Appendix C:
Elements, Timing, Pips, and Court Cards
Elemental Attributions of the Court Cards
Wands:
- Knight of Wands, fiery part of Fire (HHHH DD)
- Queen of Wands, watery part of Fire (HH CC D W)
- Prince/King of Wands, airy part of Fire (HHH WW D)
- Princess/Page of Wands, earthy part of Fire (DDD HH C)
Cups:
- Knight of Cups, fiery part of Water (CC HH D W)
- Queen of Cups, watery part of Water (CCCC WW)
- Prince/King of Cups, airy part of Water (WWW CC H)
- Princess/Page of Cups, earthy part of Water (CCC DD W)
Swords:
- Knight of Swords, fiery part of Air (HHH WW D)
- Queen of Swords, watery part of Air (WWW CC H)
- Prince/King of Swords, airy part of Air (WWWW HH)
- Princess/Page of Swords, earthy part of Air (WW DD H C)
Pentacles:
- Knight of Pentacles/Disks, fiery part of Earth (DDD HH C)
- Queen of Pentacles/Disks, watery part of Earth (CCC DD W)
- Prince/King of Pentacles/Disks, airy part of Earth (DD WW H C)
- Princess/Page of Pentacles/Disks, earthy part of Earth (DDDD CC)
Timing and Minor Arcana Associations of the Court Cards
The Thoth Queens refer to the first decan of the cardinal signs and its two adjacent decans. The Queens oversee the birth of each new season. Thoth Princes (Waite’s Kings) correspond to the first decan of the fixed signs and its adjoining decans. The Thoth Knights govern the first decan of the mutable signs and its adjacent decans. For readers who wish to use the cards for timing events, dates are provided in both the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. The Golden Dawn preferred the sidereal zodiac for timing with the tarot.
The tables also include the minor arcana cards associated with each non-Page court card. When a King, Queen, or Knight appears in a reading, the person or situation referred to is likely to be dealing with the themes of the associated minor arcana cards. For example, in Jane’s reading in chapter one, the Queen of Swords appeared in the near-future position. The Queen of Swords rules over the Ten of Pentacles and the Two and Three of Swords. Thus, in the near future, Jane is likely to confront matters related to family security, inheritance, indecision, feeling stalemated, sorrow, and emotional pain due to loss. Her mother died not long after the reading.
In Jake’s Hanged Man reading in chapter eight, the King of Swords appeared in the center of his three-card spread. The King of Swords rules over the Four of Pentacles and the Five and Six of Swords. Thus, Jake’s present circumstances may involve issues of greed, hoarding, dishonor, defeat, a journey, and moving away from troubles. He was facing a trip to prison for illegally collecting his deceased father’s benefits.
The tarot Pages are not included in the tables because the Golden Dawn assigned them to the heavens around the North Pole and thus they cover the four quarters of the Earth as measured eastward around the equator, starting at the longitude of the Great Pyramid of Giza (coordinates: 29°58′33″North, 31°07′49″East).
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Tropical versus Sidereal Zodiac in the Early 21st Century |
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Sign |
Glyph |
Tropical Zodiac |
Sidereal Zodiac |
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Aries |
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21 March–20 April |
14 April–15 May |
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Taurus |
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21 April–21 May |
15 May–15 June |
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Gemini |
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22 May–21 June |
15 June–16 July |
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Cancer |
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22 June–22 July |
16 July–17 August |
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Leo |
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23 July–23 August |
17 August–17 September |
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Virgo |
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24 August–22 September |
17 September–17 October |
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Libra |
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23 September–23 October |
17 October–16 November |
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Scorpio |
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24 October–22 November |
16 November–16 December |
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Sagittarius |
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23 November–21 December |
16 December–14 January |
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Capricorn |
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22 December–20 January |
14 January–13 February |
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Aquarius |
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21 January–18 February |
13 February–15 March |
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Pisces |
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19 February–20 March |
15 March–14 April |
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Thoth & Waite Queens |
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Thoth/Waite Queens (watery) |
→ First Cardinal Decan |
Full Range of Attribution: |
Approximate Dates: Tropical; Sidereal |
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Wands (Fire) |
0–10 Aries (Two of Wands) |
20 Pisces–20 Aries (10 of Cups, 2 & 3 of Wands) |
11 Mar–10 Apr; 04 Apr–04 May |
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Cups (Water) |
0–10 Cancer (Two of Cups) |
20 Gemini–20 Cancer (10 of Swords, 2 & 3 of Cups) |
12 June–12 Jul; 06 Jul–05 Aug |
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Swords (Air) |
0–10 Libra (Two of Swords) |
20 Virgo–20 Libra (10 of Pentacles, 2 & 3 of Swords) |
13 Sep–13 Oct; 07 Oct–05 Nov |
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Pentacles (Earth) |
0–10 Capricorn (Two of Pentacles) |
20 Sagittarius–20 Capricorn (10 of Wands, 2 & 3 of Pentacles) |
13 Dec–10 Jan; 04 Jan–02 Feb |
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Thoth Princes (Waite Kings) |
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Thoth Princes/Waite Kings (airy) |
→ First |
Full Range of Attribution: Last Cardinal + first two (Associated Minor Cards) |
Approximate Dates: Tropical; Sidereal |
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Wands (Fire) |
0–10 Leo (Five of Wands) |
20 Cancer–20 Leo (4 of Cups, 5 & 6 of Wands) |
13 July–12 Aug; 06 Aug–05 Sep |
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Cups (Water) |
0–10 Scorpio (Five of Cups) |
20 Libra–20 Scorpio (4 of Swords, 5 & 6 of Cups) |
14 Oct–12 Nov; 06 Nov–05 Dec |
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Swords (Air) |
0–10 Aquarius (Five of Swords) |
20 Capricorn–20 Aquarius (4 of Pentacles, 5 & 6 of Swords) |
11 Jan–08 Feb; 03 Feb–04 Mar |
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Pentacles (Earth) |
0–10 Taurus (Five of Pentacles) |
20 Aries–20 Taurus (4 of Wands, 5 & 6 of Pentacles) |
11 Apr–10 May; 05 May–04 Jun |
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Thoth & Waite Knights |
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Thoth/Waite Knights |
→ First |
Full Range of Attribution: Last Fixed + first two Mutable decans (Associated Minor Cards) |
Approximate Dates: Tropical; Sidereal |
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Wands (Fire) |
0–10 Sagittarius (Eight of Wands) |
20 Scorpio–20 Sagittarius (7 of Cups, 8 & 9 of Wands) |
13 Nov–12 Dec; 06 Dec–03 Jan |
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Cups (Water) |
0–10 Pisces (Eight of Cups) |
20 Aquarius–20 Pisces (7 of Swords, 8 & 9 of Cups) |
09 Feb–10 Mar; 05 Mar–04 Apr |
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Swords (Air) |
0–10 Gemini (Eight of Swords) |
20 Taurus–20 Gemini (7 of Pentacles, 8 & 9 of Swords) |
11 May–11 Jun; 05 Jun–05 Jul |
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Pentacles (Earth) |
0–10 Virgo (Eight of Pentacles) |
20 Leo–20 Virgo (7 of Wands, 8 & 9 of Pentacles) |
13 Aug–12 Sep; 06 Sep–06 Oct |