What is Tarot Symbolism? Each card of the Tarot deck tells a story. By looking at the pictures on your cards you can make up stories about the cards. Symbols of the Tarot are meanings of the images on a card. For example; using the Waite deck, if you pull out your Empress card you see her sitting on her comfy cushion throne, holding in her hands a 'scepter topped with a globe' (which means domination over the world), a 'crown upon her head of twelve pointed little stars' (which means her rein over the universe), a 'shield' lies beside her and upon this shield is a is the female sign and the shield itself is shaped like a heart (meaning symbol of Venus, the feminine aspect), all around her the 'gardens are blooming' (the fruitful mother, Mother Nature) and the 'wheat is growing' (sacred to Isis, fertility), the 'stream of consciousness' runs behind her.....See what I mean? The pictures on a Tarot card tell a story, but all the images have symbols or meanings, which may help to understand what the picture is trying to tell us. Have you ever looked at your cards and seen something on them and always wondered what perhaps that stood for? The High Priestess for example has one white and one black pillar on either side of her. The black pillar is marked with a 'B' while the white pillar has a 'J', have you ever wondered what these two letters stand for? Well with symbols it helps you to recognize that the 'B' stands for Boas - meaning inertia, darkness, and negation of activity, severity, the negative energies that surround us. While the white pillar is Joachin - meaning the positive aspect of life, light, and principle inherent in all things, mercy, positive energies surrounding us. These two pillars also appeared in King Solomon's temple, but that is another story. So by understanding what the images mean on your cards, it can help you to understand your cards a little better, and perhaps open up a new view on your cards. Below are the Symbols for the Waite deck, but this does not mean that these meanings only apply to the Waite deck, in fact if your card has a serpent on it, then the meaning will be the same for any Tarot deck with a serpent on it, the meaning does not change just because you have a different deck from Waite.
BASIC SYMBOLISM Please note that in the Major Arcana cards are also known as “Keys,” and are used instead of the Major Arcana card names. You should already know the numbers of each Major Arcana card if you are downloading this, if not this is something that you need to learn. As an example of this, beginning at the top of the list just below this paragraph, you will see the “Keys” that different Angels are associated
with listed beside the meanings. “Key” 6 (or VI) would be the Lovers card, “Key” 14 (or XIV) would be the Temperance card, and “Key” 20 (or XX) is the Judgement card, and so on. •
Angel o o o
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Ankh o
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Jackal-headed Egyptian god representing the evolution of consciousness from lower to higher levels. Also the Egyptian equivalent of Hermes or Mercury, signifying self-consciousness, intellectuality (key 10)
Banner o
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Egyptian symbol of life, generation; combines the masculine and feminine (key 4)
Anubis o
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of air: Raphael a symbol of the superconscious (key 6) of fire: Michael a symbol of fire and sun (key 14) of water: Gabriel a symbol of water (key 20)
(Also called a standard or flag) Can mean freedom from material bonds; action, vibration. Carried in the left hand, it indicates that control of vibration has passed from the right hand (self consciousness) to the left (subconsciousness) and has become automatic. (keys 10, 13, 19, 20)
Bull o
Sign of Taurus in Astrology. Assigned to the suit of Pentacles to indicate they are of the element earth.
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Butterfly o Symbol of the immortality of the soul and of the element air. Knight, Queen, and King of Swords show butterflies in the designs on their cards.
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Cat o
A black cat indicates the sinister aspect of Venus.
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Chain o
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Child o
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Innocence of youth, purity
Circle o
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Restriction, bonds, largely self-imposed
Eternity, spirit
Clouds o
Stormy weather, troubled times
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Crescent o Soul
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Cross Fylfot cross: If you have any information beyond what is listed under the hanged man please email me. (key 12) o Solar cross: This cross has equal arms to indicate the union of the male, positive element (upright), with the female, negative element (horizontal), or the union with God and earth. (keys 2, 20) o Tau Cross: A type of gallows built from living branches. (key 12) o
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Crown o
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Cube
Attainment, mastery. The will, which may be set against the cosmic purpose. Represents the creative, formative, and material world. (keys 3, 5 16)
o
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Sometimes a square. Represents earth, material manifestation. Order and measurement. That which was, is and shall be. (key 15)
Cups o o
Suit of Cups - beauty, emotion, desire, inner experience, love, fertility Associated with the concept of water. The cup is a symbol of knowledge and preservation. It also means love, pleasure, and enjoyment. (key 14)
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Cypress Tree o Sacred to Venus (Key 3 and the court cards of Swords)
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Devil o
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Dog o
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Descent of Spirit, peace
Eagle o
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Friend, helper, and companion to man. Indicates that all nonhuman forms of life are elevated and improved by the advance of human consciousness. (keys 0, 18)
Dove o
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Symbolizes the false conception that man is bound by material conditions, that he is a slave to the necessity and blind chance. The Devil is sensation divorced from understanding by spiritual blindness. (key 15)
One of the symbols denoting the four seasons or the four suits of the Minor Arcana. The Eagle is associated with Scorpio (the scorpion), the eighth sign of the Zodiac. It is a symbol of power. (keys 10, 21)
Earth o
Symbol of concrete physical manifestation (keys 14, 17)
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Ellipse o
The superconscious (key 21)
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Figure 8 on its side o Eternal life, the cosmic lemniscate. Harmonious interaction between the conscious and the subconscious, between life and feeling, desire and emotion. May mean dominion over the material. (keys 1, 8)
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Fish o
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Idea or thought. In the King of Cups the fish is seen coming from the sea or the universal subconscious. In Page of Cups it is arising form his own subconscious.
Flame o
Spirit
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Flowers o White flowers: spiritual thoughts, love, happiness. o Red flowers: human desires
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Fruit o
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Globe o o
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Fertility
Symbol of dominion (key 3, 4) See also Orb of the World
Gnomes o Elementals who live beneath the surface of the earth. Associated with the suit of Pentacles.
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Goat o
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Gold o
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Fertility, as when depicted on the arms of the throne of the Queen of Pentacles. Suggests bestiality and over indulgence in sex, as in Key 15, the Devil.
Metal of the sun, symbol of power and authority
Grapes o
Abundance, pleasure
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Grape Vines o A continuation and growth in abundance and pleasure
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Hand o o
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Heart o
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Symbols in the shape of a heart refer to the subconscious, the emotions (key 3)
Horse o
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Right hand, positive, masculine Left hand, negative, feminine
Symbol of solar energy, or the controlled, subdued life-force. (keys 13, 19)
IHVH o
Ancient Hebrew initials of the name Jehovah: I-Fire; H-Water; V-Air; HEarth; (key 10)
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Iris o
Represents Iris, Greek goddess of the rainbow. (key 14)
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Keys Crossed o The Hidden Doctrine. One is a silver, the other gold - representing solar and lunar currents in radiant energy. (key 5)
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Lamp o
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Leaves o
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Spiritual light, intelligence
Growth, vitality
Light o
Spiritual emanations, activity of God, life
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Lightning o A flash of inspiration. The life-power that descends down the Kabalistic Tree of Life
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Lily o
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Lion o
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Abstract thought untainted by desire (key 1)
King of the beasts; zodiacal sign Leo. Represents all powerful subhuman force. May also stand for Mars (war). (keys 8, 10, 21)
Mirror of Venus
o
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A solar cross surmounted by a circle; symbol of the planet Venus; indicates fertility (keys 3, 4)
Moon o
A feminine astrological symbol of personality, also of the subconscious mind. The reflected light of the subconscious. (keys 2, 18)
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Mountains (snow capped peaks) o Indicate the cold, abstract principles of mathematics behind and above all warm, colorful, and vital activities of cosmic manifestation. Heights of abstract thought. Wisdom and understanding. (keys 0, 6, 14, 20)
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Orb of the World o A traditional symbol of the earth dominated by the Lord of the Spirit. (key 4)
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Palm o
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This is a symbol of victory over death, and of the male aspect of life. The active force, as shown on the veil behind the High Priestess. (key 2)
Path o
The way to spiritual attainment and esoteric knowledge, as set forth in the Tarot cards. (keys 14, 18)
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Pentacle o Suit of Pentacles - manifestation, money, proof, prosperity o The pentagram in the form of an amulet, believed to protect against evil spirits. (key 15)
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Pentagram (Seal of Solomon) o Five pointed star, expressing mind's domination over the elements. Symbol of the Word made Flesh. Depending on the direction of its points,
it may represent order or confusion. (Note that the pentagrams are right side up in the suit of Pentacles, reversed in key 15)
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Pillar 1 - White Pillar (Jachin) establishes the principle inherent in all things; the positive aspect of life; light o 2 - Black Pillar (Boaz) negation of activity, inertia; darkness (keys 2, 5, 11) o
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Pomegranates o Symbol of the female, passive aspect of life, fecundity (key 2)
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Pyramid o The earth in its maternal aspect. The triangular shaped face of the pyramid suggests the threefold principle of creation.
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Rabbit o
Symbol of fertility
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Rainbow o A sign from God of future protection and happiness.
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Ram Head o Symbol of Mars, war; power, leadership. Also the first sign of the Zodiac (Aries the Ram) (key 4)
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Rose o o
White Rose - Freedom from lower forms of desire and passion. Red Rose - Represents Venus, nature, desire. Both are cultivated flowers, representing cultural activities. (keys 0, 1)
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Salamander o Lizard like creature (mythically) able to live in the midst of fire. The elemental of the suit of Wands; also used in the Court cards.
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Scales o
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Balanced judgement (key 11)
Scroll o
The Divine Law, the Hidden Mysteries. Past events impressed upon the subconscious. (key 2)
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Serpent o Symbol of wisdom, for it tempts man to knowledge of himself. Secrecy, subtlety. Serpent biting its tail represents law of endless transformation; also represents radiant energy descending into manifestation. (keys 1, 6, 10)
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Shellfish o The early stages of conscious unfoldment. Related to the Zodiacal sign of the Crab. May invade the territory of the waking consciousness and give rise to fears. (key 18)
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Ship o
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Silver o
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Material treasure.
Metal of the moon.
Sphinx o
Symbol of the combination of human and animal attributes. The white sphinx betokens mercy; the black one, severity. Sometimes the Sphinx
represents the human senses, which are continually propounding riddles. (keys 7, 10)
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Square o
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Staff o
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Symbolizes the stuff of life, forever flowing to the ocean of cosmic consciousness.
Sun o
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Abn is the Hebrew word for stone. Aba, stemming from the first two letters of the alphabet means 'father' (as in Abraham); Bn means 'son' (cf. Ben-Gurion, son of Gurion). Thus, stone symbolizes the union of father and son, spirit and body; Divine Wisdom and the human intellect. 'Upon this rock 'stone' will I build my church' (on the understanding that the Father and the Son are one). David slew Goliath with a stone, and with this understanding we can all slay the Goliaths in our lives.
Stream o
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Suggests Sixth Sign of the Zodiac. The six pointed star (hexagram) indicates dominion over laws of the great world; the eight pointed star represents cosmic order, radiant energy. (keys 9, 17)
Stone o
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Implement of the Magician; emblem of power.
Star o
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Foursquare, the solidity of earth.
Source of light, dynamo of radiant energy whence all creatures derive their personal force (keys 0, 6, 13, 19)
Sunflowers
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Swords o
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An elemental of the air somewhat similar to a cupid. Associated with the suit of swords.
Tower o
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Represent activity, either destructive or constructive. They also represent the rigors of the law; can mean elimination of outworn forms. (Suit of Swords, key 11)
Sylph o
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Nature in its fullness (key 19)
Represents a man's creation or personality, sometimes built on a foundation of false science. Misapprehension; the fallacy of personal isolation. (keys 13, 16, 18)
Tree of knowledge of good and evil - bearing 5 fruits, represents the five senses (key 6) o of Life - bearing 12 fruits representing the 12 signs of the Zodiac (key 6) o
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Undine o
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Veil o
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An elemental that lives in the water and is thus associated with the suit of Cups. Undines appear on the throne of the Queen of Cups.
Wand
Indicates hidden things or ideas. Symbol of virginity. Only when the veil is rent or penetrated by concentrated impulses on self-conscious levels are the creative activities of the subconscious realized and actualized. (keys 2, 11)
o
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Symbol of Will and Power. Suggests continual renewal of life. May have phallic significance. (Suit of Wands, key 21)
Water o
Symbolizes the subconscious, the emotions. Water in a pool symbolizes the reservoir of cosmic mind stuff, which can be stirred into vibration by the act of meditation. (keys 14, 17, 18, 20)
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Water Lilies o Eternal Life
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Wheat o
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Wheel o
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Symbolizes the manifestations of Nature before man has tamed and civilized them. (key 18)
Wreath o
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Symbol of the whole cycle of cosmic expression. The center or pivot is the archetypal or thought world; the inner circle, creative; middle circle, formative; and outer circle, the material world. The eight spokes, like the eight-pointed star, represent the channels of universal radiant energy. (keys 7, 10)
Wolf o
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Abundance and fertility. Sacred to Hathor-Isis and all Mother goddesses. (key 3)
Yod
Represents the forces of Nature, the kingdom of growing things. (keys 2, 8, 21)
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Zero o
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Drops of Light Yod is the Hebrew letter symbolizing the hands of man. It betokens power, skill, dexterity. The descent of the Life-Force from above into the conditions of material existence. Corresponds to the zodiacal sign of the Virgin. (keys 16, 18)
Symbol of the absence of quality, quantity, and mass. Denotes absolute freedom from every limitation. Sign of the infinite and eternal conscious energy. Superconsciousness. (key 0)
Zodiac o
Symbol of cycle of existence.
IN DEPTH SYMBOLISM Humans In Some Form ADAM: Humanity, earth, life. (The Man in the LOVERS card is depicted as Adam) ANGELS: Messengers of God, Divine breath, spiritual ideas. ARCHANGELS: Raphael - super conscious, angel of air, God as healer, charity (Found on the LOVERS card). Michael- angel of fire and sun, Son of God, Holiness. (Found on the TEMPERANCE card) Gabriel - angel of water, calls to God, strength. (Found on the JUDGEMENT card) CHILD: The regenerated personality. (As seen on the SUN, QUEEN OF CUPS Throne, the 6 OF CUPS, as well as many other cards) CHRIST: Higher self, cosmic truth, spirit, the heart. (The HANGED MAN can be depicted as Christ) CUPID: Choice, love. (Some of the older Lovers card has Cupid on it)
DANCER: Rhythm, attainment, victory over the elements. (As seen on the WORLD, 3 OF CUPS & 4 OF WANDS) EVE: Feminine principle, receptivity, soul, and feelings. (The Woman in the LOVERS card is depicted as Eve) EYE: Meaning third organ of true spiritual vision. FEET: Support, progress, comprehension. One in water, the other on land - equally at home in the conscious or subconscious (Found on TEMPERANCE, SUN, & STAR cards as well as many others) FEMALE: The subconscious mind. HIEROPHANT: Originally the high priest of the Greek Mysteries at Eleusis. More generally, any priest of the Mysteries who reveals sacred secrets to initiates. (As seen on the HIEROPHANT card) HIGH PRIEST: Technically speaking, a male Witch who has received the 3rd. degree initiation, more usually, the male leader of a coven or sometimes just of that particular ritual. (On some cards the HIEROPHANT is represented as the High Priest like in the Witches Tarot) HIGH PRIESTESS: Technically speaking, a female Witch who has received the 3rd. degree initiation, more usually, the female leader of a coven or sometimes just of that particular ritual. (As seen on the HIGH PRIESTESS card) HERMIT: Inner teacher, higher self.(As seen on the HERMIT card) KING: Will, man of established power, having matured and learned the rules of life. MAGE: A master magician, especially in ceremonial magic.(As seen on the MAGICIAN card) MALE: The conscious mind. WATERBEARER: Aquarius. (The STAR Card)
Human Body Parts BODY: Tabernacle, temple or kingdom of God. HAND: Right - positive, masculine. Left - negative, feminine
HEAD: Crown, place of intellect. HEART: Any symbol in the shape of a heart represents sub conscious, emotions and seat of judgement. HEART PIERCED: Pain, wounded love or emotions. (As seen on the 3 OF SWORDS) HERMES/ANUBIS: The symbol of intelligence ever aspiring to ascend. (Found on the WHEEL OF FORTUNE card) LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY: Female, receptive, past, subconscious mind. NUDITY: Truth, free of dogma, innocence. (Found on the LOVERS, the SUN & the DEVIL cards) RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY: Male, out going, future, aware, conscious mind. THIRD EYE: The stone, clairvoyance, golden flower, an imaginary eye located on the forehead between the eyebrows, which sees psychically. THUMBS: Executive, ability, will.
ANIMALS ANIMALS: Five senses, emotions, desire. BEASTS: In four corners, the fixed signs of the zodiac consisting of Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius or man, or even angel, the four elements. (Found on the WHEEL OF FORTUNE & the WORLD cards) BEE: Order, sociability, industry, royalty. BIRD: Messengers from the sky who give us warning and enlightenment, telepathy, freedom, the element of air, ideas. (Found on the 9 OF PENTACLES, PAGE, KING & QUEEN OF SWORDS) BULL: Sign of Taurus, the element of Earth. (Found on the KING OF PENTACLES) BUTTERFLY: Soul, rebirth, immortality of the soul, life, transformations, element of air, the one that goes through to become the beautiful end product. (Found on the KNIGHT, QUEEN & KING OF SWORDS)
CAT: The psychic mysteries of life, power of darkness, astral world, nine lives, good eyesight, the sinister aspect of Venus, eternity, black cats are creatures of good fortune. (Found on the QUEEN OF WANDS) CRAYFISH: Unconscious mind, the early stages of unfolding, primordial and primitive. (Found on the MOON card) DOG: Guardian, fidelity, companion to man, helper, friend of humans, all non human forms of life are elevated and improved by the advance of human consciousness, domestication, the super conscious. Can also indicate that nature is happy to follow in the footsteps of man. (Found on the FOOL, the MOON & 10 OF PENTACLES) DOLPHIN: Ancient friend of man. (Found on the KING OF CUPS in some decks) DOVE: Universally represent peace, love, Holy Spirit, bird of Venus. (Found on the ACE OF CUPS) EAGLE: Higher thought power, aspiration, hope, denoting the four seasons or four suits of the Minor Arcana, associated with the Scorpion sign of the Zodiac, symbol of power. FEATHERS: The Egyptian Goddess Maat, her emblem is the feather of Truth and Justice who stands in the halls of the under-world ready to place her feather of truth on the scales, if the heart balanced with the feather they would have eternal life. If she didn't then the waiting monster Amemait would eat their heart. (Found on the FOOL, DEATH, the SUN, 9 OF CUPS, PAGE & KNIGHT OF WANDS) FIREBIRD: A bird of flame and fire, that to some to see one signifies true love. In some myths the Firebird is a symbol of the Sun Goddess and to some myths this bird has a sweet voice and gilds all that it touches. Also in some Russian myths the firebird is a creature of light traveling through its own unique paths to its destination. FISH: Ordination of dedication to spiritual service, creativity, pregnancy increase, ideas. (Found on the KNIGHT & QUEEN OF CUPS) KING OF CUPS - the fish comes from the sea of universal subconscious. PAGE OF CUPS - arising from one's own subconscious, idea or thought. GOAT: Bestiality and overindulgence in sex, depicted as fertility when in the arms of the QUEEN OF PENTACLES. HORSE: Creating action and powerful movement in your life, vitality, five senses, fertility, controlled, subdued life force, solar energy. (Found on the SUN, DEATH, 6 OF WANDS & all KNIGHT cards) HORSE WINGED: Solar power, intellect. (Some Knights have horses with wings such as the Knight of Swords in the Robin Wood Deck)
IBIS: Is a sacred bird, and represents thought and the mind. (Found in the tree on the STAR card) JACKAL: Sharp eyes, keen sense of smell, animal kingdom. LION: Fire element, action, desire, body, Leo sign of the Zodiac, all powerful sub human force, Mars planet Force, passion, animal reproduction, Emissary of the sun, symbolizing light, truth and regeneration, creatures of strength and passion, which can also symbolize secret wisdom. (Found on STRENGTH, and the KING & QUEEN OF WANDS) OWL: A familiar of Merlin the magician, wisdom. OX BULL: Strong, patient, self-sacrificing, forever toiling, generative force. PELICAN: Mother, love, sacrifice. PHOENIX: Grace, rising from the ashes of experience, highest state of Scorpio. (The Judgement card in the Robin Wood deck is a Pheonix) RABBIT: Fertility (Found on the QUEEN OF PENTACLES) RAM: Assertive, noble beast, physically strong, planet Mars, power, leadership, first sign of the Zodiac. (Found on the EMPEROR card) REPTILES: Action, kundalini, sexual will. (As seen on the KING OF WANDS) SALAMANDER: Fire element, able to live in midst of fire. (As seen on the KING OF WANDS) SCORPION: Treachery, danger, immortality. SERPENT: Symbol of wisdom, tempts man for knowledge of self, subtlety, secrecy, serpent biting its tail represents the law of endless transformation, radiant energy descending into manifestation, sense consciousness, desire, tempter. (Found on the MAGICIAN, and the LOVERS card) SERPENT (Coiled/Uplifted): Salvation, regeneration. SHEEP: Purity, innocence. SHELLFISH: Protective, ideas, insulated, early stages of conscious enfoldment, sign of Cancer in the Zodiac, may invade the territory of waking consciousness and give rise to fears. SNAKE: Wisdom and knowledge, ancient symbol of female power. (Found on the LOVERS & 7 OF CUPS)
SPHINX: Ancient wisdom holds the riddle of human existence, guardian of the temple, and combinations of human and animal attributes. (Found on the CHARIOT, and the WHEEL OF FORTUNE cards) White - Betokens mercy Black - Severity TAILS:Denoting the wrong use of; (found on the DEVIL card) Male: Flame - wrong use of the signs of the zodiac. Female: Grapes - wrong use of the wine of life. UNICORN: Allegory of Christ, innocence, moral purity, mystery. WILDERNESS: Undisciplined and uncultivated thoughts, transitory state. WOLF: Destructive and untamed consciousness, the manifestations of nature before man tamed and civilized them, the conscious. (Found on the MOON card) WINGS: Free from material limitations.
Nature AIR: Spirit, mind. (Element for the Swords suit) APPLE: Represents wisdom and knowledge. (Found on the LOVERS card) APPLE TREE:The temptation, taken from the Garden of Eden. (Found on the LOVERS card) BLOOMING GARDEN: the fruitful mother, Mother Nature. (Found on the EMPRESS, and 3 OF CUPS) CAVE: Dante's journey into the underworld, the Mystic's dark night of the soul. CHAIN OF ROSES: Union of desires so strong that the wild unconscious forces bow before it. CLOUDS: Storm clouds indicate unwise thinking, human thoughts in discord. (As found on many Sword cards including the 5 OF SWORDS) CRESCENT: Soul CRESCENT MOON: Inner illumination, spiritual enlightenment. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS card)
DESERT: Lack of substance or life, barren thoughts. (As found on many Wand Court cards) EARTH: Concrete physical manifestation. (In the Emperor of the Robin Wood deck, he has his feet rested upon the Earth) EDEN: Paradise, solar plexus.(As depicted on the LOVERS card) ELEMENTS: Fire, air, earth and water. (Element for the Zodiac signs as well as representing the 4 suits in the Tarot) ELLIPSE: Super conscious. FIELD: Substance, body. FLAME: Spirit. FLOWERS: Vegetable kingdom, reproductive organs. White - spiritual thoughts, love, happiness. (Found on the 6 OF CUPS & ACE OF PENTACLES) Red - human desires. FRUIT: Fertility (Found on the 3 OF CUPS) Full Moon Crown with Waxing and Waning Moons - all virgin goddesses. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS card) GARDEN: Solar plexus, substance, Earth, sub-consciousness. (Found on the 3 OF CUPS) GRAPES: Pleasure, abundance, life, fertility. (Found on 7 OF PENTACLES & many other Pentacle cards) GRAPEVINES: Growth and continuation in abundance and pleasure, nervous system. (Found on many Pentacle cards) ICE: Frozen mental attitude. IRIS: Greek goddess of the rainbow, a flower sacred to the sun. (Found on the TEMPERANCE card) LEAFLESS TREE: Trefoil a flame of the 12 sings of the zodiac, each divided into three deacons, the tree of life. (Found on the LOVERS card) LEAVES: Vitality, growth.
LIGHTENING: Masculine, positive Truth, reality, inspiration, life power descends down the Kabalistic Tree of Life, breaks down the existing forms. (Found on the TOWER card) LILIES: Purified thoughts and spiritual enfoldment, flowers of purity, peace and rebirth. (Found on the MAGICIAN, HIERPHANT, & HIGH PRIESTESS cards) MOON: Feminine astrological symbol of personality, subconscious mind, reflected light of subconscious. All three phases at once - body, mind and spirit. (Found on the MOON card as well as many others) MOON CENTRE: Cycles, memory, pituitary gland. MOUNTAINS: Attainment, realization, and path leading to the heights, abstract thought, and the long mystical journey is through the stark mountains, the aspirations of man obstacles, goals or journey. MOUNTAINS(Snow Capped): Abstract principles of mathematics behind and above all warm, colorful and vital activities of cosmic manifestation, indicates cold God's ambitions for man. OLIVE BRANCH: Peace, mercy. Usually held in the beak of a Dove. PALM: Victory over death and the male aspect of life, active force shown on the veil behind the HIGH PRIESTESS, Easter, resurrection, severity. PLANETS: Interior chakras or stars. POMEGRANATE: Female seeds, death/resurrection, fertility, passive aspect of life, fecundity, the fruit of Hades, some of these seeds were eaten by Persephone who then was called back to spend some time of the year with Hades. The pomegranate itself represents the uterus with ova, the seeds of life and the cycle's that we travel, a positive sign. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS, EMPRESS and many other cards) RAIN: cleansing, washing away the dust, purification.(Found on many Swords cards) RAINBOW: Sign of good fortune from God, perfection, seven rays, protection, a truly happy omen, a time to wish, to love and to be happy. (Found on the 10 OF CUPS) RIVER: The blood, currents of thought or vital forces. The constant circulation of the life force into materialization and out again. All rivers found on the EMPRESS, EMPEROR, CHARIOT, and DEATH cards are all rivers from the Bible Book of Genesis. ROSE: White - freedom from lower forms of desire and passion, purity and peace within.
Red - Venus, nature, physical desires, cultural activities. (Found on the MAGICIAN & the HIEROPHANT cards) Chain of Roses - Union of desires so strong that the wild unconscious forces bow before it. (Found on the STRENGTH & 2 OF CUPS) SEA: All potentials, universal principles. (Found on many Cup cards) STARS: Sixth sign of the Zodiac, spirit, truth, guiding light, luck, good fortune, hope. Five-pointed - star of the Magi, symbol of man. Six-pointed - shield of Solomon, magical power, union of the elements, human soul perfected, dominion over the laws of the great world. Seven-pointed - mysticism, wisdom, spirituality. Eight-pointed - radiant cosmic energy, power and material success. (Found on the STAR card) In sevens - the seven main Chakra points of the body, or the seven ancient planets. (Found on the STAR card) STONE: Conscious union with truth on the physical plane. STREAM: Thought currents, river of life, sub-consciousness, forever flowing to the sea of consciousness. SUN: Source of light, radiant energy, where all creatures derive their personal force, immortality. (Found on the SUN card and many others) SUNFLOWER: Nature at its fullest, sacred to the sun. (Found on the QUEEN OF WANDS) Four sunflowers - the four elements. (Found on the SUN card) THORNS: Martyrdom, pain. THUNDERBOLT: Jove, lighting flash, celestial fire. (Found on the TOWER card) TREE: Nerves, sheltering, nourishing, spine, regeneration. Evergreen - everlasting Fir - elevation, nobility Oak - strength, integrity, honor. (Found on the 4 OF CUPS) Olive - passion Palm - healing, victory, help. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS card) Pine - humanities Cypress - sacred to Venus (found on the EMPRESS) TREE OF KNOWLEDGE: Good and evil are concealed in the great Arcanum of antiquity, the great mystery of equilibrium, understanding of good and evil, discernment, free will, separation from God, femininity, represents polarity or imbalance, the secret of mortality. (Found on the LOVERS card)
TREE OF LIFE: Nerves, spinal column, masculine, roots, centered solar plexus, absolute life principle, spiritual point of balance, secret of immortality, to ultimately attain completion and eat the fruit growing in the illusionary garden of worldly things. (Found on the LOVERS card) VALLEY: Field of experience, sub-consciousness, life. VINE: Abundance, wisdom, life. WATER/POOL: Astral fluid, universal substance, sub-consciousness, cleansing, emotions, the reservoir of cosmic mind stuff that can be stirred into vibration by meditation. Reflection, receptivity and the subconscious. (Found on the TEMPERANCE & JUDGEMENT cars) Five rivulets - the five senses (found on the STAR card) WATERFALL: Phallic symbol, male potency. (Found on the ACE OF CUPS) WATER LILIES: Eternal life. (Found on the ACE OF CUPS) WHEAT: Fertility, fruitfulness, abundance. (Found on the EMPRESS card) WHITE ROSE: The Fool holds this rose and is still free from animal desires. May also refer to Fool setting off on a Rosicrucian journey. WHITE SUN: The spiritual sun, the spiritual sun does not reach its zenith, lest it diminish in power. (Found on the FOOL card) WINE: Vitality in soul and body, life, spirit.
COLORS BLACK: The color of night, death, destruction, resurrection, endings, negativity, ignorance, passive, the unknown, the center of the earth or situation, black shadow, the dark side of the soul, new psychological territory, darkness, formality and convention. Since black is the absence of light it can symbolize ignorance and restrictions. BLUE: The color of the sky and oceans, peace, life, intuition, idealism, reflection, emotion, the unconscious, space and clear water, spirituality, tranquility, meditation. Consistency of purpose, strength and reliability. BROWN: Connected to nature and the earth, rooted in the soil, practicality, plainness and honesty.
GOLD: The color of the sun and the metal gold, enlightenment, soul power, attainment, illumination, success, glory, radiance, the divine. GREEN: The color of vegetation, new life, hope, serenity, safety, security, health, healing, growth, desire, prosperity, fresh, young, promising, inexperienced, immature, fertility, vegetation, stability. GREY: The color of storm clouds, balance of opposites, unawareness or deliberate indifference, neutrality or uncertainty, mourning, grief, sadness, depression, wisdom born of experience. INDIGO: Peace, devotion. OLIVE: Envy and cunning. ORANGE: The color of fire and the lion, pride, ego, splendor, ambition, authority, vitality, force, strength, success, joy, ambition, intelligence and earthly desires combined. PINK: Emotional love, harmony, self-love, friendship. PURPLE: The traditional color of royalty, power, pride, justice, spirituality, intuition, mystic ideals, a highly developed imagination. RED: The color of blood and the planet Mars, life, force, strength, vitality, courage, vitality, passion, action, energy heart, soul, willpower, vitality, love, passion, courage, passion, earthly desire, action and the need to use direction, optimism and cheerfulness. Dark Red - More violent or passionate emotions than bright red. SILVER:The color of the moon, mystery, reflection, hidden knowledge, feminine intuition, emotions, inner life, magnetic, mystical. VIOLET: Experiencing boundaries, a mixture of blue and red meanings. WHITE: The Universal color, illumination, daylight, joy, happiness, life, enlightenment, truth, perfection, purity, beginning, ending, healing, white shadow, union through the mind, new intellectual frontier, purity, protection. YELLOW: The color of the sun, illumination, caution, the will, masculine power, knowledge, intellect Sun, consciousness, zest for life, clairvoyance, communication, pure intellect and scientific thought.
Miscellaneous
ABYSS: Pitfall, womb of the earth, subconscious ALTER: A small shrine sometimes kept in a Pagan house, similar to those kept by members of other religions i.e. Buddhists. (As seen on the MAGICIAN card) ANKH: Union of heaven and earth, life symbol, masculine and feminine union, an Egyptian glyph for life. Also known as the Crux Ansata or the Cross of Life. (Held by the EMPEROR) ARCANA: Means secret or hidden. ARCHETYPE: Symbolic images visualized in dreams, meditation, and divination, is used in path working to communicate with the subconscious.(Carl Jung was the most famous for making up the archtypical journey's of man) ARROW: Direct will, phallic, vengeance. AURA: Electricity, colors designate health, force field around the body. BANNER: Freedom from material possessions. White banner with Red Cross - innocence and blood. (Found on the JUDGEMENT card) Red banner - action and vibration. (Found on the SUN card) With White Five-Petal Rose - symbol of Mars and the life force. (Found on the DEATH card) Held in right hand - conscious awareness, self-consciousness. Held in left hand - automatic reactions, sub-consciousness, has become automatic. Betokens freedom from material bonds, vibration, and action. BATTLE: Not the final boundary, gateway to beyond, conflicts. (Found on the 5 OF WANDS & 7 OF WANDS) BELLS: Bells have been used by nearly all cultures throughout history as magical talismans, fertility charms, summons to a deity, and as instruments for sacred music. Many Wiccan's use a consecrated bell as an altar tool to signal the beginning and/or close of a ritual. (Found on the 5 OF PENTACLES) BELT: Self-imposed restriction, limitation, time. BLINDFOLD: Not focused on materialism, inner vision. (as found on the 2 OF SWORDS & 8 OF SWORDS) BOOK: Record of truth, measure of time, memories, Torah contains learning and wisdom, to be given a book is the chance to learn. (Held by the HIGH PRIESTESS in most decks) BREAD: Flesh, the body, life substance.
BRIDGE: A walk way between the conscious and the unconscious. Moving from one perspective or even area of life to another new or undiscovered part of self. (As seen on many cards like the 5 OF CUPS) CANDLESTICK: Seven candles, chakras, spine. CANOPY OF STARS: Found on the CHARIOT card, it represents the celestial influences that play a role in his victory. CHAIN: Largely self-imposed, restriction. (Found on the DEVIL card) CHALICE: Ritual cup, one of the tools of the Witch, placed on the altar to represent the element of Water. (Found on many Cup cards) CHARIOT: human personality, which can be a vehicle for the expression of self, movement. (Found on the CHARIOT card) CIRCLE: Spirit, eternity, circles of manifestation, perfection, wholeness, continuity. Circle in a Square - Unity in Quaternary of Elements (Found on the JUSTICE card) CLOAK: The mantel of discretion. (Worn by the HERMIT) COFFINS: Floating on the water representing an awakening. The tombs of world belief. (Found on the JUDGEMENT card) COSMIC LEMNISCATES: Shaped like a figure eight on its side, it is a symbol of eternal life and dominion. It indicates the harmonious interaction of the conscious and subconscious, thoughts and feelings. (Found on the MAGICIAN, STRENGTH, 2 OF PENTACLES) CROSS: Solar Cross - with equal arms indicates union of male (positive) and female (negative), union with God, balanced energy. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS card) Triple Cross - intellectual and physical worlds, divine, generative power. (Found on the HIEROPHANT card) CROSSED KEYS: Silver and gold representing the lunar and solar currents of energy. (Found on the HIEROPHANT card) CROWN: Mastery, attainment, represents creativity, formative and material word, may be set against the cosmic purpose. (Found on the TEMPERANCE, TOWER, 4 OF PENTACLES and all Kings and Queens) CROWN OF TWELVE, Six Pointed Stars: Reign over the macrocosm. (Worn by the EMPRESS) TRIPLE CROWN OF A POPE: On the head of the HIEROPHANT, the lower trefoil design represents the lower material world. The middle represents the formative world. The top tier represents the creative world.
CUPS: Symbol of knowledge and preservation, love, pleasure and enjoyment, associated with water. (Found on many cards such as the MAGICIAN, TEMPERANCE, and all Cup cards) Silver Cups - the subconscious Gold Cups - the conscious DANCER: Rhythm, attainment, victory over the elements. (Found on the WORLD, & 3 OF CUPS). DEVIL: Sensation divorced from understanding by spiritual blindness, false concepts of the physical world, bound by material, slave to necessity and blind chance. (Found on the DEVIL card). DIADEM: Is an eight pointed star found on the CHARIOT and represents dominion. DOOR: Portal, entrance to the temple, threshold EVIL: Errors in thinking, missing the mark. FENCE: Limitation FIGURE EIGHT ON ITS SIDE: Cosmic lemniscates, harmonious interaction between conscious and subconscious, between life and feeling, desire and emotion, dominion over the material, eternal life. (Found on the MAGICIAN & STRENGTH cards). GARLAND: Festivities, fruitfulness. (As seen in the 4 OF WANDS). GIRDLE: Spiritual force, time. GLOBE: Cosmic egg, universe. (Found on the 2 OF WANDS). Globe of Domination - feminine power, balance, spirit, love, matter. (Found on the EMPEROR card). Winged Globe - transcendence, knowledge, exultation, symbol of dominion. GOLD: Metal of the sun. HALO: Auric egg, spiritual force, the path of the saint. (Found on the HANGED MAN card). HORNS: Penetrating, strength. (Found on the DEVIL card). JEWELS: Love and wisdom. (Found on the JUSTICE card in her crown as well as the 7 OF CUPS). KEYS: Open the mysteries. (Found on the HIEROPHANT card).
LANTERN: Light of intellect, search for truth. (Found on the HERMIT card). LIGHTED LAMP OF TRUTH: To guide those below. (Found on the HERMIT card). PATH: States of becoming, steps to the heights, spiritual attainments, esoteric knowledge. PENTACLE: In the form of an amulet, protects against evil spirits (Found on many cards such as the MAGICIAN, and all Pentacle cards). PENTAGRAM: The seal of Solomon, five pointed star, symbol of the world made flesh, expressing mind's domination over the elements, represents order or confusion depending on the direction of its points, figure of man, relates to Hierophant, mental dominion, a symbolic diagram, usually circular in shape, that is inscribed, painted or engraved with a five pointed star. Inverted - Pointing at Earth representing the material plane. (Found on the DEVIL card). PILLARS: HIGH PRIESTESS & DEATH - White is Joachin, positive aspect of life, light, and principle inherent in all things, mercy. Black is Boaz, inertia, darkness, and negation of activity, severity. HIEROPHANT - from the Tree of Life (Kabalah), one represents Mercy, the other Severity. Another interpretation is that the one on the right represents the law, and the one of the left the liberty to obey or disobey. The design crowing the pillars may represent sexual union. JUSTICE - To be between the positive and negative forces. ROBE: White - purity (Found on STRENGTH and the MAGICIAN cards). Red Robe - desires, activity, passion (Found on the MAGICIAN). ROD: Mastery, phallus, discipline. ROD (Flowering): Virility. SCALES: Balanced judgment, equilibrium, the symbol of Libra, ancient image of law and justice, represent balance and justice from a spiritual point of view so enhancing universal truths rather than earthly ones that can be quite different. This also represents the high ideals that Libra stands for. (Found on the JUSTICE & 6 OF PENTACLES). SCROLL: Hidden mysteries, divine law, past events impressed upon the subconscious. (Held by the HIGH PRIESTESS). SCEPTER TOPPED BY A GLOBE: Dominion over the world. (Held by the EMPRESS). SHELL: 'Good luck' scallops that were carried on pilgrimage. (Found on the QUEEN OF CUPS).
SHIELD: The EMPRESS - Heart shaped, inscribed with the symbol of Venus. The CHARIOT - Is a Hindu symbol, which represents duality and unity. SHIP: Body, activity, sanctuary, material treasures, that which is beyond our control, lessons in faith, boats carry us over water (our emotions). (Found on the 2 OF PENTACLES, KING OF CUPS, 6 OF SWORDS, & the 3 OF WANDS). SPHERE: Rotation, cyclic, creative motion. SQUARE & TRIANGLE: This is found on the TEMPERANCE card worn on the front of his robe, the Square represents physical reality and the Triangle is actually a Triangle of Spirits and is pointing upwards to show where he has come from. STAFF: Sign of power, implement of the magician. STAFF (Raised): Creative power of the mind. STAIRS: Rising to a higher state of consciousness. SWORD: Protection, knowledge, mind, constructive or destructive activity, elimination of outworn forms. (Found on many cards such as the MAGICIAN, JUSTICE, WHEEL OF FORTUNE and all Sword cards) Upward - victory Double edged - action destroys as well as builds, and the false must be cut away from the true.
'T' CROSS OF LIVING WOOD: By this the man is still earthbound. (Found on the HANGED MAN card) TEMPLE: House of God, body. THRONE: A ruler. (Found on the EMPEROR and all Kings and Queens). TOWER: False ideas, speech, human thoughts, personality, misapprehension, fallacy of personal isolation, foundation built on false science. (Found on the TOWER, DEATH & 7 OF CUPS). TRIPLE STAFF: Represents the spirit, soul and body. (Found on the HIEROPHANT card). TRUMPET: Power of sound. (Found on the JUDGEMENT card) Trumpet blast - the creative word that liberates man from material limitations. VEIL: Virginity, cover for hidden mysteries, hidden things. (Found on the HIGH PRIESTESS & JUSTICE card)
WALL: The/a wall can symbolize a couple of things. One positive and one negative. A wall signifies limitations, obstacles and boundaries. There is a barrier obstructing your progress. You may have been accustomed to your old habits and way of thinking. In other words hiding behind a wall - either a real wall or a mental one - or both. But the wall on the Sun card is behind the child and the horse indicating forward progress/movement - away from any limitations, boundaries, etc. The other meaning pertains more to the RWS Sun card then the above meanings. 'Protects or shields' [the back of] a character, it walls off the figure from something, and/or it makes only forward movement possible. If the wall is an enclosure then I feel it's a toss up between the positive and negative meanings and would depend on the card. Here is yet another meaning I ran across. In psychoanalytic technique, walls are generally held to be a symbol of the male personality, with a focus on power. This thinking seems to stem from the impressions a young child would have of dominant male power in the home (which is a "fortress" surrounded by walls and dominated by the patriarch). In dreams, many people encounter walls as a random barrier and/or a projection of power. (Found on the CHARIOT & the SUN card)
WALLET: [in the wallet or representative of the wallet] All the elements or representations of the elements - as on the table on The Magician card. All past baggage [karmic of otherwise]. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From 'Pictures From the Heart' by Sandra A. Thomson Unused or unavailable knowledge. Memories of past experiences. Information from the unconscious.
Past lives. The life force that propels the Fool on his journey. Backpack on the Robin Wood Fool. Contains all the items he needs for his life's journey, but which are not really accessible because the pack is strapped down behind him. Not a common symbolic item so intense thought should not be applied and thus wasted to the 'wallet'. Especially as it could contain whatever you want to stuff in it. In AD&D it would be a 'Bag of Holding'. Or as my father would put it - a blivet - 5 lbs of crap in a 1 lb bag. (Found on the FOOL card)
WAND: Will and power, continual renewal of life, phallic significance, rod or staff that is prepared so that it may be used for magical or psychic purposes, usually to project some form of power. (Found on many cards such as the MAGICIAN, FOOL, CHARIOT, HERMIT, WORLD and all Wand Cards) In a pair - the powers of involution and evolution. WATER: Is a life giver, symbolizing the emotions. WHEEL: Cycles, chakras, whole cycle of cosmic expression, eight spokes, eight pointed star represents the channels of universal radiant energy, spirit, a fifth element, represents the cycle of life, we are born, we grow, we learn, we experience, we die, we become reborn. In life we need to rebirth, when we have experienced and learned all that there is from a situation, life again changes presenting us with new challenges and fresh experiences. (Found on the WHEEL OF FORTUNE card) Center or pivot - the archetypal or thought world Inner circle - creative force Middle - formative power Outer - material world WINGED DISK: It is an Egyptian symbol representing inspiration. (Found on the CHARIOT card). WREATH: Attainment, spiritual, force of nature, praise, victory, the kingdom of growing things, success, acquired wisdom, forming an 'O', unity and eternity. (Found on the WORLD & 7 OF CUPS). The FOOL - has what is called a Laurel Wreath a symbol of victory. The EMPRESS - Wreath of Myrtle, binding her hair and sacred to Venus.
YIN/YANG: Symbolizes the polarity of light and dark, the balance between feminine and male. (Found on the CHARIOT). YOD: The tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, hand of God, blessings from heaven. Drops of light, dew from heaven, the descent of spirit, Hebrew letter symbolizing the hands, betokens power, skill, dexterity, Zodiac sign of the virgin, blessings, small sparks of fire, leaves or droplets of water, life force from above. (Found on the WHEEL OF FORTUNE card spelling the name of God, which is never spoken, "Yod He Vau He") Letters on the Wheel - spell TARO are an anagram, which spell Tarot or Rota (wheel) or Orat (to speak) or Tora (the law) or Ator (the Goddess Hathor). The completed sentence reads, "The Wheel of the Tarot speaks the Law of Hathor." YOD can also be found on many cards containing God's. The above symbolism was graciously provided by: Donald W. Stephens
