Five

Associations and
Correspondences

Joseph and the Dream of the Pharaoh

Even though the tarot originated as a card game in Renaissance Italy, it eventually became used throughout Europe as a tool for divination. The word “divination” comes from the Latin divinare, meaning to foresee or to be divinely inspired. Divination as a practice has occured throughout recorded history. An early example of divination can be found in the Book of Genesis of the Bible, in which the Hebrew Joseph interprets the dream of the Egyptian Pharaoh as a message from God:

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine [cattle] are seven years; and the seven good ears [of grain or corn] are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do He sheweth unto Pharaoh (Genesis 41:25–28, King James Version).

Throughout history, all cultures have sought messages from the divine in the random happenings of daily life. Apparently, the gods communicate with us mortals through chance happenings and haphazard patterns in the mundane world. Just as Joseph could read God’s intentions in the Pharaoh’s dream, the practice of divination with cards is part of a long tradition whose roots extend at least as far back as the early days recorded in the Bible.

In the following sections, we will look at some of the connections tarot readers have made between the cards and other popular methods of divination.

Tarot and Number Symbolism

The symbolism of numbers plays an important role in many forms of divination, including the tarot. In Western philosophy, the belief in the spiritual significance of numbers dates at least as far back as ancient Greece, especially the time of Pythagoras. Often described as the first pure mathematician, Pythagoras of Samos (c. 570 BCE–c. 495 BCE) is credited with the Pythagorean theorem that we learned in high school. Pythagoras was a major proponent of the symbolic significance of numbers. According to his biographer Iamblichus (c. 300 CE), Pythagoras taught that number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and daemons.

Tarot Birth Cards (Mary K. Greer's Method)

One way in which tarot readers use number symbolism is to select cards from the major arcana corresponding to the numerologically reduced numbers in one’s birth date. This calculation is made by adding together the day, month, and year of birth and continuing to add the individual digits in that sum, a method suggested by Mary K. Greer in her book Tarot for Your Self. 19 An example will make the process clear:

Consider Mother Teresa, born on August 26, 1910:

Day of birth =	26
Month of birth =	8
Year of birth =	1910

We add the day, month, and year of her birth: 26 + 8 + 1910 = 1944.

We next add the digits in the above sum, 1 + 9 + 4 + 4 = 18, which corresponds to the Moon card (XVIII) of the major arcana.

We can reduce 18 even further: 1 + 8 = 9, which corresponds to the Hermit (IX).

Thus, the Moon and the Hermit cards are believed to have lifelong symbolic importance for a person born on this date. If we consider that the Moon card is linked to Pisces, the sign of selfless service, and the Hermit card to someone seeking spiritual truth, these two cards appear to be relevant to the life of Mother Teresa.

Mary Greer would call the Moon Mother Teresa’s “personality card” and its further reduction to 9 (1 + 8), her “soul card.” If the sum of the birth digits happens to be a number between 1 to 9, then the personality and soul cards are the same.

When calculating the birth card, if the sum of the digits is greater than 22, you must reduce that number again until you obtain a number between 1 to 22. Each number corresponds to an associated tarot trump, with 22 representing the Fool because the sum of birth numbers cannot equal 0.

Tarot Year Card (Mary K. Greer's Method)

Just as you can calculate cards that are symbolically important for your year of birth, you can also identify cards that are significant for any given year of your life (a year being measured from one birthday to the next). Let’s look at an example.

Former president Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946. Thus, his birth cards are found by adding 8 + 19 + 1946 = 1973, and then reducing 1973: 1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20. Clinton’s personality card is 20, Judgment (XX), and his soul card is 20 reduced: 2 + 0 = 2, the High Priestess (II).

To calculate his cards for the year in which Clinton was impeached (1998), we would add the month and day of his birth (August 19) to the year in question, 1988: 8 + 19 + 1998 = 2007. Then, reducing 2007, we get 2 + 0 + 0 + 7 = 9, the Hermit (IX). Thus, the year measured from Clinton’s birthday in August of 1998 until August of 1999 was a time of withdrawal and turning inward to seek spiritual wisdom. Themes of introspection and personal integrity are typical of a Hermit year.

An Alternate Method for Calculating Birth Year Cards

An alternate method for calculating birth cards also appears in the literature. Unlike Mary Greer’s method, this alternate technique involves simply adding together all the single digits in your birth date rather than adding the day plus the month plus the year.

In the case of Mother Teresa, we would proceed as follows:

August 26, 1910 8 + 2 + 6 + 1 + 9 + 1 + 0 = 27, which reduces to 2 + 7 = 9, or the Hermit (IX). In this method, Mother Teresa’s personality and soul cards are both the Hermit (IX).

In the case of Bill Clinton, his birthday August 19, 1946 reduces as follows: 8 + 1 + 9 + 1 + 9 + 4 + 6 = 38, which reduces to 3 + 8 = 11 (Strength or Justice, his personality card). The number 11 then reduces to 1 + 1 = 2, the High Priestess (his soul card). Note that in the traditional tarot of Marseille, card XI was Strength (which Crowley renamed Lust). In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, card XI became Justice. One could argue that themes of strength, lust, and justice have characterized the life and personality of President Clinton.

Number	Symbolism
0	Pure potential without form
1	The initial spark, will, creation, inspiration, beginnings, new life, birth, the first manifestation of potential
2	Duality, partnership, relationships, choice, decision, balance, gestation, more than one option, in between, on the fence
3	Fertility, the first fruits of a joint venture, cooperative endeavors, triadic relationships, creating something new, the offspring of combining complementary pairs
4	Structure, stability, order, logic, foundation, manifestation, matter, the ability to endure
5	Instability, disruption, struggle, conflict, strife, upset, crisis, a downswing, tension, uncertainty, purging, disequilibrium
6	Equilibrium reestablished, harmony, fairness, equity, communication, sharing, compassion
7	Assessment, reflection, reevaluation, standing at a threshold, seeking advantage
8	Movement, action, power, determination, the beginning of the end
9	The final single digit, the end of the cycle of single digits, culmination, fruition, attainment
10	One more than the final single digit, one too many, more than enough, full completion of a cycle, readiness to move on and begin anew

Table of Number Symbolism

Another way in which numbers contribute to tarot symbolism is through the link between the symbolic properties of numbers and the cards corresponding to those numbers. Some of these properties are summarized in the accompanying table. As you become more familiar with the tarot, you may wish to add your own meanings to this list.

Primum Non Nocere

A word of caution about number symbolism is in order. In my opinion, the use of number symbols to interpret the tarot should empower the querent to choose his or her own path in life. The best tarot interpretations are those that empower and liberate the client, in the sense of the biblical passage: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, KJV). Comments that provoke fear or induce dependency may be hurtful to the querent. Just as a physician takes the oath primum non nocere—first, do no harm—so too must the tarot reader focus on benefiting the client and avoiding deleterious consequences. If tarot reading devolves into a superstitious practice, hurt is likely to follow.

A case in point occurred in Burma in 1987 during the dictatorship of Ne Win, a superstitious leader who was overly dependent on the advice of numerologists. Ne Win was convinced that his lucky number was nine. As a result, on September 5 of that year, the Burmese government announced (without warning or compensation) that it was demonetizing the 25-, 35- and 75-kyat notes because these denominations were not divisible by nine and were thus unlucky. In addition, 45- and 90-kyat notes were introduced because they were divisible by nine. The effect of this sudden change in the currency was devastating. In the blink of an eye, 75 percent of the country’s currency became worthless, causing families to lose their life savings. Riots followed, and a military coup overthrew Ne Win in 1988. When all was said and done, nine did not turn out to be such a lucky number for the superstitious dictator!

The Four Elements and Their Correspondences

Tarot and the Four Elements

The ancient Greeks developed a theory of four basic elements to explain the nature of reality. The idea that everything in nature can be explained in terms of four elemental principles held sway for more than two thousand years and has had a major impact on philosophy, medicine, art, science and divination. Modern physics, for example, speaks of four fundamental forces of nature. In the field of psychology, Carl Jung made use of the theory of four elements to develop his ideas about the functioning of the human mind. The popular Myers-Briggs personality types are based on this ancient theory of four elements.

Much of the symbolism of modern astrology and tarot derives from the four elements of ancient Greece: Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. It is important to keep in mind that the four elements are abstract philosophical principles rather than concrete objects in the material world. One might think of the four elements metaphorically as varieties of energy, types of consciousness, or differing ways of approaching the world.

A glance at the four elements reveals that two of the elements, Fire and Air, tend to rise above the surface of the Earth while the other two, Water and Earth, tend to sink below the surface of the Earth. Thus, Fire and Air are considered to be more phallic, centrifugal (thrusting away from a center), and outer directed, whereas Water and Earth are regarded as more receptive, centripetal (pulling toward a center), and inner directed.

Being gaseous, Air rises. The element Fire also rises, as it represents radiant energy that can escape the Earth’s atmosphere. The light (fire) from the sun travels through space to reach our planet. The two upward- and outer-directed elements, Fire and Air, are considered active masculine principles. In the tarot, the suit of Wands is commonly associated with Fire and the suit of Swords with Air. The pip cards of the Wands and Swords typically represent circumstances and emotional situations with an upward outward movement (excitement, adventure, conflict, travel, expansion, relocation, departure, etc.).

Water sinks and is held up by a container formed from Earth, the heaviest of the four elements. Thus, Water and Earth trend downward and are considered inner-directed receptive feminine elements. In the tarot, the suit of Cups is usually associated with Water and the suit of Coins or Pentacles, Earth. The pip cards of the Cups and Pentacles suits typically represent circumstances and emotional situations with a downward or inward movement (reflection, contemplation, joy, grief, healing, celebration, family happiness, arrival, etc.).

Keywords for the Four Elements

Since most modern tarot decks rely heavily on this symbolism, we will be referring to the four elements throughout this text. The following list summarizes some of the key meanings and associations of each of the elements:

Fire: energy, impulse, enthusiasm, initiative, power, action, directness, inspiration, spontaneity, dynamism, expansion, adventure, exploration, generativity, self-sufficiency, freedom; the suit of Wands; the Fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

Earth: material goods, resources, money, work, sensual pleasure, building, tangible results, security, stability; goal-orientated, practical, analytical, organized, patient, persistent, grounded, deliberate, resourceful; the suit of Pentacles (Coins); the Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

Air: communication, sharing ideas, inquisitiveness, mental agility, interrelationships, connecting the dots, logic, wit, cool objectivity, quickness, cunning, persuasion, strategy, thoughts, words, intellect; the suit of Swords; the Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

Water: emotions, moods, feelings, sensitivity, intuition, receptivity, empathy, nurturing, intimacy, compassion, intuition, occult matters, hidden depths, oneness, spirituality; the suit of Cups; the Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Tarot and Astrology

Late in the nineteenth century, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn incorporated astrology into its understanding of tarot symbolism. Arthur Edward Waite, a member of the Golden Dawn, instructed artist Pamela Colman Smith (“Pixie”) to illustrate the numbered or pip cards of the Waite-Smith deck according to her understanding of the influence of the signs of the zodiac on each of the four suits of the tarot. Thus, anyone who uses the Waite-Smith deck is relying on astrological symbolism, often without being aware of it. First published in 1909, the Waite-Smith deck became the most popular tarot of the past hundred years in the English-speaking world. Due to the widespread influence of the Golden Dawn, astrology has played a major role in defining the meanings of today’s tarot cards.

The Zodiac: A Dozen Parts of a Circle

The zodiac consists of a dozen signs, each 30 degrees wide. By definition, an astrological sign is a mathematical division of the 360-degree circle into twelve parts. Every so often an ignorant science reporter claims that astronomers have discovered a thirteenth sign, when in reality they are referring to a thirteenth constellation. The claim that there are thirteen signs is patent nonsense because by definition a sign is one-twelfth of a circle. There cannot be thirteen parts in a dozen, except in the world of science writers who pontificate about matters of which they are ignorant.

The zodiac signs derive their names from the constellations (star groupings) of the ancient zodiac. The Golden Dawn assigned the signs of the zodiac to twelve of the major arcana cards. Note that the following dates are approximate. As you read the list of characteristics, try to think of people you know who are born under that sun sign. How accurate do you find the zodiac signs to be in describing your acquaintances?

1. Fiery Aries (Mar. 21–Apr. 19), the Emperor

Ruled by the warrior god Mars, Aries comes first in the zodiac. An enterprising cardinal sign, Aries the Ram marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, which in many cultures is the beginning of the new year. As the first sign of the annual cycle of seasons, Aries is associated with the Emperor, trump IV, a card often depicted in fiery red tones. The Queen of Wands falls largely under Aries, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Assertive	Independent	Enjoy a good fight
Fiery	Active	Like to start something new
Bold	Energetic	Seek to establish a separate identity
Pioneering	Outgoing	Not always good on the follow-through
Direct	Competitive	Eager to take action
Forthright	Combative	Have leadership ability
Courageous	Ambitious	Good at selling others on their ideas
Straightforward	Impatient	Dislike dependency
Charismatic	Impulsive	Want to be number one
Enterprising	Fond of challenge	Prefer battle over appeasement for resolving conflict
Confident	Headstrong (like to butt heads)	Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing
Pioneering	Love to use their bodies

2. Earthy Taurus (Apr. 20–May 20), the Pope

Ruled by the goddess of love Venus, Taurus comes second in the zodiac. Taurus the Bull, a persistent and slow-to-change fixed sign, is associated with the Hierophant (the High Priest or Pope), trump V. The King of Pentacles falls largely under Taurus, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Sensual	Security-conscious	Fond of good food and bodily comfort
Grounded	Determined	Like to build
Solid	Stable	Love nature
Reliable	Dependable	Enjoy peace and serenity
Firm	Faithful	Have a well-developed sense of touch
Practical	Stubborn (bull-headed)	Like creature comforts
Realistic	Hard-working	Do not like to be rushed
Steady	Sensible	Seek value
Calm	Family-oriented	Predictable
Unruffled except when roused to anger	Mellow	Prefer simplicity and functionality to gaudy frills
Persistent	Self-indulgent	Possessive
Pragmatic

3. Airy Gemini (May 21–Jun. 30), the Lovers

Ruled by fleet-footed Mercury, the messenger of the gods, Gemini comes third in the zodiac. Gemini the Twins is an adaptable mutable sign associated with the Lovers, trump VI. In Greek mythology, the Gemini twins were the mortal and immortal sons of Zeus who so loved each other that the divine member of the pair made the choice to forsake his immortality so he could remain with his mortal sibling for eternity, joined together as the constellation of the Twins of the zodiac. The Knight of Swords falls largely under Gemini, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Inquisitive	Mental	Always on the go
Talkative	Communicative	Love variety
Verbal	Adaptable	Often autodidacts
Perceptive	Clever	Like to gather and share information
Restless	Ingenious	Value being well-informed
Mentally agile	Youthful	Enjoy the expression of ideas
Versatile	Witty	Love to read and are constantly learning
Intellectual	Scattered	Hate being bored
Good story tellers	Fleet of foot	Like to keep busy
Have the gift of gab	In perpetual motion	Can get lost in details
Sociable	Easily distracted	Can be fickle or superficial
Friendly	Changeable	Prone to inconstancy
Curious	Easily bored	Have too many irons in the fire
Observant	Good with words

4. Watery Cancer (Jun. 21–Jul. 22), the Chariot

Ruled by the Moon, the sign Cancer comes fourth in the zodiac. Cancer the Crab, an initiatory cardinal sign, is associated with the Chariot, trump VII. In the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, which was popular at the time of the creation of the earliest tarot decks in northern Italy, the chariot and its driver were symbols of the cardinal virtue of Prudence. The three other cardinal virtues—Justice, Strength, and Temperance—all have a specific trump card named after them. The Queen of Cups falls largely under Cancer, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Sensitive	Defensive	Have good memories
Empathic	Cautious	Devoted to home and family
Intuitive	Indirect	Enjoy mentoring others
Emotional	Quiet	Like to feel needed by others
Moody	Shy	Enjoy learning about history and traditions
Gentle	Timid	Thrive on emotional contact with others
Protective	Protective of self and others	Readily sense and respond to the moods of others
Caring	Easily hurt	Dislike being told what to do
Kind	Security-conscious	Tend to avoid direct confrontation
Giving	Domestic	Hide their feelings under a facade of composure
Mothering	Tribal	Tough on the outside, tender on the inside
Healing	Care-giving	Nostalgic
Nurturing

5. Fiery Leo (Jul. 23–Aug. 22), Fortitude

Ruled by the Sun, Leo comes fifth in the zodiac. Leo the Lion, a consolidating fixed sign, is associated with Strength, trump VIII. (Note that in older decks Strength is trump XI, but the Golden Dawn changed the numbering to make the tarot cards match the order of the astrological signs.) The King of Wands falls largely under Leo, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Commanding	Radiant	Like being the center of attention
Confident	Buoyant	Need to feel appreciated
Dramatic	Proud	Natural showmen
Expressive	Arrogant	Enjoy the limelight
Creative	Regal	Crave admiration and social recognition
Like to perform before an audience	Loyal	Prefer being the top dog (or lion)
Authoritative	Generous	Enjoy leadership positions
Dynamic	Open	Seek wholeness
Charismatic	Ambitious	Dislike pettiness
Theatrical	Warm-hearted	Enjoy working with children
Bossy, pushy at times	Generative	Desire admiration for their creative self-expression
Active	Jump right in	May take offense at being criticized
Energetic	Like being in charge	Willing to take risks
Passionate

6. Earthy Virgo (Aug. 23–Sep. 22), the Hermit

Ruled by communicative Mercury the messenger of the gods, Virgo comes sixth in the zodiac. Virgo the Virgin, an adaptable mutable sign, is associated with the Hermit, trump IX. The Knight of Pentacles falls largely under Virgo, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Methodical	Shy	Health-conscious
Analytical	Introverted	Tend to worry
Discriminating	Humble	Fond of animals
Conscientious	Careful	Good with words
Discerning	Prudent	Enjoy rendering service to others
Observant	Organized	Seek meaning though their work
Perfectionist	Adaptable	Value time alone (like the Hermit)
Always seeking self-improvement	Helpful	Dislike spending time unproductively
Hard-working	Attentive	Capable of self-sacrifice
Intelligent	Critical	Do not enjoy the limelight
Skeptical	Orderly	Often prefer to work behind the scenes
Cautious	Detail-oriented	Hide their light under a bushel basket
Reserved	Meticulous	Want always to be right
Modest	Curious	May fail to see the forest for the trees
Frugal	Thrifty	“You can’t be too careful.”

7. Airy Libra (Sep. 23–Oct. 22), Justice

Ruled by Venus the goddess of love, Libra comes seventh in the zodiac. Libra the Scales of Justice, an active initiatory cardinal sign, is associated with Justice, trump XI. (Note that in older decks Justice is trump VIII, but the Golden Dawn changed the numbering to make the tarot trumps match the order of the astrological zodiac.) The Queen of Swords falls largely under Libra, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Graceful	Impartial	Try to reconcile opposing viewpoints
Elegant	Respectful	Have a good sense of beauty and proportion
Diplomatic	Accommodating	Seek equilibrium and harmony
Peaceable	Fashionable	Always engaged in a balancing act
Refined	Artistic	Want to be liked by others
Esthetically sensitive	Indecisive	Value one-on-one relationships
Thoughtful	Intellectually inclined	Seek completion in a soul mate
Objective	Tend to sit on the fence	Peace at any price
Balanced	Able to see all sides of an issue	Concerned with justice and human rights
Charming	Weigh all options before making a decision	Share with others
Sociable	Enjoy the interplay of ideas	Prefer to negotiate rather than do battle to resolve conflict
Fair

8. Watery Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21), Death

Ruled by warlike Mars the warrior god and in modern astrology by Pluto, Scorpio is the eighth sign. Scorpio the Scorpion, a fixed sign of concentrated energy, is associated with the Death card, trump XIII. The King of Cups falls largely under Scorpio, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Intense	Probing	Make good psychologists and psychoanalysts
Determined	Hypnotic	Devoted to bringing about transformation
Intelligent	Mysterious	Seek to understand in depth
Keenly perceptive	Penetrating	Can cut to the chase of an argument
Analytical	Cunning	May have a talent for healing others
Insightful	Purging	Interested in unconscious motivations
Resolute	Investigative	Appreciate human sexuality
Passionate	Private	Like to uncover whatever is hidden or occult
Magnetic	Introspective	May sting like a scorpion
Powerful	Moody	Make good researchers and detectives
Intuitive	Brooding	Like to get to the bottom of things
Engaging	Want to live life intensely	May hold a grudge
Loyal	Love ferreting out the truth	Have powerful emotions that may erupt forcefully
Resourceful	Tune in to the emotions of others

9. Fiery Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21), Temperance

Ruled by expansive Jupiter, Sagittarius comes ninth in the zodiac. Sagittarius the Centaur Archer, a flexible mutable sign, is associated with Temperance, trump XIV. The Knight of Wands falls largely under Sagittarius, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Adventurous	Gregarious	Seek truth and wisdom
Expansive	Fun-loving	Perpetually learning something new
Sincere	Enthusiastic	Enjoy the transmission of ideas
Energetic	Impulsive	Idealistic
Idealistic	Inspirational	Fight to preserve their rights
Optimistic	Good humored	Willing to take risks
Independent	May find it hard to commit to a relationship	Love to explore foreign ideas and philosophies
Future-oriented	Dislike restriction	Prone to wanderlust
Straight-shooting	Enjoy risk	Always seeking to expand their horizons
Restless	Fond of travel and foreign cultures	Dislike criticism
Adaptable	Like the outdoors	“Don’t fence me in.”
Energetic	Enjoy sports and physical activities	Value personal freedom
Frank

10. Earthy Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19), the Devil

Ruled by taskmaster Saturn, Capricorn comes tenth in the zodiac. Capricorn the Mountain Goat or Seagoat, an active initiatory cardinal sign, is associated with the Devil, trump XV. The Queen of Pentacles falls largely under Capricorn, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Ambitious	Sure-footed	Hardworking
Goal-oriented	Industrious	Slow but sure
Practical	Strategic	Want to climb to the top
Disciplined	Resourceful	Seek professional recognition and approbation
Cautious	Determined	Plan for the long term
Skeptical	Patient	Commit to achieving a demonstrable goal
Sensible	Self-sufficient	Respect experience and wisdom
Efficient	Traditional	Seek the respect of others
Prudent	Conservative	Fond of music
Responsible	Status-conscious	Have a strong sex drive (like the lusty Greek god Pan)
Authoritative	Introverted	Can be capricious
Grounded	Disciplined	Do not suffer fools gladly

11. Airy Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18), the Star

Ruled by taskmaster Saturn and in modern astrology by Uranus, Aquarius is the eleventh sign. Aquarius the Water Bearer, a consolidating fixed sign, is associated with the Star, trump XVII. The King of Swords falls largely under Aquarius, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Offbeat	Opinionated	May be eccentric or iconoclastic
Individualistic	Assertive	Like to experiment with new ways of doing things
Ahead of their time	Revolutionary	Defender of human rights
Original	Rebellious	Enjoy time with acquaintances but have few close friends
Creative	Advanced	Fond of modern technology
Inventive	Libertarian	Like to debate and to have intellectual discussions
Intelligent	Innovative	Willing to champion causes
Curious	Forward-looking	Refuse to be bound by convention
Maverick	Vulnerable	Have a strong sense of their own individuality
Friendly	Sensitive	Convinced that their way of seeing things is the correct way
Unique	Coolly logical	Easily dissatisfied in others who fail to live up to their ideals
Eccentric	Objective	Dislike taking orders
Independent	Cerebral (head over heart)	Tend to blame others for their own failures
Nonconformist	Humanitarian	March to the beat of their own drummer
Stubborn	Utopian	“To thine own self be true.”
Willful	Idealistic	Emotionally detached
Uncompromising

12. Watery Pisces (Feb. 19–Mar. 20), the Moon

Ruled by expansive Jupiter and in modern astrology by Neptune, mystical Pisces is the twelfth and final sign. Pisces the Fishes, an adaptable mutable sign, is associated with the Moon card, trump XVIII. The Knight of Cups falls largely under Pisces, a sign whose natives are characterized by these traits:

Sensitive	Creative	Moved by human suffering
Kind	Artistic	Easily connect with the feelings of others
Empathic	Psychic	Enjoy helping others, especially those less fortunate
Adaptable	Intuitive	Aware of the interconnectedness of all living things
Imaginative	Mysterious	Interested in the unconscious
Intuitive	Tender	Understand the role of illusion in creating a worldview
Compassionate	Meditative	Value peace and tranquility
Helpful	Gullible	Fascinated by the mysteries of the universe
Receptive	Vulnerable	Seek to understand the oneness of all creation
Dreamy	Interested in religion and spirituality	Like to spend time alone or in quiet places
Mellow	Capable of great self-sacrifice	May play the martyr in relationships
Poetic	Fond of music and dance	Drawn to thinking globally or in terms of universal principles
Romantic	Defend the underdog

The Planets

Ancient astrology dealt with the seven planets (“wanderers”) visible to the naked eye. The awareness of these seven wandering “stars” gave rise to the seven-day week, each day being named after one of the visible planets: Sunday (Sun day), Monday (Moon day), Tuesday (Mars day), Wednesday (Mercury day), Thursday (Jupiter day), Friday (Venus day), and Saturday (Saturn day). The ancients included the Sun and the Moon among the planets because they wandered across the heavens. The Golden Dawn assigned seven of the major arcana cards to the seven visible “planets” of antiquity.

Sun (the Vital Center)

The Sun, the center of the solar system and the giver of life, is assigned to the Sun card, trump XIX. The Sun is a “planet” of brilliance, clarity, vital energy, music, and athleticism.

Moon (Emotions and Inner Life)

The Moon is the queen of the night who reflects the light of the Sun. She is assigned to the High Priestess or Female Pope, trump II. The Moon is a “planet” of moods, emotions, mothering, the unconscious, inner life, cycles, water (the tides), and travel.

Mercury (Communication and Dexterity)

Mercury is the messenger of the gods, assigned to the Magician, trump I. Mercury is a planet of communication, travel, commerce, dexterity, sleight of hand, trade, writing, theft, and magic.

Venus (Love and Affiliation)

Venus is the goddess of love, pleasure, and beauty. She is assigned to the Empress, trump IV. Venus is a planet of amorousness, love, affection, reconciliation, peace, and harmony.

Mars (Strife and Conflict)

Mars, the red planet, is the god of war, bloodshed, and macho masculinity. He is assigned to the Tower, trump XVI. Mars is a planet of assertiveness, strife, conflict, aggression, force, warfare, and domination.

Jupiter (Expansion and Good Fortune)

Jupiter is the king of the gods who bestows good luck. He is assigned to the Wheel of Fortune, trump X. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, abundance, broadening horizons, and good fortune.

Saturn (Contraction and Hard Knocks)

Saturn is Father Time and the outermost visible planet. Representing duty and the reality principle, he is assigned to the World, trump XXI, the final card of the major arcana. Saturn is a planet of duty, contraction, structure, limits, boundaries, obstacles, heaviness, and melancholy.

The Golden Dawn did not make use of the so-called modern planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Instead, they associated the three unassigned major arcana (the Fool, the Hanged Man, Judgment) with the classical four elements as follows.

The Four Elements and the Major Arcana

Air: The Fool

The element Air is assigned to the Fool, a card without a number but sometimes labeled “0” in modern decks. Modern astrologers often assign Uranus to Aquarius and to the Fool.

Water: The Hanged Man

The element Water is assigned to the Hanged Man, trump XII. Modern astrologers sometimes assign Neptune to Pisces and to the Hanged Man.

Fire: Judgment

The element Fire is assigned to Judgment, trump XX, perhaps because during the Last Judgment God will decide who enters heaven and who will burn eternally in the fires of hell. Modern astrologers often assign Pluto to Scorpio and to Judgment.

Earth

The element Earth has no major arcana card assigned to it, perhaps because it represents the entire material universe in which we learn the lessons of the major arcana.

The Golden Dawn, the Decans, and Number Symbolism

The Golden Dawn used number associations in various ways to assign meanings to the tarot cards. One of their fundamental ideas was to pair the thirty-six pip cards numbered two through ten with the thirty-six decans of the zodiac. What is a decan?

The decanate system divides the 360-degree circle of zodiac signs into thirty-six equal parts of 10 degrees each. Each sign consists of three decans. There are twelve signs, so there are 12 x 3 = 36 decans. For thousands of years, astrologers have assigned the visible planets to these decans. Thus, each tarot card numbered from two through ten is associated with a decan as well as with the planet ruling the decan. In his book Mystical Origins of the Tarot, author Paul Huson shows how the decans’ esoteric meanings influenced the Golden Dawn’s interpretations of the cards.

The Golden Dawn’s idea was straightforward. In Western astrology, the zodiac is based on the seasons of the year. Working with the cards numbered two through ten in each of the four suits, the Golden Dawn assigned:

• • 2, 3, 4 to the first month of a season
• • 5, 6, 7 to the second month of a season
• • 8, 9, 10 to the third or final month of a season

Let’s look at this Golden Dawn tarot scheme in more detail:

Spring: Wands—Pentacles—Swords

• • First month: Aries (Fire)—Two, Three, and Four of Wands
• • Second month: Taurus (Earth)—Five, Six, and Seven of Pentacles
• • Third month: Gemini (Air)—Eight, Nine, and Ten of Swords

Summer: Cups—Wands—Pentacles

• • First month: Cancer (Water)—Two, Three, and Four of Cups
• • Second month: Leo (Fire)—Five, Six, and Seven of Wands
• • Third month: Virgo (Earth)—Eight, Nine, and Ten of Pentacles

Fall: Swords—Pentacles—Wands

• • First month: Libra (Air)—Two, Three, and Four of Swords
• • Second month: Scorpio (Water)—Five, Six, and Seven of Cups
• • Third month: Sagittarius (Fire)—Eight, Nine, and Ten of Wands

Winter: Pentacles—Swords—Cups

• • First month: Capricorn (Earth)—Two, Three, and Four of Pentacles
• • Second month: Aquarius (Air)—Five, Six, and Seven of Swords
• • Third month: Pisces (Water)—Eight, Nine, and Ten of Cups

Golden Dawn Assignment of Planets to Tarot Pips

The accompanying table shows the Golden Dawn’s scheme of zodiac signs and planetary rulers for the pip cards. Some tarot readers use the range of dates assigned to each card as an aid to judging the timing of events in a spread. (In this table: W = Wands, P = Pentacles, S = Swords, and C = Cups.)

Sign	Ruler	Decan Rulers	Pip Card	Tropical Sun Sign Dates (approximate)	Court Card
Leo (Strength) Fixed	Sun (Sun)	Saturn Jupiter Mars	5 W 6 W 7 W	Jul 22–Aug 1 Aug 2–Aug 11 Aug 12–Aug 22	King W King W Knight P
Virgo (Hermit) Mutable	Mercury (Magician)	Sun Venus Mercury	8 P 9 P 10 P	Aug 23–Sep 1 Sep 2–Sep 11 Sep 12–Sep 22	Knight P Knight P Queen S
Libra (Justice) Cardinal	Venus (Empress)	Moon Saturn Jupiter	2 S 3 S 4 S	Sep 23–Oct 2 Oct 3–Oct 12 Oct 13–Oct 22	Queen S Queen S King C
Scorpio (Death) Fixed	Mars (Tower)	Mars Sun Venus	5 C 6 C 7 C	Oct 23–Nov 1 Nov 2–Nov 12 Nov 13–Nov 22	King C King C Knight W
Sagittarius (Temperance) Mutable	Jupiter (Wheel of Fortune)	Mercury Moon Saturn	8 W 9 W 10 W	Nov 23–Dec 2 Dec 3–Dec 12 Dec 13–Dec 21	Knight W Knight W Queen P
Capricorn (Devil) Cardinal	Saturn (World)	Jupiter Mars Sun	2 P 3 P 4 P	Dec 22–Dec 30 Dec 31–Jan 9 Jan 10–Jan 19	Queen P Queen P King S
Aquarius (Star) Fixed	Saturn (World)	Venus Mercury Moon	5 S 6 S 7 S	Jan 20–Jan 29 Jan 30–Feb 8 Feb 9–Feb 18	King S King S Knight C
Pisces (Moon) Mutable	Jupiter (Wheel of Fortune)	Saturn Jupiter Mars	8 C 9 C 10 C	Feb 19–Feb 29 Mar 1–Mar 10 Mar 11–Mar 20	Knight C Knight C Queen W
Aries (Emperor) Cardinal	Mars (Tower)	Mars Sun Venus	2 W 3 W 4 W	Mar 21–Mar 30 Mar 31–Apr 10 Apr 11–Apr 20	Queen W Queen W King P
Taurus (High Priest) Fixed	Venus (Empress)	Mercury Moon Saturn	5 P 6 P 7 P	Apr 21–Apr 30 May 1–May 10 May 11–May 20	King P King P Knight S
Sign	Ruler	Decan Rulers	Pip Card	Tropical Sun Sign Dates (approximate)	Court Card
Gemini (Lovers) Mutable	Mercury (Magician)	Jupiter Mars Sun	8 S 9 S 10 S	May 21–May 31 Jun 1–Jun 10 Jun 11–Jun 20	Knight S Knight S Queen C
Cancer (Chariot) Cardinal	Moon (High Priestess)	Venus Mercury Moon	2 C 3 C 4 C	Jun 21–Jul 1 Jul 2–Jul 11 Jul 11–Jul 21	Queen C Queen C King W
Fool Hanged Man Judgment	Air (Uranus) Water (Neptune) Fire (Pluto)	Note the Chaldean order above		The above dates are only for the position of the Sun	W = Wands P = Pentacles S = Swords C = Cups

The Kabbalah and the Tree of Life

In addition to using astrology to understand the cards, the Golden Dawn included the Kabbalah to explain tarot symbolism. The interpretations of the numbered pip cards reflect the meaning of the corresponding number on the Tree of Life. That idea, of connecting the tarot with the Hebrew alphabet and the Kabbalah, can be traced back to Athanasius Kircher, a German Jesuit scholar of encyclopedic interests. Born around 1601, Kircher displayed an early interest in science, medicine, philosophy, and ancient cultures. He learned Hebrew from a rabbi and became fascinated by ancient Egyptian culture, eventually speculating that Egypt was the source of ancient mysteries. Kircher’s adaptation of the Tree of Life is still used by modern ceremonial magicians and tarot practitioners.

As mentioned, the Golden Dawn occultists made use of Kabbalah to assign meanings to tarot cards. In particular, they paired the meanings of the numbered Sephiroth (emanations) of the Tree of Life with cards of the same number. The Tree of Life is oriented in space like the Hanged Man, growing upside-down. The initial spark of creation takes place at the top of the tree in the Sephirah Kether (“the Crown”), numbered one. The roots of the tree lie in heaven, and its ultimate fruit manifests at the bottom in Malkuth (“the Kingdom of Earth”), numbered ten. Keywords for the Tree of Life include:

The Tree of Life

1. Kether (Crown)

The Crown—the initial spark of creation. Kether is associated with the primum mobile, and according to some modern astrologers, the planet Pluto. The tarot cards related to the number one are the Magician (I), the Wheel of Fortune (X, 1 + 0 = 1), the Sun (XIX, 1 + 9 = 10 1 + 0 = 1), and the four Aces, representing the pure potential and initial spark of the four elements.

2. Chokmah (Wisdom)

Wisdom—the Great Father. Chokmah is associated with the entire zodiac circle and, by some modern astrologers, with the planet Neptune. The tarot cards related to the number two are the High Priestess (II), Strength or Justice (XI, 1 + 1 = 2), Judgment (XX, 2 + 0 = 2), and all the pip cards numbered two. Chokmah represents the four elements in their purest form.

3. Binah (Understanding)

Understanding—the Great Mother. Binah is associated with the planet Saturn. The tarot cards related to the number three are the Empress (III), the Hanged Man (XII, 1 + 2 = 3), the Universe (XXI, 2 + 1 = 3), and all pip cards numbered three.

4. Chesed (Mercy)

Mercy/Peace. Chesed is associated with Jupiter, the planet of generosity, mind-expanding journeys, and good fortune. Tarot cards related to the number four are the Emperor (IV), Death (XIII, 1 + 3 = 4), the Fool (0 or XXII, 2 + 2 = 4), and all pip cards numbered four.

5. Geburah (Severity)

Severity/Strength/Justice—Necessary purging. Geburah is related to the destructive forces that eliminate what is no longer useful. Geburah is associated with Mars, the planet of conflict and strife. The tarot cards related to the number five are the High Priest (V), Temperance (XIV, 1 + 4 = 5), and all the pip cards numbered five.

6. Tiphareth (Harmony)

Harmony/Beauty—the Son. Tiphareth is associated with the life-giving Sun, which “dies” at sunset only to be reborn at the next sunrise. The tarot cards related to the number six are the Lovers (VI), the Devil (XV, 1 + 5 = 6), and all pip cards numbered six.

7. Netzach (Victory)

Victory/Eternity. Netzach is associated with Venus, the planet of love, beauty, creative intuition, art, and tender emotions. The tarot cards related to the number seven are the Chariot (VII), the Tower (XVI, 1 + 6 = 7), and all pip cards numbered seven.

8. Hod (Splendor)

Glory/Splendor. Hod is associated with the planet Mercury and thus with rational thought and the orderliness of the universe. The tarot cards related to the number eight are Strength or Justice (VIII), the Star (XVII, 1 + 7 = 8), and all the pip cards numbered eight.

9. Yesod (Foundation)

Foundation. Yesod is associated with the Moon and thus with dreams, imagination, introspection, natural cycles, and fertility. The tarot cards related to the number nine are the Hermit (IX), the Moon (XVIII, 1 + 8 = 9), and all the pip cards numbered nine.

10. Malkuth (Manifestation)

Manifestation—the Kingdom—Earth—the Daughter. Malkuth is associated with the Earth, with tangible reality and all living things. The tarot cards related to the number ten are the Wheel of Fortune (X), the Magician (I, 1 = 1 + 0), the Sun (XIX, 1 + 9 = 10), and all the pip cards numbered ten.

Runes and Tarot

Many tarot readers are familiar with the Nordic or Futhark runes that can be used for divination. Some historians believe that the runes originated with the ancient Etruscans and spread to northern Europe via trade routes. According to one theory, knowledge of the runes may have played a role in the development of the tarot, though there is scant evidence to support this conjecture. The runes and the tarot are distinct divinatory systems, and there is no one-to-one correspondence between them. Nonetheless, the runes and tarot cards have some archetypal images in common, the most compelling of which is tarot’s Hanged Man, suspended upside-down like Odin on Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse mythology.

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19. A birth card calculator can be found online at The Tarot School site: www.tarotschool.com/Calculator.html