AUTHOR’S NOTE: It is generally accepted in esoteric tarot circles that the Aces don’t represent “the first step in a new direction,” but rather the anticipatory urge to take that step, and they must be set in motion before they will do us any good. As George Carlin once said in a different context, “Ya gotta wanna” with enough conviction to overcome inertia and make a move.

Conceptually, the Ace is static rather than dynamic. In occult number theory, it represents the invisible “Point:” it exhibits no mass, momentum or direction and is hypothetical rather than empirical. To tap its latent energy, we must embrace the “power of Two,” which represents the Line and the initial departure from inert passivity. The potential must be made manifest; in short, we must act on the inspiration.

I’ve just been reading about the Aces as signifying the motivating vision behind an enterprise that comes in four “flavors” according to the suit involved: energetic, ambitious and highly creative (Wands); “feel-good” in a humanitarian or socially-enlightened sense (Cups); innovative and imaginative (Swords); or mercenary and focused entirely on profit (Pentacles). These scenarios relate to the trailblazing stimulus that underscores the entrepreneurial spirit.

In all cases the incentive symbolized by an Ace is more about planning and preparation than about execution. An opportunity exists, but we must look to the cards following the Ace to assess the environment for realization of its promise. Then we must position ourselves to “catch the wave” before it passes us by. This usually involves “pulling the trigger” on our incipient aspirations rather than waiting for circumstances to offer an invitation that may never come.

In a tarot reading, the challenge becomes how to unlock the “blind force” and put it to productive use. Although many readers see the Ace as initiative in-and-of-itself, it isn’t that straightforward. The perception that an Ace is inherently fruitful is unfounded; it depends entirely on what the seeker chooses to do with the nascent inducement. The other cards in the spread will ideally fill in “the rest of the story,” but if an Ace appears as the outcome card it is a good idea to pull another card or two to complete the picture. Otherwise it will approximate the tantalizing “cliff-hanger” of an old novel or a melodramatic 1950s TV series.

When an Ace is reversed, the implication is that the generative passion can be stifled, which can lead to anxiety and frustration because the urge is still there but it has no immediate outlet and may wind up being stillborn. In this instance, the card following the Ace should be enlisted as a “can-opener” to facilitate its expression, although we must not place too much faith in its contribution since the reversed Ace can be a “tough nut to crack” that displays no tell-tail signs of the perfect remedy.

In his writing, Aleister Crowley talked about the innate True Will of each individual and the unseemly “lust for result” that can attend its degradation. With reversal, the appetite for achievement inherent in an Ace may be strong but the willpower to effectively exploit it might be insufficient. If we try to advance when doing so would be premature, we could be reduced to beating our head against the wall . . . but at least there won’t be enough acceleration for it to hurt very much.