging
to the Israelite King Solomon. In Jewish mysticism and Western occultism, the myth is,
that the ring gave Solomon the power to command the supernatural, and the ability to
speak with animals.
The Seal was often depicted in the shape of a hexagram, or six-pointed star. This star is
the predecessor of the Star of David, associated with Jewish people. Due to it’s rich
history, the Seal of Solomon came to be considered a valued talisman in magick,
occultism and alchemy.

The six points of the star hint also at Virgo, the sixth sign in the zodiacal series.

Gray Sky

The sky gray, represents the moments before dawn or first light.

In grander terms, the darkness signifies the moment before creation. In Genesis it says,
“And God said, Let there be Light.” God spoke those words when he was still in
darkness.

White Snow

The pure white snow represents a blank page, the time before the Big Bang and
creation.

The snow also marks the isolation the Hermit endures, because his wisdom sets him
apart from others.

Buddhist Meditation

The Hermit encourages the sitter to practice meditation. He could be doing Samatha, a
meditation technique of focusing on a singular object in order to calm the mind.
Samatha is part of a series of steps to a meditative consciousness and spiritual
awakening.

What is The Meaning of the Hermit’s Golden Wand?

In his left hand, the Hermit holds a golden wand. This is the same wand that the
Magician had upon his table. Now however, the wand has become a familiar friend and
the Hermit knows he can lean upon it for support. This suggests he has achieved
mastery of his magical arts.

The wand also appears to be used as a walking stick, which reminds us of the Eight of
Cups. The Hermit could in fact, be the man who left everything behind to wander over
the mountains, only many years later.

⭐Walking stick also appear here: Eight of Cups Symbols

 X

Wheel of Fortune

Click to enlarge

In this symbol I have again followed the reconstruction of Éliphas Lévi, who has
furnished several variants. It is legitimate--as I have intimated--to use Egyptian
symbolism when this serves our purpose, provided that no theory of origin is implied
therein. I have, however, presented Typhon in his serpent form. The symbolism is, of
course, not exclusively Egyptian, as the four Living Creatures of Ezekiel occupy the
angles of the card, and the wheel itself follows other indications of Lévi in respect of
Ezekiel's vision, as illustrative of the particular Tarot Key. With the French occultist,
and in the design itself, the symbolic picture stands for the perpetual motion of a
fluidic universe and for the flux of human life. The Sphinx is the equilibrium therein.
The transliteration of Taro as Rota is inscribed on the wheel, counterchanged with the
letters of the Divine Name--to shew that Providence is imphed through all. But this is
the Divine intention within, and the similar intention without is exemplified by the
four Living Creatures. Sometimes the sphinx is represented couchant on a pedestal
above, which defrauds the symbolism by stultifying the essential idea of stability
amidst movement.

Behind the general notion expressed in the symbol there lies the denial of chance and
the fatality which is implied therein. It may be added that, from the days of Lévi
onward, the occult explanations of this card are--even for occultism itself--of a
singularly fatuous kind. It has been said to mean principle, fecundity, virile honour,
ruling authority, etc. The findings of common fortune-telling are better than this on
their own plane.

Compare The Wheel of Fortune Symbols in Historical Decks

The Wheel of Fortune or Rota Fortunae as it is also known, has been a common
metaphor and allegorical symbol for the nature of Fate in Europe, since ancient times.
The Wheel belongs to the goddess Fortuna, who when she spins it, leads to the fortune
of some, and the misfortune of others.

Siege of
Troy
by John Lydgate (c.1450)
For example, in the 15th century painting above, the Wheel of Fortune is turned by the
Queen of Fortune. Four figures on the left are shown helping her to turn the Wheel.
More people try to grab on to the Wheel as it rises, and others drop off to the right as it
falls.

In his version of the Wheel of Fortune, Waite adheres largely to the original translations
of the Wheel as a symbol of humanity’s fate. He also retains much of the iconography of
older Tarot decks, such as the Visconti-Sforza and Marseille Tarot.
 La Roue de Fortun
(The Wheel of Fortune)
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: public domain
What is The Meaning of The Letters on The Wheel of Fortune?

Arthur Waite writes that the “transliteration of TARO or ROTA is inscribed on the
wheel, counterchanged with the letters of the Divine Name – to shew that Providence is
implied through all.”

As the Wheel turns, the letters read ROTA TARO ORAT TORA ATOR. These are Latin
words which translates roughly as “The Wheel of Tarot speaks the Law of Nature.”

ROTA

The letters ROTA represent the tetragrammaton, the four-letter name for God in
Hebrew.

As one side of the Wheel moves down, the other side must move up. The Wheel is an
allegory of life’s ups and downs. The wheel turns around the center, and at the center is
God.

TARO
The letters can also be read as TARO, a reference to Tarot cards and their significance
for the purpose of divination and fortune telling. Waite admits he followed “the
reconstruction of Éliphas Lévi” in his design for this card. Lévi was a famous esotericist
and author of more than twenty books on occultism, magic, alchemy and Kabbalah. He
was one of the first occultists to place Tarot at the center of occult science.

What Are The Four Symbols inside The Wheel of Fortune?

The wheel has eight spokes, like the eight-pointed star which represents the universal
radiant energy.

The four spokes that cross at the center of the Wheel, form the letter X. This X sign is
symbolic of marking the spot of a physical kingdom (Earth). We see a similar reference
in the Six of Cups. X also refers to the roman numeral for ten, which is the card number.

⭐X marks the spot: Six of Cups Symbols

On four of the spokes are the alchemical symbols for mercury, Sulphur, water and salt.
These ingredients are considered essential for great alchemical works.

Who Are The Three Figures on The Wheel?

Orange Jackal

On the bottom right of the Wheel is a human figure with the head of a jackal or wolf. His
figure is rising on the Wheel. He represents the Egyptian god Anubis who was
concerned with truth. When a King was being judged in the after-life, Anubis placed
their heart on one side of a scale and a feather to represent Maat (Goddess of Truth) on
the other. We are thus reminded, that when truth is on the rise, good things happen.
When truth is on the decline, evil descends.

Golden Snake

The golden serpent descending the Wheel represents Typhon, the Egyptian god of
evil. The serpent is on the decline in this card, which means when the Wheel of Fortune
turns up in a Tarot reading, better days are coming.

Blue Sphinx

A blue sphinx rests on top of the Wheel. She is a symbol of wisdom and equilibrium,
which is why she holds the sword of justice. The sphinx has seen everything that has
ever been, and can judge when it is time to turn the Wheel again. As such, she replaces
the Queen of Fortune in traditional depictions. The sphinx is a reference to Egyptology,
which Europe (along with Waite and other key members of the Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn) was obsessed with in the 19th century.

Who Are The Four Figures at the Corners of The Wheel of Fortune Card?

Angel, Eagle, Bull, Lion

At the corners of the card, seated on clouds, are the four mystical animals mentioned
in prophecies attributed to the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:10, Old Testament). These
four figures evolved into the tetramorph of the Four Evangelists.

Ezekiel had a vision of creatures emerging from clouds during a storm. He wrote, “As
for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on
the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the
face of an eagle.”

The four creatures correspond to the four fixed signs of the Zodiac – the bull to Taurus,
the lion Leo, the eagle to Scorpio and the man (or angel) to Aquarius. They also
correspond to the four elements for earth (Taurus), fire (Leo), water (Scorpio) and air
(Aquarius).

⭐Four creatures also appear here: The World Symbols

White Book

All of the creatures are reading from a white book. This book may be the Akashic
Records, said to hold a collection of mystical knowledge from all ages. It contains
information on all the past lives you have ever lived. The book is white, which is
symbolic of Spirit and the ether. The creatures are colored in yellow, which is symbolic
of the mind. The four figures are thus receiving knowledge and instruction from the
Spirit plane.
 XI

Justice

Click to enlarge

As this card follows the traditional symbolism and carries above all its obvious
meanings, there is little to say regarding it outside the few considerations collected in
the first part, to which the reader is referred.

It will be seen, however, that the figure is seated between pillars, like the High
Priestess, and on this account it seems desirable to indicate that the moral principle
which deals unto every man according to his works--while, of course, it is in strict
analogy with higher things;--differs in its essence from the spiritual justice which is
involved in the idea of election. The latter belongs to a mysterious order of
Providence, in virtue of which it is possible for certain men to conceive the idea of
dedication to the highest things. The operation of this is like the breathing of the Spirit
where it wills, and we have no canon of criticism or ground of explanation concerning
it. It is analogous to the possession of the fairy gifts and the high gifts and the gracious
gifts of the poet: we have them or have not, and their presence is as much a mystery as
their absence. The law of Justice is not however involved by either alternative. In
conclusion, the pillars of Justice open into one world and the pillars of the High
Priestess into another.

Compare The Justice Tarot Card with Historical Decks

A.E. Waite is quick to point out that this card “follows the traditional symbolism and
carries above all its obvious meanings”.

In this regard, the Rider Waite version of Justice retains much of the iconography of
older Tarot decks, such as the 14th century Visconti Sforza.
 Justice card from the
Visconti-Sforza Tarot deck (c.1450)
Image: Public Domain
The Visconti Justice card shows Lady Justice wearing a toga and holding a scales in
her left hand and a sword in her right hand. It’s worth noting that in some historical
illustrations, the sword and scales are held in the opposite hands, and Justice wears a
blindfold.
What is The Meaning of The Sword and Scale in The Justice Card?

Sword Symbol

The woman holds a sharp sword upwards, indicating victory. In ancient times, the sword
represented authority, and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final.

Scales Meaning

She holds a gold scale in her left hand. The scale is symbolic of balanced judgement.

What is The Symbolism of The Pillars in Justice?

Two Pillars

The lady sits between the Two Pillars of Justice. In the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish
tradition of mystical Biblical interpretation, it is written that there are two pillars of
justice: mercy and severity. The pillar of mercy represents forgiveness for wrong
doings, and severity represents punishment in the act of reaping what we sow. The two
Pillars depict the eternal opposites of judgement.

Similar pillars can also be found in the High Priestess and Hierophant cards. However,
Waite only appears interested in comparing Justice with the High Priestess. He
writes “that the figure is seated between pillars, like the High Priestess.” He goes on to
conclude that “the pillars of Justice open into one world and the pillars of the High
Priestess into another.”

What he means by this, is that the High Priestess judges on spiritual matters concerning
the soul, while Lady Justice confines her judgements to real-world actions.

⭐Pillars also appear here: High Priestess Symbols and Hierophant Symbols

Red Veil

Behind the figure of Justice is a red veil. A similar veil can be found behind the High
Priestess. Veils are the curtain of illusion which hide reality. In this card, the veil
represents the boundary between an action and its consequences.

Stone Throne

The throne is a symbol of how justice manifests, or should manifest, in the physical
world. The throne is made of solid rock. It is unembellished, unlike the ornately carved
thrones of the Kings and Queens in the Tarot deck. We are led to believe that Justice
should have no distraction, and be blind to wealth and influence.

Yellow Background

The yellow background behind the veil is a reference to the element air (which rules
logic and reason). The Golden Dawn designated yellow to the air signs, one of which is
Libra, the zodiac sign attributed to this particular card.

Alchemical symbol
for air
You will note that the scale of justice echoes the shape of the sign for the element air.

What is The Symbolism of The Crown in This Card?

Crown

Justice wears a crown with three turrets. The 3 turrets and the 4 sides of the crown give
the number 7. This Kabbalistic number represents the seventh Sephiroth in the Tree of
Life known as Tiphereth, or Beauty. It is linked to Venus.
In addition, a crown in Tarot always indicates dominion and authority.

Square Blue Stone

A blue square stone, possibly a lapis lazuli crystal, is set into the front of the crown.
This crystal sits over the third eye chakra, aiding Justice’s ability to see truth through her
higher consciousness. The third eye chakra is associated with spiritual attainment,
especially anything to do with clairvoyance, clairaudience and other metaphysical
abilities like telepathy.

Brooch Meaning

A white brooch with a red square center, fastens her cape. The square always
represents the number 4 and the circle represents the number 22. In total, this figure
comes to 26. The number 26 is a gematric number, and equals the sum of Hebrew
characters in the name of Yehowah (YHWH), the god of Israel.

White Shoe Symbolism

A white shoe peeps out from underneath the woman’s toga. White is the color of the
spiritual plane, and the shoe connects the woman to earth. The meaning of the white
shoe is the manifestation of just judgements based on spiritual guidance.

XII

The Hanged Man

Click to enlarge

The gallows from which he is suspended forms a Tau cross, while the figure--from the
position of the legs--forms a fylfot cross. There is a nimbus about the head of the
seeming martyr. It should be noted (1) that the tree of sacrifice is living wood, with
leaves thereon; (2) that the face expresses deep entrancement, not suffering; (3) that
the figure, as a whole, suggests life in suspension, but life and not death. It is a card of
profound significance, but all the significance is veiled. One of his editors suggests
that Éliphas Lévi did not know the meaning, which is unquestionable nor did the
editor himself. It has been called falsely a card of martyrdom, a card a of prudence, a
card of the Great Work, a card of duty; but we may exhaust all published
interpretations and find only vanity. I will say very simply on my own part that it
expresses the relation, in one of its aspects, between the Divine and the Universe.

He who can understand that the story of his higher nature is imbedded in this
symbolism will receive intimations concerning a great awakening that is possible, and
will know that after the sacred Mystery of Death there is a glorious Mystery of
Resurrection.

Compare The Hanged Man Tarot Card with Historical Decks

Arthur Waite describes Pamela Colman Smith as “an abnormally psychic artist …
who had drifted into the Golden Dawn and loved the Ceremonies,” in his book Shadows
of Life and Thought (1938). He further pointed out however, that she had to be “spoon-
fed carefully over the Priestess Card, over that which is called the Fool and over that the
Hanged Man.”

It is certainly true that few Tarot deck creators were so well informed about esoteric
symbols as Waite. That said, he stays consistent with the iconography from older decks,
such as the Visconti Sforza, in his version of the Hanged Man.
 Hanged Man
Visconti Sforza Tarot (c.1450)
Image: Public domain
Traditionally, in older Tarot decks, a man hangs upside down. His face is calm,
suggesting that this is a voluntary act. His arms are tied behind his back and one leg is
bent behind the other.

Who Does The Hanged Man Represent?

A man hangs from a tree, in the style of pittura infamante, a type of Renaissance
painting which depicted men of importance who had fallen out of favor, hanging for
public humiliation.
 Le Pandu (Hanged Man)
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
The calm expression on the Hanged Man’s face in Tarot, traditionally however,
suggests that he is there by his own accord. Waite writes that his “face expresses deep
entrancement, not suffering.”

The key meaning of this card is sacrifice: the act of voluntarily giving up something in
order to get something of greater value. The Hanged Man is the Fool – notice the
same blond hair, further along in his life journey (The Fool’s Journey).

Now, the Fool realizes that even greater knowledge lies within him, rather than in the
world around him.

He is on the search for spiritual enlightenment, through meditation. This is the yogi’s
pursuit of Nirvana, the shaman’s vision quest, a floating state of freedom.

Waite explains, “He who can understand that the story of his higher nature is imbedded
in this symbolism will receive intimations concerning a great awakening that is possible,
and will know that after the sacred Mystery of Death there is a glorious Mystery of
Resurrection.”

What is The Symbolism of The Tree in The Hanged Man?

Tree

The gallows is made from a cut tree. The wood of the tree has leaves, which means it is
living and growing. The tree thus becomes a symbol of cosmic law: the concept that
nothing really dies, energy simply transforms into something else. This connects the
tree to the Resurrection.

Tau Cross

The gallows forms a Tau cross, also known as the Cross of St Anthony, as well as crux
commissa. The Tau is one of the oldest iconographic representations of the Christian
cross.

Tau Cross, so-called because

it is shaped like the Greek letter tau.
Fylfot Cross

According to Waite, from the position of his legs, the Hanged Man, forms a fylfot cross.
The fylfot cross is a type of swastika which is associated with medieval Anglo-Saxon
Christianity. From the 14th century, it was often used to decorate Eucharistic robes.

What is The Symbolism of The Crossed Legs in The Hanged Man Card?

Crossed Legs
The Hanged Man crosses his legs, forming the shape of another cross. Traditionally,
the cross is connected with sacrifice – Jesus died on the cross of our sins.

Note that the Hanged Man’s posture is a direct inversion of the woman’s posture in the
World card. The two cards are closely linked. The Hanged Man card number is 12 and
the World card is number 21, another inversion. One card guides us to sit still, and the
other prompts us to leap forward in a new journey.

⭐Crossed legs also appear here: The World Symbols

Right Foot

The man hangs by his right foot to the tree. The right side reflects how one relates to
the world and other people, and the left side relates to self and Spirit. His left foot is
free, representing freedom to explore spiritual growth and understanding.

Crooked Elbows

The lines drawn from the elbows of the Hanged Man to the point at the top of his head,
form a reversed triangle. The triangle on top of a cross, is the alchemy symbol for
Sulphur.

Sulfur, is one of the three prime materials of alchemy and it represents evaporation and
dissolution. In terms of the human body, it represents the soul.

Halo
There is a halo, which Waite calls a “nimbus”, about the head of the Hanged Man.
Christian iconography uses the halo, a glowing sphere around the head chakra, to
signify saints, holy people and enlightenment.

Forty black lines radiate from the halo. In religious text, the number 40 is symbolic of
spiritual or shamanic journeying. Moses stays on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights
(Exodus 24:18). Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights in the Judean desert. In
Judaism, the prophet Elijah had to walk 40 days and 40 nights before arriving at mount
Horeb.

Additionally, Kabbalah assigns the number 40 to the Hebrew letter Mem, which is given
to the Hanged Man card.

Tied Hands

The man’s hands are tied, implying that this is a time for contemplation, and not action.

What is The Symbolism of The Blue Tunic and Red Tights?

Blue Tunic

The upper garment of the Hanged Man, a blue tunic or doublet, echoes the blue of the
High Priestess. Blue represents water, and Pisces, the zodiac sign assigned to this
card. The tunic has pockets on both sides, fastened with ten buttons, referring to the ten
Sephiroth.
⭐Blue robe also appear here: High Priestess Symbols

Red Tights

The man wears red tights, which echo the red of the Magician’s red robe. This indicates
that there is some intention, he knows what he wishes to manifest.
 XIII

Death

Click to enlarge

The veil or mask of life is perpetuated in change, transformation and passage from
lower to higher, and this is more fitly represented in the rectified Tarot by one of the
apocalyptic visions than by the crude notion of the reaping skeleton. Behind it lies the
whole world of ascent in the spirit. The mysterious horseman moves slowly, bearing a
black banner emblazoned with the Mystic Rose, which signifies life. Between two
pillars on the verge of the horizon there shines the sun of immortality. The horseman
carries no visible weapon, but king and child and maiden fall before him, while a
prelate with clasped hands awaits his end.

There should be no need to point out that the suggestion of death which I have made
in connection with the previous card is, of course, to be understood mystically, but
this is not the case in the present instance. The natural transit of man to the next stage
of his being either is or may be one form of his progress, but the exotic and almost
unknown entrance, while still in this life, into the state of mystical death is a change in
the form of consciousness and the passage into a state to which ordinary death is
neither the path nor gate. The existing occult explanations of the 13th card are, on the
whole, better than usual, rebirth, creation, destination, renewal, and the rest.

Compare The Death Tarot Card with Historical Decks

The iconography of the Death card in Tarot, traditionally centers on the image of a
skeletal figure, or Grim Reaper. He either appears on a black horse (Charles VI deck
c.15th century and Florence Minchiate Tarot deck, c.1860) or standing in a field
surrounded by body parts (Lequart Marseilles Tarot, 1890).

In all cases, he wields a sickle or scythe, mowing down his victims, regardless of class,
including kings, bishops and commoners.
 Charles VI (or Gringonneur)
Deck (15th century)

A.E. Waite drew his inspiration from these historical decks, although he made some
changes in accordance with Golden Dawn and Rosicrucian interpretation and
symbolism. In the Rider Waite version, Death rides a black horse and wields no
weapon.
What is The Meaning of The Horseman in Death?

Grim Reaper

The skeleton horseman represents the Grim Reaper, or Death, which comes to all:
man, woman, child and king, without respect for status or station. Write writes, “The
horseman carries no visible weapon, but king and child and maiden fall before him,
while a prelate with clasped hands awaits his end.”

The skeleton refers to the fact that everything and everyone must die, in order that life
may enter another form. The Reaper is also the personification of time, and that time
inevitably introduces physical death and decomposition.

Black and White Rose Banner

Waite writes, “The mysterious horseman moves slowly, bearing a black banner
emblazoned with the Mystic Rose, which signifies life.”

The rose is a symbol of Rosicrucianism, a European spiritual movement in the 17th

century which studied esoteric knowledge of the ancient past. It was linked to the
Freemasons. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, to which Waite belonged, was a
spin-off of this society.
 Rose Cross, a symbol associated
with
Christian Rosenkreuz; Kabbalist, alchemist,
and founder of the Rosicrucian Order.
Image: CC BY-SA 4.0
The five-petaled rose is the same rose that the Fool once held in his hand. It represents
the individual’s unfolding consciousness, death, purification and resurrection.

Black Armor

The black armor Death wears is iron, the metal of Mars. Black indicates that Death’s
destruction is deliberate and intended.

Red Feather

Death wears a red feather in his helmet. A similar red feather also appears in The Fool
and The Sun, linking all three Major Arcana cards together. The feather marks the
stages of moving through the three degrees of Freemasonry, from Entered Apprentice,
to Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The Fool is emergence, Death is rebirth and the Sun
is enlightenment.
⭐A red feather also appears here: The Fool Symbols, The Sun Symbols, Knight of
Wands Symbols, Nine of Cups Symbols, Page of Wands Symbols

What is The Symbolism of The White Horse in The Death Card?

White Horse Symbolism

The white horse is a symbol of Spirit. Death is not evil, he works with Spirit. This
indicates that change and transformation is a natural part of life.

Horse’s Harness

The horse’s harness is embraided with skulls and crossbones. These are iconographic
symbols of death, which originated in the Late Middle Ages and often appeared
in funerary art.

The Death card in Tarot is associated with Scorpio, the zodiac sign symbolic of death,
regeneration and past lives.

Who Are The People in The Death Card and What Do They Symbolize?

The four figures before Death have several esoteric meanings, reflecting the court cards
(pope, woman, king, child); family (father, mother, son and daughter), the
tetragrammaton (Yod, Hey, Vau, Heh) and the four elements (fire, water, air and earth).

King

A king or emperor lies dead on the ground. He is the first to die, and his blue cloak
appears to melt into a puddle of water, indicating decay has already set in. His crown is
trodden on by the white horse, signifying the end of an era. Any predominating beliefs
associated with this ruler’s time (king, government or institution) have outworn their
usefulness.

Bishop

The bishop or prelate appears to beg for his life, but he is about to be trampled down.
He wears a miter (hat in the shape of a fish), denoting the Piscean Age. His demise
reflects the end of the power of the church, as well as the end of the Age of Pisces, and
the dawn of the Age of Aquarius.

Child
The infant child kneels, praying to Death not to take him. He even holds out a posy as
though this could stop the march of death. The child represents spiritual immaturity, and
wishful thinking.

Young Woman

The young woman looks away and refuses to look Death in the eye. Her reluctance is
symbolic of the subconscious mind which is reluctant to release old ideas and habits.

Landscape Symbols in The Death Tarot Card

Rising Sun

Waite writes, “Between two pillars on the verge of the horizon there shines the sun of
immortality.”

Once a person walks past the twin towers, they are in the land of eternal life. The rising
sun in the eastern horizon, represents Heaven and the afterlife.

Twin Towers

The twin towers represent what is ‘known’. Beyond their border stretches the unknown
and the afterlife. We all try to push back at those towers, beg God even, to delay our
journey beyond their wall.

⭐Twin pillars also appear here: The Moon Symbols

River

In the background, a river flows towards the sea. This passage of water represents the
flow of life towards death.

The river may be symbolic of the Styx, the river that forms a boundary between Earth
(Gaia) and the Underworld.

Red Boat

A small boat or ship with a red sail, floats along the river. This could be the
ferryman Charon, who according to Egyptian mythology, transports the souls of the
newly dead across this river into the Underworld.
⭐Charon also appears here: Six of Swords symbols
 XIV

Temperance

Click to enlarge

A winged angel, with the sign of the sun upon his forehead and on his breast the
square and triangle of the septenary. I speak of him in the masculine sense, but the
figure is neither male nor female. It is held to be pouring the essences of life from
chalice to chalice. It has one foot upon the earth and one upon waters, thus illustrating
the nature of the essences. A direct path goes up to certain heights on the verge of the
horizon, and above there is a great light, through which a crown is seen vaguely.
Hereof is some part of the Secret of Eternal Life, as it is possible to man in his
incarnation. All the conventional emblems are renounced herein.

So also are the conventional meanings, which refer to changes in the seasons,
perpetual movement of life and even the combination of ideas. It is, moreover, untrue
to say that the figure symbolizes the genius of the sun, though it is the analogy of solar
light, realized in the third part of our human triplicity. It is called Temperance
fantastically, because, when the rule of it obtains in our consciousness, it tempers,
combines and harmonises the psychic and material natures. Under that rule we know
in our rational part something of whence we came and whither we are going.

Compare The Temperance Tarot Card with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite version of Temperance retains much of the iconography of older Tarot
decks.
 Tempérance
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Historically, Temperance is represented as a winged angel, usually female, standing
with one foot in water and one foot on land. She is pouring liquid from one jug to
another, diluting wine with water, a standard allegory for temperance in European art.

According to Christian theology and classical philosophy, temperance was one of the
four cardinal virtues required to live a virtuous life. The other virtues are: prudence,
justice and fortitude.

Who is The Angel In The Temperance Card?

Angel

Arthur Waite describes the mystical androgynous figure in Temperance as a “winged

angel”, who is neither “male nor female”.

Some Tarot authors claim it a Guardian Angel, while others argue it is the messenger
angel Archangel Gabriel. Personally, I believe the golden disk on the angel’s forehead,
identifies the figure as Archangel Michael, who ‘Like unto God’ as the Bible says, is the
angel of Light, associated with the sun and element fire.

The angel has red wings, the color often attributed to Michael.
⭐Angels also appear here: Lovers Symbols, Wheel of Fortune
Symbols, Judgement Symbols

Golden Disk

On the angel’s forehead is a round golden circle with a dot. Waite writes, it is “the sign
of the sun”. The dot in the middle of the circle is the alchemist’s symbol for gold.

Halo

The angel’s head glows with a nimbus, or halo. Christian iconography uses the halo, a
glowing sphere around the crown chakra, to signify saints and holy people and
spiritual beings.

⭐A halo also appears here: The Hanged Man Symbols

White Robe

The angel wears a white robe. White is a symbol of Spirit, purity and wisdom. At the
neck, the Hebrew characters for God, called the Tetragrammaton, is written:

Symbol of Tetragrammaton
meaning ‘God’
White Square and Red Triangle

The angel’s robe has a white square with a red triangle, which Waite writes,
represents “septenary”. The word septenary, means relating to the number seven. The
square has 4 sides, and the triangle has 3 sides, which together equal the number
seven. The triangle represents the Holy Trinity, as well as mind, body and spirit. The
square represents the 4 archetypal elements of alchemy: fire, earth, water and air.

The symbolism of enclosing the triangle, within the square, is to show that the angel is
attempting to ignite the viewer’s spiritual life through the natural elements of alchemy.

What is The Symbolism of The Angel Mixing Water in The Cups?

Cups

Temperance is traditionally depicted as a woman pouring sacred fluid from one cup to
another. The liquid seems to spring from some inexhaustible source. This source is life-
force, also known as chi, prana or vital energy. We are reminded thus, that there is no
need to be greedy or to try and rush things, there will always be enough to go around.

The two vessels can also be taken to represent the conscious and unconscious. When
this card turns up in a Tarot reading, it means that the angelic realm is helping the sitter
to reconcile these part of themselves. To help them understand the ‘bigger picture’ and
why things are happening in their life, the way they are.

Blue Water

The blue water symbolizes the cosmic mind, also called ‘The Universe’, and all that
which it is composed.

Foot Position

The angel rests one foot on earth and the other in the water. This symbolizes that the
angel is equally at home in the conscious (earth, material world) and the subconscious
(water).

What is The Symbolism of The Landscape in Temperance?

Blue Pond

The blue pond or water pool represents the subconscious mind. It corresponds to the
ninth sephirah, Yesod, in the kabbalistic Tree of Life. Yesod is the foundation upon
which God has built the world, and it serves as a transmitter between the sephirot
above, and the reality below. In essence, it facilitates or lubricates the movement from
one condition to another. From lower conscious to higher conscious, and from the body
to the mind and spirit.

Path

A path leads away from the pool, upwards towards a pair of mountain peaks. The path
represents the route for the Fool to follow. At the end, just beyond the mountains, lies
mastery and attainment.

Mountain Peaks

The twin mountain peaks symbolize spiritual attainment, the point beyond which, lies a
new level of skill and consciousness.

Glowing Crown
Waite describes what looks like a sun at the end of the path as a “great light, through
which a crown is seen vaguely.” He continues, “Hereof is some part of the Secret of
Eternal Life, as it is possible to man in his incarnation.”

This path does not lead us to the after-life. However, it will reveal some cosmic truths,
as much as we can understand at least, while still incarnated in our human body. To be
so blessed with this knowledge, is to be crowned for our efforts.

Irises

Two irises flower at the bank of the river, repeating the symbolism of the conscious and
subconscious. The iris is a symbol of the Greek goddess Iris, who according to
mythology, delivered messages to and from the gods. In ancient art, she is depicted
carrying a pitcher of water.

XV

The Devil

Click to enlarge

The design is an accommodation, mean or harmony, between several motives

mentioned in the first part. The Horned Goat of Mendes, with wings like those of a
bat, is standing on an altar. At the pit of the stomach there is the sign of Mercury. The
right hand is upraised and extended, being the reverse of that benediction which is
given by the Hierophant in the fifth card. In the left hand there is a great flaming
torch, inverted towards the earth. A reversed pentagram is on the forehead. There is a
ring in front of the altar, from which two chains are carried to the necks of two
figures, male and female. These are analogous with those of the fifth card, as if Adam
and Eve after the Fall. Hereof is the chain and fatality of the material life.
The figures are tailed, to signify the animal nature, but there is human intelligence in
the faces, and he who is exalted above them is not to be their master for ever. Even
now, he is also a bondsman, sustained by the evil that is in him and blind to the liberty
of service. With more than his usual derision for the arts which he pretended to
respect and interpret as a master therein, Éliphas Lévi affirms that the Baphometic
figure is occult science and magic. Another commentator says that in the Divine world
it signifies predestination, but there is no correspondence in that world with the things
which below are of the brute. What it does signify is the Dweller on the Threshold
without the Mystical Garden when those are driven forth therefrom who have eaten
the forbidden fruit.

Compare The Devil Tarot Card with Historical Decks

A.E. Waite drew graphical inspiration for his Devil, from Eliphas Levi’s famous
illustration of “Baphomet” or the “Horned Goat of Mendes”. This illustration is found
in Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie (1855) – a book on ritual magic which Waite had
translated into English.

The Devil in both Levi’s and Waite’s illustration, squats on a pedestal, his right hand
raised towards the sky and left hand lowered to the ground, imitating
the Magician’s hand gesture. The creature is half human and half beast.
 Baphomet, a deity worshipped by the Knights Templar which subsequently became
incorporated into Western esoteric and occult tradition. Created by occultist Éliphas Lévi
(1855), this creature is also referred to as the Goat of Mendes.
Image: Public domain
In older decks, such as the Tarot de Marseille, the Devil is portrayed with human facial
features on his body, bat wings and horns protruding from his head. Waite draws on the
iconography of this deck, by incorporating the two enslaved people in chains.

Le Diable (Devil)
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
The Devil Symbols
What is The Symbolism of The Horned Devil with Bat Wings in This Tarot Card?

Devil

The image of the Devil as a horned and hooved beast originates with Pan, the ancient
mythological Greek god of the wild. Pan had the legs and horns of a goat, and was
often seen in the company of attractive nymphs. His untamed nature personified the
primitive instinct of man and he was worshipped for his virility. Then, along came
Christianity and his improper persona was transformed into the Devil. The Devil is the
polar opposite of the Temperance Angel.

Bat Wings
In medieval Europe, angels like Archangel Michael, were depicted with feathered wings.
Satan, the fallen angel, however was given bat wings, because bats fly at night and
represent darkness. Bat wings thus represent the power of darkness.

Horns

The Devil is traditionally depicted with the horns of a goat. The goat also connects this
card to the sign of Capricorn.

Donkey Ears

The Devil has been given donkey ears to represent stubbornness and obstinacy.

Red Skin

The Devil has reddish colored skin. This is a reference to the fires of hell.

Naval

The Devil has a navel, or bellybutton, which implies he was born. This is a subtle Tarot
reference, and points to the Devil being borne of man-made fiction. He does not really
exist, but rather, he is an allegory of the darkness within us all.

Waite also adds that “At the pit of the stomach there is a sign of Mercury.” – although I
struggled to find this particular symbol on inspection of the card.

Inverted Pentagram

An inverted pentagram (one point down and two points up) is associated with evil. The
placement of the inverted pentagram on the Devil’s head, signals evil thoughts. The
pentagram is also a symbol of man, and it’s inversion suggests that man is not as
important as he thinks he is. His place in the Cosmos, his life, is not particularly
significant.

What is The Meaning of The Position of The Devil’s Hands?

Raised Right Hand

The Devil raises his right hand, fingers separated in the sign of black magic. This
gesture seems to mock the Hierophant, who raises his hand in benediction.

On the palm of the Devil is the astrological symbol of Saturn, the planet of limitation and
therefore ignorance.
Lowered Left Hand

The Devil holds a torch in his left hand. The torch is inverted so that it burns wastefully,
giving no light. The background is black and dark. This is in contraction to the Magician,
who draws on the light of illumination, which is why his background is bright yellow.

⭐Hand gestures to compare: The Hierophant Symbols, Magician Symbols

What Do The Man and Woman in The Devil Tarot Card Symbolize?

Man and Woman

Waite writes, the two figures, male and female, are analogous with “Adam and Eve after
the Fall.”

This is the man and woman from The Lovers card – after innocence has been lost. They
have been thrown out of Eden and become infected by the power of Devil, which is why
they have grown horns and sprout tails.

Waite says, “The figures are tailed, to signify the animal nature, but there is human
intelligence in the faces, and he who is exalted above them is not to be their master
forever.”

⭐The couple also appear here: The Lovers Symbols

Tails

The woman’s tail is sprouting grapes, suggesting over-consumption of wine. She has
not heeded the guidance of the previous Tarot card, Temperance. The man’s tail is the
red of Mars, and shaped like a scorpion, denoting a fiery temper, and unchecked sexual
appetites.

Red Hair

Both figures have red hair which looks like a wig. In ancient Rome, one way to
distinguish characters in a play was by their wig color. Black wigs represented young
men and red wigs represented slaves. There may be a subtle reference here, to the
man and woman’s enslavement to the Devil.

What do The Chains Represent in The Devil Card?

The chain binding the man and woman to the pedestal “represents the chain and fatality
of the material life”, according to Waite.

The chains are loose and the couple’s hands are untied, so they could easily free
themselves. Which leads us to believe that these bonds are self-imposed, and the
couple do not want to leave. They have fallen prey to temptation, and prefer to be
bound by the physical senses, half-truths and darkness.

There is also an implication of laziness, the couple would prefer someone else to do
their thinking for them. So many people are lazy in thought, preferring to switch on the
TV, rather than think too much about their life or the world around them.

What is The Meaning of The Black Background?

The background is pitch black, there is total darkness. Traditionally, black is associated
with evil, witchcraft and that which is hidden or occult.

XVI

The Tower

Click to enlarge

Occult explanations attached to this card are meagre and mostly disconcerting. It is
idle to indicate that it depicts min in all its aspects, because it bears this evidence on
the surface. It is said further that it contains the first allusion to a material building,
but I do not conceive that the Tower is more or less material than the pillars which we
have met with in three previous cases. I see nothing to warrant Papus in supposing
that it is literally the fall of Adam, but there is more in favour of his alternative--that it
signifies the materialization of the spiritual word. The bibliographer Christian
imagines that it is the downfall of the mind, seeking to penetrate the mystery of God. I
agree rather with Grand Orient that it is the ruin of the House of We, when evil has
prevailed therein, and above all that it is the rending of a House of Doctrine. I
understand that the reference is, however, to a House of Falsehood. It illustrates also
in the most comprehensive way the old truth that "except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it."

There is a sense in which the catastrophe is a reflection from the previous card, but
not on the side of the symbolism which I have tried to indicate therein. It is more
correctly a question of analogy; one is concerned with the fall into the material and
animal state, while the other signifies destruction on the intellectual side. The Tower
has been spoken of as the chastisement of pride and the intellect overwhelmed in the
attempt to penetrate the Mystery of God; but in neither case do these explanations
account for the two persons who are the living sufferers. The one is the literal word
made void and the other its false interpretation. In yet a deeper sense, it may signify
also the end of a dispensation, but there is no possibility here for the consideration of
this involved question.

Compare The Tower Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite version of The Tower is based on the La Maison Dieu card from
the Marseille Tarot deck.

In both versions, two figures are thrown from a tower. An energy force strikes the tower
from the right side of the card, knocking the crown off the top of the tower. Three
windows are set into the tower.
 La Maison Dieu
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Interestingly, the 15th century Visconti-Sforza Tarot, does not include The Tower.

In the 16th century Minchiate Tarot deck, the image shows two scantily clad people
fleeing a burning building. In the 17th-century Belgium Tarot of Jacques Viéville, this
card is called La Foudre (The Lightning) and depicts a tree being struck by lightning.

Who Are The Falling Figures in The Tower Card?

What do the falling figures in the Tower card symbolize?

The man and woman correspond to the chained couple in the Devil card. Waite writes
of the comparison, “One is concerned with the fall into the material and animal state,
while the other signifies destruction on the intellectual side.”

The couple in the Devil card found pleasure in chasing wealth and earthly pleasures,
and in the Tower card, their worldly success, demonstrated by the towering home and
golden crowns, has led to conceited pride – a feeling ‘we’re better than you’.

They fall headfirst, because the sudden influx of spiritual consciousness, represented by
the flash of lightning upsets all their notions about themselves and their lives. The
higher someone climbs, the further they can fall.
The figures were previously nude, but are now clad in expensive clothes. The clothes
are symbolic of covering up, hiding their humble origins as the animal-humans in the
Devil.

As the lightning hits, all will be revealed and we will see them in their natural state once
more. Any fakeness is removed.

They will have an opportunity to make the most of this rude awakening, and regain
some of the higher spiritual connections, they once held as the Lovers.

In reality of course, most people soon forget the lessons they learn when the Tower
crumbles. They go about rebuilding the same old towers, and crawl in again.

Falling Man

The falling man wears a blue robe with a red cape. The blue represents
the subconscious, just as the High Priestess wears a blue dress. The red cape
represents conscious actions. The division of color here is about 50:50, meaning that
that in his heart, he knew this moment was coming. He just chose to ignore the warning
signs.

Falling Woman

The woman wears the crown, indicating that the man has willingly abdicated
responsibility to her. She is dressed in blue, with only a touch of red in her shoes. The
woman is not in balance, and has longed been ruled by emotions. She is the type of
person who would justify a bad decision by saying, “I can’t help it, that’s how I feel.”

What is The Symbolism of The Tower in This Card?

Tower

The Tower is symbolic of the Tower of Babel, from the 11th chapter of the Book of
Genesis.

According to Genesis, in order to make a name for themselves, the Babylonians wanted
to build a tower “with its tops in the heavens”. The tower is symbolic of the illusions of a
false ego, and showing off. Needless to say, God destroyed the tower and scattered the
workers.

It reminds me of this quote from the bible:

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)
The Tower is set upon an inaccessible mountain top, seemingly made of shards of
glass. There is no way to climb up to it, and no door in sight, even if you managed to
scale the peak. The people in this Tower have set themselves apart from everyone,
which symbolizes the fallacy of mankind. As soon as someone does well in the world,
they want to appear successful and special, yet they forget that if people cannot get at
them, they can’t get at others. It is a lonely place, with few real friendships or
relationships.

Higher Powers see that the only way to help this couple rebuild a more meaningful life is
to hurl them out head first, hoping it will knock some sense into them.

As I mentioned previously, of course, many will just choose to rebuild another tower.

Note: The Tower is associated with Mars, the god of War.

Three Windows

Three windows are set into the top of the Tower. The symbolism of three reoccurs
throughout the Rider Waite deck. It is a highly symbolic number, representing among
many things, the Holy Trinity * mind, body, spirit * past, present, future * nature, reason
and wisdom.

Black Background

The same black background is portrayed in The Devil and The Tower cards. This
darkness symbolizes two aspects:
(1) Ignorance.
(2) Occult forces and being able to make use of the dark as a hidden force.

The Devil holds an inverted torch which offered very little light, or illumination. Now, in
The Tower, the only source of illumination is the flash of lightning. The light is blinding
and only lasts a few seconds. It represents the classic ‘aha, now I see‘ moment.

The lightning leaves behind it the falling rain of 22 Yods.

What Is The Meaning of The Lightning Strike?

Lightning

The thunderbolt of lightning is a symbol of the Divine Fire, mentioned in the Bible, which
only destroys what is evil, and purifies what is good.
It is a sudden glimpse of truth, or a flash of inspiration which breaks down ignorance
and reveals the truth.

In Kabbalah, the lightning-flash is a symbol of life force energy which animates the Tree
of Life and the ten Sephiroth.

Yods

The drops of water falling from the sky are found in many other cards in the Rider Waite
deck. They appear to be in the shape of the Hebrew letter yod (pronounced ya).
According to the Jewish sages, the yod represents the world to come and
completeness.

There are 22 yods to represent the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

The presence of yods signifies that the hand of God is at work. You are being divinely
guided, or events are being directed around you by a Higher Power.

The ten yods on the side of the woman form the Tree of Life and signify creation. The
twelve yods near the man represent the twelve signs of the zodiac. Correspondingly,
the yods represent all types of personalities. We are to understand that anyone could
find themselves in this situation.

⭐Yods also appear here: The Moon Symbols, Ace of Cups Symbols, Ace of
Wands Symbols, Ace of Swords Symbols

What is The Symbolism of The Crown on Top of The Tower?

On the top of the Tower is a crown, which tumbles to the ground with the two people.

The crown represents ‘crowning glory’, it’s an in-your-face symbol of all one has
achieved. It is the expensive car or large house you buy to show off to the neighbors. It
is a hat worn to separate you from other people, to raise yourself above them.

As such, the falling crown becomes a symbol of loss of status.

 XVII

The Star

Click to enlarge

A great, radiant star of eight rays, surrounded by seven lesser stars--also of eight rays.
The female figure in the foreground is entirely naked. Her left knee is on the land and
her right foot upon the water. She pours Water of Life from two great ewers, irrigating
sea and land. Behind her is rising ground and on the right a shrub or tree, whereon a
bird alights. The figure expresses eternal youth and beauty. The star is l'étoile
flamboyante, which appears in Masonic symbolism, but has been confused therein.
That which the figure communicates to the living scene is the substance of the
heavens and the elements. It has been said truly that the mottoes of this card are
"Waters of Life freely" and "Gifts of the Spirit."

The summary of several tawdry explanations says that it is a card of hope. On other
planes it has been certified as immortality and interior light. For the majority of
prepared minds, the figure will appear as the type of Truth unveiled, glorious in
undying beauty, pouring on the waters of the soul some part and measure of her
priceless possession. But she is in reality the Great Mother in the Kabalistic Sephira
Binah, which is supernal Understanding, who communicates to the Sephiroth that are
below in the measure that they can receive her influx.

Compare The Star Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite version of The Star is largely based on the Le Toille card from
the Marseille Tarot deck.
 Le Toille
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
The Star Symbols
A naked woman kneels by the water; one foot in water and one foot on land. In each
hand she holds a jug and pours liquid into the water and on to the land. Above her is
one large star and seven smaller stars surrounding it. A tree is in the background, with a
chirping bird with a long beak on top of it.

Who is The Woman in The Star Card and What Does She Symbolize?

Young Woman

Arthur Waite writes, “The female figure in the foreground is entirely naked.” She has no
need of protective clothing and symbolizes truth. She has nothing to fear and nothing to
hide.

Waite says she expresses “eternal youth and beauty.“ No doubt this is one of the
reasons why this card has become associated with the traits of youth, optimism and
good health.

The maiden is a combination of the Empress and High Priestess. As she kneels with
one foot on land, this connects her to Nature and Earth, like The Empress. Her other
foot is balanced on water. This action connects her to the watery world of the
subconscious and the High Priestess.

⭐See: The Empress Symbols, The High Priestess Symbols

Maiden’s Foot

The maiden’s foot rests on top of the water, indicating power of mind over matter. One
is reminded of the story of Jesus walking on water, a miracle recounted in the New
Testament. The miracle was designed to increase the faith of his apostles, and
interestingly, one of the central messages of this card is to have hope and faith. Faith
healing becomes a central message.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But
when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he
said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:22-33

Hathor

The maiden is symbolic of the Egyptian Goddess Hathor. This goddess was venerated
for her beauty, which again links her to the Empress.

Waite claims, “But she is in reality the Great Mother in the Kabalistic Sephira Binah,
which is supernal Understanding, who communicates to the Sephiroth that are below in
the measure that they can receive her influx.”
 Binah, which means ‘understanding’ is the
third sephira on the kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is a place of intuitive understanding and
contemplation, which is why this card is also associated with meditation.
The God of Binah is Elohim. According to Gnostic text, it was said that once upon a time
there were three original gods or divinities. The first transcendental being was
called Good, the second one was Elohim, and the third was an Earth-Mother or
supernal mother called Eden. Eden represents the feminine aspect of God, and it is
She, to whom Waite refers in his explanation for this card.

Yellow Hair

The young woman has yellow hair like the Empress. Perhaps she is the naked
Empress, but now she can channel the High Priestess.

What is The Symbolism of The Eight Stars?

Large Star
Waite writes there is, “A great, radiant star of eight rays, surrounded by seven lesser
stars – also of eight rays.”

The iconography of mystical stars stretches back to the 17th century Marseilles Tarot
deck and 15th century Visconti-Sforza.

The main star could be the Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, which appears in
the nativity story. This is the star that leads you to Jesus and the Word of God.

Waite may also have intended for it to represent the Star of Isis, associated with the
Egyptian Goddess Isis. Whenever this particular star appeared in the dry season, it was
a sign of rain to come. The rains would replenish the rivers and restore life to dead
lands.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, originating from a background of

Rosicrucianism, Hermeticism and Freemasonry, inherited the belief that Egypt was the
repository of ancient wisdom. At the turn of the 20th century when the Golden Dawn
was active, Western Europe was gripped with Egypt-fever. The organization capitalized
on the latest research from academic Egyptology to design their rituals and cosmology.

Note: The star is yellow to symbolize solar energy, the life force of all living things. The
eight-pointed stars repeat the same idea as the 8-spoke Wheel of Fortune, the 8-
pointed star on the Charioteer and the 8-spoked wheel on the robe of the Fool.

⭐Wheel of Fortune Symbols, Chariot Symbols, The Fool Symbols

Seven Lesser Stars

Waite does not identify the meaning of the lesser stars, and there have been
suggestions by other Tarot authors that they could symbolize the seven chakras or
psychic centers of the body mentioned by Hindu occultists.

Note: The stars are white to indicate purification, mostly achieved through a chakra
cleansing meditation.

What is The Meaning of The Jugs of Water?

The maiden pours The Water of Life from her jugs or vases. She pours one vase into
the pond, which represents the unconscious, and the other onto land, which represents
the conscious or self-consciousness. As such, there is a sense that the waters flow
abundantly, when both aspects of the self are working in harmony.
Note: The Golden Dawn system assigns Aquarius to this card, and Aquarius glyph is
the water bearer.

Landscape

Tree

On the highest part of the land, there is a tree with three branches. The symbolism of
threes are reflected throughout the Rider Waite deck. In this instance, it may well refer
to the mind, body, spirit connection associated with the New Age,
animism, Shamanism and the Holy Trinity.

Bird

Perched on the tree is a red bird. Its long beak, which is good for catching fish, evokes
an ibis, the sacred bird of Egypt. The Hebrew letter Tzaddi, assigned to this card,
means ‘fishhook’.

The Ibis bird was associated with Thoth, the God of wisdom, writing and magic. In a
Tarot reading, birds signify a connection between Earth and the spiritual realm. Birds
are considered messengers of the spirit world.

Mountain

A pinkish mountain in the background is the same mountain that you see in the Lovers
card. It represents bringing the magic of the spiritual world to Earth.
⭐See: The Lovers Symbols

The Blue Background

The blue sky relates to cosmic subconsciousness.

Pool

The pool represents the universal consciousness, or Akashic Records (pool of

memories). This is accessed or stirred by meditation and trance.

Five Rivulets

The stream of water flowing from the jug in the woman’s left hand divides into five
rivulets, which flow back into the pool along the ground. These symbolize the five
senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch – and how the human body receives
information and sends it to the brain.
The fact that the water flows back into the pond of unconscious, suggests that these five
senses are limited in usefulness. The psychic senses, or extrasensory perceptions
such as clairaudience, clairvoyance, clairsentience and claircognizance, are just as
valuable, even in a physical world.

How is The Star Card Connected to Meditation and Mindfulness?

The Star is the calm which follows the storm depicted in the Tower. Notice how the light
is dim. We are to understand that this is dusk, illuminated by star light. It is written
thus: “When you have found the beginning of the way, the star of your soul will show its
light.”

The Star card is associated with meditation and mindfulness. The maiden acts with
focus, pouring the water from her jugs.

We are reminded that if we listen, the Truth will unveil itself to us in the silence. True
meditation is an active pursuit with a single thought in the mind. Clear the mind, and the
guidance will flow.

XVIII

The Moon

Click to enlarge

The distinction between this card and some of the conventional types is that the moon
is increasing on what is called the side of mercy, to the right of the observer. It has
sixteen chief and sixteen secondary rays. The card represents life of the imagination
apart from life of the spirit. The path between the towers is the issue into the
unknown. The dog and wolf are the fears of the natural mind in the presence of that
place of exit, when there is only reflected light to guide it.
The last reference is a key to another form of symbolism. The intellectual light is a
reflection and beyond it is the unknown mystery which it cannot shew forth. It
illuminates our animal nature, types of which are represented below--the dog, the wolf
and that which comes up out of the deeps, the nameless and hideous tendency which
is lower than the savage beast. It strives to attain manifestation, symbolized by
crawling from the abyss of water to the land, but as a rule it sinks back whence it
came. The face of the mind directs a calm gaze upon the unrest below; the dew of
thought falls; the message is: Peace, be still; and it may be that there shall come a
calm upon the animal nature, while the abyss beneath shall cease from giving up a
form.

Compare The Moon Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

Pamela Colman Smith’s version of The Moon, in the Rider Waite deck, is closely
based on the La Lune card from the Marseille Tarot deck.

La Lune
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
The Moon Symbols
Specifically, both cards depict a night scene with two large pillars. A wolf and dog howl
at the moon and a crayfish emerges from the water. A large moon with a human face,
casts moonlight over the scene.
What is The Symbolism of The Moon and Moon Rays in This Tarot Card?

Moon Symbolism

The Moon reflects the light of the Sun and shines in the darkness of nighttime. Compare
how much illumination it affords than the Devil’s torch or the blast of lightening in
the Tower. The light symbolizes connection to God. When the light comes from the sun
in Tarot, it is the Divine connecting with us. When the light comes from the moon, it is
us, using our psychic senses, to connect with the Divine. We are making the effort.

The Moon is symbolic of our intuitive faculties and subconscious mind. At the same
time, the moon represents dreams, divination, witchcraft and many other occult
sciences. Correspondingly, the moon becomes associated with the afterlife, as it was
once believe to be the home of the dead. It was once believed that the dying would
leave their bodies, and live on the moon until it was time to reincarnate.

The moon is symbolic of the waxing and waning rhythms of life, of tides and all natural
cycles. It also symbolizes feelings and emotions, which can be uncertain at times. Waite
mentions, it “illuminates our animal nature … the dog and the wolf.”

Where the High Priestess signifies wisdom of the unconscious revealed in an ordered
way, the Moon symbolizes psychic insights revealed in an uncontrolled way.
⭐See: High Priestess Symbols

Face in The Moon

The face in the moon is that of a serene lady. She cautions us to be “still”, as Waite
writes, so it “may be that there shall come a calm upon the animal nature.” In other
words, in uncertain times, try not to act purely on emotions or fantasies, as this can
trigger an imbalance which leads to bad decisions, mood swings, depression and
occasionally even madness.

Moon Rays

Waite writes, the moon has “sixteen chief and sixteen secondary rays.” The 32 rays
indicate the 32 paths of wisdom on the Tree of Life. The Moon Tarot card suggests that
full understanding of these paths can be attained by calmly sitting in stillness and
reflection. At the same time, a person could develop mediumship or psychic abilities.

Some authors connect the long rays to the subconscious, and the short to the
conscious mind.

What is The Meaning of The Yods or Rain Drops?

The 15 falling drops of rain or dew are called yods. These drops of water are found in
many other cards in the Rider Waite deck. They appear to be in the shape of the
Hebrew letter yod (pronounced ya). According to the Jewish sages, the yod represents
the world to come and completeness.

The yods represent the descent of life force, chi or prana – falling from a higher plane,
and materializing, or manifesting in the material world.

⭐Yods also appear here: The Tower Symbolism, Ace of Cups Symbols, Ace of
Wands Symbols, Ace of Swords Symbols

What is The Symbolism of The Crayfish, Dog and Wolf?

The animals in this card reflect our primeval instincts and fears. Waite writes, these
fears are represented by the “dog, the wolf and that which comes up out of the deeps,
the nameless and hideous tendency which is lower than the savage beast.”

Crayfish

A crayfish or scorpion, Waite does not say which, “crawls from the abyss of water to the
land, but as a rule it sinks back whence it came.”

Traditionally, this creature symbolizes what lies beneath the surface. It is a lower form of
awareness, which attempts to scurry towards the path of enlightenment in the distance.
It could represent early childhood fears and memories resurfacing, or fears and phobias
which have no specific cause. We try to push him away, but in the quietness of the
night, the vague fears resurface.

The Crayfish resembles a scorpion, the zodiac sign of Death; as well as the Egyptian
scarab, which was seen as a reflection of the heavenly cycle of rebirth and
reincarnation.

Dog

The Wolf and Dog are of the same species, but one is wild and the other is
domesticated.

The dog is an esoteric symbol for God’s power, as the word dog spelled backwards is
God.

Wolf
The wolf is sometimes viewed as a sign of the Devil, or the opposite of God’s force.

Both wolf and dog are howling at the moon, signaling that all experiences, good and
bad, can contribute towards a personal awakening. Bad events can be blessings in
disguise, and good events strengthen our faith and make us value prayer.

What is the Meaning of The Two Pillars in The Moon Card?

The two gray towers are the same as those seen in the Death card. The twin towers
represent what is ‘known’. Beyond their border stretches what is presently ‘unknown’.

Each tower has a single window, which is placed high up. Those who can ascend the
heights, will be granted a vision of the road ahead. This symbolism ties the Moon card
to the gift of prophecy, premonition and intuition. Note, the windows are black which
connects them with occult vision.

⭐Twin pillars also appear here: Death Card Symbols

The Landscape Symbols in The Moon Card

Blue land

The twin Towers represent the balance between the seen and the unseen: the green
foreground is the seen, and the blue background is the unseen. The blue background
begins where the cultivated land finishes, and represents the land of spirit and the High
Priestess. This is the spot where great changes and enlightenment can take place.

Green land

The green land in the foreground is symbolic of the physical world, where
the Empress rules.

Path

The path starts at the pool of water, traverses over the green land, passes through the
pillars and into the blue land and mountains beyond. It could be the point at which the
man in the 8 of Cups began his spiritual quest. The path may represent the journey we
take in sleep, in our dreams or while in trance, astral travelling, or accessing
the Akashic Records and the Book of Life. This journey is associated, also with a
vision quest in shamanism.

⭐Paths also appear here: Eight of Cups Symbols, Ace of Pentacles Symbols
Pool of Water

The pool of water retains the same meaning as that presented in the Temperance and
Star. It is the great depth of cosmic mind-stuff, out of which emerges memories and
thoughts. We may try to forget some of those memories, even if they crawl out as
crayfish.
⭐Pools of water also appear here: Temperance Symbols, The Star Symbols

Black Plants

On the edge of the pool are black plants, which is a mark of the occult.

Blue Background

The blue sky symbolizes that the Moon relates to cosmic subconsciousness.

XIX

The Sun

Click to enlarge

The naked child mounted on a white horse and displaying a red standard has been
mentioned already as the better symbolism connected with this card. It is the destiny
of the Supernatural East and the great and holy light which goes before the endless
procession of humanity, coming out from the walled garden of the sensitive life and
passing on the journey home. The card signifies, therefore, the transit from the
manifest light of this world, represented by the glorious sun of earth, to the light of the
world to come, which goes before aspiration and is typified by the heart of a child.

But the last allusion is again the key to a different form or aspect of the symbolism.
The sun is that of consciousness in the spirit - the direct as the antithesis of the
reflected light. The characteristic type of humanity has become a little child therein--a
child in the sense of simplicity and innocence in the sense of wisdom. In that
simplicity, he bears the seal of Nature and of Art; in that innocence, he signifies the
restored world. When the self-knowing spirit has dawned in the consciousness above
the natural mind, that mind in its renewal leads forth the animal nature in a state of
perfect conformity.

Compare The Sun Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

Arthur Waite adopts the iconography of the Marseille Tarot Le Soleil card, but with a
few changes. Traditionally, sun cards were assigned the astrological sign of Gemini, the
twins, and were thus illustrated with two children. The Golden Dawn system reallocated
Gemini to The Lovers card, and so there was no need to include two children in the
Rider Waite version.

Le Soleil
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
The Sun Symbols
Waite retains the brick wall, and the anthropomorphic sun. A face has been traditionally
placed in the sun card since as far back at the 15th century Visconti-Sforza deck.

What Does The Sun and Face Symbolize in This Card?

Sun

The Sun represents solar energy. It is a symbol of divinity, God and the great universal
source of divine power. The earth would be a dark place without the light of the sun. In
the same way, a person’s life is empty and without sparkle when they don’t allow the
Divine Light to enter them. Like the Sun in daytime, the Light is everywhere but it is not
revealed everywhere. There are those who choose the lower path and ignore their
spiritual development.

The Sun thus becomes a symbol of illumination and enlightenment, which according to
the Golden Dawn, is best achieved through the study of occult sciences
and divination tools, such as tarot, astrology, geomancy, scrying, alchemy and astral
travel.

Face in Sun

The Sun has a human face, this is to encourage the Tarot reader to picture their
face illuminated within the sun. The Sun card is often used as a focus point for
meditation, for this specific purpose, to illuminate one’s spiritual gifts. The Hebrew letter
assigned to The Sun card, is Resh, which means face.

Notice the face in the sun is smiling like a proud mother. This indicates approval from a
higher power, god or angel.

Sun Rays

The Sun has 21 rays of sun light. There are 11 straight rays, and 10 wavy ones.

These rays represent the 21 Major arcana cards in Tarot. While the rays are arranged
alternatively, the series begins and ends with a straight ray. This reflects the Fool’s
journey through the trump cards. When The Fool reaches The World card, he starts all
over again, knowing little about the next stage of his evolution. We are all eternal
students of life.

Black Sun Ray

At the very top of the sun, is a thin black wavy sun ray. This ray is a sign of the occult. It
is not a natural ray, and the meaning is, we have to make an effort, through occult
practice, to access the Divine.

What Does The Naked Child Symbolize in The Sun Card?

Naked Child
The child is symbolic of rebirth and transformation. He is a Christ figure and is a
metaphor for Christ’s resurrection. His nakedness indicates that he no longer has
anything to hide. In a Tarot reading, it means that the sitter feels good on the inside and
thus has nothing to hide by revealing themselves. They are in a position to spread good
vibes to other people. They have allowed the Light The Child represents perfect control
between the conscious and the unconscious. Ego is gone.

Red Feather

A red feather on the child’s head connects the Sun to both Fool and Death. It reflects
innocence in The Fool, which is transformed by Death and is reborn again in the Sun
child. The feather becomes the awakened cosmic fire of the Holy Spirit. In Waite’s own
words, the Sun represents “a child in the sense of simplicity and innocence in the sense
of wisdom.” The soul had to lose and then regain innocence in order to mature. This is a
new stage of enlightenment and spiritual ascension.

⭐Red feather also appear here: The Fool Symbols, Death Symbols

Wreath of Circles

The child has a wreath around his head. It contains little sun symbols, a circle with a dot
in the middle. This is the standard astronomical symbol for the sun, and first appeared
in Europe during the Renaissance.

As the wreath must extend around his head, we must assume that there are twelve in
total, which correspond to the twelve Zodiac signs, and the belt on the Fool.

The 6 circles we can see, are also symbolic of the five senses and the newly awakened
sixth sense.

Red Banner

The child clutches a flag or banner in his left hand, indicating that control has now
passed from conscious (right hand) to the subconscious (left hand).

The banner is red-orange in color, this is the Kabbalistic sun and the color of the 13th
path on the Tree of Life which is associated with The Sun.

White Horse
Waite draws our attention to “the naked child mounted on a white horse.” This is the
quintessential solar horse and steed of the Gods. Both horse and rider are equal in
purity, virtue and nobility. They are without blemish, and in perfect intuitive harmony.

What is The Symbolism of The Sunflowers and Brick Wall?

Sunflowers

The garden has four sunflowers. These flowers turn towards the child, rather than the
sun, indicating that the child is radiating the Light of the Divine.

The number four is symbolical of the four elements – Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. It also
represents the four Kabbalistic worlds, and the four kingdoms of nature, mineral,
vegetable, animal and human. The sunflowers turn towards the human, and not the
Divine, implying that all creation turns to man for its final evolution.

⭐Sunflowers also appear here: Queen of Wands symbols

Brick Wall

The brick wall is a traditional symbol from older sun cards, and symbolizes boundary
lines. The before and after state of being. It represents all you have learnt, up to this
point in time. It is the solid foundation on which you can now ride forward.

Waite has depicted a wall with eight layers of bricks. Eight is a reference to the Noble
Eightfold Path of Buddhism, the path of eight practices which lead to enlightenment
or nirvana. Those practices are: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct,
right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi (meditative state).

On the top layer of the wall, are the letters of the Tetragrammaton, the biblical name for
God.

⭐Walls also appear here: King of Pentacles symbols, Two of Wands symbols
 XX

The Last Judgment

Click to enlarge

I have said that this symbol is essentially invariable in all Tarot sets, or at least the
variations do not alter its character. The great angel is here encompassed by clouds,
but he blows his bannered trumpet, and the cross as usual is displayed on the banner.
The dead are rising from their tombs--a woman on the right, a man on the left hand,
and between them their child, whose back is turned. But in this card there are more
than three who are restored, and it has been thought worth while to make this variation
as illustrating the insufficiency of current explanations. It should be noted that all the
figures are as one in the wonder, adoration and ecstacy expressed by their attitudes. It
is the card which registers the accomplishment of the great work of transformation in
answer to the summons of the Supernal--which summons is heard and answered from
within.

Herein is the intimation of a significance which cannot well be carried further in the
present place. What is that within us which does sound a trumpet and all that is lower
in our nature rises in response--almost in a moment, almost in the twinkling of an eye?
Let the card continue to depict, for those who can see no further, the Last judgment
and the resurrection in the natural body; but let those who have inward eyes look and
discover therewith. They will understand that it has been called truly in the past a card
of eternal life, and for this reason it may be compared with that which passes under
the name of Temperance.

Compare The Judgement Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite version of Judgement is based on the Le Jugement card from
the Marseille Tarot deck.
 Le Jugement
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
Judgement Symbols
Historically, this card usually depicts the Christian Resurrection and Last Judgement.

Waite sticks to traditional iconography explaining, “The great angel is here

encompassed by clouds, but he blows his bannered trumpet, and the cross as usual is
displayed on the banner. The dead are rising from their tombs – a woman on the right, a
man on the left, and between them their child, whose back is turned.”

However, Waite has made a few adjustments, for example by, adding more than three
figures. He says he thought it “worth while to make this variation as illustrating the
insufficiency of current explanations.”

Waite readily admits that this card reflects the literal image of biblical judgement, when
the dead come back to life. But he is also quick to point out, that he considers there is
more meaning in his interpretation of the card. He advises those “who have inward
eyes” to look closer.
 Visconti Sforza (c.1450)
Image: Public Domain
Judgement Symbols
Who is The Angel in The Judgement Tarot Card?

Angel
The angel is most likely Archangel Gabriel, God’s messenger. Gabriel was the angel
who visited various prophets, including Muhammad and the Virgin Mary in the
Annunciation.

While the Bible mentions a trumpet blast preceding the resurrection of the dead, it does
not specify Gabriel as the trumpeter. In more recent times, Gabriel has become
identified as the trumpeter, largely due to his appearance with the instrument in popular
works such as Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667).

Archangel Gabriel has been assigned to the element water, which is why his robe is
blue. Water is receptive to energy; it helps people to be receptive to whatever divine
message Gabriel delivers.

Angel Wings

The wings of the angel are violet pink in color. The tone of this color is associated
with Jupiter, the planet of expansion. It implies that the people below the wings are
ascending to a higher level of awareness. It is the same color as the angel in
Temperance, connecting the two cards. Waite writes that Judgement is a card
of “eternal life, and for this reason it may be compared with that which passes under the
name of Temperance.”

⭐Violet angel wings also appear here: Temperance Symbols

What is The Symbolism of The Trumpet in Judgement?

Trumpet

The angel blows his message through the trumpet. It is the message that causes us to
remember that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.

This awareness happens as we move from the third to the fourth and fifth dimension,
where we can then access information from the Akashic Records or Cosmic Memory.

In a Tarot reading, this card signals that you are entering a higher vibration or
dimension.

7 Trumpet Rays

The seven rays radiating from the trumpet represent the seven trumpets sounded in
the Book of Revelation which cue the apocalypse.
It may also be a reference to The Lords Prayer, which has seven petitions. This is a
type of geometric prayer meditation which aligns in tone perfectly with the seven
chakras. Some claim that the act of reciting this prayer, can unblock your seven
chakras.

Our Father (The Lords Prayer)

1. Our Father who is in Heaven hallowed is your name

2. Your Kingdom come

3. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

4. Give us this day our daily bread

5. And forgive us our offenses as we forgive those that have offended us

6. Lead us not into temptation

7. Deliver us from evil

Banner

The banner which hangs from the trumpet is the flag of St George. The red cross on a
white background is associated with the crusades and Saint George. He is the military
saint and is often depicted as a crusader.

The implication here is that we may achieve victory over death, even while still alive and
in our earthly body.

What do The Family and Other People Symbolize in Judgement?

A group of people, a man, woman and child represent the resurrection. They emerge
from their coffins, arms spread, and looking up at the angel in awe. These are the
“sleeping dead” from the Book of Revelation.

The three figures represent The Holy Trinity, and you will note that the symbolism of
three is reflected consistently throughout the Rider Waite deck.
In the background of the card, another family of three are awakening. The opposite pair
of trinities here symbolizes that awakening can happen in both the physical and spiritual
sides of life.

The people are naked because they have thrown off their worldly garments in favor of
spirituality. They have died and undergone a rebirth, and now realize that the physical
and spiritual world are not separate. They are ready now to start a new life, to which
they are being summoned by the trumpet.

Child

The child is symbolic of rebirth and transformed personality – a condition expressed

often by people who have undergone a mystical experience, such as a near death
experience (NDE), or communication with God through direct or personal experience.
The child’s hair is the same color as the father, half black to show that he is the product
of the father and occult practices. Black is associated with occult and occult training,
enabling a person access to higher planes of spiritual knowledge.

Man

The man symbolizes the conscious and Father. His hair is half-black to show he is
the Magician, who has transformed himself and the woman by occult practice.

Woman

The woman is the sub-conscious and Mother.

Arm Positions

The figures are depicted in a position, known as the LVX ritual, used in ceremonial
magic in the Golden Dawn.

The woman with her arms outstretched forms the letter L with her body. This position is
known as The sign of the Mourning of Isis.

The child lifts both arms to reproduce the letter V, The sign of Apophis and
Typhon connected to renewal and rebirth.

The man folds him arms across his chest forming the sign X, The sign of Osiris Risen.

Combined the letters spell the Latin noun LVX, which translates as Light.
What is The Meaning of The Coffins?

Coffins

At a basic level, the coffins symbolize death.

At a deeper level, the coffins represent the discarded limitation of the physical body.
They become the discarded limitations of three-dimensional knowing.

The inner section of the coffins is black, which suggests that the only way to burst out of
ignorance, while in the land of the living, is by occult practices. Occult practices here
include anything from mediation, magic, astrology, alchemy, tarot reading or astral
projection.

Sea

The coffins float on a sea which is the final reservoir of those waters which begin in the
robe of the High Priestess. This is the sea of the universal mind, the ultimate source of
all ideas and creativity.

⭐ See: High Priestess Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Snowy Mountains in Judgement?

Snowy Mountains

The snow-covered mountains echo a similar theme to The Hermit. White snow
represents a blank page, fresh start and the time before the Big Bang and creation.

⭐Snow capped mountains also appear here: The Hermit Symbols

Blue Background

The blue sky indicates that the action in Judgement relates to cosmic
subconsciousness.

Trees

There are three trees in the background. In this instance, it may well refer to the mind,
body, spirit connection associated with the New Age, Shamanism and the Holy Trinity.
 0

ZERO

The Fool

Click to enlarge

With light step, as if earth and its trammels had little power to restrain him, a young
man in gorgeous vestments pauses at the brink of a precipice among the great heights
of the world; he surveys the blue distance before him-its expanse of sky rather than
the prospect below. His act of eager walking is still indicated, though he is stationary
at the given moment; his dog is still bounding. The edge which opens on the depth has
no terror; it is as if angels were waiting to uphold him, if it came about that he leaped
from the height. His countenance is full of intelligence and expectant dream. He has a
rose in one hand and in the other a costly wand, from which depends over his right
shoulder a wallet curiously embroidered. He is a prince of the other world on his
travels through this one-all amidst the morning glory, in the keen air. The sun, which
shines behind him, knows whence he came, whither he is going, and how he will
return by another path after many days. He is the spirit in search of experience. Many
symbols of the Instituted Mysteries are summarized in this card, which reverses, under
high warrants, all the confusions that have preceded it.

In his Manual of Cartomancy, Grand Orient has a curious suggestion of the office of
Mystic Fool, as apart of his process in higher divination; but it might call for more
than ordinary gifts to put it into operation. We shall see how the card fares according
to the common arts of fortune-telling, and it will be an example, to those who can
discern, of the fact, otherwise so evident, that the Trumps Major had no place
originally in the arts of psychic gambling, when cards are used as the counters and
pretexts. Of the circumstances under which this art arose we know, however, very
little. The conventional explanations say that the Fool signifies the flesh, the sensitive
life, and by a peculiar satire its subsidiary name was at one time the alchemist, as
depicting folly at the most insensate stage.

Which Historical Deck of Tarot Cards Influenced The Design of The Fool Card
Symbols?

Historically, the Fool is depicted in one of two iconographic traditions, either as a jester
or a ragged beggar.
 Tarot of Marseilles deck (1701-
1715)
When it came to creating a deck of divination, artists typically turned to historical Tarot
decks such as the Tarot de Marseille as a starting point when recreating the major
arcana. Pamela Colman Smith was no exception. In the image above, we see the Fool
carrying a satchel over his right shoulder and an animal (cat?) leaping on him.
What is The Meaning of The Mountains? And Why Is The Fool About to Walk Off a
Cliff?

Mountains tend to represent obstacles to overcome in a Tarot reading. The closer the
mountain, the more immediate the danger. The Fool is literally standing on top of a
mountain cliff, surrounded by even more scary jagged mountain peaks. The danger is
imminent, his next step could result in him plunging to his death.

A.E. Waite writes, “The edge which opens on the depth has no terror; it is as if angels
were waiting to uphold him, if it came about that he leaped from the height.” [Pictorial
Key to the Tarot]

Essentially the next step is a leap of faith. As Waite continues, “The sun, which shines
behind him, knows whence he came, whither he is going, and how he will return by
another path after many days. he is the spirit in search of experience.”

The Fool seeks enlightenment, and he trusts the angels to watch over him as he leaps
into the unknown. This is spirit expanding.

At a deeper level, the Fool represents the state of the first emanation. He is the primary
aspect of universal consciousness, also called super-consciousness. He is the cosmic
spark of Life-Breath, just before it descends into the abyss of manifestation.

The number of this card is 0. Zero suggests nothingness, oneness prior to coming into
existence. This is the level of spiritual consciousness or vibration that saints and mystics
refer to as Oneness or Union with God.

Where is The Fool Card Placed in The Major Arcana?

The exact placement of the Fool card in the Major Arcana, was hotly debated by
occultists throughout the 19th century.

Traditionally, the Fool card was placed at the end of the trumps, because it
was unnumbered and thus stood for something separate. The Fool was always treated
differently.

Even though Waite seem undecided, he allocated the number 0 to The Fool, which
encourages us to place the Fool ahead of Trump 1, The Magician. However, in his book
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, he placed the Fool between Judgement and the World
cards in his commentary on the card meanings.

Nowadays, the Fool tends to be placed at the very beginning of the Tarot deck.
The Fools Journey has becomes synonymous with life’s journey, and it begins with
packing our bag like the Fool and leaving home, and finishes when we experience The
World.

What is The Symbolism of The Fool’s Tunic and Red Feather?

Waite writes, “with light step, as if earth and its tramels had little power to restrain him, a
young man in gorgeous vestments pauses at the brink of a precipice among great
heights of the world”.

Tunic

The Fool wears a “gorgeous” tunic, decorated with twelve wheels. Each wheel contains
eight radiating spokes, which represent the Golden Dawn’s symbol for spirit. One wheel
also contains the Hebrew letter Shin.

As Waite is quoted, in Israel Regardie’s The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic:

“At the meeting point of the arms – in the middle of the Cosmic Cross – is placed the
Wheel or Circle of Spirit, having eight radii, proceeding from the sacred letter SHIN. The
doctrine of the Rosy Cross in the Grade of Adeptus Minor is here formulated and
symbolised, with intimations of mysteries which lie beyond the Grade.”

Belt

The Fool wears a belt bearing the astrological symbol of the sun, a circle with dot in the
middle. As the belt must extend around his waist, we must assume that there are 12 in
total, which correspond to the 12 Zodiac signs. Similar iconography can be found in the
wreath around the child’s head in the Sun card.

Red Feather

The Fool wears a red feather in his hair. A similar red feather also appears in the
Death and The Sun, linking all three cards together. The feather marks the stages of
moving through the three degrees of Freemasonry, from Entered Apprentice, to
Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The Fool is emergence, Death is rebirth and the Sun is
enlightenment.

⭐Red feather also appear here: Death card Symbols, The Sun Symbols, Knight of
Wands Symbols, Nine of Cups Symbols, Page of Wands Symbols
What Is The Meaning of The White Dog In The Fool Card?

A white dog yaps at the heel of The Fool, warning him of the impending danger ahead.

By including a dog in the design, Pamela kept within the tradition of the Marseilles deck.
The implication here being that the animal kingdom are messengers of spirit. Black cats,
dogs and toads were known as witches familiars, that is low-ranking demon that
assumed any animal shape.

The dog in this card has been depicted in white, which is symbolic of purity and god-
force spirit. While we are reminded that it is good to raise our eyes to Heaven for
guidance, we are reminded to pay attention to the signs down here on Earth too.

Worth Reading: Animal Symbolism, what it means when a bird, animal or insect acts
unusually around you.

What Is The Symbolism of The White Flower In The Fool Card?

The Fool holds a white flower in his left hand, assumed to be a rose. In alchemy, white
reflects purity and so the white rose becomes symbolic of innocence and optimism.

What Is The Fool Carrying in His Bag?

In short, we do not know what the Fool carries in his satchel. The load seems light,
symbolic of carrying little ’emotional baggage’. This is a youth, embarking on life, before
the hard knocks of life set in.

Some authors propose that the Fool is carrying the four symbols of the tarot suit in his
bag: the wand, cup, sword and pentacle. The suggestion is that he is
prepared practically for the hike ahead. The Fool’s flamboyant pose, suggests his
expectations may not match the reality to come. This could be a college graduate about
to start his first serious job. He has no idea yet, how little he knows.
 XXI

The World

Click to enlarge

As this final message of the Major Trumps is unchanged--and indeed unchangeable--

in respect of its design, it has been partly described already regarding its deeper sense.
It represents also the perfection and end of the Cosmos, the secret which is within it,
the rapture of the universe when it understands itself in God. It is further the state of
the soul in the consciousness of Divine Vision, reflected from the self-knowing spirit.
But these meanings are without prejudice to that which I have said concerning it on
the material side.

It has more than one message on the macrocosmic side and is, for example, the state
of the restored world when the law of manifestation shall have been carried to the
highest degree of natural perfection. But it is perhaps more especially a story of the
past, referring to that day when all was declared to be good, when the morning stars
sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy. One of the worst explanations
concerning it is that the figure symbolizes the Magus when he has reached the highest
degree of initiation; another account says that it represents the absolute, which is
ridiculous. The figure has been said to stand for Truth, which is, however, more
properly allocated to the seventeenth card. Lastly, it has been called the Crown of the
Magi.

Compare The World Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite World card borrows heavily from the Marseille Tarot. Waite himself
says, “this final message of the Major Trumps is unchanged – and indeed
unchangeable – in respect of its design”.
 Le Monde
Marseille Tarot (c.1700)
Image: Public Domain
The World Symbols
In both instances the naked World dancer moves encased within a victory wreath. The
four corners of the card contain tetramorphs, mystical creatures of antiquity and
mythology depicting a bull, lion, bird and human face.

The dancer holds dual magical wands, as opposed to The Magician who only holds
one.

What Does The Dancer Symbolize in The World Tarot Card?

Dancer

The dancer symbolizes the fetus waiting to be born again, as the Fool prepares to start
over through the procession of the Major Arcana. However, this is no babe starting from
scratch, we are presented with a woman at her height of beauty and youth. She
signifies the next stage of evolution.

Some occultists claim that the figure is a hermaphrodite, because her sexual gender is
hidden by the scarf. They say she is the union of male and female, and that sexual
identity is no longer relevant or defining. The dancer perfectly integrates aspects of the
male and female. Wouldn’t this card be a suitable iconographic image for gender fluidity
in todays times! The dancer is both the bride and bridegroom.

Purple Sash

The purple sash is the color of divinity and wisdom. It evokes the images of a Catholic
priest who puts on a purple stole when offering the sacrament during mass. The sash
curves in the figure of eight, suggestive of the cosmic lemniscate or infinity sign.

Red Hairband

The dancer wears a red hairband, which draws fire energy to her head area. It
symbolizes that her mind and conscious is active. This is not someone who exists only
in the spiritual realm.

Two Wands

The dancer holds two double-sided wands, which represent the polarity powers
of involution and evolution. Involution is the decent of God into the soul or
consciousness, and evolution is the assent of the soul back to God or the creator.
⭐Wands also appear here: The Magician Symbols

Crossed Legs Symbolism

The dancer crosses her legs in a similar manner to the Hanged Man. However, the
triangle he represents is under the cross of the tree, symbolizing he is still bound by
earthly things. The dancer is reversed, she forms a triangle pointing upwards, from the
tip of her head to her two outstretched hands. Thus the triangle of Spirit now overturns
the cross of the material earthly plane.
 Alchemy Symbol of Sulphur
The triangle forms the alchemical symbol of Sulphur, implying that human
consciousness has arrived at its highest level of awareness.

⭐See also: Hanged Man Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Laurel Wreath in The World Card?

Laurel Wreath

The woman is surrounded by a large laurel wreath, traditionally a symbol of success

and victory. The implication here, on the Fools Journey, is that there is cause for
celebration. This is the end of the road before a new era begins. The wreath forms the
shape of a zero, which is the number of The Fool card.

The wreath also symbolizes the womb, signaling that the woman is like an embryo
waiting to be reborn.
 Tattva vision card for meditation.
The black oval shape in the middle
corresponds to The World Card.
The oval shape of the wreath is also used by the Golden Dawn in their Tattva cards.
These colorful cards were designed to aid the development of clairvoyance through
visual meditation, and one of the symbols in the cards is an oval. The oval corresponds
to the Akasha, ether or spiritual realm (see Akashic Records).

See Shamanism for more information on Tattva cards.

⭐A laurel wreath also appears here: The Chariot Symbols, Ace of Swords
Symbols, Seven of Cups Symbols, Six of Wands Symbols

Two Red Ribbons

The red ribbon bindings at the top and bottom of the wreath indicate completion, the
circle has been made complete.

It also reminds one of the ancient quote, “as above, so below”.

Who Are The Four Figures in The World Card and What do They Symbolize?

The four beasts represent the four living figures or hayyot, which are a class
of heavenly beings in Jewish mythology. According to both Jewish and Christian
tradition, the creatures vary by description. In this card we see the four tetramorph, a
lion, man, eagle and bull.
These creatures represent the four seasons, as well as the four elements of Fire, Air,
Water and Earth. Their presence implies that they are the cornerstones of a balanced
life.

Man

The blond-haired man represents the astrological sign of Aquarius, winter season and
the element Air.

Lion

The Lion represents Leo, summer and fire.

Eagle

The Eagle represents Scorpio, autumn and water.

Bull

The Bull represents Taurus, spring and earth.

⭐Tetramorph also appears here: Wheel of Fortune Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Blue Background?

The blue background is the cosmic mind or ‘Universe’ as it has come to be known in the
New Age. The dancer is able to manipulate this realm easily with her two wands.

§3
Conclusion as to the Greater Keys
There has been no attempt in the previous tabulation to present the symbolism in what
is called the three worlds--that of Divinity, of the Macrocosm and the Microcosm. A
large volume would be required for developments of this kind. I have taken the cards
on the high plane of their more direct significance to man, who--in material life--is on
the quest of eternal things. The compiler of the Manual of Cartomancy has treated
them under three headings: the World of Human Prudence, which does not differ from
divination on its more serious side; the World of Conformity, being the life of
religious devotion; and the World of Attainment, which is that of "the soul's progress
towards the term of its research." He gives also a triple process of consultation,
according to these divisions, to which the reader is referred. I have no such process to
offer, as I think that more may be gained by individual reflection on each of the
Trumps Major. I have also not adopted the prevailing attribution of the cards to the
Hebrew alphabet--firstly, because it would serve no purpose in an elementary
handbook; secondly, because nearly every attribution is wrong. Finally, I have not
attempted to rectify the position of the cards in their relation to one another; the Zero
therefore appears after No. 20, but I have taken care not to number the World or
Universe otherwise than as 21. Wherever it ought to be put, the Zero is an
unnumbered card.

In conclusion as to this part, I will give these further indications regarding the Fool,
which is the most speaking of all the symbols. He signifies the journey outward, the
state of the first emanation, the graces and passivity of the spirit. His wallet is
inscribed with dim signs, to shew that many sub-conscious memories are stored up in
the soul.

PART III
The Outer Method of the Oracles
§1
Distinction between the Greater and Lesser Arcana
IN respect of their usual presentation, the bridge between the Greater and Lesser
Arcana is supplied by the court cards--King, Queen, Knight and Squire or Page; but
their utter distinction from the Trumps Major is shewn by their conventional
character. Let the reader compare them with symbols like the Fool, the High Priestess,
the Hierophant, or--almost without exception--with any in the previous sequence, and
he will discern my meaning. There is no especial idea connected on the surface with
the ordinary court cards; they are a bridge of conventions, which form a transition to
the simple pretexts of the counters and denaries of the numbers following. We seem to
have passed away utterly from the region of higher meanings illustrated by living
pictures. There in was a period, however, when the numbered cards were also
pictures, but such devices were sporadic inventions of particular artists and were
either conventional designs of the typical or allegorical kind, distinct from what is
understood by symbolism, or they were illustrations--shall we say?--of manners,
customs and periods. They were, in a word, adornments, and as such they did nothing
to raise the significance of the Lesser Arcana to the plane of the Trumps Major;
moreover, such variations are exceedingly few. This notwithstanding, there are vague
rumours concerning a higher meaning in the minor cards, but nothing has so far
transpired, even within the sphere of prudence which belongs to the most occult
circles; these, it is true, have certain variants in respect of divinatory values, but I have
not heard that in practice they offer better results. Efforts like those of Papus in The
Tarot ol the Bohemians are strenuous and deserving after their own kind; be, in
particular, recognizes the elements of the Divine Immanence in the Trumps Major,
and he seeks to follow them through the long series of the lesser cards, as if these
represented filtrations of the World of Grace through the World of Fortune; but he
only produces -an arbitrary scheme of division which he can carry no further, and he
has recourse, of necessity, in the end to a common scheme of divination as the
substitute for a title to existence on the part of the Lesser Arcana. Now, I am
practically in the same position; but I shall make no attempt here to save the situation
by drawing on the mystical properties of numbers, as he and others have attempted, I
shall recognize at once that the Trumps Major belong to the divine dealings of
philosophy, but all that follows to fortune-telling, since it has never yet been
translated into another language; the course thus adopted will render to divination, and
at need even to gambling, the things that belong to this particular world of skill, and it
will set apart for their proper business those matters that are of another order. In this
free introduction to the subject in hand, it is only necessary to add that the difference
between the fifty-six Lesser Arcana and ordinary playing-cards is not only essentially
slight, because the substitution of Cups for Hearts, and so forth, constitutes an
accidental variation, but because the presence of a Knight in each of the four suits was
characteristic at one time of many ordinary packs, when this personage usually
replaced the Queen. In the rectified Tarot which illustrates the present handbook, all
numbered cards of the Lesser Arcana--the Aces only excepted--are furnished with
figures or pictures to illustrate-but without exhausting--the divinatory meanings
attached thereto.

Some who are gifted with reflective and discerning faculties in more than the ordinary
sense--I am not speaking of clairvoyance may observe that in many of the Lesser
Arcana there are vague intimations conveyed by the designs which seem to exceed the
stated divinatory values. It is desirable to avoid misconception by specifying
definitely that, except in rare instances--and then only by accident--the variations are
not to be regarded as suggestions of higher and extradivinatory symbolism. I have said
that these Lesser Arcana have not been translated into a language which transcends
that of fortune telling. I should not indeed be disposed to regard them as belonging in
their existing forms to another realm than this; but the field of divinatory possibilities
is inexhaustible, by the hypothesis of the art, and the combined systems of cartomancy
have indicated only the bare heads of significance attaching to the emblems in use.
When the pictures in the present case go beyond the conventional meanings they
should be taken as hints of possible developments along the same lines; and this is one
of the reasons why the pictorial devices here attached to the four denaries will prove a
great help to intuition. The mere numerical powers and bare words of the meanings
are insufficient by themselves; but the pictures are like doors which open into
unexpected chambers, or like a turn in the open road with a wide prospect beyond.

§ 2. THE LESSER ARCANA

Otherwise, the Four Suits of Tarot Cards,
will now be described according to their respective classes by the pictures to each
belonging, and a harmony of their meanings will be provided from all sources.

THE SUIT OF WANDS

King

Click to enlarge

The physical and emotional nature to which this card is attributed is dark, ardent,
lithe, animated, impassioned, noble. The King uplifts a flowering wand, and wears,
like his three correspondences in the remaining suits, what is called a cap of
maintenance beneath his crown. He connects with the symbol of the lion, which is
emblazoned on the back of his throne. Divinatory Meanings: Dark man, friendly,
countryman, generally married, honest and conscientious. The card always signifies
honesty, and may mean news concerning an unexpected heritage to fall in before very
long. Reversed: Good, but severe; austere, yet tolerant.

What Does The King of Wands Agitated Posture Symbolize?

This Lion is Not Tamed

The King of Wands sits on his throne and his demeanor is somewhat agitated. He is
frowning and clenches his left fist slightly; his forward leaning postures implies he could
leap from his throne at any moment.

He is unlikely, however, to over-react to a situation, because in order to become or

remain King, he must have developed some degree of self-control and forethought
along the way. No doubt he was, and perhaps still is, a fierce and fiery warrior on the
battlefield; which reminds us that people’s base nature rarely changes.

There is a fire in this King’s belly, but it burns more tamely these days, yet it is still there
and the flames can always be fanned. The ornamental lion attached to the chain around
his neck, signifies ‘taming the lion’. But can you ever really tame a lion?

Note: The King of Wands is the ultimate personification of elemental Fire. His red hair
and gown are the color of flames. Salamanders encroach the scene, an alchemist
symbol for fire. He is surrounded by lions, symbolic of the Fire sign Leo. Even his crown
is decorated with tongues of fire.

Two Feet Exposed And Wearing Green Boots

The King exposes both feet. This indicates that his feet are firmly on the ground and he
can balance emotions and action. He wears a pair of green boots, and according to
color theory, green is associated with nature. While esoteric theories of color are
various, chromatherapists believe that green helps to relax a stressed person. The
ruffled collar around the King’s shoulders appears to be a similar shade of green.

Why is The King of Wands Facing to His Right?

Notice that we only see the King in profile as he faces to his right. Since ancient times in
iconography, Kings have been depicted facing right and holding objects in their right
hand. In some instances, subordinates and defeated enemies were oriented to their left
and frequently used their left hand to hold objects.
King of Wands
Symbols, 15th century Sola-Busca deck
It is possible that the artist took the idea of right symbolism from the King of Wands in
the 15th century Sola Busca deck. Smith created her art two years after photographs
of the Sola Busca Tarot were acquired by the British Museum, and most likely she saw
the cards on display there.

What is The Symbolism of The King’s Crown?

The King of Wands is wearing a diadem crown, a type of ornamental headband worn by
monarchs as a badge of royalty. The crown is a symbol of divine recognition, because
royalty could only be conferred by God. Equally, the doctrine implies that any attempt to
depose or murder a king is a sacrilegious act and runs contrary to the will of God.
Tongues of fire descend on the apostles at Pentecost (public domain)
The crown appears to be decorated with tongues of fire. This could represent
the tongues of fire which descended over the head of the Disciples in Pentecost,
representing the endowment of the Holy Spirit.
“They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.”

Bible. Acts 2.1-16

In a Tarot reading, the crown becomes a symbol of living your divine life purpose. You
are achieving what you set out to do when you incarnated on this Earth; and are thus
receiving blessings from the angels above.

⭐Crowns appears: All the Kings and Queens, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant,
Justice, Death, Tower, Ace of Swords, Four of Pentacles

What do The Lions on The Throne Symbolize?

Throne Symbol

The throne represents the seat of authority. As with the Queen of Wands, we do not see
the top of the throne in this Tarot card. It appears to stretch upwards towards the
Heavens, another sign of blessings and approval from God.

Black Lions Symbolism

Two black lions are etched into the back of the throne, they appear much fiercer than
the dancing lions on the Queen of Wands throne. Perhaps this references again the
idea that this King has not really tamed his inner lion, and he could pounce at any
moment, should he choose. I say ‘choose’ because he is not as hot-headed as he was
in his youth.

According to Egyptologist Conni Lord, “The lion was a symbol of royal authority”, and
the image of the lion was used in everyday items like beds and chairs, most probably for
a magical meaning to do with protection.

Within a Tarot reading, the lion indicates that the querent has the necessary courage
and emotional strength to overcome any difficulties that they are facing right now.

⭐Lions also appear here: Strength Symbols, Wheel of Fortune Symbols, The
World Symbols and Two of Cups Symbols

Why Are There Salamanders and What do They Symbolize?

The King of Wands has salamanders, a type of lizard, emblazoned on his yellow cloak
and on his throne. The salamander was a favorite symbol of alchemists and was used
to represent the element Fire. A large body of mythology, symbolism and legend has
developed around this creature over the centuries, the chief characteristic being that it
can live and thrive in fire.

Notice that the salamander’s tails are shown with their tails in their mouth. This closed
circle represents maturity and completion.

Compare this to the salamanders in the Knight of Wands cloak, their tails do not touch
the mouth, indicating actions not yet complete.

Compare also to the salamanders on the cloak of the Page of Wands, which appear
haphazardly in every direction, indicating plans in an early stage and lack of experience.

What is The Meaning of The Salamander Near The King?

The Queen of Wands has her black cat, which acts as a witch’s familiar, or companion.
Perhaps the salamander is the King’s equivalent, a magical protector and good luck
charm?

The King is a warrior, he has no need for a real lion by his side, it would somehow
diminish his personal authority. A magical fire creature, however, well that’s a different
matter.

⭐Salamanders appear here: Page of Wands Symbols, Knight of Wands Symbols

Symbolism of The Colors Yellow and Red in This Tarot Card

The King of Wand’s gown is red, and his throne is yellow. The Queen of Wands is the
exact opposite, her gown is yellow and her throne is red.

The throne symbolizes the seat of power of a monarchy. Perhaps as a woman, the
Queen of Wands requires a red throne to signal strength and the power of an army, in
case people underestimate her due to her gender. The King’s throne is yellow, and
yellow is associated with communication. This is his way of saying, ‘My reign is not
brutal, I can be diplomatic too.’

The clothes we wear on the other hand are very personal, and represent our true
personality. The Queen wears a yellow gown to reflect her more inspirational nature,
and the King wears a red gown to reflect his more aggressive nature.
 WANDS

Queen

Click to enlarge

The Wands throughout this suit are always in leaf, as it is a suit of life and animation.
Emotionally and otherwise, the Queen's personality corresponds to that of the King,
but is more magnetic. Divinatory Meanings: A dark woman, countrywoman, friendly,
chaste, loving, honourable. If the card beside her signifies a man, she is well disposed
towards him; if a woman, she is interested in the Querent. Also, love of money, or a
certain success in business. Reversed: Good, economical, obliging, serviceable.
Signifies also--but in certain positions and in the neighbourhood of other cards
tending in such directions--opposition, jealousy, even deceit and infidelity.

Symbols of Crown, Throne, One Foot, Yellow Dress and Cloak Clasp

Crown

The Queen of Wands is wearing a diadem crown, a type of ornamental headband worn
by monarchs as a badge of royalty. The crown is a symbol of divine recognition,
because royalty could only be conferred by God.

The crown is also the symbol of ultimate achievement, the crowning glory of one’s life.
This crown is decorated with leaves, possibly plucked from the wand the Queen is
holding. Leaves represent what is growing in a person’s life, and they are present on all
the wands throughout the Wands suit. This Queen has achieved so much, her life is so
abundant, that she can now afford to ‘waste’ some of those shoots for display purposes.

She could represent a woman who has reached a high point in her career or life, where
now she does not feel the need to chase down every opportunity to prove herself. Her
position is solid enough, and ‘more’ is not necessarily better at this stage.
Throne

The throne represents the seat of authority, and implies that this Queen is very much in
control of her life. We do not see the top of the throne, it reaches upwards towards the
sky and Heaven, a sign of spiritual enlightenment, awakening consciousness and
wisdom.

Yellow Dress

Like the Page and Knight of Wands, the Queen is wearing a yellow garment. In Tarot,
yellow represents an inquisitive mind and quick thinking, which means this Queen still
has a sharp mind and lust for life. Yellow is also associated with spiritual awakening,
also known as spiritual ascension. The process of ascension usually happens over
time, and it ends with the feeling that having money, fame or power does not give us the
sense of happiness that we expected it would. We begin to suspect there is another
‘formula’ for happiness and self-fulfillment.

Cloak Clasp

It is not clear if the clasp on the Queen’s cloak is the head of a lion or cat, either way it
continues the feline theme of this card. Some have suggested that it looks like a fox, but
as the fox is part of the canine family, I think this is less likely. The artist Pamela
Colman-Smith tended to theme the artwork of each card carefully.

One Foot with a Red Shoe

The Queen is wearing red shoes, although only one foot peeps through from
underneath her gown.

The color red is associated with the element Fire, which reveals the Queen’s passion.

The fact that we only see one foot is highly significant, and it is the left foot. This
signifies that she only wishes to reveal a part of herself in public, preferring to keep
other aspects of her personality and interests private. Contrary to popular belief the left
side is related to logic and not intuition, as so many say. This signals, that she feels
more comfortable showing us her practical side, rather than displaying her feelings or
spiritual insights. As this Queen represents the action-orientated fire signs, Aries, Leo
and Sagittarius in astrology, perhaps this is not a big surprise.

Compare to the Queen of Cups Symbols – this water Queen only reveals her right
foot. The right represents emotional and intuitive traits. This is also why the angel in
Temperance places his right foot in the water, water being associated with healing and
intuition.
What Does The Lion Symbolize in The Queen of Wands?

The Queen sits on a red throne decorated with lions. It is possible that the artist took the
idea of lions directly from the King of Wands in the 15th century Sola Busca Tarot. This
deck’s symbology is closely related to alchemy as practiced during the Renaissance.
Smith created her art two years after photographs of the Sola Busca deck were
acquired by the British Museum, and most likely she saw the cards on display there.
King of Wands, 15th
century Sola Busca deck
Lions have appeared in coat of arms (heradry) since early medieval times. The lion is a
symbol of courage, royalty and nobility. The lion also carries Judeo-
Christian symbolism. The Lion of Judah stands in the coat of arms of Jerusalem.

Egyptian Theme

Two golden lions form the arm support of the Queen of Wand’s throne, appearing
almost sphinx-like. This sphinx appearance ties in with the Egyptian theme which runs
throughout the court cards in the Wands suit.

Thousands of years ago lions roamed ancient Egypt and even became domesticated
pets for the royals. The lion (Panthera leo) was associated with the pharaoh, as well as
the sun, one of the most powerful elements of life and death in Ancient Egypt.

According to Egyptologist Conni Lord, “The lion was a symbol of royal authority”, and
the image of the lion was used in everyday items like beds and chairs, most probably for
a magical meaning to do with protection. (Source: National Geographic)

Two dancing red lions also appear on the Queens of Wand’s throne. This could be
the lion dance, a traditional performance to welcome in the Chinese New Year. Actors
perform in pairs as dancing lions, moving to music, to attract good luck and banish the
devil. Lions play an important role in Chinese mythology, and the red dancing lion
symbolizes courage. Interestingly, this tradition had its roots in an ancient story during
the rule of the legendary Huang Di, or Yellow Emperor. Could this connect with the
yellow dress of the Queen of Wands?

Within a Tarot reading, the lion indicates that the querent has the necessary courage
and emotional strength to overcome any difficulties that they are facing right now.

What is The Meaning of The Sunflower in This Tarot Card?

The Queen of Wands holds a sunflower in her hand, and several more are carved into
the stonework of her throne.

The sunflower is named after the sun, the astrological ruling planet of Leo, the lion.

No flower raises the spirit quite like the sunflower. It is the ‘happy’ flower with the face of
the sun. The presence of sunflowers in this card, indicates that the Queen is generally a
happy and optimistic person. She will always guide you to believe that the proverbial
glass is half full.
⭐Sunflowers also appears here: Sun Tarot card

What is The Symbolism of The Black Cat?

Symbol of Luck

A black cat stands between the Queen and anyone who approaches her. The black cat
is viewed as bad luck in some cultures, and lucky in others. The fact that the black cat
sits at the Queen’s feet, suggests that luck and fortune has chosen to favor her.
See: What it means when a black cat crosses your path.

In ancient Egypt, cats were considered magical creatures who bought luck to people
who housed them. This is why wealthy families honored their cats with jewels and when
the cat died, they were mummified.

Symbol of Protection

The cat also echoes the ‘protection’ symbolism of lions. The black cat in this card stares
at you, as though weighing up your soul and integrity. Only those with good intentions
may pass, no psychic vampires allowed here! The cat is an occult sign that the Queen
has acquired spiritual protection, most likely because she has an interest in spiritualism.
However, while the Queen of Cups makes an elaborate display of reading her chalice
like a crystal ball, the Queen of Wands hides her abilities by diverting our attention to
the cat instead.

Sign of Independence

Cats tend to be independent creatures, which links to this Queen who is independent of
nature.

⭐This is the only card in the Rider Waite deck with a cat.

Is The Queen of Wands Secretly a Witch? Witchcraft Connection.

Witch and sorcerer, does this Queen use magic spells, charms and incantations in
private to summon supernatural powers? There is much symbolism in the Queen of
Wands which points towards witchcraft, that we must wonder.

Wand

The Queen holds a wand in her hand, like a magician or witch’s wand. Consider the
painting below by John William Waterhouse, called Circe with her magical wand (1891).
Notice the lions at the base of her throne? One foot pushes to the front? There is a
good chance that the artist Colman-Smith, saw this painting before designing her Tarot
cards.
Black Cat as a Witch’s Familiar

A black cat is a traditional witch’s familiar, or companion. In Western demonology, small

animals like cats or toads were kept as a witch’s attendant.

What Do The Pyramids Symbolize in The Queen of Wands?

In the background, we see three mountains which resemble the famous Pyramids at
Giza, these appear to be the very same pyramids from the Page and Knight of Wands.

Pyramids are believed by some, to be imbued with mythical powers. This is why some
occultists meditate inside pyramid-like structures to obtain extrasensory powers
like telepathy and clairvoyance. Notice that the Queen looks away from the pyramids,
as though she is trying (again) to draw our attention away from them. She is not ready
to share her spiritual insights with us, quite yet. She would rather that we become
inspired by a practical idea, like planting the sunflower she offers us in the barren
landscape to her left.

WANDS

Knight

Click to enlarge

He is shewn as if upon a journey, armed with a short wand, and although mailed is not
on a warlike errand. He is passing mounds or pyramids. The motion of the horse is a
key to the character of its rider, and suggests the precipitate mood, or things connected
therewith. Divinatory Meanings: Departure, absence, flight, emigration. A dark young
man, friendly. Change of residence. Reversed: Rupture, division, interruption, discord.

What is The Symbolism of The Knight’s Armor?

Armor represents a form of defense in Tarot, it is the second skin of the warrior in the
face of struggle. At a deeper level, armor symbolizes expanding consciousness and
courage.

The Knight holds a wand in his hand which is sprouting five leaves, this must be the
same wand which belonged to the Page of Wands. The Knight of Wands does resemble
his predecessor, perhaps just a little older, wiser and thicker-skinned.

Fire Flames

All Knights in Tarot are considered the purest form of the element they represent. This
is why a flame blazes from the arm of the Knight of Wands. This Knight is fire energy in
all its bright glory. He is not as youthful and naive as the Page, nor as weathered as the
King and Queen. He is at his peak.

The Knight of Wands symbolizes all that is known about the element Fire in alchemy
and magic – transformative, passionate and action-orientated.

Gauntlet Gloves Symbol

The Knight is wearing gauntlet gloves, which were worn traditionally to protect the hand
and wrists of a combatant. Perhaps the artist Pamela Colman Smith intended the
glove to represent a ‘thicker skin’, meaning our rider has become tougher for facing
adversity.

The glove may also be a reference to ‘throwing down the gauntlet’. In times gone by, a
Knight would issue a challenge to someone by throwing down their glove. The
symbolism here, is that our horseman is ever-ready for a new challenge.

If you notice, like the Knight of Pentacles, the Knight of Wands has two gloved hands.
In comparison, the Knight of Swords has one gloved hand and the Knight of
Cups wears no gloves at all. The key message here is sensitivity, the fewer the gloves,
the more tactile and sensitive the rider. That said, there is a time for sensitivity, and
there is a time for action.

Red Feather Symbolism

Like his predecessor, the Page of Wands, this Knight also has a red plume feather on
his head. These plumes, also known as panaches, were common in 16th century
tournament wear. The feathers indicated the color of the family name, status and
wealth.
However, this Knight’s feather is more of an elaborate orange plume, which looks like a
flame.

Fire flames symbolize transformation, and red feathers are a sign of motivation, vitality
and passion. See also, what it means when you find a red feather.

Yellow Cloak Meaning

The Knight of Wands is wearing a yellow cloak over his armor. Traditionally, the color
yellow in Tarot is linked to Mercury, the God of Communication. In color therapy, yellow
represents spiritual awakening and the ability to think quickly.

Why Are There Salamanders on The Knight of Wands Tunic?

The Knight of Wands has salamanders, a type of lizard, emblazoned on his yellow tunic.
The salamander was a favorite symbol of alchemists and was used to represent the
element Fire. Notice that the salamander’s tails do not touch their mouth in this picture,
indicating actions not yet complete.

Compare this to the salamanders in the King of Wands cloak which are shown with their
tails in their mouth. This closed circle represents maturity and completion.

Compare also to the salamanders on the cloak of the Page of Wands, which appear
haphazardly in every direction, indicating plans in an early stage and lack of experience.

⭐Salamanders also appears here: Page of Wands, King of Wands

Why is The Knight of Wands Riding a Red Horse?

In Tarot, horses are a symbol of forward momentum. The arrival of a Knight on a horse,
means there is movement and transformation in your life.

The horse in the Knight of Wands card, is no ordinary horse. It is a solar horse, whose
quality is fire and flames. A fire horse imbues his rider with the virtues of the element
Fire. That is, passion, bravery and optimism. Fire is arguably the most powerful of the
four elements Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, and when we tap into its energy, we bring
about a sense of transformation within ourselves.

⭐Horses appear in 6 other Tarot cards: Knight of Swords, Knight of Pentacles,

Knight of Cups, The Chariot, Death and The Sun

What is The Meaning of The Pyramids in This Card?

In the background, we see three mountains which resemble the famous Pyramids at
Giza, these appear to be the very same pyramids from the Page of Wands.

Pyramids are believed by some, to be imbued with mythical powers. This is why some
occultists meditate inside pyramid-like structures to obtain extrasensory powers
like pyrokinesis (the ability to control fire by using one’s mind), thoughtography (burning
an image into something with your mind) psychokinesis (control of objects using the
mind) and forms of divination like prophecy and selenomancy.

⭐Three Pyramids also appear here: Page of Wands and Queen of Wands

What is The Symbolism of The Desert?

Note that all of the court card imagery in the Wands Suit are set in a desert with an arid
climate.

This is another reference to the power of Fire, as the desert is scorched earth
transformed to sand by the heat of the sun.

Symbolically, the desert is a wide open landscape, largely free from humans,
vegetation, trees and rivers. The desert as such represents clarity of thought, a
landscape void of distraction. The desert is a place of isolation, fasting, prophetic
visions and encounters with God. Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting in the
Judaean desert, a time which clarified his great mission to deliver the message of God’s
mercy.
 WANDS

Page

Click to enlarge

In a scene similar to the former, a young man stands in the act of proclamation. He is
unknown but faithful, and his tidings are strange. Divinatory Meanings: Dark young
man, faithful, a lover, an envoy, a postman. Beside a man, he will bear favourable
testimony concerning him. A dangerous rival, if followed by the Page of Cups. Has
the chief qualities of his suit. He may signify family intelligence. Reversed:
Anecdotes, announcements, evil news. Also indecision and the instability which
accompanies it.

Why Is The Wand Sprouting So Many Leaves?

A young Page holds a wand which has five sprouting leaves. This wand appears more
fruitful than any other wand in the Wands suit, which typically only have two or three
growths.

Each sprout is symbolic of growth or change, activities which occupy the querent’s
mind. As the Page’s role is to deliver news, it seems by the abundance of growth, that
he has plenty of exciting news to impart.

Why Is The Page of Wands Looking Up To The Sky?

The Page is looking upwards towards the sky.

The sky is symbolic of freedom and travel. When one says ‘the sky is the limit’, it means
we should not limit our manifestations and dreams. The sky is blue and cloudless in the
Page of Wands, signifying optimism and no real obstacles in the way.
The sky also represents transcendence, eternity and infinity. It is the residence of the
gods and symbolic of omnipotence. The Page’s upward gaze is a reminder to
acknowledge the metaphysical, hidden spiritual realm, and to say ‘thank you’ to the
angels or Universe when you receive good news.

Finally, it is worth noting that the Page of Wands is the only main character in the Rider
Waite Tarot deck who appears to pause and gaze obviously upwards. The mysticism
associated with this card has been overlooked by many authors, and as such, it is a
pure representation of the pursuit of conscious awareness. As Pages are also
associated with study, this card can connect with spiritual pursuits such as psychic
training, mediumship, energy healing and shamanism.

What Do The Hat and Red Feather Symbolize?

Hat Symbolism

The Page wears a hat, which is similar to the type of hat worn by explorers in the early
1900’s, when the artist Pamela Colman Smith created this design. This may be
another reference to the sky being the limit, and the idea of exploring and seeing the
world.

Hats are also symbolic of keeping yourself ‘grounded’ in reality. Hats act as a barrier,
preventing thoughts from flying too high and becoming airy fairy. This is a reminder, that
while the spiritual realm can inspire us, we must still take action in a grounded manner
to turn our dreams into a reality here on Earth. For example, while it may be nice to
dream of travel or live the lap-top lifestyle, what will you actually do about it?

Type of Feather

The Page has a red feather in his hat. A similar red feather also appears in the Major
Arcana cards The Fool, Death and The Sun.

The feather could be an ostrich feather, the symbol of the Egyptian Goddess Maat or
Ma’at. Maat represents the moral principles by which we should live our life, that is,
acting with honor and truth in all our dealings with other people.

Some believe it may be a phoenix feather. The phoenix is a symbol fire, and the Wands
correspond to the astrological element Fire. This mythical bird is symbolic of hope,
renewal and resurrection. While more believe it could be an eagle’s feather, which is
symbolic of shamanic visions, foresight and manifestation.

Personally, I feel the Page is wearing an ostrich feather, symbolizing Maat, which is
more in keeping with the Egyptian theme of this particular card.
Red Color of Feather

Red in Tarot is symbolic of motivation, vitality and passion, implying that this Page has
an active mind. Red is also a symbol of luck and lucky times ahead. See also
angelology symbolism, what it means when you find a red feather.

⭐Red feathers also appear here: The Fool, Death, The Sun, Nine of Cups and
Knight of Wands

What is The Meaning of The Three Pyramids in The Page of Wands?

In the background, we see three mountains which resemble the famous Pyramids at
Giza, placed suitably in the middle of a desert.

The Egyptian theme is particularly prominent in this card, from the desert setting,
pyramids, explorer’s hat and Maat feather. No doubt, this is because modern
Egyptology was hugely popular at the turn of the 20th century, when A.E.
Waite commissioned the Rider Waite deck. At the time, the Golden Dawn, Freemasons
and Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis were using Egyptological studies to shape
their identities and consolidate their occult and esoteric ideologies.

Occultist Samuel Liddell, in Egyptian clothes performing a

ceremonial magic ritual in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (c.1910)
Pyramid’s are said to be imbued with mythical powers which is why occultists
sometimes meditate inside pyramid structures to obtain extrasensory powers.
Pyramidologists (those involved in pseudoscientific speculations regarding pyramids)
claim that the Great Pyramid of Giza was encoded with predictions for the future, from
World War 1 to Armageddon and the end of days.

As such, the presence of pyramids in the Page of Wands is a direct reference to

parapsychology, including premonitions and prophecy. It may also be a reference to the
New Age symbolism of Mind, Body, Spirit.

At a simple level, the pyramids also support the idea of exploring and seeing more of
the world. In an era before mass tourism, when these cards were created, Egypt would
have been considered an exotic location indeed.

⭐Three Pyramids also appear here: Knight of Wands and Queen of Wands

What is The Symbolism of The Lizards or Salamanders?

The Page’s tunic is decorated with lizards, or more specifically salamanders. In ancient
alchemy, Salamanders were used to symbolize Fire, a tradition of which was later
adopted by modern occultists.

Elemental Fire is commonly associated with the qualities of assertiveness, energy and
passion. Fire is a prime method of conversion, everything touched by fire is changed,
often beyond recognition. This is why Fire is respected not only in alchemy, but also
witchcraft.

The Wands suit is powerfully linked to the element Fire, and thus Salamanders are the
ideal symbol for this Page’s tunic.

It is also worth making another symbolic connection here: according to Plato, Fire is
associated with a tetrahedron, or triangular pyramid.

⭐Salamanders also appears here: Knight of Wands, King of Wands

 WANDS

Ten

Click to enlarge

A man oppressed by the weight of the ten staves which he is carrying. Divinatory
Meanings: A card of many significances, and some of the readings cannot be
harmonized. I set aside that which connects it with honour and good faith. The chief
meaning is oppression simply, but it is also fortune, gain, any kind of success, and
then it is the oppression of these things. It is also a card of false-seeming, disguise,
perfidy. The place which the figure is approaching may suffer from the rods that he
carries. Success is stultified if the Nine of Swords follows, and if it is a question of a
lawsuit, there will be certain loss. Reversed: Contrarieties, difficulties, intrigues, and
their analogies.

What is The Meaning of The Bent Over Man Carrying Wands?

A man staggers forward, bent and overburdened by the weight of 10 wands. The wands
obstruct his view, but his grip is tight, suggesting that he is capable of holding on until
he reaches his destination. The village nearby suggests that this should not be too long
more.

The artist Pamela Colman Smith drew the idea of this card directly from the Ten of
Swords of the 15th century Sola Busca Tarot. This deck’s symbology is closely related
to alchemy as practiced during the Renaissance. Smith created her art two years after
photographs of the Sola Busca deck were acquired by the British Museum, and most
likely she saw the cards on display there.
Photo (Wiki): Sola
Busca Tarot
In Tarot, the Ten cards are all about completion. In the Ten of Wands, the man is so
focused on crossing the finish line, that he buries his head in his stack, unwilling to allow
himself to be distracted. As such, the 10 of Wands becomes the ultimate card of grit,
dedication and perseverance. This card represents the effort required to achieved a
goal, and guides us to finish what we start.

The Tens in Tarot also represent a point of transition, of moving from one phase to the
next. One suspects that the man in the 10 of Wands has not given too much thought to
the future, or what he’ll do with those wands once he brings them home. Will he build
something? Or will he sell the wands for firewood, perhaps?

The man will arrive home at the village exhausted, his energy expended. The
symbology here, is running out of things that energy alone can achieve. The next phase
will require a new input, perhaps the feelings of Cups, the practicalities of Pentacles or
the thought of Swords.

In the next phase, he may very well end up applying this Zen proverb:

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day, unless you are too busy; then you
should sit for an hour

Zen proverb
What Does The Castle Symbolize in The Ten of Wands?

In Tarot, castles symbolize dominion, which comes from the Latin domus,
meaning home or destination. This may be a physical home where you live or grew up
in.

Castles also symbolize success at the end of a long journey, such as a college course,
search for a new home, or diet.

The castle with red roofs in this card is similar to the castle in the Four of Wands, just
viewed from a different vantage point. This infers that the man did not rest on his laurels
after the first flush of success, but kept going and achieved so much more.

⭐A castle also appears here: The Chariot, Ace of Wands, 2 of Wands, 8 of Swords,
5 of Cups, 7 of Cups, 10 of Cups, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of Pentacles

What Do All The Trees Symbolize in The Ten of Wands?

Trees symbolize growth, and plans for the future in Tarot. If there are a lot of trees in a
card, as in the 10 of Wands, this predicts many possibilities for the future, and much
abundance.

If you notice, the wands the man is carrying are all sprouting leaves, indicating new
potential. Once the man has arrived home and dropped his burden, it will be time to
rest. Once he is recovered, he may decide to tap into the power of the Cups, Pentacles
or Swords suites next, to nurture those leaves into trees.

This could be a person who has succeeded in business, and next takes up meditation to
improve his intuition (Cups), or networking to be inspired by ideas (Swords), or study to
improve his practical qualifications (Pentacles).

What Sphere Does The 10 of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 10 of Wands depicts the tenth sphere or
sefirot of the Tree of Life called Malkuth. This translates as Kingship or humility. All of
the other sefirot flow into Malkuth and it is the final revelation of the Divine.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Adonai Melekh and Adonai ha-
Arets are the Gods associated with Malkuth. Archangel Sandalphon resides over the
sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere is the Ishim (Souls of Fire). In
Christian angelology, these angels include Guardian Angels.

WANDS

Nine

Click to enlarge

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. Divinatory
Meanings: The card signifies strength in opposition. If attacked, the person will meet
an onslaught boldly; and his build shews, that he may prove a formidable antagonist.
With this main significance there are all its possible adjuncts--delay, suspension,
adjournment. Reversed: Obstacles, adversity, calamity.

What Do The Upright Wands Symbolize in The Nine of Wands?

An embattled man stands resolute in front of eight wands. He glances nervously over
his shoulder, as though expecting trouble.

This card depicts a point at which a person has overcome a series of challenges and
grown stronger in the process. However, they are smart enough to know that there are
still more challenges ahead. In other words, this card represents the struggle of life.

The spare wands could be victory trophies, like a Native American taking scalps in
battle to achieve the status of warrior. This is a brief moment of respite, where the
warrior acknowledges the triumphs of his past but remains prepared for what is to come
next.

The spare wands could also represent armory for future battles, indicating that the man
has gathered enough practical and emotional resources to keep going.

What is The Meaning of The Hills in The Nine of Wands?

In Tarot, hills and mountains tend to represent obstacles yet to overcome. However, the
9 of Wands is unusual in that the hero is normally walking towards the mountains.
Here, our warrior has his back to the hilly terrain, and he has even secured his spare
wands out of sight behind him. Evidently, he believes any attack is more likely to come
from the front.

As such, the hills form a barrier of defense. The warrior has overcome their perilous
challenge to arrive at his present station. The journey must not have been easy,
indicated by the way he rests on a wand and the white bandage on his head.

Yet, if the journey was hard for our hero, he figures it will also be hard for others and is
likely to reduce competition. However, the nervous backward glance suggests he knows
that if anyone does manage to walk in his path, they are likely to be a worthy opponent.

This card reminds us, that while it is important to acknowledge our progress, we must
still remember that it is a competitive world and we need to keep our head in the game.
⭐Mountains and hills appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck.
Examples: Temperance, The Hermit and The Lovers

What is The Symbolism of The Yellow Boots?

Boots psychologically represent ‘protection’, because they cover more of the leg than a
regular shoe. In dream therapy, for example, to dream of wearing boots can indicate
fear of being embarrassed by other people.

In Tarot, leather boots are a common sight in male figures in the pip cards. As a
warrior’s skin thickens emotionally, so does the material of his boot.It is worth noting
that the Knights wear boots made of steel, and the most impressive steel boots of all,
belong to the Emperor and ultimate ruler.

In the 9 of Wands, our warrior wears yellow boots. In color therapy, yellow is associated
with happiness, loyalty and honor. Obviously this man feels fulfilled, if still a little
unnerved and out of his comfort zone, by the path he has chosen for himself.

What Does The White Bandage Symbolize?

The white bandage around the warrior’s head represent the injuries he has endured to
reach this stage of his life.

These injuries may be physical, spiritual or emotional. The fact that the artist placed the
bandage on the man’s head, as opposed to any other part of the body, implies that
injuries are more likely to be of an emotional (mental) kind. His ego may have been
knocked about, for example.

In dream therapy, dreaming of a white bandage can signify emotional wounds.

What Sphere Does The Nine of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 9 of Wands depicts the ninth sphere or
sefirot of the Tree of Life called Yesod.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Archangel Gabriel resides over
the sphere. The choir of angels that reside in Yesod are the Cherubim.
 WANDS

Eight

Click to enlarge

The card represents motion through the immovable-a flight of wands through an open
country; but they draw to the term of their course. That which they signify is at hand;
it may be even on the threshold. Divinatory Meanings: Activity in undertakings, the
path of such activity, swiftness, as that of an express messenger; great haste, great
hope, speed towards an end which promises assured felicity; generally, that which is
on the move; also the arrows of love. Reversed: Arrows of jealousy, internal dispute,
stingings of conscience, quarrels; and domestic disputes for persons who are married.

Why Are There No People in the Eight of Wands?

The Eight of Wands is one of the few cards in the Rider Waite deck without people. The
reason for this perhaps, is that the artist intended to keep the message as open as
possible to individual interpretation. As soon as you place a person in a picture, it is
human nature to start identifying with that figure, and so the story becomes ‘tainted’. By
keeping the picture human-free, it allows the reader to expand their psychic intuition in a
reading and gleam more unexpected information.

When a Tarot card has no people in it, it means that this is your story to write.

⭐The other people-free cards are: Three of Swords Symbols, and all four Aces.

Are The 8 Wands Soaring Upwards or Downwards?

Eight javelins are flying through the air. Depending on your situation, these javelins are
either soaring upwards into the air, representing a newly launched goal or project. Or,
they are on a downward trajectory about to hit their target.
Waite implies they are about to land as they “draw to the term of their course.” However,
there is no ‘right’ answer here. You can interpret this card instinctively and freshly with
each reading.

The javelins are in alignment, suggesting that this is a coordinated launch by unseen
hands, and not long ago. The action of launching the wands had method, purpose and
design behind it. In other words, when this card turns up in a Tarot reading, it
can only refer to concrete actions which the reader has taken in the near past. For
example, if they sent out resumes then they may ‘land’ a job in the near future. If they
joined a dating agency, they may ‘land’ the perfect romantic partner. This card is not a
response to mere ‘hopes’ and ‘dreams’, but rather to concrete actions taken.

Notice that one wand lags slightly behind the others? This represents an ‘after-thought’,
or an opportunity or response arriving a little later.

Javelin throwing is a sport which evolved from the everyday use of the spear in hunting
and warfare. This theme of ‘hunting’ and spearing your ‘prey’ is significant in this card.
Keep your eye on your intended prey … ops, target! Interesting, javelin throwing
became a part of the modern Olympic Games program in 1908, just a few years before
the artist Pamela Colman Smith created this deck. Perhaps the novelty sparked her
creative design in this instance.

How Is This Card Symbolic of Spell Casting?

If you enjoy working with Wiccan, witchcraft or alchemy, you may find that this card
particularly resonates with you. The wands flying through the air can be considered
symbolic of the art of spell casting. Once a spell is cast, the seer has to let it go and fly,
to find its target. If you asked, ‘will this spell work?’ and you receive the Eight of Wands,
have no doubt that your spell will find its mark.

This card may also be linked to other metaphysical pursuits such as astral projection,
the ability to have out-of-body experiences and the separation of consciousness from
the body. It can represent ergokinesis, the ability to move energy; and
even transvection or levitation, the ability to fly or float by magical means.

What is The Meaning of The Hills and River in This Tarot Card?

River and hills in Tarot, generally represent obstacles which must be surpassed before
reaching your goal or destination. In this case, the ‘obstacle’ may simply be time. You
must wait – but not for long, as the 8 of Wands is associated with speed.

The appearance of a river can also imply the need to ‘go with the flow’, which may be a
more suitable interpretation in this instance. The wands have been launched, there is
nothing more to do now but wait to see when and where they will fall.
What is The Meaning of The Castle in the Eight of Wands?

In Tarot, castles symbolize dominion, which comes from the Latin domus,
meaning home. Castles are symbolic of success, the place you rest your weary head at
the end of a long journey. Whatever your goal, a college course, launching a business
or writing a book, you are nearing the finishing line when a castle appears in your Tarot
card.

⭐Castles also appear here: The Chariot, Ace of Wands, 2 of Wands, 8 of Swords, 5
of Cups, 7 of Cups, 10 of Cups, 10 of Wands, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of
Pentacles.

What Sphere Does The Eight of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 8 of Wands depicts the eight sphere or
sefirot of the Tree of Life called Hod. Hod translates as splendor or glory. Hod is said to
be the sphere in which the magician mostly works, and is associated with the solar
plexus chakra.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Michael is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Bene
Elohim.

WANDS

Seven

Click to enlarge

A young man on a craggy eminence brandishing a staff; six other staves are raised
towards him from below. Divinatory Meanings: It is a card of valour, for, on the
surface, six are attacking one, who has, however, the vantage position. On the
intellectual plane, it signifies discussion, wordy strife; in business--negotiations, war
of trade, barter, competition. It is further a card of success, for the combatant is on the
top and his enemies may be unable to reach him. Reversed: Perplexity,
embarrassments, anxiety. It is also a caution against indecision.

Who is Attacking and What Does The Attack Symbolize in The Seven of Wands?

Our hero defends himself from a group of six unseen attackers. He uses a single wand
to defend himself from above, but appears to have the advantage.

The artist Pamela Colman Smith chose to depict faceless, body-less, attackers in this
Tarot card. Her choice thus opens up possibilities in how this card can be interpreted.
On one level, it can mean you are defending yourself from people who wish to take
what you have, or who want to hurt you with their words or actions. Alternatively, your
attackers may be more abstract, you could be defending an idea, religion or
philosophical concept.

The hero looks angry, possibly annoyed by the attackers audacity, after all, he is ‘up
here’ and they are ‘down there’. This is understandable when you remember that our
hero was just celebrated in a victory parade in the Six of Wands. One feels that success
should afford a person some degree of cushioning from upstarts.

This is a reminder, that no matter how high you fly, someone – or some idea – will
always try to better you. It is worth keeping your guard up if you wish to remain top-dog.

Why is The Man in the Seven of Wands Wearing A Different Shoe on Each Foot?

Notice that the figure in this card is wearing a shoe on his right foot and a boot on his
left foot. This can be interpreted in a few ways:

Unprepared

He dressed in a hurry, which suggests he was not prepared for this attack. This
reinforces the idea of remaining on your guard and not relying on yesterday’s victories
for your status.

Straddling Two Worlds

His legs are straddling a small stream of water, symbolic of straddling two different
worlds or keeping two worlds separate. Each shoe represents a different identity, like
wearing floppy slippers at home and Prada designer shoes to the office. Each type of
shoe reflects a different mindset and sends a different message.
The man’s green tunic may be symbolic of his desire for balance and harmony in a
certain area of his life. In color therapy, green promotes love of home, family and
friends. In contrast, his red tights are symbolic of action and ambition, more
representative of the workplace or world at large.

One feels here that the struggle to keep the worlds apart is becoming ever more
difficult, perhaps work is taking over and destroying his balance at home.

Sometimes the 7 of Wands appears in a reading, when a person has taken an interest
in spirituality and mysticism, but is struggling to keep their interest compartmentalized
and hidden from people in their life.

Masonic Blue Slipper

The odd pair of shoes may be a masonic reference to the Masonic Shoe, also known as
the Blue Slipper. In ancient times, removing one’s shoe and giving it to the other person
was considered a way to seal an agreement. The Masons adopted this Hebrew custom
and would give a small pin in the shape of a blue slipper to symbolize an oath, that what
has been said, will be done. Perhaps our hero is trying to keep his end of a bargain, or
he is battling others to ensure that they do the ‘right thing.’

What Does The Mountain Top Symbolize?

In Tarot, mountains represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away, the
further away the problems. In the 7 of Wands, we are right on top of the mountain,
symbolizing issues coming to a head.

⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: Temperance, The Hermit and The Lovers

What Sphere Does The Seven of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 7 of Wands depicts the seventh sphere
or sefirot of the Tree of Life called Netzach. Netzach translates roughly as ‘eternity’ and
in the context of Kabbalah refers to ‘victory’ or ‘endurance’.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Haniel is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Elohim.
 WANDS

Six

Click to enlarge

A laurelled horseman bears one staff adorned with a laurel crown; footmen with
staves are at his side. Divinatory Meanings: The card has been so designed that it can
cover several significations; on the surface, it is a victor triumphing, but it is also great
news, such as might be carried in state by the King's courier; it is expectation crowned
with its own desire, the crown of hope, and so forth. Reversed: Apprehension, fear, as
of a victorious enemy at the gate; treachery, disloyalty, as of gates being opened to the
enemy; also indefinite delay.

What Does The Horseman Symbolize in The Six of Wands?

A horseman adorned with a laurel crown and holding a staff, rides through the town.
After the messiness of the Five of Wands, the scattered energy is now organized and a
leader has emerged. We are witnessing a triumphant victory parade.

The use of colorful pageantry here is significant. We feel that the victor wants to ‘show
off’ his success or is finally comfortable displaying his true colors. This a graduation or
validation, the culmination of past efforts, before resuming his journey. The victory here
is a minor arcana version of the Chariot Tarot card, but lacks the permanence or
spiritual attainment of the major arcana. The conquest or victory of the Six of Wands
brings temporary praise and self-esteem, but at this very moment, that’s enough to feel
totally amazing!

Some view this card as a resting point, taking a moment to stop and taste the benefits
of success. However, it can also be seen as reaching a high point in your career or life,
a point which feels ecstatic but which is very hard to sustain.
What is The Meaning of The Horse in The Six of Wands?

In Tarot, horses are a symbol of forward momentum, of the querant’s desire for
‘movement’. The arrival of a Knight or horseman is symbolic of transformation.

The message here is that you achieve your goals when you believe in yourself.

Horses are also regarded as a spiritual sign and encourage you to access other
dimensions through shamanic journeying or meditation. You are encouraged now to
deepen your spiritual practice.

⭐Horses appear in: The Chariot Symbols, Death Symbols, Sun Symbols and all
Knights.

What is The Symbolism of the Gauntlet Gloves?

The horseman is wearing gauntlet gloves, which were worn traditionally to protect the
hand and wrists of a combatant. Perhaps the artist Pamela Colman Smith intended the
glove to represent a ‘thicker skin’, meaning our rider has become tougher for facing
adversity.

The glove may also be a reference to ‘throwing down the gauntlet’. In times gone by, a
Knight would issue a challenge to someone by throwing down their glove. The
symbolism here, is that our horseman is ever ready for a new challenge.

⭐Gauntlet gloves also appear here: Knight of Swords, Knight of Wands, Knight
of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles

What is The Symbolic Meaning of The Laurel Wreaths?

A laurel is a plant that was traditionally used to weave wreaths into a crown, which were
given to the victors at sporting events in Ancient Greece and Rome. Today, the laurel is
synonymous with achievement, and a laureate is someone who receives honor or
recognition for achievement in the arts or science.

The victory laurel in the Six of Wands symbolizes the querant has just achieved
something. This could be anything from getting the job you want to passing exams, or
losing weight.

It may also signify fame and public recognition. The rulers of Greece and Rome wore a
laurel on their head to signify their rank, status and importance. If you see a portrait of
Julius Caesar, chances are he is wearing a laurel.
Meaning of the Ribbon

Important: The victory wreath tied to the staff our rider is holding, is fastened loosely
with a red ribbon. Ribbons draw our attention to how fragile the binding is, and thus
signal how fragile or fleeting this victory may be.

⭐Laurels also appears in these Tarot cards: The Chariot Symbols, The World
Symbols, Ace of Swords Symbols, Seven of Cups Symbols

What Sphere Does The Six of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 6 of Wands depicts the sixth sphere or
sefirot of the Tree of Life called Tipareth or Tiferet.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Raphael is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Malakim;
and the God who presides over the sphere is Tetragrammaton Eloah Va Daath. The
Sun is the astrological correspondence of Tipareth.

WANDS

Five

Click to enlarge

A posse of youths, who are brandishing staves, as if in sport or strife. It is mimic

warfare, and hereto correspond the Divinatory Meanings: Imitation, as, for example,
sham fight, but also the strenuous competition and struggle of the search after riches
and fortune. In this sense it connects with the battle of life. Hence some attributions
say that it is a card of gold, gain, opulence. Reversed: Litigation, disputes, trickery,
contradiction.
What Does The Battle Symbolize in The Five of Wands?

What are the five men doing in the Five of Wands?

According to the author A.E.Waite, ‘a posse of youths’ are brandishing wands ‘as if in
sport or strife.’ He continues that this card corresponds to the divinatory meanings of
‘strenuous competition’ and the ‘search after riches and fortune.’

As such, this mimic warfare symbolizes the battle of life. The Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn used the word ‘strife’ to describe this card. Strife is defined as the act of
conflict or something that is difficult to do.

Sometimes it is necessary to strive and fight for what you want. There is a sense of
kinetic energy motion here, as one man pushes the next, energy is transferred from one
object to the next. This suggests forward momentum and action gathering pace.
Change becomes less predictable and inevitable as momentum builds. Conflict breeds
inspiration.

The Five of Wands is sometimes connected with gold and wealth, and it does look like
the youths are constructing a pentacle or pentagram with their wands (more obvious
when the card is reversed). In this case, the kinetic energy manifests into a combined
creative collaboration.

What is The Meaning of Blue Sky in the Five of Wands?

In Tarot, the color of the sky tends to reflect the mood and message of the card. Blue
skies are a sign of nice weather and carefree days, while grey skies signify the threat of
rain and trouble brewing.

We are presented here with a bright day and no clouds in the sky. This implies that the
mood of the youths is friendly, which supports the idea that this is a mock-battle among
friends or peers.

What is The Symbolism of The Barren Landscape?

The landscape is unusually barren in the Five of Wands, the land looks dry and bare
and there is a not a tree, flower or river to be found. There is nothing here to distract the
eye from the action taking place. This may be a reference to the focus necessary to get
ahead in life, and the ‘tuning-out’ of all other distractions unrelated to the struggle in
hand.
There may also be a subtle warning here, not to become so consumed by the battle to
get ahead, that you are left emotionally barren in other areas of your life. Think of the
person who works so hard, that they neglect their personal relationships.

What Sphere Does The 5 of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 5 of Wands depicts the fifth sphere of the
Tree of Life called Geburah. It sits below Binah, across from Chesed and above Hod.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Geburah corresponds to the
element of fire, and Khamael (Camael) is the archangel who resides over the sphere.
Camael is the archangel of strength, courage and war in Jewish and Christian
mythology and angelology. The choir of angels that reside in the sphere are the
Seraphim.

WANDS

Four

Click to enlarge

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. Divinatory Meanings: They are for once almost on
the surface--country life, haven of refuge, a species of domestic harvest-home, repose,
concord, harmony, prosperity, peace, and the perfected work of these. Reversed: The
meaning remains unaltered; it is prosperity, increase, felicity, beauty, embellishment.
What Does The Archway Symbolize in The Four of Wands?

Arches in Tarot represent a new beginning, and moving into a new phase of life. There
is something very inviting about an archway, and we are magnetically drawn to step
through and see what is on the other side. In mythology, arches and doorways
represent moving from the physical world to the afterlife or spiritual realm. Step through
the archway and you may even have access to the Akashic Records, a book
containing all your reincarnations, both your past- and future-lives which are stored in
the ether.

The arch in the Four of Wands appears to be a temporary installation, it is not a

concrete structure. This implies that the celebrations are only meant to be a fun
interlude. While it is important to celebrate life’s bounty, we must accept that life will go
back to normal once the excitement is over. We could be witnessing a wedding
celebration, and the implication is, that when the party is over, the couple must settle
down to every-day life together.

Post-wedding depression is a thing. According to one study by the University of

Kentucky, 12 percent of brides emotionally crash after tying the knot because they miss
the excitement of the pre-wedding buildup.

The key message: It is good to celebrate life’s achievements, but don’t rest on your
laurels once the party is over.

⭐An archway also appears in: Ace of Pentacles Symbols, 3 of Pentacles

Symbols, 10 Pentacles Symbols and 10 of Cups Symbols

What Do The Garland of Grapes and Flowers Symbolize?

A garland of flowers and grapevines form a canape above the four wands.

Grapes represent fruitful bounty in Tarot, and signify that this is a good time to pause
and acknowledge your abundance and good fortune. As grapes, like most plants wither
and renew with each season, we are reminded yet again that this celebration, while
warranted, will pass.

The nature of a grapevine is to grow and spread, and so a vine can also represent
increasing luck and abundance in the future. Grapes are also associated with fertility.

Jesus said in the Bible (John 15): “I am the TRUE vine, and My Father is the keeper of
the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that
does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.”
In a modern context, this could be taken to mean, that those who wander too far from
their spiritual path will experience less bounty in life. Regularly taking a moment to
reflect, and appreciate your blessings can help you remain on the path of spiritual
enlightenment.

The flowers in the garland appear to include red roses. Within a Tarot reading, a red
rose represents a love interest, affection and relationship.

What Does The Castle Symbolize in The Four of Wands?

In Tarot, castles symbolize dominion, which comes from the Latin domus,
meaning home. This may be a physical home where you live or grew up. However, it
could also be a mental place you visit in your head, a place, person or point in time that
makes you feel loved and safe.

The appearance of the castle in the Four of Wands, can indicate that beautiful future
memories are being created now. This is a good time to practice mindfulness, and pay
attention to what is happening in the present moment.

Castle’s also symbolize success at the end of a long journey, such as a college degree
course, battling with an illness or trying for a baby. Whatever your goal, you are about to
achieve it. The party is still a little way in the distance, and so the finish line may not yet
have been crossed.

The red peaks of the castle roofs which seem to reach up towards the Heavens, signify
reaching personal ‘highs’.

⭐A castle also appears here: The Chariot, Ace of Wands, 2 of Wands, 8 of Swords,
5 of Cups, 7 of Cups, 10 of Cups, 10 of Wands, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of
Pentacles

What is The Meaning of the Bridge and Moat?

Symbol of Bridge

Bridges have a variety of meanings in Tarot.

A bridge is inherently symbolic of communication, and symbolizes a way forward, from

one spiritual state to another, like an ascension process or spiritual awakening.

When you arrive at the celebrations, and cross the bridge, you may even experience a
spontaneous spiritual awakening. That is, a sudden sense of direct contact and
experience of oneness with the Universe, God or the Divine. An awakening will typically
evoke a sense of deep inner knowing, of understanding or remembering your true
nature. You may feel peaceful and alive, with a sense of awe, gratitude and
unconditional love. Perhaps this is why all the figures in the card look so ecstatic,
dancing and waving flowers at you, the new comer. They have already crossed the
bridge.

Symbol of Moat

We assume that there is a moat running around the castle, because Waite tells us so, it
is just not viewable from our vantage point.

In Tarot, moats symbolize two different states of awareness. There is this side,
and that side of the water. On this side, you had a challenge, and on the other side your
challenge is over.

⭐A bridge also appears in: Five of Cups Symbols

Why is The Sky Yellow in the Four of Wands?

In Tarot, Yellow skies represent a moment of happiness, success and bliss. Yellow is
associated with the sun, and its life-giving warmth. The sun is perhaps one of the most
common unifying symbols across diverse cultures and religions in the world since
antiquity. It is symbolic of happiness, harvest, birth, healing, regal power and divinity.

What Sphere Does The Four of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 4 of Wands depicts the fourth sphere of
the Tree of Life called Chesed. Chesed translates as ‘mercy’, but could also be ‘love’.

According to the Golden Dawn, El is the God associated with Chesed

and Tzadkiel (Righteousness of God) is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The
order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Chasmalim.
 WANDS

Three

Click to enlarge

A calm, stately personage, with his back turned, looking from a cliff's edge at ships
passing over the sea. Three staves are planted in the ground, and he leans slightly on
one of them. Divinatory Meanings: He symbolizes established strength, enterprise,
effort, trade, commerce, discovery; those are his ships, bearing his merchandise,
which are sailing over the sea. The card also signifies able co-operation in business, as
if the successful merchant prince were looking from his side towards yours with a
view to help you. Reversed: The end of troubles, suspension or cessation of adversity,
toil and disappointment.

What Do The Wands Symbolize in The Three of Wands?

A merchant stands on a cliff edge overlooking a harbor. Two wands are planted firmly in
the ground behind him, representing what has already been achieved and secured. He
holds another wand in his right hand, indicating further opportunities sailing towards
him. This can be viewed as progress on the previous card the Two of Wands, where our
merchant only had one wand secured to the castle wall.

Note that each wand has three branches. The number three has long been celebrated
as a spiritual number and represents what is real and solid. Nothing is
quite complete unless it comes in threes, we know the job is not yet finished. As the
expression goes: all good things come in threes. In Christianity, three represents the
Divinity and Holy Trinity. God’s attributes are omniscience, omnipresence and
omnipotence.
 Celtic Triquetra (Source: Wiki)
The power of three symbolism has been around since ancient times and can be seen in
the Celtic triquetra, and Greek philosophers who declared it the perfect number of
balance. Pythagoras even believed that the number 3 stood for good luck and fortune.

What is The Meaning of The Cliff Edge and Mountains?

Mountains and cliffs tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the
mountain or cliff, the more immediate the problem.

However, in this card, our merchant stands triumphantly on top of the cliff, and has dug
his wands firmly into the ground, much like a mountaineer might do when he reaches a
mountain summit and plants a victory flag. This indicates that he has overcome
obstacles to reach this point in time, and is now waiting for his efforts to pay off.

The sheerness of the cliff edge suggests that his next venture may be more ambitious
and riskier. It requires, a leap of faith or courage. The distant mountains signify that
ventures further afield will have their challenges, but are not a problem to worry about
today.

As the number three is associated with spirituality and mysticism, one feels that this
merchant may be tapping into his intuition and subconscious for direction, rather than
relying purely on rational thought. The headband he wears is similar to that worn by
the Magician, and thus can be seen as a reference to the magical and paranormal, in
particular extrasensory perception (PSI) and premonitions.

⭐A cliff edge also appears here: Queen of Cups Symbols, The Fool
Symbols and Eight of Swords Symbols
What Does The Sea Represent and Why is it Yellow?

The ocean is vast, majestic and awe inspiring. When an ocean or sea appears in Tarot,
it signifies the querent is reflecting on life and asking the Big Questions, like, where to
from here?

The ocean here is more expansive than in the Two of Wands, significant of grander
horizons and greater possibilities. The more we succeed, the more our vision expands.

The sea can be calm, turbulent or even quite violent, but in this card the waters are
calm reflecting the gentle movement of patience. We are reminded again that we must
wait for the ships to arrive in due course. While sailing ships may travel faster in stormy
winds, they can also sink! It is worth being patient.

Yellow Sea

The yellow color of the sea reflects the setting sun, although it could equally be a
dawning sun. We are either experiencing the end of a very satisfactory day and looking
forward to a new day, or we are witnessing the dawn of a new day. I think you need to
interpret this card individually in any given reading.

The golden yellow color of the sea appears to be imperial yellow, which has been worn
by Chinese royalty for thousands of years. There is a Chinese expression which
says, Yellow generates Yin and Yang,” meaning that it is at the center of creation.

This is no ordinary sea, we are being told here by the color that the path ahead is
alchemist ‘gold’ and shrouded in success and glory. Interestingly, in Chinese Buddhism,
yellow is associated with freedom from earthly needs like money and possessions,
which is why monks wear yellow robes. Perhaps this is a subtle reference to the future,
that once we have arrived at success, the next question will be, what now? The
merchant on this mountain top may become the Hermit in time, asking existential
questions and turning his mind to philosophy and even spiritual teaching.

⭐This is the only card in the Rider Waite deck with a Yellow Sea

What do The Ships Symbolize in the Three of Wands?

Boats and ships in Tarot represent a situation or events ‘moving on’ for the querent.

At a higher level, boats transport us, and allow us to make a journey across life.
Therefore a boat or ship can also represent a journey of education, faith, business or
personal development.
There are three sailing boats in this card, again reflecting the symbolism of the number
3. These boats have large sails and are powered by wind. Our merchant must wait
patiently for the wind to blow, in order to receive his cargo, or for his cargo to reach his
customers. It is not clear if the ships are incoming or outgoing, this should be interpreted
individually in a given reading.

The author A.E. Waite of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, may have chosen
ships powered by wind for a reason, in this card. Wind is transient and elusive, and has
long been considered a messenger of the gods. When the winds blow in your favor, the
gods are with you. Some consider wind the primary element of the four elements earth,
air, water and fire because of it is the creative breath of exhalation. In Symbols of
Transformation, Carl Jung points out that the Arabic word for spirit – ruh – signifies both
‘breath’ and ‘spirit.’

⭐Boats and ships also appear here: Six of Swords Symbols, King of Cups
Symbols and Two of Pentacles Symbols

What Sphere Does The Three of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 3 of Wands depicts the third sphere or
sefirot of the Tree of Life called Binah. This sphere represents growing understanding of
the world as a result of experience.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Tzaphqiel, is the Archangel in this
realm, he is also known as the Prince of the Spiritual Strife against Evil.
Archangel Jophiel is also referred to in Binah. The order of angels that reside in this
sphere is Aralim, also called the Order of Thrones and the Strong and Mighty Ones.
 WANDS

Two

Click to enlarge

A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he holds a globe in his
right hand, while a staff in his left rests on the battlement; another is fixed in a ring.
The Rose and Cross and Lily should be noticed on the left side. Divinatory Meanings:
Between the alternative readings there is no marriage possible; on the one hand,
riches, fortune, magnificence; on the other, physical suffering, disease, chagrin,
sadness, mortification. The design gives one suggestion; here is a lord overlooking his
dominion and alternately contemplating a globe; it looks like the malady, the
mortification, the sadness of Alexander amidst the grandeur of this world's
wealth. Reversed: Surprise, wonder, enchantment, emotion, trouble, fear.

What Does The Castle Battlement Symbolize in The Two of Wands?

In Tarot, castles symbolize dominion, which comes from the Latin domus,
meaning home. This may be a physical home you live in, a location where you feel
secure and protected. Your home is your castle. However, it could also be a mental
place you visit in your head, a place or a person you think about, when you need to feel
loved or safe.

In the Two of Wands, a man stands on the battlement of his castle. He looks out to the
world with ambition and hunger. The battlement is high and strong, implying he has the
necessary security behind him to take on the world. Note that we are allowed to see the
castle from within, rather than viewing it from a distance. This ‘intimacy’ implies that
what is being considered now, is very close to the man’s heart, perhaps because he is
sensing his life purpose or destiny.
The battlement may also be regarded as a defining wall, the line between what has
already been achieved, and what is still within the realm of possibility. The territory
already claimed goes up to this wall, and outside the wall, new possibilities begin.

This theme of what is ‘already secured’ is reflected in the wand which is attached to the
battlement wall. The new wand, which the man holds in his left hand, is something new
being considered or offered.

Pre-Raphaelite Influences
The artist Pamela Colman-Smith was likely inspired in her creation of this card, by the
English painter John William Waterhouse’s painting of St Cecilia. Waterhouse was a
popular Pre-Raphaelite painter at the turn of the 20th century, and was drawn to
occultism and metaphysics. He was also an active member of the Hermetic Order of
the Golden Dawn.

⭐A castle also appears here: The Chariot, Ace of Wands, 4 of Wands, 8 of Swords,
5 of Cups, 7 of Cups, 10 of Cups, 10 of Wands, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of
Pentacles

What is The Meaning of The Globe in The Man’s Hand?

The man holds a globe in his hand. At a basic level, this suggests he feels ‘the world is
his oyster’. He is not defined by locality or the location of his castle, as his gaze drifts
over the globe and across the sea before him.

This globe could also be a crystal ball, which he is consulting for a prophecy or
prediction of the future. Perhaps he has a sixth sense and clairvoyant abilities, at the
very least, the globe is a sign that he values both logic and intuition when it comes to
formulating plans. Interestingly, the man is holding the globe in his right hand, and the
right side of the brain is associated with intuition and creative thinking. This can,
however, only be viewed as a modern interpretation as the right- and left-brain scientific
theory only came to light in the 1960’s, long after the Rider Waite deck was published
(1909).

Historically, the globe is one of the most represented objects in the history of art. It
appears in religious and mythological settings. When held, the globe is meant to
symbolize the power of its bearer, which is why a globe is traditionally placed on a royal
scepter. The globe can represent travel and in more recent times, the internet and world
wide web. It is also a popular icon which symbolizes the cosmos – literally everything in
the Universe.

What Flowers Are on The Castle Wall?

A cross with an emblem of red roses and white lilies is attached to the castle wall.

The rose is rich in symbology. In ancient Greece, the rose was associated with the
goddess Aphrodite. In Christianity, the rose became associated with the Virgin Mary,
and eventually the creation of the rosary prayer.

Within a Tarot reading, a red rose represents a love interest, affection and relationship.
This may signal that the man has a secure romantic relationship waiting within the
castle walls, which is why he feels confident enough now to take on the world. It should
be noted however, that a rose has thorns, representing potential ‘thorny’ issues. If he
leaves the castle to fulfil his destiny, he should be careful not to neglect his love too
long.

The lily appears to be Lilium candidum, also known as the Madonna lily, or white lily.
Christians also associate this particular flower with the Virgin Mary. The white lily can
predict a period of personal growth and development. It is also associated with purity of
thought, or higher thinking, perhaps for example, the desire to do something that will
make a difference in the world.

The fact that both flowers are symbols of the Virgin Mary and are set on a cross,
indicates Christian symbolism is particularly relevant here. Perhaps the Virgin Mary is
your spirit helper at this time, or you are experiencing the phenomena of ‘witnessing’.
That is, the gift of being visited by ascended masters or well-known spiritual beings
such as the Virgin Mary or Jesus.

Note: The rose appears by itself in many cards of the Rider Waite deck, but the lily
never appears alone. Wherever you find a lily, you will find a red rose in the Rider
Waite.

⭐Roses also appears here: The Fool, Magician, Strength, Death, Queen of
Pentacles. Lilies also appear in the Magician, Temperance and Ace of Pentacles.

The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,

The humble sheep a threat’ning horn:
While the Lily white shall in love delight,
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

William Blake
Landscape: Meaning of the Mountains, Ocean and Trees in the Two of Wands

Mountains

Mountains tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the mountain,
the more immediate the problem. In this card, the mountains form in the near and far
distance, indicating that there will be challenges at various stages.

However, with the right mindset and starting from a secure base, mountains can also
represent adventure, escape and conquest.

Ocean
The ocean is vast, majestic and awe inspiring. When an ocean or sea appears in Tarot,
it signifies the querent is reflecting on life and asking the Big Questions, like, who am
I? and what is the meaning of life?

The ocean in this card is calm, suggesting a calmness of mind – racing thoughts have
been calmed, and there is clarity now.

Trees

The meaning of trees in Tarot is taken primarily from mythology and religious text. We
know of the tree in the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life in Kabbalah. Trees are used
to symbolize growth and prosperity.

The more trees in a Tarot card, the more ‘life’ and ‘prosperity’ is indicated. The Two of
Wands depicts a very green valley, suggesting an exciting new venture or phase in the
querent’s life. How close you are to acting on, or achieving your plans depends on the
proximity of the trees. The closer the trees, the sooner your plans are likely to be
actualized or realized.

⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: 10 of Cups, Lovers, Strength, The Chariot

and The Star

What Sphere Does The Two of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah (Kabbalah): In western occultism, the 2 of Wands symbols depicts the second
sphere or sefirot of the Tree of Life called Chokmah. It is the first point of conscious
awareness, since the first sphere of Keter represents emptiness.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Jehovah is the God associated
with Chokmah and Raziel is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The order of
angels that reside in the sphere are the Ophanim.
 WANDS

Ace

Click to enlarge

A hand issuing from a cloud grasps a stout wand or club. Divinatory Meanings:
Creation, invention, enterprise, the powers which result in these; principle, beginning,
source; birth, family, origin, and in a sense the virility which is behind them; the
starting point of enterprises; according to another account, money, fortune,
inheritance. Reversed: Fall, decadence, ruin, perdition, to perish also a certain clouded
joy.

What Does The Wand Symbolize in The Ace of Wands?

The sturdy wand in this card is reminiscent of a caveman’s club, a weapon to be

wielded as a symbol of strength, vitality and energy. This ‘club’ is symbolic of primordial
energy, the power of the Divine which lies within us all. Yogis call this power Kundalini,
and view it as a sleeping, potential force which, coiled at the base of the spine, can be
released with meditation and other yogic movements.

At the command of the yogi in deep meditation, this creative force turns inward and
flows back to its source in the thousand-petaled lotus, revealing the resplendent inner
world of the divine forces and consciousness of the soul and spirit. Yoga refers to this
power flowing from the coccyx to spirit as the awakened kundalini.

Paramahansa Yogananda
The wand has three branches of green shoots, representing new growth and early signs
of manifestation. There are 4 leaves on the top branch, and 3 leaves on the left- and
right-hand branches. In total there are 10 leaves, which correspond to the 10 Sefirot of
the Kabbalah, or Tree of Life. The Sefirot (also called sephirot and sephiroth) represents
the ten channels through which the Divine source (Ein Sof) reveals His guidance to
mankind.
What is The Meaning of The Yods or Falling Leaves?

Several leaves fall from the wand. These leaves appear to be in the shape of the
Hebrew letter yod (pronounced ya). Yod has a numeric value of 10, and according to
the Jewish mystical tradition, the yod represents the first letter of the Holy Name. Yod is
the smallest of the Hebrew letters, a mere dot which is used to form all other letters. It is
considered the building block of creation and thus represents God’s omnipresence.

There is a sense of the alchemist about the yods in this card, one is not sure if they are
falling from the wand, or magically rising up from the land below. We may, in fact, be
witnessing a miracle. Yods appear in a similar manner in the Ace of Cups, as drops of
water and as flames in the Ace of Swords.

Yods signify that the hand of God is at work.

⭐The Hand of God also appears here: The Tower Symbols

Who’s Hand is Emerging From The Cloud?

The white radiating hand emerging from the cloud is usually considered the Hand of
God. We are witnessing the beginning of a paranormal materialization or apparition, the
appearance of someone or something out of thin air.

In the Rider Waite deck, the author A.E Waite, asks us to consider the gesture of the
hand. In the Aces of Wands and Swords, the hand is upright and the fist is closed. This
is an active gesture which indicates one should ‘grab’ what is on offer, or ‘make it
happen’ by taking some action. Compare this to the Aces of Cups and Pentacles, where
the palm is open and facing upwards, implying you should be open to ‘receiving’ what is
on offer.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it,

And His hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:5
Clouds have a variety of meanings in Tarot, depending on their color and type. The
clouds in the Ace of Wands are dark and swirling, which suggests difficult or confusing
times. Now however, you are urged to take some action. This card really implies: God
helps those who help themselves.

What is The Meaning of The Trees, River and Mountains in This Tarot Card?
River Meaning

Rivers in Tarot can represent an obstacle that you need to overcome.

The river in the Ace of Wands lies some way in the distance, indicating that there is
nothing much to worry about at this point. Just grab your wand and run with the
opportunity before you. Interestingly, we have an aerial advantage in this card, we seem
to be floating in the sky, providing us enough scope to ‘look ahead’ and see the
peaceful valley below.

Perhaps you have tapped into your kundalini energy and used it for the purposes of
astral travel, levitation or transvection (ability to fly by magical means).

Mountains Meaning

Mountains also represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away, the
further away the problems. In the Ace of Wands, the mountains are way in the distance.
One need not worry about them today. However, one suspects that by the time you
reach those mountains, your life or mindset will very much have changed, and therefore
any concerns you can conjure up, are unlikely to even be relevant by that stage.

Trees Meaning

Trees represent growth, and plans for the future in Tarot. There are a handful of trees in
this card, indicating that the future is still a bit ‘hazy’.

⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: Temperance, The Hermit and The Lovers

Why is There a Castle in The Ace of Wands?

The castle traditionally represents home and safety, and arriving after a long journey.

This castle in this card acts as a motivator, the Hand of God promises you a place to
‘settle’ or rest your head at the end of the day. Knowing this, you can bravely set out on
your journey. In a metaphysical sense, the castle can also represent a location or place
where opportunities may grow in future.

⭐Castles also appear in these Tarot cards: The Tower, The Chariot, 8 of Swords, 5
of Cups, 7 of Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King
of Pentacles, 4 of Wands and 10 of Wands
What Does The Ace of Wands Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the Ace of Wands depicts the seed or root of elemental Fire.
Kether of Fire, or Kether in Atziluth. You are opening up a new point of view, positing a
new sense of identity.

THE SUIT OF CUPS

King

Click to enlarge

He holds a short sceptre in his left hand and a great cup in his right; his throne is set
upon the sea; on one side a ship is riding and on the other a dolphin is leaping. The
implicit is that the Sign of the Cup naturally refers to water, which appears in all the
court cards. Divinatory Meanings: Fair man, man of business, law, or divinity;
responsible, disposed to oblige the Querent; also equity, art and science, including
those who profess science, law and art; creative intelligence. Reversed: Dishonest,
double-dealing man; roguery, exaction, injustice, vice, scandal, pillage, considerable
loss.

Why Is The King Sitting on His Throne in The Sea?

The King sits on this throne in the middle of the ocean. In Tarot, water represents
emotions. The fact that this King has placed his throne on a platform in the sea, and is
comfortably managing to keep afloat in the stormy water, signifies his mastery of
emotions.

This King is not a cold character. He is comfortable in the realm of emotion and can feel
empathy and passion for those around him without becoming upset himself.
Compare to the Queen of Cups who places her throne at the edge of the shore. She is
not ready to trust the sea completely. As such, the King represents the next step in the
evolution of self-mastery. He is the leader of his instincts now, not their obedient
follower.

When we reach the enlightenment of this King, it means we have more control over our
spiritual nature and are ready to serve others in a more serious way. This is why this
King is considered an acclaimed counselor, psychic or healer.

The throne which this King sits on, is considerably less fancy than the Queen’s regal
throne. This could be a reflection of I-Ching and Yin and Yang energy – the creative flair
of the feminine Yin versus the solid masculinity of the Yang.

What is The King of Cups Holding in His Hands?

Scepter Symbol

The King is holding the cup from the Ace of Cups in this right hand, and a scepter in his
left. A scepter is an ornamental wand or staff held by royalty as a sign of authority and
sovereignty.

Fish Necklace

The King is wearing a chain with a fish hanging around his neck, which may be a
‘secret’ reference to Christianity. The ichthys or ichthus is a symbol consisting of the
profile of a fish. The symbol was adopted by early Christians as a secret symbol to
recognize churches and each other during a time when they faced persecution in the
Roman Empire. It later became known as the sign of the fish, or the Jesus fish.

Crown Symbolism

Traditionally a crown is the symbolic ‘hat’ worn by royalty and sovereign rulers. In Tarot,
the crown typically represents authority and stability. This King is clearly in control of his
domain. However, the querent is guided to check with themselves, am I being
recognized enough for my work and efforts?

What is The Meaning of The Jumping Fish or Dolphin in the King of Cups?

A fish, which the author A.E. Waite claims is a dolphin, playfully jumps out of the water.
Personally, I think it looks like the fish from the Page of Cups, but we’ll go with Waite
on this one. Dolphins typically symbolize the need for ‘play time’, and to take a break
from monotonous routines. The appearance of the dolphin in this card reminds the
rather serious looking King that he should retreat occasionally from his responsibilities.
A retreat allows time for personal development, and continued growth of spiritual
connection. This is a particularly important message for anyone who works in the mind-
body-spirit industry, like therapists, counselors and tarot readers. We need to plug out
regularly, in order to tune in.

Remember: History is full of stories of ‘eureka’ moments: from Isaac Newton to Albert
Einstein, people who had flashes of inspiration while thinking about other things.

Dolphins are also a message to move into deeper spiritual work, particularly if you
dream of dolphins.

⭐The dolphin only appears in the King of Cups card in the Rider Waite deck

What is The Meaning of the Red Ship in the Background?

Boats and ships are an enduring cultural symbol and metaphor, deeply embedded in
human consciousness. Ships belong to the world of the oceans, of other worldliness, a
place of unpredictable beauty and destruction. We are in awe and fear of the ocean. For
thousands of years sailors have navigated across oceans in search of the unknown.

In Tarot, a boat or ship represents going on a journey, whether that is an actual journey
or one of the mind. Moving from one place or mindset to another. This journey may not
be easy, and even scary, if it lands you in unfamiliar territory.

The presence of a ship at sea in this card, signifies that you are already well on your
journey of discovery. The color of the ship is significant because red represents
passion and energy, meaning you are energized by what you are experiencing.

Interesting note: In palmistry, the symbol of the boat means wisdom and moral
courage.

⭐Boats also appear in these cards: Six of Swords Symbols, Two of Pentacles
Symbols and Three of Wands Symbols

What is The Meaning of the Stormy Sea?

The sea is vast, majestic and awe inspiring. When the sea or ocean appears in Tarot, it
signifies the querent is reflecting on life and asking the Big Questions, like, ‘Who am I?’,
‘Why am I here?’, ‘Does God exist?’, ‘Do humans really have free will?’, ‘Is what I see
and experience real?’
The more stormy the sea, the more turbulent the mind. When we stop to truly ponder
life, it can feel like a brain-frying experience! The more you learn, the less you know,
sort of thing.

The King in this card sits unperturbed by the waves lashing around him, indicating that
he is comfortable in the realm of philosophical discussions.

‘I think therefore I am’.

The ultimate philosophical conclusion

Rene Descartes

CUPS

Queen

Click to enlarge

Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one
of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream. Divinatory
Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the
Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness,
pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother. Reversed: The
accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be
trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.

What Does The Ornate Chalice in the Queen of Cups Symbolize?

The Queen of Cups holds an ornate Gothic chalice in her hands, and she is staring at
the cup, seemingly using it as a scrying tool for divination; much in the way a fortune
teller might use a crystal ball.
This is the only chalice with a lid and closed top in the Rider Waite deck. The cross on
top of the lid suggests it may be a ciborium, a sacred chalice used in Catholic Mass to
contain the sacrament. The Queen does not need to open the chalice to see what is
inside, she appears to be using her sixth sense or an extrasensory perception
like clairvoyance. She knows when the time is right, everything will be revealed.

The Queen of Cups is emotional and sensitive, but she is good at keeping her
feelings under a lid. Her hair is neatly braided, reflecting this sense of self-control. She
sits at the edge of water (emotions) but her throne is firmly planted on land.

This Queen is the most psychic and intuitive of all the Queens in Tarot. Perhaps for this
reason the artist Pamela Colman Smith, and author A.E. Waite thought she needed a
suitably ornate cup to symbolize her metaphysical mastery. The closed lid certainly
creates an esoteric atmosphere of a ‘veiled’ or hidden world derived from the
superconscious.

Two angels are holding the cup, and appear to be similar to those angels described
guarding the Ark of the Covenant; the chest which is said to have held the Ten
Commandments.

Notice the red jewel in the center of the chalice? This is possibly a ruby. Rubies are
considered the stones of kings and queens, and are associated with good luck and
wealth.

What is The Symbolism of The Crown?

Traditionally a crown is the symbolic ‘hat’ worn by royalty and sovereign rulers. In Tarot,
the meaning of the crown can vary. A crown can suggest, for example, that the querent
desires recognition for their work or efforts. Or maybe, they feel a little out of control and
want more stability in their life.

The golden crown in this card appears to be adorned with pearls, which are borne from
the sea. Pearls symbolize wisdom gained through experience. This can mean that the
querent has become wiser after enduring some hard knocks in life.

Pearls also represent purity and symbolize the purity of the person who wears them.

⭐Crowns appear in all the King and Queen cards in Tarot, as well as: The
Empress, The Emperor, High Priestess, Hierophant, Justice, Death, The Tower

What is The Symbolism of The Throne in The Queen of Cups?

In a Tarot reading, a throne represents the seat of authority and power. It signifies that
the querent is stepping up to the plate, and taking control of their life. As the Queen of
Cups rules over feelings and relationships, this might refer to issues at home, in caring
for other people or investing time in their health or personal development.

The throne is decorated by shells, continuing the water and maritime theme. In new
age tradition, seashells are associated with emotions and symbolize the unconscious. In
Medieval times, seashells were often associated with love and fertility, and can be seen
as symbolic of female genitalia. Scallop shells appear in many Renaissance paintings,
including the Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli and The Annunciation by Leonardo da
Vinci.

It is worth noting that shells, as well as sticks, bones and stones (rune stones) have all
been used as tools of divination by ancient cultures.

The clasp on the Queens robe is a red seashell, possibly echoing the ‘power’ of the red
ruby in the chalice.

It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows

the one, merit obtains the other.

Petrach

⭐Thrones appear in all the King and Queen cards in Tarot, as well as: The
Empress, The Emperor, High Priestess, Hierophant and Justice

What do The Angels on the Throne Symbolize?

The throne is topped by two cherub angels, and one cherub at the base of the throne.
These angels appear to be half cherub and half mermaid, as the lower part of their body
is covered in fish scales. The cherub at the base appears to be holding a fish.

The concept of mermaids in the West may have been influenced by Greek mythological
stories of Sirens, exotic creatures who lured sailors with their singing voices to
shipwreck on the coast of their island. It was said Sirens could even charm the wind.
Originally half-birdlike, they became pictured as half-fishlike in the Christian era.

The Hebrew Bible describes cherubim as the throne bearers of God. In Christianity the
cherubim are the celestial attendants of God and are ranked among the higher orders of
angels.

Perhaps the artist of this card was trying to make a point about the shared connection
between Christianity and mythology.
On a more mundane level, cherubs can mean that the person asking the Tarot a
question, is one of life’s more gentle souls.

What Does The Sharp Cliff Represent?

There is a large cliff in this Tarot card which is positioned to the right-hand side of the
Queen. What is the symbol of the cliff?

Mountains and cliffs tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the
mountain, the more immediate the problem.

Interestingly, there is a theory that people are either left- or right-brained, meaning one
side of your brain tends to be more dominant than the other. If you tend to be more
analytical in your thinking, then you are left-brained and if you are more creative or
artistic, then you are right-brained.

Is this why the cliff or ‘obstacle’ is positioned to the right of the Queen? A subtle
message that many obstacles in life can be overcome by tapping into the subconscious.
This can only be viewed as a modern interpretation as the right- and left-brain scientific
theory only came to light in the 1960s.

The cliff looks like the famous White Cliffs of Dover. If you were to jump off the cliff, you
are looking at a sheer drop. Perhaps this is what it feels like to those people who are
more comfortable working with logic than intuition. A dangerous leap off a cliff into
another world or mindset.

What do The Stones and Rocks Represent in This Tarot Card?

Stones and rocks are symbolic of the history of Earth because they have been around
for billions of years. They remind us of the transient nature of life, and help us to see life
in perspective. Is it really worth getting so emotional over this or that problem? the rock
asks.

We have forgotten what rocks and plants still know. We have forgotten how to be – to
be still – to be ourselves – to be where life is here and now.

Eckhart Tolle
Notice the smooth edge of the stones at the foot of the Queen, and the curved outline of
the seashore. There is a symbolic message here: Storms make a sharp cliff, but the
gentle perseverance of a tide makes smooth stones. Persistent gentleness and love,
even in the face of a storm, eventfully wins out.
What is The Meaning of the Swirling Sea?

The ocean is vast, majestic and awe inspiring. When an ocean or sea appears in Tarot,
it signifies the querent is reflecting on life and asking the Big Questions, like, who am
I? and what is the meaning of life?

The sea in this Queen of Cups Tarot card is swirling and stormy. However, the blue sky
suggests that the storm has passed. The swirling sea water represents swirling
thoughts, but calmness is returning. Perhaps this is because the querent has received
answers to their questions, or they are practicing meditation or mindfulness to still the
mind. There is a sense here of mastery over emotions.

CUPS

Knight

Click to enlarge

Graceful, but not warlike; riding quietly, wearing a winged helmet, referring to those
higher graces of the imagination which sometimes characterize this card. He too is a
dreamer, but the images of the side of sense haunt him in his vision. Divinatory
Meanings: Arrival, approach--sometimes that of a messenger; advances, proposition,
demeanour, invitation, incitement. Reversed: Trickery, artifice, subtlety, swindling,
duplicity, fraud.

What Does Armor Symbolize in The Knight of Cups?

Here we have a Knight in shining armor.

Armor is a form of defense and in a Tarot reading, the appearance of armor signals that
the querent is feeling vulnerable. One should look at how much armor the Knight is
wearing, in order to assess the level of vulnerability.
If you notice, the Knight of Cups has bare hands, he does not wear gloves.
The Knights of Pentacles and Knight of Wands, both wear gloves and the Knight of
Swords has one gloved hand. The fact that the Knight of Cups has two exposed hands,
indicates his high level of exposure, whether he knows it or not. This Knight deals with
matters of the heart, so this is no surprise. The Knight’s bare hands also indicate
a delicate touch, the touch of a lover or a warrior of the heart.

The Knight is holding the Ace of Cups in his bare hand. Whatever opportunity the Ace
delivers, he is treating it with the reverence and respect it deserves.

At the same time, armor symbolizes preparation in Tarot. This Knight is intuitively aware
that his heart may do battle one day, but he is hoping for the best.

This Knight reminds us:

“Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure.”

Bob Marley

⭐Armour also appears in these Tarot cards: King of Pentacles, The

Chariot and The Emperor

What is The Meaning of The Horse?

Firstly, for practical reasons it is difficult to imagine a Knight without his horse. The
horse serves a practical purpose in helping the Knight move from one place to another.

When the horse catches your attention in a Tarot card, it means you are ready to move
forward in life. In this particular card, it signals you are ready to explore the extent of
your feelings and emotions. For example, perhaps you are ready to explore romance,
parenthood, or spiritual growth.

As a totem or spirit animal, the horse represents courage and freeing yourself of
restrictions. The horse in the Knight of Cups is associated with ‘spiritual’ travel,
investigating other spiritual dimensions through astral travel, Akashic
Record meditation or shamanic journeying.

In the Bible, horses represent determination and a new beginning:

“Who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble.”

Isaiah 63:13
⭐Horses also appears in these Tarot cards: All four Knights, Death card, The Sun
card and the Six of Wands

Why Does This Knight Have Wings on His Helmet and Boots?

The Knight of Cups has wings on his helmet and boots, which is a reference to the God
Hermes. In mythology, Hermes was the emissary and messenger of the gods and he
could pass messages between the world of mortals, the underworld and divine realms.
His winged helmet enabled him to ‘fly’ between worlds. Hermes was the only Olympian
capable of crossing the divide between the living and the dead.

The message here is clear, wings enable us to fly free and high. A more modern version
could be ‘Red Bull gives you wings.’

The Knight of Cups is the most romantic, whimsical and ethereal of the all the Knights,
and so it is no coincidence that he has been depicted with wings by the artist Pamela
Colman Smith.

Why Are There Fish on The Knight of Cup’s Tunic?

All creatures who live beneath water need water to survive and thrive. This is why the
fish symbolizes life, fertility and creativity.

The Knight of Cups chooses the fish as his tunic symbol because he feels, that of all the
classical elements of alchemy (water, earth, fire, air), he cannot survive without water.
I’m not just talking about drinking water, but rather the more ephemeral things that water
symbolizes. He is moved by matters of the heart, relating to people, love and
communication; rather than money, prestige or grandiose concepts.

This Knight may also be drawn to metaphysical studies such as reincarnation, ancestor
worship, faith healing or any area of parapsychology.

⭐Fish also appear in this Tarot card: Page of Cups

What Does The River Symbolize in This Tarot Card?

Rivers in Tarot represent an obstacle that you need to get past, something blocking
your path or progress.

The river in the Knight of Cups is calm and easily traversed. This means the Knight is
optimistic about his future and doesn’t anticipate too many obstacles. This is probably
the right mindset, as showing up is half the battle in life.
⭐A river also appears in these Tarot cards: Temperance, 5 of Cups, 8 of Cups, 10
of Cups, 4 of Wands and 8 of Wands

What Does The Mountain Symbolize in The Knight of Cups?

In Tarot, mountains represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away the
mountain, the further away the problems. In the Knight of Cups, the mountains appear
to be directly in front of him, across the river.

So while our Knight has a positive can-do attitude, he is likely to face an obstacle which
might challenge his optimism very soon. That said, perhaps he will find a way to
navigate around the mountain (and obstacle) as there appears to be flat land to the left
of the mountain. Compare this to the Eight of Cups, where one feels the traveler has
no choice, but to navigate his way through the mountain range.

⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
examples: The Fool, The Hermit, Judgement card and Ten of Swords

What do Trees Symbolize in This Tarot Card?

In Tarot, trees represent future plans and prosperity. The closer the trees, the more
solid your plans and the sooner they are likely to be realized.

In the Knight of Cups, the trees are still far away in the distance, meaning, this romantic
Knight is still a little bit fuzzy about his future. Yet, he clearly has faith that all will work
out and his only task now, is to move forward.

⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: The Empress, The Lovers, The Hanged Man,
The Star, The Tower
 CUPS

Page

Click to enlarge

A fair, pleasing, somewhat effeminate page, of studious and intent aspect,

contemplates a fish rising from a cup to look at him. It is the pictures of the mind
taking form. Divinatory Meanings: Fair young man, one impelled to render service
and with whom the Querent will be connected; a studious youth; news, message;
application, reflection, meditation; also these things directed to business. Reversed:
Taste, inclination, attachment, seduction, deception, artifice.

What is The Meaning of The Cup in the Page of Cups?

A young Page stands in front of the sea, dressed in a colorful Grecian tunic. He holds a
cup or chalice in his right hand and a blue fish emerges from within.

This is the same cup from the Ace of Cups card, the cup with the esoteric name The
Root of the Powers of Water. The Page is holding out this chalice, offering you the
magic elixir of water. It sounds like an exciting offer, doesn’t it?

This Page of Cups is the personification of the element Water, and all the sacred
symbols water represents in shamanism, astrology and I-Ching. Water is considered the
center of life, a divine energy which makes up 60 percent of the human body and 70
percent of the Earth’s surface. Water is linked to the Svadhisthana or the sacral chakra,
located around the belly button. Every time we connect to water or spend time near
water, it raises our energy and enhances the qualities of joy, creativity and healing in
our mind and body.

What is The Meaning of The Blue Fish in The Page of Cups?

The Page seems to be listening closely to the message of the blue fish. Whatever he
hears, must be good news because it makes him smile. What news does the fish
impart?

Perhaps the fish wants to make you aware of a new spiritual gift or talent that is
emerging in your life. In Tarot psychology, water symbolizes the depths of the
unconscious higher-self and feelings. The blue fish in this card is therefore a metaphor
for deeper spiritual awareness.

As water brings life, all creatures living beneath its surface symbolize fertility and birth.
This fish could also be announcing a pregnancy or birth.

The color blue is used extensively in this Tarot card: the blue fish, blue tunic of the
page, blue feather and ocean behind. In color therapy blue represents communication,
and in particular light blue is associated with the need to talk to other people and to tell
them what is your mind. This may be why the fish is light blue in color.

Interesting: The ichthys or ichthus is a symbol consisting of the profile of a fish. The
symbol was adopted by early Christians as a secret symbol to recognize churches and
each other during a time when they faced persecution in the Roman Empire. It later
became known as the sign of the fish, or the Jesus fish.

The Thoth Tarot deck has a turtle emerging from the cup instead of a fish. In Eastern
philosophy the turtle supports the universe on its back, and turtle shells were also used
in divination for predicting the future.

What do The Ocean Waves Mean?

The ocean is vast and symbolizes the vastness of life. When it appears in a Tarot card,
the ocean means that we are thinking about our life, and what will emotionally bring us
happiness.

In the Page of Cups, the ocean is wavy. These waves represent waves of emotions,
and signify the ripple of joy or the wave of emotion that washes over us when we
receive good news.

⭐The ocean appears in many Tarot cards, some examples: Two of Swords, Five of
Swords, Six of Swords, Ace of Cups, Queen of Cups, Two of Wands and Three of
Wands

What do The Lotus Flowers on The Page of Cups Tunic Symbolize?

Lotus flower symbolism in Tarot

What are the flowers on the tunic of the Page of Cups? The answer is, the lotus flower.
These are the same lotus flowers which made an appearance in the Ace of Cups, and
so we have a continuation of the theme. For thousands of years, Lotus flowers have
been considered a powerful symbol of purity in Buddhism. The lotus grows from the
depths of a muddy pond, and begins its journey towards the light and surface of the
water. It is a symbol of emergence, signifying emerging from difficult times and entering
a lighter period of happiness and optimism.

The lotus can also be considered a symbol of mind, body and spirit. It is associated with
the 7 chakras in the body, and the Soul Star Chakra where the crown chakra merges
with the Divine.

What Does The Blue Feather Mean in The Page of Cups Tarot Card?

The blue feather that the Page is wearing in his hat symbolizes spiritual evolution. It is a
universal sign of communication with spirits, angels and spirit guides. Read more about
the meaning of the blue feather, in my Guide to Feather Meanings.

Feathers appear in all four Pages suits, and four Knights in the Rider Waite deck.

CUPS

Ten

Click to enlarge

Appearance of Cups in a rainbow; it is contemplated in wonder and ecstacy by a man

and woman below, evidently husband and wife. His right arm is about her; his left is
raised upward; she raises her right arm. The two children dancing near them have not
observed the prodigy but are happy after their own manner. There is a home-scene
beyond. Divinatory Meanings: Contentment, repose of the entire heart; the perfection
of that state; also perfection of human love and friendship; if with several picture-
cards, a person who is taking charge of the Querent's interests; also the town, village
or country inhabited by the Querent. Reversed: Repose of the false heart, indignation,
violence.

What Does The Number 10 Symbolize in The Ten of Cups?

A man and woman embrace each other while gazing at a rainbow filled with ten cups. In
Tarot, the ten cards depict the extremes of life. They reflect the way we encounter,
respond to and cope with completions and outcomes. The Tens of Wands and Swords,
the more masculine suits, are depicted more aggressively than the Cups and Pentacles.

The number ten has become a symbol for having a full set of something, like we have
ten fingers and ten toes. Adopted in Tarot, this symbolism had much to do with and was
taken from the ten Sephiroth of both Kabbalah and Qabalah, along with astrology and I
Ching or Yi Jing, an ancient Chinese system of cosmology and philosophy.

The Ten of Cups reflects ‘completion’ of happiness. Life doesn’t get much better than
this. In fact, life looks so perfect in this card, it could be Heaven. The land of eternal
happiness and immortality.

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy
afternoon.

Susan Ertz
What is The Meaning of The Family in This Card?

Tarot cards which depict a family, signify that the central message of the card is meant
to be a ‘shared’ experience. You are not experiencing your happiness alone, but others
around you are also sharing those ‘good feelings’. There is happiness all-round. In
contrast, the solitary figure at the center of the Nine of Cups, who is also happy, is
experiencing that happiness in a more personal or private way.

Compare also Judgement card and The Hermit. Both cards refer to a spiritual
awakening, but where the solitary Hermit represents a personal awakening, Judgement
indicates a cosmic awakening shared with other people or humanity as a whole.

What is The Meaning of The Rainbow in The 10 of Cups?

The 10 of Cups is the only card in the Rider Waite deck with a rainbow. This signals the
uniqueness and ‘specialness’ of this card.

The rainbow might signal a covenant, the promise between humanity and God of lasting
happiness or a happy ever after. We all hope that such a place exists.
When you receive this card in a Tarot reading, it implies you are one step closer to
understanding life and achieving a deeper sense of happiness. In Buddhism, the
rainbow symbolizes the highest conscious state which can be reached before Nirvana
or enlightenment.

Rainbows are also a symbol in Western culture as a sign of good luck and offer the
promise of better times to come. Note that the rainbow is shaped like a bridge, a way of
‘bridging’ your old life and the new. Thus, this card becomes a symbol of hope.

Believe in Magic and chase rainbows

Karina Collins
What is The Symbolism of The House or Cottage?

The cottage in this card can indicate that owning or renovating a home is an important
concern at this time. A place to ‘nest’ and raise your family, or to support parents and
siblings.

It can also indicate that ‘home’, parents and childhood friends are at the back of your
mind. If you have been considering moving ‘back home’, in a fortune telling reading this
card signifies that such a move would be fortunate.

⭐A cottage also appears in this card: Six of Cups Symbols

What is The Symbolism of Trees?

The meaning of trees in Tarot is taken primarily from mythology and religious text. We
know of the tree in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life in Kabbalah and the tree
called Yggdrasil in Norse mythology. Trees are used to symbolize life, growth, wisdom,
regeneration and prosperity.

The more trees in a Tarot card, the more ‘life’ and ‘prosperity’ is indicated. Trees
suggest that the querent has plans for a new venture or phase in their life. How close
you are to acting on, or achieving your plans depends on the proximity of the trees. The
closer the trees, the sooner your plans are likely to be actualized or realized.

⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: The Empress, The Lovers, The Hanged Man,
The Star, The Tower

Does The River Have Any Significance in This Card?

Rivers in Tarot can represent an obstacle that you need to get past, something blocking
your path or progress.

However, the river in the 10 of Cups is calm and nurturing. The family could use it for
watering their crops, washing their clothes or bathing. Rather than viewing the river as
an obstacle, one feels we are being guided rather to go with the flow. Any problems or
blocks you currently feel, will resolve themselves.

⭐A river also appears in these cards: Temperance, 5 of Cups, 8 of Cups, Knight of

Cups, 4 of Wands and 8 of Wands

What Sphere Does The Ten of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 10 of Cups depicts Malkuth, the tenth sphere of earthly
reality. Malkuth is positioned in Briah, the watery world of creation and fertility.

CUPS

Nine

Click to enlarge

A goodly personage has feasted to his heart's content, and abundant refreshment of
wine is on the arched counter behind him, seeming to indicate that the future is also
assured. The picture offers the material side only, but there are other
aspects. Divinatory Meanings: Concord, contentment, physical bien-être; also victory,
success, advantage; satisfaction for the Querent or person for whom the consultation
is made. Reversed: Truth, loyalty, liberty; but the readings vary and include mistakes,
imperfections, etc.

What Does The Man at the Center of This Card Symbolize?

A portly gentleman sits in front of nine cups displayed on a shelf behind him. His
posture and expression convey self-satisfaction. This card is directly related to
the Hermit card of the Major Arcana, which also depicts a person in solitude. In this
instance, the 9 of Cups represents emotional happiness which is enjoyed alone. You
are the only one who can really appreciate this moment or sense of achievement.

The main difference between this card and the 10 of Cups is that the ten card
represents happiness which is shared with others, like family or the community.

The gentleman is wearing a red hat. Red in Tarot is symbolic of motivation implying this
man has an active mind. In Asia, red is also considered a lucky color, which ties with the
9 of Cups being considered by fortune tellers as one of the luckiest cards in the Tarot
deck.

There is a sense of mentalism about this man, as though he is jovially urging you to
read his mind. Rub my tummy, he could be saying, I am the genie who has a fortunate
prediction or prophecy to share with you.

Does The Bench Have Any Significance In The 9 of Cups?

Yes, in Tarot benches can represent wealth and advancement. The bench provides a
physical support, helping you carry out a task for longer. In the 8 of Pentacles, an
apprentice works hard while sitting at his bench and in the 3 of Pentacles he stands on
a bench to attain higher places.

The bench is also a place you can sit and contemplate your success. In the 9 of Cups,
the bench does not look too comfortable, so it is not a place that anyone is likely to
linger too long. This is probably just a time-out of self-congratulation.

⭐Benches are also in these Tarot cards: Two of Swords Symbols, Three of
Pentacles Symbols and Eight of Pentacles Symbols

What is Behind The Blue Curtain in This Card?

The man is obviously happy to allow his nine cups to be seen, as they are displayed like
trophies on the mantlepiece. These cups represent his material possessions.

However, he seems to be hiding everything else behind him, both with his body
language and the blue curtain. What lurks beneath the curtain? Blue represents the
element Water, and the subconscious mind. It could be emotions or memories he has
dealt with or simply boxed away. Whatever it is, he is politely indicating that it’s none of
our business.
As I mentioned previously, this man could also be a genie. Perhaps he has just
manifested your wish, and is about to pull back the curtain and reveal your delightful
surprise!

What Does The Color Yellow Signify in Tarot?

Yellow color symbolism in Tarot: Yellow is the main color used by the artist in the
Nine of Cups. As with all Rider Waite cards which are dominated by yellow, the central
message is ‘sunny’ optimism.

In Tarot, yellow is specifically associated with the sun and the element Air. The Sun was
worshiped in many ancient cultures for its positive energy, and hence the connection to
optimism. The element Air is said to promote clarity of thought.

In such a way, yellow is the perfect color to represent the spiritual mind connecting with
higher spheres and drawing down some magic.

⭐Yellow is also a key symbol in these Major Arcana: The Fool Symbols, The
Strength Symbols, The Magician Symbols

What Sphere Does The 9 of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the Nine of Cups depicts Yesod in Briah. Yesod is the ninth
sphere of the Tree of Life, and it represents the foundation upon which God has built the
world. Archangel Gabriel watches over this sphere and the Cherubim angelic choir who
occupy it.
 CUPS

Eight

Click to enlarge

A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking
or previous concern. Divinatory Meanings: The card speaks for itself on the surface,
but other readings are entirely antithetical--giving joy, mildness, timidity, honour,
modesty. In practice, it is usually found that the card shews the decline of a matter, or
that a matter which has been thought to be important is really of slight consequence--
either for good or evil. Reversed: Great joy, happiness, feasting.

Who is The Figure Walking Away?

We see a figure walking away from us, towards the mountains. Perhaps this is the very
same person that we saw previously in the Seven of Cups who had their back turned to
us. In the Seven of Cups the person was confused by all the options before them, but
now they seem to have settled on a choice and direction. To remain in the same place
would have meant diminishing returns.

Notice the figure is wearing a red cloak? Red represents passion and motivation, which
implies this person is now clear of mind and purpose.

Why is This Person Walking at Night-Time?

Tarot cards which depict night-time scenes, indicate that not all the facts are known.
Darkness shrouds the path. It requires a leap of faith to walk in darkness if you can only
see one step ahead at a time.

The person in the Eight of Cups is choosing to tackle the mountains at night-time, rather
than waiting for the illumination of dawn. This suggests that he trusts Higher Powers to
guide his path. He is relying more on instinct than logic.
In a Tarot reading, this card can mean you are right to trust your instincts at this time.

What is the Symbolism of The Moon and The Eclipse?

The Eight of Cups shows the sun being eclipsed by the moon. This is a reference to the
card’s esoteric title, Lord of Abandoned Success. There is an implication of moving from
light into darkness, from the known, into the unknown.

Only in the darkness can you see the stars.

Light is Dark

Dark is Light

Come and show me

All thy might

8 of Cups Spell – by Karina

In Qabalah the moon is associated with the number 9, spiritually representing the first
step upward in the journey of human evolution. In Alchemy, the moon is a partner in the
human spirits quest for healing and magical union.

⭐The Moon also appears in these Tarot cards: The Moon card, Two of
Swords, Seven of Swords, High Priestess card, Hierophant and The Chariot card.

What do The Mountains Symbolize in The Eight of Cups?

In Tarot, mountains represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away, the
further away the problems. In the 8 of Cups, the mountains appear to be quite close,
and so issues associated with your new direction, are likely to crop up quite soon.

The key thing to remember about mountains is that they have a way of raising us
beyond the ordinary. If you have ever stood on top of a mountain and felt that sense of
infinity, you will know what I mean. They raise our soul to the heavens.

The mountains in this card act as a reminder not to get too bogged down in the day-to-
day grind, but to allow time to create a vision for your future.
⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: Temperance, The Hermit and The Lovers

Does The River Have Any Symbolism in This Tarot Card?

Rivers in Tarot can represent an obstacle that you need to get past, something blocking
your path or progress.

In the Eight of Cups, our hero has already crossed the river and is marching towards his
new destination. This indicates that any difficulties in walking away from a situation have
already been overcome. Any difficulties which lie ahead, indicated by the mountains,
are connected to the future rather than the present.

⭐A river also appears in these Tarot cards: Temperance, 5 of Cups, 10 of Cups,

Knight of Cups, 4 of Wands and 8 of Wands

What Sphere Does The 8 of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 8 of Cups depicts Hod in Briah. Hod is the eighth sphere of
splendor and glory. It represents proceeding in an orderly way through what is chaos to
others, and an appreciation of the sensitivity of nature. This sphere is ruled by
Archangel Michael and associated with the solar plexus chakra.

CUPS

Seven

Click to enlarge

Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic
spirit. Divinatory Meanings: Fairy favours, images of reflection, sentiment,
imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation; some attainment in these
degrees, but nothing permanent or substantial is suggested. Reversed: Desire, will,
determination, project.

What is Inside The Seven Cups in This Card?

Each cup contains a symbolic icon: a human head, ghost, snake, castle, jewels, laurel
wreath and dragon.

Arthur Edward Waite describes these cups as strange chalices of vision. They are all
up in a cloud which reflects their imaginary nature, the symbols inside those cups are
not yet real, but still within the realm of imagination. Whether they are the result of
wishful thinking, or thoughts of intention and manifestation, depends on who is reading
the cards.

The seven cups display icons of varying forms of pleasure. The symbolic question you
are asked, is: will you choose wisely? Or will you be like the kid in a candy store who
wants it all and his failure to choose ends up with him leaving with nothing. We are
reminded that the secret of manifestation is knowing what you want, and focusing all
your intention on that one outcome.

To truly appreciate this card, you should read what each cup symbolizes, and make a
decision on which ‘pleasure’ you most want to turn into reality with your intention.

What Does The Human Head or Mask Represent?

The human head in the Seven of Cups Tarot card may represent a potential romantic
partner, if you are seeking your soulmate or twinflame.

The head may also be the face of an oracle who gives answers to all your questions.
She could be the Oracle of Delphi, Pythia, the high priestess who was said to practice
the art of divination.

It was believed in Delphi, that God lived within a laurel plant and He could provide
predictions of the future through the rustling of the leaves. If you notice one of the other
cups contains a victory laurel, which is an interesting connection.

What is The Significance of The Victory Laurel?

A laurel is a plant that was traditionally used to weave wreaths into a crown, which were
given to the victors at sporting events in Ancient Greece and Rome. Today, the laurel is
synonymous with achievement, and a laureate is someone who receives honor or
recognition for achievement in the arts or science.
The victory laurel in the Seven of Cups symbolizes achievement. This could be anything
from getting the job you want to passing your exams, or overcoming a significant
obstacle that was holding you back.

It may also signify fame and public recognition. The rulers of Greece and Rome wore a
laurel on their head to signify their rank, status and importance. If you see a portrait of
Julius Caesar, chances are he is wearing a laurel.

This cup asks you: Do you want achievement, fame or recognition?

⭐Laurels also appears in these Tarot cards: The World Symbols, Ace of Swords
Symbols, Six of Wands Symbols

What is The Meaning of the Ghost or Veiled Figure?

The glowing figure hidden beneath the white sheet could be a ghost. The figure is
shrouded in a veil of mysticism and suggests a paranormal nature. This cup asks, do
you want to develop psychic, mediumship, healing gift, or knowledge of some other
spiritual nature? In my experience, people who choose this cup are those who possess
a gift (even if yet unacknowledged). The soul knows what the soul wants.

The ghost is the most dominant icon in the Seven of Cups, it is hard to miss the red
glowing figure. Perhaps Arthur Edward Waite was secretly showing us his choice. Waite
was a scholarly mystic who wrote extensively on the occult and esoteric subjects. He
was a key figure in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and a some time member
of the Knights Templar.

⭐The veil also appears in: High Priestess Symbols

What Does The Snake Symbolize?

The meaning of the snake in the 7 of Cups is traditionally associated with

transformation and major personal change. The change the snake delivers is so
dramatic and intense, it feels like the old you is dying and a new you is emerging.

If you want to detox your life and experience a rebirth of body, mind and spirit – then
this is the cup you will be drawn to.

Waite also placed a snake around the waist of the magician in the Magician Tarot
card, which may offer insight into his intention. The Magician draws magic power from
the heavens, and says As Above, So Below.
⭐The snake also appears in these Tarot cards: The Lovers Symbols, Wheel of
Fortune Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Castle in The Seven of Cups?

The castle traditionally represents home and safety. It represents arriving at your
destination after a long and arduous journey.

Maybe you have been studying for years and are praying now to pass your exams.
Maybe you battled with health issues, weight problems or anxiety.

If you are attracted to the cup with a castle, it symbolizes you are focused on arriving at
your destination, and your efforts are likely to be rewarded.

⭐The castle also appears in these Tarot cards: The Tower, The Chariot, 8 of
Swords, 6 of Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King
of Pentacles, Ace of Wands, 4 of Wands and 10 of Wands

What Do The Jewels Mean?

The jewelry symbolizes wealth, money and financial security. Is this your main wish
right now? the card asks.

What Does The Dragon Represent in The Seven of Cups?

The dragon is one of the most difficult symbols to interpret in the 7 of Cups. In
Christianity, the dragon was a symbol of evil and the Devil, and heralds death and
calamity. Obviously no-one, in their right mind, is going to choose that cup!

I assume, for that reason, the author had a different meaning in mind. In mythological
stories, for example, dragons shoot flames of fire in the sky, and are associated with
passion and power. Perhaps you want to discover your life purpose and true passion?
If so, this is the cup for you.

The dragon is also associated with the study and practice of ancient mystical arts.

What do The Grey Clouds Signify in This Tarot Card?

Clouds have a variety of meanings in Tarot, depending on their color and type. The
clouds in the 7 of Cups are dark and swirling, which suggests confusion and the need to
make a choice.
 CUPS

Six

Click to enlarge

Children in an old garden, their cups filled with flowers. Divinatory Meanings: A card
of the past and of memories, looking back, as--for example--on childhood; happiness,
enjoyment, but coming rather from the past; things that have vanished. Another
reading reverses this, giving new relations, new knowledge, new environment, and
then the children are disporting in an unfamiliar precinct. Reversed: The future,
renewal, that which will come to pass presently.

What Do The Children Symbolize in The Six of Cups?

The Six of Cups shows two children playing in a medieval, old-country square setting.
An adult is in the background, maintaining watch at a respectful distance. There is a
sense of safety, where innocence can flourish.

Children symbolize innocence, memories and childhood in Tarot. How to interpret the
message of the children in the Six of Cups, or really any Tarot card, depends on the
question you ask. However, the presence of the children can mean that whatever
question you ask, the answer lies somewhere in your past, or by embracing an
optimistic outlook.

This card is not encouraging you to linger too long in the past nostalgia. Rather, you are
coaxed to take what you need, practically or emotionally, and use it to fortify the
present.

⭐Children also appear in the Tarot cards: The Sun Tarot, Ten of Cups and Ten of
Pentacles
What is The Meaning of The White Flower?

A white flower is planted in each of the cups in this card, and the flower has five pointed
edges. Traditionally, white is a symbol of innocence and purity, and flowers are
symbolic of love. In this instance, the flower is symbolic of innocent love, and purity of
feeling and intention.

Plumeria, 5 petal flower in the 6

of Cups
It is not clear what flower exactly, if any, is represented in this card. It could for example
be the Plumeria, the 5-petal flower used in the hair of Hawaiian women to indicate their
marital status. This flower has deep symbolic meaning, and signifies new life and new
beginnings.
The flower also reminds me of an edelweiss, but the edelweiss has more petals. That
said, I feel the words from the Sound of Music song could apply to this Tarot card:

Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

What Does The Village Symbolize?

In Tarot, a town or village represents a place where people meet. It can signify that
whatever you are trying to do in life, you cannot do it alone. As they say, it takes a
village to raise a child. The message here is don’t be afraid to ask for support if you
need it, or to approach old friends or family for a favor.

The cottage in this card can indicate that ‘home’, parents or siblings are at the back of
your mind.

⭐A town or village also appear in these Tarot cards: Four of Pentacles Symbols,
Ten of Pentacles Symbols and The Chariot Symbols

What Does The Inscription X on The Wall Mean?

Notice the letter X inscribed on the pillar of the wall, behind the young man? This X
could represent a coat of arms, symbolizing family history or aristocracy. It can indicate
knowing people for a long time, living in a place for generations or acting in a traditional
manner. It may even mean you have a karmic connection to some and shared a past
life together.

The X might also refer to the Roman numeral ten. If so, it suggests that whatever the
reader is focused on when they draw the 6 of Cups, has the possibility to turn into
the Ten of Cups, a happy-ever after, in the future.

Or maybe the author Arthur Edward Waite intended the marking simply to say ‘X
marks the spot’. This is, or was, a moment to remember.

What Sphere Does The Six of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 6 of Cups depicts Tipareth in Briah. Tipareth is the sixth
sphere at the center of the Tree of Life. It is the heart and the sun. It is known as the
sphere of beauty, and emphasizes mindfulness, the feeling of being present,
being here.

CUPS

Five

Click to enlarge

A dark, cloaked figure, looking sideways at three prone cups two others stand upright
behind him; a bridge is in the background, leading to a small keep or
holding. Divanatory Meanings: It is a card of loss, but something remains over; three
have been taken, but two are left; it is a card of inheritance, patrimony, transmission,
but not corresponding to expectations; with some interpreters it is a card of marriage,
but not without bitterness or frustration. Reversed: News, alliances, affinity,
consanguinity, ancestry, return, false projects.

What do The Knocked Over Cups Represent in The Five of Cups?

In this Tarot card, a man in a dark hooded cloak stares down at three fallen cups. The
contents, which look like a fine Bordeaux red wine, are spilled at his feet. In his misery,
he is too focused on his ‘bad luck’, to notice the upright cups behind him. These cups
are a possible future source of happiness, and are a reminder that this sadness too
shall pass.

In Rome, it was believed that spilling wine was an omen of bad luck and disaster, as
ominous as a black cat crossing your path.

The knocked-over wine in this particular card symbolizes how the lone figure is feeling –
perhaps he feels that life is a sad business or that he has just been dealt an unlucky
hand.
In the Bible, at the Wedding of Cana, Jesus transformed water into wine for the guests,
and thus the beverage became associated with purity. In the 5 of Cups, the wine has
been knocked over, meaning purity over-turned. Perhaps the man feels abandoned,
albeit temporarily, by Higher Powers.

What is The Symbolism of The Bridge?

Bridges have a variety of meanings in Tarot.

A bridge is inherently symbolic of communication, whether between heaven and earth

or two different lands. It symbolizes a way forward, from one state to another, like an
ascension process. A bridge is the end of one era, and the beginning of another. What
is it about humans, but when we see a bridge, we have an urge to cross it?

In some cultures bridges represent information beyond perception. A bridge also offers
a way to ‘cross over’ from this side of life to the next. Perhaps the man in this card has
lost a loved one, and he is mourning their loss.

In Tarot, the bridge can also represent progress. Often a bridge is the only way to reach
a destination and so it offers a portal to overcome obstacles. When a bridge appears in
a Tarot card, it means that there is a way, when you are ready, to move beyond your
present situation or personal state.

What Does The Castle Symbolize in This Tarot Card?

The castle traditionally represents home and safety. It represents arriving after a long
and arduous journey. Maybe you had to study for years, battle with bad health or
struggle to stay focused in order to arrive at this point.

In the 5 of Cups, our figure still has some walking to do before he reaches his castle. He
must first walk along the riverbank and then take the bridge to cross the river. We do not
know what difficulties might still await him on this journey.

Once home in his castle, we are reminded of the expression: An Englishman’s home is
his castle. What you have struggled to acquire for yourself, no-one has a right to tell you
what to do with it. Only when you walk the walk, can you talk the talk.

⭐Castles also appear in these Tarot cards: The Tower, The Chariot, 8 of Swords, 7
of Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of
Pentacles, Ace of Wands, 4 of Wands and 10 of Wands

What is The Symbolism of The River?

Rivers in Tarot can represent an obstacle that you need to get past, something blocking
your path or progress.

The river in the 5 of Cups is large and fast flowing, which means that the sadness may
take some time to settle down and heal.

⭐A river also appears in these Tarot cards: Temperance, 8 of Cups, 10 of Cups,

Knight of Cups, 4 of Wands and 8 of Wands

Why is The Man Wearing a Cloak, What Does it Mean?

Yes, a cloak symbolically allows us to hide our feelings or identity, much in the same
way we might wrap a blanket around ourselves for comfort or to ‘hide away’ from the
world for a while.

The Bible tells of a blind beggar called Bartimaeus. In Biblical times, beggars were
given cloaks which officially gave them the right to beg. As the story goes, Jesus
restored Bartimaeus’ sight, and the beggar then ceremoniously ‘threw off his cloak’, to
indicate he was starting a new life. [Mark 10:46-52]

When the man in the 5 of Cups is ready to move forward, he will too throw off his cloak.

Why is The Sky Gray in the Five of Cups?

Skies are not just colored backgrounds in the Tarot. They are part of the story and
reflect the central message in the cards. The sky in this card is dark and gloomy. We
expect the heavens to open and the rain to fall at any moment. The rain symbolizes the
tears which, perhaps, have yet to fall before the healing can begin.

What Sphere Does The 5 of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 5 of Cups depicts Geburah in Briah. Geburah is the fifth
sphere in the kabbalistic tree of life and is associated with God’s judgement and
punishment.
 CUPS

Four

Click to enlarge

A young man is seated under a tree and contemplates three cups set on the grass
before him; an arm issuing from a cloud offers him another cup. His expression
notwithstanding is one of discontent with his environment. Divinatory Meanings:
Weariness, disgust, aversion, imaginary vexations, as if the wine of this world had
caused satiety only; another wine, as if a fairy gift, is now offered the wastrel, but he
sees no consolation therein. This is also a card of blended pleasure. Reversed:
Novelty, presage, new instruction, new relations.

Why is a Hand Reaching Out of a Cloud with a Cup?

This hand emerging from the cloud is usually considered the Hand of God. This is the
same hand from the Ace of Cups, and it is reappearing in this Tarot card to remind you
of the Ace’s key message:

God has given you an opportunity, but you must play your part to turn it into
something real.

A young man sits by a tree in this card, his posture a little defensive. He seems to be
dreaming of being elsewhere and his body language indicates he is closed to what is on
offer. When the Hand of God appears in a Tarot card, always look for the opportunity
under your nose, you may be missing it.

Victories come from finding opportunities in problems.

Sun Tzu
⭐The hand also appears here: Ace of Wands symbols, Ace of Pentacles
symbols and Ace of Swords symbols

What is The Meaning of The Tree in the Four of Cups?

Trees appear in quite a few cards in the Rider Waite deck, but usually in the
background. When a symbol is in the background, it means the guidance refers to the
distant future. The closer the symbol, the more immediate the message.

In the Four of Cups, the tree is a dominant feature in this card, and consequently, it’s
symbolism is more important.

Since ancient times, trees have been associated with wisdom, knowledge and spiritual
nourishment. The Tree of Life is a common symbol recognized by many religions. This
could be the Bodhi Tree in Buddhism, the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden
from which Adam and Eve nibbled on the forbidden fruit, the Holy Sycamore of ancient
Egypt or the Kabbalah of esoteric Judaism.

Trees have many branches, symbolizing the many pathways and choices of life. The
man in this card could be meditating on his future and which path to take next.
However, the pathway seems to have presented itself (proffered by the Hand of God),
but he is simply unmotivated to act.

What Does the Mountain in the Background Symbolize?

Mountains are awe-inspiring, they have a way of raising our eyes to Heaven and their
presence lifts our consciousness above the ordinary, even when they are far away in
the distance.

Mountains act as a reminder not to get too bogged down in the day-to-day grind, but to
spend time creating a vision for your future, because your vision will help motivate you
on challenging days.

In Tarot, mountains tend to heighten the drama in a card, think of the dominant
mountain ranges in dramatic cards such as Judgement, The Tower and 10 of Swords.

In the Four of Cups, however, the mountain range is far away, and only peeps out from
the edge of the card. This signifies that ‘raising your consciousness’ is not a pressing
concern at this time, it is something to be aware of, but your attention is probably best
focused on acting on events in front of you.
⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: The Moon, Temperance, The Hermit and The Lovers

Is The Blue Sky Significant in the Four of Cups?

The sky is clear blue in the 4 of Cups Tarot card, there is not a single cloud on the
horizon. This is a wide expansive sky, which inspires feelings of freedom. The world is
your oyster, this card says. Recognize how lucky you are, to have so many choices and
opportunities. Of course, with choice comes the need to make decisions. It is true that
some people feel overwhelmed by too many choices, and end up procrastinating and
hoarding their energy.

Perhaps the blue sky is a reminder to be more aware of complaining about our ‘first
world problems’; and realize how lucky we really are.

What Sphere Does The Four of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 4 of Cups depicts Chesed, the fourth sphere of mercy. By
working with this energy, we can dissolve the self-imposed blocks that cut us off from
experiencing motivation, joy and love. The key to understanding Chesed is that we all
deserve to feel these things, regardless of our past failures, sins or sorrows.

CUPS

Three

Click to enlarge

Maidens in a garden-ground with cups uplifted, as if pledging one another. Divinatory

Meanings: The conclusion of any matter in plenty, perfection and merriment; happy
issue, victory, fulfilment, solace, healing, Reversed: Expedition, dispatch,
achievement, end. It signifies also the side of excess in physical enjoyment, and the
pleasures of the senses.

What Do The Dancing Women Symbolize in The Three of Cups?

Three women dance in celebration, this could be the end of harvest because of all the
fruit and flowers scattered on the ground. Indeed the image reminds one of Sandro
Botticelli’s Three Graces, or Charities, the three goddesses in Greek mythology,
Thaleia, Aglaia, and Euphrosyne, in whom beauty was celebrated.

The Graces main job was to bestow beauty, goodness and charm on young women and
to give joy to people in general. The appearance of these dancing ‘graces’ in the Three
of Cups, suggests that you have been ‘bestowed’ with a reason to celebrate. Perhaps
you are even doing a little jig around the kitchen!

There is a timeless sense of grace and oneness about this card. It reflects a phase from
the Sioux Lakota language: mitakuye oyasin. This phrase means ‘all my relatives,’ ‘we
are all related’. It is a prayer of Oneness and harmony with all life: other people, plants,
animals, and even mountains, rivers and rocks.

What is The Meaning of Fruit and Flowers in This Tarot Card?

In this card we can see grapes, apples and possibly pumpkins and tomatoes or
oranges. The fruit is ripe and has been freshly harvested. There is a time to work, and
there is a time to play and celebrate your harvest, and this is a time to play.

Grapes Symbolism

Grapes are a symbol of fertility and good luck. In ancient Egypt, it was believed if you
painted grapes on your tomb, you could achieve rewards in the afterlife. While in
Christianity, priests drink wine from a chalice to symbolize the blood of Christ to bring
them closer to the savior.

⭐Grapes also appear here: Seven of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, Ten of

Pentacles, King of Pentacles, and Four of Wands

Apples Symbolism

Apples are a more complex symbol, and can represent love, sensuality, wisdom,
happiness and luxury. In ancient mythology, the apple is one of the most sacred trees
and symbolizes future happiness and good health. In Christianity, the apple was less
favored because of its association with sensuality, and became the symbol of
temptation and original sin in the Garden of Eden.
⭐Apples also appear here: The Lovers Symbols

Flowers

The maidens are wearing flowers in their hair. Flowers have been surrounded by
symbolism and mythology for thousands of years, influencing our emotions. Over time
certain flowers became associated with particular meaning. While we cannot decipher
exactly which flowers are depicted in the Three of Cups, we can assume the general
meaning of flowers which is: beauty, love and affection. Flowers also represent being
open to new ideas, experiences and beliefs.

⭐Flowers are found in many other cards, just a few examples: Empress, Ten of
Cups and Two of Wands

The Sky is Blue and There are No Clouds. Why?

The sky is clear blue in the Three of Cups Tarot card, there is not a single cloud on the
horizon. This is a wide expansive sky, which inspires feelings of freedom. It is the sort of
day to daydream, to imagine more ways of bringing fun into your life. Can you find a
way to keep the party going?, this card asks.

Blue is also associated with rest and vacation, because the color can cause the body to
produce chemicals which induce a state of calmness.

If you notice in the Rider Waite Deck, the light blue sky primarily appears on happy
cards, or cards which ask you to keep dreaming.

What Sphere Does The Three of Cups Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 3 of Cups depicts Binah in Briah. This is the third sphere of
understanding, interconnectedness and interaction with others beyond our own selfish
interests.
 CUPS

Two

Click to enlarge

A youth and maiden are pledging one another, and above their cups rises the
Caduceus of Hermes, between the great wings of which there appears a lion's head. It
is a variant of a sign which is found in a few old examples of this card. Some curious
emblematical meanings are attached to it, but they do not concern us in this
place. Divinatory Meanings: Love, passion, friendship, affinity, union, concord,
sympathy, the interrelation of the sexes, and--as a suggestion apart from all offices of
divination--that desire which is not in Nature, but by which Nature is sanctified.

What Does The Chalice Symbolize in The Two of Cups?

The chalice or goblet symbolizes the human heart. In this Tarot card, there are two
chalices, representing two hearts. Much like the Lovers Tarot card, here we see two
energies bonding together. The couple are holding up their chalices in a toast, signalling
that they are prepared to trust the other with their heart and future. There is a sanctity to
these vows, and thus the chalice becomes a symbol of their mutual respect and
promise.

What is The Meaning of The Man and Woman?

A man and woman stare into each other’s eyes, their gaze fixed over two chalices. The
duality symbolism is clear; male and female, Yin and Yang, opposites attract.

The concept of duality such as man and woman, dark and light, fire and water, negative
and positive is popular in Chinese philosophy. It lies at the origins of many branches of
classical Chinese spiritual movements including taijiquan (t’ai chi) qigong (Chi Kung)
and I Ching.
While two people or two forces can appear to be opposite on the surface, they may
actually be complementary in the natural or real world. Men and women are very
different by nature, but mutual happiness can be achieved sometimes when both sides
are prepared to meet in the middle.

Thus, the two figures in this card could be finding common ground as lovers or friends,
or as two races, religions or people with differing opinions.

What Does the Caduceus of Hermes Mean?

The couple are seen toasting their future beneath the Caduceus of Hermes. The
caduceus is a symbol of the Greek God Hermes, or Mercury as he was known in
Roman mythology. The caduceus is a short staff entwined by two snakes and capped
by wings. Any oath taken below this staff is considered sacred.

Snakes

Snakes were highly symbolic of transformation and healing in the ancient world
because they can shed their skins and morph into a new state. The appearance of the
snake in this card suggests that whatever relationship is on the Tarot reader’s mind, is a
healthy one.

Wings

Wings are associated with flight and freedom. This can mean you don’t become the
‘couple’ who blend into one identify, but rather you retain your individual identities.

Healers Commitment

In the Ancient world, the staff, or caduceus was considered a magic wand. When
applied to the dying, it made their death gentle and if applied to the dead, it could bring
them back to life. In modern times, the caduceus is sometimes used as a logo by
healthcare organizations and pharmacies, although the Rod of Aesculapius which only
has one snake and never depicted with wings, is more common. If you are a healer, and
are making a commitment to you spiritual development, the Two of Cups can mean that
your ‘vow’ or oath has been heard and recognized by Higher Powers.

Business Negotiations

The caduceus is also a recognized symbol for healthy business negotiations. It means
you can trust the other party in your dealings.
Note: In this card, the artist Pamela Colman Smith has added a lions head to the
caduceus, which is unusual. It is not clear why she did this. It may simply have been for
decorative reasons. If the lion is meant to symbolize something, possibly it is courage.

⭐The caduceus only appears in the 2 of Cups, in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

What Do The Hills in the Two of Cups Mean?

In Tarot, hills represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the hills are in the distance. The further away the hill, the
further away the problems. In the Two of Cups, the hills appear mid-distance,
suggesting you still have time before issues crop up. Also worth noting is how steep the
hills are drawn. In this case, the slopes are gentle inclines which suggests any problems
should be quite easy to handle.

That said, do not ignore these obstacles, keep your eyes open.

⭐Hills also appear here: Temperance, Judgement, Page of Pentacles, Nine of

Wands

What Does The House in the Background Signify?

In Tarot, houses represent home and family life. Here we could be looking at the very
same house which appears later in the Ten of Cups; perhaps just from another vantage
point. The 10 of Cups traditionally means ‘happy ever after’, and so perhaps we are
being treated to a preview of this couple’s future?

The house in this card suggests you are on the path to success and happiness.

⭐A house also appears here: Six of Cups Symbols

Qabalah and Numerology in The Two of Cups

In numerology, the number 2 represents partnership, polarity, choice, duality and

balance. In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the Two of Cups depicts Chokmah in the world of
Briah; the second sphere of wisdom or intelligence applied to the world that always
flows and changes. Staying the course.
 CUPS

Ace

Click to enlarge

The waters are beneath, and thereon are water-lilies; the hand issues from the cloud,
holding in its palm the cup, from which four streams are pouring; a dove, bearing in
its bill a cross-marked Host, descends to place the Wafer in the Cup; the dew of water
is falling on all sides. It is an intimation of that which may lie behind the Lesser
Arcana. Divinatory Meanings: House of the true heart, joy, content, abode,
nourishment, abundance, fertility; Holy Table, felicity hereof. Reversed: House of the
false heart, mutation, instability, revolution.

What Does The Chalice Symbolize in The Ace of Cups?

The chalice or goblet symbolizes the human heart and family. It indicates that family, in
particular children and grandchildren, provide the emotional security and happiness you
desire.

In Christianity, this could be the holy chalice from which priests drink during mass to
represent the blood (and heart) of Christ. It may even represent the Holy Grail, the
legendary cup from which Jesus drank during the Last Supper.

And He took a cup and when He had given thanks He gave it to them saying “Drink this,
all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until I drink it
new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

The Gospel of Matthew (26:27-29)

Is the chalice your Holy Grail? Perhaps something is being offered to you now, which
truly is the answer to your heart-felt prayers. Open your heart to receiving, is the Ace of
Cups symbolic message here.

In Wicca, a chalice is representative of water and feminine receiving energy. It is a

symbol of the Goddess, particularly her womb and typically the contents of the chalice
are used as an offering during rituals.

Why Are There Five Streams of Water?

Five streams of water pour from the chalice. These streams may represent the Fountain
of Life or Fountain of Living Waters, a Christian iconography symbol for baptism or the
Eucharist. You will be spiritually reborn if you drink from this blessed fountain. Will you
take a sip, the Ace of Cups asks?

The number 5 holds spiritual significance in many religions and orders: It represents the
5 points of the Pentagram, 5 gates of grace (from Masonic ritual), and the 5 wounds of
Christ.

The fountain may also represent the five human senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell
and taste. When a psychic or medium receives information from the invisible world, it
can come through any of those five senses. You may ‘see’ an image in your mind, you
may ‘hear’ a voice call your name, you may ‘smell’ flowers although there are no flowers
in the room. The Ace of Cups advises you to be aware of all five senses, as information
and ideas flow to you.

What is The Meaning of The Drops of Water, or Yods?

The drops of water falling from the chalice are found in many other cards in the Rider
Waite deck. They appear to be in the shape of the Hebrew letter yod (pronounced ya).
According to the Jewish sages, the yod represents the world to come and
completeness.

There is a sense of the alchemist about the yods in this card, one is not sure if they are
falling from the cup, or magically rising up from the water below. We may, in fact, be
witnessing a miracle.

There are 26 drops of water or yods surrounding the cup. Yods are found in several
Tarot cards, including The Tower, the Ace of Swords and the Ace of Wands. It signifies
that the hand of God is at work. You are being divinely guided, or events are being
directed around you by a Higher Power.

What is The Significance of The Ocean or Water?

The ocean is vast, and when it appears in a Tarot card, it can often indicate the need to
think about our life. Life is full of ups and downs, much like the ebb and flow of tides.
The sea is calm however, in the Ace of Cups, suggesting calmer times ahead.

Water is one of the main symbols in this Tarot card, and water typically
represents cleansing. This is not a cleansing in the physical sense of washing yourself,
but rather it is an emotional ‘washing’ of the mind and soul. You are washing away what
has worried you, and preparing for happier times. All Aces hold the promise of a new
beginning.

What do The Water-Lillie’s Floating on The Water Mean?

Notice the flowers floating on top of the water? Waite tells us that these are water-lilies,
the pointed petals of which create a star-like bloom.

The lily flower symbolizes self-care and self-love. In order to love another, we must first
appreciate our own beauty.
Some writers claim that the artist Pamela Colman-Smith, intended the flowers in this
card to be lotus flowers.

Lotus flowers have been a powerful symbol of purity in Buddhism for thousands of
years. The lotus grows from the depths of a muddy pond, and begins its journey
towards the light and surface of the water. It is a symbol of emergence, you may be
emerging from difficult times and entering a lighter period of happiness and optimism.

The lotus can also be considered a symbol of mind, body and spirit. There are 8 petals
on each layer on the lotus flower, aligning with the chakra energy systems in the body.
There are seven chakras in the body, the top one being the crown chakra. Beyond the
crown is the eight chakra which is sometimes called the Soul Star Chakra. It is where
the crown chakra merges with the Divine, and draws down spiritual guidance. This is
why the Ace of Cups can also signify mediumship abilities.

⭐The lotus flower also appears here: Page of Cups

Who’s Hand is Emerging From The Cloud?

This hand emerging from the cloud is usually considered the Hand of God. We do not
see His whole body, and for this reason it feels more like a type of supernatural vision or
the starting point of a shamanic spirit quest. Ayahuasca, anyone?

All of the Aces in the Rider Waite deck show a hand appearing from the cloud with an
offering. Will you accept?, is always the question.

⭐The hand also appears here: Ace of Wands, Ace of Pentacles, Ace of Swords and
Four of Cups.

What do Clouds Mean in The Ace of Cups?

Clouds have a variety of meanings in Tarot, depending on their color and type. The
clouds in the Ace of Cups are dark and swirling, which suggests confusion on your part.
Perhaps you have been troubled or been through a stormy period in your life? Be calm,
because the Hand of God is here.

What is The Meaning of The Dove?

In the ancient world, birds were considered spirit messengers and highly sacred. Later
Christianity assimilated many pagan symbols, myths and deities into the religion. The
peace-loving dove became linked to the Christian message. It was a dove that Noah
released after the flood in order to find land. The bird returned with an olive branch in its
beak, proving there was dry land nearby. Thus, the dove became a symbol of hope. The
Ace of Cups is one of the most inspirational cards for this reason. Universally today, the
dove is a symbol of peace, hope and optimism.

Over time the dove also became a symbol of the Holy Ghost, and the messenger of the
Divine.

In the Ace of Cups, the dove is placing a holy wafer, also called Communion bread
or Eucharist wafer, into the chalice. This represents the Holy Ghost giving you spiritual
nourishment and feeding your soul.

⭐ The dove also appears here: Star Card

Is That The Letter W or M on The Chalice?

This is one of the stranger Ace of Cups symbols. Notice the letter inscribed on the
chalice? Is it a W or an upside-down M? No-one really knows for sure, and there is
much debate about the matter. Unfortunately Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward
Waite, the deck illustrator and author, have left no record of their thought process here.

Possible meanings for the letter W: womb, water, wisdom or woman.

Possible meanings for the letter M: Magic, miracle or Mother Mary.

Or perhaps you can think of a meaning yourself? Your guess is as good as mine!

THE SUIT OF SWORDS

King

Click to enlarge

He sits in judgment, holding the unsheathed sign of his suit. He recalls, of course, the
conventional Symbol of justice in the Trumps Major, and he may represent this virtue,
but he is rather the power of life and death, in virtue of his office. Divinatory
Meanings: Whatsoever arises out of the idea of judgment and all its connexions-
power, command, authority, militant intelligence, law, offices of the crown, and so
forth. Reversed: Cruelty, perversity, barbarity, perfidy, evil intention.

Symbolism and Imagery in The King of Swords

A king sits on his throne, leaning slightly forward, holding a sword in his right hand.
Notice his left hand rests on his leg, he neither invites or repeals those who approach.

As Arthur Waite writes, the King of Swords recalls the “conventional Symbol of Justice”
or Justice card in the Major Arcana. This is the moment the King passes a serious
judgement. Moreover, there will be no debate, he has the office and wisdom of
experience to know what is right.
 King of Swords symbols, Marseilles
Tarot
The artist Pamela Colman Smith has taken imagery for the King of Swords directly
from the Tarot of Marseille deck, which dates back to the 1700s.

Why Does The King of Swords Hold The Sword in His Right Hand?
The hand has been used historically in art to depict a symbol or meaning. The right
hand, typically the dominant hand for most people, holds the sword and is aggressive,
while the left hand holds the warrior’s shield and represents passivity.

Here the King holds his swords in his ‘aggressive’ hand to signify the power behind his
words. His left hand rests passively on his leg, as though to say he has no axe to grind
here, he is impartial in his judgement.

What is The Meaning of The Ring on The King’s Finger?

What is the symbol of a ring in Tarot?

The King wears a ring on the middle finger of his left hand. This is the marriage finger
and shows that he is a man of commitment and responsibility.

The King is married perhaps, but alternatively it may mean that he is married to his
Kingdom. The ring was placed on his hand during his coronation ceremony.

In palmistry, or chiromancy, the middle finger is associated with Saturn, and is

associated with authority. This finger in fact can show much about your potential
weaknesses.

In a Tarot reading, the ring can signify someone is married to their job or work. It can
also indicate a widower or divorced man still has feelings for his prior love.

⭐This King also wears a ring: King of Cups Symbols

What Symbols Are Engraved Into The Throne?

The King sits on a throne of stone. Etched into the throne are butterflies, a waxing and
waning moon; and dancing nymphs in clouds.

Butterfly Symbolism

The throne is so tall, it reaches beyond the scope of the card. Compare to the smaller
throne of the Queen of Swords. The ‘reaching beyond’ is a sign of Divine authority,
being ‘at one’ with God and the Universe.

Large butterflies fly upwards, a symbol of immortality, reincarnation, transcendence or

inspiration. Compare this to the Queen of Sword’s throne. Butterflies are also etched
into her throne, lower down. Thus indicating that they have further to climb.
Butterflies, as they fly, are also a symbol of the element Air, and the Suit of Swords.

Waning and Waxing Moon

A moon which is waxing (growing) and waning (declining) is carved into the throne.
Notice it directly above the Kings head. We also see this lunar reference in the
Marseilles version of the King, he wears the moon on the shoulders of his armor.

The moon connects with the basic rhythms of life and the universe, the passage of time
and cyclical process of death and rebirth. It is also symbolic of fate and destiny.

Nymphs Symbols

Who are the naked nymphs dancing in the clouds, on the throne? Neither Waite or
Smith reference this imagery. We assume they are mythological nymphs, beautiful
young women known for their seductive powers (not to be confused with fairies). Notice
how the maidens seem to be whispering in the King’s ear? They represent the
temptations of the flesh and ego, thoughts that seduce us into abandoning our
principles and responsibilities.

This may also be an homage, to the painting Hylas and the Nymphs, by John William
Waterhouse which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1897. Waterhouse was a
dedicated member the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and involved in occultism
and metaphysics.

What Does The Crown Symbolize in The King of Swords?

The King wears a golden diadem crown, a type of ornamental headband worn by
monarchs as a badge of royalty. The crown is a symbol of divine recognition, as royalty
could only be conferred by God.

A cherub angel, wings expanded in flight, is etched across the front of the crown.

ln Christian angelology, cherubim are the second highest order of angels in the
celestial hierarchy. Originally they were charged with protecting the Garden of Eden,
perhaps another reference here to temptation and the original sin of Adam and Eve?

More likely, is that the angel in flight is a symbol of a well-established connection

between Heaven and Earth. The relationship is ‘flying’. Compare to the cherub in the
Queen of Cups, where the direction of the wings suggest an angel about to take flight.

Red Veil
The king wears a hooded veil or garment under his crown. In Tarot, the veil represents
secrets, everything that is known but unspoken.

As with the Queen of Swords, the veil is red. Red is associated with passion. This King
does not approve of public displays of emotion, he does not wear his heart on his
sleeve. The red veil tells us, however, that there is more to him than meets the eye.

⭐Red veil also appears here: Queen of Swords Symbols

Symbolism of Trees, Birds and Clouds in The King of Swords

Birds

Two birds approach in the sky. Birds represent the element Air and are symbolic of
telepathy and messages from the spiritual realm.

Trees

In the other court cards of the Swords suit, the trees are blowing wildly in the wind. The
trees are calm now, suggesting that the storm has passed and there is clarity.

Cloud Symbolism

Nimbus clouds hang low in the sky, dissipating after the storm to reveal a clear blue sky.

When a psychic reads Tarot cards, clouds become an occult reference to aeromancy,
the method of divination which involves reading signs, and omens in the sky. This
includes reading clouds, thunder, rain and the flight of birds. Cloud divination specifically
is called nephomancy and involves observing the moment of clouds over a period of
time.
 SWORDS

Queen

Click to enlarge

Her right hand raises the weapon vertically and the hilt rests on an arm of her royal
chair the left hand is extended, the arm raised her countenance is severe but
chastened; it suggests familiarity with sorrow. It does not represent mercy, and, her
sword notwithstanding, she is scarcely a symbol of power. Divinatory Meanings:
Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning,
privation, separation. Reversed: Malice, bigotry, artifice, prudery, bale, deceit.

Who Is The Queen of Swords In The Rider Waite?

A fair and solemn Queen invites the reader to approach her with her left hand, while
holding an upraised sword in her right.

It is believed that Pamela Colman Smith, depicted her friend, the actress Ellen
Terry (1847-1928) in her portrait of the Queen of Swords. Terry was a leading
Shakespearean actress in Britain at the turn of the 20th century. There is certainly an
aura of stage drama about this card.
 The real Queen of
Swords? Actress Ellen Terry, aged 16.
Smith has taken her imagery inspiration for this Tarot card from the Tarot of
Marseille deck, which has origins dating back to the 1700s.
 Queen of Swords symbols, Marseille
Tarot
Notice the relationship here, in both decks, the Queen raises her left hand to the
reader, and holds a raised sword in her right hand.

The Queen of Swords has traits of Lady Justice, dispensing judgement. Or we could be
witnessing a knighting ceremony, and she is calling you forward to claim your reward.
She is ready to transmit some of her power to you, or bestow blessings through her,
from God and higher powers.

This is one of those cards in the Rider Waite deck, where the author and artist seem at
odds with one another. Arthur Waite writes of the Queen, “she is scarcely a symbol of
power.” However, Smith has presented us with a woman who is clearly in charge, and
who is both intimidating and encouraging.

In mythology, the Queen of Swords could be a symbol of Athena, the Olympian

goddess of wisdom and war or Minerva, the Roman goddess of war.

Why She Holds a Sword in Her Right Hand

The hand is one of those body parts, most frequently used historically in art to depict a
symbol. The right hand, typically the dominant hand for most people, holds the sword
and is aggressive, while the left hand holds the warrior’s shield and represents
passivity.

Here the Queen holds her sword as a symbol of her power, and she beckons more
softly with her passive hand.

What Are The Symbols on The Queen of Sword’s Throne?

The Queen sits on a solid throne of stone. Etched into the throne are butterflies, an
angel and a waxing and waning moon.

Symbol of Butterflies

Butterflies, because they fly, are a symbol of the astrological element Air and the
Swords suit. Air represents the realm of the mind, and so we are reminded that this
Queen has an active mind, and is able to think for herself.

The butterfly is also a metaphor for reincarnation, and wisdom gained through many
lifetimes.

Members of the Golden Dawn, such as the poet William B. Yeats, were well versed on
the subject of death and rebirth and believed in the wheel of incarnation. He was an
appointed advisor to Smith on the mystic symbolism to be incorporated into the Rider
Waite deck. He wrote:

“And wisdom is a butterfly

And not a gloomy bird of prey.”
 Tom O’Roughley by William Butler Yeats
Yeats integrated many ideas he encountered – Neoplatonic philosophy, Zen Buddhism,
Noh drama, Irish folklore, Eliphas Levi and so on – into his belief system in symbolism.

Cherub Symbolism

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s interpretation of

the Kabbalah, Cherubim rank ninth in the angel hierarchy.

However, in Medieval Christian theology, the cherubim are the second highest rank in
the angelic hierarchy, following the seraphim.

Smith was a devout convert to Catholicism, and it is possible that she chose the
Christian hierarchy on this occasion. She may be saying that the Queen is second in
command, to the King. We note, Smith also included cherubim on the throne of the
Queen of Cups.

⭐Cherub also appear here: Queen of Cups symbols and Queen of Pentacles
Symbols

Waxing and Waning Moon Meaning

We see a waxing (growing) and waning (declining) moon carved into the throne. This
reinforces the theme of reincarnation, death and rebirth.

It also reinforces the Shakespearean drama of this card. We are reminded of Sonnet 15
by Shakespeare, a parable of time versus decay.

When I consider every thing that grows

Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;

Sonnet 15
Symbol of The Crown of Yellow Butterflies, Red Veil and Cloak of Clouds

Crown of Yellow Butterflies

The Queen of Swords is wearing a diadem crown, a type of ornamental headband worn
by monarchs as a badge of royalty. The crown is a symbol of divine recognition,
because royalty could only be conferred by God.
The ornaments on the crown are shaped as golden butterflies. The butterflies, a symbol
of Air, represent thoughts taking flight. A single bird flies high in the sky, a messenger of
the spiritual realm. As the Queen raises her vibration, she becomes more in tune with
the spiritual world, and can ‘hear’ their guidance.

Red Veil

What is the symbolism of the veil? The Queen wears a red veil beneath her crown. In
Tarot, the veil represents secrets, everything that is known but unspoken.

Red is associated with passion. This Queen does not approve of public displays of
emotion and is very selective to whom she reveals her inner thoughts and feelings. This
is why she has been accused of being the ice queen. The red veil tells us, however, that
there is more to her than meets the eye.

Cloak of Clouds

The Queen wears a blue cloak embroidered with grey clouds. The sky-effect helps her
merge into the background like a chameleon. We are meant to believe, that this Queen
can adapt to her environment, she does not hold fixed views.

The clouds are also a symbol of the Air.

What is The Meaning of The Storm Clouds?

Storm clouds gather in the lower part of the card, and the movement of the trees
indicate high winds. Notice however, that the storm seems to be contained to the lower
half of the card. The sky above is blue and the single bird could be the dove returning to
Noah’s ark, once the flood had passed.

While the storm gathers around the Queen on the earthly plane, she does not appear
worried. Quite the opposite in fact, she is undeterred from delivering her message to the
reader. This is because her thoughts are ‘elevated’ beyond the earthly plane, and we
are thus led to believe that she has access to grander visions. She is above the daily
grind.
 SWORDS

Knight

Click to enlarge

He is riding in full course, as if scattering his enemies. In the design he is really a

prototypical hero of romantic chivalry. He might almost be Galahad, whose sword is
swift and sure because he is clean of heart. Divinatory Meanings: Skill, bravery,
capacity, defence, address, enmity, wrath, war, destruction, opposition, resistance,
ruin. There is therefore a sense in which the card signifies death, but it carries this
meaning only in its proximity to other cards of fatality. Reversed: Imprudence,
incapacity, extravagance.

Who is The Knight of Swords?

A Knight is depicted in armor, visor up, mounted on a white horse, charging into the
wind with sword drawn.

Is This Knight Sir Galahad?

This Knight is a man on a mission. As the author A.E. Waite writes, our Knight is “pure
of heart” and “might almost be Galahad”, the legendary Knight of King Arthur’s Round
Table. Waite is probably referencing here the famous allegory poem by Alfred
Tennyson:

My good blade carves the casques of men,

My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten
Because my heart is pure.

“Sir Galahad” poem by Alfred Tennyson (1842)

The Knight of Swords on his white horse and red flapping cape, certainly resembles
popular iconic romantic imagery of Sir Galahad from the late 19th century.

Sir
Galahad, the Quest for the Holy Grail (1870)
by Arthur Hughes a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
While the Knight wears a full body suit of armor for protection, he rushes into action with
his visor up. This is because those of ‘pure heart’ need no protection. God is on their
side. Virtuosity and godliness is further enforced by the symbolic presence of a white
horse, and the fact that our Knight is holding his sword in his right hand. Some occult
and ceremonial magic groups equate the left-hand with black magic; and the right hand
with white magic.

The Knight of Swords appears to be on an important mission of state. This is no Knight

of Cups, seeking love, despite Waite’s description of him as a “hero of romantic
chivalry”. This Knight is moved by a higher purpose, honor, bravery and a mission of
importance, such as the search for the Holy Grail. He is moved by the romantic ‘idea’ of
a mission. Swords represent the element Air, and matters of the mental mind.

If the Knight of Swords worked for a corporation, he would be the guy motivated by the
company’s mission statement, rather than the exact nature of his salary.

Sola Busca Tarot Deck Inspiration

In 1909, when Arthur Edward Waite commissioned artist Pamela Colman-Smith to

illustrate his Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), she drew inspiration from the Sola
Busca deck which was on exhibition at the British Museum at the time. Popular with
cartomancers for the purpose of divination since the 15th century, this enigmatic deck is
steeped in mysticism and history.
Sola Busca Tarot deck,
engraved in 1491
Knight of Swords symbols
The Sola Busca Knight of Swords looks very similar to Smith’s version, perhaps
moments before he charges ahead.

What is The Meaning of The Animal Symbolism in The Knight of Swords?

If you look closely, you can see birds printed on the bridle of the horse; and yellow
butterflies and red falcons or eagles on the cloth around the horse’s neck. All of these
creatures fly, and thus are symbolic of Air.

Birds Symbolism

The birds we find in the Knight card, are the same birds that we find in all the royal
cards of the Swords suit. Birds are messengers of Higher Powers, a metaphor for
spiritual contact.

Birds scattered in the sky are symbolic of spiritual messages, waiting to be heard.

The birds on the horse’s bridle have been carefully chosen by the Knight, to symbolize
his intent. He believes he is on a mission which serves a greater purpose.

Yellow Butterfly Meaning

The butterfly is a symbol of reincarnation. Members of the Golden Dawn, such as the
poet William B. Yeats, were well versed on the subject of death and rebirth and believed
the wheel of incarnations to last about 26,000 years, after which the soul attains
freedom. Yeats, appointed an advisor to Smith on the mystic symbolism to be
incorporated into Waite’s new deck, wrote:

“In a few years perhaps we may have much empirical evidence, the only evidence that
moves the masses of men to-day, that man has lived many times. “
William B. Yeats 1934. Wheels and Butterflies

For angelic meanings connected with the Knight of Swords symbols, see: Spiritual
meaning of butterflies

⭐Yellow butterflies also appear here: Queen of Swords Symbols

Falcon Metaphor
The red bird is most likely a peregrine falcon, one of the swiftest birds of prey in the
world. They were used by Western European nobility for hunting and are associated
with princes in particular.

Falcons are a metaphor for ambition, as they can soar to great heights; and are
associated with psychic awareness due to their razor sharp eyesight.

⭐A falcon also appears here: Nine of Pentacles Symbols

Why Is There A Heart on The Horse’s Bridle?

If you notice, there is a heart on the bridle of the horse, just below the animal’s right ear.
This is a strange icon to add to the card, and would be more suitable for the Knight of
Cups, the classic lover.

Perhaps the artist wants us to know that the Knight of Swords is chivalrous, and
not unfeeling in his ambitious gallop to the top. He is still excitable and prone to wearing
his heart on his sleeve. One day, he will transform into the King of Swords, a man who
is more cynical and wiser, and less prone to displays of emotional.

What is The Meaning of The Single Glove and Red Feather Plume?

Gloves Symbolism

The Knight is wearing one red gauntlet glove. These gloves were worn traditionally to
protect the hand and wrists of a combatant. Smith probably intended the glove to
represent a ‘thicker skin’, meaning our rider has become tougher for facing adversity.

If you notice, the Knight of Swords only has one gloved hand, and the Knight of Cups
wears no gloves at all. In comparison, the Knight of Pentacles, the Knight of
Wands have two gloved hands. The key message here is sensitivity, the fewer the
gloves, the more tactile and sensitive the rider.

The glove may also be a reference to ‘throwing down the gauntlet’. In times gone by, a
Knight would issue a challenge to someone by throwing down their glove. Perhaps the
Knight of Swords has thrown down a glove, and now is going about the business of
competing.

Red Feather Meaning

This Knight has a red plume feather on his head. These plumes, also known
as panaches, were common in 16th century tournament wear. The feathers indicated
the color of the family name, status and wealth. Red feathers were most common, and
symbolized the color of war and warrior.

One feels the Knight of Swords wants to appear as the successful hero, as much
as be the hero. He is the guy who is only interested in the unicorn business idea, that
makes him a billionaire rather than some ordinary millionaire. The more grandiose the
idea, the better. Ah, the vanities and aspirations of youth!

See also, what it means when you find a red feather.

What is The Symbolism of The Windswept Trees and Stormy Sky?

Trees Meaning in Tarot

Two windswept trees appear in the background. These may be the same trees we saw
in the Page of Swords, but now we are much closer. The proximity is a sign of
progression, we have moved beyond the state of waiting for news or ideas, to the point
of acting on the ideas. Knights in Tarot always represent movement.

The Knight of Swords has received his instructions and is now charging off to find the
battle. One senses, he fears that he will miss the action, classic FOMO – Fear Of
Missing Out. He is the guy who gets a tip to invest in certain stocks, and hopes he is not
too late to the party.

Sometimes speed is necessary, we need to act on an idea quickly if we are to capitalize

on it.

Stormy Sky

The speeding clouds in this Tarot card are reminiscent of those found in the Five of
Swords. The clouds are ragged, like a sword has ripped through them. It seems
however, that the storm is passing, signifying the battle is coming to an end. He must
rush if he hopes to gain any glory.

⭐Jagged clouds also appear here: 5 of Swords Symbols

 SWORDS

Page

Click to enlarge

A lithe, active figure holds a sword upright in both hands, while in the act of swift
walking. He is passing over rugged land, and about his way the clouds are collocated
wildly. He is alert and lithe, looking this way and that, as if an expected enemy might
appear at any moment. Divinatory Meanings: Authority, overseeing, secret service,
vigilance, spying, examination, and the qualities thereto belonging. Reversed: More
evil side of these qualities; what is unforeseen, unprepared state; sickness is also
intimated.

Why Does The Page Hold His Sword in His Left Hand?

The young Page holds a sword upward, he either sees or is on the lookout for
something coming. His look is serious, but not fearful or angry. Storm clouds gather and
a flock of birds fly high in the sky.

The artist Pamela Colman-Smith, has taken her imagery inspiration for this Tarot card
from the Tarot of Marseille deck, which has origins dating back to the 18th century.
 Page of Swords, Tarot of Marseille
Notice the relationship here, in both decks, the Page leans to his left, and holds
a sword in his left hand.

Smith was likely making a reference here to the left- and the right-hand path debate in
Western esotericism, which concerns two opposing approaches to magic.
Some occult groups equate the left-hand with black magic and black shamanism; and
the right hand with white magic. Traditional good versus evil.

Other occultists who practice ceremonial magic disagree. They believe that the left- and
right- paths simply refer to different kinds of workings and the good vs evil argument is
too simplistic. Left-handed path practitioners embrace both the dark and light in order to
confront energy in the alchemical sense, and transmute it into something more
desirable. We are magicians, and not servants to fate, if we choose to be.

In the Rider Waite Page of Swords, while the Page supports his sword with his left
hand, he also touches it with the right hand. While one foot is pointed to the left, the
other leg is stretched out to the right. One suspects this is the artists way of saying she
supports the argument of embracing both light and dark.

That said, she could also be saying that the Page has not yet decided which path he will
follow in life. The figures in the remaining court cards, Knight, Queen and King of
Swords, all hold a sword in their right hand.

Symbol of Darkness and Light

In this card, the wind is blowing the tree branches and the Page’s hair to his left. The
wind reminds us that the swords suit are a symbol of the element Air, and Air rules
matters of the mind, thoughts and communication. The storm clouds are brewing to
his left. What is coming could be challenging or dark news, but when supported with
right-hand wisdom, can be ‘transmuted’ or turned into something more light and
desirable.

A victim blames ‘fate’ for challenges, but a magician says ‘let me ready myself and find
the silver lining.’

Note: The Page’s sword is doubled edged, and it is a metaphor for a situation which
can ‘cut both ways.’

What is The Meaning of Ragged Landscape?

Wavy Ground

The wavy ground beneath the Page almost looks like a stormy sea; heightening the
sense of drama in this card. It also implies that the ground the Page is standing on, is
shifting. Everything is in a state of flux, take nothing for granted.
There are echoes of Edvard Munch’s The Scream, in this Tarot card. I have no doubt
that Smith, a well-educated artist, will have seen a reproduction of the painting, which
was heralded as ground-breaking at the time.

The Scream,
Edvard Munch (1893)
In the Scream, Munch broke tradition with academic art by not depicting nature as it is,
but rather as it feels through the pained eyes of the central figure in the painting. He
wrote of his inspiration, “I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite
scream passing through nature.”
As swords reflect our mental state in Tarot, it seems likely that Smith, was trying to
trigger an emotional response with her choice of artwork in her Page of Swords.

Storm Clouds

Clouds race across the sky pulled by the strong wind.

Storm clouds in Tarot mean that the reader is probably going through a difficult time, but
as Swords reflect the mind, they can also indicate confusion. As the clouds are blowing
speedily by, it means much is ‘up in the air’ and lots of change.

Lone Trees on Windswept Landscape

Trees in Tarot are used to symbolize growth and prosperity. The lone windswept trees
in this craggy landscape, indicate that you are unlikely to be able to plan much for the
future at this time. The card is very much about immediate concerns rather than future
goals or success.

One must be present now, this card guides, and wait to see which way the wind blows.

Mountains

Mountains tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the mountain,
the more immediate the problem. Here the mountains are some distance away,
indicating that you should focus on what is in front of you, rather than projecting too far
ahead.

Note, that there are three mountains, which reminds us of the three pyramids in the
Page of Wands. In the Rider Waite deck, pyramids are direct reference to
parapsychology, including premonitions and prophecy. Here, the three mountains may
be a general reference to the New Age symbolism of Mind, Body, Spirit.

⭐3 Mountains also appears here: Page of Wands symbolism, Knight of Wands

symbolism, Queen of Wands symbolism.

What do The Flock of Birds Symbolize in The Page of Swords?

A flock of birds appear in sky.

Birds appear in all the court cards in the Swords suit. The birds are high flying and
appear not to be of a particular breed. Their presence is just meant to represent the
spiritual meaning of birds generally.
Through the millennia, birds are linked to supernatural forces and have been heralded
as the messengers of the gods. Birds in a Tarot card, signal that this is a good time to
‘raise your thoughts’ to, or listen for psychic guidance from, the Divine.

The Page is young, and has more immediate concerns than other worldly gods on his
mind. Perhaps this is why the Divine has sent a flock of birds, in order to get his
attention.

There are fewer birds as you advance through the swords court cards, because with
age, comes a more natural interest in the after life and spirituality. We seek them out
(angels, spirit guides, deceased loved ones, god), as opposed to them seeking us out.

The presence of birds in the Page of Swords indicates that whatever news or
communication arrives next, is Heaven sent.

Birds are also associated with ancient divination practices. Shamans and healers
would observe the birds in flight to divine guidance and predict the fortune of their tribe
or master.

⭐Birds also appears here: Knight of Swords, Queen of Swords, King of Swords

What Does The Symbol of The Green Feather Mean in The Page of Swords?

If you look closely, you will see that the Page wears a green feather in his hair.

Green is associated with the heart chakra, healing and fertility. Green is also a symbol
of freedom. See also angelology symbolism, what it means when you find a green
feather.

⭐Green feathers also appear here: No other cards.

 SWORDS

Ten

Click to enlarge

A prostrate figure, pierced by all the swords belonging to the card. Divinatory
Meanings: Whatsoever is intimated by the design; also pain, affliction, tears, sadness,
desolation. It is not especially a card of violent death. Reversed: Advantage, profit,
success, favour, but none of these are permanent; also power and authority.

Why Has The Man Been Stabbed in The Ten of Swords?

A man lies on a beach face down in the sand, his red cloak pulled down around his
waist. An ocean and mountain range in the background. Ten swords pierce his back.
Blood streams from his head, signifying the loss of life force.

Shakespearean Treachery

There is a sense of Shakespearean drama about this card, as though we are witnessing
the final act in a play. This could be the legendary back-stabbing of the Emperor Julius
Caesar by his friend Brutus and treacherous political senators.
The Death of Julius Caesar (1806) by Vincenzo Camuccin
According to the historian Gaius Suetonius, senators ripped Caesar’s red toga from his
shoulder and plunged their daggers into his back, one after the other. Caeser shouted
“Ista quidem vis est!” (Why, this is violence!) and collapsed with the first blow.

In his description of the 10 of Swords, A.E. Waite was very specific in his use of word
“prostrate,” which means “to cast oneself down in submission or helplessness.” He
wants us to know that the man gave little or no fight as he succumbed to his fate.

Waite also says the man is ‘pierced’ by swords. In Tarot, the swords suit represent the
mind and intellect, and if 10 Swords have pierced your mind, then clarity is likely to
result. There is nowhere left to hide from the truth, illusions have been penetrated and
cut through.

Mental Endings

The central message of this card, is to know when you are beaten, or know when it’s
time to move on. There are similarities here to the Tower Tarot card, which can predict
ruin of a practical nature, like the abrupt end of a job or a relationship. However, the Ten
of Swords is more in the mental realm. You ‘feel’ finished, with a situation, person,
habit or way of thinking. This card suggests the proverbial final straw, that broke the
camel’s back.

Why Are The Swords Placed Along The Man’s Spine?

The ten swords seem to trace a line along the man’s spine. Most likely the
artist, Pamela Colman-Smith, was alluding here to the ten main chakras of the human
body, through which we receive energy healing and spiritual attainment.

The swords act as acupuncture needles, suggesting a systematic chakra cleansing, or

renewal of mind, body and spirit is taking place. This is a metaphor for the end of one
existence, and preparation for the next.

Chakras

The 10 Chakras are as follows:

1. Soul Star Chakra

This chakra is outside of your body, a few inches above your head. It is associated with
spiritual enlightenment, mediumship and astral travel.

2. Crown Chakra

This chakra is at the top of your head and is associated with self-realization and faith. It
is usually where energy healing enters the body from the spiritual world.

3. Third Eye

This chakra is situated between the eyes and is associated with psychic
insight, clairvoyance and premonitions.
4. Throat Chakra
Located in the lower throat area, this chakra is associated with speaking the truth.

5. Thymus Chakra
Located half way between the throat and heart chakra, this chakra is associated with
forgiveness.

6. Heart Chakra
Situated in the heart area, an open heart chakra helps you to feel love and compassion.

7. Solar Plexus
This chakra is located half way between your heart and sacral chakra. It is your vital
energy center, and when the solar plexus is spinning in a healthy manner, you feel
energized.

8. Sacral
Situated in the belly-button area, this chakra is your emotional area, and affects your
mood.

9. Base Chakra
Also known as kundalini, this chakra is at the base of your spine and controls your
primal life force energy.

10. Earth Star Chakra

Located outside your body, a few inches below your feet, this is your ‘grounding’ chakra.
It helps you feel connected to nature, and life force chi or prana energy.

What is The Symbolism of The Hand Gesture?

If you look closely, you will see that the man’s right hand appears to be giving the
Christian sign of benediction or blessing; which is always offered with the right hand.
Three fingers pointing towards heaven to symbolize the divine trinity.
 Charles Le Brun, (17th century)
Coincidentally, this slightly ‘clawed’ gesture is also a clinical sign of nerve damage in the
spine or brain, a condition called hand of benediction, preachers hand or pointing finger.

The benediction gesture can also been seen in the Hierophant Tarot card, traditionally
viewed as the Pope. The implied reference here, is one of forgiveness. Forgive those
who have bought you to this state, as Christ bestowed forgiveness on those who
wronged him. It also implies that in life and death we are blessed.

Palmistry Fact
In palmistry, the raised middle finger represents the planet Saturn and is understood to
be the finger of authority.

Is The Man Dead or Still Alive in The Ten of Swords?

No, the man is still alive. We know this because the benediction position can only be
made with active muscular control.

In his reversed divinatory meaning for this card, Waite suggests that “none of these
[states] are permanent.”

The hand thus becomes a symbol of life, when all else signals defeat.

⭐Benediction hand also appears here: Hierophant Symbols and Six of Pentacles
Symbols
The Sea, Sky and Mountains as a Symbol. What is The Meaning of The Landscape?

Sea

The man seems to be lying on a sandy beach. There is a wide expanse of a sea, the
water looks placid or even lifeless. Within a Tarot reading, the sea is a metaphor for
‘expansion’ and is meant to make us reflect on our life. In this case, what part of our life
is over.

Black and Yellow Sky

Black is the color of mourning and death. The dark sky contrasts to the vivid yellow of
the golden dawn. Yellow is a symbol of alertness and mental energy. As the black
slowly dissipates, a new dawn is emerging.

There is also likely to be a reference here to the secret society of the Hermetic Order
of the Golden Dawn.

Mountain Range

Mountains tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the mountain,
the more immediate the problem. In this card, the mountains lie on the other side of the
sea, some way in the distance. They are obstacles for another day, another dawn.

What Sphere Does The Ten of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Tens in Tarot connect to the tenth Sephirah,
called Malkuth, the sphere of earthly reality.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Sandalphon is the archangel
who resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are
the Asheem, or Souls of Fire.
 SWORDS

Nine

Click to enlarge

One seated on her couch in lamentation, with the swords over her. She is as one who
knows no sorrow which is like unto hers. It is a card of utter desolation. Divinatory
Meanings: Death, failure, miscarriage, delay, deception, disappointment,
despair. Reversed: Imprisonment, suspicion, doubt, reasonable fear, shame.

What Do The Hanging Swords Symbolize in The Nine of Swords?

A dreaming woman sits bolt-upright in bed, as if awakening from a nightmare in a cold

sweat. She clasps both hands to her face, according to the author Arthur Waite, in
‘utter desolation.’

Nine swords loom ominously above her on the wall, forming as sort of aura. They could
be a metaphor for the stairway to Heaven that Jacob dreamed about, as recounted in
the Bible.

In Tarot, the swords suit represent the element Air and matters on the mind. The
hanging swords thus become issues which are on your mind, ‘hangups’ or doubts.
Similarily, thoughts which fester in your sleep and keep you awake at night. Dreams are
often our unresolved problems kept on standby.

The woman in this Tarot card may not even be aware of the exact nature of her worries.
She could simply feel a general state of anxiety, shame, doubt or be suffering a crisis of
faith or confidence. These are her demons, take your pick. Swords are the scariest
cards in the Tarot deck because they are a symbol of internal dialogue. Interesting how
often we speak to ourselves in ways that we would never speak to another.
It is worth noting that the tips of the swords face eastwards. Indeed east is symbolic of
new beginnings, because that is where the sun rises. In the Bible, the Garden of Eden
was placed in the East and its entrance faced east. Metaphorically, east represents a
spiritual awakening and ascension.

In numerology the number nine is associated with endings, which make space for new
beginnings. It is a time we are forced to deal with difficult matters. Strangely, issues
synchronistically come to a head, forcing us to move, or lurch forward, as the case may
be.

Nightmare Symbolism
The Nightmare, John Henry Fuseli (1781)
In the late 18th century, nightmare paintings were all the rage. Such paintings usually
depicted ladies tormented by the demons of the night. Ghosts, witches, sorcery and
shape-shifting monsters would have been familiar imagery to the artist Pamela
Colman-Smith as she approached the job of designing the Nine of Swords.

Why is The Woman Holding Her Hands Over Her Eyes?

The woman in the 9 of Swords, holds her hands over her eyes, a natural reaction
perhaps to waking from a nightmare. The black background leaves us in no doubt that
this scene occurs in the dead of the night.

However, there is symbolism in her temporary blindness, much like the figures in the 2
of Swords and 8 of Swords wear a blindfold. She is completely in the realm of her own
mind, a dream-state or the astral plane. She may be attempting to cling on to the visuals
or message from her dream.

Have you ever experienced that thud to your chest, which forces you to wake from a
dream? If this has happened to you, you are likely to have remembered the dream you
came from in vivid detail. It is as though someone wanted you to remember and take
the message into your waking state. This is classic dream telepathy, the communication
with another person, spirit, angel or guide in the dream state. Typically, this sort of
psychic occurrence is most common around 3.30 am in the morning, known as
the witching hour.

What Is The Witching Hour?

In folklore, the witching hour, also called devil’s hour, is a time of night between 3 am
and 4 am that is associated with supernatural events. Ghosts, spirits, demons and
witches are thought to appear and be at their most powerful during this hour.

What Are The Symbols Embroidered In The Bedspread?

A heavy quilt covers the legs of the woman. Interestingly, weighted blankets are known
to offer a type of deep pressure therapy. The weight helps to ease several conditions
including ADHA, autism, anxiety and sleep troubles.

Red Roses Symbol

The quilt is embroidered with the red rose of Rosicrucianism, a spiritual movement
which embraced alchemy, Kabbalah, Hermeticism and Christian mysticism.
The Golden Dawn styled themselves on Rosicrucian tradition.

Zodiac Signs
Multiple zodiac and planetary glyphs can also be seen on the spread, including the
symbols of Mars, the Moon, Saturn, and Taurus, Cancer, Pisces and Gemini; among
others. These symbols may be a reference to the passage of time, as the planets and
sun signs move through your personal astrological chart.

The Nine of Swords Tarot card is particularly associated with Mars in Gemini, an
especially powerful astrological transit. It can trigger restlessness, excess mental
energy and internal chatter.

The glyphs may also be a reference to the mighty fall of astrology divination.

While it may seem hard to imagine now, there was a time when powerful people like
kings, queens and popes would turn to an astrologer for real-world guidance.

Bed Carving

The base of the bed is carved with the images of two figures, each with two trees beside
them. The trees possibly represent pillars on the Tree of Life in Kabbalah. The man on
the right holds a sword above his head about to strike, while his opponent falls back,
unable to defend himself.

At a basic level, this carving could represent being bullied, or feeling overwhelmed by
another person’s personality. It may also represent your state of mind, and indicate that
you feel vulnerable or ‘down at heel’ at this time.

Blue and Yellow Color

The squares of the quilt are colored in yellow and blue. In the Rider Waite deck, yellow
is linked to the element Air and the swords suit, and blue is connected to Water and
cups. This combination of color indicates that what is on the readers ‘mind’ is something
of an ’emotional’ nature, and most likely linked to a relationship or situation with another
person.

What Sphere Does The Nine of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.
According to Kabbalah, God made manifestations. Each manifestation is called a
Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Nines in Tarot connect to the ninth Sephirah, called Yesod.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Archangel Gabriel resides over
the sphere. The choir of angels that reside in Yesod are the Cherubim.

SWORDS

Eight

Click to enlarge

A woman, bound and hoodwinked, with the swords of the card about her. Yet it is
rather a card of temporary durance than of irretrievable bondage. Divinatory
Meanings: Bad news, violent chagrin, crisis, censure, power in trammels, conflict,
calumny; also sickness. Reversed: Disquiet, difficulty, opposition, accident, treachery;
what is unforeseen; fatality.

Why Is The Woman Bound With Ropes in The Eight of Swords?

A young woman stands loosely bound and blindfolded on a beach, with eight swords
stuck in the ground forming a semi-circle around her.

The traditional cartomancy divinatory meaning for the 8 of Swords is ‘feeling trapped.’
However, according to Waite, such feelings are of a “temporary” nature. The woman
does not look upset and her bindings could easily be cut with the edges of the standing
swords.

In Tarot, the imagery of ropes is a symbol of restraint. Clearly the woman could not tie
herself up, in this card, she must have been bound by others. The underlying meaning
here, is that of feeling caged in or restrained by a person or circumstances.
Compare this to the Hanged Man, the only other card in the Rider Waite deck with a
rope. In this Major Arcana card, the man has clearly tied his own foot to the tree, and
does so voluntarily to master the art of restraint and patience.

In the Eight of Swords, one needs to ask – is the woman happy to be restrained or not?
Our instinct, is to say of course not! She is just afraid to act, paralyzed by indecision or
fear, and this may be true. On the other-hand, she may be pausing because she is
trying to work out what she wants to do next, and this enforced pause is probably good
because it forces her to think for herself. Too often we rush around without thinking.
Swords in Tarot connect with the element Air, and represent thoughts and the mental
world.

Here again, the Rider Waite-Smith deck is giving the reader a choice of which character
to identify with.

⭐Ropes also appear here: The Hanged Man Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Blindfold in The Eight of Swords?

At a basic level, the blindfold indicates turning a blind eye, an unwillingness to face the
truth or blocking out a situation.

The esoteric meaning of a blindfold is transformation from darkness (ignorance) to light

(enlightenment). It represents being prepared in mind, as much as in body, before
receiving access to the mysteries of the world. Many organizations, from fraternities to
Freemasons, use blindfolds in rituals of initiations. The masons call it hoodwinking,
and Arthur Waite himself describes the woman as “bound and hoodwinked.”

The purpose of the hoodwink, according to Masonic text, is not to conceal something
from the candidate, but rather it symbolizes the fact that the candidate is yet in
darkness, like the baby lying in its mother’s womb. Being in darkness the candidate
prepares his inmost mind for those revelations that will be made to him after the
hoodwink is removed.

There is also a sense of shamanic journeying in this card. Shamanic journeying is

the inner art of traveling to spiritual realms in order to retrieve information for change in
our life, from work and relationships to spirituality and health.

⭐A blindfold also appears here: Two of Swords Symbols

Why Are The Swords Placed Upright in The Sand?

Eight swords stand upright, forming a semi-cage behind the woman, symbolically
separating her from the castle in the background.

The swords are preventing her from ‘going back’, to the security of the castle. Castle life
is easier and more predicable than life beyond the castle walls. It is only natural if our
heroine struggled to step out of her comfort zone. This is why, she may in fact, welcome
the enforced binding, or at least, doesn’t appear too quick to free herself. One feels she
knows it is ‘good for her’, and will force the change she needs to evolve. Even if she
returns to the castle, she may find that it has been transformed because she is seeing it
with fresh eyes.

Mythological Reference

There may be a literary reference in this card to the legend of Ariadne on the Isle of
Naxos.

Ariadne in Naxos by Evelyn De Morgan (1877). Public Domain

Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos and she fell in love with Theseus of
Athens. According to the Greek mythology, she ran away with Theseus, only to be later
abandoned by him on the island of Naxos.
Love worked out for her in the end, however, she married Dionysus and ended up living
on Mount Olympus, the official residence of the gods.

⭐A barrier or upright Swords also appears here: Six of Swords symbols

What is The Meaning of The Castle, Cliff and Sea?

Castle Symbolism

In Tarot, castles symbolize dominion, which comes from the Latin domus,
meaning home. This may be a physical home where you live or grew up. However, it
could also be a mental place you visit in your head, a place, person or point in time that
makes you feel loved and safe.

In the Eight of Swords, the castle may be the home our heroine is forcing herself to stay
away from, in order to find herself. It may also represent future reward for any difficulties
experienced now; her Mount Olympus.

Cliff Symbolism

Mountains and cliffs tend to represent ‘obstacles’ to overcome in Tarot. The closer the
mountain, the more immediate the problem.

The cliff and mountain are shrouded in ocean mist, providing a sense of mysticism and
magic. This scene could be a moment in time on the astral plane. We could even be
witnessing bilocation, the ability to be present in two places at once, a skill usually
attributed to saints. Our lady could be Joan of Arc, or a witch burnt at the stake.

⭐A steep cliff also appear here: Queen of Cups symbols

Sea Symbol

In a Tarot reading, the appearance of the sea is meant to make us reflect on life.

What Sphere Does The Eight of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.
According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is
called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Eights in Tarot connect to the eighth Sephirah,
called Hod. Hod translates as splendor or glory. Hod is said to be the sphere in which
the magician mostly works, and is associated with the solar plexus chakra.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Michael is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Bene
Elohim.

SWORDS

Seven

Click to enlarge

A man in the act of carrying away five swords rapidly; the two others of the card
remain stuck in the ground. A camp is close at hand. Divinatory Meanings: Design,
attempt, wish, hope, confidence; also quarrelling, a plan that may fail, annoyance. The
design is uncertain in its import, because the significations are widely at variance with
each other. Reversed: Good advice, counsel, instruction, slander, babbling.
 SWORDS

Six

Click to enlarge

A ferryman carrying passengers in his punt to the further shore. The course is smooth,
and seeing that the freight is light, it may be noted that the work is not beyond his
strength. Divinatory Meanings: journey by water, route, way, envoy, commissionary,
expedient. Reversed: Declaration, confession, publicity; one account says that it is a
proposal of love.

What Does The Ferryman Symbolize in The Six of Swords?

Who is the ferryman, is he a metaphor for something? As the dominant figure in this
Tarot card, the ferryman is certainly our key messenger.

The ferryman in Tarot acts as a symbol, he represents a mythical bridge between the
ordinary sensory world and spiritual awakening. He is the spirit guide or guardian
angel who directs your journey. When the ferryman appears in a Tarot reading, it means
higher powers are watching over and protecting you, as you transition from one state or
stage of life, to the next.

This Tarot card feels supernatural, as though we are witnessing the passage of souls
from the earthly world to the astral plane.
 Charon takes a coin from
the mouth of Psyche by John Roddam Spencer (1883)
The ferryman in the Six of Swords may also be a reference to the
mythological Charon (Kharon), the Ferryman of the Dead, an underworld spirit
(daimon). He ferried the dead to the afterlife in the realm of Haides. His fee was a
single obolos coin placed in the mouth of the corpse, and if you failed to pay the fee, the
deceased was doomed to roam the earth forever as a ghost.

The implied message is that one must be prepared to pay the price for a better life. The
price could, for example, mean moving out of your comfort zone, or accepting some
unpleasant event as a force for change. As the author A.E. Waite says, “it may be
noted that the work is not beyond his strength.” In other words, you have what you need
to overcome any issue or challenge.

⭐Charon also appear here: Death Card Symbols

Leaving Worries Behind

The ferryman is carrying a woman and child in his boat, there is no sign of luggage. The
passengers are not carrying any ‘baggage’, indicating that they are ready to leave
practical possessions, and emotional woes behind.

Enlightenment

There is also a reference here to spiritual enlightenment and self-realization. In Bob

Marley’s words, “Some people are so poor, all they have is money.”
Money sells us the life of our dreams, while the people in our life often seem to stand in
the way of those dreams. The children, parents, friends or partner who make demands
on our time. While our culture tells us that we ‘deserve’ a better house, car or iPhone.
We don’t ‘deserve’ anything, we just want it.

We are reminded in the Six of Swords that possessions are not the secret to happiness.
One should be aware of the danger of always wanting More. Practice mindfulness and
gratefulness for what you have now, and be thankful for every blessing in your life.

“Blessed was Midas, thrice-blessed was Kinyras: but what man went to Haides with
more than one penny piece (obolos)?”

Greek lyric, c.100 AD

The Gift of Premonition and Prophecy

The Six of Swords, can also signify the emergence of spiritual gifts, resulting from a
spiritual awakening.

It is worth noting, that President Abraham Lincoln, who was deeply mystical and prone
to premonitions, had a recurring dream which preceded great events in his life. Author
John Nicolay writes in his book a Short Life of Abraham Lincoln, “He seemed to be, he
said, in a singular and indescribable vessel, but always the same, moving with great
rapidity toward a dark and indefinite shore; he had had this dream
before Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg.”

What is The Meaning of The Boat and Sea in The Six of Swords?

Boat Symbolism

Boats and ships in Tarot represent a situation or events ‘moving on’ for the reader.

At a higher level, boats transport us, and allow us to make a journey across life.
Therefore a boat or ship can also represent a journey of education, faith, business or
personal development.

⭐Boats and ships also appear here: Three of Wands Symbols, King of Cups
Symbols and Two of Pentacles Symbols

Sea Symbolism

The sea in the of 6 of Swords represents eternity and the unity of everything in the
Universe.
The ripples to the right of the boat reflect recent troubles, and the open expanse of calm
sea ahead, predicts better days are coming.

Why Are The Swords Stored Upright in The Boat?

Symbol of Spiritual Protection

Six swords stand upright in the boat, forming a semi-cage around the passengers and
obscuring their view.

The ferryman is very much in charge of this journey, as he stands behind the woman
and child, forming a complete circle of protection. Perhaps he fears a passenger will
‘chicken out’ and leap out of the boat before they reach their destination.

The key symbolism here, is that even if times are tough, don’t falter in your faith. Trust
that you are protected and brighter days lie ahead if you stay the path, and don’t jump
ship too soon.

Psychic Blindfold

The swords act as a symbolic barrier, preventing you from seeing ahead or predicting
your future at this time. If you are psychic, it will feel like you are blindfolded and
your clairvoyance is temporarily dormant. Your faith is being tested and (hopefully)
growing. A similar theme is found in the 8 of Cups, where the spiritual traveler is asked
to climb the mountains without knowing what lies on the other side.

Psychic Note: Some Tarot cards refuse to offer predictions, but rather guide you to
trust your instincts and learn to listen to the whisper within – the voice of your spirit
guide or angel.

⭐A barrier also appears here: Eight of Cups Symbols

What do Trees Symbolize in The Six of Swords?

The meaning of trees in Tarot is taken primarily from mythology and religious text. We
know of the tree in the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life in Kabbalah. Trees are used
to symbolize growth and prosperity.

The more trees in a Tarot card, the more ‘life’ and ‘prosperity’ is indicated. The Six of
Swords depicts several trees, suggesting an exciting new venture or phase ahead. The
trees and land appear to be shrouded in a grey mist, another reference to an
unforeseeable future. All will be revealed when you make land.
⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: 2 of Wands, Lovers, Strength, The Chariot
and The Star

What Sphere Does The Six of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Sixes in Tarot connect to the sixth Sephirah,
called Tiphareth, translated as beauty.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Raphael is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Malakim;
and the God who presides over the sphere is Tetragrammaton Eloah Va Daath.

SWORDS

Five

Click to enlarge

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. Divinatory
Meanings: Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, with the
variants and analogues of these. Reversed: The same; burial and obsequies.
Is The Champion Smiling or Smirking in The Five of Swords?

A man watches as his opponents walk away in defeat. He smiles as he gathers the
fallen swords, the spoils of his victory. This could be the final scene in a Shakespearean
play, and Pamela Colman-Smith’s theater background is very much apparent in the
imagery of this card.

The victor may be smiling because he is pleased with himself, after all this card can
symbolize fighting for what you want.

Others see him as a smirking scoundrel, who takes pleasure in embarrassing other
people.

There is no right or wrong answer here. This is one of those cards in the Rider Waite
deck, that can only be interpreted by which man you identify with. At various times in
your life, you may identify with the winner and at other times, the loser. Similarly in
the Six of Pentacles, you will identify with the benefactor who is giving, or the poor
person who is receiving help.

A.E. Waite description says the main protagonist is ‘disdainful’, but the artist’s
interpretation is less definitive. Waite gave Smith more freedom with the Pip cards,
because he was more concerned with the representation of the major arcana cards.

What is The Meaning of The Stormy Sky?

Clouds have a variety of meanings in Tarot, depending on their color and type. They
tend to reflect the central message or theme of the card.

The clouds in the 5 of Swords are ragged, like a sword has ripped through them. The
aggressive theme of this card, is thus reflected in the sky. However, the clouds are
breaking which means that the storm is passing, just as the fight too is over.

⭐Stormy skies also appear: 3 of Swords, Page of Swords, Knight of Swords, Queen
of Swords, King of Swords

What do The Mountains and Sea Symbolize in The Five of Swords?

Sea Symbolism

The sea in this Tarot card is relatively calm, a further confirmation that the storm has
passed and calmness is restored. In fact, it looks very similar to the sea in the Two of
Swords, where the sea reflects the woman’s inner composure.
The wind creates a slight ripple on the water surface, reminding us that swords are
ruled by the element Air.

Notice how the victor’s clothes are blown to the right, and yet the person in the middle-
ground, his hair is blown to the left. This may be a subtle reference to wind blowing in
‘two directions’, or a difference of opinion.

Mountains

Beyond the sea, we see mountains in the background. Mountains tend to represent
‘obstacles’ to overcome in a Tarot reading. The closer the mountain, the more
immediate the problem. In this card, the mountains are some distance away,
representing battles for another day. What is won today, should be celebrated today.

What Sphere Does The Five of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Fives in Tarot connect to the fifth Sephirah,
called Geburah, also spelled Gevurah. Geburah is translated as strength.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Khamael (Camael) is the
archangel who resides over Geburah. Camael is the archangel of strength, courage and
war in Jewish and Christian mythology and angelology. The choir of angels that reside
in the sphere are the Seraphim.
 SWORDS

Four

Click to enlarge

The effigy of a knight in the attitude of prayer, at full length upon his
tomb. Divinatory Meanings: Vigilance, retreat, solitude, hermit's repose, exile, tomb
and coffin. It is these last that have suggested the design. Reversed: Wise
administration, circumspection, economy, avarice, precaution, testament.

Why is The Knight Lying on a Tomb in The Four of Swords?

A knight lies on a tomb in a stone chapel. A single sword is carved into the tomb and a
further three swords hang on the wall above him. Light filters through a stain-glassed
window.

The artist Pamela Colman-Smith created a funerary sculpture here, similar to

medieval tomb effigies found in many churches and cathedrals in England and France.
A tomb effigy is a life-size sculpture of a deceased person in a state of ‘eternal repose’,
typically lying with hands folded in prayer, awaiting resurrection.

In Tarot, a tomb never represents physical death. Instead it indicates that the time
has come to lie down and rest. It is a symbol of time-out.

The knight in this card is not dead, but rather he is in a deep state of restorative rest and
meditation. The artist probably chose to place him on a tomb, to symbolize
the deepness of this rest. This is not an indulgent rest, it is an active act of self-help.
Swords in Tarot are associated with the active element Air, and this card reminds us
that an active life requires periods of deep relaxation, in order to regroup and prepare
for the future.
The tomb here, is symbolic of rest and sanctuary for a tired soul, following the pain of
the preceding card, the 3 of Swords.

Note the knight has removed most of his armor, implying he feels safe to let his guard
down.

Mysticism and Deep Meditation

Traditionally, a church was considered a place of neutral ground for worship, sanctuary
and asylum. Honor dictated that the battle could not be taken beyond the church doors
because it was sacred ground. This knight has chosen to rest in a church, because he
is seeking complete escape from daily life. It is like placing a ‘do not disturb sign’ on
your bedroom door.

There is a sense of mysticism here, perhaps the knight is in pursuit of communion with
the divine, or trying to raise his conscious awareness. Perhaps he is seeking a personal
psychic experience, such a premonition or dream telepathy (telepathically
communicating with another person through dreams). Or maybe he is hoping for a faith
healing.

Seeking Nirvana?

This card evokes a sense of Nirvana, the yogi’s pursuit of the ultimate state
of soteriological release (salvation) and liberation from duḥkha (unhappiness, suffering
and pain) and saṃsāra (endless karma and reincarnation).
Corpse Pose
The knight could well be lying in yogic savasana, or corpse pose. The aim of corpse
pose is to relax with attention, to remain conscious and alert while still being at ease.
This pose is much harder than it looks because people find it difficult to relax and end
up staring at the ceiling, or falling asleep.

⭐A tomb also appears here: Judgement Symbols

So Much Stone in This Card, is There a Secret Meaning?

This card feels very cold, due to the presence of so much stone – stone tomb and walls.

I feel the artist wants us to associate petrification with this card, the magical ability
of Medusa, to turn people into stone by looking at them in the eye. Perhaps this is why
the knight keeps his eyes closed?

In Cornish folklore, petrifaction stories are used to explain the origin of

prehistoric megalithic monuments such as monoliths and stone circles such as
Stonehenge. Colman-Smith was particularly interested in folklore and she may have
been exposed to these stories when she visited artist friends in Cornwall. She
eventually moved to Cornwall in 1911.
Why is There a Stained Glass Window And Who Are The Figures in it?

A beautiful stained glass window allows light into the chapel which illuminates the
scene. The light can be seen as the Divine Light of illumination and conscious
awakening. This is the state of awareness one seeks by practicing trance meditation or
astral traveling.

Throughout its one thousand year history, the term ‘stained glass’ has been applied
almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious
buildings. We are told then, by the presence of the window in this Tarot card, that
this is the house of God. This is the temple of spirit, and to enter is to be in the
presence of mystery. To engage in practices like prayer, a form of meditation, is to
immerse yourself in this mystery.

At an even deeper level, a stained glass window in Tarot represents the window
to the soul. We are reminded that the human body is also a temple, because it houses
your immortal soul. For the body to become a sacred temple, it must be educated and
dedicated to a spiritual practice in order to fulfill it’s sacred purpose here on Earth.
When this happens, you begin to feel the presence of God, even when you leave the
temple.

The Figures in The Stained Glass Window

Jesus is depicted in the window laying a healing hand on a kneeling follower. A halo
looms around his head, with the word PAX.

PAX means peace, or a period of peace. For example, Pax Romana, means Roman
peace.

PAX later became a greeting of Christian love. Pax is an abbreviation of

the Latin salutations ‘pax vobis‘ (peace to you) or ‘pax vobiscum‘ (peace with you),
which are used in the Catholic Mass.

⭐A stained glass window also appears here: 5 of Pentacles Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Three Hanging Swords?

Three swords hang on the wall above our knight like trophies. These swords represent
past triumphs, battles already fought and won.

The remaining sword, placed on the side of the tomb, represents the next battle to
come. It could possibly be the Ace of Swords, a new opportunity. This sword hangs
within easy reach of the knight, and when he is ready, he will take it to the next battle or
challenge, predicted in the following card, the Five of Swords.

Some authors point to the placement of the three hanging swords. One is positioned
over the knight’s third eye chakra (psychic insights and intuition), another over his throat
chakra (communication) and the final over his solar plexus chakra (decision making).

It may be that that knight is experiencing a chakra cleansing and rebalancing in these
specific energy centers. Clogged chakras can cause tiredness and low motivation.

What Sphere Does The Four of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot,
but it has since been tied by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God made manifestations. Each manifestation is called a

Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Fours in Tarot connect to the fourth Sephirah,
called Chesed. Chesed translates as ‘mercy’, but could also be ‘love’.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, El is the God associated with
Chesed and Tzadkiel (Righteousness of God) is the archangel who resides over the
sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Chasmalim.

SWORDS

Three

Click to enlarge

Three swords piercing a heart; cloud and rain behind. Divinatory Meanings: Removal,
absence, delay, division, rupture, dispersion, and all that the design signifies naturally,
being too simple and obvious to call for specific enumeration. Reversed: Mental
alienation, error, loss, distraction, disorder, confusion.

What Does The Heart Symbolize in The Three of Swords?

The Rider Waite card shows a valentine-style heart, pierced by three downward
thrusting swords. The artist Pamela Colman Smith took the imagery directly from the
15th century Sola Busca Tarot, making this by far the oldest of the pictorial pips.
Sola Busca Deck, 3 of
Swords
A blood-filled red heart floats in the air. The sky is filled with a raging storm, clouds and
rain. Three swords pierce the heart with exact precision. The heart has been pierced
and cut to shreds. And yet it does not bleed, suggesting that the wound is not fatal. This
card represents sudden pain, disappointment and/or loneliness.

The stabbing suggests that the pain has been inflicted by others or an outside situation,
rather than self-inflicted. While the suffering may be deep, the pain is a temporary
condition. The storm will pass and then we move on to the calmer days of the 4 of
Swords.

“Alone and in the midst of men,

Alone ‘mid hills and valleys fair;
Alone upon a ship at sea;
alone – alone, and everywhere.
O many folk I see and know,
So kind they are I scarce can tell,
But now alone on land and sea,
In spite of all I’m left to dwell.
In cities large – in country lane,
around the world – ’tis all the same;
across the sea from shore to shore.
Alone – alone for evermore.”
Poem by Pamela Colman-Smith
“Alone,” The Green Sheaf vol. 4, 1903

Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart

An exposed heart pierced by a sword is also a common Catholic image. The artist
Colman Smith was a devout convert to the Catholic Church, and she may have been
referencing Jesus here, more specially the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart in this
instance refers to “God’s boundless and passionate love for mankind”.

It may also be a reference to Mother Mary, more specifically The Immaculate Heart of
Mary. Luke 2:35 recounts the prophecy of Simeon that Mary’s heart would be pierced
with a sword, the pain to come when her son was put to death. This is why the Virgin
Mary is often depicted in paintings and statues with an exposed heart. The heart is
meant to prompt the devoted to prayer or contemplation.

Why Are There No People in The Three of Swords?

The Three of Swords is one of the few cards in the Rider Waite deck without people.
The reason for this perhaps, is that the artist intended to keep the message as open as
possible to individual interpretation. As soon as you place a person in a picture, it is
human nature to start identifying with that figure, and so the story becomes ‘tainted’. By
keeping the picture human-free, it allows the reader to expand their psychic intuition in a
reading and gleam more unexpected information.

When a Tarot card has no people in it, it means that this is your story to interpret.

⭐The other people-free cards are: 8 of Wands Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Storm and Rain?

Storm Clouds

Dark clouds or skies in Tarot indicate that the sitter is going through a rough time. The
clouds here crackle with thunder. Thunder is caused by the sudden expansion of air in
the path of a lightning bolt. We are reminded here that the swords suit represent the
element Air. We are also reminded that once the bolt of pain has passed, the healing
can begin.

Rain

In this card the rain falls heavy, predicting a cause for a sudden downpour of tears. Rain
is traditionally a sign of cleansing in a Tarot reading.

What Sphere Does The Three of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Threes in Tarot connect to the third Sephirah,
called Binah.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Jehovah Elohim is the God
associated with Binah. Tzaphqiel, is the Archangel of this realm, also known as the
Prince of the Spiritual Strife against Evil. Archangel Jophiel is also referred to in Binah.
The order of angels that reside in this sphere is Aralim, also called the Order of Thrones
and the Strong and Mighty Ones.
 SWORDS

Two

Click to enlarge

A hoodwinked female figure balances two swords upon her shoulders. Divinatory
Meanings: Conformity and the equipoise which it suggests, courage, friendship,
concord in a state of arms; another reading gives tenderness, affection, intimacy. The
suggestion of harmony and other favourable readings must be considered in a
qualified manner, as Swords generally are not symbolical of beneficent forces in
human affairs. Reversed: Imposture, falsehood, duplicity, disloyalty.

What Does The Two of Swords Symbolize?

A woman sits with her back to a calm sea, with arms crossed. She holds two crossed
swords in a symmetrical position across her chest or heart chakra. She wears a white
blindfold. A yellow crescent moon, hangs at the top right.

At a basic level, this card represents the problems of dualism, the crossed swords
representing dueling and the fight to see which side or argument is better. There can be
indecision, stalemate or at best a truce, as the esoteric title of the card ‘lord of restored
peace’ suggests. It can even represent Yin vs Yang, or right- and left-brain thinking.

At a higher level, the duality of the card reflects the possibility to consider two opposing
thoughts at the same time. It reflects empathy and being able to put yourself in
someone else’s shoes.

As Einstein said, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level
of thinking we were at when we created them.”
At the highest level, this card reflects body and soul, and the ability to move outside
ourselves and look to the Universe for answers. The woman in this card appears to be
in a deep and deliberate meditation, trying to hear the Power of God or the mystical
Universe. She is training to listen.

At this level of listening, we our likely to find our true life purpose vocation, and a reason
to live for something greater than ourselves.

What is The Meaning of The Crossed Swords?

What is the symbolism of the crossed swords in the Two of Swords?

The woman could hold the swords upright, but she chooses instead to place them over
her chest in the sign of the cross. The symbol of the cross denotes the unity of
opposites. It represents the primary relationship between the worlds of Heaven and
Earth.

Historically, the sword was a symbol of power and was the main tool of ‘God’s
judgement’, that is the highest justice on Earth. The sword thus represents divine
intelligence, and the loss of a sword in battle was equivalent to loss of power and a
broken sword signified defeat.

In this Tarot card, the woman crosses the swords over her heart chakra. At a mundane
level, this suggests she is trying to emotionally protect herself from something, perhaps
an annoying person, a niggling thought or an issue she is trying to avoid. The author
A.E. Waite, implies the culprit is not pleasant: “Swords generally are not symbolic of
beneficent forces in human affairs.”

However, his description seems at odds with the artist’s Pamela Colman-Smith elegant
drawing. The lady in the Two of Swords does not appear distressed, in fact she
resembles a stripped-down High Priestess in her earlier years.

The two swords point upwards towards Heaven, and despite their weight, the woman
manages to hold them in perfect symmetry. There is control here, and fight in her soul.

In heraldry, two crossed swords pointing up means you are ready to fight, and pointing
down means the fight is over. This is why two swords pointing downwards are often
found on military gravestones, indicating the end of conflict.

We also see an upwards pointing sword in the Justice Tarot Card, indicating power
and authority. Compare to the downward facing swords in the unhappy 3 of Swords.
Worth Knowing: As an alchemist symbol, swords represent the power of thought,
purification and transformation.

⭐Upright Swords also appear here: Justice Symbols, Wheel of Fortune Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Blindfold in The Two of Swords?

At a basic level, the blindfold indicates turning a blind eye, an unwillingness to face the
truth or blocking out a situation.

However, the woman in this card seems to have blindfolded herself, perhaps to wake up
her other senses, to see alternative solutions or realities. She wants to be blind to the
obvious. She is in control of this situation, it is not a reflection of a situation being forced
on her.

The esoteric meaning of a blindfold is transformation from darkness (ignorance) to light

(enlightenment). It represents being prepared in mind, as much as in body, before
receiving access to the mysteries of the world. Many organizations, from fraternities to
Freemasons, use blindfolds in rituals of initiations. The masons call it hoodwinking.

The purpose of the hoodwink, according to Masonic text, is not to conceal something
from the candidate, but rather it symbolizes the fact that the candidate is yet in
darkness, like the baby lying in its mother’s womb. Being in darkness the candidate
prepares his inmost mind for those revelations that will be made to him after the
hoodwink is removed.

In the Two of Swords, we feel the woman is in spiritual training, removing her earthly
senses so that she can focus instead on the development
of clairaudience and clairvoyance. She teases her extrasensory perceptions,
practicing telepathy or precognition to receive information by means other than her
ordinary senses.

⭐Blindfold also appears here: Eight of Swords Symbols

What is The Symbolism of The Sea, Rocks and Bench?

Sea Symbolism

The sea in this Tarot card is relatively calm, indicating that the woman’s thoughts are
calm. The wind creates a slight ripple on the water surface, reminding us that swords
represent the element Air.
There is a connection here to the moon, as the moon’s gravitational pull generates high
tides and low tides. The suggestion here is of a ‘greater force’ influencing our lot in life.

Rocks In The Water

Rocks in Tarot represent all that is permanent, stable and solid. In the Two of Swords,
the rocks appear to be set out as stepping stones, creating a path or resting points as
you journey towards the island beyond.

Bench

A bench in Tarot represents a place to sit and ‘take time out’. Benches symbolizes
taking your time to reflect, meditate or examine a situation in more detail.

What Does The Crescent Moon Symbolize in The Two of Swords?

In Tarot, the moon reflects light and inspires thought. It measures time and the cycles of
life. Astrologically it represents our emotions, subconscious and intuition. It is connected
with spiritual thought and psychic abilities.

In the Northern hemisphere, the moon waxes and grows full, from right to left. The
moon in this card is early in the waxing phase, reflecting the first decan, or first ten days
of an astrological sign. If you were born in the first ten days, or first decan, of a sign, you
are said to embody the characteristics of your star sign to the fullest.

The Two of Swords is associated with the sign of Libra, which implies that this card
embodies the traits of Libra star sign.

Finally, the stages of moon movement provide an analogy for the stages of human life:
the new moon is infancy, the crescent is youth, the full moon is maturity and pregnancy,
and the waning moon represents the decline of life, death and reincarnation.

⭐A Moon also appears here: High Priestess, The Moon, Eight of Cups

What Sphere Does The Two of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.
According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is
called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Twos in Tarot connect to the second Sephirah,
called Chokhmah, meaning
wisdom. Chokhmah is associated with the power of intuitive flash insights.

According to the Golden Dawn, Jehovah is the God associated with Chokmah
and Raziel is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The order of angels that
reside in the sphere are the Ophanim (the wheels).

SWORDS

Ace

Click to enlarge

A hand issues from a cloud, grasping as word, the point of which is encircled by a
crown. Divinatory Meanings: Triumph, the excessive degree in everything, conquest,
triumph of force. It is a card of great force, in love as well as in hatred. The crown
may carry a much higher significance than comes usually within the sphere of
fortune-telling. Reversed: The same, but the results are disastrous; another account
says--conception, childbirth, augmentation, multiplicity.

What Does The Hand Symbolize in The Ace of Swords?

The white radiating hand emerging from the cloud is usually considered the Hand of
God, or sometimes an angel.

In the Rider Waite deck, the author A.E Waite, asks us to consider the gesture of the
hand.

In both the Ace of Swords and Ace of Wands, the hand is upright and the fist is closed.
This is an active gesture which indicates one should ‘grab’ what is on offer, or ‘make it
happen’ by taking some action. Swords and Wands represent Yang energy, and
the forceful masculine elements of Air and Fire.

In the Aces of Cups and Pentacles, the palm is open and facing upwards, implying you
should be open to ‘receiving’ what is on offer. Cups and Pentacles are Yin energy, and
represent the receptive feminine elements of Water and Earth.

The fist in the Ace of Swords is reminiscent of Caesar’s thumb, or Pollice verso in Latin.
A thumbs up means approval and downwards dictates disapproval. Here the fist is
facing upwards, indicating clear and positive feedback.

Notice how the thumb is hidden behind the sword? Anything ‘hidden’ in Tarot is a
symbol of mysticism, the spiritual realm, psychic and premonitions. The hidden thumb
suggests knowledge gained by flashes of insight, the signature of inspiration which
comes from outside you. Thus you are guided to listen and trust your instincts. Your first
thought, is your best thought. It is the awakening of consciousness.

What is The Meaning of Crown on The Sword?

A diadem crown rests on top of the sword, a symbol of royalty and crowning glory.
When a crown is paired with a sword, it usually indicates that a victory has been won
after some effort. This is a ‘winning’ idea, offer or proposal, for example.

There may also be a reference here to the cross and crown, a symbol used by
Christians to signify receiving one’s reward in heaven. The crown represents the
rewards which come after the trials (the cross) of this life.

The symbol of cross and crown is also associated with Freemasonry, specifically
the Knight Templar.

Palm Branch

A palm branch hangs from the right side of the crown (as you look at the card). The
palm represented immortality in ancient Egypt and was sacred in many religions. In
Christianity, the palm is associated with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and is
celebrated on Palm Sunday.

In ancient Rome the palm was a symbol of victory, and even in Christianity, it can
symbolize the victory of the spirit over flesh.

Olive Branch
An olive branch hangs from the left side of the crown, a classic symbol of peace.

What Do The Flames or Yods Surrounding The Sword Symbolize?

There are six flames surrounding the base of the sword. These flames are found in
other cards in the Rider Waite deck. They appear to be in the shape of the Hebrew
letter yod (pronounced ya). According to the Jewish sages, the yod represents the
world to come and completeness.

Here, the yods represent the flames of Spirit and the creative seeds of thoughts and
ideas emanating from the spirit world.

As Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love suggests “It is only through a human’s
efforts that an idea can be escorted out of the ether and into the realm of the
actual.” She says “Ideas are a disembodied, energetic life-form. Ideas have no material
body, but they do have consciousness, and they most certainly have will. Ideas are
driven by a single impulse: to be made manifest.”

⭐Yods also appear here: Ace of Wands, Ace of Cups, Tower

What is The Symbolism of The Barren Landscape in The Ace of Swords?

The barren and dry landscape in this card signifies that the victorious thought or idea
does not come from an earthly source below, but from the Heavens above. The
symbolism is emphasized by our vantage point. As the viewer, we appear to be floating
in the sky, looking down on the mountains below.

In Tarot, mountains symbolize obstacles to overcome. Our higher vantage point means
we can now see the ‘bigger picture’ and thus the ideas can flow freely.

What Sphere Does The Ace of Swords Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Aces in Tarot connect to the Crown Sephirah, the
topmost of the Sephirot and Tree of Life, known as Kether.
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Eheieh is the God associated
with Kether and Metatron is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The order of
angels that reside in the sphere are the Holy Living Creatures.

Chakra Associated With The Ace of Swords

The Crown Chakra, or Sahasrara is associated with the Ace of Swords. This energy
center controls your connection to the spiritual realm, and your sense of enlightenment,
as well as life purpose gifts such as mediumship and clairvoyance.

THE SUIT OF PENTACLES

King

Click to enlarge

The figure calls for no special description the face is rather dark, suggesting also
courage, but somewhat lethargic in tendency. The bull's head should be noted as a
recurrent symbol on the throne. The sign of this suit is represented throughout as
engraved or blazoned with the pentagram, typifying the correspondence of the four
elements in human nature and that by which they may be governed. In many old Tarot
packs this suit stood for current coin, money, deniers. I have not invented the
substitution of pentacles and I have no special cause to sustain in respect of the
alternative. But the consensus of divinatory meanings is on the side of some change,
because the cards do not happen to deal especially with questions of
money. Divinatory Meanings: Valour, realizing intelligence, business and normal
intellectual aptitude, sometimes mathematical gifts and attainments of this kind;
success in these paths. Reversed: Vice, weakness, ugliness, perversity, corruption,
peril.
Who is The King of Pentacles?

Who is the face in the King of Pentacles?

The life of artist Pamela Colman Smith – her religion and social affiliations all came
together in the Rider Waite deck. It is likely that she depicted an older Edith Craig as
the King of Pentacles. [Source: Pamela Coleman Smith, The Untold Story by Stuart
Kaplan]
 Edith Craig, about 1910.
This photo was used on postcards at the time to promote the suffragette movement. Image:
Wiki
Edith Craig was a pioneer of the woman’s suffrage movement in England. She was the
daughter of the famous actress Ellen Terry. Smith was close to both mother and
daughter.

How empowering it must have been for Smith surrounded by feminist friends, to cast
the King as a woman in this deck of Tarot cards.

The King’s face certainly resembles the straight-lipped appearance of Craig. She also
appears as the face of the Magician in the Rider Waite deck.

Craig was clearly a liberated woman in her time, she was a lesbian who lived in
a ménage à trois with two other women from 1916 until her death in 1947.

Her mother Terry also makes an appearance in the Rider Waite deck, as the face in the
Queen of Cups, Queen of Wands and the woman in the Nine of Pentacles.

See: Queen of Cups Symbols, Queen of Wands symbols, Nine of Pentacles

Symbols. The Magician Symbols.

“The fact that the equality for which women struggled was believed by some in
Pamela’s circle to reflect the existing divine order – as, for example, among Spiritualists,
or in the Golden Dawn’s pantheon of divinities – brought the connection between
political and spiritual realities full circle.”

Stuart Kaplan (author)

What Does The Castle Battlement Symbolize in The King of Pentacles?

The King sits on his throne, which is placed on the battlement of his castle. This
battlement reminds us of the Two of Wands, where perhaps a younger version of the
King once looked out upon the world with hungry ambition.

The landscape beyond the walls of his castle have changed, new castles have
appeared, indicating the passage of time and increased prosperity.

The battlement may also be regarded as a defining wall, the line between what has
already been achieved, and what is still within the realm of possibility.

Note, however that the King has his back turned to what lies beyond the castle wall. He
is holding and contemplating a large pentacle, the symbol of wealth he has managed to
accrue. The abundance of plant life around his feet is another symbol of abundance.
This King has achieved most of his goals, and is now more focused inwardly on
enjoying the fruits of his labor.
⭐A castle battlement also appears here: Two of Wands Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Throne Carved with Bulls?

The King sits on a black throne decorated with symbols of bulls; his left foot rests on the
skull of a bull. As A.E. Waite notes, “The bull’s head should be noted as a recurrent
symbol on the throne.”

The bull is a symbol of sacrifice and transformation in ancient Egyptian and Christian
iconography. It is also a symbol of the astrological earth sign, Taurus which is
represented by the glyph of a bull.

⭐A bull also appears here: The World Symbols, The Wheel of Fortune Symbols

What Is The Meaning The King’s Armor, Crown and Scepter?

Suit of Armor

The King of Pentacles is the only King in this deck who wears armor. Smith may have
been referencing Craig’s status as a suffrage warrior.

Crown Symbolism

The King wears a crown of lilies and roses, flowers which also appear in the Two of
Wands card.

The rose appears by itself in many cards of the Rider Waite deck, but the lily never
appears alone. Wherever you find a lily, you will find a red rose in the Rider Waite.
Combined, this set of flowers are associated with the Virgin Mary. The rose becomes
the rosary prayer, and the lily becomes the Madonna lily, or white lily. This may be a
reference to Smith’s personal conversion to Catholicism.

Scepter Symbol

The King holds a scepter in his right hand. A scepter is an ornamental wand or staff
held by royalty as a sign of authority and sovereignty.

Gown of Grapes

The King’s robes are decorated with grapes. Grapes represent fruitful bounty in Tarot,
and signify that this is a good time to pause and acknowledge your abundance and
good fortune.
 PENTACLES

Queen

Click to enlarge

The face suggests that of a dark woman, whose qualities might be summed up in the
idea of greatness of soul; she has also the serious cast of intelligence; she
contemplates her symbol and may see worlds therein. Divinatory Meanings:
Opulence, generosity, magnificence, security, liberty. Reversed: Evil, suspicion,
suspense, fear, mistrust.

Design Inspiration For The Queen of Pentacles

Queen of Coins from
Sola-Busca Tarot
The artist Pamela Colman-Smith, in creating the Queen of Pentacles, was likely
inspired by the Queen of Coins from the 15th century Sola Busca Tarot deck.

Smith created the art for the Rider Waite deck two years after the acquisition of
photographs of the Sola Busca deck by the British Museum, and likely saw the cards on
display there.

What Does The Pentacle Symbolize in The Queen of Pentacles?

A “dark woman” as A.E. Waite writes, “contemplates her symbol and may see worlds
within.” Her symbol is the shiny pentacle, which the author suggests, is acting as a
crystal ball. The Queen is possibly using her ball as a means of divination, for foretelling
the future.

Seated amidst an oasis of abundant plant and animal life, this Queen represents the
cardinal Earth sign and all which that implies. She encourages the reader to practice
Earth Magic in witchcraft; that is, rituals and spells which encompass sacred sites,
animal spirit guides, crystals and herbs. The bounty of Mother Earth.

As the Queen of Pentacles holds her precious pentacle, she encourages you to hold
magical elements of the Earth in your hands for the purpose of manifestation.

What is The Meaning of The Carvings on The Throne?

The throne has carvings of cherubs, flora and rams.

Cherubs

An angel carved into the top of the throne, protectively watches over the Queen and all
those who occupy the seat after her. If you want to achieve the status of this Queen,
you will need to rely on divine guidance and protection.

The Hebrew Bible describes cherubim as the throne bearers of God.

The cherubim are the celestial attendants of God and are ranked in Christianity among
the higher orders of angels.

⭐Cherub also appear here: Queen of Cups symbols and Queen of Swords
symbols
Ram

The head of a ram is carved into the armrest of the throne. The ram symbol connects
the Queen of Pentacles to the traits of Capricorn. This is the astrological sign she
rules over, and it is represented by the glyph of a Goat.

In a Tarot reading, the presence of a ram can mean that it is time to take action and
achieve or complete your goals.

⭐A ram also appears here: The Emperor Symbols

Flora

The flowers and fruits carved into the throne are a symbol of fertility and abundance.
This is a reminder that the Universe is eternally abundant, a Garden of Eden, when you
are in the right frame of mind.

⭐Thrones appear in all the King and Queen cards in Tarot, as well as: The
Empress, The Emperor, High Priestess, Hierophant and Justice

What is The Symbolism of The Crown in The Queen of Pentacles?

Crown

In Tarot, the crown can be a symbol of ultimate achievement, a sign of victory and
expertise in an area.

Veil

The Queen wears a green veil beneath the crown, echoing the abundance and her
connection to nature. The veil has a long history through the ages. Elite women wore
the veil in ancient Greece and Mesopotamia as a sign of status and respectability.

What is The Meaning of The Rabbit in The Queen of Pentacles?

A rabbit, or possibly a hare, runs into view, bottom right of the card.

The rabbit is a sign of spiritualism in Tarot. It signifies that the querent is becoming more
curious about the spirit world, and less limited by the material world. Under the influence
of the rabbit, you may experience a spiritual gift emerging, such
as clairvoyance or clairaudience.
The rabbit also hints that a great opportunity is about to come your way, and you will
need to act quickly.

Lastly, the rabbit is connected with fertility and babies. It can often signify an
unexpected pregnancy.

⭐Rabbit also appear here: This is the only card in the Rider Waite deck which
depicts a rabbit.

What is The Symbolism of The Garland of Roses?

A garland of roses frames the picture in this card.

Red roses are associated with romance within a Tarot reading. They represent a love
interest, affection and relationship. This card can signify a loving relationship which is
blossoming, or alternatively, the rabbit may hint at a new relationship arriving soon.

PENTACLES

Knight

Click to enlarge

He rides a slow, enduring, heavy horse, to which his own aspect corresponds. He
exhibits his symbol, but does not look therein. Divinatory Meanings: Utility,
serviceableness, interest, responsibility, rectitude-all on the normal and external
plane. Reversed: inertia, idleness, repose of that kind, stagnation; also placidity,
discouragement, carelessness.
What Does The Horse Symbolize in The Knight of Pentacles?

The Knight sits on a massive, patient workhorse surveying his agricultural land. The
horse is a Clydersdale which was traditionally used for farming and carriage pulling.
This plodding creature reflects the slow and steady strength of the Knight.

In dream interpretation, a black horse signifies endurance and strength. Dreaming of

black horses is the Universe’s way of telling you to persevere with your goals. You have
the strength and stamina to make your dreams come true.

What is The Meaning of The Landscape in The Knight of Pentacles?

Plowed Field

The Knight surveys the landscape in front of him. There is a large plowed field ready for
planting, and beyond that two trees and a small mountain range. This is the largest field
depicted in the Rider Waite deck, which signifies that there is great potential here for
growth. Whatever you decide to plant and nurture could, over a period of time, turn into
something quite spectacular.

⭐A plowed field also appears here: Page of Pentacles Symbols and Ten of
Wands Symbols

Mountains

In Tarot, mountains represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away the
mountains, the further away the problems.

In this card, the mountains are some distance away. This indicates that initial problems
have been dealt with, and the Knight can expect plain sailing for a while. The yellow sky
indicates fine weather, and the green grass suggests there is enough rainfall for
whatever crops he plans to grow.

⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: Temperance, The Hermit and Eight of Cups

Trees

Two solitary trees appear in the distance. Trees are a symbol of life and prosperity in
Tarot. These trees may be the fruit of his labor to date, and now he has bigger
ambitions – an entire forest of trees perhaps?
⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: The Empress, The Lovers, The Hanged Man,
The Star, The Tower

What is The Significance of The Knight’s Clothing?

The Pentacle

The Knight delicately holds a shiny pentacle in one gloved hand. This pentacle could be
a rare seed, an investment which he hopes will bear more fruit in the future.

He knows that it may take time to get there but he’s determined to work slowly and
steadily towards that goal… With him I think of the phrase ‘Slow and steady wins the
race’… Like the tortoise and the hare; he may not be the most dashing or the flashiest
person around but he’ll get there in the end and it will be worth the wait.

Armor and Gloves

Armor is a form of defense and in a Tarot reading, the appearance of armor signals that
the querent is feeling vulnerable. One should look at how much armor the Knight is
wearing, in order to assess the level of vulnerability.

The Knight of Pentacles and Knight of Wands wear gloves on both hands, while
the Knight of Swords has one gloved hand. Interestingly, the Knight of Cups,
considered the most open or naive of court cards, wears no gloves at all.

Green Plume

The Knight and his horse have matching green plumes on their heads.

Plumes, also known as panaches, were common in 16th century tournament wear. The
feathers indicated the color of the family name, status and wealth.

The green color of the plumes in this particular card, is symbolic of nature, growth and
manifestation.
 PENTACLES

Page

Click to enlarge

A youthful figure, looking intently at the pentacle which hovers over his raised hands.
He moves slowly, insensible of that which is about him. Divinatory Meanings:
Application, study, scholarship, reflection another reading says news, messages and
the bringer thereof; also rule, management. Reversed: Prodigality, dissipation,
liberality, luxury; unfavourable news.

What is The Page of Pentacles Wearing?

An androgynous figure stands, holding a pentacle at eye level engaged in an act of

deep contemplation. He is dressed in a fashionable costume with a red roundlet hat
(type of turban) from the 15th century. He could be a character in a Shakespearean
play.

Nearly all of the court cards in the Rider Waite deck are representations of Victorian and
Edwardian actors in costume, and reflect Pamela Coleman-Smith’s background in
theater. The pose of this Page, balanced on one foot, resembles a cabinet card, a type
of photographic postcard of actors and famous people which were popular in the
Victorian era.

Talisman

Waite writes that the Page looks “intently at the pentacle which hovers over his raised
hands”. The Pentacle is sometimes considered a crystal ball which predicts the future or
a talisman which has magical powers and attracts good luck.

What is The Meaning of The Simple Landscape in The Page of Pentacles?

The Page stands on a field with flowers, in the background lies a plowed field, trees and
mountain. This simple landscape of rich farmland reflects the Page’s potential for
growth. There is no ambiguity or distraction here. The Pentacle he holds is like a seed,
representing an offer or idea he is thinking about pursuing (planting).

Plowed Fields

Plowed fields remind us that we reap what we sew. We must keep in mind that what we
do today will affect future outcomes.

Waite mentions that the Page “moves slowly”, which connects this card to the passage
of time. It takes time for crops to grow, much like it takes time for our plans to come to
fruition.

The artist Colman-Smith, set many of the Pip cards within this deck in nature. She
believed that Spirit is embedded in nature, and the divine could communicate with us
through nature. She grew up in household where her grandparents were much involved
in nature poetry and Swedenborgian mysticism.

⭐A plowed field also appears here: Knight of Pentacles Symbols and Ten of
Wands Symbols

Mountains

In Tarot, mountains represent obstacles to overcome in the future. When in the future,
depends on how far away the mountains are in the distance. The further away, the
further away the problems.

In the Page of Pentacles, the mountains are about mid-way in the landscape, but are
not especially high to climb. This suggests that problems will occur at some stage, but
they are quite manageable.

⭐Mountains appear in at least 25 cards in the Rider Waite deck. Here are a few
more examples: Temperance, The Hermit and Eight of Cups

What is The Meaning of The Yellow Sky in The Page of Pentacles?

A yellow sky appears in all the court cards in the pentacles suit. Yellow is associated
with sunshine, and warm nurturing energy.
Yellow is also connected to the solar plexus chakra, our center of hope, optimism and
inspiration. It corresponds to the element Air and is often used in Tarot to represent
intellect and the spiritual mind.

⭐A yellow sky also appears here: The Fool, Strength, Chariot, Empress, Magician,
7 of Swords, 3 of Wands, 4 of Wands, 9 of Cups

What is The Symbolism of The Trees in The Page of Pentacles?

The meaning of trees in Tarot is taken primarily from mythology and religious text. They
can represent the tree in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life in Kabbalah and the tree
called Yggdrasil in Norse mythology. Trees are used to symbolize life, growth, wisdom,
regeneration and prosperity.

The more trees in a Tarot card, the more ‘life’ and ‘prosperity’ is indicated. In the Page
of Pentacles, we see a cluster of trees in the distance, a dream not yet realized but still
clearly visible on the horizon.

⭐Trees appear in 23 cards, including: The Empress, The Lovers, The Hanged Man,
The Star, The Tower

PENTACLES

Ten

Click to enlarge

A man and woman beneath an archway which gives entrance to a house and domain.
They are accompanied by a child, who looks curiously at two dogs accosting an
ancient personage seated in the foreground. The child's hand is on one of
them. Divinatory Meanings: Gain, riches; family matters, archives, extraction, the
abode of a family. Reversed: Chance, fatality, loss, robbery, games of hazard;
sometimes gift, dowry, pension.

Who Is The Old Man in The Ten of Pentacles?

The Ten of Pentacles shows a couple gathered beneath an archway, a child and old
man in a colorful robe who appears to be the grandfather watching over his relations.
The old man or “ancient personage” as Waite describes him, is the dominant figure in
this card. But who is he?

To understand this question, we must first understand the key meaning of the card
itself, which is the culmination of all things in the material world. Thus, the old man
becomes a symbol of the culmination of life, and of time and effort spent. He has
achieved wealth, status and respect for the life he has built over many years, and not
over weeks or months.

Is the Man Waite?

It is possible that the artist has depicted one of the co-founders of the The Hermetic
Order of the Golden Dawn, either William Woodman or William Wynn Wescott, in this
card. Or perhaps the figure is meant to be an older A.E. Waite. There appears to be a
stylized letter W, with an A and E conflated into each other on the side of the man’s
chair. There certainly seems to be similarities in the profile of the old man’s face, and
Waite’s photo below.

As Waite commissioned the cards, it is of course very possible that he asked for his
own likeness to be inserted in one of the cards, or the artist decided to do so herself.
 A.E. Waite.
Homage To Golden Dawn Founders

If the old man is indeed Waite, or one of the Golden Dawn co-founders, this card
becomes a homage to those initiates who pass through the grades of the Golden Dawn.
Within the Golden Dawn, members progress through a system of grades and levels
which correspond to the Sephiroth on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. At each level the
student receives further access to secret teachings on magik, Qabalah, tarot, astrology,
geomancy and alchemy.

The artist Pamela Colman-Smith met Waite after she joined the Isis-Urania Temple of
the Golden Dawn in 1901. She never advanced beyond the first degree Zelator level,
which led Waite to note in his autobiography Shadows of Life and Thought (1938) that
Pamela had to be “spoon-fed carefully” over which symbols to include in the cards. The
implication here, is that she wasn’t a serious student and her achievements were never
likely to culminate in Ten of Pentacles status.

Ironically, however, despite Waite’s prolific writings on more serious subject matters
such as the history of occult sciences, alchemy, devil-worship, black-magic and
Freemasonry; the only publication which has endured the test of time, is his joint project
with Pamela: The Rider Waite Tarot deck.

What is The Significance of the Ten Hanging Pentacles?

Notice the layout of the ten pentacles. They are hanging in the shape of the Qabalistic
Tree of Life.
 Image: Open source, Wiki
This is another reference to the advancement of learning through stages or grades. The
tree represents a series of divine stages that the human soul most travel through in
order to reach enlightenment.

What is The Symbolism of the Scales and Tower in The Ten of Pentacles?

Scales

Interesting symbology is carved into the stonework of the archway. This is a subtle
reference to the Freemasons, who originally were stone-workers.

Just above the older man’s head, you can see a scales.

The scales link this card to Justice, and their presence suggests that this man has
earned his situation in life. He did not inherit his fortune.

Tower
To the left of the old mans’ head, we see a tower carved into the archway. This tower is
similar to the image in the Tower card. The tower is grainy, like an old and distant
memory from the past. It represents the trials and tribulations of darker days, and the
challenges he had to overcome in order to be sitting where he is today.

One does not feel that the younger couple and the child will have to go through the
same pain-barriers, which is why this card is also associated with inherited wealth and
social advantage.

Notice another castle depicted in the coat of arms on the archway. This castle is much
grander and is pinned proudly to the wall. It represents the current status of all who
reside here – wealthy and influential.

What is The Meaning of The Dogs in The Ten of Pentacles?

The old man and the young boy, both reach out to pet the two dogs.

Dogs are a symbol of loyalty, reliability and unconditional love. At the same time, they
are devoted to family, both their own and ours.

Dogs are also a symbol of connection, here the old man and child, despite the
disconnection of age and experience, are able to enjoy the same pleasure. This is a
subtle reminder that all humanity, at a base-level have the same needs and wants.

On a metaphysical level, the dogs represent an axis mundi, or cosmic connection

between God (the old man) and people (the child). Note that the old man and child are
not in direct contact with each other, they are both touching the dog as a ‘medium’ of
communication. This is in keeping with occult philosophy, that humans need some sort
of trustworthy agent or go-between in order to communicate with Higher Powers. This
may be a psychic, medium, shaman or mystic; or a tool of paranormal divination such
as tarot cards or ouiji board.

⭐A dog also appears here: The Fool Symbols

What Sphere Does The Ten of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Tens in Tarot connect to the tenth Sephirah,
called Malkuth, the sphere of earthly reality.
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Sandalphon is the archangel
who resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are
the Asheem, or Souls of Fire.

PENTACLES

Nine

Click to enlarge

A woman, with a bird upon her wrist, stands amidst a great abundance of grapevines
in the garden of a manorial house. It is a wide domain, suggesting plenty in all things.
Possibly it is her own possession and testifies to material well-being. Divinatory
Meanings: Prudence, safety, success, accomplishment, certitude,
discernment. Reversed: Roguery, deception, voided project, bad faith.

Who is The Woman in The Nine of Pentacles?

An elegantly dressed, middle-aged woman stands in her garden surrounded by

vineyards. Her manor house lies beyond. She is clearly in a position to take care of her
own financial needs.

The artist Pamela Colman-Smith drew inspiration from her theatrical friends when
drawing characters the Rider Waite deck. In the Queen of Wands she drew the
younger face of her friend Dame Ellen Terry (1847-1928), a very famous actress in her
time, and a woman that Colman-Smith loved like a mother.

Here, in the 9 of Pentacles, we see the face of an older and wealthier Ellen. Notice the
distinctive jawline is captured in the card. The house in the background could be Ellen’s
medieval manor house in Kent, England.
 Ellen Terry,
Shakespearean actress
Waite describes the house as a “manorial house” which is possibly “her own
possessions”. There is an underlying feminist theme in this card. Here we see a woman,
who is obviously financially successful and in charge of her domain.

Ellen and Pamela, were also both supporters of the suffrage movement and women’s
rights. Remember, women only received the right to vote, in England, in 1918.

Notice the floral pattern on the gown of the woman in this card, the flowers appear to
take on the shape of the symbol of Venus – a circle with a cross descending from it.
Venus has long been considered a sign denoting women, and female power. This
Venus sign also appears in the Empress Tarot card, and signifies fertility and
creativity.

⭐Ellen Terry also appears here: Queen of Swords Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Bird or Falcon In This Card?

Waite mentions that the woman has “a bird” on her wrist. The artist has chosen to depict
the bird as a hooded falcon.

The theme of feminism is reinforced here, by the similarity in the pose between the
woman in the 9 of Pentacles and Colman-Smith’s famous poster, “A Bird in the Hand”.

Image: Wiki, Create Commons 3.0

We are reminded that a woman must always keep her guard up. The hooded falcon
also becomes a symbol of restrained explosive power. What could a woman achieve if
she had equal rights?

On a more metaphysical level, the hooded falcon guides the reader to remain vigilant,
even when sitting comfortably. Outside of this Garden of Eden, there still remains a
competitive world. This is why the woman wears a yellow glove, a symbol of
awareness of the threat and a sign of self-protection.

The falcon, in combination with the manor home, also hint at inherited wealth and
lineage. Ellen Terry herself came from a family of actors, and began performing as a
child.

What Does The Snail Symbolize in The Nine of Pentacles?

Firstly, the snail is another coded warning in this card not to become too complacent.
The lowly snail in the foreground, if left unattended, could eat his way through the
luscious pentacles hanging on the bush.

Secondly, we are reminded that the shell of a snail forms a spiral pattern, reflecting the
Golden Spiral or Fibonacci spiral. These precise geometric patterns, support the theory
that a Higher Power had a hand in the design of the Universe. They are also a symbol
of infinity, because there is no end to the spiral.

Image: Wiki (CC0 1.0) The

golden spiral is a very special and precise design, found throughout the Universe.
There is a real sense of mysticism about spirals – if you gaze long enough, you could
fall into a trance and achieve some sort of divine truth and insights or conscious
awareness.

What Do Grapevines Symbolize in the 9 of Pentacles?

Grapevines and Grapes

The woman stands in front of a wall of grapevines. Nine luscious bunches of grapes
hang from the vines, implying ripeness and harvest.
Arthur Waite mentions the grape motif in his explanation of this card. Grapes have long
been a Christian symbol of sacrifice and redemption. The implication is, hard work
eventually pays off.

⭐Grapevines also appear here: Seven of Pentacles Symbols, 3 of Cups

Symbols, Ten of Pentacles Symbols, King of Pentacles Symbols, and Four of
Wands Symbols

Two Trees

Two trees frame the woman, one of either side of her. They remind us of the two pillars
in the High Priestess, the Hierophant and Justice cards. The trees are a symbol of
duality (male and female, ying and yang), as well as balance and harmony “in all
things”, as Waite writes.

What Sphere Does The 9 of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

According to Kabbalah, God made manifestations. Each manifestation is called a

Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Nines in Tarot connect to the ninth Sephirah, called Yesod.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Archangel Gabriel resides over
the sphere. The choir of angels that reside in Yesod are the Cherubim.
 PENTACLES

Eight

Click to enlarge

An artist in stone at his work, which he exhibits in the form of trophies. Divinatory
Meanings: Work, employment, commission, craftsmanship, skill in craft and business,
perhaps in the preparatory stage. Reversed: Voided ambition, vanity, cupidity,
exaction, usury. It may also signify the possession of skill, in the sense of the
ingenious mind turned to cunning and intrigue.

What Masonic Symbols Can Be Found in The Eight of Pentacles?

An apprentice sits at his bench, using a hammer and chisel to sculpt eight coins. As with
the Three of Pentacles, Freemason symbolism permeates this card, providing deeper
metaphysical insights.

The Eight of Pentacles is associated with learning, wisdom and mastering a skill.
Although the eight pentacles look the same, we get a sense that each is ever-so-slightly
better than the next.

The artist Pamela Colman Smith wants to focus our attention on the tools that the
young man is holding. Tools have great symbolic importance in Freemasonry, and
represent agents of change, moving from the state of ignorance into lightness. As the
mason advances through a masonic lodge, he will symbolically receive tools to mark his
progress.

The Hammer and Chisel

In the Freemasons, the Hammer symbolizes willpower and a person’s willingness

to obtain. The Chisel represents discernment and the ability to discern between what
part of the stone is relevant to building, and which parts are superfluous. Taken
together, the two instruments represent joining action with thought.

Apron Symbol

The apprentice is wearing a leather apron to protect his clothes. The apron is also a
masonic symbol, and candidates are given a ceremonial apron to remind them of the
honor that comes with being a workman, and the glory attached to living one’s life
purpose.

Bench Symbolism

In Tarot, benches represent wealth and advancement. In the 3 of Pentacles, the

apprentice stands on a bench to attain higher places and in the 8 of Pentacles, he is
confident enough to sit at the bench and work without supervision.

⭐Benches also appear here: 3 of Pentacles Symbols and 9 of Cups symbols

Thoughtography
Some cartomancers or card readers associate the 8 of Pentacles with Thoughtography,
also known as psychic photography. This is the ability to impress or burn an image onto
a surface, using only the power of your mind. Some psychics claim to have
psychokinetic powers and the ability to imprint their thoughts on photographs. Perhaps,
this card suggests, you have an unexplored gift?

What Is The Symbolism of The Castle In The 8 of Pentacles?

In Tarot, the castle traditionally symbolizes home and safety. For the purpose
of divination and fortune telling, the castle represents arriving successfully at a point
or place in life, after a long and arduous journey.

This journey could have been a long period of study, perhaps a degree, apprenticeship
or some other ‘time put in’. Whatever your end-goal, the presence of the castle or
village is a sign that you are on the right path.

Notice the golden yellow path leading up to the castle wall in this card. The
presence of this path indicates that you are nearing your journeys end, literally the path
is lighting your way. The implication here, is that your actions have set destiny in
motion.

⭐A castle also appears here: The Tower, The Chariot, 8 of Swords, 5 of Cups, 7 of
Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Pentacles, King of Pentacles, Ace of Wands,
4 of Wands and 10 of Wands
Why is The Background so Empty in The Eight of Pentacles?

Notice how empty and plain the background is in this card? In fact, nearly half the card,
is empty and gray. This is the artist’s way of focusing our eye on the man at work. Other
than the village in the background, there are few images to distract our attention. This
clever design reiterates the divinatory message of the card which is, focus because
your hard work will pay off.

The esoteric title of this card is Lord of Prudence. Prudence is one of the four cardinal
virtues of classical philosophy and Christian theology. The other virtues are justice,
fortitude and temperance, and together they form a virtue theory of ethics. If one were to
live by these ethics, it is believed, one could live a worthwhile and virtuous life.

Prudence was considered by ancient Greeks and Christian philosophers as the ‘mother’
of all virtues. The original meaning of prudence was discipline and moderation in all
things. However, the word has become increasingly synonymous with cautiousness and
being risk adverse, which are not really the same thing.

What Sphere Does The Eight of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

In Qabalah (Kabbalah), the 8 of Pentacles depicts Hod in Briah.

Hod is the eighth sphere of splendor and glory. It represents proceeding in an orderly
way through what is chaos to others, and an appreciation of the sensitivity of nature.

This sphere is ruled by Archangel Michael and associated with the solar plexus chakra.
 PENTACLES

Seven

Click to enlarge

A young man, leaning on his staff, looks intently at seven pentacles attached to a
clump of greenery on his right; one would say that these were his treasures and that
his heart was there. Divinatory Meanings: These are exceedingly contradictory; in the
main, it is a card of money, business, barter; but one reading gives altercation,
quarrels--and another innocence, ingenuity, purgation. Reversed: Cause for anxiety
regarding money which it may be proposed to lend.

What Does The Seven of Pentacles Symbolize?

A young man takes a break from tending his crops. He leans on his hoe and daydreams
that the fruit on the bush in front of him has turned into money. Seven large coins
appear, but it isn’t harvest time yet and there still remains much work to be done.

Pamela Colman-Smith took her inspiration for this card, from the Mantegna Tarocchi,
also known as the Baldini Cards. The Tarocchi is a set of Italian cards from the 15th
century. It was once believed that the famous engraver Andrea Mantegna created them,
and then later the Florentine engraver Baccio Baldini. The name of the true artist,
however, has been lost in time. The Tarocchi was not used as Tarot cards for fortune-
telling, but most likely as pictorial educational tools for wealthy children.

In the Misero, we see a beggar resting on his hoe. The pose is very similar to Smith’s
young man in the Seven of Pentacles.
 Beggar (Misero) from the humanistic
Mantegna Tarocchi (E-Series)
Arthur Waite (author) and Smith (artist) seem slightly at odds with each other in the
meaning of the Seven of Pentacles.

Waite says the 7 of Pentacles is “exceedingly contradictory”, being about “quarrels” on

the one hand, and “innocence” on the other. He offers no explanation for these
interpretations.

While the Seven of Pentacles is clearly about taking a break in work, Waite leaves open
the question whether the break is positive, negative or neutral.
Smith however, seems to have decided that the break is positive. Her figure in the 7 of
Pentacles appears calm, thoughtful and reflective. The only hint of potential drama here
is the gray sky. Consider that a gray sky can suddenly break out into sunshine or rain.

What is The Meaning of The Gardening Hoe?

The man in the Seven of Pentacles leans on a gardening hoe. A hoe is an ancient and
versatile hand tool used to remove weeds, clear soil and harvest root crops. The hoe is
symbolic of ‘clearing the path ahead’ and bringing your efforts to harvest.

Within a Tarot reading, the appearance of a hoe – or any other tool – suggests that the
reader can make life easier for themselves, if they use all of the resources (tools) at
their disposal.

What is The Meaning of The Grapevine in The Seven of Pentacles?

Seven pentacles are attached a “clump of greenery”, according to Waite. However,

Smith appears to have drawn the greenery as grapevines.

Grapes represent fruitful bounty in Tarot, and signify that this is a good time to pause
and acknowledge your abundance and good fortune.

The nature of a grapevine is to grow and spread, and so a vine can also represent
increasing luck and abundance in the future.

Jesus said in the Bible (John 15): “I am the TRUE vine, and My Father is the keeper of
the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that
does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.”

In a modern context, this could be taken to mean, that those who wander too far from
their spiritual path will experience less bounty in life. We are guided to regularly take a
moment to reflect on our blessings, as the man in this card seems to be doing. He could
be waiting for an epiphany or revelation of God.

We are reminded meditation and mindfulness helps us remain on the path of spiritual
enlightenment.

⭐Grapevines also appear here: 4 of Wands, 3 of Cups, 9 of Pentacles, 10 of

Pentacles, King of Pentacles

What Sphere Does The Seven of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the
nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Sevens in Tarot connect to the seventh Sephirah
called Netzach. Netzach translates roughly as ‘eternity’ and in the context of Kabbalah
refers to ‘victory’ or ‘endurance’.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Haniel is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Elohim.

PENTACLES

Six

Click to enlarge

A person in the guise of a merchant weighs money in a pair of scales and distributes it
to the needy and distressed. It is a testimony to his own success in life, as well as to
his goodness of heart. Divinatory Meanings: Presents, gifts, gratification another
account says attention, vigilance now is the accepted time, present prosperity,
etc. Reversed: Desire, cupidity, envy, jealousy, illusion.

Symbolism of The Merchant in The Six of Pentacles

A merchant stands with scales in hand, giving alms to two kneeling beggars. He wears
a red robe, a symbol of power and prestige. This could be the merchant from the 3 of
Wands who has now progressed, that he is able to share his wealth.
Weighing Scales

He holds a scale in his left hand, over the head of one of the beggars. This is the same
scales we see in the Justice Tarot card, indicating the act of a measured response, or
conditional generosity. He is not giving all that he can afford, he is doing enough to help
the beggars, help themselves.

Four Coins

Four coins fall from the merchant’s hand. The number four in numerology, and Tarot
represents stability. He is offering enough to ‘stabilize’ the situation.

Hand of Benediction

As he drops the coins, the merchant’s hand makes the sign of benediction, a sign which
is always offered with the right hand. The benediction gesture can also been seen in
the Hierophant Tarot card and in the Ten of Swords. The implication here, is of
blessings from Heaven.

Castle Symbolism

The castle in the background, we assume, is the merchants home. The message is, that
occasionally we must escape the comfortable life, in order to understand the lives of
those who are less fortunate.

Symbolism of The Beggars in The Six of Pentacles

Bandage Symbolism

The beggar wears a yellow cloak, and extends out both hands, a display of great need
and gratitude. In some cultures, such as Korea, it is traditional to receive gifts with both
hands as a mark of respect.

Notice how the beggar’s face is set in religious ecstasy? A sort of trance-like state
characterized by spiritual awareness. The bandage on his head, draws our attention to
his crown chakra. This energy center is located at the top of the head and is associated
with self-realization and faith. It is usually where energy healing and enlightenment
enters the body from the spiritual world.

Red Ticket Meaning

 Theater Ticket
c.1890
The second beggar in the blue cloak only extends out one hand, implying less need.
The merchant holds the scales over his head, symbolizing he is more wary of giving him
alms. Notice the red ticket or slip of paper peeping out from the pocket in the beggar’s
cloak. It appears to be the same size as a theater ticket from the 1900’s. One feels that
the man could suddenly cast off his cloak, to reveal that he is not a beggar at all, but
perhaps an actor. Or maybe he is just a freeloader, the sort of person who makes a
claim when they don’t really need it.

Everything is not as it seems, with this Tarot card. Even the donor has the “guise” of a
merchant, according to Waite. Is the donor hiding something from the beggars?

The implication here is – just because someone gives to charity, does not necessarily
mean that their intentions are pure. And just because someone asks for charity, does
not mean they are as helpless as they claim.

This is a good time to use your sixth sense and intuition to understand the true nature of
the people you are dealing with.

What Sphere Does The Six of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Sixes in Tarot connect to the sixth Sephirah,
called Tiphareth, translated as beauty.
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Raphael is the archangel who
resides over the sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Malakim;
and the God who presides over the sphere is Tetragrammaton Eloah Va Daath.

PENTACLES

Five

Click to enlarge

Two mendicants in a snow-storm pass a lighted casement. Divinatory Meanings: The

card foretells material trouble above all, whether in the form illustrated--that is,
destitution--or otherwise. For some cartomancists, it is a card of love and lovers-wife,
husband, friend, mistress; also concordance, affinities. These alternatives cannot be
harmonized. Reversed: Disorder, chaos, ruin, discord, profligacy.

What Does The Church Symbolize in The Five of Pentacles?

A crippled leper, identified by the bell around his neck, and an impoverish woman
dressed in rags, stagger past a church in a snowstorm. For Arthur Waite, the card
depicted material trouble and destitution. He describes the figures as “mendicants”,
which means professional beggars.

However, Waite’s use of the word mendicants may contain a hidden reference to
religion. Mendicant orders are, primarily Christian orders such as Franciscan and
Dominican that have adopted a lifestyle of poverty, traveling from one place to the next
for the purpose of preaching and evangelization.

The artist, Pamela Colman Smith, chose to make the church window a center piece in
this card, thus endowing the message with spiritual meaning. Since her father died in
1899, Smith had gradually moved closer towards the comfort and community of the
Catholic Church. Perhaps her new enlightenment and faith is depicted in the 5 of
Pentacles. The glowing stained glass window acts as a centerpiece of shining hope and
salvation. The layout of the coins in the window seem to form the Tree of Life, and
branches of personal growth.

We are reminded here, of an earlier article Smith wrote for The Craftsman Journal
(1908, Should The Art Student Think?). In this article, she advised art students to look
beyond the appearance of a person in order to see their true spirit. She spoke of “dirty
people seen in a crowd,” and advised students “not to remember only the dirt, but the
great spirit that is in them all, and the power they represent …Ugliness is beauty, but
with a difference, a nobleness that speaks through all the hard crust of convention.”

⭐A stained glass window also appears here: 4 of Swords symbols

What is The Meaning of The Snow in The Five of Pentacles?

The snow creates an atmosphere, this being the coldest, and darkest day of the year. It
speaks to the winter solstice and cycles of time. This is the moment of hitting rock
bottom, and where inevitably, the only way is up from here. Just as the Earth creeps
past the point of the winter solstice, we count on spring’s return like clockwork every
year.

In cartomancy, snow is also a reference to being ‘left out in the cold’; but it can also be
associated with a ‘fresh start’.

What do Crutches Symbolize in This Tarot Card?

The beggar supports himself on crutches. Within a Tarot reading, the presence of
crutches means that the reader requires some sort of support. Generally, the support
required is emotional, although occasionally it may some other sort of practical or
financial assistance.

What Sphere Does The 5 of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Fives in Tarot connect to the fifth Sephirah,
called Geburah, also spelled Gevurah. Geburah is translated as strength.
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Khamael (Camael) is the
archangel who resides over Geburah. Camael is the archangel of strength, courage and
war in Jewish and Christian mythology and angelology. The choir of angels that reside
in the sphere are the Seraphim.

PENTACLES

Four

Click to enlarge

A crowned figure, having a pentacle over his crown, clasps another with hands and
arms; two pentacles are under his feet. He holds to that which he has. Divinatory
Meanings: The surety of possessions, cleaving to that which one has, gift, legacy,
inheritance. Reversed: Suspense, delay, opposition.

What Do The Coins Symbolize in The Four of Pentacles?

The Rider Waite deck features a man holding on to three coins or pentacles and
balancing a fourth on his crown. As A.E. Waite says, he appears to be using everything
he has to “hold on to that which he has.” This card can be interpreted as good financial
planning or miserliness, depending on what other cards turn up around it in a reading.
However, the artist, Pamela Colman-Smith, veers towards miserliness in her depiction
here.

The man grabs a pentacle to his chest, his arms form a globe-like circle around the
coin, as though to say “this is all I hold dear in the world.” The pentacle is placed over
his heart chakra, as though blocking his heart from all other attachments.

The circular motion of his hands also brings to mind the Yin-Yang symbol of Ancient
Chinese philosophy. The general idea is that we need balance in life to thrive, but this
man will argue that power and money is enough.
Another pentacle sits on top of the mans crown, seemingly so heavy it weighs him
down. He considers this pentacle his ‘crowning glory’, and represents all that he has
worked for and achieved. The pentacle rests over his crown chakra, possibly blocking
his spiritual connection. The crown chakra is associated with higher consciousness,
mysticism and the supernatural.

Two further pentacles are placed under the man’s feet. The feet represent being
‘grounded’ and practical, which is necessary in order to survive and thrive in this
material world. It signifies taking your responsibilities seriously.

What is The Significance of The Placement of The Pentacles?

The pentacle placement in the 4 of Pentacles matches up with the four Hebrew letters
of the tetragrammaton: Yod Heh Vau Hey.
 Yod Heh Vau Hey
The four letters form the shape of a man and mean God of Israel. In fact, many
occultists believe that the appearance of 11:11 is connected to the tetragrammaton. See
also: Meaning of seeing 11:11

What is The Symbolism of The Crown in The Four of Pentacles?

Crown

The man is dressed as a wealthy merchant but he wears the crown of royalty. However,
Waite points out that he is a ‘crowned figure’, and thus not a King. Most likely, he is
someone who holds high office, like a town mayor or captain of industry. The crown in
this case acts as a symbol of prestige and honors bestowed due to wealth and power.

Compare the plainness of the crown to the ornately decorated crowns of the royal Kings
and Queens in the Rider Waite deck. The lack of jewelry symbolizes commoner blood,
and separates the merchant from those born of royal blood.

Untied Shoe Laces

Notice that the man’s shoe laces are loosely tied, as though he dressed and left town in
a hurry. Perhaps he knows of some impending financial disaster and is leaving before
news spreads? In a Tarot reading, this could mean you should trust your instincts when
it comes to investments, for example, selling your stocks or shares if your gut feels the
market will crash.

While this merchant will credit hard work with his success, one suspects that he is also
quite intuitive and quietly trusts his instincts.

LESSON: It pays to remain open to the paranormal and occult. Extrasensory

perceptions, such as telepathy, clairvoyance and clairsentience, should not be
dismissed.

What is The Symbolism of The Town Behind The Man?

Behind the man, sits a very prosperous looking town or city – we see castles and lots of
fancy buildings.

Town/Village/City: Represent a place where people gather. In Tarot, it means that

whatever the reader wishes to achieve in life, they cannot do it alone. This merchant
needed access to a community to create his wealth.

⭐A village or town also appear here: 6 of Cups, The Chariot and 10 of Pentacles

What Sphere Does The Four of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

According to Kabbalah, God made manifestations. Each manifestation is called a

Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Fours in Tarot connect to the fourth Sephirah,
called Chesed. Chesed translates as ‘mercy’.
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, El is the God associated with
Chesed and Tzadkiel (Righteousness of God) is the archangel who resides over the
sphere. The order of angels that reside in the sphere are the Chasmalim.

PENTACLES

Three

Click to enlarge

A sculptor at his work in a monastery. Compare the design which illustrates the Eight
of Pentacles. The apprentice or amateur therein has received his reward and is now at
work in earnest. Divinatory Meanings: Métier, trade, skilled labour; usually, however,
regarded as a card of nobility, aristocracy, renown, glory. Reversed: Mediocrity, in
work and otherwise, puerility, pettiness, weakness.

Who is The Sculptor in The Three of Pentacles and What Does He Symbolize?

A sculptor or artisan is completing stone work on a monastery. He stands on a pedestal,

observed by a monk and the architect.

This card is rich in secret esoteric symbols. However, Arthur Waite omits to say in his
explanation of the card, that the sculptor is a Freemason. The sculptor is
an operative Freemason, meaning that he is a professional working stonemason. In
contrast, Speculative Freemasons are Freemasons who are non-builders, such as
George Washington and Arthur Waite.

Apron Symbol

The sculptor is wearing a leather apron to protect his clothes. The apron is also a
masonic symbol, and candidates are given a ceremonial apron to remind them of the
honor that comes with being a workman, and the glory attached to living one’s life
purpose.
 George Washington
wearing an apron at a meeting of the Virginia Masonic Lodge (1793).
Maul and Chisel

The tools in the stonemason’s hands are a setting maul and chisel, again these are
items used in Freemasonry.

Bench Symbolism

In Tarot benches represent wealth and advancement. In the 3 of Pentacles, the

apprentice stands on a bench to attain higher places and in the 8 of Pentacles, he is
confident enough to sit at the bench and work without supervision.

The individual in the hooded cloak on the right seems to be the Master to whom the
sculptor is apprenticed.

We are reminded in this card, that there is sacredness in the ordinary that is worthy of
reverent respect. When we dedicate ourselves to our life purpose, and work hard, we
achieve the happiness that eludes so many. As Mohammed explained, “because Allah
has no other hands than yours.”
This card symbolizes the sense of fulfillment we get when we participate more fully in
this world, and we accept our place in the grander scheme.

What is The Meaning of The Dark Interior?

The artist Pamela Colman-Smith was gradually moving towards the spiritual
community of the Catholic church, and her interest in Catholicism becomes apparent in
her choice of a church as a setting for this card.

It has been suggested that the dark interior of the church or monastery is meant to infer
that the artist held a negative view of traditional religion, but this is unlikely, considering
Smith herself converted to Catholicism. The darkness is more likely to be another
reference to masonic rituals, in this case, blindfolding, or hoodwinking initiates. The
blackness represents the transformation from darkness (ignorance) to light
(enlightenment) and preparing body and mind to enter a sacred space and receiving
access to the mysteries of the world.

What is The Symbolism of The Arches?

Arches traditionally mark the access point to a holy place. When you pass through the
arch, you are symbolically reborn and leave the old ways behind.

The three pentacles etched into the archway symbolizes the three worlds: material,
intellectual and spiritual. As any artist will tell you, drawing on energy from all three
worlds, can lead to the creation of masterworks.

The pointed Gothic arches form the shape of a Vesica Piscis (or Vessel of the Fish).
This masonry shape has held mystical significance since medieval times, more recently
in sacred geometry and is also used by Freemasons in their seals and the collars of
ritualistic dress.
 Ichthus Jesus Fish
The pointed top of the arch is a symbolic reference to the Ichthys, an early symbol of
Christianity. It also symbolizes the womb and Goddess power.

⭐Arches also appear here: 10 of Pentacles

What Are The Symbols Engraved on The Wall?

The three pentacles engraved on the arches form the top of a pyramid, or the top
triangle of the Tree of Life.

Below the pentacles we see the shape of a rose with a cross inside. This icon
represents the paths of the Tree of Life (Sephirot) emerging. The paths continue to
emerge in the 5 of Pentacles, as seen in the tree stained-glass window and concludes
with the 10 of Pentacles.

In the middle of the pentacles, lies a circle with a cross in the interior. This ancient
symbol is known as the sun cross or sun wheel, and dates back to before the Bronze
Age and can be found in neolithic cave art. It was believed to represent the four
seasons and the position of the sun at the solstices. Alchemists, astrologists and early
Christians use it as a symbol of Earth.

What Sphere Does The Three of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.
According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is
called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Threes in Tarot connect to the third Sephirah,
called Binah.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Jehovah Elohim is the God
associated with Binah. Tzaphqiel, is the Archangel of this realm, also known as the
Prince of the Spiritual Strife against Evil. Archangel Jophiel is also referred to in Binah.
The order of angels that reside in this sphere is Aralim, also called the Order of
Thrones and the Strong and Mighty Ones.

PENTACLES

Two

Click to enlarge

A young man, in the act of dancing, has a pentacle in either hand, and they are joined
by that endless cord which is like the number 8 reversed. Divinatory Meanings: On
the one hand it is represented as a card of gaiety, recreation and its connexions, which
is the subject of the design; but it is read also as news and messages in writing, as
obstacles, agitation, trouble, embroilment. Reversed: Enforced gaiety, simulated
enjoyment, literal sense, handwriting, composition, letters of exchange.

What Does The Infinity Symbol Mean in The Two of Pentacles?

A young man in theatrical clothes, juggles two pentacles engraved with

pentagrams. Arthur Waite writes, the pentacles travel the path of an “endless cord
which is like the number 8 reversed.” For some reason, the author neglects to mention
the most important esoteric fact: the sideways 8 is a lemniscate or infinity symbol.
[Lemniscate comes from the the Latin lemniscus which means ribbon.]
The philosophical nature of infinity has been a subject of debate since ancient Greece.
The artist Pamela Colman Smith was most likely using the symbol in this card to
suggest that things have a way of working themselves out. Infinity is called natural
law in the West, and the Dao or The Way in the East. The general theme is that we
humans, have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and that Nature has it’s own
rhythm when it comes to time and change and gain and loss.

An infinity symbol also appears in the Magician Tarot card, connecting the two cards.
The Magician is represented as the Juggler in historic decks. He is associated with the
expression ‘as above, so below’, a phrase which finds its roots in Hermeticism. This
phrase means that celestial events, including astrology, moon phases and change of
seasons have an influence on what happens to us on Earth.

⭐Infinity also appears here: The Magician Symbols

Why Does The Juggler Raise His Left Foot?

The juggler raises a foot, his head tilted to the left. Is he simply dancing or is there a
greater significance to this posture?

The artist could be referencing the cosmic dance of Shiva, in this card. The dance is
called Anandatandava and symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction. In
other words, the daily rhythm of birth, death and reincarnation. Statues of a dancing
Lord Shiva, present the God with his head tilted towards a raised left foot.
The raised left foot symbolizes plans for the future, still in the concept phase. The firmly
planted right foot, represents decision and concrete action.

The cosmic dance, is another reference to the exaggerated importance we give to

decisions, which in the greater scheme of things, are not usually as important as we
believe.

W.B. Yeats advised Smith on symbology when creating the artwork for the Rider
Waite deck. Yeats was a famous mytholgical poet and also high ranking member of the
Golden Dawn. We know he was introduced to esoteric Indian themes and theology as
early as 1884, when his mother presented him with a copy of A. P. Sinnett’s Esoteric
Buddhism. His first book of poems, Crossways, includes at least three poems with
Indian themes. [ Source: To Never See Death: Yeats, Reincarnation, and Resolving
the Antinomies of the Body-Soul Dilemma ]

What is The Symbolism of the Sea and Ships in The Two of Pentacles?
Sea Symbolism

The temperament of the sea in Tarot is used to reflect the readers state of mind. A calm
sea reflects a calm mind. In the 2 of Pentacles, the waves oscillate in a sine
wave pattern, performing a harmonic motion in a liquid dance.

This movement suggests that the reader is going back and forth on a decision, and yet,
one feels fate has already determined the outcome. The reader must simply go with the
flow.

Ships Symbolism

Two tall ships ride waves behind the juggler. In Tarot, ships represent a situation or
events ‘moving on’ for the querent.

At a higher level, boats transport us, and allow us to make a journey across life.
Therefore a boat or ship can also represent a journey of education, faith, business or
personal development.

⭐Ships also appear here: Six of Swords Symbols, King of Cups

Symbols and Two of Wands Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Tall Hat Which The Juggler is Wearing?

Why is the juggler wearing a tall hat in the 2 of Pentacles?

The artist Colman-Smith had a background in theatrical design, which is apparent in this
card.

The tall conical hat is called a ‘sugar loaf’ hat and was commonly worn in England in the
15th century; and at Carnival time in folk ceremonies in Europe.

The comical nature of the hat, evokes the mood of a Shakespeare play, and the
comments his characters make on the fleeting nature of life.

“And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe.

And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot“
Othello

What Sphere Does The Two of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the
nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numbers or numerology.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Twos in Tarot connect to the second Sephirah,
called Chokhmah, meaning wisdom.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Jehovah is the God associated
with Chokmah and Raziel is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The order of
angels that reside in the sphere are the Ophanim (the wheels).

PENTACLES

Ace

Click to enlarge

A hand--issuing, as usual, from a cloud--holds up a pentacle. Divinatory Meanings:

Perfect contentment, felicity, ecstasy; also speedy intelligence; gold. Reversed: The
evil side of wealth, bad intelligence; also great riches. In any case it shews prosperity,
comfortable material conditions, but whether these are of advantage to the possessor
will depend on whether the card is reversed or not.

What Does The Hand Emerging From The Clouds Symbolize in The Ace of Pentacles?

A white angelic hand glowing with radiance emerges from the cloud. The hand is gently
holding a large pentacle inscribed with a pentagram.

Clouds Symbolism
Clouds separate what is above from below. Spirits live above the clouds and ordinary
life below. The hand emerging from the cloud is thus delivering a divine gift from the
invisible world. This may be the hand of God or an angel. The Ace of Pentacles as
such, represents the physical manifestation of luck in the material world, for example, in
the form of money or property.

Clouds have long been associated with divination. Aeromancy is the name given to
reading signs and omens in the sky. Cloud divination is specifically called nephomancy
and involves scrying with the shapes and movement of the clouds. Nephomancy was
popular with Celtic druids and seers, and there are old records indicating that the
practice led to accurate premonitions and predictions.

The presence of clouds in this card reminds you, not to neglect the hidden world in your
pursuit of money, and worldly success. Tuning into your extrasensory perceptions
(ESP) can provide you with all sorts of knowledge about possible future events and
opportunities. ESP experiences may occur in dreams, but can also be induced through
meditation (such as cloud gazing), trance and spontaneous waking visions.

Hand of God

The palm is open and receptive, like the feminine element Earth (pentacles) and Water
(Cups). This open palm directs you to stay open to whatever offers come your way. In
contrast, in the masculine elemental suits, the hand grips the Ace of Swords and Ace of
Wands, indicating a more proactive stance is required on your part to bring those
opportunities to life.

What is The Meaning of The Garden?

What does the garden mean in Tarot?

The Rider Waite deck is infused with symbolism from Kabbalah and alchemy, and
according to these systems, there is only one garden – Eden. The Tree of Life stood at
the center of the Garden of Eden, and the Tree of Knowledge is said to be a branch of
the Tree of Life. Every card in the Rider Waite deck with a garden, is speaking of
Eden in one way or another.

The Hand of God is hovering above the garden, as though to announce – here is your
Eden! While you may be making plans and looking ahead, don’t forget to pay attention
to whatever is happening in the present moment (mindfulness). The garden or
balcony you sit on, the sun shining on your face and the sounds of nature. The beauty
of God’s creation.

Archway Symbolism
An archway leads us from the garden, out to the world at large. This implies we must
eventually leave the safety and comfort of the garden, in order to experience more in
life.

Passing through an arch is symbolic of leaving the old behind and entering a new
phase. Traditionally archways also marked access to a holy place. If you wanted to buy
a house, and you receive the Ace of Pentacles, this card can mean you are about to
find your sacred place or garden of Eden.

Lilies and Roses

The rose appears by itself in many cards in the Rider Waite deck. However, wherever
you find a lily, you will always find a rose.

In the Ace of Pentacles, we see cultivated lilies of the valley growing in the garden.
Small Red roses grow wild on the hedge which separates the manicured lawn from the
valley beyond.

The lily’s cup shape is symbolic of female ‘receiving’, and the miraculous impregnation
of goddesses, such as the Virgin Juno and Virgin Mary. The red rose is a symbol of the
heat of passion of the real world.

We are reminded that blissful innocence is a temporary state, and that there will always
be new experiences to tempt us into unknown territory.

⭐A lily and rose also appear here: The Magician Symbols, Hierophant
Symbols, 2 of Wands Symbols and King of Pentacles Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Path and Mountains in The Ace of Pentacles?

Paths Symbolism

Paths represent the journey of life, both the practical and spiritual journey we travel.

When a path appears in a Tarot card, it suggests the beginning of a new adventure. It
suggests a desire to move beyond your present lifestyle and what you have
experienced to date. You could be moving location, job or beginning a college course.

Or it could be the path of saints, yogis and sages. The path towards enlightenment, a
theme which runs through Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Gnosticism and
Hermeticism; and later in the Freemasons and Golden Dawn.
The path in the Ace of Pentacles invites you walk towards the mountains in the
distance. How long this path is, or where it will lead is anyone’s guess, but it holds the
promise of new experiences.

Mountains Symbolism

The key thing to remember about mountains is that they have a way of raising us
beyond the ordinary. If you have ever stood on top of a mountain and felt that sense of
infinity, you will know what I mean. They raise our soul to the heavens. This is the path
of awakening that everyone feels drawn to sooner or later.

⭐Paths also appears here: The Moon Symbols, Temperance Symbols and 8 of
Pentacles Symbols

What Sphere Does The Ace of Pentacles Represent in Qabalah?

Qabalah or Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism which attempts to explain the

nature of the Universe. It embraces God, angels, devils, letters of the alphabet and
numerology.

Kabbalah originated long before it was associated with Tarot, but it has since been tied
by Western occultism to the cards.

According to Kabbalah, God (Ein Sof) made manifestations. Each manifestation is

called a Sephirah (plural, Sephirot). Aces in Tarot connect to the Crown Sephirah, the
topmost of the Sephirot and Tree of Life, known as Kether.

According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Eheieh is the God associated
with Kether and Metatron is the archangel who resides over the sphere. The order of
angels that reside in the sphere are the Holy Living Creatures.

§ 3 THE GREATER ARCANA AND THEIR DIVINATORY MEANINGS

Such are the intimations of the Lesser Arcana in respect of divinatory art, the veridic
nature of which seems to depend on an alternative that it may be serviceable to
express briefly. The records of the art are ex hypothesi the records of findings in the
past based upon experience; as such, they are a guide to memory, and those who can
master the elements may--still ex hypothesi--give interpretations on their basis. It is an
official and automatic working. On the other hand, those who have gifts of intuition,
of second sight, of clairvoyance--call it as we choose and may--will supplement the
experience of the past by the findings of their own faculty, and will speak of that
which they have seen in the pretexts of the oracles. It remains to give, also briefly, the
divinatory significance allocated by the same art to the Trumps Major.

1. THE MAGICIAN.--Skill, diplomacy, address, subtlety; sickness, pain, loss,

disaster, snares of enemies; self-confidence, will; the Querent, if male. Reversed:
Physician, Magus, mental disease, disgrace, disquiet.

2. THE HIGH PRIESTESS.--Secrets, mystery, the future as yet unrevealed; the

woman who interests the Querent, if male; the Querent herself, if female; silence,
tenacity; mystery, wisdom, science. Reversed: Passion, moral or physical ardour,
conceit, surface knowledge.

3. THE EMPRESS.--Fruitfulness, action, initiative, length of days; the unknown,

clandestine; also difficulty, doubt, ignorance. Reversed: Light, truth, the unravelling
of involved matters, public rejoicings; according to another reading, vacillation.

4. THE EMPEROR.--Stability, power, protection, realization; a great person; aid,

reason, conviction; also authority and will. Reversed: Benevolence, compassion,
credit; also confusion to enemies, obstruction, immaturity.

5. THE HIEROPHANT.--Marriage, alliance, captivity, servitude; by another account,

mercy and goodness; inspiration; the man to whom the Querent has
recourse. Reversed: Society, good understanding, concord, overkindness, weakness.

6. THE LOVERS.--Attraction, love, beauty, trials overcome. Reversed: Failure,

foolish designs. Another account speaks of marriage frustrated and contrarieties of all
kinds.

7. THE CHARIOT.--Succour, providence also war, triumph, presumption, vengeance,

trouble. Reversed: Riot, quarrel, dispute, litigation, defeat.

8. FORTITUDE.--Power, energy, action, courage, magnanimity; also complete

success and honours. Reversed: Despotism, abuse if power, weakness, discord,
sometimes even disgrace.

9. THE HERMIT.--Prudence, circumspection; also and especially treason,

dissimulation, roguery, corruption. Reversed: Concealment, disguise, policy, fear,
unreasoned caution.

10. WHEEL OF FORTUNE.-Destiny, fortune, success, elevation, luck,

felicity. Reversed: Increase, abundance, superfluity.
11. JUSTICE.--Equity, rightness, probity, executive; triumph of the deserving side in
law. Reversed: Law in all its departments, legal complications, bigotry, bias, excessive
severity.

12. THE HANGED MAN.--Wisdom, circumspection, discernment, trials, sacrifice,

intuition, divination, prophecy. Reversed: Selfishness, the crowd, body politic.

13. DEATH.--End, mortality, destruction, corruption also, for a man, the loss of a
benefactor for a woman, many contrarieties; for a maid, failure of marriage
projects. Reversed: Inertia, sleep, lethargy, petrifaction, somnambulism; hope
destroyed.

14. TEMPERANCE.--Economy, moderation, frugality, management,

accommodation. Reversed: Things connected with churches, religions, sects, the
priesthood, sometimes even the priest who will marry the Querent; also disunion,
unfortunate combinations, competing interests.

15. THE DEVIL.--Ravage, violence, vehemence, extraordinary efforts, force, fatality;

that which is predestined but is not for this reason evil. Reversed: Evil fatality,
weakness, pettiness, blindness.

16. THE TOWER.--Misery, distress, indigence, adversity, calamity, disgrace,

deception, ruin. It is a card in particular of unforeseen catastrophe. Reversed:
According to one account, the same in a lesser degree also oppression, imprisonment,
tyranny.

17. THE STAR.--Loss, theft, privation, abandonment; another reading says-hope and
bright prospects, Reversed: Arrogance, haughtiness, impotence.

18. THE MOON.--Hidden enemies, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, deception,

occult forces, error. Reversed: Instability, inconstancy, silence, lesser degrees of
deception and error.

19. THE SUN.--Material happiness, fortunate marriage, contentment. Reversed: The

same in a lesser sense.

20. THE LAST JUDGMENT.--Change of position, renewal, outcome. Another

account specifies total loss though lawsuit. Reversed: Weakness, pusillanimity,
simplicity; also deliberation, decision, sentence.
ZERO. THE FOOL.--Folly, mania, extravagance, intoxication, delirium, frenzy,
bewrayment. Reversed: Negligence, absence, distribution, carelessness, apathy,
nullity, vanity.

21. THE WORLD.--Assured success, recompense, voyage, route, emigration, flight,

change of place. Reversed: Inertia, fixity, stagnation, permanence.

It will be seen that, except where there is an irresistible suggestion conveyed by the
surface meaning, that which is extracted from the Trumps Major by the divinatory art
is at once artificial and arbitrary, as it seems to me, in the highest degree. But of one
order are the mysteries of light and of another are those of fantasy. The allocation of a
fortune-telling aspect to these cards is the story of a prolonged impertinence.

§ 4 SOME ADDITIONAL MEANINGS OF THE LESSER ARCANA

WANDS. King.--Generally favourable may signify a good marriage. Reversed:

Advice that should be followed.

Queen.--A good harvest, which may be taken in several senses. Reversed: Goodwill
towards the Querent, but without the opportunity to exercise it.

Knight.--A bad card; according to some readings, alienation. Reversed: For a woman,
marriage, but probably frustrated.

Page.--Young man of family in search of young lady. Reversed: Bad news.

Ten.--Difficulties and contradictions, if near a good card.

Nine.--Generally speaking, a bad card.

Eight.--Domestic disputes for a married person.

Seven.--A dark child.

Six.--Servants may lose the confidence of their masters; a young lady may be betrayed
by a friend. Reversed: Fulfilment of deferred hope.

Five.--Success in financial speculation. Reversed: Quarrels may be turned to

advantage.

Four.--Unexpected good fortune. Reversed: A married woman will have beautiful

children.
Three.--A very good card; collaboration will favour enterprise.

Two.--A young lady may expect trivial disappointments.

Ace.--Calamities of all kinds. Reversed: A sign of birth.

Cups. King.--Beware of ill-will on the part of a man of position, and of hypocrisy

pretending to help. Reversed: Loss.

Queen.--Sometimes denotes a woman of equivocal character. Reversed: A rich

marriage for a man and a distinguished one for a woman.

Knight.--A visit from a friend, who will bring unexpected money to the
Querent. Reversed: Irregularity.

Page.--Good augury; also a young man who is unfortunate in love. Reversed:

Obstacles of all kinds.

Ten.--For a male Querent, a good marriage and one beyond his

expectations. Reversed: Sorrow; also a serious quarrel.

Nine.--Of good augury for military men. Reversed: Good business.

Eight.--Marriage with a fair woman. Reversed: Perfect satisfaction.

Seven.--Fair child; idea, design, resolve, movement. Reversed: Success, if

accompanied by the Three of Cups.

Six.--Pleasant memories. Reversed: Inheritance to fall in quickly.

Five.--Generally favourable; a happy marriage; also patrimony, legacies, gifts, success

in enterprise. Reversed: Return of some relative who has not been seen for long.

Four.--Contrarieties. Reversed: Presentiment.

Three.--Unexpected advancement for a military man. Reversed: Consolation, cure,

end of the business.

Two.--Favourable in things of pleasure and business, as well as love; also wealth and
honour. Reversed: Passion.

Ace.--Inflexible will, unalterable law. Reversed: Unexpected change of position.

SWORDS. King.--A lawyer, senator, doctor. Reversed: A bad man; also a caution to
put an end to a ruinous lawsuit.

Queen.--A widow. Reversed: A bad woman, with ill-will towards the Querent.

Knight.--A soldier, man of arms, satellite, stipendiary; heroic action predicted for
soldier. Reversed: Dispute with an imbecile person; for a woman, struggle with a
rival, who will be conquered.

Page.--An indiscreet person will pry into the Querent's secrets. Reversed: Astonishing
news.

Ten.--Followed by Ace and King, imprisonment; for girl or wife, treason on the part
of friends. Reversed: Victory and consequent fortune for a soldier in war.

Nine.--An ecclesiastic, a priest; generally, a card of bad omen. Reversed: Good ground
for suspicion against a doubtful person.

Eight.--For a woman, scandal spread in her respect. Reversed: Departure of a relative.

Seven.--Dark girl; a good card; it promises a country life after a competence has been
secured. Reversed: Good advice, probably neglected.

Six.--The voyage will be pleasant. Reversed: Unfavourable issue of lawsuit.

Five.--An attack on the fortune of the Querent. Reversed: A sign of sorrow and
mourning.

Four.--A bad card, but if reversed a qualified success may be expected by wise
administration of affairs. Reversed: A certain success following wise administration.

Three.--For a woman, the flight of her lover. Reversed: A meeting with one whom the
Querent has compromised; also a nun.

Two.--Gifts for a lady, influential protection for a man in search of help. Reversed:
Dealings with rogues.

Ace.--Great prosperity or great misery. Reversed: Marriage broken off, for a woman,
through her own imprudence.

PENTACLES. King.--A rather dark man, a merchant, master, professor. Reversed: An

old and vicious man.
Queen.--Dark woman; presents from a rich relative; rich and happy marriage for a
young man. Reversed: An illness.

Knight.--An useful man; useful discoveries. Reversed: A brave man out of

employment.

Page.--A dark youth; a young officer or soldier; a child. Reversed: Sometimes

degradation and sometimes pillage.

Ten.--Represents house or dwelling, and derives its value from other cards. Reversed:
An occasion which may be fortunate or otherwise.

Nine.--Prompt fulfilment of what is presaged by neighbouring cards. Reversed:Vain

hopes.

Eight.--A young man in business who has relations with the Querent; a dark
girl. Reversed: The Querent will be compromised in a matter of money-lending.

Seven.--Improved position for a lady's future husband. Reversed: Impatience,

apprehension, suspicion.

Six.--The present must not be relied on. Reversed: A check on the Querent's ambition.

Five.--Conquest of fortune by reason. Reversed: Troubles in love.

Four.--For a bachelor, pleasant news from a lady. Reversed: Observation, hindrances.

Three.--If for a man, celebrity for his eldest son. Reversed: Depends on neighbouring
cards.

Two.--Troubles are more imaginary than real. Reversed: Bad omen, ignorance,
injustice.

Ace.--The most favourable of all cards. Reversed: A share in the finding of treasure.

It will be observed (1) that these additamenta have little connexion with the pictorial
designs of the cards to which they refer, as these correspond with the more important
speculative values; (2) and further that the additional meanings are very often in
disagreement with those previously given. All meanings are largely independent of
one another and all are reduced, accentuated or subject to modification and sometimes
almost reversal by their place in a sequence. There is scarcely any canon of criticism
in matters of this kind. I suppose that in proportion as any system descends from
generalities to details it becomes naturally the more precarious; and in the records of
professional fortune-telling, it offers more of the dregs and lees of the subject. At the
same time, divinations based on intuition and second sight are of little practical value
unless they come down from the region of universals to that of particulars; but in
proportion as this gift is present in a particular case, the specific meanings recorded by
past cartomancists will be disregarded in favour of the personal appreciation of card
values.

This has been intimated already. It seems necessary to add the following speculative
readings.

§5

THE RECURRENCE OF CARDS IN DEALING

In the Natural Position

4 Kings = great honour; 3 Kings = consultation; 2 Kings = minor counsel.

4 Queens = great debate; 3 Queens = deception by women; 2 Queens = sincere

friends.

4 Knights = serious matters; 3 Knights = lively debate; 2 Knights = intimacy.

4 Pages = dangerous illness; 3 Pages = dispute; 2 Pages = disquiet.

4 Tens = condemnation; 3 Tens = new condition; 2 Tens = change.

4 Nines = a good friend; 3 Nines = success; 2 Nines = receipt.

4 Eights = reverse; 3 Eights = marriage 2 Eights = new knowledge.

4 Sevens = intrigue; 3 Sevens = infirmity; 2 Sevens = news.

4 Sixes = abundance; 3 Sixes = success; 2 Sixes = irritability.

4 Fives = regularity; 3 Fives = determination; 2 Fives = vigils.

4 Fours = journey near at hand; 3 Fours = a subject of reflection; 2 Fours = insomnia.

4 Threes = progress; 3 Threes = unity 2 Threes = calm.

4 Twos = contention; 3 Twos = security; 2 Twos = accord.

4 Aces = favourable chance; 3 Aces = small success; 2 Aces = trickery.

Reversed

4 Kings = celerity; 3 Kings = commerce 2 Kings = projects.

4 Queens = bad company; 3 Queens = gluttony; 2 Queens = work.

4 Knights = alliance 3 Knights = a duel, or personal encounter; 2 Knights =

susceptibility.

4 Pages = privation 3 Pages = idleness 2 Pages = society.

4 Tens = event, happening; 3 Tens disappointment; 2 Tens = expectation justified.

4 Nines = usury; 3 Nines imprudence; 2 Nines = a small profit.

4 Eights = error; 3 Eights a spectacle; 2 Eights = misfortune.

4 Sevens = quarrellers; 3 Sevens = joy; 2 Sevens = women of no repute.

4 Sixes = care; 3 Sixes = satisfaction 2 Sixes = downfall.

4 Fives = order; 3 Fives = hesitation; 2 Fives = reverse.

4 Fours = walks abroad; 3 Fours = disquiet; 2 Fours = dispute.

4 Threes = great success; 3 Threes = serenity; 2 Threes = safety.

4 Twos = reconciliation; 3 Twos apprehension; 2 Twos = mistrust.

4 Aces = dishonour; 3 Aces debauchery; 2 Aces = enemies.

§ 6 THE ART OF TAROT DIVINATION

We come now to the final and practical part of this division of our subject, being the
way to consult and obtain oracles by means of Tarot cards. The modes of operation
are rather numerous, and some of them are exceedingly involved. I set aside those last
mentioned, because persons who are versed in such questions believe that the way of
simplicity is the way of truth. I set aside also the operations which have been
republished recently in that section of The Tarot of the Bohemians which is entitled
"The Divining Tarot"; it may be recommended at its proper value to readers who wish
to go further than the limits of this handbook. I offer in the first place a short process
which has been used privately for many years past in England, Scotland and Ireland. I
do not think that it has been published--certainly not in connexion with Tarot cards; I
believe that it will serve all purposes, but I will add by way of variation-in the second
place what used to be known in France as the Oracles of Julia Orsini.

§7

AN ANCIENT CELTIC METHOD OF DIVINATION

This mode of divination is the most suitable for obtaining an answer to a definite
question. The Diviner first selects a card to represent the person or, matter about
which inquiry is made. This card is called the Significator. Should he wish to ascertain
something in connexion with himself he takes the one which corresponds to his
personal description. A Knight should be chosen as the Significator if the subject of
inquiry is a man of forty years old and upward; a King should be chosen for any male
who is under that age a Queen for a woman who is over forty years and a Page for any
female of less age.

The four Court Cards in Wands represent very fair people, with yellow or auburn hair,
fair complexion and blue eyes. The Court Cards in Cups signify people with light
brown or dull fair hair and grey or blue eyes. Those in Swords stand for people having
hazel or grey eyes, dark brown hair and dull complexion. Lastly, the Court Cards in
Pentacles are referred to persons with very dark brown or black hair, dark eyes and
sallow or swarthy complexions. These allocations are subject, however, to the
following reserve, which will prevent them being taken too conventionally. You can
be guided on occasion by the known temperament of a person; one who is
exceedingly dark may be very energetic, and would be better represented by a Sword
card than a Pentacle. On the other hand, a very fair subject who is indolent and
lethargic should be referred to Cups rather than to Wands.

If it is more convenient for the purpose of a divination to take as the Significator the
matter about which inquiry is to be made, that Trump or small card should be selected
which has a meaning corresponding to the matter. Let it be supposed that the question
is: Will a lawsuit be necessary? In this case, take the Trump No. 11, or justice, as the
Significator. This has reference to legal affairs. But if the question is: Shall I be
successful in my lawsuit? one of the Court Cards must be chosen as the Significator.
Subsequently, consecutive divinations may be performed to ascertain the course of the
process itself and its result to each of the parties concerned.

Having selected the Significator, place it on the table, face upwards. Then shuffle and
cut the rest of the pack three times, keeping the faces of the cards downwards.
Turn up the top or FIRST CARD of the pack; cover the Significator with it, and say:
This covers him. This card gives the influence which is affecting the person or matter
of inquiry generally, the atmosphere of it in which the other currents work.

Turn up the SECOND CARD and lay it across the FIRST, saying: This crosses him. It
shews the nature of the obstacles in the matter. If it is a favourable card, the opposing
forces will not be serious, or it may indicate that something good in itself will not be
productive of good in the particular connexion.

Turn up the THIRD CARD; place it above the Significator, and say: This crowns him.
It represents (a) the Querent's aim or ideal in the matter; (b) the best that can be
achieved under the circumstances, but that which has not yet been made actual.

Turn up the FOURTH CARD; place it below the Significator, and say: This is beneath
him. It shews the foundation or basis of the matter, that which has already passed into
actuality and which the Significator has made his own.

Turn up the FIFTH CARD; place it on the side of the Significator from which he is
looking, and say: This is behind him. It gives the influence that is just passed, or is
now passing away.

N.B.--If the Significator is a Trump or any small card that cannot be said to face either
way, the Diviner must decide before beginning the operation which side he will take it
as facing.

Turn up the SIXTH CARD; place it on the side that the Significator is facing, and say:
This is before him. It shews the influence that is coming into action and will operate
in the near future.

The cards are now disposed in the form of a cross, the Significator--covered by the
First Card--being in the centre.

The next four cards are turned up in succession and placed one above the other in a
line, on the right hand side of the cross.

The first of these, or the SEVENTH CARD of the operation, signifies himself--that is,
the Significator--whether person or thing-and shews its position or attitude in the
circumstances.

The EIGHTH CARD signifies his house, that is, his environment and the tendencies
at work therein which have an effect on the matter--for instance, his position in life,
the influence of immediate friends, and so forth.
The NINTH CARD gives his hopes or fears in the matter.

The TENTH is what will come, the final result, the culmination which is brought
about by the influences shewn by the other cards that have been turned up in the
divination.

It is on this card that the Diviner should especially concentrate his intuitive faculties
and his memory in respect of the official divinatory meanings attached thereto. It
should embody whatsoever you may have divined from the other cards on the table,
including the Significator itself and concerning him or it, not excepting such lights
upon higher significance as might fall like sparks from heaven if the card which
serves for the oracle, the card for reading, should happen to be a Trump Major.

The operation is now completed; but should it happen that the last card is of a dubious
nature, from which no final decision can be drawn, or which does not appear to
indicate the ultimate conclusion of the affair, it may be well to repeat the operation,
taking in this case the Tenth Card as the Significator, instead of the one previously
used. The pack must be again shuffled and cut three times and the first ten cards laid
out as before. By this a more detailed account of "What will come" may be obtained.

If in any divination the Tenth Card should be a Court Card, it shews that the subject of
the divination falls ultimately into the hands of a person represented by that card, and
its end depends mainly on him. In this event also it is useful to take the Court Card in
question as the Significator in a fresh operation, and discover what is the nature of his
influence in the matter and to what issue he will bring it.

Great facility may be obtained by this method in a comparatively short time,

allowance being always made for the gifts of the operator-that is to say, his faculty of
insight, latent or developed-and it has the special advantage of being free from all
complications.

I here append a diagram of the cards as laid out in this mode of divination. The
Significator is here facing to the left.
The Significator.

1. That covers him

2. What crosses him.

3. What crowns him.

4. What is beneath him.

5. What is behind him.

6. What is before him.

7. Himself.

8. His house.

9. His hopes or fears.

10. What will come.

§8

AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF READING THE TAROT CARDS

Shuffle the entire pack and turn some of the cards round, so as to invert their tops.

Let them be cut by the Querent with his left hand.

Deal out the first forty-two cards in six packets of seven cards each, face upwards, so
that the first seven cards form the first packet, the following seven the second, and so
on-as in the following diagram:--

Take up the first packet; lay out the cards on the table in a row, from right to left;
place the cards of the second packet upon them and then the packets which remain.
You will thus have seven new packets of six cards each, arranged as follows--

Take the top card of each packet, shuffle them and lay out from right to left, making a
line of seven cards.

Then take up the two next cards from each packet, shuffle and lay them out in two
lines under the first line.

Take up the remaining twenty-one cards of the packets, shuffle and lay them out in
three lines below the others.

You will thus have six horizontal lines of seven cards each, arranged after the
following manner.
In this method, the Querent--if of the male sex--is represented by the Magician, and if
female by the High Priestess; but the card, in either case, is not taken from the pack
until the forty-two cards have been laid out, as above directed. If the required card is
not found among those placed upon the table, it must be sought among the remaining
thirty-six cards, which have not been dealt, and should be placed a little distance to
the right of the first horizontal line. On the other hand, if it is among them, it is also
taken out, placed as stated, and a card is drawn haphazard from the thirty-six cards
undealt to fill the vacant position, so that there are still forty-two cards laid out on the
table.

The cards are then read in succession, from right to left throughout, beginning at card
No. 1 of the top line, the last to be read being that on the extreme left, or No. 7, of the
bottom line.

This method is recommended when no definite question is asked-that is, when the
Querent wishes to learn generally concerning the course of his life and destiny. If he
wishes to know what may befall within a certain time, this time should be clearly
specified before the cards are shuffled.
With further reference to the reading, it should be remembered that the cards must be
interpreted relatively to the subject, which means that all official and conventional
meanings of the cards may and should be adapted to harmonize with the conditions of
this particular case in question--the position, time of life and sex of the Querent, or
person for whom the consultation is made.

Thus, the Fool may indicate the whole range of mental phases between mere
excitement and madness, but the particular phase in each divination must be judged by
considering the general trend of the cards, and in this naturally the intuitive faculty
plays an important part.

It is well, at the beginning of a reading, to run through the cards quickly, so that the
mind may receive a general impression of the subject-the trend of the destiny--and
afterwards to start again--reading them one by one and interpreting in detail.

It should be remembered that the Trumps represent more powerful and compelling
forces--by the Tarot hypothesis--than are referable to the small cards.

The value of intuitive and clairvoyant faculties is of course assumed in divination.

Where these are naturally present or have been developed by the Diviner, the
fortuitous arrangement of cards forms a link between his mind and the atmosphere of
the subject of divination, and then the rest is simple. Where intuition fails, or is
absent, concentration, intellectual observation and deduction must be used to the
fullest extent to obtain a satisfactory result. But intuition, even if apparently dormant,
may be cultivated by practice in these divinatory processes. If in doubt as to the exact
meaning of a card in a particular connexion, the Diviner is recommended, by those
who are versed in the matter, to place his hand on it, try to refrain from thinking of
what it ought to be, and note the impressions that arise in his mind. At the beginning
this will probably resolve itself into mere guessing and may prove incorrect, but it
becomes possible with practice to distinguish between a guess of the conscious mind
and an impression arising from the mind which is sub-conscious.

It is not within my province to offer either theoretical or practical suggestions on this

subject, in which I have no part, but the following additamenta have been contributed
by one who has more titles to speak than all the cartomancists of Europe, if they could
shuffle with a single pair of hands and divine with one tongue.

NOTES ON THE PRACTICE OF DIVINATION

1. Before beginning the operation, formulate your question definitely, and repeat it
aloud.
2. Make your mind as blank as possible while shuffling the cards.

3. Put out of the mind personal bias and preconceived ideas as far as possible, or your
judgment will be tinctured thereby.

4. On this account it is more easy to divine correctly for a stranger than for yourself or
a friend.

§9

THE METHOD OF READING BY MEANS OF THIRTY-FIVE CARDS

When the reading is over, according to the scheme set forth in the last method, it may
happen-as in the previous case-that something remains doubtful, or it may be desired
to carry the question further, which is done as follows:--

Take up the undealt cards which remain over, not having been used in the first
operation with 42 cards. The latter are set aside in a heap, with the Querent, face
upwards, on the top. The thirty-five cards, being shuffled and cut as before, are
divided by dealing into six packets thus:--

Packet I consists of the first SEVEN CARDS

Packet II consists of the SIX CARDS next following in order; Packet III consists of
the FIVE CARDS following; Packet IV contains the next FOUR CARDS; Packet
V contains Two CARDS; and Packet VI contains the last ELEVEN CARDS. The
arrangement will then be as follows:--

Take up these packets successively; deal out the cards which they contain in six lines,
which will be necessarily of unequal length.

THE FIRST LINE stands for the house, the environment and so forth.

THE SECOND LINE stands for the person or subject of the divination.

THE THIRD LINE stands for what is passing outside, events, persons, etc.
THE FOURTH LINE stands for a surprise, the unexpected, etc.

THE FIFTH LINE stands for consolation, and may moderate all that is unfavourable
in the preceding lines.

THE SIXTH LINE is that which must be consulted to elucidate the enigmatic oracles
of the others; apart from them it has no importance.

These cards should all be read from left to right, beginning with the uppermost line.

It should be stated in conclusion as to this divinatory part that there is no method of

interpreting Tarot cards which is not applicable to ordinary playing-cards, but the
additional court cards, and above all the Trumps Major, are held to increase the
elements and values of the oracles.

And now in conclusion as to the whole matter, I have left for these last words--as if by
way of epilogue--one further and final point. It is the sense in which I regard the
Trumps Major as containing Secret Doctrine. I do not here mean that I am acquainted
with orders and fraternities in which such doctrine reposes and is there found to be
part of higher Tarot knowledge. I do not mean that such doctrine, being so preserved
and transmitted, can be constructed as imbedded independently in the Trumps Major.
I do not mean that it is something apart from the Tarot. Associations exist which have
special knowledge of both kinds; some of it is deduced from the Tarot and some of it
is apart therefrom; in either case, it is the same in the root-matter. But there are also
things in reserve which are not in orders or societies, but are transmitted after another
manner. Apart from all inheritance of this kind, let any one who is a mystic consider
separately and in combination the Magician, the Fool, the High Priestess, the
Hierophant, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hanged Man and the Tower. Let him then
consider the card called the Last Judgment. They contain the legend of the soul. The
other Trumps Major are the details and--as one might say--the accidents. Perhaps such
a person will begin to understand what lies far behind these symbols, by whomsoever
first invented and however preserved. If he does, he will see also why I have
concerned myself with the subject, even at the risk of writing about divination by
cards.

THE END.