The Major Cards
Bateleur is an archaic French word meaning a street conjurer, a juggler, a sleight-of-hand artist, a popular showman, or, sometimes, a charlatan. The man dressed in fancy garb looks like a street magician in a performance. Some of the objects in his hands and on the table can be recognized as conjuring tools. Others may be hidden in what looks like a strange bag. The raised hand has been sometimes interpreted as directing the wand toward higher powers above, but it may be just a conjuring trick to divert attention from what the other hand is doing.
the magician stands at the gate
Mystical traditions often describe a gatekeeper who stands between the ordinary domain and the other reality of magic and sorcery. Before embarking on a journey to the otherworld, it is customary to ask for permission and blessing from the gatekeeper. In the tarot this figure can be represented by the Magician, which opens the major suit. We can think of the elongated form over the horizon between his legs as the gate to a magical reality. The card can be used to focus our attention when we start an experience that goes beyond earthly reality; for example, a magical ceremony or a session of guided imagination.
The street magician is an ordinary man of low social status, but once the show starts he appears as a mighty wizard using mysterious powers to change events in real life. We can also think that he is, in fact, a real magician who disguises himself as a humble street conjurer. In this regard the card can hint at the idea that thought creates reality, meaning that our ideas and our will can change life events. It can also refer to the use of sorcery, usually for good ends, as well as indicate a person who performs mystical and magical rituals.
the magician starts something new
As the first card of the suit, the Magician can signify a beginning. For example, it can represent the process of embarking on a journey or the start of a new initiative. The colorful illustration and the Magician’s young face with the flowing curls give the feeling of a good start. The hat with a brim open upward reflects a willingness to learn and develop. The foot on the left side points toward the past, and it is enclosed from all sides. The foot on the right touches an open white surface, which represents a step toward a yet undefined future.
In a deeper sense we can see in the card the starting point for the journey of life. The elongated form between the legs can be seen as the birth canal from which the Magician has stepped out. Also, the white shape between the Magician’s legs and the table is suggestive of a female pelvis. The marks on the ground could be the first footsteps leading from the actual moment of birth. The card can thus refer to the phase of infancy in which we develop a self-consciousness of our existence as a single individual, which is also hinted by the number one. It can also symbolize the ego or indicate an immature, self-centered personality.
the magician uses tools
Some tools on the table are more recognizable than others. Three among these recall the minor suits’ symbols: a cup, a knife (which can suggest swords), and circles resembling coins. Along with the wand in the Magician’s hand, we can see the symbols of the four suits, which represent the domains of earthly life. The card may symbolize the tools and means that are at the querent’s disposal. It can suggest the acquisition of new professional skills or it may indicate improvising and using existing means in a creative way.
The wand and the strangely shaped object in the Magician’s right hand may be masculine and feminine symbols, which he points one toward the other. The Magician tries to make opposites meet. However, with precise measurement, we can see that the continuation of the wand’s line passes above the other shape and not straight through it. This may indicate a task that hasn’t been achieved or the experience of missing a goal because of imprecision or sloppiness. One can also see here a missed encounter between an ovum and a sperm, meaning failure to become pregnant.
the magician creates illusions
The Magician wearing fancy clothes is a charming and seductive figure. But his appearance might be an illusion, a calculated show of tricks. He can represent a person with personal charm, a charismatic and persuasive figure, or an extroverted personality. The card can also refer to a public performer, an actor or someone involved in show business, a salesperson, or a public-relations professional. He can also be a charlatan, a manipulator, or a con artist.
A more philosophical view might link the card with the mystical idea that earthly reality and the idea of a separate “I” are an illusion, some sort of magic show that our consciousness plays to itself. The card’s number expresses the idea of individuality. The table and the arrangement of the tools are objects and situations that we perceive in the illusory show of this world. The ground under the Magician’s feet is material reality, the supposed basis of our existence. But we can notice that the ground does not continue outside the table’s legs, so maybe it is also part of the great illusion.
the magician sees only one part
Above the table the Magician displays confidence and skill. But under the table his feet point to opposite directions, implying hesitation and indecision. The presence of the table, which hides the pelvis, might also symbolize a blockage of sexual or creative energy.
The Magician seems to be unaware of what goes on at the basic levels of his being, which can also be related to influences from his early childhood. His field of vision is incomplete: the table extends outside the card frame, and the bag may contain additional tools that he is unaware of. The card can thus indicate a lack of psychological self-awareness or inner confusion hidden under a confident appearance. It may also symbolize an ignorance of basic but possibly significant factors. On a positive note, it can indicate untapped potentials and opportunities.
In English decks this card is called “the High Priestess,” but la Papesse in French means “the Popess.” The card may refer to the legendary story of Pope Joan (Johanna), which was well-known during the late Middle Ages. According to the story, Johanna was a philosophy teacher in ninth-century Rome. Because of the social conventions of that time, Johanna had to teach disguised as a man. Her great wisdom made her popular, and soon she became known as the greatest teacher in Rome. At that time the pope died and Johanna, still passing for a man, was elected to replace him. She served as pope for several years. But her secret was revealed when she gave birth during a procession, and the angry mob stoned her and the baby to death.
the popess is a wise woman
The Popess holding a book brings to mind the goddess of wisdom in various mythologies, such as Athena in Greece, Sophia in Hellenistic sects, and Saraswati in India. The title band at the top of the card is exceptionally narrow, which makes the tip of the Popess’s tiara extend high when compared to other cards. This may indicate a higher kind of wisdom or intuition from a sublime source. The turn toward the left, signifying the past, hints at the possession of ancient or traditional knowledge. The book indicates her ability to understand and express it in words. The book is open, but it is partly hidden by the robe: the Popess is willing to share her knowledge with others, but one has to make an effort in order to receive and understand it.
The card can signify ancient wisdom, possibly with a feminine character. For example, it may be the kind of knowledge that traditionally passes between women, such as popular folk magic or methods of natural healing. Of course, it can also refer to a man who applies such knowledge. The Pope Joan story may also be read as highlighting subversive knowledge, which undermines the established conventions and the existing power structures of society.
the popess is a spiritual mother
According to the writings of the Gnostic sects in early Christian times, the ancient goddess of wisdom, Sophia, is the mother of the male god who created the world and then forgot who gave birth to him. This is the ancient figure of “the Mother of God,” which in Christianity became Mary, the mother of Jesus. In traditional paintings of the Christian annunciation, Mary appears with a book similar to the one we see in the card.
The theme of motherhood also appears in Pope Joan’s story. But the covered body and the book give an impression of distance and intellectuality. The card may refer to motherhood expressed not as warmth and hugging, but as wise advice and guidance. It can also indicate a cold and detached mother. It can refer to an actual mother or represent a spiritual mother acting as a guide or teacher.
the popess sets boundaries
The Popess is conspicuously more dressed than other clothed figures in the major suit. The chest area is heavily covered, the pelvis and the legs are completely hidden under the robe, and the visible face is wrapped all around. In the symbolic language of body parts, the Popess expresses herself only in the intellectual domain and does this, too, in a controlled and limited manner. The other domains of body, desire and feeling, are blocked and repressed. The screen behind her back suggests the idea of virginity, further linking the figure to Virgin Mary.
The card can symbolize a closed and protective attitude or a lack of sensuality. It can also signify keeping oneself spiritually clean, puritan conservatism, or bigoted views of sexuality. Psychologically, it can indicate the setting of firm barriers of the self, whether to define the limits of the ego or to avoid intimate contact. It can also express setting moral barriers to oneself or to others. In practical matters the card can express knowledge and understanding, but not real action.
the popess hides her powers
Pope Joan’s story is about a woman who has to conceal her femininity and her strengths in a world of men. This is a situation that can also be relevant today. For example, the card may represent a woman adopting “masculine” attitudes in order to be accepted in a business or professional environment. It can also indicate difficulty in accepting a relationship where the abilities or the social status of the woman surpass those of her partner. In the case of a man, the card may describe social pressure that prevents him from expressing traits that are considered feminine.
On a more general level, the card can express a need to conceal personal characteristics, such as sexual orientation, unaccepted views, or anything that is considered out of the ordinary or illegitimate by societal standards. Alternatively, it can symbolize a timid or modest person who does not boast about their qualities and virtues.
the popess keeps a secret
The veiled nature of the card is expressed not only in the clothes but also in the screen behind the Popess, as if she is guarding something hidden behind it. The Popess card can refer to personal secrets, covert moves, or discreet matters that should not be openly revealed. It can also indicate a mystery or hint at a spiritual secret that has to be guarded from the unworthy. In a negative sense it can indicate excessive secrecy and a difficulty to open up or expose oneself.
The Popess card can also refer to the reading itself. As a figure who knows secrets “from behind the veil,” the Popess may represent the reader. The card can also signify that the querent is hiding something from us. As a last card in the reading, it can indicate that the answer to the query is hidden behind a veil, so that it cannot be revealed at this point.
The heraldic eagle is a common symbol of royal European families. A scepter with a cross over a sphere combines elements that are also linked to traditional royalty. These elements appear in the Emperor card as well, indicating that the two figures belong to the same family and are possibly married. As an hereditary emblem, the eagle shield can represent legitimacy, tradition, and family heritage. The scepter can stand for power and authority. While the Emperor holds both at a distance, the Empress embraces them. This difference could indicate that the Emperor relies on external means of control and domination, while the Empress’s activity flows from her own personal being and gut feeling.
the empress promotes fertility and growth
If the Popess is the goddess of wisdom and spiritual mystery, the Empress can represent another traditional female divinity: the goddess of earth and fertility. This figure of “mother earth” goes back to the Paleolithic era and can be found in various cultures around the world. Many tarot authors have linked the card with this idea of feminine nature, discussing it as symbolizing matter made alive through sensuality and passions.
We can see suggestions of sensuous fertility in the wide and rounded lower part of the body, in the secure sitting position, and in the large scepter coming out from the pelvis. The little white form on the belly can be a symbol of feminine sexuality or a seed in the womb. The number three also suggests fertility, creativity, and growth. It is emphasized by the triangular composition, with an apex in the chest decoration and two sides marked by the slanting green shapes at the card edges.
In this aspect the Empress card can represent a process bearing fruit through natural evolution. In practical matters it expresses advancement, positive developments, or a feeling of abundance and plenty. The card also can be used as a focusing tool for the success of projects that are still in a developing stage.
the empress is an earthly mother
The link to the mother goddess and the suggestions of female fertility can also give the card a literal meaning of motherhood. The eagle coat-of-arms stands for the imperial family, and the Empress is holding it close to her heart. We can also see the image of the bird as a young sibling, symbolizing a child that the Empress is nurturing. The touch of her fingers on his body indicates a close relationship, with much warmth and emotion. Yet we also can see it as indicating an excessive and even annoying involvement on the part of the mother in her offspring’s life.
In this aspect the card can refer to a warm and protective mother figure. This can be either the querent’s original mother or a strong and dominant female figure in their life. It can also refer to a female querent who is a mother herself. The card may also express maternal impulses or a desire for a child.
the empress combines natural and artificial
The lines and shapes of the Empress card appear more natural and flowing than those of the Emperor. Also, her hold on the shield and scepter is softer and more relaxed compared to the rigid grip of the Emperor’s hand. Even the back of her seat seems soft and unfinished, perhaps resembling some primitive wings.
Still, the Empress is not all nature. Her clothes combine rounded and flowing lines with sharp stripes and angles that look worked and artificial. At the bottom left side of the card we see soft and flowing earth marks, and at the top left the back of the throne is drawn in a live and organic line. Yet on the right side, the floor shapes and the external line of the throne are straight and upright. Thus, the card illustration combines both natural and artificial qualities. The Empress expresses organic forces of nature and fertility but does so within an artificial framework of society and government.
The card can symbolize a touch of softness and natural warmth within a system or an institution that functions according to fixed laws. For example, it can be an emotional or human touch in the cold, calculated setting of a commercial company. It may also signify a “back to nature” trend set against a modern way of life.
the empress acts with passion
The large scepter leaning on the bosom and slanting to the right hints to the suit of wands and the domain of desires and creativity. It can signify an action “from the guts,” motivated by a passionate drive and not by calculated reason. But we can also interpret the eagle as a symbol of the intellect, as it appears in the World card. The eagle appears about the middle of the body, indicating that in this card rationality is not the dominant factor but rather is integrated with feelings and passions. The eagle’s gaze is directed toward the scepter base, as if the intellect serves to control and direct the expression of desires.
the empress expresses female power
A natural interpretation of the card is to see it as the figure of an Empress — that is, a woman in a strong and dominant position. The card may reflect her social position, such as a manager or a commander, or it may indicate a strong, self-assured personality. In contrast to the Popess, who conceals her femininity, the Empress displays it openly, as a source of power.
Still, there are also some masculine traits in the Empress. On her neck appears a trace of an Adam’s apple, and the large scepter growing from her abdomen can be seen as a phallic symbol. We can see in these traits a further manifestation of self-confidence. The Empress is not afraid to appear unfeminine when making her voice heard in a commanding manner or when she employs power and authority to impose her will.
The helmet-shaped crown brings to mind the warrior nobility of the Middle Ages and indicates that the Emperor is both a sovereign and a fighter. The heraldic eagle represents the Holy Roman Empire, which conferred authority and legitimacy on the medieval kingdoms and principalities of central Europe. The object in the Emperor’s right hand is a combination of two traditional royal symbols. European kings were often portrayed as holding a scepter in one hand and a spherical orb surmounted by a cross in the other. The scepter symbolizes power and authority. The orb represents the earth, and the cross above it indicates that earthly rule is subordinate to Christian or spiritual law.
the emperor rules over matter
In medieval terms, the emperor’s figure represents the earthly authority of the state as opposed to the spiritual authority of the church. The card’s number also symbolizes the stability of the material domain, and some have also interpreted the crossed legs as a hint to the shape of the numeral 4. The card can represent authority in the earthly domain, such as a government official, a military commander, or a company manager. As such, it may refer either to the querent or to their superior. It may also indicate a stable material status or a rich person. More generally, it can refer to the querent’s source of income, such as their workplace.
the emperor imposes his will
The authoritative posture and the strong grasp on the scepter brings to mind an imposing person, one who gives orders and expects others to obey. The scepter as a phallic symbol can represent male domination; it can also be used as a mace in battle. But we can see it as a reference to the suit of wands, symbolizing desire and creativity.
The card can signify a strong personality, self-confidence, assertiveness, and leadership. On the negative side, it can express a dictator, a tyrannical personality, or a constant need to be in control and run other people’s lives. The card can also indicate a macho attitude toward women. Like the eagle in the World card, the Emperor’s eagle can also represent the intellect. Its appearance under the seat indicates that the Emperor bases his position on reason, but his actual power and domination depend on his ability to use force.
the emperor is an earthly father
The Emperor’s masculine authority can symbolize a traditional fatherly image. As in the Empress card, the eagle shield may represent the family. The Emperor lays the shield behind him, as if he sees his function as protector and provider and not as someone who has to be emotionally involved in family affairs.
The card may refer to the querent’s role of fatherhood or to the querent’s own father. It can also signify someone functioning as a father figure; for example, someone who serves as a patron or benefactor. The card may also indicate conservative values of honor, virtue, and discipline, or maybe a stern, authoritarian education.
the emperor is ready to fight
The military helmet and the strong hold on the scepter, with the closed fist (which looks as if he is ready to punch), give the card a warrior-like and tough character. His sitting posture is also not relaxed. He looks as if he is ready to get up and fight at any moment. The card may express determination, assertiveness, self-confidence, and willingness to fight and protect one’s ground. It can also express a belligerent and aggressive attitude or symbolize someone who is readily provoked and prone to anger. The card can also refer to military and security-related issues. The tense sitting posture can indicate fear of real or imaginary enemies, which makes the querent always stay on guard.
the emperor controls himself
The left hand holding the belt looks as if the Emperor is holding himself. One can also see a similar significance in the crossed legs. It is as if the right leg is blocking the left. In pictures of early medieval kings, crossed legs indicated a king acting as a judge or dictating laws — a situation requiring discipline and self-containment. The cross above the orb and the scepter also indicate putting spiritual and moral values above personal desires.
In accordance with the traditional nobility codes of honor, the Emperor’s power of leadership is supposed to be based on self-discipline and impeccable behavior, yet one can interpret the crossed leg as a blockage. We can also further link it to the gaze that is turned to the left. The Emperor’s dominion relies on past achievements, which are often those of his predecessors. Thus, his attitude is primarily conservative: it is difficult for him to relinquish the advantages of his status and move forward.
the emperor conceals his weaknesses
If we look only on the upper left quarter of the card, we see clear shapes reflecting the Emperor’s power and control. But on the right side the lines are more rounded and the contours of the earth are ambiguous. The lower part of the shield might even be seen as positioned over a hole in the ground. One can read this as signifying the abyss or the depths of the soul. It can also represent softness and vulnerability that are not shown on the surface.
From this point of view, the card may describe a person hiding his personal fears and weaknesses behind a tough or powerful appearance. For example, it can be a person who fears opening up to an intimate relationship and revealing their vulnerability, so they put up defenses and react aggressively to anyone trying to reach them.
Le Pape in French refers to the Catholic Pope, whose attributes appear in the illustration. The Pope’s right hand with its two straight fingers forms the Latin gesture of benediction used by Catholic priests. The small crosses on the hands suggest the gloves that are usually worn by popes. Three crowns, symbolizing the church’s dominion on earth, have appeared on the papal tiara since the middle of the fourteenth century. An earlier version had only two, as in the Popess card, which could thus be understood as “an old story.” Until the fourteenth century, popes also had a beard. Another traditional attribute of the Pope is the triple-barred cross, usually linked with the holy trinity.
the pope gives counsel and advice
The unclear shapes in the lower part of the card look like two small figures with their backs to us. Their heads are shaved in the tonsure form, designating members or aspirants of the Catholic clergy. The Pope seems to be teaching and guiding them, and they may be his students or disciples. The yellow circle on the left may be a hat taken off in respect. The uncovered heads can also symbolize willingness to learn and receive advice.
The Pope card may represent a figure of authority offering guidance and advice to the querent. If the card is straight, it may indicate good advice that should be listened to. The card can refer to someone already influencing the querent or indicate that advice is needed. As with the Popess, the Pope can also refer to the reading itself. The difference is that the Popess represents the mysterious and intuitive aspect of the reading, while the Pope represents the elements of guidance and therapy.
the pope imparts knowledge
As head of the church, the Pope represents a system of knowledge and values with a long tradition and well-established institutions. The card may refer to any such kind of institutional knowledge. For example, the Pope card can symbolize a school, a university, a hospital, or a court. It can refer to learning or teaching in such an institute or to a procedure that takes place in it.
The card can also indicate advice from a professional expert, such as a medical doctor, a therapist, a lawyer, a coach, or any other kind of certified advisor. In legal matters it may refer to the court as a mediator, rather than to a sharp act of judgment, as we can see in the Justice card. In matters of therapy and healing it indicates conventional and institutional methods rather than alternative approaches based on intuition.
In a couple’s relationship the Pope card may represent an official procedure of status recognition. However, it can be either marriage or divorce. If it is an existing couple in difficulty, the card can also represent them seeking help from a marriage counselor.
the pope is a spiritual father
The origin of the word pape is “father,” which is the common mode of address for a priest. In symbolizing the figure of a father and a teacher, the card may refer to a person who has had a meaningful role in the education or the personal evolution of the querent. It can also indicate a religious leader, a spiritual guide, or a guru. In other cases the card may refer to the actual father and describe him as a person of high ideals, a moral role model, or a cerebral and distant parent. The card can also represent a part of our own personality, expressing our moral conscience, the education we received, and the values that we absorbed in our childhood.
The Protestant members of the Order of the Golden Dawn, who wanted to eliminate the Catholic reference, called the card “the Hierophant.” Hierophant is a combination of Greek words meaning “showing sacred things.” In ancient Greece it was the title of the high priest in secret rituals known as the Eleusinian Mysteries. There are also some new decks in which the card is named “the High Priest,” but its basic meaning remains the same.
the pope points to heaven
The Pope’s right hand points upward in a benediction gesture, marking a diagonal line of progress and ascent. Yet the line passes through the staff with the cross, which symbolizes institutionalized religion. It is as if the Pope indicates that the road to salvation passes through the church that he represents.
Still, unlike later cards of the suit, what we see here is not the heavenly sphere itself but only a man pointing to heaven. The Pope’s guidance can be an enlightened one, and the card can represent an inspired counsel. But it can also represent someone who expresses their own prejudices and limitations, pretending that they represent heaven’s decree or an objective reality. For example, the card can symbolize unfounded claims made in the name of religion or purporting to be based on objective science.
the pope identifies with the system
The flesh-colored gloves that the Pope wears indicate that it is difficult to separate the person and personality of the Pope from the institution that he represents. From this point of view the card may symbolize a person who identifies with the values and the norms of the system of which they are a part. One can see here a positive image of a person who sincerely applies what they preach. But it also can be a bureaucrat or someone who blindly serves the interests of an established system — for example, a public institution or a commercial firm. The card can also represent a person who upholds conservative, traditional, and conformist values.
the pope shows preferences
The two disciples in the card don’t receive equal treatment from the Pope. He turns his attention toward the disciple on the right and seems to ignore the one on the left. Accordingly, the disciple on the right raises his hand, and the one on the left points downward. The card may represent the act of preferring someone for a justified reason, but it can also express inequality, discrimination, and prejudice. For example, it may be an institution preferring those who conform with the norms and rejecting the ones who are different and dissenting. The card can also indicate a preference for one child over the others in a family. The light blue shape under the raised hand of the disciple on the right might be a hidden knife, which hints at betrayal by the one who was preferred.
In new English decks the card is called “the Lovers,” but the French name, L’amoureux, means “the lover” — a singular term. The cupid above the central male figure may suggest that he is in love, but the women on his sides can be linked to a story about the mythological Greek hero Hercules. When Hercules was young, he pondered which way he should choose as his life path. One day he had a vision of two women standing at a crossroads. The woman on his left was young and seductive, symbolizing the path of easy satisfactions and sensual pleasures. The woman on his right was older and modestly dressed, symbolizing the path of wisdom, virtue, and self-control.
the lover is in a relationship
The Lover card underwent many changes in meaning and design in the two tarot schools. Perhaps this is a sign of confusion and complexity, as the illustration mixes two different themes. The card’s name and the cupid’s arrow suggest the idea of love, but the story of Hercules speaks about choice. There is also much diversity in the mythological reference attached to the card. Several authors link it to the story of the prince Paris’s choice between three goddesses that led to the Trojan War, although there is no direct suggestion of this in the illustration. In the Golden Dawn deck the illustration was replaced by an image of the hero Perseus saving the princess Andromeda from a sea monster, and the card was named “the Lovers” in plural. Waite, who didn’t like pagan references, redesigned the card with the biblical figures of Adam and Eve.
The English school emphasized the love aspect of the card and interpreted it as a romantic relationship, either literally or as a metaphor of heavenly love. Cupid’s arrow indeed suggests the idea of falling in love, whether a new love in the querent’s life or a romantic spark rekindled in a mature relationship. But the three figures with the entangled arms and the mutual touching can also indicate a complex relationship involving several people. For example, one woman may be the man’s wife and the other may be his mistress. It may also be that the mature figure is his mother, pushing him with one hand to find himself a bride, and weighing on his shoulder with the other hand to make him stay with her. One can see other situations as well, and we should remember that a male figure in the card can represent a woman and vice versa.
the lover is at a crossroads
Many authors from the French school emphasized the aspect of choice, and some even named the card “the Two Paths.” The feet pointing to both sides do hint at a dilemma, and the card may represent the querent at a crossroads, not knowing which way to go. The hands touching him may signify external influences acting from different directions. His body leans more toward the young woman, but his head turns toward the older one. In the language of body parts, this means that his desires and emotions tend to the first direction, while his reason tends to the second. As in Hercules’s story, one can see in the card a difficulty in choosing between the path of desire and the path of wisdom, maybe in romance or in other matters.
the lover makes a meaningful choice
The French school linked the card to the form of the letter Y, whose inverted shape is signaled by the man’s body and legs. Followers of Pythagoras in ancient Greece regarded the Y shape as a symbol of the choices a person makes in their youth. The bottom line going upward is the course of childhood. At the bifurcation point in the center everything is open, and a small push to the right or to the left may decide which road the person will take. But once life advances along one of the two branches, it becomes difficult and eventually impossible to go back and reverse the choice.
The hand on the young woman’s belly may hint at future pregnancy; that is, the creation of a new life depending on the lover’s choice. The illustration presents conflicting indications as to the question of whose hand it is — his or hers. Perhaps we can understand it as the common hand of both. The card may indicate a choice with significant long-term implications, such as the choices that a person makes as a young adult or the joint decision of a couple to have a child. The card can signify a meaningful decision in other areas as well.
the lover is influenced by the past
The mature woman on the left represents the influences of the past. The man’s gaze to her side may indicate that the querent’s way of thinking is still rooted in old patterns. The card may describe a difficulty in freeing oneself from the influence of a parent or a past figure of authority, or in general a difficulty in disengaging from existing relationships and old habits. It may also be that the querent has made a decision in the past and is now preoccupied with doubts and regrets instead of accepting it and moving on.
the lover follows a hint from heaven
In the traditional story Hercules chooses the path of wisdom represented by the older woman. Accordingly, his story was popular in the Middle Ages as a didactic parable advocating restraint and the postponement of satisfactions. But the card illustration shows several hints in the opposite direction. The cupid may be an angel. His arrow pointing to the right starts from the center of a white circle in the sky, a symbol of purity and higher consciousness. Maybe the arrow is a sign from heaven, directing the man toward the young woman and to a shared future with her. Her hand is posed on his heart, hinting that she is the one who wins his affection, and the foot turned in her direction is more advanced than the other foot. Here the two aspects of the card are combined, with love expressing itself as choosing one partner and forgoing all other options.
If the querent faces a dilemma, the touch of the heart by the future figure and the head turned to the past can signify that it is better to decide by feeling and intuition than by rational considerations. The arrow from heaven can suggest paying attention to signs and coincidences that appear as clues to the right direction. Also, the foot farther advanced in one direction indicates that we can examine small incidents and indicators that express the querent’s actual choice. For example, if he is torn between two romantic partners, we might consider which is the one that he calls more often or maybe finds excuses to visit her neighborhood. Though apparently insignificant by themselves, such small choices can hint at the orientation of his heart.
Some authors have linked this card to the sun god, who in various traditions rides his chariot across the sky. Others have seen the armed rider as Mars, the Roman god of war, who is also riding a chariot. But the illustration on the card resembles medieval representations of a popular story about Alexander the Great. After having conquered many countries, Alexander decided to subdue the sky. He harnessed two gryphons — legendary flying animals — to his chariot and held a spear with a piece of meat over their heads. The hungry gryphons tried to reach the meat and, flying upward, they carried his chariot with them. On the way up, though, a flying wonder-man appeared and warned Alexander to give up his plan. Alexander lowered his spear, and the chariot landed safely on the ground.
the chariot celebrates a victory
The armored rider with his spear looks like a warrior. But the calm atmosphere and the decorations hint at a march of triumph rather than the act of going to war. This makes historical sense: war chariots kept their symbolic role in victory parades long after they became obsolete in actual fighting. The crown on the rider’s head may also be a symbol of victory rather than a mark of royalty.
The card may represent someone who has just overcome a difficulty or a clash with an adversary. Now he can enjoy his victory in a strong and secure position. The card may describe a victory that has already been won or the possibility of a future victory. The warrior’s garb indicates that victory comes to the one who is daring and ready to fight.
There are various views as to the meaning of the letters V.T on the chariot’s front plate. They differ between decks and may be the initials of one of the artisans who produced the printing plates. Still, they can be given meanings if associated with something relevant to the reading.
the chariot is in motion
The card’s number, seven, combines a solid structure (four) with movement (three). We may also see such a combination in the square chariot and the triangular shape of the rider’s body. But the chariot has a clear structure only in its upper part. The lower part of the illustration is asymmetrical and has many strange features, which give it an intangible and dreamlike appearance. This may indicate that the solid structures of status and power suggested by the image have no real basis.
The ethereal nature of the chariot base gives the impression of floating in the air. This feature makes the illustration more dynamic, in contrast to the symmetry and heavy solidness of the upper part. The chariot is a solid structure, but its role is to serve as a vehicle of motion. In this regard, the card can refer to an advance toward a desired goal. The querent has means and resources that can help him, but they can also turn out to be a burden hindering his progress. The Chariot card may also represent a desire to go on a trip or matters related to vehicles.
the chariot is a status symbol
In ancient times a chariot was a symbol of high rank or a token of excellence endowed by the ruler, as in the biblical story about Joseph in Egypt. Nowadays, too, a luxurious car is considered a high status symbol. The chariot’s square shape and the four poles in its upper part hint at prestige and domination in the material world. A fleur-de-lys shape, which was the symbol of the French royal house of Bourbon, appears above the front plate of the chariot and in the crown decorations. The Chariot card can thus represent honor and prestige, aspiration to a high social status, or benefits gained through service to those in high positions. It can also signify snobbery, opportunism, and a desire to advance at whatever cost.
the chariot is protected from outside
The armor, the crown, the spear, and the chariot body create a solid and sturdy enclosure around the rider, protecting him from all sides. Only his hands and face are exposed, and they give an impression of fragility and weakness. The card can express an appearance of confidence and power that is enhanced by external symbols of success, but which hides a weak personality inside. Perhaps the querent is relying too much on external means instead of making use of his inner resources. The card can also signify dependence on material or technological mechanisms to the detriment of the human factor. In relationships, the overprotectiveness of the rider can signify a reluctance to loosen up and open oneself, or an emotional block caused by fear of intimacy and self-exposure.
The card can also refer to vanity and arrogance, which are expressed in the story of Alexander. The rider’s hand posture can be a pretentious attempt to imitate the confident hold on the belt and scepter of the Emperor. In this aspect the card can also express overconfidence and failing to acknowledge one’s own limitations, which can lead the querent to dangerous situations. Sometimes it can simply be the natural ambition of a young person, self-assured and overly optimistic as if he is going to conquer the world.
the chariot goes without control
The Indian Upanishad scriptures compare the undeveloped man to a chariot whose parts act unguided, as if of their own will. In this metaphor the rider is the conscious mind, and the parts of the chariot are the various parts of the individual’s personality. We can see something similar in the card. The rider is holding no reins in his hands, and it seems that the horses are pulling the chariot as they wish, leaning to the left side of the card. The two face masks on the shoulders may represent conflicting thoughts or opposing wishes. Perhaps the querent doesn’t know where he wants to go, and meanwhile the old habits pull him toward the known and familiar. It may also be that instead of setting his own targets, external factors, such as his status and assets, determine his course.
Christian morality in the Middle Ages borrowed from Greek philosophy the idea of four cardinal virtues: Justice, Force, Temperance, and Prudence. The first three appear as figures in the tarot, and one of them — Justice with a sword and scales — is still used as a popular symbol of the judicial system today. The scales originated with Maat, the Egyptian goddess of justice, who would weigh the heart of a deceased person against a feather. If the heart was found to be lighter, it would be seen as pure and the person could proceed to a happy afterlife. Maat’s scales were subsequently adopted by Themis, Greek goddess of justice. In medieval Christian paintings of the Last Judgment, the sword and the scales are two attributes of Archangel Michael. He fights the forces of evil with his sword and weighs people’s actions with his scales in order to decide whether they should go to heaven or to hell.
justice is balanced and fair
The straightforward meaning of the card refers to issues of law and justice. It can signify legal procedures or the figure of a judge, and generally it indicates that justice will prevail. The scales express judicial deliberations weighing pros and cons, but they can also indicate a fair verdict. In situations not related to courtrooms, the card may describe a well-balanced decision that takes all factors into account. The scales may also symbolize “distributive justice,” by which everyone is given their just and equal share.
justice is sharp and critical
The sword wielded in the right hand may stand for the retributive justice of criminal courts, which gives punishments for crimes and transgressions. The image of the sword may signify pain or damage suffered by the querent as a consequence of their wrongs. It can also indicate a critical and judgmental attitude, which can be interpreted either as a high moral standard or as hypocritical self-righteousness. The card can also signify an “internal judge,” which again can be manifested either as a developed conscience or as guilty feelings and a desire for self-mortification. We can also see in this card the figure of a judgmental and critical parent. The straight look in the eyes may be a call for introspection and self-examination.
justice cuts and decides
Just as a court is supposed to reach a clear and sharp verdict, the sword in the figure’s hand can signify a need to cut and decide. The card can describe a clear-cut decision, perhaps reached after a long weighing of pros and cons. Maybe such a decision was already made or the card can encourage the querent to finish their long deliberations and commit either way. The sword on the left side may also indicate a decision to cut away and disengage from the past.
justice acts with reason
The structured and cerebral nature of the number eight is expressed in the orderly sitting posture and in the straight perpendicular lines that appear in the upper part of the card. The domain of intellect is also emphasized by the sword and the crown on the head. The name of the card refers to the French word juste (“just”), which means both justice and precision. The card may represent clear and rational thinking or a scientific outlook resting on precise theories and concepts. It can signify an action calculated to conform with socially accepted laws and norms. One can also see in it a rigid and conformist attitude that does not go beyond the limits of the existing order.
justice controls the passions
The precise and artificial nature of the upper part of the card, which is more eye-catching on first sight, contrasts with the wavy earth and the soft lines of the clothes in the lower part. The protected chest signifies emotional closure, but the prominent and well-grounded pelvis expresses strong desires and creativity. The encounter between the two parts takes place at the height of the scales, where the order dictated by the upper part controls and directs the organic flow of the lower part. One can see here the domination of mind over passions. In this context the wielded sword may express a strong degree of self-discipline, but it can also represent sharp self-criticism, which strangles creativity and expression.
justice tips the scales
Both the sword and the crossbar of the scales are not exactly aligned with the card frame but tilt slightly to the right side, which symbolizes the future. This inclination does not happen by itself: one can clearly see that the figure’s elbow touches the balance, pushing it down on the right side. Going back to the ancient symbolism of the scales, perhaps we can take the weighing pan closer to the sword as the scale of fault, which is full of transgressions. The figure of Justice intervenes and tips the scales to the side of merit, which represents the good deeds.
In this aspect, the card can signify the need to add a human touch beyond the strict application of the law so as to tip the scales to the positive side. More generally, the card can signify a touch of grace intervening favorably in a set of rational considerations. In a similar spirit, the Mishna says, “Be judging every human to the scale pan of merit.” On the other hand, if the card is inverted, we can see it as signifying unfair and crooked judgment.
The name hermit comes from a Greek word meaning “desert.” The arid landscape, the mantle, and the hood link the card to the ancient Christian tradition of solitary monks who lived in the desert and took vows of self-deprivation and penance. A beard and long, uncut hair are traditional marks of asceticism in various traditions. The lamp-like object in the Hermit’s hand brings to mind the story of the Greek philosopher Diogenes. Despising accepted norms, Diogenes chose to detach himself from respectable society and live in absolute poverty, sleeping in an old barrel. Once he was seen in the busy Athens marketplace, walking in broad daylight with a lit candle in his hand. When asked why, he said that he was looking for a human.
the hermit is looking for the truth
When Diogenes says he is looking for a human in a marketplace full of people, he speaks about what he considers a true human being — that is, an honest and virtuous one. The hermit in the religious tradition is also searching for something that represents truth, such as divine grace or mystical enlightenment.
The Hermit can express a sincere search for something of value, with readiness to pay a price, such as isolation or self-deprivation. This can be a psychological journey in search of an inner truth about oneself or a spiritual search for religious or mystical truth. In a wider sense the card may describe a search in general; for example, looking for a person or a lost object or maybe searching to find a path.
The well-developed upper front of the Hermit figure’s head can signify wisdom. The three horizontal lines on the forehead resemble a symbol called vibhuti, which is worn by followers of the Hindu god Shiva. The spot where the symbol is drawn is the “third eye,” representing enlightenment and a mystical view of truth. There are various interpretations for the three lines, one of which speaks about three levels of reality: material, mental, and spiritual. In tarot symbolism they can also represent the three layers of the major suit cards: heaven, earth, and the abyss. The Hermit may be looking for a true vision that encompasses all three. A similar form of three horizontal lines appears on the Pope’s staff and can be given a similar meaning.
the hermit is focused on his goal
The idea of a religious hermit represents a total commitment of someone who devotes their life to a single cause. Accordingly, the Hermit’s gaze and posture in the card are totally concentrated in the direction of his search. Above the hand holding the lamp appears a circle with a point at the center, symbolizing a focus. The colored shapes and lines of the illustration also lead the eye to the same focal point. The fingers of the hand create a sharp shape pointed forward. This may express determination and focus or rigidity and a refusal to compromise with reality.
The card can represent determination to reach a desired goal and willingness to make sacrifices for its sake. But the turn in the left direction may also express a conservative attitude that looks for solutions within the existing frame of ideas. One can also see in the card hard-headed stubbornness, ideological extremism, or religious fanaticism.
the hermit gives up satisfactions
The simple habit and the monk-like appearance of the Hermit indicate that he is ready to give up comfort and material pleasures. The card can thus signify self-deprivation, asceticism, or maybe just a simple and modest lifestyle. This can be either a choice for life or a temporary stage that the querent undergoes. The reasons can also vary — perhaps it is a period of economic difficulties or maybe he has in mind some goal that requires concessions in the short term.
The image of a monk or hermit also suggests the idea of celibacy and deprivation of sexual satisfactions. More generally, it points to giving up satisfaction of any kind of desire — for example, a need to go on a diet and deprive oneself of tasty food. Still, if it is about sex, the curving stick in the Hermit’s hand may refer to the suit of wands and represent crooked desires. Perhaps, as the strange yellow shape at the groin area may hint, the Hermit hides some strange and deviant passions under his puritan mantle.
the hermit examines the past
With the concentrated look to the left, the Hermit may be observing and examining the past or turning his gaze inward. For example, he may be trying to comprehend his past experiences and understand how they affect his present life. It can also be an attempt to find out what actually happened, as in the work of a historian, a psychologist, or a detective. In practical matters the card expresses a period of self-examination, hence inactivity. It also can be a temporary stop in order to better understand the deeper layers of the situation.
the hermit moves cautiously
The concentrated look with the raised lamp in front of the eyes indicates that the Hermit examines everything meticulously. This is why various interpreters have seen this card as an expression of Prudence, the fourth cardinal virtue, which is missing from the major suit. It seems as if the Hermit checks the area well before making any move. In a positive aspect the card can describe a cautious attitude. In a negative aspect it can signal an overly suspicious character and difficulty in trusting others. The hidden feet and the turn to the left can also indicate too much caution, hindering the Hermit’s advance.
the hermit avoids contact
The literal meaning of the card’s name is a solitary person who avoids contact with others. The mantle sleeve around the lamp also creates the feeling of keeping one’s light to oneself. The card can represent a person with an independent thought, who doesn’t care too much about what other people think of them. This is exactly the example that Diogenes offers. In a less favorable sense the card can describe loneliness, closure, fear of intimacy, and difficulty in maintaining human contact. In romantic matters the card may represent a period of solitary living or a feeling of alienation in an existing relationship. Perhaps the querent is overcritical and obsessively searches for faults in other people, or they may be searching too intensely for an ideal partner and using it as an excuse to avoid real contact.
The name of the card refers to Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck. A wheel appears in various traditional sources as a symbol of the ups and downs of life. The Talmud also says that “it is a wheel that returns in the world.” Medieval paintings show Fortuna’s wheel with four human figures. One is ascending, and beside it is the caption “I shall reign.” The second, at the top, is sitting on a throne with a crown and a scepter, and its caption is “I reign.” The third is descending, with the caption “I reigned.” The fourth is lying under the wheel, and his caption is “I have no reign.” A similar image of a turning wheel is also at the origin of the word revolution, first used in France to indicate the casting down of the old monarchic regime.
the wheel pulls up and brings down
The traditional symbol of the wheel is often used as a message of consolation. Life is a series of successes and failures, and even if we are now on a descent, ascent will eventually follow. But the wheel is round, and the change of positions in this card works both ways. Whoever or whatever is down now will move up, and whoever is up will come down. From the position of the animals in the illustration we can understand that the right side of the wheel is going up and the left side is going down. This fits the interpretation of the sides as past and future. If there are neighboring cards in a spread, the card on the right indicates a rising factor, while the card on the left indicates a falling one.
In Renaissance thinking, fortune (Fortuna) was opposed to virtue as the main factor determining the course of human life. In this view, changes symbolized by the wheel are due to capricious luck, not to personal merit. Arbitrary fortune shown in this card is also different from destiny, which drives events toward a goal that is fixed in advance. It is also possible to see the card as a roulette, or a lottery wheel, and interpret it as a reference to gambling.
The three figures with animal and human parts can represent the strange combinations of animal drives and human considerations with which we react to life’s changes. The animal going up may be a donkey, symbolizing opportunistic ambition. The descending animal may be an old and wrinkled monkey, showing the ridiculous figure of vain grandiosity whose day is past.
the wheel is dangerous at the top
The creature with the crown and sword at the top looks like a sphinx, a legendary ancient animal whose body combined the four living creatures of the World card: a bull, a lion, a man, and an eagle. The sphinx supposedly has it all, but the surface on which it sits looks unstable. He may be about to fall and become like the dethroned king in the traditional paintings. But we can also think that it is not moving with the wheel; rather, it is waiting for whoever reaches the summit in order to drop the sword on them. From this point of view, the card can describe danger awaiting whoever reaches the highest position.
The wheel and the device to which it is attached are unstable. The ground lines look like water waves, and the back part of the axis is missing. Perhaps the card is warning the querent not to take anything for granted. The mechanisms by which things have been moving so far may lose their basis, and one should not assume that the same wheels are going to turn in the same way indefinitely. For example, the card can symbolize the machinery of a bureaucratic system working under predictable laws. On the face of it, its wheels appear unstoppable. But an unexpected change in conditions or an exception that doesn’t fit the fixed rules may disrupt them and thus render the system powerless.
the wheel moves by itself
In medieval paintings one can sometimes see Fortuna turning her wheel. But in the Tarot de Marseille there is no one holding the handle. The two animals on the sides are also not moving the wheel; rather, it is the wheel carrying them in its motion. Maybe the querent’s situation changes for better or worse, but this happens as a result of random external forces that they cannot control. This may be due to pure luck or because bigger events are happening, and the querent can only be influenced by them. One way or another, as things stand now, the querent is not a master of their own fate, yet sometimes it’s a good idea to check the next card at the handle’s side: after all, maybe we will see there someone or something turning the wheel and manipulating the querent’s situation.
the wheel turns and returns
The turning wheel can represent processes that repeat themselves time and again, like the number ten, which closes the first cycle of numbers and starts a new decade. We can also compare it to the circular Chinese drawing of the two elements: yang, the active and outgoing, and yin, the passive and inward-drawing. In the natural course of events, the yang element grows until it reaches its apogee, in which the yin appears. The yin grows in its turn, reaches its summit, and gives place to a new phase of yang, and so on. The revolutions of yin and yang are manifest as cycles of change, such as day and night, summer and winter, advance and retreat in life, or inner cycles in the body and mind.
The Wheel may represent astrological and biorhythmic cycles, periodic changes of mood, or bodily cycles, such as wake and sleep or the monthly cycle of female fertility. It may also represent the repeating schedule of daily life routine; symbolize time cycles like weeks, months, or years; or point to the cycle of generations in a family (for example, psychological problems repeating themselves one generation after another). We can also see it as a signification of past or future incarnations in the cycle of death and rebirth.
Another meaning we can see in the card is the closure of circles and a return to the starting point. For example, it can signify a return to a place or to a personal relationship that was significant in the past. One may also see here a vicious circle from which the querent is unable to break free, or a feeling that the querent’s life is moving in circles without any real progress.
It is also interesting to compare the card to the biblical verse in Ezekiel 1:14 that speaks of a to-and-fro movement: “And the living creatures ran and returned.” The living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision that ride upon magical wheels have four faces each. These are the faces of the four animals composing the sphinx in the card.
the wheel has a fixed center
Tibetan Buddhist paintings show a wheel divided into six slices representing forms of life, such as animals, people, demons, and gods. This is samsara, the wheel of existence. According to the Buddhist view, every creature dies and is reborn time and again, going up or down in the wheel according to actions in previous incarnations. A person who performed good deeds will be reborn at a higher, more pleasant domain, but sooner or later they will fall once again. The wheel of samsara also operates in a single lifetime, where it represents the endless cycle of desire and satisfaction: desire seeks satisfaction, but once reaching it, new desires are born. We can see in the samsara wheel an idea similar to the Wheel card. Interestingly, at the center of the Tibetan drawing there are also three animals: a pig, a snake, and a rooster, representing respectively the “three poisons” of ignorance, anger, and craving.
According to the Buddhist view, the ideal situation is not when one reaches a good position on the wheel, but rather when the up and down movement in the wheel stops altogether. Such a situation is called enlightenment, or nirvana. In the card we cannot see the wheel stopping, but its central point is a place that does not move up or down. Maybe this is the center of the circle the Hermit is looking at. The card may be encouraging the querent to find a fixed point of tranquility within that does not move with the ups and downs of mood changes. It may also hint at methods of meditation and spiritual exercises, whether in the Buddhist or in other traditions, which are meant to stop the wheel by giving up desires rather than satisfying them.
Fighting a lion is a common symbol of force and courage. The Bible mentions Samson and David fighting lions, and the Greek mythical hero Hercules kills a lion as one of his twelve tasks. The female figure may come from another Greek tale about the nymph Cyrene, the daughter of a mortal king. One day, when tending her father’s sheep, Cyrene fought and killed a lion who threatened to devour them. The god Apollo, who was passing by, watched the fight and fell in love with her. He took her to the Libyan coast, where he made her a queen of the area known to this day as Cyrenaica. A female goddess riding a lion or a tiger is also known in India, where she appears as the mighty fighting goddess Durga, or Kali in a darker aspect.
force acts gently
The Force card clearly represents strength and domination, but it is not the tough, masculine domination that we see in the Emperor, with his hard grip on the scepter. The Force figure is a woman; her posture and hold on the animal’s mouth seem soft and gentle, and the lion’s docile gaze upward may suggest a pet rather than a wild beast. Perhaps it is a situation of taming and mastery through collaboration, rather than a fierce struggle against a cruel adversary.
The card expresses self-confidence and personal strength, without the need for violence or forceful oppression. Still, the hierarchy of control is unambiguous: it is the woman taming the lion and not the other way around. If the querent is in a strong or dominant position, the card may indicate that others respect their authority and there is no need for excessive use of force. Rather, things can be organized and moved in a gentle and friendly way. Alternatively, if the querent is in the lion’s position and is subject to a superior force, the card may indicate a choice to cooperate rather than to rebel and fight.
force displays self-control
In traditional pictures of a man fighting a lion, the man and the lion often face each other as opponents, but in the Force card the woman and the lion are facing the same direction. The lion even seems to be growing from the lower part of her body, as if he is an extended part of her. Perhaps the lion represents not an external agent, but her own wild animal impulses. One can see it as an image of self-control, where a person dominates and tames their own natural wild impulses. For example, she may be controlling her anger or restraining herself from acting on impulse.
The head topped with a wide hat and what looks like a crown represents the intellect, guiding the hands and taming animal desires. A line on the neck separates the head from the rest of the body, and the tightly laced bodice covering her chest indicates blocked emotions. In a positive sense, this can signify the detachment necessary to control emotions and desires. In a negative sense, it can indicate a disconnected rationality and losing touch with one’s feelings and passions.
force tames her passions
A lion appears also in the World card, where it represents the suit of wands and the domain of desire. In the Force card it looks as if it is growing out of the woman’s pelvis, so it is natural to interpret it specifically as sexual or creative impulses. The lion’s open mouth can symbolize the female sexual organ. Its sharp teeth bring to mind the obscure but recurrent symbol of a “toothed vagina,” expressing male fear of female sexuality. This sense of danger evident in the card may also refer to the perils associated with uncontrolled bursts of passion.
The lines of gaze of the woman and the lion meet at some point to the right of the card. We can think of them as converging at some future goal. In this aspect their joint efforts create a mighty power that is difficult to stand against. The six spikes on the woman’s hat resemble the six teeth in the lion’s mouth and may indicate that she is turning the fierce passions into part of her strength. The collaboration between the different parts of the figure’s being can also indicate that the querent summons all their internal resources together in order to face a task or overcome a challenge.
force allows open expression
The woman holds the lion’s mouth delicately, touching it with her fingertips. It is not clear whether she is trying to open it, close it, or just maintain it as it is. We might understand this as an action that does not block desires altogether but rather maintains their expression under control. As the lion can also symbolize creative urges, we can see in the card an active but controlled attempt at creative expression.
force takes a risk
To hold a lion’s mouth, even if one controls it, requires alertness and constant attention. One may also think that there is something devious in the lion’s look, as if it is waiting for the right moment to free itself and bite. The finger inside the open mouth may signal playing with danger. The card may thus describe courage and daring, but in a less positive sense it may represent rashness and careless risk-taking. The card can also symbolize a threat or an inner conflict that is currently held under control at the price of constantly felt tension.
There is very little ground at the bottom of the card, and none of it on the right side. Underneath the missing ground there are parallel lines in the title strip, which give it a dark aspect. This may be the abyss representing deep layers of the soul, and the lion’s legs are growing out of it. We can understand from this image that passions originate in deep levels that are beyond the rational mind’s control. The woman’s foot appears to have six toes. Its wide spread may signify an attempt to hold to the ground as firmly as possible. This impulse might be the result of feeling that one is on the edge of the abyss. On the other hand, it may be that the wild lion of passions is connecting the figure to a basic source of vitality that exists beneath the detached intellect and blocked emotionality.
In ancient times hanging a person upside down was a form of torture combining pain and humiliation. Often it was used on people with unorthodox beliefs. In the Roman Empire it was applied to Christians, and in medieval Spain to Jews and Muslims. But in the Hanged Man’s inverted view everything is upside down: suffering for your faith isn’t a humiliation, but a great honor. Many authors saw this card as a representation of Jesus on the cross or connected it to other sacrificed gods, such as Odin in Norse mythology. Odin hanged himself on the world tree Yggdrasil, looked down into the depths of existence, and thus discovered the magical runic letters. The card can also remind us of a bungee jump, whose origins are in a rite of passage of native islanders in the Pacific Ocean.
the hanged man receives a punishment
In some old Italian decks the card is called “the Traitor.” This may be a reference not to Jesus but to Judas Iscariot, who hanged himself on a tree after betraying Christ. In such a view, the querent may be receiving punishment for an improper or unacceptable action they have done. The punishment might be inflicted by an external source or the querent might be chastising him- or herself for real or imaginary faults.
Even if we forgo the traditional link between hanging and punishment, the Hanged Man is clearly in an unpleasant situation. The wooden frame encircles and isolates him from the surroundings and from other people. The red tips of the cut branches indicate sharpness and aggression, pointed outward (to others) and inward (to himself). The card can also describe a feeling that “everything is upside down,” meaning that one doesn’t understand anymore what is going on in one’s life.
the hanged man makes a sacrifice
The mythological link to a god who sacrifices himself motivated many authors to see the card as an expression of giving up one’s personal interests for the sake of a higher cause. In some new decks this interpretation is emphasized by a calm expression and a halo of light around the head. Perhaps the querent accepts the process of undergoing difficulties or renouncing vital interests for the sake of someone else, for some political or ideological cause, or as part of some process of spiritual initiation.
the hanged man refrains from action
The hands of the Hanged Man may be tied behind his back or held there by choice. Either way, they signify a passive acceptance of whatever comes. The hanged posture and the surrounding wood frame give no space for maneuver. The twelve tips of the branches may symbolize a whole range of possibilities, like the full circle of the zodiac. Their cutting can signify giving up all possible ways of action. There is pain involved with the relinquishing of all initiative, as the red tips — which look like blood drops — indicate.
The card may describe the querent’s being in a helpless and paralyzing state. Alternatively, the querent may be reacting to a complex situation by giving up any action and accepting whatever happens, even if it turns out to be the inverse of what they expected. The card can thus indicate surrender and reconcilement with reality as it is. Alternatively, it can describe the emotional state of regarding oneself as a passive and helpless victim, either to avoid taking responsibility for one’s situation or as a means for emotional extortion.
the hanged man sees the world upside down
The Hanged Man’s position seems distressful, but this is only a matter of perspective. As he is hanging upside down, his point of view is the inverse of the normal perspective. The card has no landscape except for the green ground on the sides, which can also resemble treetops. This may hint that it is impossible to decide which is the correct point of view — the Hanged Man’s or the accepted views held by people outside his frame. We can also find some similarity between this card (number twelve) and the central figure in the World (twenty-one) in an inverse position.
The card may describe a unique person who sees things in their own way. It can also be encouraging the querent to think in original and nonconformist terms, which may be opposed to the common logic. If an inverse card is beside the straight Hanged Man card, it may be that from the special perspective of the querent, what is usually seen as a handicap or a crisis can look like an advantage or an opportunity.
the hanged man accepts being different
When the Hanged Man is held inverse, we have supposedly returned to the normal situation with the head up. But now the figure gives a very strange impression. The figure remains enclosed and isolated, with a sense of lacking a hold on the ground. We can see here a futile attempt by someone to be “normal” and to conform to common values at all costs. In contrast, in the upright position with the head pointing down, the card depicts him recognizing the fact that he is different so that the standard solutions are not valid for him. Instead of making hopeless efforts to “straighten himself up,” he accepts himself as he is and strives to make the best of his unique qualities.
the hanged man examines the depth
The horizontal axis of earthly reality is completely blocked by the wood frame on both sides. The vertical axis is also blocked from above, and the only direction open is through the hole in the ground. This can mean that the only way to advance is to refrain from action and to engage in a profound self-examination. It can also hint at deep knowledge, such as the mysterious runes in Odin’s story, or “the depth of the matter” in some situation.
Symbolically, hanging with the head down means giving up all previous assumptions, including the self-evident distinction between up and down. This means that unlike the Hermit, who seeks truth while taking for granted his existing beliefs, the Hanged Man is ready to put everything in question. The uneasy position and the isolating frame indicate readiness to pay the price of personal difficulties and social reclusion. Similar to the passage rite of the bungee jump, this also can be some kind of test or initiation preparing the querent for the transforming experiences in the following cards.
In new decks card 13 is called “Death,” but in traditional decks it has no name. The skeletal figure with a scythe is the popular figure of the grim reaper. It is not the medieval Angel of Death, who was portrayed as a body full of eyes, but clearly it represents some personification of death. A scythe appeared in the hand of the Greek Titan Cronus (the Roman Saturn), who represented both time and harvest and was king of the Elysian islands of the blessed dead. In Greek and Roman cultures, a skeleton symbolizing inevitable death carried a hedonistic message: “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die.” In the Christian Middle Ages, a skeleton was used to convey the opposite message: earthly life is ephemeral, so we should better prepare ourselves for the eternal life in the afterworld.
card 13 cuts the past
The skeletal image, the big blade of the scythe, the scattered body parts, and the overall dark appearance of the card suggest the idea of death cutting and terminating life. The yellowish shade of the black ground above the scythe’s blade expresses the total nature of the cut, as it colors everything where it passes. Still, it is a traditional rule that we should observe — never to predict the death of somebody who is alive. At most, the card can indicate the influence of a death that has already occurred on those who are alive. For example, it can describe coping with loss or a period of mourning.
More generally the card can represent the end of something. For example, it may be the end of a chapter in life, cutting off a relationship, moving away to start a new life elsewhere, resigning or being fired from a job, and so on. The sharp and decisive character of the card indicates an abrupt termination rather than a gradual decline. It also gives a feeling of inevitability.
The pair of male and female heads on the ground, one of them crowned, can represent the parents or other figures of authority who were significant for the querent. Stepping on the woman’s head and passing the blade on the man’s head may indicate a rebellion against their influence or cutting off emotional dependence on them.
card 13 is coping with change
The black ground, the skeleton with the scythe, the severed limbs, and the grim significance of the number thirteen all give the card an unsettling and fearsome character. This expresses the fact that any meaningful change in life always involves an emotional crisis. Even when it is a positive change, such as cutting ourselves off from a situation that is bad for us, it is still a move away from the known and the secure toward a new and scary domain of uncertainty. This aspect is made stronger when the card is inverse, with the black ground on top signifying the querent’s difficulties in facing the change.
The gloomy appearance of the card can be unsettling for a querent who is new to tarot cards. Therefore, if card 13 appears in the reading, it would be better to refer to it right away and clarify that it is about change and not necessarily about death. For a person wishing to disengage from past patterns and start something new, card 13 is a good sign. We can also notice that the skeleton is wielding the scythe not in front of a live person, but over heads and limbs already spread on the ground. Thus, it may indicate the end of something that has already lost its integrity and vitality.
card 13 highlights the essential
Card 13 is the first card in the suit showing a completely naked figure, but it is in an extreme and blatant way “naked to the bone.” The skeleton, which remains when other parts of the body have decayed, is a constant and stable element. The neck bone is divided into four parts and may thus represent the stability of matter. Old Jewish scriptures speak about the Looz (essential) bone, which remains after the decay of all the others. This is the seed from which the body will grow once again in the final resurrection. Some identify it with the neck bone and others with the base of the spine, which is marked red in the card.
The card may describe a shock or a crisis that exposes the true nature of things. It can also symbolize maintaining the essential and giving up the superficial. For example, it can be a financially difficult period that makes it necessary to relinquish luxuries and superficial pleasures. The hardy skeleton also may be a sort of “moral backbone” that reveals itself in a time of crisis.
card 13 puts things in perspective
In the popular book Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda, a Native American sorcerer teaches the author that “death is an advisor.” As many cultures express in their own terms, an awareness of the inevitability of death gives us a correct perspective on what is really important in life. In ancient Rome it was customary to call out memento mori (“remember death”) in a triumphal parade, to remind the victorious hero that he is only a mortal. In a similar spirit, Buddhist monks meditate on a human skull or in a cemetery in order to be aware of the temporary nature of human existence.
The crowned head at the bottom of the card can express the idea that in front of death everybody is equal, kings and simple folk alike. In this aspect card 13 can indicate a mature and balanced view of reality that is able to distinguish between what is important and what is not.
card 13 opens a new path
Contrary to the morbid association of the card, the illustration is full of movement and dynamism. The skeleton faces right, indicating an advance toward the future. The cut limbs on the ground may remind us of the vision of dry bones in the book of Ezekiel: disintegration followed by rejoining and resurrection in a new form. The scythe’s blade can also be seen as some sort of path curving upward in the future direction. We can understand that from the perspective of the present situation and the existing structures, the card expresses ending and loss. But the disintegration of the old clears the ground for something new to be born. In this respect, card 13 indicates not only the end of past structures, but also the possibility of a new beginning.
The word temperance, of Latin origin, means “pouring or mixing liquids to obtain an average blend.” Often it is used specifically for pouring water into wine. As a figure of speech it indicates a moderate behavior without exaggeration, and in this sense it became one of Christianity’s four cardinal virtues. “To temper one’s wine with water” is a popular French expression that originally meant calming down after being angry. Today it is used for one who makes concessions about principles, either in a positive or in a negative sense. In the Catholic Mass water is poured into wine to symbolize the dual nature of Christ as both human and divine. A figure pouring from one vessel to another appeared in the Middle Ages in depictions of the miracle of Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine for the benefit of wedding guests.
temperance finds a middle way
The liquid flowing between the two vessels brings to mind the original meaning of the card title: a mixture of two liquids, implying a compromise between their opposite qualities. Other elements of the illustration also express a combination of two opposites. The lower half of the figure’s body leans to the right, and the upper half to the left. The dress combines the opposite colors red and blue. The figure’s wings suggest an ability to fly, but it also has a wide base solidly planted on the ground. The Catholic mixing of water and wine to symbolize the dual nature of Christ can also be seen as reconciliation between two incompatible elements.
Originally, Temperance as a virtue meant balanced behavior that finds the middle road without being swept to any side. This is the doctrine of the “golden mean” advocated in ancient Greece by Aristotle: always keep the right measure between excess and deficiency in anything. Similar ideas were developed in Buddhist and Confucian philosophies. The medieval virtue of Temperance was often interpreted as moderation and restraint in the satisfaction of desires, and later it was linked especially to alcohol consumption. Eventually it was identified with complete abstinence, which is clearly contrary to the original meaning.
The card can indicate a compromise between two opposites. For example, it can describe a reconciliation between conflicting parties or finding a middle ground between different interests. It may also indicate a person who serves as a mediator. In case of a dilemma, the card may describe a middle road, which combines the advantages of both options. More generally it can mean moderate behavior without exaggeration to any side.
It is also interesting to note the evolution between the three cardinal virtues. In the Justice card the cerebral order of the top part wields a sword and forcefully subdues the natural life flow of the bottom part. In the Force card the higher element is still master over the lower one, but this is done in a soft way that allows expression. In Temperance, too, we can see a high part and a low part, each with its own vessel, but in this card the two parts are united by the liquid flow.
temperance does the impossible
The liquid seems to defy the laws of physics by hanging in the air, and yet the figure apparently manages to pour it without losing a drop. We can even imagine that it is some sort of magical liquid that can flow back and forth between the vessels. The angelic wings, the flower on the forehead, and perhaps also the link to the miracle in Cana may hint at extraordinary abilities. The Temperance card may indicate a precise and skillful action that achieves something that would normally seem impossible. We can also link this reading to the previous one and interpret the card as a compromise reached between sides that apparently seemed irreconcilable.
temperance proceeds with patience
The general atmosphere of the illustration is serene, and the act of pouring the liquid back and forth appears to be slow and patient. The card can describe patience, perseverance, and long-term efforts. It may also indicate a slow pace of events, preparations that go on and on, or unending hesitations between options without taking a real step. The card’s calm and flowing nature, along with the angelic appearance of the figure, may also express patience, acceptance, and forgiveness toward inner conflicts and weaknesses in others and in oneself.
temperance generates an inner flow
The stripe of liquid flowing before the figure’s abdomen may represent not an external but an internal flow. This can bring to mind methods of traditional medicine that regard life processes as a flow between opposite elements. For example, medieval Western medicine spoke about four liquids (humors) in the body, where the wellness of body and soul was seen as being dependent on their correct and balanced mixing. A similar concept of wellness exists in Chinese medicine, which speaks of the energy of life (chi) flowing between the active element (yang) and the passive element (yin). In this regard the card may refer to alternative and holistic medicine or to natural methods of body and mind therapy. For example, it can refer to Indian yoga, Chinese tai chi, or to New Age methods of self-balance and inner harmony. It can also indicate healthy nutrition and a well-tempered lifestyle.
temperance distills itself
Various authors have linked this card with spiritual alchemy, which interprets the alchemical writings as an allegory of a personal transformation from rough matter (the normal state of consciousness) to the philosopher’s stone (pure and enlightened consciousness). The miracle in the village of Cana is also some sort of alchemy whereby humble water becomes exalted wine. Such an interpretation does not speak of blending but of distillation, a process of making liquid more refined and pure. The figure generating the flow across her middle may be engaged in such a process of self-distillation. The angel’s wings and the flower on her forehead may symbolize superior, benevolent intelligence and may also indicate that the distillation is driven by a pure and spiritual element in her being.
Still, the flow in the card is directed only inward. The immobile figure rooted in the ground expresses lack of actual movement, and the raised elbows may be fending off other people from invading one’s personal space. This can indicate excessive preoccupation with oneself and with one’s own inner processes, which leaves no place for practical advancement or close contact with others.
Le Diable in French may be the Christian Devil, which stands for absolute evil. But it can also be a mischievous and unruly — but not totally malevolent — demon or imp. New decks in the English tradition have adopted the first interpretation and show a frightening demon. But in the Tarot de Marseille the figures are smiling, and they look bawdy and shameless rather than evil. The animal-like feet and horns resemble medieval descriptions of the Devil in popular beliefs and witch-hunter’s manuals. But they may also relate to Pan, the Greek god of shepherds who represents the wild forces of natural passion. The image closely resembles an old Babylonian tablet known as the Burney relief, kept in the British Museum and dated around 1800 BCE. Some believe it represents Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld.
the devil mocks conventional logic
The Devil (card 15) is sometimes linked to the Pope (card 5), with a similar structure of one large and two small figures. But we can also see its upper part as a distorted mirror-image of the Justice card. The Pope and Justice represent the socially established and accepted values, while the Devil represents their opposite. The stuck-out tongue echoes the male sexual organ at the center of the card, expressing mockery and defiance of social conventions and norms. The large figure is also full of contradictions: a human body with animal elements and a male sex organ with female breasts.
The Devil can represent anarchism, subversion, and defiance of conventional norms. It can also stand for inner paradoxes and contradictions that go beyond the traditional logic and the simple binary classifications of good and bad, male and female, or human and animal. It can express a borderline behavior that strains the limits of respectability and acceptance. For example, it may represent an audacious display of a libertine or licentious lifestyle. It can also indicate a desire to experience forbidden things, or original and deviant thinking that defies conventional norms.
the devil expresses impulse and passion
Nudity appears in many major suit cards. But only in the Devil, with the exposed sexual organ directly in the center, does it refer explicitly to sexuality. The blatantly lustful nature of the card suggests an unrestrained expression of desires. For example, the two little devils or imps, one male and the other female, may be two partners in a stormy and passionate liaison. Their animal features and their gazes directed at the tip of the main figure’s penis express a relationship centered around sex and impulsive desire. At the same time, the ropes tied to their necks symbolize a difficulty in breaking up. More generally, the card can express any irrational behavior motivated by desires and passions.
One can also see the bondage and the object wielded like a whip as an indication of sexual domination or sadomasochistic experiences. It is not even clear that the penis and the breasts are genuine: perhaps they are worn as artificial accessories, indicating that although everything is exposed, nothing can be taken at face value. The card can thus express fantasy, imagination, and inventiveness in sexual matters. Going back to the symbolic link between desire and creativity, we can also see in the card a creative impulse breaking forth and going beyond the conventional limits.
the devil grows from the abyss
The black area at the bottom of the card represents the abyss, which also appears in other cards. We can interpret it as deep layers of dark feelings, past traumas, fear, and pain. The sense of movement in the card is upward, so that it may represent forces originating in the hidden depths of the soul and coming out into the open. The wild, impulsive behavior of the Devil may be an expression of an underlying personality disorder or a plea for help in a situation of emotional distress. The card can also represent the influence of dark impulses such as anger and aggression, indicating the release of “the devil within you.”
The upward movement also has its enlightened aspect. The two little imps seem to hint at plant growth, their feet resembling tree roots and their horns resembling branches. We can also note their tails, which symbolize an animal-like character. Compared to them, the large central figure has more human aspects, and its wings even suggest an angelic potential. We can also relate it to the myth of the Devil as a fallen angel and interpret the upward movement as a return to its original dignity. In this regard, the card can express a process of personal growth from a state of pain and emotional suffering.
The little imps might also represent parents, and the larger figure may bring to mind a smiling and cross-eyed baby’s face. The parents are still bound by their necks to the darkness from which they came, but the next generation already manages to rise from the painful past and express its forces of life and creativity. In this aspect, the Devil card can indicate a process of reparation and healing from past family trauma.
the devil is bound to satisfaction of desires
Another paradox in the Devil card concerns the notions of freedom and bondage. On the one hand, its open display of sexuality and desire appears as a free and liberated act of self-expression. On the other, this is the only card with slave-like figures bound by their necks. This is the inherent paradox of desire: acting on it can be perceived as liberation from inhibiting norms but also as bondage-like addiction to pleasure and satisfaction. The card can represent any kind of compulsive or addictive behavior; for example, addiction to sex or drugs, eating disorders, and so on. Often such dependency is denied by the addicted person, who claims to be in control and acting on their own free choice. The large figure dominating the bound imps can also represent a relationship of abuse and manipulation, exploiting others for egoistic ends, or a negative influence of someone who seeks their own personal satisfaction.
the devil generates his own undoing
The upright object in the large figure’s left hand may be a burning torch, and the red color of the wing’s tip might indicate that it is also being set ablaze. The torch may hint at the suit of wands, representing passions and burning desire. Unrestrained desire may lead to satisfaction and pleasure, as the tempting smile of the big figure suggests, but it also has its price. The card may describe some self-defeating conduct that will eventually harm the querent or a bad influence that can lead them to failure. Still, one may think that if the card represents a one-time liberating experience and not a constant way of life, it may be worth the price of a small burn to one’s wing.
A tower is a masculine symbol of power and domination. When it is hit by lightning it becomes a symbol of pride suffering a blow. Some authors have seen the card as referring to the Tower of Babel, whose builders were punished for their vain attempt to reach heaven. The three windows, the crown on the top, and the lightning may refer to the story of St. Barbara, who was a pagan king’s daughter. To prevent her from converting to Christianity, her father locked her up in a tower that had two windows. Determined to convert, Barbara carved open a third window as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Her angry father had her executed, but then a lightning bolt struck him dead. The colored circles in the air are not related to this story. They resemble medieval pictures of the manna that came down for the Israelites when they were crossing the desert.
the tower knocks down solid structures
The image of a tower hit by lightning, with figures that appear to be falling to the ground, suggests the idea of a sudden blow that strikes and destroys a solid construction. The card can therefore signify a sudden collapse of a structure or framework that appeared stable. For example, the two figures may represent a relationship or a partnership that is breaking apart. As the positions of their bodies indicate, the partners are now going in separate ways. The card may also describe losing one’s position in a workplace, the crumbling of beliefs and opinions, an economic or political crisis, and so on. The crown on the tower can indicate that even those with power and authority are not protected from downfall.
The disintegration of solid structures can also be positive. The stone walls of the tower may be some sort of prison in which the querent was locked up, but now they can go free. The card can signify a liberation from confinement, which can be either the removal of external barriers or an inner emancipation from limiting and paralyzing ideas.
the tower opens up to heaven
The French card title, La Maison Dieu, translates literally as “the house god” (with faulty grammar in the original). This suggests some sort of temple rather than a punishable defiance against heaven. The spiritual significance of a temple is a material structure that opens up to receive heavenly grace. This might explain the colorful undefined shape spilling out of the circular object whose tip is just visible at the top right-hand corner. We can see it as divine energy entering the tower from above.
The Tower card can represent some sort of miracle or a sudden divine intervention in the earthly domain. The flesh-colored tower may also represent the physical body, with its upper crowned part symbolizing the head. In this interpretation the human being is a sort of living temple receiving influences or messages from higher levels, as in a divine trance or prophecy. More generally, the card can indicate a sudden revelation or insight, like an idea that strikes us as a lightning flash and dramatically changes our vision.
The opening of the tower’s top to the penetration of energy can also be seen as a symbol of feminine sexuality, while the masculine tower with the circles flying around can suggest a male orgasm. The two short windows and the elongated third one also suggest the shape of male genitalia. The card may thus signify a passionate sexual union or, more generally, a state of ecstasy that can move us beyond the normal experience of reality.
the tower is built slowly
and falls apart quickly
The tower is made of bricks laid layer by layer. If we consider it a temple, then the lightning strike of divine grace isn’t an unexpected catastrophe. Rather, it is the moment in which the purpose of the building is realized. In this sense we can see in the card a continuous process reaching a critical point at which everything suddenly starts to move. For example, it can be a sudden realization of a project after long and laborious preparations. Seen in a negative sense, the image could convey tension that accumulates until it explodes — for example, a hidden personal resentment that builds up and suddenly reveals itself as an open quarrel. One way or the other, the stormy nature of the card indicates an intense and dramatic turn of events.
the tower suspends the laws of reality
It is not clear whether the two figures are actually falling from the tower at all. The one on the right may just be crawling around from behind the tower, and the figure on the left could be hovering in the air, his hands just touching the ground. This may look like a temporary suspension of gravity — that is, of the ordinary laws of reality. We may interpret it as a critical point of realization that changes everything. Even if it was planned and expected, when it finally happens it is a shock that can generate a feeling of fantastic reality where, for a moment, anything is possible.
The card may describe a period of personal upheaval during which the querent cannot be sure about the limits of the real. They can experience difficulties in adapting and feel as if everything is upside down, but they may also see new and promising possibilities that do not exist in a normal situation. In other words, one can seize the moment when the old rules fall apart in order to turn a crisis into an opportunity.
the tower returns to the ground
The tower is an artificial structure that rises upward, while the figures in the card look like they are returning to the ground. Their hands are extended almost as if to touch the plants. Alternatively, if we interpret the colorful little circles as manna, their hands may be gathering pieces that have fallen to the ground. Perhaps we can see the high-rise tower as symbolizing fantasies of grandeur and far-fetched plans. The figures are returning to the solid ground of reality with modest but productive plans and aspirations. In this respect the card can encourage the querent to focus on small-scale but realistic goals instead of far-reaching but uncertain plans. The card can also suggest a return to a modest but decent way of living, without excessive luxury beyond the querent’s actual means.
The Star is the first of three cards having a similar structure: a celestial object in the upper part and a dreamlike scene in the lower. The big star resembles the compass rose found on old maps. Its central position may also refer to the North Star, which is the fixed point around which all the other celestial objects revolve. Some authors identified the seven small stars as the Pleiades group. In Greek mythology the Pleiades were seven nymph sisters who attracted the attention of the lustful hunter Orion. To save them from his pursuit, the god Zeus transformed the seven sisters into doves. Flying upward, they reached the heavens and became stars. Various mythological stories also tell about someone falling in love with a goddess or a woman who is bathing in the nude — that is, in a situation that combines cleanliness and vulnerability.
the star reveals the truth
The sun, the moon, and a star are a common combination of symbols in Renaissance alchemy, and in alchemical emblems they are depicted in a form very similar to that of the cards. In the alchemical symbolic system the sun is the masculine principle, the moon is the feminine principle, and the star expresses the mystical union between them. This combination is also significant in medieval cosmology, which identified the celestial objects with crystal-like spheres (“orbits”) nested within one another. The sphere of the moon was the closest to Earth. The sphere of the sun was in the middle. The sphere of the fixed stars was the farthest from Earth and the closest to the divine realm.
The calm and flowing character of the card illustration, along with the symbolic vision of a star as something pure and sublime, has motivated many authors to link the Star card with images of nature fantasy, such as the garden of Eden or the fountain of youth. These authors saw the nude figure in the card as a symbol of honesty and truth: nothing to hide, all is revealed.
In contrast to some new decks in which the woman’s body is idealized, in the Tarot de Marseille it has physical distortions, especially in the lower part, but this does not spoil the pleasantness of the illustration. We can interpret it as readiness to show or to accept things as they are, with all their weaknesses and flaws. The openness in the card can also symbolize innocence and pure intentions.
the star washes herself clean
In both Western and Eastern religions, bathing or pouring water on oneself is considered a symbolic act of self-cleansing and spiritual purification. It is often stressed that the water should preferably come from a natural source. The figure on the card is washing the lower part of her body. This may signal purification from feelings of sin and guilt linked to the body and to sexuality.
The naked figure and the open landscape express the renouncement of artificial and sophisticated structures and a return to the simple and natural. For example, it can signify a moment’s withdrawal from the modern pace of life and the usual everyday occupations. It can also represent a ritual or a personal experience that gives a feeling of self-purification and cleansing from negative influences. It can also represent actual experiences of physical or emotional nakedness.
the star removes covers and limits
The removal of limits in the Star is expressed not only by nakedness, but also by the blending of details in the lower part of the card. The flow of water from the vessel on the right blends with the woman’s thigh. The details of the landscape on the left complement the vessel and create a complex and strange shape. Near her right hand a patch of landscape has the same color as her body. The border between water and land is also unclear. In this respect, the card expresses a softening of rigid limits and clear-cut separations, giving rise to a sense of flowing and adaptation.
The card also may indicate a difficulty in setting limits for oneself or for others. Still, in spite of the removal of fixed borders, the figure maintains distinctions between what is part of her (the flow on the abdomen and the sexual organ) and what is not (the flow from the other vessel, which is held at a distance from the body). In other words, limits are made very flexible but not completely lost. The North Star above her head can also indicate that she is maintaining her focal point, even though she is not looking directly at it. This means that she is doing the right thing intuitively and from gut feelings.
the star gives generously
The liquid coming freely out of the vessels can signify a willingness to give and share with others. This can be seen as either generosity or wastefulness and squandering. The figure pouring from the vessel into a kind of pool may also refer to a popular French expression “bringing water to the river,” which means an unnecessary investment of efforts on something that is already there.
One can also think that the naked figure in the open scenery is too exposed and vulnerable. The bird on the tree might be the silhouette of a dove, referring to the story of the Pleiades fleeing their pursuer. Alternatively, its black color may indicate uncertainty and danger. In this aspect, the querent may find themselves exposed and defenseless in front of a threat.
the star flows down to earth
In a more mystical interpretation, we can see the large star as a symbol of divine or cosmic consciousness and the small stars as its reflections in the minds of individual persons. The small star above the figure’s head is her own “higher self,” an intermediate level between her personal individuality and the cosmic consciousness. Various traditions describe such a presence hovering just above the head, such as the crown chakra in India or the Shekhina that one respects by covering the head in Judaism. The comparison between a multitude of humans and the stars is also common; for example, in Abraham’s vision in the book of Genesis.
We can imagine something like divine plenitude or affluence flowing from the central star through the streaming hair and then taking the form of water poured from the vessels on the earth. In this regard, the card can represent the idea of cosmic energies flowing down to earthly reality, such as in spiritual therapy methods like Reiki or healing, or channeling of messages from higher beings.
the star shines with hope
The figure’s rounded abdomen may indicate pregnancy. The pleasant nature of the card and the willingness to take a risk by exposing oneself express a feeling of optimism. The main star also suggests the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Christian savior, or it may give the feeling that somebody is guarding you from above. We can see the card as a message of hope, encouraging us to let matters flow naturally and expect something good to come out of it.
One can also connect the card with the Hebrew word mazal, which means “luck.” Originally it referred both to the stars and to something liquid and flowing, a combination that is also expressed in the illustration. In this sense, the card can signify luck from heaven.
The moon image in the card is taken from alchemical symbolism, where it represents the female principle, which absorbs and contains. Traditionally the moon is linked to the idea of a repeating cycle (lunar phases, menstrual cycle) and to matters related to water (tides). A link between the moon, water, a crustacean, and traditional ideas of femininity also appears in astrology, where the moon rules the sign of Cancer (the crab), associated with the element of water and representing the womb, motherhood, and home. In medieval cosmology the moon’s orbit is a border zone between the earthly domain and the heavenly spheres. In popular belief full-moon nights are often related to rites of sorcery and to “lunatic” behavior.
the moon evokes a different reality
The lined light-blue areas in the card give the impression of a moonlit landscape, where things look different than in broad daylight. The animal figures and the strange buildings create a mysterious, enchanted, unsettling atmosphere. They might hint at the nocturnal reality of dreams, where deep and strange contents rise and flood the mind like the crustacean emerging from the pool. The animals, the floating drops, and even the ground between the dogs seem as if they are attracted upward. This expresses the quality of attraction ascribed to the moon in alchemical symbolism.
One cannot really touch the moon, and the sharp rays suggest that it is better not to try. The card may express a feeling of longing for something beyond normal reality. It can also represent an attraction to a dangerous ideal or toward a person who is emotionally unreachable. The card can also be related to the French popular expression “the dog barks at the moon,” indicating a futile attempt to oppose something over which you have no influence.
The medieval significance of the moon as the border zone of the earthly domain can link the card with an inclination toward the occult and the supernatural reality of magic and sorcery. The Moon card can also represent an altered perception of reality, such as in dreams or with psychedelic drugs.
the moon awakens hidden forces
The lowest part of the card can be seen not as the bank close to us, but as the bottom of the pool. It is made of raw rocks, in contrast to the upper side, which is an artificial and worked-out structure. The upper edge might represent the constructions of rationality and psychological defense mechanisms that usually block subconscious contents. Under the moonlight these lose their power and the hidden contents are revealed. The card may describe the awakening of vague but strong emotions or actions motivated by deep feelings rather than rational considerations. It may also refer to the reading itself, which may arouse charged contents like painful memories or repressed emotions, warning us as readers to be careful and sensitive.
In the wider sense, the card may describe underlying factors hidden from “daylight” perception. The crustacean and the dogs (or maybe wolves) are dangerous animals, and the card may express a hidden danger. The two dogs barking at each other may also symbolize a quarrel whose real motives are different from what is seen on the surface.
the moon looks back to the past
The left side of the card, symbolizing the past, appears to be more dominant than the right side. The moon’s face is turned to the left. The left dog is in a higher position, with its tail raised, while the right dog’s tail is drooping. The left tower looks open and lit up, while the right tower looks closed and shaded. The upper edge of the pool is inclined so that the left side is higher than the right side, and the crab is slightly facing the right, as if it is attacking the dog on this side.
The Moon card can describe past influences emerging and impacting the present. The depth of the pool suggests that these influences are from the distant past, not the recent past. For example, it may be about people or events that we encountered long ago, or early childhood experiences. It also may be related to past life incarnations, previous generations of the family, or the influence of distant historical events. The symbolic connection between the moon and motherhood, along with the animals drawn toward the moon, might express an unfulfilled need for motherly love in the querent’s childhood. The card may also describe a person preoccupied by memories and constantly thinking about the past. Alternatively, the card may indicate a need to take a step back in order to move forward later on.
the moon descends to the deep
The unsettling nature of the card — with the dogs, the strange landscape, and the rising crustacean — may express a difficult struggle with contents that are emerging from the deep. But the advanced position of the card in the suit sequence indicates that the querent has the maturity and personal resources needed for such a struggle.
The movement in the card is upward. Maybe this represents the mythical theme of descent to the underworld in order to rise again with new powers and insights. The Moon can also signify tackling a problem by going deep down to its roots instead of contenting oneself with superficial solutions. It can also encourage us to look for the basic elements of a complex and confusing situation.
the moon discovers firm ground
The Moon card can express emotional decline and depression or even hint at the symbolic link between the moon and madness. But if we see the rocks in the lower edge of the card as the bottom of the pool, then one can’t fall indefinitely. Deep down there is a solid and reliable foundation. The card may encourage the querent not to resist or repress dark feelings, such as pain, anger, or fear. Instead, they may let themselves experience the feelings, confident that deep down in themselves there is a solid base that can be trusted.
Advancing from left to right, we can see that above the pool, the horizontal axis of the card is blocked and offers no way toward the future. But at the lower edge we can see a change from the barren and shaded rocks on the left to the clear and fertile ground on the right. At the midpoint between the two sides the solid bottom almost disappears, but the lowest wave of water adds its yellow color to the rocks. This can represent getting help from others just at the most difficult moment, or it can be a golden coin symbolizing hidden treasures that can only be retrieved by going deep down.
The symbolic link between the moon and repeating cycles (waxing and waning) or tides (ebb and flow) may suggest that present hardships are just like a descent before a rise. The trouble will pass away, and by enduring it we will become stronger. The narrow passage of rocks at the bottom can also remind us of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s saying, “Know that this world is a very narrow bridge, and the essential thing is not to be afraid at all.”
The sun plays a central role among the heavenly bodies, both in medieval astronomy, where its apparent motion is the basis for all celestial movements, and in modern astronomy, as the center around which all the planets revolve. In alchemical symbolism the sun has a masculine and fatherly character, radiating out and emanating light and warmth. In the era of absolute monarchy in France, the sun was regarded as a symbol of the king, who emanates his grace on his subjects. In astrology, too, the sun is considered the ruler of the royal sign Leo. The two children in the card are often identified with pairs of twins appearing in myths of various cultures. Sometimes they are the direct children of the father of the gods or of the sun god and are regarded as heroes who fight for the forces of light. In Indian mythology they are called the Ashvin twins and possess healing powers.
the sun shines light and warmth
The warm and bright colors, along with the gesture of touching between the children, give the card a bright and optimistic character. The straight radial lines around the sun create a smooth surface that blunts the sharp tips of the rays. It seems as if the sun is expanding until it almost touches the children’s heads. This is especially noteworthy when compared to the porcupine-like contracted shape of the Moon.
Like the life-giving sunlight, the card can express affluence and blessings coming from above. It may represent the positive influence of people in high positions, an influx of healing energy, or the help of higher forces, whether natural or supernatural. In practical matters it can signify a comfortable situation, prosperity, and success.
the sun gives space to the child
The two young figures can signify children or refer to childhood. We may also think of the partially walled space bathed in sunlight as a child’s playground. In this aspect, the Sun card may refer to the querent’s children (not necessarily two), to the querent’s childhood, or to children in general. It may also describe childlike traits or be an expression of one’s inner child — playful, creative, and imaginative. Alternatively, the card can signify impulsiveness or lack of patience, innocence and naivety, sincerity and spontaneity, curiosity, fresh thought, or a capacity for learning and adapting. One also can see the card as a hint to New Age workshops or to similar activities that encourage participants to express childlike aspects of their personality.
The card can also indicate a refusal to grow up and to take on adult responsibility; for example, a person who is overly dependent on his parents or generally dependent on patronage and external help. We can also see it as “a fool’s paradise,” in which the querent is living without facing real life. Jodorowsky sometimes interprets the Sun as a father in heaven — that is, an idealized father figure. For example, it can indicate a father who was absent during childhood, so he is not felt as an earthly or tangible presence. It can also express a persistent feeling that someone is watching and supervising your actions from above.
the sun sets measured limits
In the Sun we can see exposure and openness, but also limits and coverings. The children are almost naked, but they have a loin cloth. Behind them there is a wall, but it is low and one can jump over it. The card may express a moderate degree of openness that keeps boundaries but also permits personal contact. For example, it may represent a friendship without sexual involvement or a close relationship that still leaves some space between the partners. It can also express an education or a style of management based on setting boundaries but keeping them moderate and with a human touch.
the sun finds a partner
Many authors see the two children as twins, although clearly they are not identical ones. Maybe we can just see them as brothers, whether in a biological or a metaphorical sense. The feeling of brotherhood is expressed in the gentle and warm contact between them, with a hug and a touch in the heart area. The sunlight and the nudity indicate that they are not hiding any weapons or bad intentions from each other. The protected space also creates a feeling of intimacy and security.
The card may express a feeling of warmth and mutual trust between siblings, partners, or friends. It can indicate a need to find a suitable partner for a planned project. The card may also indicate finding a “twin soul” with whom one can find emotional support. In a negative aspect the childish figures and the loin covering may express a sexual block in a romantic relationship.
the sun shows a way
The figure on the left has something that looks like the remains of a tail, which may hint at an animal-like and undeveloped character. His groping hands might indicate that he is searching for his way. The figure on the right has a more alert and focused look, and he may be guiding and leading the other one. Under his feet there is a white surface open toward the future, as in the Magician card. The Sun may describe someone who gives support and guidance to the querent, leading them in a good direction. This guidance is given from an attitude of equality, not from up high, as in the Pope card.
The tail and the collar rings also resemble similar features of the two imps in the Devil card. Maybe we see here a more enlightened phase of a relationship between two people. Alternatively, they can be two aspects of the querent’s personality. Carl Gustav Jung spoke of the “shadow personality,” which represents the dark aspect of the subconscious mind. Our initial tendency is to reject those parts and deny their existence, but in the Sun card we can see the more developed part accepting and containing the dark side, gently leading it toward the light.
The card image is clearly inspired by the Christian idea of the last judgment originating in St. John’s vision from the book of Revelation. In that vision seven angels blow their trumpets and announce global disasters. After a series of extraordinary events, the dead rise from their graves to stand final judgment, and finally heaven and earth become united. Pictures of the last judgment usually emphasize its terrible aspect and the fate of those sentenced to hell, but the Judgment card seems lively, illuminated, and optimistic. It may refer to the resurrection of the dead ones, but the attributes of judging them (sword and scales) appear in Justice and not in this card. Jodorowsky reads the name of the card as le juge ment, meaning “the judge lies.” In his view this indicates that every judgment is false.
judgment signals an awakening
The original Greek name of the book of Revelation is Apocalypse, which means “lifting of the veil” or “revelation.” The Christian day of judgment is the end of worldly history and the manifestation or revealing of heaven on earth. We can see a connection between the idea of the end of history and the two final cards of the major suit: Judgment, referring to the apocalyptic events, and the World, which can be a perfect vision of reality made divine.
The difference between the two is that the World card is more symmetrical, delimited, and stable. It may signify the end of a process on the practical level, reaching its completion in a state of equilibrium. In contrast, Judgment shows drama and movement that is directed mainly along the vertical axis. Perhaps what we see here is a completion of inner processes like a spiritual or an emotional quest. Such a completion is not a closure but a revelation and awakening that opens us to a new experience of life.
The Judgment card can indicate a moment of revelation, an awakening, or a new understanding. For example, it can signify a new insight that changes our understanding, a paradigm change, or a personal transformation. It can represent a significant turning point in a therapy process or some sort of enlightenment and spiritual awakening. The dramatic nature of the card indicates a quick pace of events, indicating a special moment rather than an ongoing process. It can also represent a meaningful insight obtained from the reading itself.
judgment opens the sky
The cross on the flag can be a Christian reference, but the cross is also an ancient symbol that predates Christianity, and thus we may give it another interpretation. It can symbolize the meeting of the two axes in the cards: the horizontal axis of earthly reality and the vertical axis of inner experience. The trumpet can be seen as a kind of tube that is an open path to the sky above. The line pattern on the back of the middle figure imitates the trumpet shape in an inverted way and expresses active acceptance of what comes from above. The tonsured head resembles the two aspirants in the Pope card and indicates that the figure has undergone a path of spiritual learning. The head and the hill behind it may also remind us of an eye observing us, a mystical symbol of higher wisdom that has survived from ancient Egypt to modern times. Sometimes it is drawn inside a triangle, and we can see such a shape between the three faces in the card.
The card may describe a moment of grace in which spiritual reality manifests itself on the earthly plane. For example, it may be the peak moment of a magical ritual or a mystical experience that blurs the limits between ordinary and extraordinary reality. It can indicate an awakening to a higher level of consciousness or to the understanding that there is something above and beyond material existence. It might also signify the opening of the gates of heaven — that is, a moment in which we can make a wish that will come true.
judgment illuminates the abyss
The three figures on the ground can be a child with two parents. If this is so, the card may be showing an ideal family triangle where the parents assume their role with adoration and devotion. Their contact with the child’s body indicates closeness and support, and their nudity expresses an egalitarian attitude that respects the basic humanity of child and adult alike. We can see here a reparation and recovering from problems originating in the relationships with the parents. Alternatively, the card can represent the querent’s assumption of responsibility as a parent. If the card is inverse, it can indicate an unhealthy relationship between parents and child.
The opening in the ground is the abyss, which has appeared in the previous cards but is now illuminated and open to the sky. The white surfaces around the pelvis may express purity and cleanliness in sexual matters. One can also see the angel with the raised wings and the tongue extended outward, as an elevated version of the main figure from the Devil card. Like the Christian day of judgment that is the world’s redemption, the card may express some sort of redemption or emotional reparation — that is, healing of the soul’s suffering and illumination of its dark sides. The connection between the angel and the figure in the middle may also represent an encounter of the querent with their personal angel or with a sublime and benevolent part of themselves.
judgment reveals what is hidden
The nudity, the figure coming out of the hole, and the bare ground indicate that whatever was buried and hidden is now revealed and exposed. The Judgment card may indicate the revealing of a secret previously kept by the querent or from them. The trumpet resounds far and wide, and it may indicate that private matters become common knowledge. The card may express public exposure and fame or, alternatively, defamation and gossip. It can also symbolize mass media and the spread of information.
judgment celebrates a new birth
The central figure emerging from the earth between the two parental figures can hint at a baby coming out of the womb. The card can refer to the circumstances of the querent’s birth or to a new baby in the family. In a more general sense, one can think of the birth of something new in the querent’s life. Whatever is born is accepted with approval and support, but its face is still hidden; we cannot know exactly what will come out of it. The card may also describe a rebirth, a personal transformation, that opens a new chapter in the querent’s life.
Medieval depictions of “Christ in majesty” show him surrounded by a pointed oval aureole called a mandorla (“almond” in Italian), which resembles the wreath of leaves in the card. In the four corners around the mandorla appear the four living creatures mentioned in the books of Ezekiel and Revelation: a bull, a lion, a man, and an eagle. In Christian tradition they are called tetramorph and symbolize the four evangelists. The central figure resembles a twelfth-century illustration by the mystic Hildegard von Bingen called “cosmic man,” surrounded by a circular halo and the four wings of the cardinal directions. The card also resembles South Indian depictions of the god Shiva Nataraj (“king of dance”). Shiva, whose dance animates the universe, is shown dancing inside a round wreath with one leg raised in the air.
the world unites all the elements
The concept of cosmic man refers to a traditional mystical view of the human body and soul (the microcosmos) as a small-scale image of the universe (the macrocosmos). In the microcosmic scale the living creatures can represent the four domains of the minor suits: body, desire, emotion, and intellect. The central figure can symbolize the unifying consciousness represented by the major suit. In the macroscopic scale, the figures correspond to the five elements of ancient Greece, medieval philosophy, and Hindu tradition. Four of them make up the material world as well as the human body: earth, fire, water, and air. The fifth element, called ether or akasha, represents a more sublime level of existence. Putting it all together, we can say that the World card depicts a complete image of the universe, of the human being, and of the tarot deck that represents them both.
The card can symbolize a harmonious integration between different areas of activity. For example, it can be a simultaneous advance in several directions or a good balance between different life domains. In practical matters it symbolizes realization and success. One also can see it as referring to the world in a literal sense, such as a trip abroad, foreign connections, or issues involving other countries.
the world presents a perfect vision
The image of the World can be connected with the preceding card, Judgment. In the book of Revelation, after the judgment of the dead, Christ appears in majesty as king of the world, surrounded by the four living creatures. This is the moment when the universe reaches its final perfection, and in the card we can see an image of perfection in the symmetrical and balanced illustration of the card, which puts everything in its proper place. In this aspect the World expresses an ideal vision of perfection that can motivate the querent to move forward, evolve, and find better solutions. Alternatively, it can represent a tendency to see the world or oneself in terms of an ideal image far removed from reality. As the last card of the suit, it can also represent perfection in the sense of completion and signify the positive outcome of a project or the closure of some process.
the world moves between opposites
A recurrent idea throughout history is that everything that happens in the world is driven by the tension between two opposites: light and dark, for example, or hot and cold or high and low pressure. Such ideas appear in the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the Chinese concept of yin and yang, and in the modern physical theory of heat and energy (thermodynamics).
The dance of the central figure in the card can also be driven by such an opposition, expressed as the polarity between male and female. The hand on the right is holding a masculine wand. The hand on the left is holding a sort of semi-hidden receptacle, a feminine shape that may suggest a womb. The hand on the right is pushing at the wreath as an active gesture, while on the left the figure approaches the wreath at several points without touching it. As in the correspondence table in chapter 7, we can also see two living creatures on the right as representing the hard (male) suits and those on the left as the soft (female) suits.
The card may indicate a movement driven by tension and opposition between two poles. For example, in case of a clash between two adversaries, the card can indicate a third party who stays protected in the middle while taking advantage of the situation. In case of a dilemma between two options, it can signify that the best course is not to commit oneself one way or the other, but to draw benefits from both.
the world dances inside a frame
The four living creatures are believed to be of Babylonian origin, representing the astrological fixed signs. These are like four stable points holding the celestial wheel of the zodiac in place. The fixed signs are Taurus (bull), Leo (lion), Scorpio (which is sometimes represented by an eagle), and Aquarius (a bucket shown in the hands of a man). At the upper edge of the wreath we can see two tiny triangular shapes with a dark right half, perhaps two rays of a hidden star. Noticing the resemblance between the upper part of the dancing figure and the figure in the Star card, we may also think that it is the North Star.
In the medieval worldview the zodiac and the North Star belong to the sphere of fixed stars, which provides a stable frame of cosmic laws for the ephemeral life on Earth. In this aspect the card gives an image of movement taking place inside a fixed framework. For example, it can represent a person experiencing a rich and dramatic inner life while externally following an uneventful conventional routine. It can also represent someone carving themselves a private niche for free expression within a heavily regulated environment, such as a workplace or an organization.
The dancing figure also resembles a ninth-century Carolingian illumination of David playing the harp. He is depicted as dancing with one leg bent backward and is surrounded by an almond-shaped aureole and four figures of the cardinal virtues. This and the hint to the dancing Hindu god Shiva can link the card to dance, performance, and bodily expression.
the world is closed within itself
The dancing figure is contained in some sort of an enclosure, which protects but also limits it. The card may thus indicate that the querent is trapped in a situation where everything looks fine from the outside. For example, it can be the golden cage of a well-paid job that doesn’t allow real advancement or personal evolution. The wreath separating inside from outside may also symbolize disconnection and estrangement between the inner feelings of the querent and their external life situation. For example, it can represent a feeling that “I don’t belong here” in marital life or at work.
The navel of the dancing figure can bring to mind the ancient Greek concept of an omphalos, the world’s navel. Together with the separating wreath, it can indicate that the querent feels themselves to be at the center of their own private universe. In a positive aspect it can indicate emotional independence and self-sufficiency. In a negative aspect it can mean narcissism, a feeling that the whole world revolves around you, and social isolation.
the world prepares something new
As the last card of the suit, the World represents a closure. But the illustration also resembles medieval medical depictions of a human embryo, with a folded leg and spread arms inside a round womb. The hand touching the wreath on the right side can also be expressing a desire to come out and be born. In this respect, the card may describe a process of reaching an apparent measure of stability, while inside there are already the seeds of change. It may also indicate pregnancy, whether literally or metaphorically as a project or an idea in preparation.
The French word mat means “dull, not shiny.” Sometimes the card is also called le fou, “the insane.” This sounds like an unflattering title, and the card shows a wayfarer or vagabond in a strange outfit, fancily decorated above but shabby and torn below. Still, various spiritual traditions link madness with sanctity and higher wisdom. In the Bible and in the Jewish Midrash tradition, the terms “prophet” and “man of spirit” are often associated with “madman” or “fool.” The Daoist and Zen philosophies in China and Japan portray an ideal sage behaving like a mindless madman. Influenced by such ideas, many authors see the Fool card as a symbol of sublime spirituality, and in the Golden Dawn system it represents the highest degree of consciousness.
the fool is roaming free
The illustrated figure may remind us of the classic village fool being chased by dogs. The natural landscape suggests that he is outside the structures and the accepted norms of society. One can understand the image of the Fool literally, meaning that the querent is acting foolishly and risks making themselves a laughingstock. But we can also see the card as an expression of total freedom: from the laws of reason, from worldly obligations, and from caring about others’ opinions. His progression toward the right represents advancement, and the figure of the Fool — who seems not to care where he’s going — expresses uncertainty and an open future.
The Fool card can indicate freedom from bonds and from attachment to fixed frameworks. For example, it can symbolize a period of aimlessly roaming about without a clear goal, a long journey, or an attitude of noncommitment that leaves all options open. In a less positive sense the card can represent a person who has difficulties in choosing and committing themselves — for example, to a fixed place of residence or relationship or professional activity. One might also consider that the lower end of his staff is stuck in the ground, so he is going round in circles.
In new English-school decks the Fool is walking carefree along the edge of a cliff. This can indicate a lack of responsibility in a dangerous situation or “fool’s luck,” which protects him from harm. This detail is absent from the Tarot de Marseille card, but the colorful and cheery nature of the illustration also gives an optimistic feeling of avoiding misfortune along the way.
the fool belongs and does not belong
The Fool card has no number, a fact that has made some authors suggest that it isn’t really a part of the major suit. Though empty, the number band at the top nonetheless gives it a typical major suit structure. Perhaps, like the village fool who is part of society but also an outcast, the Fool both belongs and doesn’t belong to the major suit. The card can indicate a maverick or “odd bird,” someone (or something) that is unusual, deviant, and impossible to classify. It can also encourage the querent to free themselves from conventional patterns and look for uncommon solutions outside of the box.
the fool gives up control
A yellow hem, a belt, and a rod separate the Fool’s figure respectively into legs, pelvis, chest, and head, symbolizing the four domains of earthly activity. There is also some breaking apart between the various sections, as if each of them acts on its own. The man’s upward gaze gives the impression he’s not paying attention to the road. The exposed buttock scratched by the animal (a dog or a cat) may symbolize a weakness or a vulnerable point of which the querent is oblivious. Being on the left, the animal may also be something from the past disturbing the querent, haunting or prodding them to move forward.
We can interpret the card as lack of organization, chaos, and carelessness. But in a situation of uncertainty, perhaps it is better to adopt the Fool’s attitude: give up control and embrace spontaneity, refrain from too much planning, and adapt oneself to changing circumstances. As someone who lives outside the power structures of common society, the Fool can also indicate lack of interest in things like self-promotion, ambition, and domination of others.
the fool lives here and now
The three sections of the rod resting on the Fool’s shoulders may represent past, present, and future. The sack hanging from its end can symbolize the heavy burden of past memories or the assets and tools acquired through experience. The Fool carries his past along with him, so that at any moment he can reinterpret and give it a new meaning. The receptive spoon-shaped rear end of the rod may indicate readiness to add new insights to old ones. The white front tip may express an undetermined future, but the hand touching it indicates that the Fool’s actions are shaping and directing it.
The philosophies of Dao and Zen, which recommend focusing on the present without useless concerns about the past or the future, speak in similar terms. In addition to the “wise fool” figure of a careless and free-
spirited bum, both refer to the concept of emptiness, which may remind us of the missing card number. The Chinese word dao means “way,” thus suggesting the image of a walking figure such as we see in the card. The Fool card can indicate someone who lives for the moment, paying attention only to what is happening here and now. If the card turns out to be the last one in a spread, it can signify that the outcome is unknown because it is not yet determined.
the fool can be anyone
In traditional tarot games every card had a fixed value except for the Fool, which could replace any other card. In ordinary card games a similar role is played by the joker. Like the Fool in the tarot, the joker is also commonly depicted wearing a clown outfit with round bells and a pointed hat with a ball on its tip.
The Fool card may represent somebody acting like a clown or a joker, treating any issue with humor, and not caring much about the scorn of others. But we can also link it to the common playing card joker, with its unfixed value, and interpret it as a sign of flexibility and adaptability. For example, it can be someone who adapts themselves well to a wide range of situations or avoids being labeled by expressing different aspects of their personality in different situations.
But the Fool can also be you or me or any other person walking the path of life. The card can be a reminder that in front of the great mystery of existence, we are all mindless fools. And in complicated situations that bring people to the reading, maybe it gives a simple and sobering message: let go of big questions and sophisticated plans, stop worrying about the past and the future and issues far removed from your reach, and just live.