MAJOR ARCANA Information on the Major Arcana, the Keys or the Mysteries that link the mortal mind with the Divine Mind of the Most High, is given in the following manner:
The Key Number...
the Common Title...
the Association...
the Secret Title(s),
the Mythological Principle: and the key words. 0...The Fool...Air...The Spirit of Ether, Pleroma, Radiant Emptiness.
The Child of the Primal Void: Potentiality, Spirituality I...The Magician/Juggler...Mercury...The Magus of Power, Nous. The Creation of the World: Direction, Skill II...The High Priestess/The Popess...Moon... Priestess of the Silver Star, Sophia. The Descent of the Divine: Consciousness, Change
III...The Empress...Venus...Daughter of the Mighty Ones, Magna Mater, Dame Nature. The Marriage of Heaven and Earth: Unity, Pleasure
IV...The Emporer...Aries...Son of the Morning, Deus Pater. The Monarch of the Golden Age: Energy, Authority
V...The Heirophant/The Pope...Taurus...Magus of the Eternal Gods. The Keeper of Wisdom: Illumination, Teaching
VI...The Lovers...Gemini...Children of the Voice Divine, Oracles of the Mighty Gods. Love between Humanity and the Divine: Liberation, Inspiration
VII...The Chariot...Cancer...Lord of the Triumph of Light. The Once and Future Monarch: Sublimation, Success
VIII...Justice...Libra...The Daughter of the Lords of Truth, The Holder of the Balances. The Goddess of Justice: Equilibration, Universal Balance
IX...The Hermit...Virgo...Magus of the Voice of Light. The Wilderness Journey: Divine Intervention, Inspiration
X...The Wheel of Fortune...Jupiter...Lord of the Forces of Life. Aspiration: Contemplation, Destiny, Fortune
XI...Strength/Fortitude...Leo...Daughter of the Flaming Sword, Leader of the Lion. Meeting with the wild other self: Control, Courage
XII...The Hanged Man...Water...The Spirit of the Mighty Waters. Self Sacrifice: Sacrifice, Reversal, Suspension
XIII...Death...Scorpio...Child of the Great Transformers, Lord of the Gates of Death. Meeting with the Powers of Death: Transformation, Change
XIV...Temperance...Sagittarius...Daughter of the Reconcilers. Ascent to Heaven: Reconciliation, Fusion
XV...The Devil...Capricorn...The Lord of the Gates of Matter, Child of the Forces of Time. Meeting with the Powers of Life: Materiality, Restriction, Temptation.
XVI...The Tower...Mars...Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty. The War of the World's End: Restructuring, Strife
XVII...The Star...Aquarius...Daughter of the Firmament. Awakening of the Heart: Meditation, Hope
XVIII...The Moon...Pisces...Ruler of Flux and Reflux. Emergence from Water, Confronting dark delusion: Subconscious mind, Illusion
XIX...The Sun...Sun...Lord of the Fire of the World. Awakening of the Mind: Conscious mind, Joy
XX...Judgment...Fire...Spirit of the Primal Fire. Rebirth through fire: Initiation, Culmination and New beginning.
XXI...The World...Saturn...The Great One of the Night of Time, Anima Mundi, Isis-Sophia. The Descent into the Underworld: Conclusion, Realization, Attainment, the Microcosm perfected.
MINOR ARCANA In my personal Tarot Deck, The Swords represent the Element of Fire, and the Wands represent the Airs. This is something that nearly all Tarot decks disagree on. This key is written for a deck like mine, but if your deck has the Swords as Air and the Wands as Fire, then switch the meanings of the Sword Court Cards and the Ace of Swords with the Wand Court Cards and the Ace of Wands, and it will still read true.
The Court Cards of the Minor Arcana
The Court Cards are arranged thus:
A King represents the Spiritual/Archetypal world, and the Hidden Root of a Matter.
The Queens represent the Mental World, and the event that caused a matter to arise.
The Knights represent the Astral world and the current matter. The Pages represent the physical world and where a situation is going.
Kings are mature men. Queens are mature women. Knights are young men, and pages, young women. The information on the court cards is given as below:
Name of card:
Elemental force:
Pure force of card:
Esoteric Title of Card:
Suit of Swords: Element of Fire. King of Swords, Fire of Fire Dynamic Force (uncontrollable and swift, not lasting.) Lord of the Flame and Lightning Queen of Swords Water of Fire Steady Force (adaptable, not swift, but enduring) Queen of the Thrones of Flame Knight of Swords Air of Fire Swift Force (enduring, but not so strong) Son of the Chariot of Fire Page of Swords Earth of Fire Explosive Force (violently strong and enduring) Daughter of the Shining Flame
Suit of Cups: Element of Water King of Cups Fire of Water Creative Force (swift but not enduring, gives rise to forms) Lord of the Waves and Waters Queen of Cups Water of Water Reflective Force (which mirrors the surrounding energy, but remains unchanged) Queen of the Thrones of the Waters Knight of Cups Air of Water Intense Force (volatile, changeable and mysterious) Son of the Chariot of the Waters Page of Cups Earth of Water Imaginative Force (unceasing and flowing, fertile) Daughter of the Waters
Suit of Wands, Element of Air King of Wands Fire of Air Unstable Force (Swift, agitated force that is unpredictable) Lord of the Winds and Breezes Queen of Wands Water of Air Severe Force (creative, enduring, and harsh, but with good results) Queen of the thrones of Air Knight of Wands Air of Air Intellectual Force (too volatile to be enduring, destroys ideas as soon as they are formed) Son of the Chariot of the Winds Page of Wands Earth of Air Avenging Force (Decisive, stabilizing force in an erratic environment) Daughter of the Rushing Winds
Suit of Pentacles, Element of Earth King of Pentacles Fire of Earth Stimulating Force (expansive, fertilizing power for growth) Lord of the Wild and Fertile Land Queen of Pentacles Water of Earth Regenerative Force (Receptive, and germinating) Queen of the Thrones of the Earth Knight of Pentacles Air of Earth Resolute Force (Slow, but steady and unstoppable) Son of the Chariot of the Earth Page of Pentacles Earth of Earth Manifesting Force (materialization, permanency) Daughter of the Echoing Hills
The Numbered Cards of the Minor Arcana I shall give the Aces, and their titles and meanings. Then, the cards numbered 2-10 will be given, with their Title, and finally, astrological information.
In General, the Ace represents the unseen, mysterious, and unmanifest "truest nature" of the element, and then, the 2 represents the 1st or inner manifestation, the 3 represents the 1st permutation, the birth-transition or the birth omen, the 4 represents the 2nd or outer manifestation, the 5 represents the Tempering, the 6 represents the Perfection, the 7 represents the Fall, the 8 represents the Reaction, the 9 represents the stabilization, and the 10 represents the Final Manifestation or outcome.
Swords, Being of Conflict, the Spirit Ace of Swords
The Root of the Powers of Fire Force, Strength, Rushing Vigor: natural force. 2 of swords
Lord of Peace Restored Moon in Libra 3 of swords
Lord of Sorrow Saturn in Libra 4 of swords
Lord of Rest from Strife Jupiter in Libra 5 of swords
Lord of Defeat Venus in Aquarius 6 of swords
Lord of Earned Success Mercury in Aquarius 7 of swords
Lord of Unstable Effort Moon in Aquarius 8 of swords
Lord of Shortened Force Jupiter in Gemini 9 of swords
Lord of Despair and Cruelty Mars in Gemini 10 of swords
Lord of Ruin Sun in Gemini
Cups, Being of the Heart, of emotions. Ace of Cups
The Root of the Powers of Water Fertility, productivity, beauty, pleasure, love. 2 of cups
Lord of Love Venus in Cancer 3 of cups
Lord of Abundance Mercury in Cancer 4 of cups
Lord of Blended Pleasure Moon in Cancer 5 of cups
Lord of Loss in Pleasure Mars in Scorpio 6 of cups
Lord of Pleasure Sun in Scorpio 7 of cups
Lord of Illusionary Success Venus in Scorpio 8 of cups
Lord of Abandoned Success Saturn in Pisces 9 of cups
Lord of Material Happiness Jupiter in Pisces 10 of Cups
Lord of Perfected Success Mars in Pisces
Wands, Being of the Mind, and Will Ace of Wands
The Root of the Powers of Air Whirling Force, Communication, True Will, can be turned upward or downward, used for good or ill…Invoked Force. 2 of wands
Lord of Dominion Mars in Aries 3 of wands
Lord of Established Strength Sun in Aries 4 of wands
Lord of Perfected Work Venus in Aries 5 of wands
Lord of Strife Saturn in Leo 6 of wands
Lord of Victory Jupiter in Leo 7 of wands
Lord of Valor Mars in Leo 8 of wands
Lord of Swiftness Mercury in Sagitarius 9 of wands
Lord of Great Strength Moon in Sagitarius 10 of wands
Lord of Oppression Saturn in Sagitarius Pentacles, Being of the World, of the Body, of Practicality.
Ace of Pentacles The Root of the Powers of Earth Materiality, Endurance, Sensation. Materiality for both good or ill. 2 of pentacles
Lord of Harmonius Change Jupiter in Capricorn 3 of Pentacles
Lord of Material Works Mars in Capricorn 4 of pentacles
Lord of Earthly Power Sun in Capricorn 5 of pentacles
Lord of Material Trouble Mercury in Taurus 6 of pentacles
Lord of Material Success Moon in Taurus 7 of pentacles
Lord of Success Unfulfilled Saturn in Taurus 8 of pentacles
Lord of Prudence Sun in Virgo 9 of pentacles
Lord of Material Gain Venus in Virgo 10 of pentacles
Lord of Wealth Mercury in Virgo
Back to the Bedroom