I reviewed Biddy's keywords and found that many of them contradicted my experiences with the images and some fell short of capturing the full range of meanings I had encountered. So I created my own list of keywords hoping to include a broader spectrum of both positive and negative possibilities for each card.
Surprisingly, it didn't take long to identify a set of words that I consider a reasonable starting point to interpret the cards. While not exhaustive, these keywords may serve as a a scaffold from which to delve deeper into the tapestry of meanings that each card can reveal.
Ace: Gift of mind, mental clarity, victory, decisiveness
/ Confusion, not acting to solve problems
2: Unwilling to acknowledge change, confusion, indecision, head in the sand, impasse
/ Making a painful choice that allows growth, meditation, focus, weighing options, releasing the past, dropping defenses
3: Mentally obsessed with old pain, recognizing the power of emotions
/ Gaining insights through words, forgiveness
4: Rest after battle, responding to suffering
/ Intuitive thinking, incubation, rising from rest
5: Sore winner, using old hurt as a shield, not resolving problems, slander, shame, bitterness, adversaries may rise again
/ Support of friends, releasing shame, not turning anger against yourself, apologizing
6: A rite of passage, escaping danger, an opportunity to change, resolving problems
/ A difficult journey, speaking up, disrupting a long-standing situation
7: Disarming the enemy, stealth, clever plan, reclaiming what was stolen
/ Betrayal of self, need to consult with others but unable to ask for help, avoiding confrontation, impulsive action
8: Self-imprisonment, interior struggle, acceptance another's opinion of you, unwilling to seek assistance
/ Overwork, empowerment, gaining clearer vision
9: Torment, nightmares, unable to make sense of life
/ Tackling one problem at a time, accept healing
10: Defeat, ending, rock bottom
/ Relief, take advantage of relief by making changes
Pg: Curiosity, defensiveness, wariness, insecurity, bringing ideas into manifestation, a spy
/ A poseur, learning when to trust, initiative, careless speech
Kt: Impulsive, loyal, pursuing ideals, using intellect to solve problems
/ Rushing in where angels fear to tread, pugilistic, failing to use your intellect, causing chaos, haste makes waste
Q: A survivor, life wisdom, clear perspective, insightful, candid speaker
/ Sorrow, defensiveness
K: A fair judge, clarity of thought, creation of appropriate boundaries, a good communicator, determined
/ stubborn and unyielding, a tyrant or a bully
Cups
Ace: Gift of emotions, compassion, creativity, joy
/ Repressed emotions, distrusting your intuition
2: Formal partnership agreement, trust, fondness
/ Imbalance, inequality, breaking of contract
3: Friendship, sense of belonging, community, collaboration, and success
/ Stifled creativity, need to decide what direction to take, overindulgence, loneliness, ungrounded
4: Apathy, failure to see an opportunity, reflecting on one's commitments, discovering one's true self
/ Meditation, re-evaluation, listening to your feelings and values
5: Loss, bereavement, hanging on to the past
/ Acceptance, forgiveness
6: Nostalgia, reunion, innocence, naivete, a profound interaction, laying the past to rest
/ Gift of memory, acquiring a realistic view of family, clinging to old patterns, unwilling to change
7: Begin looking ahead once the past is in focus, make sure you know what you want, creative visualization to achieve your goals
/ Fantasy, wishful thinking, delusion, being carried away by emotions and daydreams
8: Courage to step into the unknown without sight of a goal, releasing the past
/ Withdrawal, giving up on something you've invested in, abandoning hope, aimless drifting
9: Feeling of plenty, wishes granted, water breaking before labor
/ Dissatisfaction, need for emotional counseling
10: Alignment, marriage, happiness and contentment, completeness
/ Straying from values, broken home
Pg: Open-minded, lacking preconceptions, divination, message from the subconscious, synchronicity, possible pregnancy
/ Creative block, emotional immaturity
Kt: A romantic figure, charming, slow but sure
/ Unreliable, faithless, withdrawn from reality
Q: Intuitive, visionary, compassionate
/ Daydreaming instead of acting, self absorbed, a destructive lover
K: Emotionally stable, flexible, calm leadership, generous
/ Manipulative, volatile, jealous
Pentacles
Ace: Gift of material world, an opportunity, possibility of wealth if you work for it
/ Ingratitude, lack of planning
2: Disorganization, unclear goals
/ Adaptability, grace under pressure, dreams coming true
3: Creativity, collaboration, teamwork, artistry, skill, planning
/ Rushing, carelessness, unskilled work
4: Prudence, prosperity, caution, values
/ Selfishness, defensiveness, isolation
5: Loss, financial worries, out in the cold, ostracism, loneliness
/ Hope, survival, spiritual comfort, pulling up by bootstraps, recovery, belonging
6: A helping hand, maintaining balance, prosperity, generosity
/ Imbalance of power and resources
7: Assessment, patience, standstill, rebuilding will succeed
/ Fatigue, doubt, frustration, giving up
8: Apprenticeship, quality, working diligently, keeping goal in sight
/ Perfectionism, being a workaholic, ambition without effort
9: Self sufficiency, luxury
/ Overwork, imprisonment
10: Family, legacy, established place
/ Loneliness, limited communication, financial failure
Pg: A messenger, opportunity, recognizing spirit in material, focus, scholarship, a trustworthy advisor
/ Lack of planning, no sense of what is valuable
Kt: Methodical, diligent, conservative, grateful, reverent
/ Laziness, boredom, lack of planning, neglect
Q: Practical, nurturing, down to earth, fortunate
/ Accepting limitations, imbalance in service
K: A helpful and beneficent ruler, security, abundance, wealth
/ Stifled spirituality, iron fist in velvet glove
Wands
Ace: Inspiration, gift of life, spiritual renewal, energy, creativity
/ Undirected energy, hesitation
2: Contemplating a change of direction, planning, making a choice
/ Fear of the unknown, restlessness, dissatisfaction
3: Enterprise, putting past behind, committed to new goal
/ Lack of foresight, not seeing big picture
4: Celebration, thanksgiving, community
/ Temporary shelter, communication breakdown
5: Strife, confusion, indecision, obstacles
/ Increased focus on one goal
6: Path to victory, support of others
/ Disrepute, trophy moment
7: Taking a stand, self-defence, courage, resilience
/ Difficulties, defensive, being overwhelmed
8: Opportunity, swift change
/ Frustration, sense of urgency
9: Stamina, prepared, firmly established, knowing whom to trust
/ Defensiveness, habitual mistrust
10: Overburdened, worried, not recognizing your limitations, wands weighing you down rather than lighting your way
/ Not recognizing your limitations, lack of vision, coming to life again
Pg: A scout, enthusiasm
/ Pessimism
Kt: Passionate, determined, energetic, travel, putting ideas into action, needs to control and conserve his energy
/ Restless, scattered or misdirected energy, a temper, over confident, insanity
Q: A strong woman, vibrant, vital, success, and power
/ Inhibited, withdrawn
K: Insightful, courageous, a leader
/ Ruthless, arrogant, egotistical
Distilling the meanings of the Major Arcana cards into keywords was more challenging. The Major Arcana cards hold significant importance in tarot readings, representing major life events and spiritual themes. Consequently, their meanings can be deeply nuanced and multifaceted. Since I first obtained a deck in 1983, my understanding of the images has constantly evolved, almost as if the cards themselves are in a state of change. Please approach the Major Arcana keywords with an open mind, listen to your own intuition, and understand that your interpretations will transform over time as you delve deeper into the cards' mysteries and your own life.
Majors
א Fool: a beginning, journey of life, inexperience, soul, foolishness, faith
ב Priestess: choosing a path, wisdom, considering but not yet acting, spirituality, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal
ג Magician: empowerment, manifestation, all the tools needed, skill, resourcefulness, trickery
ד Empress: love and acceptance, abundance, creativity, growth, nurturing mother, creative block, neglecting one’s own well-being
ה Emperor: ♈︎ structure, life-experience, leadership, fatherly guidance, authority, rigidity, refusal to grow further
ו Hierophant: ♉︎ guidance, tradition, conformity, society, oppression
ז Lovers: ♊︎ choice, indecision, opposites, passion
ח Temperance: ♋︎ balance physical and spiritual, moderation, harmony, fulfillment, miles to go
ט Strength: ♌︎ inner courage, self control, discipline, lack of self awareness, base instincts
י Hermit: ♍︎ reflection, introspection, solitude, discretion, patience, wholeness, a light to guide others
כ Wheel: change, powerlessness, opportunity, putting experience to use
ל Justice: ♎︎ choice, karmic situation, accepting responsibility for oneself, fairness, order, virtue, self-awareness, failing to weigh and balance options before making a decision
מ Hanged Man: acceptance, sacrifice, endurance, new perspective, letting go, self-sabotage, self-aggrandizement, limbo, actions have no effects
נ Death: ♏︎ metaphorical death and rebirth, change, surrender, transformation, harvest
ס Chariot: ♐︎ ready to go, confidence, focused on path, progress, wholeness of character
ע Devil: ♑︎ emotional or subconscious bondage, obsession, self doubt, selfishness, dependency
פ Tower: sudden change, catastrophe, liberation, challenge, insight, foundations revealed to be unstable, negative thinking
צ Star: ♒︎ hope, gratitude, clarity, grace, teaching others, finding joy in the present and trusting life’s journey, finding one's guiding star, failing to recognize your abilities
ק Moon: ♓︎ intuitive path, open to mysteries of life, doubt, depression, self-deception, fear of the future, primal instincts, enchantment, a test
ר Sun: ecstasy, reward, new life, personal empowerment
ש Judgment: awakening, resurrection, revitalization, truth, forgiveness, paying the piper, fairness
ת World: wholeness, understanding and freedom, fulfillment, completion, attainment, freedom
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting! I enjoy hearing from my readers and getting a chance to see their blogs, too!