The Major Arcana
A lot of tarot books put the interpretations for the Major Arcana first. In other books I have, too. For this one, though, I wanted to ease into the cards, showing you how they relate to real life. The Majors, as we tarot folks like to call them, are a little different. They are called “major” for a reason: because they represent not only big events but big, complex ideas. Sometimes they are referred to as archetypes; although that is not technically correct, they do represent archetypal energy. Just because they are big and important, don’t get nervous about them. If you’ve been doing the playtime activities, you’ve probably already interacted with some of them. Plus, we already looked at some keywords for each of them.
Here’s what you need to know about the Majors: they are doorways into vast wisdom. Do not expect to “master” them right away. Even I, after more than twenty years of hanging out with them, am still learning their secrets. Continuing to learn about the Majors is an ongoing education in spirituality and philosophy. Sometimes, after years of looking at a particular card, I suddenly see something that I’ve never seen before. As we grow, we move deeper into the worlds these magical doors open. In this chapter, I’ll repeat the keywords that you first read about in the chart in CHAPTER 2 so that you have all the information in one place.
The first paragraph after the keywords will tell that card’s part in the Fool’s Journey. The Fool’s Journey was, as far as I know, first written about by Eden Grey, who wrote tarot books in the 1960s and 1970s and is considered the grandmother of modern tarot interpretation. Her idea is that the Fool is on a journey through all the rest of the Major Arcana and is on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. If you’re familiar with Joseph Campbell’s concept of the Hero’s Journey, this is similar.
The second paragraph helps extrapolate the Fool’s Journey ideas and makes them more personal and relevant to your readings. But remember, the words and ideas given here are just the starting point, just a tiny peek into the vast and wondrous meanings, messages, and gifts that you will find in the cards as you explore on your own.
0 • The Fool
Keywords: Beginnings, innocence, freedom, spontaneity, adventure, youth, idealism, faith, purity, fearlessness, carelessness, eccentricity, folly, foolishness, stupidity, negligence, distraction, naivety, recklessness, risk-taking
Once upon a time, a young man put on his favorite clothes (all of them at once!) and started on a journey. He took a small bag of essential items, or at least what he thought of as essential. His faithful dog followed along, even though she wasn’t convinced that this was a great idea. Guided by an inner drive that he couldn’t really explain, he started off and although he didn’t know exactly where he was going, he walked with confidence because he trusted that inner voice. The white rose he carried reminded him of his pure intentions. The red feather in his cap was a sign of his passion and commitment to the quest.
We humans love to know what to expect. It makes us feel safe. Most of the time, we can figure out or find out what is going to happen (using great tools like tarot or the Internet). The thing is, sometimes we aren’t supposed to know. This “not knowing” comes up in a few cards because it is part of life’s journey. When the Fool shows up, you know that even if you don’t know what lies ahead, you do know what direction to go. You are just going to have to trust yourself, trust your inner voice (or your dog), and the Universe. You may not know where you are going but you will be headed in the right direction. One step at a time!
I • The Magician
Keywords: Will, talent, skill, creativity, manifestation, communication, magic, action, awareness, power, resourcefulness, concentration, eloquence, trickery, manipulation, deceit, con, liar, misuse of gifts
The young man, our Fool, met a great and powerful man who could do amazing things. So the Fool made himself comfortable and watched and learned about magic. The key is to understand the energies that swirl around all the time. The energies have different names depending on who is talking about them. Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Will, Emotions, Thoughts, and Matter. Once you understand how these work, alone and in combination, you can learn to control and to manifest dreams and create reality. More importantly, though, it is necessary to control these energies within yourself. To change yourself, that is the true magic.
“You can achieve whatever you desire” is a popular belief these days and has been for a few decades. In my experience, this is not always true (and sometimes that’s a good thing because we humans can be pretty short-sighted). But sometimes it is true. Sometimes you have the right idea at the right time with the right skills and resources at hand to make what you want happen. When the Magician comes up in a reading, it is a sign that this is one of those times. The first step is to be very clear about what you want. Then assess the resources you have. Then get creative. The solution may seem like a miracle, but you can make it happen.
II • The High Priestess
Keywords: Secrets, initiation, mystery, silence, wisdom, understanding, intuition, insight, subconscious, unrevealed future, shallow knowledge, hidden agendas, inappropriate passion, conceit
The Fool was all amped up after his visit with the Magician and wandered around in a bit of a stupor. The calm, cool terrace of the High Priestess was very inviting, so he rested there awhile. She didn’t really say anything, so he got bored but was too tired to move on. So he continued to sit. At first the strange symbols around her baffled him, but he kept staring at them, wondering what they could mean. He asked, but the High Priestess wouldn’t answer. He quit trying to figure it out and finally found himself lost in her gaze. She may have been surrounded in symbols, but her eyes were gateways to the undefined, indescribable mysteries of life. In the shade, he might have dozed, might have dreamed, he wasn’t sure. When he decided to move on, he felt different. Like he knew things that he didn’t know before, but he wasn’t exactly sure what.
The High Priestess is one of the cards that tells us that we aren’t supposed to know … at least not with our intellect. She represents an initiation. An initiation imparts wisdom through the experience itself. In preparation for an initiation, the initiate generally receives some training, has learned some life lessons, but the initiation itself is like the final exam. And it’s not a take-home exam. You aren’t given the questions ahead of time. It is a chance to put what you know into practice in ways that you couldn’t have imagined. By entering into unknown territory, you learn about yourself and the world through direct experience. That experience will change you on a soul level. Your mind may never fully understand what happened, but you will know without a doubt that you’ve been changed.
III • The Empress
Keywords: Abundance, fertility, creativity, pleasure, beauty, happiness, comfort, nature, motherhood, mother, nurturing, love, pregnancy, generosity, dependence, codependence, laziness, stagnation, smothering, stubbornness, creative block, gluttony
The hours (day, years, he wasn’t really sure) that the Fool spent with the High Priestess left him feeling like he was more out of his body than in his body. Plus, he was hungry. And a little homesick. He followed a trail of flowers to a strange alcove by the edge of a lake. In the middle of a field sat a rather gorgeous woman in a luxurious chair. Or maybe it was a throne. She wore a crown of stars, so she was probably a queen of something. She was kind and gave him fruit and milk and honey. She let him sleep in her chair and sang him songs that made flowers bloom and the air sing. He made her a crown of flowers and even though it wasn’t as nice as her starry crown, she graciously wore it. Then she packed him a huge lunch and sent him on his way.
The Empress teaches through the parable of gardening and the cultivation of all life. Her lessons show us that through preparing the soil, carefully choosing what to plant, and nurturing the seeds, we will reap a harvest. This metaphor applies to all things in life, not just gardens. Life is a cycle, with death as part of that great dance. But here, in this card, we get to focus on Nature in all her abundant glory. Death is far away and, for the moment, there is more than enough for everyone. When you get this card in a reading, remember that. Also, take a cue from the Empress and be kind and generous. It’s the right thing to do, particularly in this instance.
IV • The Emperor
Keywords: Stability, structure, power, authority, leadership, control, protection, stewardship, order, boss, fatherhood, father, ambition, reason, logic, confidence, tyranny, rigidity, inflexibility, controlling, cruelty, abuse of power, poor leadership, undisciplined
The Fool was mindlessly munching on one of the Empress’s sandwiches when he wandered upon the Emperor. The Fool wished he had been paying more attention because he would have skipped this imposing character. The Emperor demanded to be shown everything in the Fool’s now overfull sack. He wanted to know what kind of journey the Fool was on, how long it would last, and how he would make his provisions stretch for the entire adventure. The Fool, of course, had no answers and so the Emperor lectured him about the importance of responsibility, stewardship, and the general advisability of always having a plan. With the Emperor’s guidance, he sorted his provisions so that he had enough for several days. Plus, the Fool did some odd jobs for the Emperor to earn some pocket money.
We would all love to be free spirits all the time, but it’s not advisable. Most of us have responsibilities, if not to others then at least to ourselves. The Emperor shows us how rules and policies and organization help support life so that we can enjoy the things we love. Through planning ahead, we can be well-fed through the winter instead of practically starving through early spring when the first fruits and berries appear. Through being efficient, we create a surplus that allows for life beyond survival, for things like the arts and comforts. If the Emperor comes up in a reading, it is a message to be smart and make sure you are managing your resources properly. Don’t be a greedy hoarder, because that inhibits the flow of resources for no good reason. Don’t be irresponsible and hope that someone helps you out later. Be just right. Yeah, that can be harder than it sounds.
V • The Hierophant
Keywords: Education, teaching, learning, knowledge, conformity, tradition, institutions, group identity, values, guidance, orthodoxy, rites, blessing, status quo, social conventions, fundamentalism, repression, intolerance, fear, guilt, extremism, restriction, cults, abuse of position
If the Emperor was scary, the Hierophant was just crazy. What is up with that hat and those crazy gesticulations? Curious, the Fool joined the small group that listened to the Hierophant. After a while, a basket was passed around and people put money in it. The Fool didn’t but instead waited until everyone left and asked what the money was for. The Hierophant explained that it was to feed the poor and take care of the priests and priestesses who served the people. It was his job to help the people to live according to their beliefs, to make the right choices, and to grow spiritually. The Fool had a lot more questions and the Hierophant patiently answered them.
The Hierophant is one of the cards in tarot that gets a bad rap, mostly because a lot of people who study tarot have suffered at the hands of organized religion. People focus on the negative extreme rather than the positive. We don’t do that with other cards, but the Hierophant really pushes people’s buttons. The word “hierophant” means “to manifest the sacred.” That means he helps spiritual ideals become actions in this world by teaching people how to live by their beliefs. He may also teach about spiritual beliefs and uphold or establish traditions, rituals, and ceremonies. When this card comes up for you, look at your beliefs and your actions. How well do they match up? In short, make sure you are walking your talk. If you’re not, then maybe re-examine your talk. Maybe your ideals need an overhaul. Maybe you could use a teacher or guide to gain clarity.
VI • The Lovers
Keywords: Choices, crossroads, trust, communication, relationships, partnerships, togetherness, love, affection, sexuality, harmony, engagement, attraction, duality, separation, disharmony, suspicion, jealousy, obsession, infidelity, fear
of commitment, loss of love
In a clearing at a fork in the Fool’s path, a naked couple listened to an angel. The angel said: “You both recognize each other as your heart’s desire. You are choosing wisely.” The couple embraced and turned to leave. As they did, a new path opened up as if by magic. Hand in hand, they walked the path, which disappeared behind them. The angel saw the Fool’s astounded expression and said: “When you choose the path of your heart, it will be yours and yours alone.” The Fool sat under the tree with apples, ate one, and stared at the burning tree. Part of him wanted to go back home. He looked back the way he’d come and saw plants emerging, reclaiming the route, making it impossible to follow. He decided to seek more adventures. A path revealed itself and the Fool continued on his way.
The Lovers is one of the cards that has changed a lot over the decades. It originally showed a man making a choice between two women, one blonde and the other dark. Symbolically, this represented the right choice and the wrong choice. Today, we have a pair of lovers, a symbol that is more specific but still means the same thing. A true love match is choosing the person who is right for you, who will help you become the person your soul wants to be. This is true of any choice you make. If you are honest with yourself and in touch with your spirit, all choices are made easier because your heart pulses in agreement with the one that’s right for you.
VII • The Chariot
Keywords: Drive, ambition, control, direction, determination, success, triumph, victory, will, movement, progress, speed, travel, conquest, battle, lack of control, delay, opposition, stagnation, no direction, aggression, canceled trip, car trouble
The Fool felt pretty good about his choice, although part of him was still anxious. All doubt vanished when he came upon the Chariot. He never knew he wanted one until he saw it. He slowly walked around it, admiring all the features. It was like a culmination of his recent adventures. The starry canopy reminded him of the Empress’s celestial crown. The strange symbol on the front was weird but clearly a reference to the union of the Lovers. The square sturdiness would have delighted the Emperor. The living sphinxes were like the Hierophant’s idea of mystical beliefs alive in the world. The crescent moons were the favorite symbol of the High Priestess. He climbed in and noticed a wand … here, he thought, is the Magician. He held up the wand and thought about moving on. Slowly, creakily, the sphinxes stood up and started walking and the chariot lurched into motion.
This card advises you to take all the lessons you’ve learned recently and apply them to your life. If you want to move forward, you have to know who you are and where you want to go. At this point, you may not have much more than a strong desire, a passion, and for now, that is enough. That desire you have comes out of all that you’ve become, a logical conclusion of your life so far. You have acquired will (Magician), intuition (High Priestess), love (Empress), rationality (Emperor), training (Hierophant), and passion (Lovers). Take yourself out for a test drive. Get used to how you handle yourself in new situations. You may feel clunky at first, but just like driving a car or riding a bike, you’ll become more elegant in time.
VIII • Strength
Keywords: Strength, gentleness, patience, compassion, healing, integration, courage, heart, control, discipline, fortitude, assurance, potency, virility, lust, instinct, ability, mastery, weakness, lack of discipline, control, or patience; overbearing, force, cowardice, fear, shyness
The Fool was so focused on steering his new chariot that he almost ran into a woman and a lion. Without thinking, only reacting to a perceived danger, the Fool jumped out and ran to help. The woman was making shushing noises, trying to calm the lion, and, amazingly, the lion was responding. The woman knelt down and plucked a thorn from the lion’s paw. Relieved of pain, the lion fell heavily to the ground, and the woman continued to soothe him. Looking at the Fool, she said: “Most wild, noble beings lash out or attack when they are in pain or afraid. Like animals, other people, and your own glorious spirit.”
It is easy to think this card is about brute force, physical strength. Sometimes it is, but it also holds a deeper, more powerful meaning. We all have a part of us, often called our “shadow,” that we try to ignore. But it won’t be ignored and will, like a neglected child, act out to get attention. It is only through loving acceptance that this part of ourselves can be transformed and integrated, helping us to become complete beings. When this card comes for you, look to your fears, your angers, your shames. Figure out how they are getting in the way of living the life you want to live. Then, with great compassion, forgive yourself and reclaim the parts of you that you’ve pushed away. Welcome them back and you will find an inner strength that astonishes you.
IX • The Hermit
Keywords: Solitude, introspection, philosophy, meditation, withdrawal, contemplation, wisdom, guidance, seeking, mysticism, privacy, prudence, introversion, agoraphobia,
ostracism, exile, paranoia, loneliness, isolation, extreme withdrawal, self-absorption, social misfit
It was getting dark and the Fool thought he should stop traveling for the night. As he was starting to set up a makeshift camp, he saw an old man with a lantern. The old man wasn’t paying any attention to the Fool; instead he was very focused on the path in front of him, stepping carefully in the small pool of light the lantern created. The Fool followed him up a mountain. The Hermit finally stopped and said, “Why do you follow me? This is my light and my path. I go to the mountain to be alone and think about things.” The Fool knew enough to take a hint and headed back down to his chariot, thinking, “If I had a light of my own, I could travel more easily in the dark.” He fell asleep wondering how he could make a lantern.
When we are confused, we turn to others for advice. There always comes a time, though, in any dilemma, when you have to stop listening to others and make your own decision. The Hermit card marks a time of withdrawing from others. It suggests that you turn inward, think about all you’ve heard, read, and experienced and put it all together to create a picture of the truth as you see it. This truth will be yours and yours alone and it will light your path. Depending on how bright your light is or how thick the darkness around you is, you may only see the next step. That’s okay. That’s all you need to know because the even bigger lesson here is that the person you are now is not capable of the vision you are moving toward. With each step you become the person capable of a larger vision. It will be revealed as you are transformed.
X • Wheel of Fortune
Keywords: Fortune, chance, cycle of life, opportunity, destiny, fate, good luck, movement, turning point, annual event, bad luck, out of control, misfortune, failure, unexpected
setback, reversal, delay
During the night, the Fool dreamt. He saw a large wheel covered in strange symbols and ridden by bizarre creatures, like some esoteric Ferris wheel. It turned slowly at first. The creature at the bottom was becoming more excited as it rose higher and higher. The creature at the top started screaming and flailing, unable to stop its own fall. Then a huge hand came out of nowhere and spun the wheel. All the creatures wailed and clutched, trying not to be flung off. A voice whispered very close to the Fool’s ear: “It’s easier to hold on if you stay in the center.”
The Wheel of Fortune is a game of chance, made all the more difficult to win because it is dripping with riddles and mysteries. It has many lessons for us. The most obvious is: life is a cycle. The only constant is change. Some of life’s cycles are easy to predict; they come and go with the regularity of the seasons. Some seem completely random and chaotic. The most important lesson isn’t about the nature of change. It is about your own steadiness in the face of change. The more centered you are, the less likely you are to be battered by the winds of change. When this card appears, know that things will happen and you can’t control them, but you should see them as an opportunity to test and strengthen your own spiritual center.
XI • Justice
Keywords: Justice, karma, cause and effect, equality, truth, responsibility, integrity, fairness, judgment, contract, legal action, lawsuit, trial, injustice, imbalance, dishonesty, hypocrisy, complications, abuse of power, red tape, bad decision
In the morning, the Fool got into his chariot, the weirdness of last night’s dream still clinging to him. Soon he saw a formal-looking building with lots of pillars and steps. At the top of the steps was a woman holding a sword and a set of scales. People were on the steps, listening and watching as other people went up and pled their cases. The Fool couldn’t hear what was being said, but noticed some people left in tears while others seemed happy and still others, determined. He asked a fellow observer what was going on and was told, “Oh, it’s just people finding out that they have to sleep in the beds that they’ve made.” The Fool must have looked blank because the person continued, “Some people never learn that they get what they deserve.”
There are all kinds of justice. Very often the goddess of Justice is shown blindfolded, meaning that all are equal in the eyes of the law. Sadly, that ideal doesn’t always play out. But the justice in this card is not blindfolded and is about a more universal kind of justice, more like we Westerners inaccurately call “karma.” Here, Justice sees clearly and thoroughly. She carefully weighs the intentions of and outcomes of our actions to determine what we deserve. In Christian terms, it is the idea that you reap what you sow. In Law of Attraction terms, it means that your thoughts and actions create your future. If this card shows up, it means that whatever is going on is not random but instead is the result of actions that may have been set in motion long ago. This card means no one is going to get away with anything. It is time to pay the piper.
XII • The Hanged Man
Keywords: Reversal, letting go, sacrifice, suspension, surrender, withdrawal, restriction, crisis, delay, restraint, detachment, enlightenment, transformation, initiation, limbo, martyrdom, indecision, self-sabotage, narrow-minded, punishment, imprisonment, treason
The Fool saw a man hanging upside down in a tree. He wondered, remembering the lesson from Justice, what the man had done to deserve this when the hanging man spoke. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong.” The hanging man explained that he chose to hang in the tree, giving his liberty as a sacrifice, as an offering. He sought enlightenment, a new way of seeing the same old world. He had been trying hard for years, studying and working, but making no progress so he decided not to give up but to give over, committing to wait as long as it took. “Sometimes,” he continued, “there is nothing that you can do but wait. Just be still and quiet so you can listen.” The Fool respected that and quit talking. But he stayed and watched for a while. Slowly, a halo of light started glowing behind the man’s head, growing in size and brightness. The man stayed silent, eyes closed, but his face lit up with a radiant smile.
Have you ever felt like you’ve worked and worked and tried your best and yet you are not making any progress? The more frustrated you get, the harder you work until you have an amazing downward spiral going and are in danger of being sucked into a vicious vortex of overachieving control freakiness. The Hanged Man shows up in a reading to let you know to just cut that out. You may feel like the Universe is thwarting you, playing with you like a cat with a mouse, but it’s not. It is trying to get your attention, trying to get you to calm down, to stop, to listen. There is something you are not getting and all your flailing about isn’t helping. Stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and tune into the whispers of your heart. The answers you need are waiting for you to hear them.
XIII • Death
Keywords: Death, rebirth, endings, mortality, loss, change, failure, destruction, severing ties, transitions, transformation, inexorable force, elimination, loss of hope, decay, corruption, depression, despair, inertia, holding on
The Fool must have stayed with the Hanged Man for longer than he thought because when he set off again the sun was setting. In the distance he heard moaning and wailing, so he approached cautiously and he was glad he did. Hiding his chariot, he scrambled closer to a frightful scene. A king lay dead on a boulder while a skeleton walked over him. Other people were crying out, while a young girl offered flowers to the skeleton. The skeleton turned its head and looked right at the Fool with his empty eye sockets. A cold shiver shuddered through the Fool’s soul and he knew without a doubt that he needed to walk with Death. Leaving behind his beloved chariot, his knapsack, and his few meager belongings, he walked with Death toward the sun fading on the horizon.
In tarot it is said that Death rarely means physical death. Instead, we see it as transformation. But even that word doesn’t have the right connotations. It implies that you become something other than what you are. It implies leaving your ego behind, which is of course terrifying because in this human incarnation what are we without our ego? In yogic philosophy, they speak of liberation. You do not change into something else. You are who you’ve always been. Instead, you are freeing yourself, releasing everything that is not you in order to be more completely you. This is Death. Leaving behind all the stories that lie to you about who you really are. When this card shows up, you are invited to leave your baggage behind and shed the layers that hide your true soul.
XIV • Temperance
Keywords: Temperance, self-control, balance, moderation,
harmony, synthesis, patience, health, combination, blending, management, unification, synergy, guides, angels, imbalance, excess, temper, one-sided relationship, irreconcilable differences, short-term focus
The Fool still felt dazed after his night with Death, as if he wasn’t filling up his body properly. He almost bumped into an angel with glorious red wings who was doing magical things with goblets and liquid. The angel set down his cups and assessed the Fool. The angel saw into the Fool, all the piles of treasures scattered around and all of the empty spaces, too. The angel picked up the chalices again and held them up high. He turned to face each of the directions, speaking beautiful words to the sky. The angel poured the liquid back and forth before finally handing one chalice to the Fool, who, without question or doubt, drank it. The empty places in his soul filled up and the Fool was more fully in his body. He was more fully himself in every way. Death stripped him bare, leaving fertile soil and a few seeds. The angel watered the seeds and already they were growing.
We think of temperance as balance or moderation, and that is a good start. But Temperance, the Temperance in tarot, is much more subtle than that. It goes beyond the idea of creating a balanced life with a simple equation of equal hours of work, play, and sleep. This card presents us with an idea of balance that is more in line with nature. The natural world, after all, only experiences balance on the equinoxes, when day and night are equal. Other than those two moments, the natural world is either ebbing or flowing. Our lives are like that, too. Sometimes we need to put more time and energy into a certain area of life, which means less is left for other activities. When you get Temperance, you are reminded that instead of slavishly following a strict routine, try being more flexible. Routines are helpful and healthy, but only when they support your life, not control it. It is better to do the right things at the right time, giving extra attention to something if it is needed.
XV • The Devil
Keywords: Bondage, obsession, materialism, temptation, shadow, fear, doubt, lies, deviancy, ignorance, sexuality, hopelessness, lack of options, trapped, scapegoat, abuse,
addiction, violence, evil, weakness, detachment, breaking free, reclaiming power
Feeling jaunty and revived, the Fool continued on his way with a spring in his step. The day was so bright and the air felt so good. He heard strange sounds, like a confusion of tortured moans and diabolical laughter. He did not want to follow the sound but knew he had to investigate. Finding the entrance to a cave, he went in and saw a man and woman chained together. A large demon taunted them until it saw the Fool. Suddenly, the Fool found himself chained to a pillar. His fear bubbled up from his stomach through his veins and panic coursed through every synapse in his brain. The chains became tighter and his terror worse. The demon’s voice filled the Fool’s mind: “You are nothing, you have learned nothing, you will never be worthy.”
Have you ever sabotaged your own efforts? Made decisions you knew were wrong for you? Kept up a habit that was doing you no good? Heard your heart or your gut warn you about something but do it anyway? This is what makes the Devil so dangerous. It isn’t a really big, scary demon, which would be super easy to recognize and run away from. It is really your own choices. No, that’s not precisely true. Let’s be very clear. It is really the choices that you make that are based in fear or grounded in an untrue story you told yourself. The more you indulge in the behavior or the further you follow the choice, the harder it becomes to imagine what you would look like or be without it. You come to imagine it is inherently you. Because you are the one who has put on the metaphorical devil’s chains, it is only you who can remove them.
XVI • The Tower
Keywords: Sudden change, upheaval, adversity, downfall, destruction, catastrophe, misery, disaster, ruin, chaos, release, awakening, freedom, escape, fear of change, prolonged upheaval, obstacles, difficulties, losses, oppression, imprisonment, tyranny
The Fool was still bound in the demon’s cave. He’d given up struggling and was huddled on the ground, holding himself and rocking back and forth. When he rocked forward, he could see outside the mouth of the cave. He could see a tall tower on top of a hill, dark clouds gathering behind it, making the sky dark and fearsome. The storm churning overhead echoed the chaotic whispers engulfing the Fool’s mind. As the energy built in the sky and in his brain, it began illuminating everything. The Fool’s truth, a hard-won truth wrestled from the cold hands of Death, flashed in his mind and surged through his being. The chains fell away and on pure instinct the Fool ran out of the cave in time to see the sky split and the mighty tower turn into a pile of rubble on the hill.
We spend a lot of time in our lives building things: relationships, careers, homes, lifestyles, philosophies, religions, worldviews, prejudices, and ideals. It is in our nature to create structures that support our lives. The Emperor is all about useful, healthy structures. Sometimes, though, we outgrow our structures. Or we need to shed our structures so that we can grow, like a snake shedding its skin. Humans don’t love change and so we often cling too tightly to our beloved structures long after we don’t need them anymore. When that happens, the Universe often helps us out by, well, totally demolishing your tower for you. The Tower comes up in readings as a heads-up. You can take steps to free yourself, maintaining more control and inviting less crisis and chaos, or you can let nature take its course. Either way, you’ll be able to rebuild a new structure that is better suited to your current life. For a while, you’ll probably be mad and pouty about it, but in time you will realize that the experience was really a gift.
XVII • The Star
Keywords: Hope, faith, healing, cleansing, renewal, guidance, peace, blessing, tranquility, serenity, inspiration, optimism, happiness, promises, wishes, lack of faith, hopelessness, discouragement, feeling lost, broken dreams, dashed hopes, unfulfilled wishes, missed opportunities
The Fool was battered, bruised, and burned after his experiences in the Devil’s cave and running past the exploding Tower. He had left everything behind with Death and felt lost, and—he hated to admit it—a little betrayed. Looking up at the brilliant stars in the dark sky made him feel better. One seemed so much brighter than the rest and he followed it into a clearing where a woman was pouring water into the pond and onto the ground. She approached him quietly, took his hand, and motioned for him to rest on the shore. She sang star songs and poured water over him. His wounds healed and he felt like his heart healed, too. He didn’t know how to thank her, so he sang a song from his heart. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and he started on his path again, feeling more certain of his way.
Stars are rich symbols. We wish upon stars. We see stories in clusters of stars. We navigate by stars. We are comforted by their light in the darkness. All of these ideas play into how we interpret this card. When you get the Star, it promises healing, guidance, and restored faith. It is a gentle card with powerful effects. Have you ever felt so sad and lost, on the edge of tears, when someone gives you a hug and suddenly you start crying really hard and all your pain just bursts out in your sobs? The Star is like that hug. It lets you release everything. When you are empty, when your heart has space, the starlight pours in and fills you with a quiet confidence that everything will be okay. You will figure out how to tell the story of what happened in a way that makes sense. You will discover that you do know which way to go. You will be able to hear the soft pulse of your heart and the song of your soul.
XVIII • The Moon
Keywords: Secrets, illusion, deception, imagination, mystery, subconscious, confusion, falsehoods, cycles, bewilderment, anxiety, insecurity, dreams, nightmares, visions, psychic ability, secrets revealed, mysteries unveiled, insomnia, trouble sleeping, irrationality, shadows, danger
Everything was going great for the Fool until clouds covered the tiny stars. His way was lit only by the ghostly light of the Moon. Shadows formed, making everything confusing. Water poured onto the path, but he couldn’t figure out where it came from. A lobster crawled out of the water and onto the path, looking like a horrible monster. He heard wolves howling in the distance and thought they were coming closer. He panicked and ran around bumping into stones and trees. When he stopped to catch his breath, underneath the pounding of his heart, he felt guidance rising up. Stop. Look. Listen. Listen from within. Calmer now, he realized his eyes were adjusting and he could see. The path led between two pillars and he knew that was the way to go.
The energy of the Moon can be challenging, depending on how you approach it. The light of the moon shows a world that looks very different from the daytime world. This is, of course, symbolic. The Moon indicates that things are not always what they seem. Monsters may actually be allies. Treasures may turn out to be curses. When this card shows up, it invites you to look not only closer but differently. Use your nonphysical senses … that is, use your intuition. … to get a fuller story of what is going on. Pay attention to the energy and don’t make decisions based on initial impressions. Stay quiet and calm and tap into the eyes and ears of your soul. Pay attention to your dreams. The truth is there but it is hidden in the shadows.
XIX • The Sun
Keywords: Happiness, joy, fun, optimism, enthusiasm, glory, clarity, consciousness, success, celebration, energy, vitality, good fortune, greatness, life, ego, false impressions, delayed happiness, depression, burnt out, overexposure, drought, partial success, incomplete victory
By the time the Sun was high in the sky, the fearful memories of the night before were fading and the Fool felt positively cheerful. He came to a lovely field filled with flowers, including plenty of sunflowers drinking in the warm sunlight. Then the Fool saw the strangest thing: a young child, who looked exactly like the Fool did many years ago, riding a white horse. The child even had a red feather, something that had been the Fool’s trademark until he lost it during his adventures with Death. The child put the feather on the Fool’s head, got off the horse, and motioned for the Fool to get on. The Fool did and the child vanished. The Fool rode up and down the field just for the joy of it for a very long time.
The Sun is a wonderful card with a simple message. For those of us who love birthdays, it is a feeling like that: like everything is wonderful and joyous and all about you. Another way to think of it: that feeling you get after it’s been raining for days and finally the sun comes out. There is a fresh sense of happiness, energy, and enthusiasm. When the Sun shows up in a reading, it lets you know that no matter what is going on, you’re going to feel completely awesome. One reason is because the sun is associated with life and new growth. It also represents clarity, the opposite of the confusion of the Moon. You will feel like you can see more clearly and understand everything you see. It connects you with your inner child who sees the world through the eyes of trust and wonder.
XX • Judgement
Keywords: Rebirth, renewal, rite of passage, calling, vocation, awakening, change, decision, forgiveness, redemption, absolution, judgement, doubt, forsaking vocation, ignoring a calling, avoiding change, unhealed wounds, lack of forgiveness, delay
After riding around, long and hard, laughing into the sunshine, the Fool felt like he was done and also, curiosity started tugging at him. What was just beyond that wall, the one with all the sunflowers along it? He climbed over and saw a huge cemetery that reached as far as the horizon. An angel appeared in the sky and started blowing a trumpet, although the Fool couldn’t hear any sound. Some graves opened up and people, alive and shining with heavenly light, rose up and disappeared. While the Fool was puzzling out what had happened, he felt his soul rise up and a song burst from his throat. He didn’t know how, but he could hear the trumpet and hear his own voice combining to make the most glorious, majestic music ever made. All the layers of the Fool’s experiences began to merge. He lifted his face to the sky and sang his prayer of love and gratitude. He glimpsed the divine within him and in every bit of the world.
It would be great if we gave Judgement a new name because we modern folks have a hard time with it. We automatically think it is about being judged (and found wanting). We don’t always realize that this is actually a card that marks a divine calling that invites us to leave a life that is dead and to embrace one that is full of life and love. We have the opportunity to free ourselves of whatever story or behavior is keeping us trapped in a coffin. This call can come out of nowhere and for most of us, that’s how it happens. The card appears to give you a message: Listen to and follow the song of the divine (however you perceive it) and leave behind the things that keep you dead and small. You are meant for so much more.
XXI • The World
Keywords: Completion, success, perfection, achievement, accomplishment, victory, reward, unity, wholeness, fulfillment, endings and beginnings, celebration, center of attention, travel, delays, hesitations, false starts, stagnation, rut, incomplete work, lack of closure.
The cemetery vanished and the Fool stood in an empty field. Eventually all that vibrating with wonder made his legs weak and he laid down and watched the clouds against the blue sky. As humans have done from the dawn of time, he saw pictures there that told him a beautiful story about success and completion. He fell asleep, dreaming about his adventures and wondering what would come next. When he woke, he was on a cloud and there was a portal marked by a laurel wreath. He couldn’t see what was beyond it. The opening was reflective and he saw only himself. He adjusted his red feather, smiled with anticipation, and jumped through.
The World is the last card in the Major Arcana. Life is full of endings and beginnings, some small, some large, some happy, some sad. This card marks the successful completion of a cycle that likely required some great effort on your part. It is a great moment to reflect on the struggles that you overcame to get to this spot and to enjoy a sense of accomplishment. It is also a time to experience gratitude. Take some time to celebrate your achievement, and then hang on to your hat, because it won’t be long before you start your next grand adventure!
Playtime
Life Events and Experiences
The Major Arcana cards represent major events in your life. Go through all the Majors and write down a life experience that you’ve had that corresponds to each card.
Using the Majors to Find Your Birth Cards
Birth cards are like your sun sign in astrology. They can tell you a little something about yourself, your journey in this life, your strengths and weaknesses. Birth cards come in sets and are connected numerically. You calculate your Birth cards by adding up the numbers of the month, the day, and the year of your birthday. Then reduce that number by adding its digits together. (In numerology, you “reduce” numbers by adding the digits together.) You continue to reduce the two-digit number until you get a number that is under twenty-one.
For example, my birthdate is 1-16-1963. When I add up those numbers and then reduce the two-digit number, I get 18 (1 + 16 + 19 + 63 = 99. Then, 9 + 9 = 18), which is the Moon.
Then I find its corresponding card by further reducing the number of the Birth card. In my example, my corresponding card is 9, the Hermit (because 1 + 8 = 9).
Most birthdates, when added up and reduced, will provide two cards, such as my birthday did: the Moon (18) and the Hermit (9). Some birthdays will generate three cards instead of two. For example, if your birthdate reduces to 19, then you have 19, the Sun; 10, the Wheel (because 1 + 9 = 10), and 1, the Magician (because 1 + 0 = 1). In the chart below, you will find all the possible permutations of Birth cards so you don’t actually have to do all the math. Simply reduce down to the largest number possible under 21. Find that number on the chart and then you will know both (or all three) of your Birth cards.
Finding Your Set of Birth Cards
The groups are:
10/1: Wheel of Fortune and Magician
11/2: Justice and High Priestess
12/3: Hanged Man and Empress
13/4: Death and Emperor
14/5: Temperance and Hierophant
15/6: Devil and Lovers
16/7: Tower and Chariot
17/8: Star and Strength
18/9: Moon and Hermit
19/10/1: Sun and Wheel and Magician
20/2: Judgement and High Priestess
21/3: World and Empress
Using the Majors to Find Your Card of the Year
Your card of the year represents the general theme of your year ahead. This can play out in both large and small ways. Knowing your card of the year can provide a lens through which to observe your experiences, looking for lessons and increased connection with the card.
Your card of the year is calculated similarly to your Birth card, except you use the current year instead of your birth year. So my numbers for the year this book is published are 1-16-2016 and reduce to 8, Strength (1 + 16 + 20 + 16 = 53. Then, 5 + 3 = 8).
While we usually have pairs for our Birth cards, people generally only reduce to one card of the year. There is always debate about whether your card of the year energy starts in January of that year or on your birthday. In my opinion, it makes more sense for it to apply from birthday to birthday, but you may decide differently.