THE FOOL
By Prairie
The Fool is associated with Uranus, that which has potential to be constructive or destructive. His number is 0, the number of unlimited potential. He is also known as Dionysis, Loki, & the Trickster. This is an excellent card to meditate on if you are experiencing a lot of fear in your life. The Fool enhances courage, risk-taking, and the creative expression needed to open up new areas in your life. The Fool is always whole, healthy and without fear. He is the spirit of who we are, the spirit expressed & experienced as wonder, awe, curiosity & anticipation. He has the rising sun behind him, symbolizing the beginning of a venture. He is facing the NW, the direction of the unknown. We never know what's in the future, but like the Fool, we must blindly go forward, anyway. The wallet he's
carrying on the staff contains all the tools he'll need, while the staff itself denotes the will. The will "carries" the tools of transformation. The white rose, as well as his white undergarment, signify purity & innocence. The white dog signifies his faithful & pure guardian or spirit guide. The mountains behind him represent the spiritual realms he has not attained yet. The valley is the material world he is ready to step into. He has no idea what's in store because he is looking up. He looks up towards spiritual matters, while getting ready to plunge blindly into the valley of materialism. He teaches a lesson about making right choices. It's good to be focused on spiritual matters, but stay grounded at the same time in the physical world.
MAGICIAN
By Carissa
The Magician stands confidently in front of a table on which all his tools are arranged: a chalice for water, a sword for air, a wand for fire, and a pentacle for earth. The Mage uses these tools to create. One hand hold a wand pointing upwards, demonstrating the attempt of thought and creation to reach higher planes of spirituality. The other hand is pointing downwards, sometimes holding a gold coin, showing spirit penetrating matter. Above the Magician's head is the symbol for infinity. Below his feet are white lilies of thought and red roses of desire.
The Magician is the creator. He takes elements of thought, will, knowledge, and skill, and uses them to create something tangible. There are many things we want to make manifest in our lives. If we have the thought and desire for something, we can use the tools available to us to make it happen. Reversed, this card can mean greed, deceit, using one's skill and ability for negative ends.
One final thought...when a person sees a magician, the actions of the magician seem like magic. Impossible. But to the magician, it is a simple matter. He has the tools and knowledge to do it. No magic or impossibility. Many things seem impossible when you don't understand them. When you gain the knowledge to use the tools you have, nothing can be beyond your grasp.
Brightest blessings,
Carissa
From Prairie:
Carissa~
Very good!! The Magician tells us that we have the ability to take the power of the Universe and manifest our desires. Those desires may be spiritual (fire), physical (earth), emotional (water), or mental (air). We have the ability to make it happen!
Another interpretation of why his hands are in that position is that he's taking the power of the Universe, channelling it through his own body and directing it to the physical plane.
HIGH PRIESTESS
By Raven
The motto of the High Priestess is...'I know who I am". The thought for the High Priestess is ..."Balance".
I have chosen the Priestess card from Llewellyn's [Legend] Arthurian deck as my model.
The Priestess sits alone in the forest on a throne of alabaster arrayed in deep purple with a mantle of snowy white. The purple color of her gown denotes royalty, as the members of the royal houses were the only ones allowed to wear this color. Seers have always been the confidants of royalty, but in this case there is a further commitment as the Priestess 'is' the land. There must be a joining with her by the King in order to be seen as fit to rule. Her mantle of white denotes purity of spirit and heart, and virginity also, but in the old meaning of the word, which means that she is "whole unto herself" needing no one to complete her.
The Priestess is attended by wood spirits and by fairies of the air. This denotes that the priestess has both mundane and ethereal connections, she lives in the World but is not cut off from the Spirit.
A flame flickers between her raised hands and on her left side, perched upon a stone, is the figure of the cycladic death goddess, a common grave offering in the Neolithic. She is the conduit through whom power flows, the Priestess shapes it and harnesses it. Like the Empress, the Priestess is pregnant, but not with a physical child. She will birth power and possibility. The cycladic figurine at her feet reminds the Priestess of her dual purpose: that of midwife/healer and also she who guides the soul through the veil at the close of life.
She is crowned with the new crescent circle of the moon denoting a deep and instinctive connection with the tides of life.
From Prairie
Raven~
Thank you for an excellent rendering of the High Priestess!
The High Priestess also represents a link to the subconscious mind, which cannot be accessed through the everyday world, but only through dreams and symbols. When this card shows up in a reading, pay attention to your dreams and intuition.
Like Raven said, this card is about balance. When she appears, look for areas of your life that are out of balance. Knowledge of how to fix it will not come through logic or intellect, but through your intuition. Listen to the small voice inside. Put aside a time when you can meditate and listen to your own inner voice.
If this card appears reversed, it may mean that you have been acquiring knowledge, but on a superficial level. You haven't been listening to your intuition. Have you come to terms with your feminine, emotional self?
EMPRESS
By Silver Coyote
The Empress in my medicine woman cards represents bounty. What I felt is a woman who has all she needs. She's strong and confident. She is the mother with her children who teaches that what we want is not always what we need. She is content with her life. She has many things growing around her and the sun shines upon her. Hope this is alright?
BB,
Silvercoyote
From Prairie:
Silvercoyote~
Yes! Bounty is a very good word for the Empress. She represents fertility on all levels. (I cringe when she shows up in a teenage girl's reading! LOL!!)
The Empress is pregnant with new beginnings, whether they be on the physical, mental or spiritual level!
When the Empress comes to you in a reading, look for new beginnings, new projects, maybe even a new baby!!
Thank you, Silvercoyote! You did an excellent job!
EMPEROR
By Krystlhawk
Good day!
This is quite interesting..........
I was thinking in my head, which deck to use for this, and my New Palladini Deck fell into my hands, and guess which card is on the cover of the box ????? You guessed it........
I love tarot !!!!!
This card is beautiful. He faces what I feel is my east. Wears a crown, cold and magenta, a BEAUTIFUL white beard, and dark eyes, smooth skin. He holds a crystal ball in his left hand, a staff in the left, with a vine wrapped around. Next to him, it appears to be a very thin Ram, but exotic looking.
His strength gives me the security of an older man, maybe my Dad, or yours ! Keeping things in order, making a family stable and strong, setting direction and tone. Protecting and defending, security, authoritative, being in a position of strength.
Definitely the Adult type in the family, as where his opposite would be Mom, the ever loving compassionate, let things slide, kinda gal!
Love,
Krystlhawk
From Prairie
Krystl~
Thank you so much!! You did a great job!
The Emporer's sign is Aries, the ram. The sign of authority. He holds the staff of authority, as well as the crystal ball to represent his omnipresence. He knows everthing that's going on in his kingdom. He needs to, in order to be an effective ruler.
In the New Palladini Deck, the Emporer faces East, the direction of new beginnings. Aries is considered the first sign of the Zodiac.
You captured the meanings of this card very well. Thank you!
From Krystlhawk
Wow Prairie!!
I honestly didn't know this!
The majors have been hard for me, at least until I became older. Knowing that he was facing East was a feeling alright........
Thanks !!
Krystl
HIEROPHANT
By Therese
I'm using "The Shapshifter Tarot" The card is called Knowledge. The card shows a woman shapshifting into an Elephant. The Elephant is a magnificent animal who is said, "never forgets". Imagine the wisdom we all would have if we remembered everything. She has silver streaks in her hair which we all know means wisdom! She wears a green robe covered in trefoil to represent the threefold - positive, negative and neutral. The pentacle above her head lighting her way and hanging from her ear shows how comfortable she is with herself spiritually. The open book on the table before her shows her willingness to learn all that she can. There are stars and trefoil flowing all around her signifying her oneness with the universe and the infinite amount of lessons to learn. with her left hand she draws up from the river of light and knowledge flowing over her book and into her right hand as if taking in the knowledge before her. This card shows a desire to learn and accept any changes that the knowledge will bring. In order to be at peace within ourselves, we must always be willing to learn more and as we do we will become closer to the Goddess/God.
From Prairie
Therese~
"Knowledge" is a very good alternate name for the Hierophant. This is the card of the teacher, for what is knowledge if it is not shared?
My own opinion on the Hierophant, is that, while he is Knowledge, the knowledge one gains through this card is that of the conventional kind. No free thinking unconventionality here! This card teaches good, solid, tried and true methods. The correspondence is Taurus, the original conservative. (Don't yell at me, all you bulls out there!!..... I'm a Taurus, too!)
I think the key here is what Therese said about accepting the changes that knowledge will bring, because inevitably, once you've accepted a true path of learning, it's almost impossible to go back to the blissful ignorance you once enjoyed.
Knowledge is power. This is another aspect of this card. In some decks, he is the Pope. Now THAT is power! This guy could control kings!! But, don't forget the responsibility power carries with it.
When you see this card in a reading, ask yourself what you are needing to learn. What areas in your life are you following convention? How can you grow and change for the better? Are you willing to open yourself to new areas of learning?
LOVERS
By Star Willow
I have two decks, one that I use frequently and one that I have :) They are the Mythic Tarot and Motherpeace...
MYTHIC - THE LOVERS
A shepherd youth in the forground with his back to us holding a staff in his left hand and a golden apple in his right, slightly extended toward the three women that are competing for the apple. His hair color is blonde and he is dressed in a brown tunic. Facing outward is a woman of royalty it looks to me (regal and mature), she is wearing a long purple gown and a crown. She is holding a small version of the world up in her left hand. Her hair color is brown/red and is very neatly plated/braids etc. The second woman is somewhat sexy looking as she has a pink scarf just barely covering her (young and seductive) and she holds a golden chalice with both hands in front of her. Her hair color is black and it is long and flowing. The third woman is definitely a warrior (cool and chaste) as she is in armor and headdress and is brandishing a sword in her left hand. Her hair color is blonde and it is free but somewhat neater than the dark haired woman. The scene is on grassy rolling landscape of hills with a blue sky in the background.
MOTHERPEACE - THE LOVERS
Motherpeace, for those of you that aren't familiar with them, is a round deck that, to me anyway, are a lot harder to comprehend as the mythology (so to speak) is more matriarchal and prehistorical. And there is a lot of symbology in them that I cannot identify without my book. But since I have them I thought I'd do this card too.
Round card with pink foreground in which two big black vases are sitting with Greek scenes on them: on the left is a repressor type scene in which the armored person (male?) is oppressing an unarmored person (female?). The scene on the right vase is a romantic looking love scene showing the people caring for each other tenderly and romantically. There is a brick wall running to either side of the vases and leading to a rose arbor. Under the rose garland (signifying passion) is two androgenous figures (the author says they are unsexed to free up that couples have to be male and female only). ther is a kite shaped shape, for lack of better words, that has green at the top, then blue, then purple, then orange, then red. On top of that symbol is a black (left) and white (right) shape that represents a coming together. That two souls are reaching out in vulnerability and spontaneous trust (second stage of loving). The pink in the foreground represents the combination of love and unconscious desires and fears we bring into a relationship. Above the rose garland/arbor is an orange sun representing a healing circle. The sky color is a greenish color and cloudy. You can see the reflection of the sun and some clouds that kind of look stormy to me.
I hope this conveys what these cards look like. I really enjoy reading everyone's interpretations.
Bright Blessings,
Starwillow )O(
From Prairie:
Star Willow~
Very good description of the cards. In the
Mythic deck, he has to make a choice
between Aphrodite and Athena. The idea
of a choice is inherent in this card. It's not necessarily a choice between two lovers.
This could be a choice of anything that the querent is emotionally involved in. For
instance, a choice between going to work
or staying home, or a choice between two
jobs may be represented by the Lovers
card. The Fool card also represents a
choice, but in that card, one of the choices may work out better than the other one.
The Lovers implies that both alternatives
could work out equally well.
In the Motherpeace deck, you said "The pink in the foreground represents the combination of love and unconscious desires and fears we bring into a relationship. Above the rose garland/arbor is an orange sun representing a healing circle." A good relationship will heal all the emotional 'baggage' one always brings into it. And, the idea of balance is very important to this card.
If you are having problems opening up & relating to people, the Lovers is the card you want to meditate on. The sign associated with the Lovers is Gemini. The rune is Gifu, the rune of partnership. In the Rider deck, the man looks to the woman, who looks to the angel, indicating the path of the conscious to the subconscious to the superconscious, or from physical desire to emotional needs to spiritual concerns.
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