BETTER KNOW THE TAROT

Welcome to Better Know the Tarot! This course is designed to help new readers get acquainted with reading Tarot and build their confidence in their intuition, as well as to enrich the understanding of seasoned readers by offering individual perspectives on each card.

Below is a list of cards, how I interpret them, and an exploration of the symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. We will first be working our way through the Major Arcana, then I will be posting an overview regarding the structure and numerology of the tarot before diving into the Minor Arcana. For a quick review, check out my Tarot Crash Course blog post. If you have any questions, or would like to see something added, shoot me an email at hexpositivefeminist@gmail.com.

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xx Kate xx

0  THE FOOL

The Fool is always a comforting card for me. He represents new beginnings, an open mind (even if it's empty), beginners luck, ingenuity, and optimism. It is also a card that comes up when you've arrived at the next level of your progress. It's the card of an 8th grader entering high school. It keeps you humble and reminds you that's there's more to learn.

The Fool is traditionally depicted as a jester, wanderer, or transient (a romanticized homeless person) who skips along and carries his possessions on his back. The imagery usually invokes a carefree attitude and a cherry disposition. .

The element I associate with the Fool is 🔥 because he either has a bright, cheery attitude, or acts impulsively which results in flames.

The most obvious literary comparison I could draw is Voltaire's Candide, which is a charming book and great for these terrible times. Candide is The Fool x 10,000.

When reversed:

The Fool can show you that you've been acting carelessly, without tact, or in impulsive ways without regard for the direction you'd like to be headed. It calls you out on poor judgement and social follies.

I don't always read reversals as what they mean on paper. Generally, I take the surrounding cards into account and try to determine the appropriate reading as each spread contains several messages and individual cards can provide multiple meanings and still be right. I think this is one of the biggest struggles for new readers. If it sounds like your reading is gibberish, it's probably just that you're trying to weave one story from multiple readings the cards are giving you. It's like a puzzle. Often, a reversal is an indication of a virtue that you're struggling to embody. In these instances, reversals are more likely to mean the same as the upright position-- and it just means you are having a hard time with that concept.

I the magician

The magician comes up often for witches, for obvious reasons. It can represent both a (magick or non-magick) person, a god, or an idea-- so good luck. This card speaks to your talents and abilities. Often, it encourages you to find and develop ones you've been overlooking. It is a card of resourcefulness, manifestation, and determination. It pushes you to become an agent of transformation and test boundaries. .

When reversed:

The magician can represent someone with bad intentions, an enemy, a charlatan, manipulation, trickery, a lack of trust, and unexplored talents. It can also be you. It can indicate a curse or binding-- especially when self-inflicted. .

The planet associated with this card is Mercury.

The element is traditionally air, although usually all are depicted on the card. .

The Magician is usually represented by a type of sorcerer at an altar with all the elements represented. The imagery reminds us that magick is transformation. That witches are the bridge between worlds.

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II The High Priestess

The High Priestess is THAT. BITCH. She is alligned, she sits comfortably in her power, you want her and you wanna be her. This card represents alignment between the material and the spiritual. It can be a person, god, or an idea. She's a bad bitch. She doesn't sweat. She seems still because she makes moves below the surface. It's a card of mystery, spirituality, hidden knowledge, and power.

When reversed:

She's still a bad bitch, you just don't get it, or you're opposed to it. It can also signify your struggle to accept/understand the path you're on, and a failure to understand signs and intuitive prompts.

The planetary correspondence is the Moon, so of course The element is water.

She is the Beyoncé of the tarot (like lemonade and beyond era).

The High Priestess usually sits on a throne between two pillars, one light, one dark. She rules the connection between worlds. There are usually pomegranates for femininity and Persephone.

iii The Empress

The Empress is the card for nurturing, the harvest, abundance, family, creation and expression, and matriarchs. She is the earthly counterpart to The High Priestess. While she is not separated from the spiritual and celestial, she is grounded and flows with the cycles of nature. I often interpret her as the predecessor to The High Priestess as grounding and balance are essential to attaining hidden knowledge. The Empress reigns with wisdom and love. .

This card can represent a person, goal, or ideal. Again, pay attention to surrounding cards.

The Empress reversed can signify a lack of compassion or empathy, or a desperate need to care for yourself. It can also be an indicator of familial conflict.

The Empress rests on a throne draped in rich fabrics reminding us to care for our earthly needs. She is adorned with a crown of stars symbolizing her connection to nature and the world above. At her feet grain is growing as an indication of her abundance, fertility, and nurturing compassion, as well as her roots and connection to the Earth. 

The Empress invokes the spirit of Eleanor of Acquitane. She introduced the code of chivalry into medieval court, patroned the arts, championed education and culture, and ruled with compassion.

IV THe Emperor

The Emperor is a card of power and authority. It can speak to business, particularly advancement or success, but generally I read this card as an indication that you've got your shit in order-- at least with regard to the theme of the surrounding cards. It is the counterpart to the Empress-- rather than the arts and creativity, The Emperor deals with business and social standing. It's assigned a masculine energy-- if that means anything to you. It can be a person, god, or idea. .

When reversed, it can indicate trouble with work, a failing business venture, inability to navigate social situations, lack of diplomacy, or just a particular struggle to control (or let go of control) with regard to the surrounding cards. This comes up in a lot of abusive relationships.

The Emperor is often represented sitting atop a stone throne, with cliffs in the background. The imagery is stark and less abundant than that of The Empress, but it reminds us of the foreboding power of the Earth and the authority it commands. He is suited in armor and the throne is decorated with ram's heads in a nod to the combat and strategy of war and governance. Self conflict & self mastery.

I would liken The Emperor to Oprah Winfrey. She built an empire out of sweat, she is benevolent, strong, and in control.

The element assigned The Emperor is fire, but I think that has more to do with being a masculine card and since gender is cancelled I find it more fitting to view it as an Earth card. As it is a counterpart to The Empress (also Earth), I see it as another aspect of the Earth element. While The Empress is soft, fertile soil, The Emperor is a mountain, a cliff, a boulder; strong, supportive, and weathered. The Empress is about cycles, this card is about endurance.

The ruling planet is Mars: war, aggression, and passion.

V The Hierophant

The Hierophant traditionally symbolizes institutions, religion, and tradition. It can represent a religion, a religious leader or teacher, a secular teacher, education, or study. This card can also come up for a spirit guide or mentor. This is also a card for ancestors. The Hierophant can point toward education, a return to school, or an independent educational venture. It is a very common card for students.

The Hierophant also calls attention to your relationship with tradition, authority, and gatekeeping. Pay close attention to the surrounding cards and the position of The Hierophant in your readings. .

When reversed, The Hierophant can indicate disregard for authority, rebellion against tradition, punk rock, and trouble with schooling. It can also symbolize a reclamation of your education-- relying on your own gnosis to guide you.

The Hierophant usually looks like The Pope and is pictured atop a throne with religious iconography and two devotees at his feet. The devotees are ecclesiastical in dress and provide a separation between the reader and The Hierophant, indicating a hierarchical order to the wisdom bestowed by The Hierophant, which is noticably lacking in it's feminine counter-part- The High Priestess. Christian symbolism is mixed with keys, symbolic of Hekate, in a reminder to question where tradition comes from, but is also a promise of knowledge. The Hierophant also invokes the crossroads imagery depicted in the High Priestess card, but removes the pagan context. The stern, cold marble columns behind him impose a sense of austere authority in a demand for reverence.

The planet assigned to The Hierophant is Venus, and the element is Earth. Venus seemed like a strange pick to me, but she rules Taurus and Libra, so I suppose that makes somewhat more sense. What do you think?

Hermione Granger is the literary comparison I would draw for The Hierophant. Her character arc begins with her throwing herself into rules, order, and study, and ultimately abandons law and order in favor of her own guiding principles, seeking knowledge deeper than traditional channels could provide.

VI The Lovers

The Lovers is often one of the most overlooked cards in the deck. Yes it can mean a romantic relationship, but it's meaning extends far beyond your romantic life. This card covers any type of relationship or partnership. Business partners and close co-workers, teammates, classmates, friends on a similar journey, Spirit guides, and even your relationship with deity. This card is especially relevant to soul integration and the cooperation of all parts of yourself. It often speaks to the way you interact with and treat yourself. .

When reversed, The Lovers can indicate an issue or insecurity with any of the above listed relationships. It suggests disharmony, distrust, conflict, control issues, and a lack of cooperation. Neighboring cards can provide an indication as to which relationship is having which issues. This card can also indicate guilt, or perceived guilt. The Lovers is most often advice directed toward the person you're reading for. The cards always call you out on your own shit before blaming someone else unless your health/safety is at risk.

The Lovers are usually represented by Adam and Eve with imagery invoking the garden and an angel blessing the union. Behind them are symbols of mistrust and conflict. Adam looks at Eve, Eve looks up at the angel, and the angel looks down upon them. The triangular gaze reminds us of the 3 parts of our soul (higher self, lower self, and middle self) and also reinforces the numerology of the tarot, the 3 selves in balance create the foundation for stability, and 6 is equilibrium after a trial (we'll cover more of that later).

The Lovers is ruled by Air, the element of communication.

I'm having a really hard time coming up with an example for a real life/literary character to embody The Lovers. What do you suggest?

VII THe Chariot

The Chariot symbolizes fortitude, willpower, and discipline. It is an indication that fortunes will improve, with considerable effort. The only way out is through. This is a card of willpower and manifestation, and it reminds us that magick is most effective when married with work. The Chariot also invokes balace. Just as the sphinxes at his side balance each other out, and the chariot must balance between only two wheels, we must maintain a balance in our own endeavors. The celestial imagery brought so low to the ground creates a visual tension that reinforces the core lesson of The Chariot: Growth happens in the in-between spaces. It is not comfortable. The city behind the central divinely clad figure reinforces this tension between worldly and divine as a reminder to remember your divinity despite being immersed in the physical world. Strength comes from knowing and honoring yourself. The river behind the chariot, and the vehicular nature of the chariot, remind us to be flexible and adaptable like the river in order to move forward.

The Chariot reversed urges you to primarily check that your actions are in alignment with your goals, and if so then to consider an alternate course of action. What you are currently doing isn't working. Alternatively, it indicates a struggle with self-mastery, which equates to the same outcome. This reversal can also signify that you either lack control over the situation, or you are stifling the outcome by attempting to over-control it. Regardless of the meaning here, The Chariot reversed means it's time to have a conversation with yourself.

The imagery of The Chariot is about marrying the fantastical and divine with the sweat of your brow. It demands that you devote energy into achieving spiritual growth while maintaining your material needs. This card is about work-afterlife balance. The sphinxes are powerful images, but thwy do not actually pull the chariot-- it is self-propelled or stagnate. While they may serve as guides, the progress relies on the work of the rider.

The element which rules The Chariot is fire and the planetary alignment is the Moon. Both are about change and flow, and both carry immense power. 

Leslie Knope embodies the tenacity of The Chariot. She is strong, driven, true to herself, and a force of will.

VII Strength

Strength is a card that comes up fairly often in readings. It can be a sign that the person you're reading for is exhibiting great strength, or that strength and endurance will be required to resolve the matter at hand. This card is fairly straightforward, it can mean strength of character, strength of will, or physical strength. Strength is the 8th card in the Major Arcana, and so it reminds us to look below the surface. 8 is about hidden progress and knowledge, balance, and cycles of time and energy. Remember the 8th house of astrology deals with death, inheritance, and the divine. Strength operates on multiple levels with multiple facets of The Self as well.

When reversed, it can highlight a particular weakness to be developed, or a strength which is hidden and waiting to be discovered. When interpreting Strength, it is particularly important to take the surrounding cards into account as they will help you divine which particular facetime of Strength the deck is speaking to. .

The imagery on the strength card reminds us of how versatile the concept of strength is. There is a fair maiden who has tamed the lion. She tenderly gestures toward the great hunter reminding us that softness and strength are not mutually exclusive. The colors are light and airy setting the tone of hope, happiness, and peace that this card brings. The maiden is adorned with flowers, further connecting her with symbolism of the natural world-- telling us that strength and governance come from cooperation rather than control. The infinity symbol serving as her halo also reminds us that there is balance in strength: control/guidance, nature/mankind, softness/force, etc.

Strength is aligned with the element of fire and it is ruled by the Sun.

Toni Morrison and her work embody the spirit of Strength. She and her characters overcome incredible adversity, while maintaining a relationship with The Self, and most importantly with love.

IX The Hermit

The Hermit is one of my all-time favorite cards. This card is about returning to yourself. It asks that you assess your desires, fears, shortcomings, and choices. The Hermit invites you to take stock of who you are, outside of your environment. The Hermit is the card of shadow work, meditation, and self reflection. The Hermit is alone, and at peace with themself. It is the 9th card of the Major Arcana, signifying a return to self. It is the third cycle of three, and the final stage before stepping into the abundance of 10. Self acceptance and self-love precipitate prosperity. I love The  Hermit so much because whole it is a card of difficult internal progress, it is equally about self-care. The Hermit wants you to enjoy life. It reminds you to act in your own self-interest and confront your flaws. That caring for yourself means knowing yourself, means accepting yourself. Do the work.

The Hermit reversed indicates a failure to connect with yourself, society, or that you are experiencing the social isolation of The Hermit. It is the card of loneliness. This has come up in every single Reading post-pandemic. We are all The Hermit on some level right now, and while upright is more preferable, reversed is an equally valid part of the experience, just don't get stuck there. When you're feeling like The Hermit reversed, dig in and become the upright Hermit.

The element aligned with The Hermit is Earth (staying grounded), and the ruling planet is Mercury (Communication).

A Literary equivalent of The Hermit would be Tom Bombadil- he lives alone in the woods (with his wife) and fucks around in the forest, no one really knows what his deal is, but he's happy and bursting with power.

X The Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel of Fortune accounts for forces outside your control. The first nine cards of the Major Arcana describe a journey of self-progression and are largely internal. This tenth card is the outward expression of that journey. In Tarot 10 represents the completion of a cycle and the fruits of labor. In The Wheel of Fortune, we see the end of a personal journey and it's outward effect on your life. This is also a card where the products of manifestation appear. When you do it right, it seems like fate. From the outside, people don't see all the work that went into the result. This card also serves as a reminder that we can't control everything. What goes up, must come down, and vice versa-- sometimes doing the work doesn't mean reaping the reward. In it's upright position, it is generally regarded as a positive change of fate, when reversed- the cards are not in your favor. .

Depictions of The Wheel of Fortune generally include a literal wheel reminding us of the cycles of life. This card is fraught with symbolism. The inner part of the wheel is marked with alchemical symbols representing the raw materials for life and the process of transformation. The symbols on the outer part of the wheel are the Hebrew letters for God  interspersed with the anglicized TORA (law) and so we see the mingling of our efforts (Tora) with the hand of fate (God). The wheel is turned by a snake, a sphynx, and Anubis (I promise that's not a devil), symbolizing life and cycles (ouroboros), knowledge and Justice/balance, and death, respectively. In each corner sits the four fixed zodiac signs, clockwise from the top left: Aquarius, Scorpio (the eagle is the transcended scorpion), Leo, and Taurus. They are winged signifying that they have progressed toward the Divine (this is reinforced by the eagle depictions for Scorpio), and they also represent the four elements of the Tarot in balance. They each read a book, indicating that progression is first an internal change catalyzed by knowledge.

The Wheel of Fortune is ruled by Jupiter and it is aligned with the element of Fire (comfort/burning, and transformation).

Voltaire's Candide dramatizes the interplay between wisdom (or lack thereof) and fate. A very silly book, 10/10 do recommend.

XI JUSTICE

Justice is the 11th card in the Major Arcana sequence. Its meaning is fairly straightforward. Justice very rarely indicates a person, and rather calls in a reckoning. This could reference literal legal battles, or in the more abstract sense it can bring your attention to an issue or behavior that needs fixing. This card warns you of consequences to your actions. It is not a negative card, but an opportunity to confront yourself without bias. If you have been true to yourself and maintain a continuous conversation with yourself about your strengths and shortcomings, the result that Justice brings will not be a surprise to you-- or even likely an unfavorable outcome. However, if you have been neglecting shadow work and consistently find yourself getting away without facing consequences-- consider this your karmic warning siren. The key aspect of Justice is fairness-- whatever issue is at hand will be met without bias or prejudice (when the card is upright). If there is a pressing legal issue in the subject’s life-- please do not take Justice at face value. Pull more cards to determine the situation as sometimes Justice simply indicates that there is a legal matter in the querent’s life, rather than that it will be a fair judgement. If the subject feels wronged or treated unfairly in a social/business/family situation, Justice indicates that a realization will be made, or that there will be consequences directed toward the unfair person-- it does not indicate when. Use the surrounding cards or pull more cards to build a timeline. Justice can also tell you that you aren’t doing yourself justice. This is your call-in to honor yourself and take credit for what you’ve accomplished. Ultimately, Justice is about ownership of your actions and honesty.

Justice reversed shows you that there is failure to achieve the honesty and ownership mentioned above. This can be either on the behalf of the querent or the misdeeds of someone in their life. You will need to trust yourself to determine which issue this card is presenting. It can also indicate a logistical or bias problem that is impeding a legal matter. 

Justice is depicted as a crowned woman enthroned astride two marble columns. In her hands she wields balanced scales and a sword. Her crown and broach are decorated by squares, symbolizing stability and constance. The scales represent equality, but also payment-- they were used to measure out grain and wages. The sword is raised as an indication of defense and strength. She offers nourishment for the wronged, and punishment for the guilty. Her clean white shoe extended signifies a purity that is untouched by bias or prejudice-- she is clean from the debris of the world. 

Justice is aligned with the element of Air (Communication and logic) and it is ruled by Venus (compassion).

Justice is an ideal, and so I think it's a lot to ask of any one person/figure. If you are looking for a Literary comparison, I think any fairy tale where they live happily ever after would be a good start, but keep in mind the cultural context.

Share your Justice card with #betterknowjustice and check out the rest of the deck with #betterknowthetarot

XII THE HANGED MAN

The Hanged Man is strung up by his foot, the method for traitors- telling you "you played yourself". This card tells you that you aren't making much or any progress in your goals right now and it is wholly within your power to change that. Something you are doing is working against progression. You are ready to break old habits and change your course of action. This card often pairs itself with The Hermit, indicating that it's time to retreat and reassess. The Hanged Man is about letting go. Usually it points toward an inconsistent behavior, self-sabotage, fear, or an unhealthy relationship with someone in your life who is affecting your decision making. This card is also about trusting the universe's timing over your own. Things may come to a grinding halt, and while the timing may be out of your control- The Hanged Man is telling you that regardless of how things looked before, you're missing a piece. Take this pause to reflect and course-corect. This blockage may be physical, mental, or inexplicable.

The Hanged Man reversed indicates that you are either fighting the break and reflection the card is trying to bring you to, or you are too busy and distracted to see the signs. If the Hanged Man is your first warning, reversed is your second. The third is usually The Tower-- so wise up. This card can also be an indication that you've adopted a wait-and-see approach when you would be better off with a wait-and-think one.

The imagery of The Hanged Man urges you to look at the world in a different way. It is showing you that 

 You need to approach things with a different perspective. The Hanged Man is barely tied to the tree, he can break free at any time. This teaches us two things: 1. That it is completely within your power to change and 2. He is making the choice to let go-- try and discern what you are meant to be learning. 

Share your Hanged Man card with #betterknowthehangedman and check out the rest of the Tarot with #betterknowthetarot

XIII DEATH

You’re not gonna die. At least not yet. Well, most of the time. Death is easily the least understood card of the tarot by newbies. It almost never means you or someone in your life will die. 9.9 times out of 10 it means something is coming to an end or change is happening. This card of change is called Death because, as all witches know, the only true death is change. Physical death is transformation, and so it goes with the Death card in tarot. When you pull this card, it means that change is at your doorstep. This is a great card for breaking habits, working on your mental health, dealing with troubling relationships, and self-improvement in general. Death is about endings, transformation, and rebirth. To some people, this is more terrifying than actual death. Generally, this is a good card. The Tower also indicates a change is impending, but the connotations and nature of the change predicted by the Death card are gentler and generally more intrinsic in origin, rather than coming from fate or outside forces. These changes aren’t meant to share you to your core like with The Tower, they are meant to help you transform and level up. 

Death reversed can indicate a resistance to necessary change and/or battle with physical or mental illness. It can also be a wake-up call to you to start living your life while you can and perhaps your approach to living is too passive, like you are running on autopilot. Alternatively, Death reversed may call attention to change that is happening below the surface and may not be noticeable to outside eyes. 

Death has very effective symbolism to convey its meaning. A skeleton clad for war rides across a battlefield as a bishop, maiden, and child plead at his feet. Death (change) stops for no one. He carries a flag with a prominently displayed rose in full bloom. This serves as a beacon for hope and promise for growth after the change that Death is bringing you. This is ultimately for your good, regardless of how it looks in the beginning. In the background the sun sets reminding us of the cyclical nature of life (and death) The sun creates a visual bridge between two obelisks on either side of a river. This is an allusion to the transition Death brings, the crossing of the river. The river plays host to a small boat reminding us that this card is about departure.

Death is ruled by Pluto and the element is Water. 

Share your Death card with #betterknowdeath and check out the rest o fthe deck with #betterknowthetarot

XIV TEMPERANCE

I love this card. Depending on the focus of your reading, Temperance can be the means to an end, or an end in and of itself. It is peace, balance, and attentiveness. This is a card of reflection and understanding. It asks you to account for many perspectives and act deliberately rather than react instinctually. Temperance often comes up when you know what your end goal is, but the details on how to get there are fuzzy. It can also tell you that you're doing a good job-- that you're on the right path and your actions are in alignment with your goals and higher self.

When Temperance is reversed, it shows a lack of discipline. Your life is out of Harmony, your balance is thrown off. If it isn't already clear what you need to adjust, surrounding cards will be an indication. It can be anything that is a distraction: over-indulgence, working out as a distraction, excess anger/arguing, laziness, overspending, drugs, even ignoring the material in pursuit of spiritual goals. Temperance can also show up reversed when you are stuck in survival mode. Perhaps you took a job you didn't want just to make rent, or you are barely scraping by and are unhapoy, or you are stuck working too hard to work on self-development. These are very common problems and aren't usually a result of your mistakes or shortcomings-- sometimes life is just like that. Temperance will help guide you out of these traps. This card also carries heavy water and fire imagery, and so it is a card of healing. Temperance will heal as well as guide. Unresolved trauma is also a huge stumbling block for progress and unlike the issues mentioned above-- it isn't a reflection of your choices. You can heal and Temperance will show you how.

We see a divine figure standing half in the water, half out. They are pouring water between two cups. This reminds us of balance between life and death and the flow of energy to maintain equilibrium. On their chest sits a triangle encased in a square, signifying that life, divinity, and change (triangle) are bound by earthly rules and order (square). Temperance guides you along the highest path and is there to remind you that a delicate hand is needed to steer you along your journey. Excess is to be avoided, lest your judgement and vision become distorted. 

Temperance is ruled by Jupiter and is aligned with the element of fire. 

Share your Temperance card with #betterknowtemperance and check out the rest of the deck with #betterknowthetarot

XVI The Tower

The Tower is the car everyone is afraid of. The Tower means big change is coming. Get ready for  a shake-up. Despite the doom and gloom of the imagery, The Tower doesn’t always mean it’s gonna be a bad time all around. The Tower shakes things to their core. If it is built to last, it will. If there is anything in your life waiting to come crashing down (relationships, businesses, your patience), it will. The silver lining is that this includes oppressive/abusive situations. If you’ve been doing your homework then The Tower can feel more like liberation than catastrophe. However, The Tower can definitely mean catastrophe. This card comes up for unexpected life-changing events: accidents, sudden deaths, job loss, disease, or other threats to the status quo. This is a great card for activists, depending on the context. Regardless of the context, The Tower is here to teach you a lesson. It is in your best interest to listen. 

When reversed, The Tower can mean the same as upright, or it can be a fear of sudden change. With The Tower, the interpretation depends on the circumstances of the change, as well as how much stands to be lost/gained by shaking things up. If the querent is profiting from their privilege, then The Tower is going to be a scary card. If they are already at a disadvantage, The Tower can provide an opportunity to improve their situation. As always, rely heavily on your own intuition to determine if The Tower is foretelling tragedy or opportunity. 

The Tower depicts defenestrated people falling from a tower on fire in a storm. As they topple to the ground, so does their crown. This reminds us that those who have the most, have the most to fear. Like The Wheel of Fortune, The Tower is a threat and a promise: Balance always wins. If you are doing your shadow work and you are honest with yourself, The Tower won’t surprise you-- it will reassure you that the change you are working toward is coming. If you have your head in the clouds and neglect what matters then The Tower will bring you crashing back down to earth. It is the difference between a fishmonger’s wife and the last Queen of France. 

Share your Tower card with #betterknowthetower and check out the rest of the deck with #betterknowthetarot

XVII THE STAR

The Star is never a bad card. It is a message of hope and opportunity. It is the muse, inspiration, and creation at your doorstep.  The Star means that things are finally falling into place and the fog is clearing. We often see The Star come up following a period of trial and growth. The Star is the clearing beyond the thicket. She brings hope, renewal, strength, and opportunity. The Star signifies that the time has come to see the fruits of your labor and reap the reward of the work you’ve been doing. The prosperity The Star brings is less often financial and usually pertains to your mental health, outlook, and understanding of your role, purpose, and motivations. 

The Star reversed is helping guide you toward a place of faith, beauty, and inspiration. We see this card reversed during times where your faith and resolve are being tested, or when you are feeling uninspired. Look toward surrounding cards, or pull more to find the path back to inspiration and abundance. The Star reversed is a promise that there is a course back toward the blessings promised by the upright interpretation. This reversal is a message of encouragement for what is coming. 

In The Star, we see a naked young woman pouring water into a pond and the earth. She is bare and comfortable with herself, demonstrating one of the major prerequisites for the inspiration she is distributing. The water she pours symbolizes both fertility and creativity. It is creative and passionate energy which allows thought to flow like water. The water imagery is balanced by the heat of the sun and stars in the background. They represent the spark of inspiration promised. The water being poured into the pond reminds us that the potential was within us all along, and the watering of the earth and plants depicted on it promise the abundant harvest of our endeavors at this time. The inspiration The Star brings provides prosperity in the coming future. 

The Star is aligned with Air (ideas and inspiration) and is ruled by Uranus. A literary paralell would be Galadirel, the Lady of Light, elf-queen in The Lord of the Rings. She is a beacon of inspiration, beauty, and hope. 

Share your interpretation of The Star with #betterknowthestar and check out the rest of the deck with #betterknowthetarot

XVIII THE MOON

The Moon is a card of duality and flux. Like the ever-changing phases of the Moon, this card indicates instability and transformation are at hand. It is the cauldron of creation and the mercurial moods of madness. The Moon ties together the primal subconscious and the ethereal, celestial self. If you aren’t prepared to bridge the gap, it may simply result in emotional upheaval, overwhelming anxiety, or outright insanity. For this reason, The Moon is also a card for mental and emotional instability. It speaks to a failure to embody your full self-- an internal struggle. However, when the connection is sustained, The Moon is a card for wild transformation, powerful intuition, and staggering manifestation. With The Moon, nothing is what it seems,-- remember change begins below the surface-- so use your intuition to determine the meaning, rather than relying on the upright or reversed positioning of the card.  

Duality dominates the imagery in The Moon. We have the Sun and the Moon combined in the sky, below are two obelisks opposite each other, divided by a dry riverbed. The riverbed separates a dog and a wolf, and then it leads to a lake where a crustacean emerges. This duality reminds us that the duality within us mirrors that of the world around us. The lobster crawling out of the sea invokes our evolutionary past and teaches us that growth requires opposition, change, and vulnerability. The dog opposite the wolf calls attention to the battle between our instinctual selves and who we are within our social contexts. There is a lot to unpack in The Moon’s imagery. What speaks to you? 

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XIX THE SUN

The Sun is exactly what you think it is. It is confidence, beauty, warmth, success, prosperity, and joy. The Sun indicates either you’ve done a great job aligning your strengths with your dreams and goals-- setting yourself on a course for success, or that the only thing holding you back is taking the time to appreciate yourself. This is always a great card to pull as it lifts up the cards around it. If prosperity is not already here, then it is coming soon. The Sun tells you that success comes from within. Think about the journey that the previous 18 cards took us on. It is a journey of introspection and analysis. The natural progression is The Sun. After tests, trials, confrontation, and healing, The Sun promises that you can and will be happy with the person you’ve become and that the key to success, in any aspect of your life, is knowing and loving yourself. Then you can effect change on the outside world. The Sun shows us the key to manifesting. You are the Final Boss in the journey of the Tarot and you kick your own ass by learning to love and accept yourself. 

When The Sun is reversed, it is time to assess what may be out of whack. Do your desires, goals, and strengths match up? Can you tweak your goals to better utilize your strengths? Can you develop the necessary strengths to keep the same goals? This interpretation promises that success is within your grasp, you only need to make some small adjustments. Alternatively, The Sun reversed can signify that you are working too hard and have forgotten to enjoy the process of becoming. The Sun reversed reminds us to cash in on our joy before we cross the finish line. If you are constantly postponing your happiness until you reach your next goal (when this semester ends, when I get my degree, when I get hired, when I get promoted, when I get a new job, etc.) you are robbing yourself of life, happiness, and failing to reward yourself for your accomplishments. You are denying your life meaning. The Sun reversed encourages us to kick back a little and play! It is calling out your inner child-- the takeaway is to enjoy life with the simple joy you had before you learned how to deprive yourself. Finally, The Sun reversed may mean that you’re having a bit of depression, even if your outside circumstances are favorable. It offers the same solution: take pleasure in the small things. It won’t cure you, but it will keep you alive. 

The Sun is generally depicted as a baby riding atop a white horse under a radiant smiling sun. The baby is naked and unafraid. Sunflowers bloom in the background and this infant is carrying a red banner. He is triumphant and natural. The horse is at ease (work less!) adn the Sun is serene. This card radiates peace and self-acceptance. It is laden with symbols of hope, happiness, and pure peace. 

The Sun is ruled by… the Sun and is aligned with the element of fire. 

The Sun is more of a journey toward self-acceptance than a person so it is hard to draw a contemporary or literary parallel. This card can be summed up by practically any coming of age story wherein the protagonist undergoes a journey of self-improvement and self-acceptance. 

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XX JUDGEMENT

Judgement is the change promised by The Sun. Judgement is a card of transformation, completion, and resets. It is rebirth and awakening. It is the completion and beginning of a cycle. When this card comes up during a depressive episode or period of listlessness or confusion, it will (very) soon come to an end. Judgement brings relief, renewal, and new lessons to learn. You’re about to start the process all over again, but stronger. Remember The Fool? That’s you in a minute. But for now, enjoy the peace that completion and renewal brings. This is the graduation, a time to celebrate accomplishments and look toward the future while reflecting on lessons learned.Judgement is also a crossroads. You have come to the end of the path you were on and now must choose which direction you head next. Judgement and the 19 cards that precede it, remind us that you are fully equipped to make this decision-- you are armed with the knowledge you attained during the last cycle which will guide you in choosing your next journey.  

Judgement reversed can indicate a struggle to get over the last hump of the journey, or haven’t realized that you need to make a decision to get there. This is a prompt to reflect on your life and your choices over the last several weeks, months, and years to try to discern the trajectory of your life. Judgement reversed can also indicate that your harsh judgements against yourself are preventing your progress. It can also mean that your judgement is clouded or just plain shitty. Regardless, self-reflection is once again the solution. The primary lesson from Judgement reversed is: you’ve already done the legwork-- get out of your own way. 

Judgement is usually depicted as the Christian rapture with an angel sounding a trumpet and people busting out of their graves. It is a very literal depiction of a resurrection, and if we see heaven as the next journey, then it is an appropriate image for this card. The Judgement card simply foretells the natural progression of your actions. When you hear the call, you need only answer.

Judgement is ruled by Pluto, the planet of regeneration, and is aligned with the element of Fire (think phoenix).

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