EmpressThis card shows a great queen reclining on a divan. She holds a scpetre of power and wears a crown of twelve stars that represent the astrological symbols and seasons. She wears a laurel of green leaves in addition to her crown and there are pearls and gold around her neck. She wears a pomegranate dres the reflects the curtain between the great stone pillars of Boaz and Jacim in the High Priestess card, intimating that she too is privy to the knowledge of the ultimate reality that lies behind the curtain. THere is a bountiful forest and flowing river with waterfall behind her and golden grains before her. She lays back on luxurious red cushions. A shield is at her feet with the insignia of Venus. She is the provider of all things. The universal mother. The matriarch. She is like the unconscious aspect of the universe from which everything unfolds. From Kali the Mother, "Others we admire; others we love; to Her we belong. Whether we know it or not, we are Her children, playing round Her knees. Life is but a game of hide-and-seek with Her, and if, in its course, we chance to touch Her feet, who can measure the shock of the divine energy that enters into us? Who can utter the rapture of our cry of "Mother"?" |
The empress sits on the 14th path from the sephira binah to chokmah. |
This card is associated with the Hebrew letter daleth.Origin:Daleth is the word for door, gate and indicates resistance and the state of selflessness and humility needed to pass through it.Mystical reference: The fourth Hebrew letter, Daleth, represents the power of knowledge to provide a doorway to Eden or like the knowledge of the the Tree of Good and Evil, it may lead away from paradise. It suggests humility and a humbling of the ego. |
Astrological/elemental association: Venus |
Queen Of CupsIn this card, a wonderous queen sits upoin a massive throne at the edge of the seashore. The queens of the tarot are providers and the domain of this queen is emotions. A consumate lover, a consumate mother. The queen of cups invites us to examine what an environment or situation would have to be like to provide fertile ground for love. Love yourself. Take care of you.
 This card is associated with the sephira of binah and the world of the supernatural. |
Astrological/elemental association: Double Water |
MagicianThe card is framed with red roses and white lillies of the valley and they represent a feminine receptivity and passion for creation. The man is wearing a white robe with a red outer robe that reflects the meanings of the flowers and a white band around his head. The magician holds a candle that burns at both ends aloft in his right hand while his left hand points down at the ground. An infinity symbol floats above his head and his belt is a snake. These are all symbols of infinity and harmony with nature's cycles of restoration and rebirth. A table stands before him with mystic runes of the elements inscribed upon the outward edges and the four symbols of the tarot lay upon it. In moving from 0 to 1, we see the symbolic meaning of the card. The Fool blindly moves forward into a creation that is ultimately doomed but he does not know and there is no shame in it. It is the lila or play of the gods. Hazrat Inayat Khan wrote, "We find in the Bible the words "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and we also find that the word is light, and that when that light dawned the whole creation manifested. These are not only religious verses; to the mystic or seer the deepest revelation is contained in them." |
The magician connects kether and binah, or is the path between them, on the tree of life. |
This card is associated with the Hebrew letter beth.Origin:The word "Beth" in Hebrew means "House." "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread, (the birthplace of Jesus, the "Bread of Life").Mystical reference: The second Hebrew letter, Beth, is like the mouth from which Aleph or air emerges from. It represents a tent or a house. References to the House of God could be references to vibration giving form to the life giving energy of the breath. |
Astrological/elemental association: Mercury |
Ace Of PentaclesA gigantic hand eminates from a cloud and offers up a giant golden coin over a large garden or park. This card is a sign of prosperity. It can also symolize the mechanics of the marketplace in action as they reach a stage of fulfillment. Like when the season brings the harvest to bear.
 This card is associated with the sephira of kether and the world of the supernatural. |
Astrological/elemental association: Big Bang |
FoolThis card depicts a man so engrossed in a flower, that he is about to unknowingly walk off a cliff. He wears a stylish cloak of black and green with red stars within yellow circles called spirit wheels. Across the top of his chest in the folds of his shirt is hidden the Hebrew letters yud hey vuv hey. The unnamable name of God. On the bottom right hem of his shirt is the letter shin.He wears a green cap with a long red feather. He carries a stick over his shoulder and on the bag on the end of the stick is the figure of a bird's head or an eagle. A symbol of his association with the element of air.Also, pehaps a hidden reference to an angel from the Temperance and Wheel of Fortune card.The dog is small and white, playful and jumping around. In the Ashhtavakra Gita it is said, "The fool thinks peace comes by controlling the mind. He will never attain it. The wise one knows Truth, and is stillness itself." The fool represents the wonderment, joy and delight of a completely innocent child. The card also represents the inexperience and ignorance that allows a baby to make unimaginable mistakes. The key to this card is seeing that the Fool is so close to and precious to the Divine and yet so... foolish. Chogyam Trungpa once asked, "Whatever happend to the joy and wonderment of being a child?" The answer is knowing. We came to know to much and are no longer surprised and delighted by life. There is a real beauty to natural innocence, of being in flow, and there is real tragedy for those who act foolishly and squander their resources in life. How can we remain innocent and close to God while not acting without wisdom? |
The fool connects kether and chokmah, or is the path between them, on the tree of life. |
This card is associated with the Hebrew letter aleph.Origin:The name aleph is derived from the West Semitic word for "ox", and the shape of the letter derives from a Proto-Sinaitic glyph that may have been based on an Egyptian hieroglyph, which depicts an ox's head.Mystical reference: The fool is associated with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet which is associated with air or the breathe. The energy that rides on it and infuses us with life. A spiritual place of being, full of joy and untainted by experience. |
Astrological/elemental association: Air |
King Of SwordsThe king of swords sits straight and stern. He is intelligent and educated and the leader. This card speaks to masculinity, engineering, math, and truth. The reverse meaning is when someone dominates the intellectual environment with their own views.
 This card is associated with the sephira of chokmah and the world of creation. |
Astrological/elemental association: Fire Air |
EmperorAn old warrior with long white beard sits on a great stone of throne marked with the rams head of Aries. On his head is a golden crown of joined plates like The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. He bears an ankh, a symbol of ancient wisdom and life in one hand a golden globe, a symbol of dominion in the other. Behind him is a sterile mountain range with a small river flowing at the base. He is dressed in a suit of armor but wears a red cloak of Aries over it. Sitting between power and compassion on the tree of life, the emperor must learn to balance these two things to move on spiritually. |
The emperor sits on the 15th path from chokmah to tiphareth. |
This card is associated with the Hebrew letter heh.Origin:Hey! Look! Behold the creation. Heh represents creation.Mystical reference: Heh has three meanings; "here is", "to be disturbed", "behold" as in beholding a revelation. These three definitions converge. |
Astrological/elemental association: Aries |