Tarot Cards

• Reversals can be seen in a multitude of ways
  • The upright card cannot be fully expressed because it is being repressed.
  • The upright definition is implied but turned on its head.
  • The reversal shows a potential not fully manifested yet.
  • The “shadow side” of the upright meaning.

0 - The Fool §

• Early: Someone who is mentally different and unable to act reasonably. In particular these are the simpletons who were treated as outcasts and madmen. ¹ The court jester comes to mind.

• Tarot de Marseille Interpretations shifted from The Fool being a madman to being a jester or chaotic trickster. This interpretation alludes to freedom and detachment from society — creative genius but also impulsiveness and folly.

• Levi: The sensitive principle; The flesh; Eternal life. The Fool represents someone wandering without aim, potentially full of folly and vice.

• Golden Dawn: innocence and new beginnings, someone on a journey to enlightenment, inexperience. That which endeavors to rise above the material.

  However, it can also be seen as stupidity, eccentricity and mania. Regardless, it can be characterized with an impulse from an eccentric source.

• Waite: Folly, mania, extravagance, intoxication, delirium, frenzy.

• Modern:

  • Upright: A New Beginning
  • Reversals:
    • Self-doubt and fear of the unknown. Becoming jaded or closed off.
    • A warning to not take a leap of faith
    • The idea of a new beginning yet to be manifested
    • Acting like a reckless, naive fool. Remaining stagnant or blissful

Upright	Reversed
Beginnings Freedom Innocence Originality Adventure Idealism Spontaneity	Recklessness Carelessness Distracted Naive Foolish Gullible Stale Dull

I - The Magician §

• Early: The traveling conjurer and swindler. Usually he is either depicted performing a sleight of hand trick or conjuring illusions. The Magician was seen as a street performer who was also a deceitful conman.

• Tarot de Marseille: The Magician is seen more in line with its archetypal role — someone who can pull an audience in and (seemingly) manipulate reality though the supernatural .

  Hence, The Magician is associated with skill, charisma, dexterity, and confidence. However, he can also be seen as a conman and charlatan who can deceive the audience through cunning.

• Levi: The Magician can be associated with The Creator whose material creations can be seen as illusions that hide spiritual reality.

• Golden Dawn: The First Magus — someone who can connect and bridge the divine, intellectual and physical. Someone who can control reality.

• Waite: Skill, Diplomacy, Subtlety, Snares of enemies, the inquirer - if male.

• Modern:

  • Upright: Power and Skill
  • Reversal:
    • Self-doubt. struggling to make progress due to lack of resources or clear intention
    • Overconfidence. A misdirection of energy. Wasting potential.
    • Unclear intentions or a lack of opportunity to realize one’s “magic”
    • Manipulation, Illusions, Deception

Upright	Reversed
Willpower Desire Resourcefulness Skill Ability Concentration Manifestation	Manipulation Cunning Trickery Wasted Talent Illusion Deception

II - The High Priestess §

• Early: The High Priestess represented a Popess - a holy woman. Due to the perception of women at the time, it was also associated with secrecy, both in hiding the High Priestess’ femininity to keep their position, and also to keep sacred knowledge and history.

• Tarot de Marseille: Scholarity or scientific knowledge, mental clarity, A sacred woman acting as a wise advisor, A secretive figure who was in touch with the spiritual

  Negative feminine stereotypes were also projected on her — proud, hysteric, emotional, superficial, close minded.

• Levi: Associations to the moon, occultism, speech. The High Priestess sits at the entrance to an inner sanctum analogous to the House of God.

• Golden Dawn: Associations with the Moon, Isis, and the ultimate expression of water. She presides over things that fluctuate and are partly hidden.

• Waite: Secrets, mystery, the unrevealed future. The woman who interests the inquirer, if male; the inquirer herself, if female. Wisdom and science.

• Modern:

  • Upright: Intuition, Higher Wisdom
  • Reversal:
    • Lack of self-trust. Distractions in the outside world that prevent one from accessing their inner landscape.
    • A return to power. Taking action on one’s intuition, instincts, and emotions
    • A private understanding of the truth without sharing or the intention to share. Being too wrapped up in one’s own inner world.
    • Dishonesty or using knowledge to harm others

Upright	Reversed
Unconsciousness Intuition Mystery Spirituality Higher Power Inner Voice	Repressed Intuition Hidden Motives Superficiality Confusion Cognitive Dissonance

III - The Empress §

• Early : Depicted status, wealth and power. Seen as a pragmatic and powerful authority figure who is nonetheless compassionate. It is seen in both a positive light — with the Empress’ role as wife to the Emperor, and also a negative light — in the sense of being associated with the negative aspects of femininity. She is thus the Archetypal Mother Figure

• Tarot de Marseille: Associations as Isis. Association as the Queen of Heaven, someone who has risen above the world. Associations with the throat — i.e., where concepts are uttered. In this sense, she is representative of a Maternal role by actualizing creative energy into something tangible .

• Levi: The Holy Triad. Plentitude, Nature. Associated with the Woman of the Apocalypse

• Golden Dawn: Beauty, Pleasure, Success, Luxury. Sometimes Dissipation. Associated with Gaia. Has both the positive and negative connotations of femininity — pleasure, charm beauty; frivolity, changeability, superficiality.

• Waite: Fruitfulness, Action, Initiative. Linked to the goddesses Ceres and Persephone. Still associated with femininity and motherhood.

• Modern

  • Upright: Fertility, Abundance, Creativity
  • Reversal
    • Lack of creativity. Too much concern with pragmatism than creativity, Forcing things, Being unfeeling, cold, or apathetic.
    • Creating structures and plans.
    • Healing the connection to the body and nature. Developing individuality, Reparenting oneself. Desire for Change.
    • People pleasing, Putting others first. Fear of one’s own depths. Trauma related to women. Imbalance of power.

Upright	Reversed
Divine Feminine Sensuality Fertility Nurturing Creativity Beauty Abundance Nature	Insecurity Overbearing Negligence Smothering Lack of Growth Lack of progress

IV - The Emperor §

• Early: The Archetypal Patriarchal figure (i.e., kings who ruled over civilizations). If the High Priestess represented the Pope, the Emperor represented the authority of the State.

• Tarot de Marseilles: Depicted a person of highest status or someone about to pass legal judgment. The Emperor is the ultimate authority with the potential to either be tyrannical or benevolent. Confident, Rational, Strong Willed.

• Levi: Associations with alchemic sulfur (i.e., spirit dominating matter). Associations with the symbol of Jupiter. Stability, Fixed Energy. The Emperor presides over the birth of all things and rules over the material world.

  Also interpreted as someone with mastery, strong will, power, and a influencing, dominating presence. Could also be seen as a tyrant.

• Golden Dawn: Son of the Morning. Chief of the mighty. War, Victory, Strife, Ambition. Associations with Mars and by proxy, conquest, courage and force.

• Waite: Stability, Power, Protection, Realization, A great person, Aid, Reason, Conviction, Authority, Will. The Emperor is not just a worldly ruler, he is the Lord of Thought sitting on a throne of intellect. He is the father to the Empress’ mother.

  The Emperor emphasizes political power, authority and leadership. He also signifies will, control over one’s emotions, and the rule of society.

• Modern

  • Upright: Authority, Leadership, Stability
  • Reversal:
    • Self-doubt. Being resistant to existing power structures . Lack of discipline or control.
    • Being receptive. Creativity. Benevolence. Compassion
    • Inner authority. Clarity around standards that come from within.
    • Fear of external power structures or people. Trauma relating to men. Abuse of Power.

Upright	Reversed
Stability Structure Protection Authority Control Practicality Focus Discipline	Tyranny Domineering Rigid Stubborn Lack of discipline Recklessness

V - The Hierophant §

• Early: The contrast / rival to the Emperor, the Hierophant (corresponding to the Pope) was another powerful person in the Middle Ages.

• Tarot de Marseille: Depicted someone who had authority over the spiritual; The pinnacle of religious authority and thus the highest authority; The bridge between man and divine who interprets the mysteries of the universe to his followers; The great teacher, but also one who has the potential to be dogmatic, judgmental, or authoritarian.

• Levi: The Initiate of the Mysteries of Isis. The Pope taught the people via theology and piety.

  Indication, Demonstration, Instruction, Law, Symbolism, Philosophy, Religion

• Golden Dawn: The great teacher; channeler of occult wisdom. The one who translates divine wisdom into human terms.

  Conformity, Respect for authority, Obeying the rules, Staying within traditions and values; Aspiration

• Waite: The Highest authority in any hierarchy, esp. spiritual; The religious leader channeling divine grace through institutions.

  Conformity, Bondage to social conventions, Dogmatisms and ritual; Large social establishments; Servitude; Mercy and goodness; Inspiration

  Can become power hungry, controlling and authoritarian.

• Modern

  • Upright: Institutions. Group Identity.
  • Reversal:
    • Being in the process of learning or gathering one’s ideas.
    • Rejecting tradition or authority in favor of personal or radical beliefs. Nonconformity. Freedom.
    • Personal rituals and practices, intimacy with the spirit and what gives life meaning.
    • Trauma relating to learning institutions or authority. Judgments around a perceived lack of education. Cultism.

Upright	Reversed
Tradition Social Groups Conventionality Conformity Education Knowledge Beliefs	Rebellion Unconventionality Nonconformity New methods Ignorance

VI - The Lovers §

• Modern
  • Upright: Love, Union, Bonds
  • Reversed
    • Honing one’s personal values. Identifying what really matters. Fear of commitment. Broken Promises and Weak bonds.
    • Misalignment of values due to differing beliefs or priorities. Feeling Disrespected or unvalued.
    • Self-love or struggling with self-love. A sense of disharmony with the self.
    • Dishonesty with the self around needs and wants. Communication breakdown. Harmful intentions in relationships.

Upright	Reversed
Love Union Partnerships Relationships Choices Romance Balance Unity	Disharmony Imbalance Conflict Detachment Bad choices Indecision

VII - The Chariot §

• Modern
  • Upright: Victory, Assertion, Momentum
  • Reversed:
    • Coming up with a structure or channeling energy towards achieving a goal.
    • Lack of progress. Burn out. Changing oneself forward. Inner resistance. Distraction
    • Reaching milestones around inner or invisible goals. Inner discipline. Encountering setbacks and challenges. Need for Introspection and Growth.
    • Goal obsession. Productivity as distraction. Loss of control with one’s life.

Upright	Reversed
Success Ambition Determination Willpower Control Self-discipline Focus	Forceful No direction No control Powelesss Aggression Obstacles

VIII - Strength §

• Modern
  • Upright: Courage, Self-Control
  • Reversed:
    • Lack of self-trust or faith. Lack of confidence
    • Forcing things. Overthinking.
    • (Suppressed) Inner strength. A budding self-love journey.
    • Self-harm. Self-loathing. Passions becoming the enemy. Vulnerability.

Upright	Reversed
Courage Bravery Confidence Compassion Self-confidence Inner power	Self-doubt Weakness Low confidence Inadequacy Cowardice Forcefulness

IX - The Hermit §

• Modern
  • Upright: Soul searching, Solitude
  • Reversed:
    • Outside sources leaking in. Being persuaded.
    • Coming out of one’s shell. Sharing one’s truth and wisdom. Being seen.
    • The beginning towards starting a person’s spiritual journey. Need for engagement
    • Clinging to the superficial. Fear of looking inward. Feeling isolated. Excessive Isolation. Paranoia.

Upright	Reversed
Self-reflection Introspection Contemplation Withdrawal Solitude Search for Self	Loneliness Isolation Recluse Being anti-social Rejection Returning to society

X - The Wheel of Fortune §

• Modern
  • Upright: Karma. Turning a cycle
  • Reversed:
    • Resistance to moving forward
    • New awareness around how one can take responsibility for one’s own life. Unwelcome Changes. External forces affecting one’s life.
    • Introspection. Looking at one’s own personal cycles. Learning through struggle. Acceptance and Adaptation.
    • Crisis of faith. Feeling powerless. Chaos.

Upright	Reversed
Change Cycles Fate Decisive Moments Luck Fortune Unexpected Events	Bad luck Lack of control Clinging to control Unwelcome changes Delays

XI - Justice §

• Modern
  • Upright: Fairness. Cause and Effect.
  • Reversed:
    • Important information missing. Being inhibited from acting on the truth.
    • Injustice. Concealment of the truth. Dishonesty. Corruption.
    • Dishonesty with oneself.
    • Denying one’s own responsibility for their life. Victim mindset. Karmic retribution. Unfairness

Upright	Reversed
Justice Karma Consequence Accountability Law Truth Honesty Integrity Cause and Effect	Injustice Retribution Dishonesty Corruption Unfairness Avoiding Accountability

XII - The Hanged Man §

• Modern:
  • Upright: Letting go. Suspension.
  • Reversed:
    • Resistance to stillness or silence. Unwillingness to slow down.
    • Coming off the fence. Making a decision. Letting go. Apathy. Disinterest. Detachment
    • Contemplating the self. Meditation.
    • Stagnancy. Impatience. Clinging to something. Addiction. Impulsiveness.

Upright	Reversed
Sacrifice Waiting Uncertainty Lack of direction Perspective Contemplation	Stalling Disinterest Stagnation Avoiding Sacrifice Standstill Apathy

XIII - Death §

• Modern:
  • Upright: Endings. Beginnings. Transformation.
  • Reversed:
    • Resisting releasing what is lifeless. Fear of the unknown. Resistance to change. Fear of endings.
    • Returning to life in some way.
    • Transformation on a personal level, or the potential to transform.
    • Depression. Concealing inner fears. Feeling dead inside. Stagnation.

Upright	Reversed
Transformation Endings Change Transition Letting go Release	Fear of change Repeating negative patterns Resisting change Stagnancy Decay

XIV - Temperance §

• Modern
  • Upright: Balance. Healing.
  • Reversed:
    • Avoiding peace. Fear of knowing one’s truth.
    • Willpower and forward momentum. Asserting one’s self.
    • Realizing purpose through connecting forward.
    • Lack of self-awareness. Staying stuck in an extreme. Staying stuck flipping back and forth between two options. Overindulgence. Imbalance. Hastiness. Recklessness.

Upright	Reversed
Balance Peace Patience Moderation Calm Tranquility Harmony Serenity	Imbalance Excess Extremes Discord Recklessness Hastiness

XV - The Devil §

• Modern
  • Upright: Bondage. Restriction.
  • Reversed:
    • Attempting to break free of psychological bonds but struggling to free one’s mind. Preventing harmful situations.
    • Breaking free of pre-existing limitations. The past coming back to haunt someone. Experimentation. Freedom and Independence. Reclaiming power.
    • Shame. A spiritual awakening.
    • Addiction. Feeling trapped in a negative cycle.

Upright	Reversed
Oppression Addiction Obsession Dependency Excess Powerlessness Limitations	Independence Freedom Revelation Release Reclaiming Power Reclaiming Control

XVI - The Tower §

• Modern
  • Upright: Sudden Change.
  • Reversed:
    • Resisting rock bottom. Keeping a tight control of the status quo. Delaying the inevitable.
    • Liberation. Encountering a near miss with a disaster. Embracing new beginnings.
    • Crisis of faith. Identity crisis.
    • Turning inward on the self. Self-destruction.

Upright	Reversed
Disaster Destruction Upheaval Trauma Sudden Change Chaos	Averting Disaster Delaying the inevitable Resisting change

XVII - The Star §

• Modern
  • Upright: Hope. Spiritual Guidance
  • Reversed:
    • Closing oneself off from hope. Resisting calm. Aversion to self-love.
    • Inner demons dominating the psyche. Hopelessness. Despair.
    • Prayer. Setting intentions. Personal rituals. Rediscovering creativity and inspiration. Need for nourishment and self-care.
    • Disillusionment. Crisis of faith. Disconnection.

Upright	Reversed
Hope Inspiration Positivity Faith Renewal Healing Rejuvenation	Hopelessness Despair Negativity Lack of faith Despondence

XVIII - The Moon §

• Modern
  • Upright: Illusion. Mystery. Dreams
  • Reversed:
    • Lacking information to move forward. Lack of ability to trust intuition.
    • Breakthroughs. Clarity. Having a newfound perspective. Unveiling secrets and lies.
    • Deviating from the path most commonly taken and finding one’s own way. Release of repressed emotions. Overcoming fears and anxieties.
    • Fear. Disillusionment. Addiction.

Upright	Reversed
Illusion Intuition Uncertainty Confusion Complexity Secrets Unconscious	Fear Deception Anxiety Misunderstanding Misinterpretation Clarity

XIX - The Sun §

• Modern
  • Upright: Success. Vitality. Youth.
  • Reversed:
    • Lack of trust in the universe. Lack of self-worth. Struggling with joy and happiness.
    • Being in the dark. Feeling isolated and alone. Uncertain and hopeless. Reduced enthusiasm and optimism.
    • Self-love. Making amends with the inner child. Call to play and enjoy life. Call to balance realism and optimism.
    • False optimism. Putting up a facade. Overconfidence. Egotism.

Upright	Reversed
Happiness Success Optimism Vitality Joy Confidence Truth	Blocked Happiness Excessive Enthusiasm Pessimism Unrealistic Expectations Conceitedness

XX - Judgment §

• Modern
  • Upright: Inner Calling
  • Reversed
    • The person wants to answer the call but doesn’t know how to. Self-doubt. Connected to worthiness. Indecisiveness.
    • Remaining unaware of the reality of one’s current situation. Refusal to learn karmic lessons.
    • Inner calling. Judging oneself.
    • Trying to hide from the truth. Shirking responsibility. Regret. Trauma around the concept of god or heaven. False accusations and blame.

Upright	Reversed
Self-evaluation Awakening Renewal Purpose Reflection Reckoning	Self-doubt Lack of self-awareness Failure to learn lessons Self-loathing

XXI - The World §

• Modern
  • Upright: Completion. Accomplishment.
  • Reversed
    • Trouble moving forward to the next part of one’s growth or journey. Delayed success and failed plants.
    • Incompleteness. Trying to move forward with a shaky foundation. Burdens and disappointment.
    • Reaching a personal milestone.
    • Staying stuck in the past. Stagnation.

Upright	Reversed
Completion Achievement Fulfillment Sense of belonging Wholeness Harmony	Lack of closure Lack of achievement Incompleteness Emptiness

Links §

• Tarot Heritage

• Modernmetaphysicae

• Labyrinthos

• The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Waite

• Kabbalah - Tarot has Kabbalah Associations, most apparent in the Levi interpretation of the cards.

Footnotes §

1. The traditional deck, the Fool had no rank and no power but can mimic any card. ↩