Hod (Splendor)
The Court Cards
Page of Wands
Book T Title: Princess of the Shining Flame, the Rose of the Palace of Fire
Elemental Counterchange: Earth (Page) of Fire (Wands), Princess and Empress of the Salamanders, Throne of the Ace of Wands
Astrological: Season of Summer
Travel, travel and search, eyes that are eager glisten
I stand on the marge and listen.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Page of Wands, the Youth of Fire, has a red flame protruding from the top of her hat. The red flame denotes all you need to know about the Page of Wands. As the youth of fire, she reflects purity of passion glowing in its primal stages. Put yourself in your prepuberty mindset and imagine yourself around age nine or ten. What activities did you love more than anything? What fascinated and beguiled you? Did the library’s endless bookshelves with tasty titles and colorful covers each call out to you like a new adventure? Did dirt and grass baseball diamonds appear like a magical landscape where you could reach immortality with a single solid swing and crack of your bat? What toys and games did you devour? Did Monopoly or Clue, a colored square cardboard, provide hours of fun? What movie or TV show did you watch repetitively? Were you lost in vibrant waxy crayons, dripping paints, and creamy smooth paper? Did the freedom of bike riding—wind in your hair, gravel crunching under your tires—thrill you? The Page of Wands puts what she loves most at the center of her attention. The Page of Wands’ life forms and reforms around her passionate bright flame. This flame burns at the center of her existence.
In You
The Page of Wands places her attention entirely on what thrills her, and when you do the same, you embody her. Recall the complete and total attention of your child-self immersed in play. Holding complete awareness on what fascinates you allows you to live in the moment. It releases the ego. The past and future slip away. Each of us is born with unique talents and dreams. We each hold particular sensitivities. We explore our passions, be it dance, cooking, traveling, etc., and we become the Page of Wands. We are born with unique sensitivities and passions that feed our dreams. Exploring our passions allows us to blossom, grow, and evolve. We feed the passion and the passion feeds us. It is a symbiotic relationship of growth and evolution. The Page of Wands can be understood as the pleasurable energetic process leading you deeper into the evolution of your true self.
In Others
The Page of Wands is the good-time girl who exhibits the excitable qualities of fire. She is full of energy, seemingly tireless, and bubbly. She’s the type of friend who gets you both into trouble because fire qualities move first and ask questions later. She cheers you up with her charismatic energy, and she’s usually wildly popular, with a wide circle of friends. Her essence is infectious. Being near her is like standing close to a crackly, popping fire.
You’ll easily observe Page of Wands energy in others when you see someone immersed in what they love. A fiery excitement fills a person when their inner page is activated. Have you felt hot jealousy while watching someone doing something you wish you could do? Envy, a distinct fire quality, is a clear signal that you need to activate your inner page. The feeling of jealousy can be harnessed once it is experienced because it points us toward hidden desires we have repressed or ignored. Allow the jealousy to slip away, but allow the experience to inform your desire and future actions. Get moving on what you want. The Page of Wands’ most endearing and enviable quality is her laser-like dedication to passion. Nothing can stop her once she puts her mind to something. She is often found in dance classes and politics, changing the world for the better.
Symbols
Fire salamanders are identified by their black and yellow coloring. Pamela took these colors to heart for the Page, Knight, King, and Queen of Wand’s costuming. Each of their garments matches the fire lizard’s colors, black and yellow with circular salamanders. Waite tells us about the page by saying, “His tidings are strange.” Waite refers to the pages as males, yet most readers assign pages the female pronoun of “she” to reflect energetic balance in the deck. Her gaze focuses on the ultimate act of manifestation at the tip of the wand. A triad of pyramids stand in the background, echoing the page’s creative nature. The number three is the essence of creativity, and a triangle has three sides. Three triangles create the invisible portion of the Tree of Life, which produces manifestation in the material world. The page gently holds a wand and gazes at what is blossoming and growing. She is watching the ultimate act of manifestation, and, by doing so, it teaches her how to be in the world.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Dark young man, faithful, a lover, an envoy, a postman. Beside a man, he will bear favorable testimony concerning him. A dangerous rival, if followed by the Page of Cups. Has the chief qualities of his suit. He may signify family intelligence.
Reversed: Anecdotes, announcements, evil news. Also indecision and the instability which accompanies it.
Book T Title: The Lord of the Flame and Lightning, the King of the Spirits of Fire
Elemental Counterchange: Fire (Knight) of Fire (Wands), King of the Salamanders
Astrological: Sagittarius (Mutable Fire)
Light of the endless East and West,
Shine on me here as there;
The signs at least of the great quest
Are round me everywhere!
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Knight of Wands is infused with the explosive, expansive element of fire. He reflects unbridled and uncontrolled passion. He is teenage energy and indignation. The Knight of Wands doesn’t stop to think. He acts out first and asks questions later, if at all. His unbridled energy is a powerful force of change but causes trouble if it goes unchecked. Knights often reflect romance, and the Knight of Wands is hot to the touch. He reflects the dangerous love your mother warned you about, burning fast and hot. He is the rush of romantic love that feels like a drug. He is the exhilaration of the first six months of romance. He’s the ultimate endorphin rush. Harness Knight of Wands’ energy, point it toward any goal, romantic or otherwise, and there’s nothing you can’t do.
In You
The Knight of Wands is activated when you get really excited. He’s the telephone call bringing you unexpected good news. He’s the thrill rolling through your body when you lock eyes with an attractive stranger. He’s a runner’s high and endorphin rush. The Knight of Wands is activated when booking a spur-of-the-moment trip to an exotic destination or a last-minute impulse plan. You’ll harness this powerful energy when gathering strength and pushing through the end of a truly challenging task. You also harness his power when you help others. He’s that last burst of energy sending you over the finish line of a project or effort.
In Others
The Knight of Wands is the ultimate hotshot. He is captivating to behold when he crosses our path. His incendiary nature grants him extraordinary charisma. He’s extremely fiery and impetuous, and as such, he glows from the inside out. It’s flat-out sexy. His intense energy can be observed in athletes, actors, and take-charge types. He’ll often work in physically demanding jobs like construction or the military as an outlet for his energy. He’s a romantic player on and off the field. He’ll seduce many and stick around for none. The Knight of Wands lets every emotion play across his face. He contains no filter. Because he operates on a high level, it means no one knows what he might do next, least of all himself.
Symbolic
A red plume explodes from the knight’s helmet like a burst of flame. Scarlet gloves cover his fingers. Flames leap from his arms, reflecting a “fired up” individual who is literally hot to the touch. He wears bright yellow costuming covered with black salamanders. His sheath of protective armor, a symbol of security and the history of battle, covers his vulnerable skin. Pyramids in the background denote ancient spiritual knowledge and divinity. The scorched desert sands he gallops across reflect the element of fire. Waite reminds the reader, “The motion of the core is a key to the character of its rider, and suggests the precipitate mood, or things connected with.” A horse always indicates the energy of the situation at hand. The Knight of Wands’ horse displays a charging, expansive energy that threatens to rage out of control. The energy is fast and immediate. Consider yourself warned.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Departure, absence, flight, emigration. A dark young man, friendly. Change of residence.
Reversed: Rupture, division, interruption, discord.
Queen of Wands
Book T Title: Queen of the Thrones of Fire
Elemental Counterchange: Water (Queen) of Fire (Wands),
Queen of the Salamanders
Astrological: Aries (Cardinal Fire)
What Iris cliffs overhang her path, what towers,
White argent, crumble down,
And scatter shards and glitter sparks in showers:
One gems her like a crown.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Queen of Wands is the goddess of fire. She embodies mature female passion. It is a passion understanding itself, rather than the rush of excitement felt in younger years. It is the maturity and knowledge to embrace, engage, and cultivate the evolution of passion into its highest and deepest levels. The art of cultivating passion is akin to any other discrimination and discernment. Once passion is harnessed, it can be fully explored and experienced in limitless ways. The Queen of Wands feels and exudes passion in all its manifestations, from ecstatic sexual love to spiritual ecstasy to the nurturing love of family and friends. The Queen of Wands generates fire through her actions, devotions, and work.
In You
The Queen of Wands is activated inside of you during incendiary moments where you push past personal barriers and take charge. While the Knight of Wands raises passion, the queen executes it and expands it in proactive and marked ways. She reflects taking what you love and putting it to work in the world. She is you working with certainty toward things you desire, respect, and admire, enjoying every delicious step of the way. You brainstorm for your business and reach out to others. You make phone calls and create action plans. You put out the feelers for like-minded allies. You shop for supplies, gather what’s needed, and lead by example. You know what you love has the ability to transform the world just as it has transformed yourself.
In Others
The Queen of Wands is a firecracker. She’s the emotive actress (think Julia Roberts in an emotional scene) and passionate performance artist. She’s the “fun mom,” often wearing flashy clothes and colorful makeup. She usually looks younger than her age. She is a true queen who enjoys coronation ceremonies, putting on a show, and being the center of attention. She is a compelling and life-changing teacher or professor. She brings forth qualities from you that you didn’t know were there. She shows you the best parts of yourself.
Symbolic
Waite tells us, “The Queen’s personality corresponds to that of the King, but is more magnetic.” The queen’s magnetism is marked by her sunflower, a symbol denoting the manifested beauty of the sun. Her black cat reflects loyalty, magic, and charisma. Feline qualities also include the power of transformation and sensual beauty. The cat carries the message of aloofness and a “look but don’t touch” quality. You will be inspired by this queen, yet she sometimes seems distant. You can’t hold her or capture or contain her any more than you can hold a live flame in the palm of your hand. Better to admire from afar. Bask in the heat, beauty, and sustenance from a safe distance.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: A dark woman, countrywoman, friendly, chaste, loving, honourable. If the card beside her signifies a man, she is well disposed toward him; if a woman, she is interested in the Querent. Also, love of money, or a certain success in business.
Reversed: Good, economical, obliging, serviceable. Signifies also—but in certain positions and in the neighbourhood of other cards tending in such directions—opposition, jealousy, even deceit and infidelity.
King of Wands
Book T Title: Prince of the Chariot of Fire
Elemental Counterchange: Air (King) of Fire (Wands),
Prince and Emperor of Salamanders
Astrological: Leo (Fixed Fire)
Stars be his pathway and suns his track,
For the King comes forth and the King goes back!
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The King of Wands is the commander of fire and enjoys extraordinarily charismatic powers. Imagine for a moment what it means to command and control the element of fire. The King of Wands holds the power to heal or destroy, nurture or incinerate. As a steward of the flame, he leads with sweltering emotion. His personality is volatile. He is quick to anger and equally apt to dissolve into fits of laughter. Once his sights are set, there is no stopping him. He works in conjunction with his queen by utilizing all of her expansive energy and reining it in at just the right moment. He is a visionary, a rock star, and an individual who alters the landscape of the world.
In You
The King of Wands is activated in you when taking a leadership position in a passion project. He is you in the act of seduction. The queen languishes and intermingles inside the mystery and quality of intense energy, while the king has his eye set firmly on the goal. No games. Nothing held back. No fear. He states what he wants, why he wants it, and how he wants it. You embody the King of Wands when you are relentless in a scorching pursuit of desire.
In Others
King of Wand’s energy is as spiritual as it is sexual. He’s the preacher man and the rock star. He spouts fire and brimstone as easily as he sings and grinds to an arena full of screaming fans. The King of Wands carries a guru quality due to his charisma and belief in his convictions, deeds, and words. The King of Wands is the center of attention and loves it. He is a political hero leading people to freedom. Anyone who uses the passion, fire, and spirit of their guiding flame to move the world embodies the King of Wands.
Symbolic
Waite points out the King of Wands “connects with the symbol of the lion, emblazoned on the back of his throne.” The lion is a symbol of strength and solar energy. Waite also describes this king in “The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune” by saying he is “ardent, equitable, noble, and represents goodness blended with severity.” This old-fashioned, patriarchal idea of kindness blended with harshness when it is for a person’s own good is an antiquated Victorian ideal of masculinity. A loyal salamander is placed next to his throne. Salamanders often blend in to avoid detection from predators, while some salamanders project their toxic and dangerous nature by showing orange, red, and black colors. The king is adorned with salamander colors, reflecting his desire to assert his personality and nature. He warns would-be enemies not to cross his path or they will suffer dire consequences. The green collar at his neck and emerald slippers represent the manifestation inherent in wands. He is the fire that breeds results.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Dark man, friendly, countryman, generally married, honest and conscientious. The card always signifies honesty, and may mean news concerning an unexpected heritage to fall in before very long.
Reversed: Good, but severe; austere, yet tolerant.
Book T Title: Princess of the Waters, the Lotus of the Palace of the Floods
Elemental Counterchange: Earth (Page) of Water (Cups), Empress of the Nymphs or Undines, Throne of the Ace of Cups
Astrological: Season of Autumn
Stage Card
At every gateway of our dream
Her echo or her rumor seems;
A tale upon the point of telling
A prophecy for ever spelling.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Page of Cups, the youth of water, evokes a unique and sensitive character. She carries the playful, fluid, and curious nature assigned to the element of water. Water gifts her with heightened intuition and psychic flashes. She does not differentiate between the “real” world and the psychic world because of her innocence. A ghostly presence in her room is as real to her as her best friend. The Page of Cups is the ultimate empath who absorbs the emotions of others, sometimes confusing them for her own. The Page of Cups is a dreamer, spending hours alone in her bedroom, playing or looking out the window, watching the billowing white clouds float past. She is joyful in her actions. Her emotional filter is like a sieve, and she holds no emotion back—they flow like water through her. She is given to emotional outbursts that pass away as quickly as they came.
In You
The Page of Cups activates inside you when playful and open. Insights rush into your awareness. It is the quality of playing with a child. It is the openness occurring when couples horse around in love, the silly open space of play and safety and goofiness. It is the place of artistic play and experimentation where the actors rehearse, the painter collects images and inspiration. This safe space is an open ground for creative manifestation. Nothing is off-limits for the Page of Cups, and her qualities fill you when safely enjoying a space of vulnerability and joy.
In Others
The Page of Cups is the artsy and interesting girl who loves the theater, cultural events, and literature. She is often found engaging in activities allowing self-expression and her rich and varied emotions. She falls in love at the drop of a hat. The Page of Cups makes a dear friend whose advice is kind and effective. She notices qualities and traits in you that others miss. It often seems like she’s the only person who really “gets” you. She’s the most likely to contact you out of the blue the moment you need a friend to lean on. She communicates with the animal world and has a menagerie of pets. She’s often found writing, photographing her adventures, and at the theater.
Symbolic
The cheeky fish popping out of the cup is a symbol of psychic vision. Like the Seven of Cups, where each cup holds a magnificent mirage, so do we see the comical vision of a talking fish. Waite tells us, “It is pictures of the mind taking form.” The Page of Cups is assigned the elemental counterchange of Empress of the Nymphs, who are feminine spirits of the natural world. These mini goddesses and minor deities sprang into mythology from lakes, springs, seas, rivers, and waterfalls and morphed into the European tradition of the spirits who inhabit elemental water.
The Page of Cups wears a fourteenth-century tunic and roundlet hat, as does the Page of Pentacles. This was a popular and extravagant style of clothing for men worn under the reign of Henry VIII. It was meant to convey wealth and well-being. The lotus flowers on her tunic are the Golden Dawn symbol for the suit of water. The water painted on the scrim and the fish are additional water symbols.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Fair young man, one impelled to render service and with whom the Querent will be connected; a studious youth; news, message; application, reflection, meditation; also these things directed to business.
Reversed: Taste, inclination, attachment, seduction, deception, artifice.
Book T Title: The Lord of the Waves and the Waters, the King of the Hosts of the Sea
Elemental Counterchange: Fire (Knight) of Water (Cups), King of the Undines and Nymphs
Astrological: Pisces (Mutable Water)
When I have seen the sunset smoke,
My heart has longed for thee!
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Knight of Cups evokes the dreamy quality of water. All knights invoke offerings and indicate romance; however, the Knight of Cups is the archetypal romantic suitor ready to sweep you off your feet. Their appearance suggests action and motion. The horse’s gait on any knight card can be used to determine the quality and pace of action surrounding any situation. The Knight of Cup’s gentle horse lifts a single hoof. This is a slow and thoughtful energy. He’s not moving fast, if at all. The Knight of Cups sometimes reflects the heart and soul of an artist who is forced into a “practical” profession.
In You
The Knight of Cups appears in you when you feel you have a message in need of delivery. It is the card of gift and praise giving. When you approach others in kind and loving ways, you emulate the Knight of Cups. The Knight of Cups is activated when you are charming toward another, using words and gestures to make the other feel like putty in your hands. His presence suggests deep emotion that will be acted upon in the near future.
In Others
He is the dreamer and a high-level poet, artist, and sensitive soul. He’s the mate who sings your praises, cries at the drop of a hat, and anticipates your every need. He is a deep and emotional lover. As the Prince of Water, he is supportive and brings a soft touch to any situation. He is, at times, duplicitous, offering little more than charming words and the vapor in his cup. If he appears in a reading as a potential romance, caution should be exercised until his true motives are revealed.
Symbolic
Ornate armor covers the Knight of Cups, suggesting experience in battle. The wings of Hermes sprout from his helmet and heels. Hermes is the messenger god. Hermes’ wings are a specific reference to speed, incoming intelligence, mail, deliveries, phone calls, and news. Fish are embroidered into his tunic and are emblematic of the suit of cups, the element of water, and the zodiacal sign of Pisces, which he represents. The landscape is desert-like with the sand and rock with orange and yellow hues. A blue river meanders through the landscape like the Death card’s river. The knight brings water to the thirsty landscape. He is like a cool, refreshing drink and helps all things become fruitful and lush.
Waite focuses heavily on the dreamlike quality of this card. If the Page of Cups’ imagination took shape as the fish in her cup, perhaps the Knight of Cups has imagined his entire landscape. Waite says, while referring to the knight, “He too is a dreamer, but the images of the side of sense haunt him in his vision.” Waite also describes the knight as “graceful, but not warlike; riding quietly.” Waite’s definition falls in line with the Book T, which describes him as “sensual” but also as “idle and untruthful.” Waite lifts his divinatory definitions almost word for word from Mathers’s The Tarot pamphlet, which states the Knight of Cups’ upright meaning as “Arrival, Approach, Advance” and the reversal as “Abuse of confidence, fraud, Cunning.” The reader may decide for herself if the knight gazes into or past the cup.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Arrival, approach—sometimes that of a messenger; advances, proposition, demeanour, invitation, incitement.
Reversed: Trickery, artifice, subtlety, swindling, duplicity, fraud.
Queen of Cups
Book T Title: Queen of the Thrones of the Waters
Elemental Counterchange: Water (Queen) of Water (Cups),
Queen of Nymphs or Undines
Astrological: Cancer (Cardinal Water)
And the sea, with melodious roar,
For ever and ever responds on the long, pulsating shore.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Queen of Cups is the goddess of water, queen of the mermaids, and empress of the sea. She represents mature female energy and is the most empathetic card in the deck. The ocean’s depths reflect her understanding of the animal, vegetable, and human experience. She sits with a sacred chalice, the most ornate and only closed cup of the entire deck. She holds the full extent of cup qualities. She is soft and malleable, like water, and is entranced with dreamlike visions. She is the ideal tarot reader in her ability to see through to the bottom of a situation.
In You
Spaces of gratitude activate Queen of Cups qualities. When you care for others, you activate the Queen of Cups. Feeling compassion for other beings, animals, nature, and humanity is a Queen of Cups trait. When you are deep, open, and emotional, you activate the Queen of Cups. She occupies the space of the active dreamer; when you see something you have imagined come to fruition, you are standing at her height.
In Others
The Queen of Cups is a woman you can always depend on for sympathy and compassion, like a nurse or a therapist. She is there to nurture you, hold you, and let you know everything will be all right. She understands the sands of change and reminds you things will be okay. The Queen of Cups is an inspirational figure, a person who makes their dreams come true by making the world a better place.
Symbolic
The Queen of Cups’ beaches mark the convergence of elementals and threshold space. The white cliffs of Dover behind the Queen of Cups is a specific English landmark, marking Pamela and Waite’s adopted country. The cliffs are one of England’s most recognizable features. The cliffs face the narrowest part of the English Channel, and it is said one can see the French coast from them when weather permits. The cliffs are white because they are made of millions of years of compacted skeletal remains of plankton. These chalky cliffs are soft and malleable, like the emotional state of the Queen of Cups. The cliffs have faced invasions from intruders such as Julius Caesar. They contain hidden tunnels created by the prisoners of Dover Castle and were later converted for the military during World War II. The Queen of Cups placed before this iconic landscape suggests the Strength-like quality of peace and imagination in the face of aggression.
Cherub mermaids decorate her throne and the engraved clamshell behind her head. A clamshell is the clasp on her cape. The mermaid at the base holds a fish in her hand. Each clamshell is the symbol of her zodiacal assignment, Cancer. Mermaids are water creatures containing the power and potency of the sea. The shell is a feminine symbol of beauty and eroticism. Oysters are aphrodisiacs, hiding treasures of the palate deep within their folds. The queen’s dress merges into the water, colored blue and green, like the waters that surround her. It is as if she is an apparition dreamed of the ocean itself, a ghostly vision who welcomes all who approach the English empire.
Waite is explicit in his description of the water queen. He states in “The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune” that “The Queen of Cups signifies love and devotion, the image of which she sees like visions in her vessel.” Again Waite is expressing the dreamlike quality of the suit of cups, first with the page, then the knight, and now the queen. All three gaze intently to their cup as if it were a crystal ball. Waite says she is “a perfect spouse” and a “good mother.” The cross on her cup reflects the divine act of love intersecting with the material world.
Waite mentions an important quality of this queen: “she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream.” This indicates a woman who is not content to fantasize or languish in the visions of her mind. She takes action upon her visions. The queen’s activity feeds her dreams, propelling them forward into spaces of shimmering possibility. Were she complacent, the dream would repeat in endless cycles. It is the queen’s action moving her dream forward. In this sense she becomes the master of the lucid dream, her days spent in activity and her nights spent in creative play space.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness, pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother.
Reversed: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
Book T Title: The Prince of the Chariot of the Waters
Elemental Counterchange: Air (King) of Water (Cups), Prince and Emperor of Nymphs or Undines
Astrological: Scorpio (Fixed Water)
Far across the melancholy seas,
The silent keepers of the mysteries;
Met in their crowds upon that haunted ground—
And we, the King’s Sons, waiting to be crown’d.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The King of Cups is the commander of water, the lord of the ocean, master of the waves. He is the mature masculine energy of emotion. Look to the water and waves undulating around the King of Cups to understand him. The king navigates the ocean’s depths and dangers by remaining fluid. He does not seek to control the ocean but maintains a strong center regardless of the placidity or movement of the ocean’s tides. The King of Cups understands when to put a limit on emotions. He is free to act regardless of the deep feelings within him. This makes him incredibly effective in all situations. Versed in the mythology of the sea, hidden realms, and aquatic depths, he can be lighthearted and mysterious. As master of tidal waters, his charisma is hypnotizing.
In You
The King of Cups ignites in you when you bring your creative project to fruition, no matter the obstacle, barrier, or cost. He is activated inside of you when you allow compassion and caring to manifest action. The vision of the King of Cups lies in his ability to look dangers in the face and navigate past them. He marks inner strength and perseverance to pass through frightening emotional territory that previously held you hostage. He navigates your true course.
In Others
Consider the role of the great sea gods Roman Neptune and Greek Poseidon. If you lived in ancient times and were dependent on the ocean for your livelihood, travel, or food, you would make many appeals to the ocean gods. In this context, the King of Cups appears in your life as a
figure who will grant you sustenance and may appear as a boss, parental figure, or investor. The person with the capacity to green light a project or trip. The King of Cups is guided by instincts and emotion yet is not controlled nor manipulated by them. It is best to approach such figures honestly and openly. He is often found working in the spotlight for the public good.
Symbolic
The fish pendant around the king’s neck, as well as the ocean and sea creatures, connect to the element of water. He wears scaly fish footwear. The tall ship is a symbol of adventure, stories, and risk. The fish monster on the left side is an ancient symbol of myth, danger, and unconscious fear.
Waite reflects in his memoir Shadows of Life and Thought a personal sentiment aptly describing the King of Cups:
Do I remember on my own part looking, when less than two years old, upon an open, tossing sea, through a porthole of a passenger ship? And I so slight and small that well I might have slipped through it and finished for ever—or perchance for the time being—my tale of earthy life. The sea has authentic secrets, some that it gives away, some that it keeps for a few: did I make unbeknown a beginning of learning the code of its ciphers—as it were—then and there?
The King of Cups is he who would decipher the secrets of the sea. He reflects the emotions of the sea for all to understand and interpret.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Fair man, man of business, law, or divinity; responsible, disposed to oblige the Querent; also equity, art and science, including those who profess science, law and art; creative intelligence.
Reversed: Dishonest, double-dealing man; roguery, exaction, injustice, vice, scandal, pillage, considerable loss.
Book T Title: The Princess of the Rushing Winds, Lotus of the Palace of Air
Elemental Counterchange: Earth (Page) of Air (Swords), Empress of the Sylphs, Throne of the Ace of Swords
Astrological: Season of Spring
The splendid clouds about her burn and glow,
Through liquid gold she glides,
On purple crests floats bouyant, or below
Sinks deep in lilac tides.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Page of Swords, the youth of air, is a curious spirit. Air is the element of the mind, and she is gifted with a wild intelligence. She carries a supreme willingness to experiment and play. She is dedicated to finding the truth lying at the heart of any situation. No tool is off-limits as she pursues her goal. The Page of Swords displays logic above all other qualities and relies only on her own cunning and instincts. She never takes others at their word until she can uncover the truth for herself. The Page of Swords is a gifted writer who records experiences and keeps concise records. She is meticulous in all areas. The ultimate sleuth, she allows new ideas to take hold, and she will follow them through to the rightful conclusion. Her intense curiosity regarding life and human nature keeps her passionately engaged in solving puzzles and figuring out one mystery after another.
In You
The Page of Swords is the Nancy Drew archetype of the deck. She shows up when you find yourself reading between the lines. She is the deep, searching part of your psyche who longs to figure things out and put details together in order to see the big picture. Have you ever internet sleuthed? That was the Page of Swords at work. She is the youthful part of your psyche containing an innocence and true sense of curiosity. This is the place where you are open to all ideas. She strikes as you become truly perplexed and intrigued by a situation or event. She also reflects your thrill of the hunt as felt during a game of after-dark hide and seek and watching or reading a delicious mystery.
In Others
The Page of Swords is the smart girl. She’s the typical straight-A student who holds herself to high standards. She takes responsibilities seriously and reads books as if each one will unravel the mystery of life. She sees patterns and codes that others miss. The Page of Swords sees the subtext others overlook. She finds the right words and articulates truth clearly and succinctly. The Page of Swords knows you and can tell if you are lying. She is the friend who will call you out when you are being dishonest to yourself or others. She is often found in libraries, on a computer database, or solving a local neighborhood mystery.
Symbolic
Pamela crafts a ragged high mountain landscape to reflect the quality of air. A flock of birds, symbolic of the connection between humanity and the Divine, fly past. The ground almost looks like water beneath her feet, and blooming clouds tower behind her. Her hair blows in the wind and birds pass at high altitude, marking her connection to the higher self. Waite describes her as “swift walking.” Just as we can interpret energy by looking at the gait of a knight’s horse, the reader can determine the speed by her fast-footed action. The Page’s movement suggests if swift action is taken, results will appear. The mystery will be solved.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Authority, overseeing, secret service, vigilance, spying, examination, and the qualities thereto belonging.
Reversed: More evil side of these qualities; what is unforeseen, unprepared state; sickness is also intimated.
Book T Title: Lord of the Winds and the Breezes, the King of the Spirits of Air
Elemental Counterchange: Fire (Knight) of Air (Swords), King of the Sylphs and Sylphides
Astrological: Gemini (Mutable Air)
My soul is set upon an endless quest
To span the bounds of being.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Knight of Swords carries the fiery, expansive quality of air. He’s fast, he’s smart, he’s dangerous. The Knight of Swords is so carried away with his own thoughts and ideas, he is often an unstoppable force. Cunning and decisive, this intense character is often overtaking you before you realize what is happening. His temper flares quickly, and he’ll cut straight through to the heart of the matter at hand. He appears and people scatter. He is the energy and presence others make room for and whom everyone sits up and takes notice of.
In You
The moment you rush to a person, place, or thing’s defense, you feel the Knight of Swords operating inside of you. Moments of aggression are marked by his appearance, as well as temporary insensitivity toward other’s feelings. He contains your need to control or navigate a situation. He marks tremendous courage and an ability to risk regardless of consequence. He appears in moments of irony meant to assert control over another or to express domination over a situation that you actually have zero control over.
In Others
The Knight of Swords is a flash in the pan. He leaves as quickly as he appears, often leaving people in confusion. His qualities can be shocking when found in others, in the form of quick talking and aggressive behavior. Romantically, he is the ultimate bad boy, James Dean–style. He’s smooth talking, fast riding, a fun-loving guy who knows exactly the right thing to say in order to get what he wants. He could be the great protector, appearing just when you need him. He could be a flash-in-your-hot-pan romance or the aggressor who hurls insults.
Symbolic
Waite says in “The Tarot: Wheel of Fortune” that “The Knight of Swords is even as Galahad on the Quest, dispersing the enemies thereof,” meaning he represents a legendary knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. Knights always reflect offerings and important messages, and their appearance reflects the fluid energy of any situation. The Knight of Sword’s horse moves at a breakneck pace, reflecting hasty results. Waite describes his as “riding full course, as if scattering his enemies.”
Waite says “he is really a prototypical hero of romantic chivalry,” suggesting this knight is the ultimate archetype of the romancing suitor who would fight for his lady’s virtue. His armor, a symbol of protection, is covered with butterfly, seagull, and hooded falcons, linking the Knight of Swords to the element of air.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Skill, bravery, capacity, defence, address, enmity, wrath, war, destruction, opposition, resistance, ruin. There is therefore a sense in which the card signifies death, but it carries this meaning only in its proximity to other cards of fatality.
Reversed: Imprudence, incapacity, extravagance.
Queen of Swords
Book T Title: Queen of the Thrones of Air
Elemental Counterchange: Water (Queen) of Air (Swords), Queen of the Sylphs and Sylphides
Astrological: Libra (Cardinal Air)
Wrap me, ye Winds,
away to some wild place.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Queen of Swords is the goddess of air, queen of the clouds, and mistress of the winds. She expresses a mature intelligence. Her analysis is rarely off the mark. She speaks the truth as she sees it. She reaches her hand out to those who approach. She is the honest and articulate queen whose words, deeds, and actions speak to the heart of any situation. Embodying the feminine nature of intelligence, she is wise and to the point. She tosses all unimportant information and distractions aside. She keeps a full schedule and checks off her to-do list with satisfaction.
In You
The Queen of Swords appears inside you when you address any situation with clarity and poise. She reflects personal power and speaking the mind. The Queen of Swords is activated when a clear strategy is required, when action is needed and plans are to be laid. She reflects you being your own best advocate. The Queen of Swords is inside you when you take personal responsibility for your life, your actions, and attitudes. This queen understands we hold power when we control our inner thoughts. As the keen observer of inner thoughts, she writes the story of her life like a brilliant novelist, and so should you.
In Others
The Queen of Swords shows up as a force to be reckoned with in your life. You may feel equally intimidated and inspired by her presence. She takes herself and her work so seriously it may come as a surprise that she also carries a soft, sensitive side. Her dedication to quality and truth help her stand out from a crowd of mediocrity. She’s often the topic of discussion. Her professions include writer, editor, teacher, doctor, psychologist, and the unbeatable lawyer.
Symbolic
Waite’s definition of widowhood has long haunted this card. It is a reminder of the gender stereotypes plaguing the time when this deck was created. It is almost as if the queen’s profile, as sharp as her sword, is somewhat responsible for her aloneness. Waite suggests the Queen of Swords carries “familiarity with sorrow.” Who doesn’t? He calls her “scarcely a symbol of power” and includes the description of “sterility,” which he does not offer to her male counterpart.
The Queen of Sword’s crown and throne are decorated with butterflies, a symbol of air. A single bird, the symbol of human and cosmic spirit, soars above her crown, matching her lofty thought. Her cloak is dotted with clouds, matching her background. A cherub’s head appears on her throne above the waxing and waning moon, suggesting change is afoot. Her posture emulates the Justice card. Her head is literally above the clouds, demonstrating clear and concise thoughts and actions.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation.
Reversed: Malice, bigotry, artifice, prudery, bale, deceit.
Book T Title: Prince of the Chariot of the Winds
Elemental Counterchange: Air (King) of Air (Swords), Prince and Emperor of the Sylphs and Sylphides
Astrological: Aquarius (Fixed Air)
The one true place for a King’s repose,
And, long though he travel the outward track,
That the King came forth and the King goes back.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The King of Swords is master of the air, lord of the sky, and king of the western winds. He is the mature and masculine articulation of mental processes. The inner workings of the King of Swords’ mind is responsible for mankind’s scientific and mathematic advancement. He is the nature and rule of law and the power of logic in the mind. Like the Queen of Swords, he carries a sensitive side rarely seen by those outside of his inner circle. He states what he wants and has little patience until results are delivered. Above all things, he values truth and will stop at nothing until he receives the results he wants.
In You
The King of Swords operates within you as you work to meet a deadline. It is bold thinking, belief in the task at hand, and the quality of the mind. He represents having the utmost respect and ownership for your inner life, clearly listening to the tremblings inside of you and then making them known. He is a major authority figure, so when you lay down rules and regulations and when you reprimand others, you are activating this king. He’s at work when you find just the right words to express yourself and in that beautiful moment when you have the perfect verbal response to a situation.
In Others
Answers come quickly to the King of Swords, who shows up as a boss or father figure. He can be an intellectual and mature lover—the “older man.” His professions match the Queen of Swords; doctors, lawyers, and psychologists carry this mindset. The King of Swords also represents the archetypal military man or scientist.
Symbolic
Waite mentions how, like the Queen of Swords, the king emulates “the conventional Symbol Justice.” He adds the King of Swords contains the “power of life and death.” It all adds up to quite an imposing figure. His throne carries butterflies, and he has billowing clouds matching the sky along with the rest of his royal sword family.
He sits in judgment, holding the unsheathed sign of his suit. He recalls, of course, the conventional symbol of Justice in the major arcana, and he may represent this virtue, but he is rather the power of life and death, in virtue of his office.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Whatsoever arises out of the idea of judgment and all its connexions—power, command, authority, militant intelligence, law, offices of the crown, and so forth.
Reversed: Cruelty, perversity, barbarity, perfidy, evil intention.
Book T Title: Princess of the Echoing Hills; Rose of the Palace of Earth
Elemental Counterchange: Earth (Page) of Earth (Pentacles), Princess and Empress of the Gnomes, Throne of the Ace of Pentacles
Astrological: Season of Winter
In those moments, rarely known,
When the soul feels her wings,
Emblazoned upon star and stone
There flash immortal things;
Through Nature’s gates, wide open thrown,
A wild voice sings and sings.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Page of Pentacles, the youth of earth, is beguiled and entranced by everything she sees, feels, touches, and smells in the material world. She studies butterflies and crickets, makes playhouses beneath willow trees, and crafts fairy castles from cool slate stones and damp green moss. She is found in flower fields and deep woods, in mountains and glens. Nothing escapes her watchful eye and curious imagination. Nothing distracts her from earthly delights. The Page of Pentacles is the archetypal student. Once she is absorbed in a subject or book, play or project, nothing distracts her keen and careful attention.
In You
The Page of Pentacles is activated inside you while engaging in sensorial activities. The imagination is activated through tactile sensations such as crafting, painting, cooking, gardening, and activities involving exploration. All sense of “normal time” slips away. Responsibilities and concerns retreat to the background as you immerse yourself in your pleasure. The Page of Pentacles is activated when you are thrown into a new course of study or an engaging exercise regimen. You laser-focus on what lies before you, the ego slips away, and you enter a state of timelessness. Page of Pentacles activities lead to physical and quantifiable results because pentacles reflect the material world. Page of Pentacles results often include a finished creative product or diploma.
In Others
The Page of Pentacles is a princess type of girl with pockets full of pentacles. She usually has lots of money to purchase her heart’s desire. She loves fashion, accessories, and makeup. Don’t think she’s shallow just because she’s quick to grab red lipstick and a designer bag. She is the most grounded of all pages because she connects to the element of earth. She is fascinated by physical transformations in herself and others and is often engaged in sports, movement, and exercise. As a friend, she offers practical advice and down-to-earth conversation. Her energy can be slow and sensate, yet when she sets her sights on a goal, she always fosters success. She can be found daily walking in nature, hiking, and exercising as easily as she is found shopping and cooking. To top it all off, she’s an excellent student who pairs perfectly as your study partner. She will always show you something you’ve never seen before.
Symbolic
The Page of Pentacles stands on an earthen landscape near a plowed field. She holds a pentacle. The pentacle appears like a seed she might plant in the rich farmland behind her and reflects the page’s potential for growth and generation. The pointed tip of the right foot demonstrates grace and a gentle touch. The grove of trees in the distant background provides protection, should she need it. The distant mountain peak shows spiritual attainment as evoked by the powers of earth: “as above, so below.” The green landscape and yellow sky reflect a warm and nurturing environment. Seeds will germinate. All potentialities are possible.
Waite explains how the Page “moves slowly, insensible of that which is about him.” A slow-moving quality is applicable to all pentacle court cards. The quality of earth is slow and steady, not quick like air (swords) or flammable fire (wands). The element will often reflect the energy of the situation at hand. In “The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune,” Waite also describes the page as “looking at a talisman.” A talisman is an object or charm whose presence contains a powerful influence on human feelings and actions. The appearance of the Page of Pentacles card suggests it is time for you to discover your own personal talisman. It is time to find a symbol, piece of jewelry, art piece, or new tattoo. The tarot deck operates as a powerful talisman. Waite claims this card “really typifies a scholar” and further expresses the ideal student archetype of this card.
Pamela pulls from her deep knowledge of stage costuming as she fashions the page’s clothing. She is wearing a Shakespearean-style tunic and roundlet. A roundlet is “a stuffed roll of cloth joined into a circle, with a long strip of cloth laid across it, a long end hanging down, and a short one standing up in a cockade or drooping. This hat was common in Italy, where also the Fez-shaped cap (generally red) was worn in the fourteenth century.”59 See the Seven of Swords for the Fez appearance.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Application, study, scholarship, reflection another reading says news, messages and the bringer thereof; also rule, management.
Reversed: Prodigality, dissipation, liberality, luxury; unfavourable news.
Book T Title: Lord of the Wild and Fertile Land, King of the Spirits of Earth
Elemental Counterchange: Fire (Knight) of Earth (Pentacles), King of Gnomes
Astrological: Virgo (Mutable Earth)
And the earth no more is barren: from the seed
A harvest springs, and the whole land is filled with plenty.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Knight of Pentacles is the expansive quality and heavy energy of earth. The Knight of Pentacles is a slow landslide of momentum gathering toward inevitable manifestation. He is the stability of the ground beneath your feet. He brings about needed and lasting change. He is slow, steady, and thoughtful. The Knight of Pentacles listens for things in unexpected places. He senses what people and places need. Physicality is important to this sensual knight who is comfortable in his skin and bones.
In You
The Knight of Pentacles is activated when you act with care. You examine all options before proceeding. He is activated when you attend to worthy work. Worthy work makes your heart sing and your soul happy. It leaves its mark in the world. It could be a garden, a house, a foundation, or a school. He is a natural introvert who gains inspiration from the natural world. You’ll activate him during moments when you draw a hot cup of tea close and stare out your window while figuring out a problem or curl up in a hammock under your favorite backyard tree.
In Others
The Knight of Pentacles reflects a slow and deliberate romantic suitor. The pentacle in his hand reflects a gift similar to the Ace of Pentacles, given to you by someone you admire and respect. He is the slow and careful financial planner. He is the farmer that feels the land to determine what he will plant. He is the medical intuitive or talented masseuse who intuitively knows where to move his hands and where to find the pain. He heals.
Symbolic
The expansive plowed field behind the Knight of Pentacles reflects the secret of the card. It is the largest planting field in the entire deck and what the knight chooses to plant shall grow to fruition. His brilliant green plume which is a symbol of growth and manifestation reminds us of his generative properties. His nurturing energy brings all things to fruition. Look to the horse’s gate on any Knight card to determine the quality and pace of action. His horse matches his master’s motion as a slow and steady animal of tremendous strength. The horse, a Clydesdale—who is traditionally used for farming, logging, and carriage pulling—reflects power and steadiness. The horse reflects the energy of the situation at hand is slow moving. The knight’s armor is heavy and protective expressing the knight’s experience in battle. Waite points out “He exhibits the symbol, but does not look therein.” Readers often examine the card and believe he is gazing into the Pentacle. It is the difference between looking at an object or focusing on the object’s potential result. According to Waite, the Knight is most concerned with results he can see, feel and touch.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Utility, serviceableness, interest, responsibility, rectitude—all on the normal and external plane.
Reversed: inertia, idleness, repose of that kind, stagnation; also placidity, discouragement, carelessness.
Queen of Pentacles
Book T Title: Queen of the Thrones of Earth
Elemental Counterchange: Water (Queen) of Earth (Pentacles),
Queen of Gnomes
Astrological: Capricorn (Fixed Earth)
The dusk Queen waits.
Sustain, sweet mother, Earth.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The Queen of Pentacles is the queen of earth, goddess of the garden, and mistress of the mountains. As such, she wields power over all that is seen, felt, and touched. Her grace is evident though our sights, sounds, and tastes. Every physical thing is reflected in her eyes, and she represents the beauty of the physical world. Beauty opens the spirit and the soul, like laughter. Beauty resides inside the eye of the beholder. New, challenging, and unique forms of beauty take shape every day. These are the doorways opening new worlds and new possibilities for us. Every flower in a summer garden, every pebble glistening in the surf, and every orange sunset bears her touch.
In You
The Queen of Pentacles is operational within you when you are decorating your apartment, shopping at the market, and cooking dinner. The queen is there as you tidy and clean your house, thus rearranging your personal energy. Theoretically, you rearrange your space and rearrange your world. The Queen of Pentacles is the ultimate homemaker; she’s there as you chop, slice, and dice dinner. She’s you as you shop at Trader Joe’s. She’s even there when you order junk food delivered to your front door. She operates over the entire spectrum of health, the body, and self-care.
In Others
The Queen of Pentacles appears when you encounter an individual who dedicates themselves to the physical comfort of others. This nurturing quality shines through while renovating the home and helping out little ones with homework. She may run food pantries and organize
gift drives and fundraisers, as she is excellent at managing and raising money. She instructs cooking and gardening classes, and she often works as an interior designer or architect.
Symbolic
Waite describes his mother in his memoir Shadows of Life and Thought. He does not specifically connect the Queen of Pentacles but he writes of pentacle-like qualities “how above all my Mother—without experience—acquired the art of living in a minute income and yet having food enough, garments for three to wear and rooms that were not slums will not be told on earth.” His mother found a way to make everything work despite having little money. This is the hallmark of the Queen of Pentacles.
The Queen of Pentacles is illustrated inside a lush garden. The animalistic symbol of fertility, a bunny rabbit, sits next to her. She could be the Empress, yet she focuses only on the material world while the Empress is the doorway of two worlds. A goat, the symbol for Capricorn, is on the armrest of her throne, and to the right is the figure Pan, half man, half goat, playing his pipes. Pan, a nature god, symbolizes fertility and is the god of wild places, forests, glens, and mountains.
Waite notes the Queen of Pentacles treats her pentacle in opposition to the knight as she “contemplates her symbol and may see worlds therein.” These eight simple words hold tremendous magic for those with eyes who want to look deeper. To examine or observe any object, the closer you gaze, the more you will see. Nothing ends at its surface. Placing our attention and focusing on something will allow new worlds to appear and discoveries to be made. It is how a painter looks at a subject or landscape, seeing the colors beneath the colors, the muscles, tendons, and structures beneath the skin. It is how the mystic discovers an entire universe in a single blade of grass. This is how the Queen of Pentacles looks at the world. It is her greatest secret. Now it is yours.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Opulence, generosity, magnificence, security, liberty.
Reversed: Evil, suspicion, suspense, fear, mistrust.
Book T Title: Prince of the Chariot of Earth
Elemental Counterchange: Air (King) of Earth (Pentacles), Prince and Emperor of the Gnomes
Astrological: Taurus (Fixed Earth)
And over a thousand changeful turrets and towers,
The morning glory of heaven blooms over and calls
To morning glories of earth in a thousand bowers.
Arthur Waite, Collected Poems
General
The King of Pentacles is the king of earth, master of money, and ruler of the material world. The King of Earth wields seismic power. He consciously commands each and every molecule of manifestation on the earth. His energy reverberates through caves and caverns; he casts tectonic plates like runes. As the king of manifestation, he is in every growing and every tactile object. He reminds us of the physical power we have over our bodies and the objects in our lives through the choices we make. He is the master of finance and builds kingdoms of security.
In You
The King of Pentacles is activated in you when you take small steps toward accomplishing large goals or massive changes in behavior. The smallest changes often usher the largest consequences. The King of Pentacles, who is slow, methodical, and purposeful, understands this perfectly. He hangs back while others rush foolishly ahead. You also activate this king when financial planning.
In Others
This king looms large, like a Viking: full of power, potency, and fecundity. While he may not be a man of many words, his quick mind is always working underneath the surface. His physical stature makes him ideal for the physical demands of fire fighting, farming, and carpentry. He is the archetypal farmer or winemaker using years of experience and an authentic and intuitive knowledge of the land on which he works.
Symbolic
Waite mentions the King of Pentacles being “lethargic in tendency,” which is a nod to slow- moving, earth-like qualities. He says the “bull’s head should be noted as a recurrent symbol on the throne.” The bull, four of which are placed on the king’s throne and one beneath his foot, is the symbol for Taurus. Bulls were often the sacrificial animal for early agricultural societies as they were highly valued and considered a meaningful offering to the gods. His frock is covered with grapes, and the wall behind him denotes security while the buildings and city suggest commerce and wealth. He appears to grow from nature itself.
Waite is coy when he tells the reader earlier versions of this card deal with money specifically but that “the consensus of divinatory meanings is on the side of some change, because the cards do not happen to deal especially with money.” He is not letting on to the fact pentacles reflect the element of earth and the nature of the entire material world.
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings: Valour, realizing intelligence, business and normal intellectual aptitude, sometimes mathematical gifts and attainments of this kind; success in these paths.
Reversed: Vice, weakness, ugliness, perversity, corruption, peril.
59. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/romeoandjuliet/romeocostumes.html.