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magick vs magic
I like to use the term magick (with a k) to distinguish what I describe in this grimoire from other artforms called magic, namely stage magic/close-up magic (vanishing acts, card tricks) as well as fantasy magic (hurling fireballs at ogres). Magick was coined by Aleister Crowley in the 1910s, defining it as “the art and science of causing change to occur in conformity with the will.” This is not an endorsement of the man or of his practice, only an acknowledgement of the origin of a term I find useful.
magick vs witchcraft
Some prefer to call this phenomenon witchcraft but I don't particularly identify with that term. There are many reasons for this. For one, I'm not fond of the way it emphasises being a witch (ie: what you are rather than what you do) as I believe anyone is capable of practicing magick (perhaps everyone does without recognising it as such) and constructing an identity around the practice of magick, thereby inverting myself-as-practitioner-of-magick to magick-as-something-one-such-as-myself-practices (witch craft) is not something I feel inclined to do. I also feel some discomfort claiming a label which has historically been applied to people (primarily women) not only as an insult but as an accusation of perversion and wrongdoing, marking them as legitimate targets for persecution, torture, and murder. I make no attempt to (re)claim this legacy as my own, as the victims of witch hunts were not in fact witches as we like to imagine witches today, but merely individuals demonised. Would it not be insulting to parade myself as their successor by modelling my practice and expression on the slander applied to them? And in what way would reclaiming the figure of the witch spite the witch hunters who invented it?
magick as a practice (vs religion)
I refer to magick as a practice and myself as a practitioner. I don't consider it a religion, at least not for me personally. I don't incorporate deity worship into my practice currently (though I have dabbled) and I don't conceive of magick as a superhuman force, rather a collection of techniques and tricks which humans can make use of to affect our attitude or otherwise harness our will. There is no obligation associate with magick as I perform it; I may step away from my practice for months at a time and return to it whenever I see fit. There are no holy days or sabbats I commit to celebrating. Though the idea of having a calendar to adhere to does interest me in some ways, I value the freedom I have in disregarding predetermined events and the structure they would build.
how does it work?
Magick is a toolset, and it's a set of tools we perform. As a practitioner of magick, I manifest, exact, and implement my will through magical means such as the drawing of sigils. Expanding on that example, a sigil acts as as focus or a device which allows my will to bypass my inhibitions. Telling myself to calm down simply will not cause my bodymind to relax; channelling that intention to calm down through an external focus such as a sigil or gemstone offloads the action beyond the reach of my inhibitions. Through magick, I allow my will to be externalised and reflected back upon me, and thereby my intention comes to be.
With cartomancy I use a narrative framework or lens to frame a situation and facilitate analysis through projection and interpretation. I cannot use cards to predict the future, but I can use them to gain new insight.
Magick is a matter of will but of also receptiveness. In order to instill a new perspective or attitude, I have to embrace it, and in order to truly embrace it, I need to let go of my determination to seek it out, paradoxically. I manipulate my belief for a purpose.
Placebo is like dark matter.
magick as a practice (vs science)
It is natural to fear what we do not understand. Magick by its very nature defies comprehension; it is no wonder, then, that some people will attempt to reduce magick to something they can wrap their heads around, by boiling it down to its constituent elements and translating them to scientific terms, and by empirically disprove its more fantastical aspects, thereby absolving them of any obligation to believe they exist.
Magick and science are not compatible. Their laws and whims are not shared.empiricism vs knack
evidence vs proof
objective vs subjective - magick is all about will and interpretation so how can it be measured and systematised?
logic is not fact
overflowing chalice
- good luck sigil
- overflowing chalice imagery invokes a sense of abundance (so many good things coming your way that your cup overflows)
- this abundance can easily be shared with others / generosity; geniality
- the creator details the significance of the minor elements (the hearts, the moons, the four-leafed clover, the pentagram with the dot in the centre, the arrow striking its target) on their blog - they're all generally positive symbols
- the creator also gives an accompanying incantation :
vegvísir / wayfinder
- name comes from Icelandic vegur (“road" or “path") + vísir (“[to] guide"), usually translated as “wayfinder" or sometimes as “signpost"
- Icelandic stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weathersource: earliest reference is in the Huld Manuscript, Geir Vigfusson (1860)
ægishjálmur / helm of awe
- ægishjálmur, or the “Helm of Awe" or “Helm of Terror", is a modern Icelandic stave which shares its name with an object in Norse mythology
- a physical object called the “Helm of Terror" is referenced as one item Sigurð takes from Fafnir's hoard after he slays him in Völsunga saga; in the prose of Reginsmál, Fáfnir is described as owning the helm and it is said that all living creatures feared it
- the object is also discussed in Fáfnismál in the Poetic Edda:
Fafnir spake:
The fear-helm I wore to afright mankind,
While guarding my gold I lay;
Mightier seemed I than any man,
For a fiercer never I found.Sigurth spake:
The fear-helm surely no man shields
When he faces a valiant foe;
Oft one finds, when the foe he meets,
That he is not the bravest of all.Glittering worm, thy hissing was great,
And hard didst show thy heart;
But hatred more | have the sons of men
For him who owns the helm.(Bellows translation)
- like the mythical object, this stave is intended to instill fear and prevail in battle
- most interpret this to mean striking fear into the hearts of one's enemies, but I think it can also be used to shock oneself into taking action instead of continuing to play a passive role or avoid what ought to be confronted
- agitation; instigation; urge towards necessitysource: the first recorded appearance of the symbol came from the Galdrakver (1670) though its namesake is referenced in the Poetic Edda, among other places (see above)
ghost stave
- “you will see the ghost"
- the ghost can be read as a metaphor for a forgotten or repressed memory, internalised belief, or hidden truth; essentially, a force (generally internal but occasionally external) which limits or prevents one's progress and potential
- acuity; attentiveness; insight; solemn introspectionsource: Sorcerer's Screed, “Skuggi" (Jochum Magnús Eggertsson) (1940)
moon (stave)
- “you will not be haunted by ghosts"
- as with the ghost stave, I interpret the ghost as an unseen hindrance or inhibition
- this stave doesn't remove the ghost but it does offer relief; a temporary reprieve from its influence, or a calm determination despite its presencesource: Sorcerer's Screed, “Skuggi" (Jochum Magnús Eggertsson) (1940)
“luck will follow me" sigil
- good luck sigil
- specific emphasis on having the luck “follow" dissuades fears that good fortune is a fluke and therefore doomed to pass/run out; also implies bringing luck to a new (uncertain/intimidating) situationsource: mearalavender on Tumblr (deactivated so here's a reblog) (2017)
flower sigil
- stability which does not hinder growth
- flourishing while remaining grounded
- styled after well-known sigils/staves like the vegvísir
- the circle represents a flower head (flourishing), the diagonal lines emerging from the vertical represent leaves on a stem (growth), and the fork at the base represents roots (groundedness, stability)source: myself (2021)
sickle sigil
- reaping the benefits of one's work
- hard work paying off and being worth the effort
- being justly compensated for one's work
- sigil takes the form of a sickle reaping a cereal crop; partly modelled after the hammer and sickle symbol (already associated with labour and struggle)source: myself (2021)
clover sigil
- good luck sigil (presumed)
- doesn't actually resemble clover very closely; I'll need to figure out what other plants it could represent and maybe draw some symbolism from there (dame's violet perhaps?)
- though this sigil resembles a flower I have a different flower sigil alreadysource: myself (2024)
rose quartz
- unconditional love (not just romantic love)
- capacity (and permission) to love and receive love from others
- developing closer bonds with partners, friends, and relatives; on a larger scale, building a sense of community
- comfort; fulfillment; contentment
- affection; tenderness; vulnerability
- compassion
- appreciation of beauty, which lends itself to imagination/inspiration and creative expression
apricot agate
- strengthening platonic bonds
- feeling loved, understood, and satisfied
- dissolving tension; letting go of bitterness/resentment/jealousy; forgiveness
- acceptance (including self-acceptance); clarity
- staying true to oneself and maintaining a sense of self overall
- grounding; emotional stability; a sense of safety and security
botswana agate
- takes the edge off loneliness and sensitivity; prevents overwhelmedness
- comfort; reassurance; affirmation
- restores self-confidence; being at ease with oneself; unwavering strength and stability
- understanding of the need for deeper meaning / exploration of the unknown
eudialyte
- letting go of sorrow, resentment, and animosity
- working on yourself instead of looking outward for solutions to personal problems
- learning from mistakes
- carving out a new path; a turning point
- bridging the gap between what must be done and what the heart wants
- establishing boundaries
- recognising coincidences for what they are instead of assuming connectedness
red jasper
- soothes nerves and bestows courage
- endurance
- vitality
- recovery from setbacks; new strategies
- focus; self-mastery
- reduces the likelihood of lashing out or making mistakes through anger/frustration
brecciated jasper
- feeling of wholeness
- resistance to overwhelmedness and distress; optimism replaces catastrophisation
- ability to take a step back and assess a situation with a wider perspective, as well as the ability to concentrate on one issue at a time
- overcoming procrastination
- ending unhealthy relationships; letting go of the past
- boost in morale as a result of accomplishment
fancy jasper
- focus; attention directed to where it is needed
- tackling overactivity (physical / mental / emotional) by subduing both impulsiveness and overthinking (including guilt/regret and worries about the future)
- rationality; reason; thought and action with purpose
- practicality without the boredom that sometimes comes with it
carnelian
- courage; confidence
- stimulation; passion; motivation
- endurance; determination; conviction (seeing tasks through / defending a cause to the very end)
- urge to make the world a better place (a counter to cynicism and despair)
chiastolite
- quiet strength
- stability; grounding
- great pragmatism
- keen analysis; problem-solving
- clear communication which is passionate without seeming irrational when compromise is not an option
- drawing positive outcomes from negative situations
- courage when embarking on a difficult journey; willpower
- acceptance of change and inevitability
- appreciation for life stemming from the acknowledgement and acceptance that everything must come to an end eventually; memento mori
- understanding that change is unavoidable; adapting and allowing yourself to be changed instead of getting stuck in the past or in “what if” scenarios
- not allowing yourself to be consumed by nostalgia or want
yellow jasper
- discernment; good judgement
- identifying jealousy, bitterness, and falsehood, in yourself and in others
- insight
- eases self-consciousness and instills a sense of confidence
- enthusiasm; willpower
- protection during journeys (literal or metaphorical)
coral (agatised / fossil)
- recovery
- working through emotional issues / trauma
- shield against intrusive thoughts, destructive urges, self-hatred, and catastrophisation
- self-love over self-deprecation
- patience
- healing is slow but present; slow progress is better than no progress at all
- grit; will to survive
- weathering the storm
rainforest rhyolite
- self-love
- pursuit of happiness; indulgence; hedonism
- rebelliousness
- refusal to let other people's negativity hold you back
- freedom from pressure and expectations; expression without fear of judgement
- openmindedness; optimism
serpentine
- deep meditation
- philosophical pondering
- introspection; exploration of the self
- eureka moment
- penetration
- dealing with problems instead of avoiding them
- clearing blockages; releasing “sticky” emotions
- finding new pathways
- shedding what does not serve you and reclaiming independence
- taking back control
prehnite
- willpower fueled by emotion; passion
- motivation to do good
- emboldening personal strength and ensuring that strength is used in the service of love
- sincerity
- sensitivity
- preparation
- letting go of possessions that do not serve you; recognising the void you are trying to fill for what it is
unakite
- slow and gentle release of deep-seated emotions
- overall emotional balance
- compassion
- healthier relationships
- tackling bad habits and the feelings / thought processes that perpetuate them
- focus on the here and now, as well as the road ahead (the near future, not distant hypotheticals)
chrysoprase
- optimism; positive outlook
- seeing the silver linings (if this is not instinctive then it's something you must choose to do)
- finding a balance between self-preservation and self-care
- “grudges can be justified, but forgiveness is important too”
- closure, for your own peace of mind if nothing else
- casting off destructive fixations
- recognising the difference between escape and escapism
- recalibration
- recuperation
- doing what feels right or what carries profound meaning to you
aventurine
- seizing opportunities; “carpe diem"
- favour
- wards off disappointment with outcomes by emphasising the process/experience itself; appreciation of the journey not just the destination
- release of old patterns and habits so that growth can take place
- openness to change, as well as new ideas and experiences
- optimism
- confidence
- decisiveness; shutting down hesitation and doubt
moss agate
- fertility; abundance
- appreciation for life
- new beginnings / progress
- gradual healing
- concentration
- strength, but not necessarily physical prowess
- patience; endurance
- balance; harmony; stability; sustainability
seraphinite
- harmony; balance
- being in tune with your thoughts and emotions; letting go of fixed ideas
- meditation; mindfulness
- strong centering paired with awareness; ability to take note of stimuli without feeling the need to react immediately
- self-control; reduces the urge to act or speak when doing so isn't necessary or productive
- passivity
- perspective (seeing the bigger picture)
- interconnectedness; awareness of your environment
- feeling whole
- assuredness; empowerment
- communication of intentions and aims
green jasper
- coping with delusions, paranoia, obsession, and unhealthy attachments
- return to reality; grounding
- reassurance
- inner calm
- moderation; self-control
- establishment of routines/rhythms, particularly as they pertain to sleep
- increased energy as a result of improved restfulness
bloodstone / heliotrope
- vigour; vitality (of the blood)
- fortification
- sense of security
- respect; esteem
- endurance
- motivation
- courage to confront
- management/manipulation; shifting the balance of power in one's favour or otherwise making use of opportunities which initially presented themselves as difficulties
- protection against threats; resistance to intimidation; potential harm distinguished from actual harm; tempered reactions to dangerous situations
labradorite
- self-discovery; communication between and synthesis of consciousness and subconscious
- allowing inner truth and ability to surface
- belief
- grounding; being present in this moment
- awareness
- intuition
- courtesy
- reduction of antisocial impulses or misanthropic inclinations
- bringing out the best in people (yourself and others)
- philosophical thought
- putting a stop to spiralling/existential crises by making peace with nihilism (something akin to Camus's absurdism)
aquamarine
- exhilaration as well as relaxation
- youthful joy of existing and experiencing the world
- lighthearted fearlessness
- overall optimism
- trust
- tolerance; kindness
- clear and heartfelt communication
- idealism embodied and enacted; service to the world and the development of a kind humanity
- letting go of what does not serve you
opalite
- confidence
- ability to no only (re)discover feelings you've been hiding or holding back, but to express them too
- soothing anxiety
- reassurance; affirmation
- sincerity
note: opalite is not related to opal, it is a synthetic glass whose name derives from its opalescence
chalcedony
- level-headedness; careful planning; deliberation
- balance
- composure which is noticeable not only to yourself but also to those you interact with; radiating calmness
- feeling that you and your circumstances are under control, or that you have the ability to take control of your life if it's currently chaotic
- reflection; introspection
- communication; choosing your words well
- camaraderie; (mutual) trust
- openness to new ideas; cynicism discarded in favour of genuine interest
- listening and learning
- generosity; selflessness; benevolence
celestite
- uplift
- serenity; composure
- mental clarity
- conflict resolution / de-escalation
- being kind and pleasant while maintaining the (reserved) capability to strike a blow if necessary; gentle but not meek
- quiet strength; empowerment
- self-solidarity; supporting yourself as you would support a loved one in a time of need
- unapologetic confidence and sincere belief that you deserve good things
- ambition
- reassurance that new opportunities will arise
- “what's done is done but tomorrow is yet to be”
lapis lazuli
- wisdom; good judgement in the pursuit of truth
- honesty and openness become easier
- deep communication
- curiosity; fascination; desire for knowledge and understanding
- enthusiasm
- sense of purpose
- aptitude for learning; ability to absorb and retain information
- remembering long-forgotten memories (for better or for worse)
blue john
- stability
- harmony; bringing order to chaos
- sequential thoughts and clear intentions
- brevity
- focus; discernment
- working through complex issues; finding solutions
- braving the unknown; multiple avenues for exploration
- fragmentation addressed and reconciled
- recognition of splitting, demonising, etc. and inviting more charitable or nuanced interpretations; blame and rejection replaced by fellow feeling
- justice
- personal growth
charoite
- endurance in the face of adversity
- comfort despite isolation / alienation
- maintaining a sense of connectedness when far from home (literal or metaphorical) - in the latter sense, charoite can be of assistance when questioning one's identity or undergoing major personal changes
- knowing when to admit defeat
- starting over
- determination after loss
- focus on the present instead of worry about what the future may hold
- harmful behaviours and thought patterns noted and discouraged
- guidance towards independence
amethyst
- traditionally believed to prevent intoxication; to me this manifests through reasoning and restraint (overriding impulsiveness / compulsion) avoiding overindulgence in the first place
- self-control to break destructive habits and vicious cycles
- hostility diffused through impulse control
- moderation
- innovation in the wake of old habits being disrupted
howlite
- stress relief; deals with built up rage and frustration and slows the overactive mind
- reflection; insight; uncovering truths
- rest (as in recovery, not indulgent relaxation)
- preparation for challenges ahead; reassurance that you are more capable than you think
- vigilance without paranoia
merlinite / dendritic agate
as dendritic agate
- patience
- maturity
- fullness; abundance
- introspection; examination of the self, and of self-imposed limitations
- counselling; behavioural change; breaking unhealthy habits; unlearning prejudicesas merlinite (a darker variation)
- intuition
- recognition and acknowledgement of negative influences (both internal and external)
- introspection regarding the darker aspects of oneself
- self-mastery
- duality; balance of light and dark; integration to achieve wholeness
- embracing the unexpected and the unusual
- generally positive outlook
- spiritual connections
hematite
- calm mind
- clarity of thought
- stress management (knowing and accepting, then finding strategies)
- grounding
- stability
- confidence and strength in times of turmoil
- a boost of vigour when rejoining the hectic pace of the modern world after taking a break to recuperate
hypersthene
- grounding
- intuition; unobstructed introspection
- subdues overwhelming / intrusive thoughts
- sense of being shielded from chaos, or of being capable of staying the course despite potential distractions and obstacles
- pragmatism; level-headedness
- guidance when you find yourself at a crossroads
- forming plans that facilitate tangible outcomes; turning anguish into something actionable
- problem-solving and resultant stress relief; lifting of anxieties and burdens through concentrated effort
- catharsis
- satisfaction
astrophyllite
- identity; know thyself
- assuredness
- purpose
- commitment to making major changes; self improvement
- progress; moving forwards
- transformation; transcendence
- fidelity; honesty
- embracing multidimensionality
- profundity
- a decisive moment
obsidian
- talisman of those who dare to see (past, future, inner demons, darkest truths)
- can be used to delve into the subconscious and truly understand oneself (flaws, fears, weaknesses)
- brutal honesty which can be overwhelming but ultimately brings catharsis; acceptance of hard truths
- growth / support / direction / resolution
- personal protection
- shadow work ?
nine knot spell
there are a few variations but here's my synthesis:by knot of one, the spell's begun
by knot of two, it will be true
by knot of three, this thing shall be
by knot of four, it's strengthened more
by knot of five, so may it thrive
by knot of six, this spell I fix
by knot of seven, events I'll leaven
by knot of eight, my will is fate
by knot of nine, what's done is minealternately:
by knot of three, so mote it be (for abbreviated three-knot version)
0 : the fool
- beginning of a journey; a leap into the unknown
- spontaneity
- extravagance
- freedom
- innocence
- naivety
- not knowing (with no negativity associated with that, necessarily)
- wonder
- adventure (= departure)
- a goad
- playfulness
- folly; foolishness
- delirium; mania
- reversed: an awareness of how you are perceived by others; being held back by fear of judgement
- another possible rx interpretation: not trusting your instincts and/or being afraid of doing nothing, and so affecting a false air of foolishness
- an invitation to let go of your inhibitions and preconceptions; stop trying to justify/quantify/invalidate
I : the magician
- willpower
- becoming a conduit for change or action
- channelling energy through expression and activity
- reception and direction
- implementation
- putting something into the world
- realisation (making real); into reality
- vision(s)
- inspiration
- manifestation
- creation of boundaries, forms, meanings
- skill; craft; being adept
- reversed: untapped potential
- reversed: a fear of unreality/madness/overwhelm
II : the high priestess
- darker aspect of a feminine archetype; yin
- mystery
- intrigue
- cunning
- subtlety
- a shadow of the truth
- something hidden; a veil
- power in passivity
- receptivity
- intuition; stirring the unconscious
- inner voice
- illusion of duality; each extreme carries the other within it
- reversed: passivity when it is not appropriate; strong intuition not acted upon; not being in touch with your inner self
- originally called the Papess; changed to the High Priestess by Antoine Court de Gébelin who believed the tarot originated in Ancient Egypt
- the B and J stand for Boaz and Jachin, the two main pillars of the Temple in Jerusalem
- the crown/headdress represents the phases of the moon, similar to the symbol associated with the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone) in neopaganism; compare Hekate
- this card also reminds me of the Bene Gesserit from Dune (disciplined and manipulating and embodying a dark femininity)
III : the empress
- sensuality; experience
- creativity
- fruitfulness
- fertility
- abundance
- nurturing
- gentleness
- passion; emotional response
- satisfaction
- reversed: could represent insecurity, or a resolution to an emotional problem through a less involved and more analytical approach
IV : the emperor
- authority
- structure
- measure; an abstraction of experience into something more legible (think of that book Seeing Like A State)
- stability; control
- discipline
- practicality
- strategic action
- protection
- rigidity
- severity
- decisiveness; firm boundaries and sure deeds
V : the hierophant
- doctrine; precept; creed
- tradition; convention
- conformity
- initiation
- mentorship; guidance
- the exoteric (public-facing, imparted to the masses); compare the esoteric High Priestess
- shielding from personal choice; doing away with the need to confront your psyche by relinquishing responsibility (perhaps this angle is more prominent when the card appears reversed)
- a spiritual proxy or go-between; a priest to pray on your behalf, a psychopomp to bring your soul to the afterlife
- service/servitude
- mercy
- righteousness
VI : the lovers
- love
- relationship
- pursuit and passion
- choices; a choice between vice and virtue?
- mutual exclusivity; at least one potential must be lost in the act of making a decision or gaining a status (a married man cannot be a bachelor, for example)
- dialectic
- vice versa, likewise
- reversed: perversion, disharmony, foolish designs
- RWS plays with Genesis symbolism (Adam and Eve, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, an angel sometimes identified as Raphael); Marseille tradition depicts a man choosing between two suitors
VII : the chariot
- triumph (a celebratory procession)
- victory or presumption? consider: can victory really be attained without caveat?
- determination; direction
- controlling contradictions rather than resolving them (rx = untenable)
- persona; ego
- a vehicle
- speech/labels and the barriers they erect between self and experience
- Plato used a chariot allegory in the Phaedrus (which I am yet to read) to represent the nature of the human soul
- sphinxes resembling the pillars of the High Priestess's temple; an illusion of duality?
VIII : strength
- courage; fortitude
- confidence
- compassion
- magnamanity
- honour
- calm mastery
- an alternative to force and willpower
- reversed: torment from within
IX : the hermit
- looking inwards
- introspection deeper than wallowing
- self-inquiry
- “know thyself"
- “what you seek is within you"
- internal locus of control
- reclamation
- contemplation
- withdrawal
X : wheel of fortune
- the course of chance
- chance as in opportunity; make the most of changing circumstances, even if the situation seems unfavourable at first glance
- change (station inverted?)
- a turning point
- temporality
- vanitas; attempts to avoid the inevitable are doomed to fail
- fate
- the bigger picture
- cycles
- symbolises both the mystery of nature and the human ability to take part in that mystery through ritual
- disregard good and bad for the moment and the idea of deserving/worthiness
- que sera sera
- reversed: struggle against what has happened or what must happen; denial
- the wheel of fortune has its roots in descriptions of the zodiac and its astrological effects
- fortune personified as Fortuna in antiquity; popular in mediaeval Europe
- consider Fortuna's epithet Automatia (“she who does what she will")
XI : justice
- account / accountability
- response / responsibility
- consequence; cause and effect
- we are formed by the actions we have taken, and we form our future selves by the actions we take now
- we advance according to our ability to understand the past
- integrity
- presence
- radical acceptance
- lessons learned
- truth; verdict
- a decision made cannot be revoked
- a new course determined
- resolve
- balanced scales = a stationary point, a moment
- a sword piercing through illusion
- the Titaness Themis, later imagined as Iustitia / Lady Justice (often blindfolded, though this Justice sees the truth clearly)
- Themis's name derives from the Greek verb títhēmi (τίθημι) meaning “to put" as in “that which is put in place"
XII : the hanged man
- new perspective; enlightenment; epiphany
- contemplation
- waiting; pause without stagnation or withholding
- trials
- faith
- surrender (which can mean taking action, not remaining passive)
- sacrifice? falsely called a card of martyrdom
- walking away changed
- reversed: autopilot / secondhand experience
XIII : death
- endings, often the end of a stage
- transition; transformation
- letting go; release
- mask off moment
- awareness following a loss
- hindsight
- mortality, and with it a sense of inevitability
- sometimes called Death-Rebirth (emphasising the aftermath of new status above the conclusion we tend of focus on)
- Marseille tradition depicts a skeleton with a scythe reaping body parts; RWS more closely resembles the fourth and final horseman of the apocalypse
XIV : temperance
- moderation
- temper
- working with behaviour, not concepts
- combining aspects; resolving falsehoods and fragmentation
- simplification
- proper response to situations as they arise
- understanding that extremes are simply not necessary (rather than inhibiting oneself in accordance with a moral code)
- angelic figure depicted can be said to represent Iris (rainbow wings, and iris flowers to the right); either way, a swift messenger
- I'm intrigued by the idea that Iris was a sister to the harpies, and that she carried water from the River Styx (a darker / more frightening side?)
- the rainbow is a sign of peace after a storm; release from fearful experience and destruction
- an antidote to recklessness and hysteria
- reversed: going to extremes due to a lack of awareness about what is appropriate; calm down and pull yourself together
XV : the devil
- oppression
- dependency
- addiction; obsession
- misery
- limitation
- extraordinary effort
- vehemence
- chains to break; a call to break free of something or to reclaim power (“you have nothing to lose ..."
- the composition is a perversion of the Lovers - what is the significance of this?
XVI : the tower
- disaster; unforeseen catastrophe
- upheaval; sudden change
- crisis
- chaos
- liberation
- breakdown and breakthrough; epiphany
- a wake up call
XVII : the star
- hope
- inspiration; a muse?
- positivity
- guidance
- bright prospects
- formlessness; fluidity
- renewal
- soothing
- serenity
- clarity
- energy freed and flowing
XVIII : the moon
- the unconscious mind; the psyche
- intuition
- (mis)interpretation
- assumption; projection; filling in the gaps
- pareidolia / apophenia (seeing meaning in random shapes/coincidences)
- distortion; disturbance; disintegration
- sense of humanity falling away
- strangeness; perhaps monstrosity
- half-light imaginings; illusions
- dreams and nightmares
- trance
- lunacy
- terror; primal fears
- Waite says the crayfish symbolises “that which lies deeper than the savage beast” which never fully emerges from the water/subconscious
- “Peace, be still; and there shall come a calm upon the waters.”
- unlike the sun and the star, the moon does not produce its own light, it only reflects
XIX : the sun
upright
- radiance
- joy
- vitality
- lucidity
- experience; physicality
- wide-eyed wonder
- attained knowledge (enlightenment?); total clarity
- unity
- confidence
- authenticity
- simplicity
- success; accomplishment
- aftermath
XX : judgement
- a call (within and without)
- a push to make an important change
- all objections are excuses
- abstraction
- absolution
- absolute certainty
- purpose
- awakening
- new consciousness/outlook; new life
- mystery of new existence
- recognition that you have already changed, you just didn't see it at the time
- reversed: wanting to act but not knowing how best to respond to the call; fear of the unknown (or of knowing)
XXI : the world
- synthesis; integration
- unity
- wholeness
- completion
- achievement; assured success
- quintessence
- enlightenment
- emergence
- holistic approach
- some say the central figure is not a maiden but a hermaphrodite (uniting femininity and masculinity in physical form); the figure has also been depicted as Hermes and as Jesus Christ
ace of wands
upright
- a gift: conviction, power, and verve
- joy; love of life
- passion; enthusiasm; vigour
- eagerness; drive
- initiative
- inspiration
- a starting point
- setting things in motionreversed
- overconfidence
- power and optimism misused to overwhelm others
- misdirected energy
- chaos
two of wands
upright
- contemplation
- dissatisfaction; love of battle may facilitate accomplishment but it will not lead to contentment and peace
- Waite compares this figure to Alexander the Great, who supposedly wept after conquering the known world
- the globe this figure holds is small; it cannot be said to truly embody the world (or what the World represents)
- surveying (Seeing Like a State)
- romanticism?
- feeling walled in and wanting escape
- repositioning (the Wand on the left has been lifted but this doesn't enact meaningful change; it still frames / walls in the figure)reversed
- overanalysing
- planning obsessively
- not taking action
- playing it safe
three of wands
upright
- continuing on from the Two: implementing ideas; considering what efforts it will take to make your dreams reality
- clarity and intent
- pursuit
- expansion
- the figure, like that in the Two, is framed by two Wands, but they reach out of their bounds to seize a third
- like in the Two, a figure stands on a precipice, only this one is a clifftop rather than a castle's ramparts
- feet on solid ground, now try to figure out your next stepsreversed
- perhaps your ambition is too grand; consider taking smaller steps to begin with, or redirect your efforts locally instead of globally
four of wands
upright
- celebration
- welcome
- reunion
- homecoming
- sense of belonging
- community
- refuge
- the figures leave a walled city for an open bower; openness instead of defensive confinementreversed
- feeling unwelcome / cast out
- rootlessness
- transience
- lack of support and stability
five of wands
upright
- tussle; scuffle; spat
- relatively harmless competition
- rivalry
- joy of action and contest
- playing at being knightsreversed
- unfair play
- nastiness
- a desire to end arguments (perhaps the playful quality has fallen away)
- truce (“faynights”)
six of wands
upright
- VI = victory?
- recognition; praise
- pride
- rewardreversed
- false optimism
- bluster; illusion
- lack of recognition or reward
seven of wands
upright
- standing up for yourself; defending yourself
- bracing yourself; en garde
- high ground? a hill to die on?
- “you are not beaten so long as you stand firm"
- does this commitment to fighting come through an earlier experience of winning?reversed
- yielding; giving up
- surrender
- admitting defeat
- lack of belief in yourself
eight of wands
upright
- movement
- swiftness
- quick decisions
- sudden changes
- landscape below is very similar to that in the Ace; distillation of Wand energy
- why is one Wand shorter than the others? perhaps not all trajectories are equal; inclination to see this as a racereversed
- inertia; continuance
- loss of momentum
- up in the air
- waiting
nine of wands
upright
- someone who has faced a lot of opposition
- hardness
- grit; perseverance despite fatigue
- vigilance; looking for the next fight
- rigid posture and raised shoulder = tension; being caught in a perpetual flinch
- the figure has almost become one of the Wands (fiery, restless energy)
- persistence
- need vs habit
- a psychic wound indicated by the bandaged headreversed
- defensiveness
- refusing to compromise
- inability to give and take
- does this tension serve you?
ten of wands
upright
- burden; onus; obligation
- overextension/overinvolvement; taking on too large a commitment or too many, and struggling to keep up
- problems which won't go away just because a person becomes bored or has had enough
- burning outreversed
- failure to delegate; shouldering too much responsibility
- risk of collapse; breakdown
- consider how best to use your energy
page of wands
upright
- study
- start of a project or a new phase of life; perhaps an announcement of this undertaking
- adventure
- ambitionreversed
- indecisiveness
- lack of resolve
- impatience
- boredom
- unreliability
knight of wands
upright
- movement; bursting forth
- action
- eagerness
- excitement
- trying to fly in every direction at once
- the salamanders on the Knight's tunic do not bite their tails (unlike those on the King's cloak) indicating that this figure is not fully maturereversed
- feeling the need to prove oneself
- fragility
- expecting everything to fall in place; being confused by opposition and obstacles
- perhaps a fear of revealing your true self
- volatility
- disruption
queen of wands
upright
- confidence; assuredness
- receptiveness
- appreciation of life
- warmth
- wholeheartedness
- focus on what will get you movingreversed
- demand
- bitterness; jealousy
king of wands
upright
- leadership
- strong-mindedness
- power deriving from a firm belief in rightness and knowing for certain
- boldness; daring decisions
- implementing ideas
- long-term projects
- honesty; seeing no value in deceit
- intolerance
- impatiencereversed
- forcefulness; aggression in pursuit of goals
- disturbance
- cynicism following defeats; force becomes tempered
ace of cups
upright
- a gift: joy, receptivity, and intuition
- new feelings; emotional awareness/awakening
- attunement
- synchronicity
- sympathy
- grace
- compassion
- intimacy
- spiritual nourishment
- love at the heart; it is love which gives things meaning and value, not laws
- love cannot be seized, only accepted
- this Cup is the Holy Grail, said to contain the presence of the Holy Ghost at work in the world (further embodied by the dove and the communion bread)reversed
- gloominess
- feeling unloved
- feeling emotionally drained
- gush; pouring your heart out
- emotional overwhelm
- repression; holding back
- a need to nourish yourself spiritually and reconnect
- intense relationships / relationship trauma
- violence
two of cups
upright
- a lesser version of the Lovers, with the winged lion taking the place of the angel Raphael
- partnership; joining forces
- ideas or talents bringing two people together
- connection; bond
- mutual respect
- attraction
- transaction
- pledge
- a gesture which indicates intent
- reciprocity
- reconciliationreversed
- a relationship which has gone sour
- a relationship which consumes all your energy
- breakdown of trust
- exclusion; clique mentality
- division
- separation
- a split between what we do and what we feel
- going through the motions of love
three of cups
upright
- a toast / libations; rituals of honour and goodwill
- celebration
- festivity
- fruits of hard work
- sharing the wonder of life; sharing experience
- reaching out
- involvement
- friendship; fellowship
- a community or collective of like-minded people
- appreciating each other and each person's contributionreversed
- gossip; scandal
- infidelity
- feeling crowded, or isolated
- sign that it is time to get out into the community, or maybe join an organisation
four of cups
upright
- passivity to the point of apathy; a stance of non-involvement
- melancholy
- ennui
- discontent
- lack of stimulation
- imagining that everything is worthless and boring
- not recognising new opportunities that are on offer
- need to re-evaluatereversed
- clarity
- awareness
- awakening to new possibilities and making the most of them
- choosing happiness
five of cups
upright
- emotional reaction to loss; grieving
- were the Cups knocked over through recklessness or taking for granted?
- fixating on what has gone wrong; goodness overlooked (two Cups remain standing)
- all is not lost
- setbacks
- take a moment to assess the situation then decide to act productively
- the Cups can be refilled at the nearby river; what action can you take right now as a step towards rectifying the situation?
- sulking doesn't undo the harm or inconvenience
- water under the bridgereversed
- wallowing
- (self-)sabotage
- giving up
six of cups
upright
- nostalgia
- familiarity
- comfort
- sweet memories
- sentimentality
- a bygone time of security and simplicity
- distance between past and presentreversed
- being stuck in the past
- you should explore your memories, but you should not allow yourself to remain there
- fixation
- a rose-tinted view of past events
seven of cups
upright
- “choose wisely and well”
- stoic idea of phantasiai; received information and sensory input make mental impressions, and all cognition and mental assent is a response to or an extension of these impressions; we are not disturbed by things but by the phantasiai we have about them
- phantasm; fantasy
- illusion
- castles in the air
- maladaptive daydreaming
- wishful thinking
- mirage of an oasis appearing to someone desperately thirsty
- imagination isn't a bad thing but you cannot allow it to cloud your judgement
- daze
- torment
- overwhelm and obscurityreversed
- disarray
- distractions
- learning to distinguish the rational from the emotional; what you want is not always what you need
eight of cups
upright
- the time has come to leave
- the situation being left behind is not necessarily a bad one, but it does not serve you any more
- disillusion with the present
- disengaging
- walking away; letting go; moving on
- intentional departure
- searching for truth
- noticing that something is missingreversed
- fear-based resistance; either you feel an impulse to pull away from something which might be beneficial to you, to abandon things at the slightest difficulty, or you are afraid to let go of something which is not fulfilling
- if there is something you know you need to change but you're reluctant to take that step, why is that?
- stagnation; entanglements
- some emotional lesson is not getting through to you
nine of cups
upright
- satisfaction
- contentment and coagulation; the figure has his arms crossed as if to say “as you can see, I have all the love I need, and I am not open to any more”
- the Cups are arranged in an arc, superficially resembling the rainbow in the Ten of this suit; is the figure trying to replicate that miraculous joy through mundane means?
- achieving what you desire / getting what you think you want
- “you got what you wanted, now what?”
- jealousy as in jealous protection (closer to paranoia than envy); perhaps you are afraid to lose what you have worked so hard to gain
- accumulation; hoarding
- a call for gratitude; appreciate what you have instead of showing offreversed
- rejection of surface values
- staying loyal to yourself
- authenticity
- a warning not to overindulge or get carried away with delusions of grandeur
ten of cups
upright
- something miraculous
- a surge of joy
- delight
- jubilation
- happiness, not simply an absence of pain
- abundant blessings
- perpetuity; “happily ever after”
- note that the adult figures understand the significance of the event while the children dance uncomprehendingreversed
- a highly emotionally charged situation not going well
- not recognising or appreciating a positive situation or outcome
page of cups
upright
- youthfulness; being young at heart
- childlike wonder
- whim and whimsy
- play
- pretence
- allowing oneself to explore even unrealistic possibilities
- hypotheticals; an emotional/romantic feeling that's mostly happening in the imagination
- “alright”
- optimism; positive outlook; “all will be well”
- gentleness; patience
- unlike the wandering Fool (who also represents naivety and playfulness), the Page has both feet planted of the ground, albeit in a jaunty stance
- to me the Page's glace seems conspiratorial, like the fish is in on a jokereversed
- jadedness; ironic detachment
- mischief
- attention-seeking behaviour
- harmful habits
- acting solely on impulse and inclination; making promises you can't keep
knight of cups
upright
- escapism; fancy; romantic notions
- affectation
- a dreamer easily persuaded or discouraged
- denying temptation and desires which would disturb the peace
- retreating into fantasies, having not yet learned how to direct your imagination into the world
- invitations, opportunities, offersreversed
- resentment about demands
- moodiness
- vanity
queen of cups
upright
- compassion; kindness
- thoughtfulness
- counsel; support
- recognising the depths present in others and seeing yourself in a new light
- call to use your intuition; a logical approach is not working
- only love will give meaning to your actionsreversed
- neediness
- fragility
- disillusion
- imagination running away with itself
- bottling up emotions; inability to express how you truly feel
- broken unity of vision and action
king of cups
upright
- responsibility prioritised over self-expression
- attempting to strike a balance between the head and the heart
- emotions kept in check; tempered moods
- maintaining a calm exterior, at least
- control over impulses
- steadiness
- maturity when dealing with difficult circumstances
- wisdom
- advice
- water demands flow, not containment or structure, and so the element is at odds with the King archetype
- the sceptre matches the shape of the throne and yet there is only one Cup (which the King holds but disregards)reversed
- overwhelm
- repression
- disconnect; cut off by emotion, or cut off from emotion
- talents used for vice or corruption
- emotional manipulation
ace of swords
upright
- a gift: intellect, comprehension, and decisiveness
- the hand in the image has a tight grip on the hilt (grasping; katalepsis)
- clarity
- breakthrough
- new idea
- vision
- focus
- rising to the occasion
- piercing through illusions to ultimate truth
- determination; determining
- executionreversed
- chaos
- confusion
- miscommunication
- overstating the importance of something
- clashing
- warning to work methodically instead of acting on impulse
two of swords
upright
- a decision to be made, looming over you
- one option is right but the other is easy (both have their own drawbacks)
- reluctance or refusal to make a choice, at least at this moment
- often described as a card of precarious or unsustainable balance, yet the figure is seated with her feet firmly on the ground in a symmetrical pose; perhaps she can remain in this state for as long as she needs to do so
- sitting with your uncertainty
- waiting for a sign
- stalemate
- no end in sight
- hidden information; something concealedreversed
- too much information
- no right answer
- being caught in the crossfire / put in an intermediary position between conflicting parties
- release of tension through decisive action, or new tension brought about through ending a stalemate
three of swords
upright
- heartbreak
- grief
- sorrow
- upset
- trauma
- the image is almost calm in its simplicity and symmetry
- you must accept the pain and go beyond itreversed
- forgiveness
- reconciliation
- recovery
- healing
four of swords
upright
- rest; repose
- recuperation; convalescence; recovery
- retreat; withdrawal
- meditation
- biding your time
- vigil/ance
- sanctuary
- testamentreversed
- recovery
- awakening
- re-entering the world; release from isolation
- restlessness
- urge to push ahead instead of falling back
five of swords
upright
- dispute; conflict
- hostility
- intimidation
- gloating
- putting yourself on the road to isolation by annoying or hurting others
- victory, but at what cost?
- what is more important, mutual progress or winning? (let go of ego)
- sometimes you just need to see that there will always be naysayers no matter what you do, but sometimes you need to reflect on your behaviour and consider how you may come across
- people won't cheer for you when they see your success as their loss
- falling out (fallout?)
- picking up the pieces
- bittersweet outcome; regret?reversed
- compromise; cutting losses
- focusing energy/efforts on something constructive instead of fighting
- letting go of the need to be right and to prove yourself
- resolution
- reconciliation
six of swords
upright
- escape; leaving a bad situation
- moving on
- starting anew; plotting a new course
- departure
- distance
- learning from the past
- unhappy but necessary change
- not a joyful voyage but a worthwhile one
- quiet passage through a difficult time
- silence
- current
- looking to the uncertain futurereversed
- being stuck in the past
- returning to trouble
- the Swords plug holes in the boat and removing them will only allow the water to flood in
- agitation
- looking back like Orpheus
seven of swords
upright
- taking a risk
- taking the piss
- taking matters into your own hands; taking action
- acting alone; unable or unwilling to seek help?
- audacity
- cunning; guile
- thinking on your feet
- thinking outside the box; finding a workaround; outsmarting
- habitually hiding your true plans and intentions
- getting away with it; danger of a secret coming outreversed
- coming clean; confession; candour
- truth revealed
- conscience; regret
- change of approach necessary; tactics not working
- collaboration over spiteful independence
eight of swords
upright
- feeling trapped or restricted
- feeling stuck
- sticky wicket (a tricky or awkward situation)
- interference
- (perceived) lack of agency and power to affect change
- being made to believe in your own helplessness
- learned helplessness
- victim complexreversed
- release; liberation (or a step towards it)
- freedom
- empowerment
- taking control of your own life
- overcoming
nine of swords
upright
- fear; anxiety
- nightmares
- hauntings
- premonitions
- festering logic
- despair
- breaking point
- only three Swords are depicted at the level of the human figure; consider if the magnitude of your worry reflects the reality of the situation (maybe it's not as bad as you think)
- the Swords which cross the figure do so at points which would mean fatal wounds (heart, throat, head) and yet they are only weeping; this isn't real, it's only a bad dream
- the Swords point elsewhere; maybe this isn't even about youreversed
- understanding that your suffering will not cease until you put in the effort to leave it
- facing fears
- learning to cope
ten of swords
upright
- pain; suffering; woe
- devastating = laying waste
- your reaction to problems rather than the problems themselves
- “no one has ever suffered as much as me” “my life is over” etc.
- it would take only one Sword to kill a person, so ten of them suggests overreaction, hysteria
- the red cloak invokes gore, but really it's only fabric(ated); theatricality, drama
- betrayal
- ruin; collapse
- failure
- culmination
- if you truly are at rock bottom, then it can't get any worse than this
- there is a glimmer of hope in the distance, symbolised by calm water and clear skies on the horizonreversed
- survival
- “the only way is up"
- improvement
- lessons learned
- risk of relapse; action must be taken to prevent the situation from reverting to what it was
page of swords
upright
- high ground; vantage
- detachment
- observation
- vigilance, perhaps? (the Page looks over their shoulder)
- lurking; stalking
- watching life unfold but not being an active participate
- evasiveness
- nimble wit and intellect give the impression of maturity
- Hamlet; excessive contemplation leads to paralysis and when he does act it's often impulsively; proclivity for irony and soliloquyreversed
- detachment to the point of being aloof
- being unintentionally rude/insulting
- drama
- obsession
- a message
knight of swords
upright
- assertiveness; direct attitude
- certainty
- speaking your truth; saying it as it is
- impatience
- lack of forethought
- single-mindedness verging on obsession; fanaticism; quest
- ambition
- daring; bravery
- tenacity
- rush (as in haste / assault / thrill)
- riding directly into the storm
- not letting anything get in your way once you've put your mind to somethingreversed
- extravagance
- rash decisions; getting ahead of yourself
- carelessness
- lack of tact
- a mistake; the situation calls for a more careful approach
- the song The Tooth, the Gap, and the Filling by Torture and the Desert Spiders encapsulates the upright and reversed meanings of this card, I think
queen of swords
upright
- wisdom from painful experience
- facing pain with courage and honesty
- objectivity
- fairness
- constructive criticism
- principles
- boundaries; laying out terms
- keeping your distance perhaps but not hiding
- though clouds gather, the Queen's head remains in the clear air abovereversed
- a strong mind turned nasty as a reaction to pain or pressure
- resentment
- malice; spite
- harshness
- being unforgiving and uncharitable
- failure to consider other perspectives
- getting too emotionally involved
- expecting everyone around you to do what you want (this reminds me of White Diamond from Steven Universe)
king of swords
upright
- judgement (note the resemblance to Justice)
- making hard choices
- being looked to for direction
- speaking clearly and candidly about what you have observed/deduced
- seriousness
- discipline
- integrity
- high standards
- remoteness
- seeing like a state
- calculating
- intellect and power; tools and weapons
- constant tension between abstract thought and action that must be taken
- the tilted Sword reminds me of the tick of a metronomereversed
- corruption
- arrogance
- lack of discipline
- desperation
- domineering
- dictatorship; control, or a desire to control
ace of pentacles
upright
- a gift: security, grounding, and resources
- new opportunities
- endeavour
- prosperity, or the capacity to prosper
- receptiveness
- recognising the magick in the mundane
- consider what is seen as ordinary
- stability
- reality
- something tangiblereversed
- overdependence on security and comfort
- fears of scarcity
- lack of grounding
two of pentacles
upright
- balancing act
- juggling; multi-tasking
- adaptability; flexibility
- managing, but the situation is precarious
- light-hearted approach to what could otherwise be unpleasant
- hidden magic (the infinity sign suggests the Magician); something to do with channelling energy, becoming a conduit, being adeptreversed
- overextension
- overwhelm
- chaos
- lack of organisation
- pressure
- pretending to take things lightly
three of pentacles
upright
- teamwork; collaboration
- corroboration
- need for communication between multiple parties
- not a solo effort
- practical work done consciously and with commitment
- technical skills and understanding
- progress on a project
- working towards a common goalreversed
- competition
- lack of cohesion
- lack of communication
- mediocrity
- apathy resulting from not feeling heard or appreciated
four of pentacles
upright
- possessiveness
- dependence on material comforts
- hoarding
- frugality
- boundaries
- wanting to assert control when feeling vulnerable
- relation between security and insecurity
- guardedness
- closing off from the outside world (there is only one figure present and he's not even allowing himself to come into contact with the ground beneath him)reversed
- generosity
- sharing
- relinquishing
- releasing the need for excessive control
- reevaluating what's important to you
five of pentacles
upright
- longstanding hardship
- adversity
- sticking together in a bad situation
- survival
- humans can adapt to anything, but this can also mean maladaptation
- not seeking relief because you're so used to struggling on; this reminds me of the idea that complex trauma normalises high stress levels and as a result it becomes difficult to function in non-stressful situations
- passing
- disillusionment
- rejecting sanctuary
- perhaps sanctuary is not on offer (the church has no door; the figures have been shut out)
- alienationreversed
- many would interpret this as the inverse of the upright meaning (positive change; recovery; feeling welcomed) but that doesn't quite resonate with me
- maybe it's something to do with the sense of freedom that comes from existing outside established systems and structures
- seek support, but that doesn't have to come from institutions
six of pentacles
upright
- giving
- charity; alms; philanthropy
- interrogating the motives of charity (altruism or ego boost?)
- power dynamic
- benevolence = wishing well (good intentions, but not necessarily doing good deeds?)
- relating to others but always holding back to some degree
- this card I struggle with because I find it hard to look past the class dynamics; other people will take its meaning at face value (charity as a kindness; humility; gratitude) but I find it hard to read it that wayreversed
- power dynamics at the fore; inequality
- extorsion
- abuse of generosity/goodwill
- gifts and favours with strings attached
seven of pentacles
upright
- growth through hard work
- looking back with satisfaction at your accomplishments
- something you helped to build which can now grow by itself; a project taking on a life of its own
- taking a step back now that your contribution has been done
- patience
- planningreversed
- anxiety; fretting
- a project not going as well as you had hoped
- setbacks
- procrastination
- unfinished work
- low effort, particularly when put off by a lack of immediate payoff
- anticlimax
eight of pentacles
upright
- labour
- spirit lies in the work itself more so than in the product
- the work cannot succeed if you think only of the end result
- the process of doing
- consistent effort
- high standards
- dedication
- serving the community, perhapsreversed
- impatience; rushed work
- frustration
- unsatisfying work
- not taking pride in what you do
- mediocrity
- bad reputation
nine of pentacles
upright
- success and what it means to you
- distinguishing what matters in life and what goals demand your efforts
- awareness
- self-assuredness
- certitude; knowing where others can only guess
- sacrificing companionship and spontaneity
- independence; self-reliance
- creating yourself
- cultivating a life which is alivereversed
- if the sacrifices demanded seem too great, perhaps the reward is not something you value enough; consider what it is you truly want to achieve and why you may not be willing to put in the effort for what you had thought you wanted
- superficiality
- keeping up appearances
- trying to appear successful and self-assured (is the figure on this card genuinely content or is she only striking a pose for the sake of onlookers?)
- lack of discipline; not channelling your energy to useful purposes
- living beyond your means
- inability/refusal to relax and unwind
ten of pentacles
upright
- security
- affluence
- privilege; comfort taken for granted
- roots; ancestry
- legacy
- windfall
- hidden experience in ordinary things
- a wizard/hero appears as a vagrant to test virtues; could be Odysseus or Odin
- the Pentacles form a Kabbalistic Tree of Life, which articulates the structure of divine reality
- creating in yourself the ability to recognise and receive blessings
- conditionreversed
- an urge to gamble
- myopia; long-term potential hampered by the pursuit of short-term gratification
- sudden end to something which has been stable for a long time
- returning home to see the world you left behind has changed in your absence and you are no longer recognised
page of pentacles
upright
- fascination
- awe
- diligence
- studiousness
- appraisal
- promise
- resources at your fingertips; access; something readily available
- love for the work itself, not only its rewards
- cherishing what you havereversed
- heavy demands
- underachieving
- missed chances
- fumbling; dropping the ball
- nonchalance
- squandering; dissipation; prodigality
knight of pentacles
upright
- fallow; a period of necessary inactivity
- slow progress
- patience
- perseverance
- standing firm
- commitment to assignments
- practicality
- logistics
- reliability; loyalty
- tried and true methods
- simplicity
- salt of the earthreversed
- steadiness to the point of inertia
- being a workaholic
- losing sight of what gives you strength by dedicating yourself solely to practical matters
- drudgery
- dullness
- boredom; fed up with routine/repetition
- gambling; risky investments
queen of pentacles
upright
- ecology
- self-awareness
- appreciation
- stop to take notice of the world around you
- what can you create in your material world that will nurture yourself and those around you?
- welcoming; hospitality
- humility; modesty
- practicality
- down-to-earth viewreversed
- nervousness
- loss of daily rhythm
- derangement
- inability to appreciate your environment
- misplaced priorities
- you need to ground yourself in nature, ordinary pleasures, and satisfying work
- you need to let others make their own decisions
king of pentacles
upright
- prosperity
- safety
- protection
- providing for others; generosity
- sensuality
- social standing
- fitting your role comfortably
- accomplishment
- justificationreversed
- mediocrity
- dissatisfaction
- doubt
1 : the rider
/ nine of hearts
- news
- an invitation / visit
- activity
- passion; energy
- speed
2 : the clover
/ six of diamonds
- luck
- lightheartedness
- levity; comedy
- small joys
3 : the ship
/ ten of spades
- departure
- farewell
- distance
- voyage; journey
- adventure
4 : the house
/ king of hearts
- home
- comfort
- safety; security
- habit; custom; tradition
- establishment and preservation
- privacy
5 : the tree
/ seven of hearts
- connectedness (across physical distance and the passage of time)
- grounding
- growth
- health
- family / ancestors
6 : the cloud
/ king of clubs
- confusion; misunderstanding
- lack of clarity
- something hidden / obscured
- doubt; insecurity
7 : the snake
/ queen of clubs
- desire; attraction
- seduction; temptation
- transformation through acquisition of knowledge
- intercourse
- ouroboros?
8 : the coffin
/ nine of diamonds
- endings
- loss
- grief; mourning
9 : the bouquet
/ queen of spades
- etiquette
- pleasantness
- appreciation
- flattery
- an unexpected gift
10 : the scythe
/ jack of diamonds
- recklessness; haste
- a decision which cannot be undone
- reckoning; reaping what you sow
- an accident
- a warning
11 : the whip
/ jack of clubs
- conflict
- argument; objection
- scolding
- violence
- repetitive actions
12 : the birds
/ seven of diamonds
- gossip
- worry; nervousness
- excitement
13 : the child
/ jack of spades
- new beginnings
- inexperience
- innocence
- play
- immaturity
14 : the fox
/ nine of clubs
- self interest (both in the sense of selfishness and self care)
- cunning; trickery
- caution
- what must be done
15 : the bear
/ ten of clubs
- power; strength
- leadership
- dominance; assertion of will
- short temper
16 : the star
/ six of hearts
- hope; optimism
- inspiration
- ambition
- progress towards goals
17 : the stork
/ queen of hearts
- yearning
- transition
- movement
- recurrence; cycles
18 : the dog
/ ten of hearts
- loyalty
- devotion; obedience
- support
- friendship
19 : the tower
/ six of spades
- isolation; solitude
- loneliness
- ego
- authority
20 : the garden
/ eight of spades
- public affairs
- society
- culture
- collaboration
- fame
21 : the mountain
/ eight of clubs
- a great challenge
- obstacles
- struggles
22 : the crossroads
/ queen of diamonds
- choices; decisions to make
- opportunities; possibilities
- hesitation
- separation
23 : the mouse
/ seven of clubs
- diminishment; depletion
- deficiency
- destruction
- a flaw
24 : the heart
/ jack of hearts
- romance and romanticisation
- forgiveness; reconciliation
- softness
- charity
- amicability
25 : the ring
/ ace of clubs
- promise
- commitment; honour
- partnership
- cooperation
26 : the book
/ ten of diamonds
- education
- research; study
- knowledge
- secrets unearthed
27 : the letter
/ seven of spades
- communication; expression
- conversation
- reciprocity
28 : the man
/ ace of hearts
- animus; a masculine entity/constructed Other (opposite) - consider Jungian archetypes
- bonds/relations/projections re: men in one's life ?
- toughness, ambition, confidence, ego, leadership - traits commonly associated with/projected onto men as masculinity
- note: I find it generally unhelpful to interpret this card either too literally (referring to an actual man) or too figuratively (representing stereotypes associated with men/masculinity) - the meaning of this card is very context-dependent
29 : the woman
/ ace of spades
- anima; a feminine entity/constructed Other (opposite) - consider Jungian archetypes
- bonds/relations/projections re: women in one's life ?
- sensitivity, nurturing, warmth, affection, cooperativeness - traits commonly associated with/projected onto women as femininity
- note: I find it generally unhelpful to interpret this card either too literally (referring to an actual woman) or too figuratively (representing stereotypes associated with women/femininity) - the meaning of this card is very context-dependent
30 : the lily
/ king of spades
- sensuality (and sexuality)
- virtue
- ethics; morals
- that which feels right
31 : the sun
/ ace of diamonds
- victory; triumph
- celebration
- warmth
- truth
- hubris?
32 : the moon
/ eight of hearts
- the subconscious mind
- intuition
- emotion
- fears
- desires
- fantasies
33 : the key
/ eight of diamonds
- revelation
- resolution
- achievement
- openness
34 : the fish
/ king of diamonds
- abundance
- gain
- something numerous
35 : the anchor
/ nine of spades
- stability
- resilience
- stubbornness
- restraint
36 : the cross
/ six of clubs
- duty
- principles; doctrine
- conviction
- intolerance
- burden
lipu lili pi nasin nasa
← back
ala
- negation
- nothingness
alasa
- hunt
- search
- process of finding things
- attempt
anpa
- below
- beneath
- humility
ante
- difference
- otherness
- something altered
- tangent
anu
- or
- either
- decision
- crossroads
awen
- stay
- keep
- protection
- care
- continuation
ike
- bad
- negativity
- unpleasantness
- inappropriateness
- superfluousness
- harm
- problem
ilo
- tool
- instrument
- mechanism
- device
- means
insa
- inside
- centre
- contents
- belly
- guts
jaki
- dirt
- mess
- waste
- pollution
- disease
- digust
- offence
- obscenity
jasima
- opposite
- inverse
- reflection
- reciprocation
- foil
jo
- ownership
- possession
- carry
kama
- arrival
- becoming
- inception
- cause
- emergence
- summoning
- future
ken
- ability
- potential
- possibility
- hypothetical
- probability
kipisi
- split
- division
- section
- segment
kon
- air
- breeze
- breath
- smell
- essence
- spirit
- unseen agent
kulupu
- group
- community
- collective
- network
- gathering
kute
- ear
- listening
- attention
- heed
- obedience
lawa
- head
- mind
- direction
- leadership
- authority
- control
len
- cloth
- clothing
- cover
- blanket
- privacy
- potentially something hidden or disguised?
lete
- cold
- raw food/material
lili
- smallness
- reduction
- minimisation
- brevity
- subtlety
- "kinda"
lon
- location
- position
- presence
- existence
- reality
- truth
- affirmative
luka
- arm
- hand
- five
- present in the idiom jo e luka mute which refers to a complicated situation
lukin
- vision
- observation
- examination
- seeking
lupa
- hole
- pit
- entrance
- passage
- void
- cavity
ma
- land
- place
- area
- domain
- territory
- ground
- soil
mama
- parent
- creator
- originator
- foster
monsuta
- monster
- predator
- threat
- terror
- fear
musi
- play
- amusement
- frivolity
- recreation
- entertainment
- games
- artistic expression
- fun
namako
- spice
- salt
- embellishment
- extra
- more
nasa
- strange
- odd
- foolishness
- impulsiveness
- psychosis
- intoxication
nasin
- road
- path
- way
- method
- doctrine
- custom
noka
- leg
- foot
- ground
olin
- love
- affection
- compassion
open
- open
- beginning
- start
- initiation
pakala
- break
- damage
- ruin
- failure
- mishap
- expletive
pali
- work
- labour
- construction
- manufacture
- production
- execution of a task
- effort
pana
- giving
- delivering
- put
- emit
- instill
pilin
- emotion
- sensation
- belief
- thought
- heart
pimeja
- black
- dark
- shadow
pini
- end
- finish
- closing
- conclusion
- stop
pona
- good
- valid
- grace
- kindness
- friendliness
- repair
sama
- sameness
- similarity
- resemblance
- akin
- comparison
- equate
- assimilate
- equality
selo
- skin
- shell
- exterior
- appearance
- surface
- boundary
- border
sewi
- sky
- heavens
- divinity
- sacredness
- elevation
sijelo
- body
- form
- figure
- physicality
- self
sike
- disc
- ring
- sphere
- wheel
- cycle
- year
sin
- newness
- novelty
- renewal
- youth
sona
- knowledge
- awareness
- familiarity
- memory
- wisdom
- intuition
- knack
- skill
suli
- bigness
- increase
- magnitude
- significance
- importance
- heavy
suwi
- sweetness
- cuteness
- endearing
- charisma
- flattery
- treat
tan
- cause
- reason
- basis
- factor
- motive
taso
- only
- aloneness
- exclusivity
- exception
- but
tawa
- motion
- movement
- purpose
- travel
- perspective
tenpo
- time
- duration
- interval
- instance
- event
toki
- talk
- discussion
- communication
- greeting / invitation to parley
- comment
- disclosure
tomo
- home
- room
- domesticity
- structure
utala
- conflict
- struggle
- challenge
- contest
- attack
- strike
- aggression
- opposition
wawa
- power
- strength
- confidence
- surety
- courage
weka
- distance
- removal
- rid
- rejection
- ignorance
- lack
- loss
- absence
- away
wile
- want
- will
- need
- desire
- yearning
- ambition
- intent
- obligation
- requirement
focal point and gifts spread
1. focal point
2. a gift to receive
3. a gift to give
blockage
1. where you're at right now
2. what is standing in your way / blocking you
3. suggested next steps / actions to takesource: modified version of the Self Blockage Tarot Spread by @basicwitchfoundation on Instagram (no link because I don't use Instagram)
scholastic method spread
This tarot spread is based on mediaeval pedagogy and methods of debate. It is designed to test theses and antitheses and uncover immutable truths in doctrines and philosophies, used here to encourage critical thinking and consideration of multiple perspectives
1. Magister - the teacher or guide; consider its strengths and biases (I find this spread works best when the Magister position is taken up by a trump or court card)
2. Lectio - the matter at hand
3. Quaestio - questions, lines of inquiry
4. Disputatio - rebuttal, another angle to considersource: myself (2025)
queer as in fuck you spread
1. (queer) how I diverge from the dominant culture
2. (as) how my queerness colours how I meet others
3. (in) how my queerness colours how others meet me
4. (fuck) something to joyously bend, warp, play with, or break down through my queerness
5. (you) something to leave to others / a point not to assimilate into“for constructive individuation; for restisting assimilation"source: Evvie Marin, InterrobangTarot.com
rose spread
1. The Root - something beneath the surface; unconsciousness, basis
2. The Thorn - a source of discomfort
3. The Stem - the structure / direction?
4. The Bud - something to nurture
5. The Blossom - the best and most beautiful potentialsource: I have altered the wording significantly, but it is based on a spread featured in Root Lock Tarot Book of Spreads by Weston (itself based on an unsourced pre-existing version), available to download as a PDF from the Root Lock Tarot website, used in episode 16 of the Root Lock Radio podcast, and discussed in this Medium article by Pixel Tarot
tarot spread to get out of a funk
1. root cause of my funk
2. why this is bothering me
3. what this reveals about myself
4. where to shift my focus
5. what action I should takesource: Sam Magdaleno @samthecosmicwitch (Instagram account seemingly deleted; here is the image in question reuploaded to Pinterest)
heavy heart spread
1. when you listen closely, your heart has this to say
2. the cause of the ache
3. the remedy for the pain
4. a reminder of what the pain is for
5. how to heal it sympatheticallysource: Lexi Hideko aka lightwands; they seem to be active on TikTok and Instagram but I have neither so here is a Pinterest reupload, and here is their website
note: I have slightly modified the wording but the overall meaning remains the same
heart's desire spread
1. what you think you want the most
2. a desire you possess that is not really your own
3. something you want that is for a collective good
4. something you want that is only for you
5. what you really and truly want, before and without any outside influence
6. something you want that you can have easilyan accompanying message from the spread's creator: take note of overlap or similarities between cards – desires that actually have something in common (their element, their number, dominant colours, etc.)source: Lexi Hideko aka lightwands; they seem to be active on TikTok and Instagram but I have neither so here is a Pinterest reupload, and here is their website
taken and given spread
1. what was taken from me?
2. how can I mourn and come to terms with this loss?
3. what lesson must I learn from this?
4. what have I been given?
5. how can I cherish this gift / make the most of this opportunity?
6. what action must I now take?source: myself (2025)
supernova tarot spread
1. where I'm at in my universe right now
2. the inner strength I should focus on
3. what might get in the way of my success
4. external judgements holding me back from shining
5. what I could aim for
6. a final word of wisdom before I shine brightsource: Supernova Tarot booklet/guide, written by Alice Mastroleo (2024)
forest spread
1. The Root - What is the overall source of life?
2. The Trunk - What is providing structure and strength?
3. The Canopy - What is the highest potential?
4. The Timber - What needs to fall away?
5. The Nurse Log - How can the discarded parts be transformed into new growth?
6. The Sapling - What is the new growth?
7. The Lightning Bolt (optional) - Where is there potential for mass clearing?source: Root Lock Tarot Book of Spreads by Weston, available to download as a PDF from the Root Lock Tarot website (this one is actually given as a free example) and discussed briefly in S3 E4 of the Root Lock Tarot podcast
path to the sorcerer spread
The Sorcerer is one name for an enigmatic cave paiting found in the cavern known as “The Sanctuary" at the Cave of the Trois-Frère, Ariège, France, made around 15000 years ago. The figure's significance is unknown, but it is usually interpreted as some kind of great spirit, shaman, or master of animals. Here, it is taken to represent “a final union of spirit and humanity" and an aspect of the World; integration within the soul.Remove the World card from the deck before shuffling. Place the World centrally and draw the other cards sequentially as shown1. The Motion - First steps. How do you begin your path towards the Sorcerer?
2. The Attraction - What can you do to pull the spirits closer to you?
3. The Drive - The root desire that can be used to propel you along the path
4. The Craft - The skills you have that should be developed to help your growth
5. The Fight - What do you need to push aside on this path?
6. The Ideal - How does the union between spirit and querent express itself?source: instructional guide for the White Numen Tarot, written by Alba Ballesta González (2021)
celtic cross spread
There are many variations of the celtic cross; it is a common spread layout but everyone seems to interpret it slightly differently. The version I use is similar to A E Waite's so-called “Ancient Celtic Method of Divination" from The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911)1. this is you
2. this crosses you (challenge, obstacle)
3. this crowns you (conscious goal, ideal)
4. this is beneath you (basis) alternately: this grounds you
5. this is behind you
6. this is before you
7. your attitude
8. influences
9. hopes and fears
10. potential outcomeUseful analysis of Waite's version: https://parsifalswheeldivination.org/2022/12/01/waites-celtic-cross-a-critical-analysis/
box breathing / four square breathing
- inhale for four seconds
- hold your breath for four seconds
- exhale for four seconds
- hold your breath for four seconds
- it may help to visualise each action corresponding with drawing one side of a square
9-0 breath exercise / meditation practice
- meditative technique to clear the mind, unwind, and fall asleep; useful when worrying or ruminating in bed
- inhale and exhale slowly while thinking of the number nine
- repeat, this time thinking of the number eight, and so on counting down to zero
- then start the process again, this time starting from eight and counting down to zero, then again starting from seven (and so on)
- in time you will drift off to sleep
- wheel of the year
- zodiac
- moon phases
