AUTHOR'S NOTE: In an r/tarot sub-reddit thread, someone asked about an old post (not one of mine) that gave definitions for the trump cards as "people." It's more common to treat the court cards as representing other individuals involved in the querent's circumstances, but I was intrigued by the idea that one of the Major … Continue reading The Major Arcana As Personality Types
Suit of Swords
The 6 of Swords: Steering by Troubled Waters
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In an old post of several years ago I mentioned a sidelight to the RWS version of this card that views the choppy surface to the right of the boat as driving it toward the calmer waters to its left and thus uneventfully on to the far shore. An interlude of "smooth sailing … Continue reading The 6 of Swords: Steering by Troubled Waters
The Fives and Sevens as “Discord”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've written in the past about the relationship between the tarot Fives, Sixes and Sevens (linked below), but my recent introduction to the art of playing-card divination brought a fresh perspective to my take on the subject. In standard cartomancy, the Fives and Sevens are eight of the most dissonant "pip" cards in … Continue reading The Fives and Sevens as “Discord”
The Nines and Tens: Perfection and Postscript
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As evident in the online tarot community, current practice reflects the general agreement that "if Nine is good, Ten must be better" (with the obvious exception of the suit of Swords). The genesis of this idea most likely goes back to the assertion of Pythagoras that Ten is the "perfect" number, as symbolized … Continue reading The Nines and Tens: Perfection and Postscript
The Tarot Threes: Sidling, Then Circling
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is a three-deck comparison of the Threes similar to the one I recently posted for the Fives. When applying esoteric number theory to the forty Minor Arcana of the tarot, the number One represents the Point and the four Aces that describe the "prelude" to the action signified by their suit but … Continue reading The Tarot Threes: Sidling, Then Circling
The Disruptive Fives: A Bleak But Essential Corrective
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've written about the tarot Fives a number of times from an esoteric perspective, and also from a pragmatic point-of-view as indicating the need to "break eggs (the stagnant Fours) to make omelettes (the harmonious Sixes)." I've often called them "can-openers" and "nutcrackers." Their disruptive nature comes from their association with the sphere … Continue reading The Disruptive Fives: A Bleak But Essential Corrective
The 7 of Swords: Avoidance or Self-Sabotage?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many tarot readers find malice or deception in the Waite-Smith 7 of Swords, but I see mainly avoidance. The notions of an underhanded plan and potential theft almost certainly stem from the man's sly expression, his furtive body language and the fact that he has been "caught in the act" with an armful … Continue reading The 7 of Swords: Avoidance or Self-Sabotage?
“Boadicea’s Tarot of Earthly Delights” Personality Profile
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here I'm applying my "Tell Me No Lies" Personality Profile spread to the recently-purchased tarot deck shown above. (This is my version of the "new-deck interview.") This spread is designed to explore the quasi-psychological profile of a deck in twelve cards, conveying its immediate impact on the viewer ("first impressions") along with its … Continue reading “Boadicea’s Tarot of Earthly Delights” Personality Profile
The 4 of Swords Reversed: Pandora’s Box?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The reversed image of the Waite-Smith 4 of Swords offers some interesting insights. The vision of an inverted sarcophagus immediately makes me think the lid is ajar and the contents might spill out. This notion leads to a couple of satirical "Hollywood moments:" 1) after Graham Chapman died, the remaining members of Monty … Continue reading The 4 of Swords Reversed: Pandora’s Box?
The Suit of Swords: An Ill Wind
AUTHOR'S NOTE: "It's an ill wind that blows no good" is an old proverb that can be interpreted in one of two ways. The pessimist would say "It is indeed an ill wind because it blows no good," while the optimist would observe more provisionally "It would be an ill wind indeed if it were … Continue reading The Suit of Swords: An Ill Wind
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 