•GUIDEBOOK•

Tarot Cards
There are many Tarot decks, each from a different Tarot tradition. But
they have one thing in common: all are based on a basic deck of 78
cards. The first 22 are called the “Major Arcana”, and have unique
names like “The Devil” or “Justice”. The remaining 56 cards are split
into four suits: the “Minor Arcana”.

The Major Arcana

Unlike the Minor Arcana, the Major Arcana aren’t assigned suits;
instead these cards have abstract names like “The Chariot” or
“Strength”. They are intentionally ambiguous but illustrated with evoc-
ative images. The Major Arcana are also numbered with roman numer-
als (starting from 0, “The Fool”). Each card is also associated with a
Hebrew letter matching its number, which positions it along the 22
paths of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

On Reversed Cards
The world of Tarot is filled with styles, rules and conventions, as
deeply-felt as they are diverse. One of the most important is how to
interpret reversed cards: cards which are drawn upside-down. For
many Tarot practitioners, a card being reversed changes its meaning:
often the meaning is completely inverted, or made wholly negative.
However, this is a convention we do not observe. We firmly believe
that each card’s meaning transcends dualism: they are energetic
forces and dynamics that resist such neat classification. Instead, each
card covers a spectrum of meaning: a topology of sense, or a mean-
ing-landscape.
Take, for example, The Tower: a powerful card signifying downfall and
cataclysmic change. Such change is often catastrophic and valuable at
the same time. To pigeonhole The Tower’s change into “good” or “bad”
dilutes the richness of its meaning, and reduces its universal power to
human concerns. Such a dilution, or misunderstanding, is not benefi-
cial in one’s quest to understand the cosmos.

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 0. The Fool
Humanity Unbound
The Fool is stepping towards the edge of a cliff somewhere in the
mountains; the sun is ablaze in the sky, and the Fool strides forward
with nothing to hold them back. They are youthful and androgynous,
sporting a myriad of signs and symbols. An enthusiastic dog runs
after them, a symbol for tamed and loyal humanity the Fool has left
behind. To conservative voices the fool is mad, an imbecile about to
throw themselves off the cliff – but more daring thinkers see them as
humanity unbound.

I. The Magician
Shrewdness of the Trickster
The magician is the antithesis of the fool, yet alike. An androgynous
figure, he handles a wand above a table of mystical paraphernalia. He
does things in his own time, according to his own will. His works con-
nect the world of the unconscious with one’s conscious energies. He
encompasses a spectrum of “magicians”, from back-alley conjurers to
divine priests.
This is also a self-conscious card. The magician knows the Tarot: he is
within it, he practices it – he even invented it! In front of him we find
all the elements of the Tarot: “1) TO WILL (wand); (2) TO KNOW (cup);
(3) TO DARE (sword); (4) TO BE SILENT (pentacle).”

II. The High Priestess

Uniting the Mind
A person who has withdrawn from the world into a state of introspec-
tion, where nothing but the mind moves. Often regarded as female,
an avatar of moon gods and goddesses, they have moved away from
their body towards a deeper union. They connect to the prakriti, the
pre-cosmic substance from which everything is derived. Unlike the
Magician, who practises the Tarot, they hold knowledge in their hand,
sitting at the crossroads of the universe. And yet they travel within,
into the roots of the cosmos itself, reuniting the dualistic forces of
manifested matter.

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 III. The Empress
Strength through Passion
The Empress is an ambiguous figure of many forms. For some she is
soft and boundless, ripe with child, sitting in a lush landscape filled
with unstoppable growth. For others she is a ruler who shares many
aspects with the Emperor, but unifies them with complimentary
energies. A stern exterior, a wise intellect, a connection to the divine,
radiating a corporeal force from within. She demonstrates many male
attributes as well – an Adam’s apple, a male eagle, her manspread-
ing – indicating her androgyny. She stands in juxtaposition to the High
Priestess: she is hard and intellectual on the outside, with a soft core.

IV. The Emperor

The Law of Stability
The Emperor is a symbol of stability, seated on a throne from which he
guides the universe via the rule of law. All creation is either in its prop-
er order, or soon will be. He may be omnipotent but, like the Empress
– whose hard shell hides a softer core – the Emperor is willing to be
receptive and playful, to bend the rules when needed. This is what
differentiates him from a tyrant.
He is associated with the number four, which stands for stability in
the Tarot. No matter what comes to pass, he has the power to bring
soothing order to a world disturbed, unhinged, and in disarray.

V. The Hierophant
To Bridge the Worlds
The Hierophant or Pontifex (‘bridge-builder’) is a connector between
worlds. While the High Priestess sits atop the temple, connecting to
the divine in introverted composure, the Hierophant sits in a more
public space, revealing divine knowledge. He has learned these truths
not by leaving the temple but through difficult study and by listening
to the voices from above and below. At the same time, he is grounded
in reality and the act of communication. He himself grounds knowl-
edges that might otherwise seem ephemeral: he is the nail to the sub-
lime so that it can be attached to the Earth.

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 VI. The Lovers
Entering a Union
The Lovers depicts a union that encompasses body, mind and soul.
This union is brought about by a higher power, represented here by
a white sun but often depicted as an angel. This could be Raphael,
archangel of air, associated with Mercury and therefore a messenger.
For some, the white sun might evoke the Fool: after all, this figure
(also associated with white) may be ignorant or innocent, but this is
precisely why they are capable of unconditional love! Since they lack
any unhelpful preconceptions, there is nothing to hinder them from a
union with the Other.

VII. The Chariot

A Force Moving Forward
In this card we see the universal will expressing its relentless onward
motion. This willpower has taken on the form of a dashing chariot
driver: a figure who leaves the comforts of the walled city to pursue a
journey with a single, unyielding goal: “Forward, ever forward.”
The charioteer has chosen a curious vehicle: a boxish wagon laden,
like the charioteer themselves, with symbols. Their journey combines
these powerful aspects, using their collective force to drive them-
selves forward for the sake of motion itself. The ultimate source of
this movement is the astral will: granted to the charioteer by the Star,
this drives both wagon and driver on their implacable passage.

VIII. Strength
Actualisation of Inner Power
Strength is one of the four cardinal virtues and draws upon millennia
of philosophical tradition. The card depicts a union of cosmic strength:
the woman, ordained with flowers, is the vessel of cosmic energies.
She is opening the mouth of the beast, the subconscious forces of
nature. She has the same connection to the divine as the Magician, but
while he connects to the heavens, she is rooted in the Earth due to her
potent floral charms, used to tame the beast.
Strength can also mean perseverance in the face of troubles and
uncertainty, or overcoming fear. Strength for its own sake is fragile: to
remain just, strength must have a sound moral foundation.

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 IX. The Hermit
The Journey Within
The Hermit is an isolated figure in the dark, an aged man at the edge
of the world. The life he once lived is over; the path before him is
new, dangerous – the end, but also the beginning. In his right hand
he holds a lantern, shedding light on the wisdom of the past but also,
he hopes, attracting the attention of a higher power who might lead
him forward. The pains of his life have formed a cloak around him; the
past has coalesced into his rounded, hunched back. In his left hand he
holds a staff: a connection to practical, earthbound wisdom, as well
as his root into eternity.

X. Wheel of Fortune
Everything Moves and Repeats
In our material world, there is but one fundamental law: mobility and
change. However this world was set in motion, it cannot be stopped.
It turns, often in uncanny repeating cycles, giving our existence a
distinct rhythm. These patterns might be as simple as the passage of
a day, or as profound as the cycles of the seasons, or our own per-
sonal triumphs and disasters, which seem to come upon us without
end. Until they don’t: things must always end. What goes up will come
down. Nothing ever stays on top, preeminent, forever.
The paradox is that at the centre, where the laws of nature and physics
reside, everything is still. By this reasoning, the Wheel of Fortune will
continue to turn until the extinction of time itself.

XI. Justice
To Judge Ourselves
We all judge ourselves, whether we want to or not. Only a handful
are as lucky as The Fool, able to live contentedly without ever having
to take a good hard look in the mirror. This is Justice: our capacity
to truly see ourselves and the worth of our deeds, and render a fit-
ting judgement.
The figure of Justice bears symbols both passive and active: her scales
are balanced when holding nothing, in perfect well-tuned harmony,
until they receive whatever needs to be judged; once a verdict is ren-
dered, justice can be meted out by the hard edge of her sword.
Justice is often enforced by our authorities, but its most vital aspect
is found within us: the will to treat others as we wish to be treat-
ed ourselves.
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 XII. The Hanged Man
Sacrifice for Betterment
This willing victim is in a self-chosen state of torture. At first glance
this might resemble an execution, but in reality it’s a personal trial that
could lead to profound wisdom or general betterment. Reversing the
natural order is key to both ordeal and solution: “For the basis of the
occult approach to life, the foundation of the everyday practice of a
person who lives the life of obedience to esoteric law, is the reversal
of the more usual ways of thinking, speaking and doing.” This is also a
silent card. Its Hebrew letter, “Mem”, is like water, a silent mirror. Total
submission to life and its rigours is symbolised by the tree – perhaps a
part of the Tree of Life itself.

XIII. Death
Radical Change
Death speaks to us all. For those who accept it, existence itself
becomes unique and precious – but if we forget our mortality we fall
prey to false promises, becoming trapped in a delusional void.
Nonetheless, when we face our end, Death brings clarity to us
all, whether to kings and queens, pages and paupers, beggars or
bishops. Death frees us from tyrants, old ideas and those who cling
to them; it cleanses the world and creates space so that new ideas can
spawn and prosper. Death is change: eternal, ever-hopeful, implacable.

XIV. Temperance
The Benefit of Restraint
Temperance is one of the four virtues: the ability to balance ourselves,
and respond in a measured way. Temperance allows us to reconcile
negative forces with each other – inner and outer perception, caution
and confidence, fiery intellect and physicality – and reach a middle
ground from which we can act healthily and decisively.
Temperance is the key to worldly clarity: the balance it brings allows
us to see the world with new, unbiased eyes. It is also the avoidance
of suffering, and can manifest as a via negativa: improving some-
thing (one’s life, perhaps) by subtracting things, rather than adding.
Temperance naturally leads us to seek the avoidance of negative
things and excess.

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 XV. The Devil
A Bondage of the Soul
The Devil is the polar opposite of the Hierophant, but just like him,
this strange spirit offers a vital lesson to those seeking enlightenment.
The Devil is a strange, paradoxical, hermaphroditic form revelling in
its task: to teach humans that they are not free at all, but bound by
their inability to acknowledge, and therefore see beyond, their own
darkness. This bat-winged creature, which delights in its place beyond
the moral order, has ascended from a chthonic abyss to make its sport.
Like the notorious snake, it is easy to mistake the Devil for an adver-
sary – but one might instead consider it an unsuspected manifestation
of the divine.
The Devil sees through the lies and hypocrisy of the human realm:
unlike us, its gaze pierces the murky shades of contradiction, the
obscure complexities we can only grasp as a sick feeling when things
don’t add up. It is a beast that is marked as a messenger of reversal.

XVI. The Tower

The Joy Of The Cataclysm
The Tower is a notorious card, brimming with symbols and portents. It
can be interpreted in many ways: some positive, others utterly apoca-
lyptic. But no matter the interpreter, all agree: the Tower signifies that
a period of stability is coming to an end. Whether the House of God,
the Tower of Babel, the Ziggurat or some other edifice, the Tower
falls. Whoever dwelled inside – nobles, high priestesses, worshippers
– is cast out into the world. And since the Tower seldom represents
a place that is only physical, those toppled outcasts might easily be
our own deeply held beliefs, or notions about the nature of our world.
The building’s top, a mighty crown that represents willpower, is shat-
tered by a thunderbolt, an upturning of the once-natural order. This
might seem catastrophic, but the destruction of the old – even violent,
terrifying destruction – is often necessary for the emergence of the
new. The divine energy and teachings hemmed in by the tower’s walls
are no longer held in a confined, controlled structure. They are now
free to join the world again, spreading, materialising in new, unex-
pected ways. The world is turned upside-down in fire, and the energy
released can now fertilise the lands, minds, hearts near and far.

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 XVII. The Star
The Flow of Knowledge
The first being kneels, rooted in creation. From them pours forth the
cosmic energy radiating from its fierce primal origins in the heavens.
The first being can channel this power, and spread it boundlessly. They
are the unknown part of ourselves that is deeply rooted in the uni-
verse itself, something we can have faith in: our lucky star.
This card follows the Tower, a vision of total destruction. But even if
we know that destruction is necessary, it can be terrifying to move
forward in a ruined world. The Star offers this hope: that even though
we may fear and falter, as a part of the will of the universe we will find
a way, guided by that light within ourselves.

XVIII. The Moon

The Revelation of True Nature
The Moon is the path of the shadow self, the dark night of the soul.
Inside this darkness we find our true self. Everything is still; even the
waters are immobile. The laws of physics are suspended by the rule
of the mind. The night is like the deep sea: filled with instinct, dreams,
primal forces. The unconscious, the primal, becomes conscious – or at
least takes control of our conscious impulses.
Our material body might fail us in the night, might be closed off,
but our spirit prospers. In this moment, we look into ourselves and
become aware of who we deeply are. Not the dreamy, daylight image
– the illusion we, or other people, want us to be – but the unapologetic
fusion of animal and mind.

XIX. The Sun

The Radiance of Life
Two birds circle each other, dancing in flight beneath a bountiful sun
with childlike delight. The Sun is, in some senses, the counterpart
of the Devil: a couple, united, prospers under the gaze of a divine,
all-seeing power. It looks into, and knows, both the world and the Tar-
ot seeker. The couple themselves are free yet together, innocent yet
enlightened, unbound yet loaded with riches. This power is bountiful,
but not without dangers. The only boundary this card knows is heat,
scorched earth and fiery death. Too much of it creates deserts, lights
fires, consumes the world. The Moon card, with its cool, frozen night,
is this card’s necessary counterpart. Together they form a pair critical
for life, the Sun and Moon acting as cosmic father and mother.
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 XX. The Gate
A Passage of Transformation
Our mortal bodies have carried us across the Earth, we have over-
come trials of loss and darkness, and we are almost now at the end
of our journey. With one more step we might see the world with new
eyes, without the clouds of preconceptions, and may even regain the
innocence and wonder of our childhood. Now is the time to unite our
individual selves with the universe, to overcome the schism of duality
and acknowledge that all is one. It is up to us to take this last step, to
give all up and gain everything – to finally step through the Gate.

XXI. The World

Total Realisation
At the edge of the heavenly gate, a once-foolish figure re-enters par-
adise, dancing. Their journey began with nothing – the value of the
Fool – and now has come full circle at the 21st card. This, in the Sefirot
tradition, is the transition from Malkuth to Yesod, a passage from the
earth to the celestial planes.
In this moment, everything is illuminated. The gravitas of the Her-
mit or Emperor, the stern gaze of the High Priestess, are nothing but
memories now: all that remains is a state of irrepressible energy and
motion, hurtling forward with its own momentum. The dancer does
not move to the left or right: rather, they are stepping out of the card
itself, through the seal of infinite potential.

The Abyss
The Call of the Void
We often fear that which is unknown, unseen, or untouchable. When-
ever we gaze down into darkness, whether in an ancient ruin, a cave or
under water, we often experience a strong sense of fear – but some-
times also a dash of curiosity. While many eschew the darkness, some
can’t resist the call of the void. They are pulled in: as if hypnotised to
go deeper, to the roots, the bones of the Earth.
Since we first dreamed and spoke, we have wondered what lies below.
The Abyss holds dread for us, but also fascination. It is the call of the
unknown, the unexplored: something beyond our comfort zone that
we nonetheless long to reach for. Here we face fear itself, but also the
totality of our imaginings.

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 The Tree
The Stubbornness of Life
A creature as old as time itself, the Tree was ancient before we, or our
species, were even born. In its stillness it carries an undisputed gravity
and authority. It braves the elements, punches its roots in the hardest
stone, splits the earth itself to burrow down. It is the stubbornness
of life, manifested; as long as we do not disturb it, here it will remain.
If we treat it with respect it might share its fruit or precious sap with
us, year after year, generation after generation. The Tree’s gifts might
hold ancient secrets, be a remedy for earthly or spiritual ills, or simply
feed us. The Tree can provide, if we can only accept its splendour and
leave it be.

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 The Minor Arcana
Cups
Ace of Cups
The Limitless Potential of Love
The Ace of Cups shows a single large cup, overflowing with water,
often held by a divine power. It symbolises the entirety of an emo-
tional life, concentrated in a single source of overflowing potential.
Everything is possible, all your hopes and joys: it all starts here. The
symbol of the cup might also reference the Holy Grail and the Chris-
tian blessed sacrament: a symbol of abundant renewal and hope.

Two of Cups
A Promising Encounter
With the 2 of Cups we turn away from the world and towards each
other, opening our selves. This is just the first step in a dance domi-
nated by emotions. We are not bound in any form yet, but partake in
a constant, fluid exchange, like water poured back and forth between
two cups. This liquid substance takes many forms: love, respect,
attraction – it is not ours to hold on to, it must flow onwards for it is
not individual. For the exchange to even be possible, we must already
carry it within ourselves: to love another one must love thyself.

Three of Cups
The Formation of Love
With the 3 of Cups we are offered the ultimate magic potion. The
alchemical process of our encounter with another being has formed
a unique and powerful force within us: ideal and romantic love. It is
a fragile creation that elevates us to breathtaking heights, but it may
also be harmful – perhaps lethal. But the feeling is mutual: as of this
moment, the two beings feel intense love and attraction toward each
other. It is a tender seedling that could grow and become something
more stable – developing into the 4 of Cups – or it could perish in
countless fashions, some of them excruciating.

Four of Cups
Stability and Stagnation
In the 4 of Cups, love has transformed beyond the earlier, more
ephemeral stages: it is now stronger, more defined, more self-sup-
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 porting. Love is now fully expressed and manifested; it is ready to
be integrated as a part of everyday life. The dangers and turmoil
of the early stages have been overcome; the ship, so to speak, now
sails in safe waters. But here lies the danger: if we take this moment
of apparent stability for granted, it will go stale, stagnate and with-
er. The moment we realise this, it might already be too late. We can
only enjoy it while it lasts, then seek to further transform and develop
this love later.

Five of Cups
Following the Call
Sometimes it is time to move on. The 5 of Cups signals we should bring
forth something new: a 5th cup, a new ingredient, a new path or con-
nection. Abandoning the “stability” of the previous card might be seen
by some as a sinful transgression, but we must look past the old dual-
istic conventions and see the bright light of opportunity beyond. This
5th cup might not mean the end of this love, but its transformation
onto a higher level: a path of knowledge and realisation.

Six of Cups
The Beauty of Love
Three rows of cups, forming a natural pyramid: all three aspects of love
– body, mind and soul – together form a complete, energising union.
This ideal form might suggest that one’s love has reached a state of
perfection. But while this union is compelling, it is not the end of the
journey: a fragile perfection, as shown by the inverted cup on which
the others rest. Are we learning from the spilled cup of the previous
card, or simply building on shaky foundations? Regardless, whoever
stops now to savour this beauty is in danger of being trapped in this
mirage, mesmerised by the enticing power of narcissism and the ego.

Seven of Cups
A Core of Kindness
This card, like all sevens, holds an abundance of energy and signals
a breakthrough. In the case of the cups, the dangers of egoism and
narcissism have been overcome. After a fundamental shift in perspec-
tive, we have discovered a new core driving the flow of love: eternal
kindness. This is not a grand gesture, a public display of affection that
encompasses the universe, but something tender. It may be small and
hidden from most, but it sets the cups dancing with contentment, and
has the power to spread, unchecked, to the edges of the universe.
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 Eight of Cups
Being in Union
This is the flaming heart at the centre of the universe: a union with the
Divine. With the 8 of Cups we have achieved emotional stability with-
out imprisonment or stagnation. Instead, we have seen through the
shallow temptation of seeming perfection, continued our expansive
journey, and entered a nourishing, cosmic union, all while following
the most tender and basic lesson: to simply love, and love simply. From
this point, we can move the universe itself.

Nine of Cups
Moving On
Love cannot last in a static form. It either transforms and grows anew
or perishes in one form or another. While this card’s fountain-like edi-
fice is magnificent, it’s also strangely ephemeral. Eventually we will
have to move on; if we don’t stand and leave this tranquil fountain
of our own volition, something or someone will eventually force us.
This is a tale of caution, but also hope: life is motion, and love is life in
motion. If the flow is maintained, there will be countless more foun-
tains: we need not cling to this one.

Ten of Cups
Entering A New Existence
With the 10 of Cups, we are not just ready to move on: we are step-
ping through the looking glass. This is a moment of ascension, of
transformation, of realised communion. A gate has been opened for
us; crossing the threshold, we are stepping into a strange, overwhelm-
ing transformation. There are no more doubts, dangers or ambiguities:
this is a holy opportunity, granted at the end of our emotional journey,
which we grasp gladly.

Page of Cups
Powerful Emotions
This Page is brimming with tumultuous emotions. One moment they
are outgoing and exuberant, the next they shrivel up inside them-
selves. In their cup they carry the entire spectrum of human feelings.
This gives them a remarkable range of expression and creativity, but
controlling and channelling these forces is another matter. Their
energy electrifies the room like a static charge; around the Page, one
should always expect the unexpected. There might be drama, but also
lots of fun.
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 Knight of Cups
A Perpetual State of Flow
The Knight is a master at their profession; in the Knight of Cups’ case,
they have achieved a state of grace. But the Knight is still young,
mobile and dynamic. Unlike the King they hold and rule no land, but
live life by experiencing it in motion. So the Knight carries on, moves
fluidly to new shores, drifting. They could rest and enjoy their accom-
plishments, but this would mean stagnation, entropy and decay. To
exist means to be in motion, and so the road goes on and on, unfolding.

Queen of Cups
Pure of Heart
Residing at the edge of the sea, this Queen is a delicate creature. She
connects with her realm intimately, and cares for it deeply. She has
no need to express herself, but tends to look inward instead. Her
thoughts and feelings, surfacing like ripples from her subconscious
and soul, flow like the waters that surround her – but unlike the
Page, she is mindful of them and in full control. The Queen of Cups
teaches us that holding still allows us to feel ourselves again, and act
from the heart.

King of Cups
The Wisdom of Kindness
The most travelled of all the Kings, this ruler has seen the world and
met everyone there was to meet. In his travels, he has learned that
kindness can be the key that unlocks any obstacle. He would never
use force or tyranny: instead he prizes harmony and the happiness of
others. To those seeking his support, he will offer his treasured wis-
dom. In his cup he stores his precious feelings for those who thirst
for peace, harmony and companionship. The King of Cups can heal
us with his kindness, and teach us to flourish and grow with openness.

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 Swords
Ace of Swords
The Power of the Intellect
Aces are symbols of potential; the Ace of Swords is the potential of
the Logos, or divine intellect. Our intellect is an active power that we
can wield, reaching upwards to the heavens. It is also receptive, since
it connects to and is reliant upon our five senses. Armed with our pas-
sive senses and active reasoning, intellect allows us to connect to the
Heavens and pierce the veils of confusion obscuring reality. Employ-
ing it thus, we can walk a path of disinterested logic, cutting away the
extraneous: a “via negativa,” a reductive path. By grasping the sword,
we take our first steps down this road.

Two of Swords
The Aspiration Begins
The Two of Swords prepares us for our journey to the inner self: since
the Ace is more a promise of the Swords’ power, our journey truly
begins here. This will be a journey of the Logos, as the swords remove
any layers of reality that hinder us on our progress. Our plans begin
to sprout, preparing to grow and sprawl across our mind and our sur-
roundings, like the seedling between the blades.

Three of Swords
Cutting the Ties
This is the moment of vivid, decisive embarkment. We are no longer
witnessing the organic growth of the seedling between the swords:
instead, we are slashing ourselves free – an act of violence, but a nec-
essary one. Without this step, we would only be the passive subject of
an external force, and its unpredictable growth. The sudden, destruc-
tive appearance of the red sword frees us, setting us on a path of our
choosing. This energy is rash, unilateral and violent, but it must be
done to walk the path of the swords.

Four of Swords
The Practical Spirit
Across the minor suits, 4s are both stable and material. After the vio-
lence of the 3 of Swords, we must regroup and take stock. This means
accessing a practical side of the Logos: using intellect to engineer,
invent, and marshal resources. But the stable 4, as in the other suits, is
dangerous: it could be a dead end. Constrained by practical thinking,
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our intellect is grounded, and incapable of making intuitive leaps to
other ideas or planes of existence.

Five of Swords
A Leap of the Mind
Sometimes a forceful act is necessary to break the bonds that con-
strain us. With the 5 of Swords we leave the order that we established
with the four swords of the previous card. We audaciously leave our
comfort zone, with a powerful leap. This could be a crazy idea, a daring
plan, or even a figment of the imagination; regardless, we leap after it
with all our strength and focus. Here, the danger is the opposite of the
4 of Swords: not decay by doing too little but failure by overreaching.

Six of Swords
Approaching the Inner Light
In the Kabbalah, 6 represents beauty. In the 6 of Swords’ case, this
means we have finally caught a glimpse of our goal: divine bliss. This is
our reward for our courageous act, whose decisiveness allowed us to
leave worldly distractions behind. After trekking through difficult ter-
rain, we finally stand before the (one) Holy Mountain and can delight
in the ecstasy of this vista. Here we experience the joy of the intellect,
a taste of what is to come.

Seven of Swords
Cutting into the Inner Silence
The peak lies before us; now we must climb. While the journey of the
swords often seems like a clear gem of pure reason, here we must
instead empty ourselves, shedding all that prevents us from seeing
the clear Light Within. This is an active process which must, paradox-
ically, be achieved by actively doing nothing. We withdraw from the
material planes; with every step towards the self we see less of “reali-
ty”, and instead glimpse more of what is truly real. This is typical of the
7 cards: paradoxical action.

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 Eight of Swords
Enter the Void
Here the “via negativa” ends: a place of total silence. We have elimi-
nated the noise that muddies the waters and clouds our vision. Now
we stare into the ultimate clarity – the void – at the end of our intellec-
tual journey. There is nothing but the realisation of our self, our own
eye looking back upon ourselves and seeing truthfully. We have found
emptiness; within the emptiness, we have found ourselves.

Nine of Swords
A New Beginning
With the 9 of Swords, we make the conscious choice to not linger in
the 8’s void, but return to the world and share our experience with it.
We have learned something introspective about our true self; now we
must turn that focus outwards, and look to others. This is necessary if
we wish to be part of this world, rather than withdrawn from it. But we
must understand that some knowledge cannot survive the trip back
from the void to the material realm. The thrust of our sword, therefore,
is twisted, and split in two.

Ten of Swords
It Takes Two
Our aspiration to share our knowledge is fulfilled, marking the end
of our journey and the beginning of a new one. We have left the her-
mit’s path, no longer in the crystal prison of our own inner self, but
have found The Other to walk this path with us. The Other might be
another person, but could also be a new strength – such as emotional
peace, material stability or physical wellbeing – to complement our
radiant, though solitary, intellect. Now we can strike with a different
focus, cutting from the Earth to the Heavens, wielding two blades that
pierce our knotwork and penetrate into the centre of things.

Page of Swords
Contemplating the Journey
All Pages harbour doubt; this one is no different. The Page of Swords
is prepared – they have the appropriate clothing, their drawn sword,
everything necessary – yet something is not quite ready. They doubt:
which way to go? This confusion is normal for those young and new
to the path: our simple concepts of duality are difficult to overcome,
filling us with pressing, overwhelming questions. The Page will learn

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soon enough to commit themselves and their Logos, their knowledge,
but that moment hasn’t arrived yet. They remain pensive.

Knight of Swords
Lightning-fast Thinking
The Knight of Swords has dedicated themselves to the pursuit of a
very particular grail: to capture the essence of the Logos. During their
journey they have shed most of their worldly baggage, including their
material and emotional needs. In return they have gained an immense
capacity to master the mind, rendering their intellect swift and pow-
erful. Theirs is a mind unleashed, thoughts that can flow unhindered,
the spirit of the Logos manifested with unrivalled speed. Superficial
interpretations of this card often assume this knight is a warrior. But
the sword is a symbol for the sharpness of the mind: when this Knight
enters the fray, they engage with their supreme wit.

Queen of Swords
Attempting Transcendence
The Queen of Swords is a creature of the mind. She is well established
in this mental realm, and is experienced in the ways of the intellect.
But she has reached a plateau in her own journey, realising that to
truly strike at the heart of things she must let go of everything. The
Queen is on the verge of this decision, about to overcome the pow-
erful emotions and fear of loss this step has engendered. This is the
Queen’s lesson to us: our one certainty is that nothing lasts; we must
eventually relinquish everything, as the price of transcendence.

King of Swords
Wielding Intellectual Power
This fair young ruler is a determined master of the mind, and wields
it like a sceptre. With it, he controls the people and lands around him.
He employs armies of scribes, clerks, lawyers, thinkers and tinkerers
to do his bidding. Few are as brilliant in delegating tasks, and thereby
extending his reach. He deftly pulls the strings of the net he has cast
upon the world, constantly plugging, reeling, cutting and adjusting.
He is drawn to the power of new ideas, and so, despite the supreme
stability of his position, he ceaselessly pushes for change.

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 Wands
Ace of Wands
Creative Potential
With the Ace of Wands, we hear a promising future calling our crea-
tive forces to action. We must grab this future by the horns – or the
handle, since it is wielded as a mighty club! This is a moment from
which anything can grow, out of thin air: we can materialise something
that will not stop until it is as vast as the world itself. This act is driv-
en by the fire of passion, which later might lead one astray. For now,
though, it is pure, authentic creative energy.

Two of Wands
Decision at the Crossroads
The 2 of wands is an intersection of energies: receptive towards the
heavens, active towards the earth; generative and creative. These
energies could oppose and stifle each other, or their contrast could
bring immense power. At this intersection one might hold for a while,
or move forward, which might require the synthesis of these forces.
The path ahead promises fulfilment and pleasure.

Three of Wands
Explosive Growth
The Three of Wands depicts a trinity of staffs or branches: three
shoots flowering upwards. As with the other wand cards, this repre-
sents a vector of growth pushing into the world, ultimately towards
flourishing, decay and death. These layers of symbolism reinforce the
card’s dominant principles: the number 3 for abundance and growth,
wands for vital/sexual energy, all coming together in the card’s cen-
tre. At the junction of three, all stages in the cycle of life are repre-
sented: growth, stability and decay. As Jodorowsky said, “It is the
seed that violently opens its shell without knowing what plant it is
going to become.”

Four of Wands
Stability & Balance
The 4 of Wands is a point of arrival: our creative energies and emo-
tions have reached a high point, but are stabilising into a fixed constel-
lation – perhaps a creative practice or a mode of generation. At first
glance this seems very promising, but this stability risks a slide into
stagnation: the fire slowly dying out.
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 Five of Wands
Disharmony & Conflict
With the 5, the harmony of the 4 breaks, conflicting creative ener-
gies no longer able to sustain each other. The struggle is painful and
frustrating, but necessary to break the gridlock of the previous card.
The result of this clash is hard to predict. An immature seeker might
be thrown by this obstacle, while a wiser, more mature mind could
use this chaotic energy to push forward, toward a breakthrough
or resolution.

Six of Wands
Accomplishment
After the steady progress of the 4 and the conflict of the 5, the 6 of
Wands is a moment of triumph. Out of all this struggle something
has been created, and stands proud. Nonetheless, this brings its own
risks: we might rest on our laurels, preferring to savour this accom-
plishment rather than pursuing further creative paths.

Seven of Wands
Defiance
The 7 of Wands heralds new strife on our journey. Unlike the 2 or 5,
which described internal struggles, this is a battle of the one against
the many: a single creative force struggling to rise above the tangle of
six other shoots. This struggling force must fight against the estab-
lished order – perhaps even the order established by the previous card
– if it is to rise above them, and ultimately best them.

Eight of Wands
Haste
The 8 of Wands is the essence of Mercurial forces: swiftness, speed
and action; throwing caution to the wind, hastening to apply the
lessons learned thus far. The confrontational forces of the previ-
ous card have either united with, or been deflected by, their heroic
adversary. There is no stopping the creator now, their energy chasing
through the skies.

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 Nine of Wands
Resilience
An end to our creations approaches, the energy of the 8 spent but the
momentum not yet exhausted. The fire may begin to flicker, but there
is still time for one last surge – and in the flames we see our true selves,
reflected in all we have made and accomplished. Now is the time to
hold onto that self, stand our ground and put the finishing touches
to what we started.

Ten of Wands
The Burden of Completion
We have reached the end of our creative energies. The 10 symbolis-
es completion, the end of the cycle. For some it is a perfect number,
that is, one that is circumscribed: ideal but dead. As with all completed
things this could be a happy time, or a difficult one. Did we take on
too much? Have our passions or accomplishments become burdens:
drudgery rather than challenges, the spoils of creative struggles we
must now carry?

Page of Wands
The Potential of Energy
This young Page holds a wand larger than themselves. They are ready
for action: full of eagerness, plans, desires, all bound together and
ready to explode. They might not be prepared for what is to come, but
they do not care. Don’t think about it. Do it.

Knight of Wands
Balanced Actions
This well-versed veteran of the world has seen it all. Though once driv-
en by fierce emotions and overwhelming events beyond their control,
they have transformed those forces and are now their own master.
Having tamed their passions, symbolised by their fiery steed, their
skill and control are masterful, allowing them to focus these forces on
goals of their own choosing. They are neither driven by internal whims
nor held back by doubt or trepidation. Their heightened intuition
allows them to choose wisely, neither rushing nor hesitating.

22
 Queen of Wands
Mastered Intuition
The Queen is a person of action and a master of intuition. The Queen
of Wands is at the top of her game: a master of her trade, with intri-
cate knowledge that she can boldly put into action. From her throne
she can view the entire world, and is receptive to everything around
her. But far from being a passive observer, she acts on this knowledge
when the time is right, making her move at the perfect moment. To
resist this dynamic ruler is futile: her charm is blinding, shining from
her courageous breast like a second sun, ensuring all who might
oppose her simply acquiesce and melt away.

King of Wands
To Act Without Inhibition
Like the King of Swords this royal figure is young, expressive and deci-
sively active. At the height of his powers, everything he intends and
envisions comes to pass. He knows no sorrow, no doubt; nothing can
hold him back. He is therefore a potent figure, but not without dan-
ger: when one wields one’s will with total focus – without safeguards,
second thoughts or moral qualms – it is all too easy to make a fatal
mistake. This style of rulership does not brook quibbling: it is pure
will, commanding and manifesting as it sees fit. Whatever it wills is a
triumph, be that a creative act, an act of mercy, conquest, or terror. In
this regard, the King of Wands has much in common with the Chariot,
a card that knows no holding back.

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 Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles
The Opportunities of the Material World
This card marks our entry to the material world, but like all Aces it
has a spiritual dimension too. At first glance this seems only a humble
coin, but like all currency it holds the power and meaning of all coins.
It is the luckiest of pennies, stamped with the likeness of every ruler
and numeral. This Ace tells us that grand, good works can be achieved
here. The material realm has its hardships, but it’s where we live; we
must embrace it to succeed, and remain watchful for opportunities.

Two of Pentacles
The Union of Material Forces
The material world, for which the pentacles stand, can be interpret-
ed as dualistic: it holds light and darkness, life and death, growth and
decay. One can master this dualism, reconcile opposing forces and
reap the benefits: an infinite ribbon that drives the dance of life. This
attitude is often found in the observation and acceptance of life, as
we seek both balance and the understanding of life’s complex dance.

Three of Pentacles
Explosive Growth
This is the first stage of learning and acting in the material world. We
first understand that the forces of this world can be manipulated, then
embark on a journey to achieve some goal. Our untapped potential
could be huge, but we must beware losing control of our newfound
power, inflated expectations, and delusions of grandeur. This card is
everything right and wrong with the first active steps down the road
of material action.

Four of Pentacles
The Paradox of Material Wealth
In this card, two principles of materialism become combined.
Arranged in a sturdy pillar, these four coins symbolise material secu-
rity. This is an illusory stability, however: nothing is truly permanent
in our entropic world. If we were to hold still, comfortably sheltered
below this “stable” pillar, we would nonetheless be disturbed by some
other motion: petrification, decay or some external shock. To rest
here is to err. The 4 can only be used wisely when it becomes a foun-
dation for further action.
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 Five of Pentacles
Aspirations that Break Stagnation
The 5 is the cure of the 4. While the pillar has fallen, a new form has
emerged, whether from sheer luck or our own designs: perhaps a
shelter or a sunrise. No matter what toppled our stability a new day
has dawned. The 5 readies us for self-knowledge and brilliant, applied
ideas. This is a tempting moment to push forward and make progress
– but we must be sure of our direction, since a wrong turn could lead
us down a blind alley.

Six of Pentacles
The Realisation of Beauty
In the material world, one type of perfection can be reached: beauty.
This is not our ultimate goal, but it can be a sort of heaven on earth.
The 4 held a hope of such perfection; in the 5, we struggled to realise
it. Now it has been achieved, and we behold a splendid fountain of
material plenitude, cascading like liquid starlight.

Seven of Pentacles
Transcending the Material World
Numerologically, the 7 represents our urgent desire to find depth,
meaning and spiritual connection in our labour. In pursuing our Great
Work in the material world, we eventually find we must transcend the
world itself. Our actions in the world and upon ourselves eventually
cycle back to us, shifting us onto a different plane: the harvest of our
work. Notice how the four pentacles forming a perfect square have
risen above the three of the earth: even if our work is material, it ulti-
mately only has meaning within the spiritual realm.

Eight of Pentacles
The Perfection of Dual Planes
This pillar shape mirrors the perfection of the 4, but this pillar is stur-
dier and more flexible. This is true fulfilment, true wealth. This world
may contain a wealth of objects to be coveted, but here we reach
beyond the physical, attaining a richness in spirit and soul. The 8 is
matter saturated with spirit. This is where holiness can happen.

25
 Nine of Pentacles
Surrounded by Abundance
The 9 of Pentacles signals the arrival of a new material condition such
as a child, project or stroke of fortune. This new growth is possible
because we have mastered the synthesis of the material and spiritual
in the 8. At the same time, special precautions are necessary: though
promising, the budding opportunity is fragile.

Ten of Pentacles
The Spirit of Matter
The material cycle is now ending. From a structural point of view, one
might mistake the 10 for a continuation or climax. But we see another
geometry at work: the circular portal seen also in The World. The 10,
therefore, is both the aspiration of the material, now married to the
spiritual, and a portal to the beginning of something unique and new.
All matter must perish, but in perishing, bring forth the new.

Page of Pentacles
A Promising Opportunity
One of the great gifts held by this youth is the ability to grow, symbol-
ised by the lamb. This Page holds the world in their hand, and with it
the possibility to acquire wealth and security. They also possess the
good fortune that gave them this opportunity. They have just stepped
onto the scene of life, having left the innocent playgrounds of child-
hood. They are not in a hurry, still looking around to see what the
world might hold, but they have a talent for both giving and receiving.

Knight of Pentacles
The Fruits of Hard Labour
Tempting though they are, we eventually learn that shortcuts and
quick fixes are illusions; one might occasionally get lucky, but for the
realist, there is only one route to success: hard work. The Knight of
Pentacles embodies this. They are in no hurry, preferring to assess
their plans before taking action. Once they have set them in motion,
they will execute them with a diligence that knows no mercy, neither
to themselves nor others. Though the work may be tedious, at the
end of the cycle they know they are assured the fruits of their labour.

26
 Queen of Pentacles
Content with Wealth
This Queen takes care of business. When it comes to managing any-
thing on the material plane, she is at the top of her game. Hard work
has made her skillful, and wide experience has taught her a breadth
of knowledge, and to be content with her accomplishments. Others
might reach beyond their capabilities, but the Queen is happy with
what she has, what she can do and what she has achieved. She is gen-
erous with both her skills and possessions. What the world gave her
she is happy to share with those she holds close.

King of Pentacles
The Fulfilment of Material Wealth
The King resides at the end of the road of all material wealth. He has
grown old pursuing it, and now enjoys it in a more passive and recep-
tive manner. He looks towards a future which promises further gains,
but there is no need for action; he holds the staff of power, but there
seems little need for it. He has left his palace and resides in his garden,
a paradise of a sort, finding peace by discovering how to be content
with wealth. But here rests danger, too: this is a complacent card, a
final stage, subject to decline and entropy.

27
 Eliot Baum & Viv Tanner
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