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A Basic Understanding Of The Major Arcana
We give you a basic Tarot spread called the Circle Spread
Divination. The reason that we give you this spread in the Neophyte grade is because
most of the people attracted to the Order have practiced some form of magical
operation. Whether they have come from Wicca or Low Magic, even some forms of
Ceremonial or High Magic, they need a system of divination that will tell them the
karmic consequences of any magical operation.
The Circle Spread Divination is designed to do exactly that. It is designed to give
you a basic idea of the probable outcome of any magical operation, but more
importantly, the influences around you and the situation. In this lesson we are not
going to teach you the Circle Spread Divination, for this is found in another part of the
book. However, we will emphasize again the need for learning and mastering this
divination. In future grades of the Order, you will learn extensively the esoteric
alchemical, and literal meanings of each card of the Tarot. It is all based on the
esoteric writings of great western minds as well as the Golden Dawn system of magic,
primarily Book T. This lesson is a supplemental lesson in that it gives you a basic
outline of the nature of these Tarot cards. It isn't even necessary that you memorize
the basic nature of these cards at this time for you will study them in depth in the higher
grades to come. But because many of you, as stated earlier, have had some
experience in practical magical application, we give you this as a way to understand
karmic consequence. So, the following list is a list of the twenty-two Major Arcana, and
we are only covering the Major Arcana because the Circle Spread Divination is a
spiritual divination in that it only talks about the spiritual nature of a particular action.
Don't underestimate that. Let's not forget the Emerald Tablet that states, "As above so
below," for the things that manifest in the higher planes of existence must eventually
filter down into the physical world. Therefore, if we have negative cards surrounding us
or the situation in the higher planes of existence, we will eventually find that these
influences work their way into our physical lives and can either bring reward or havoc.
Remember that the idea of self mastery is that you are responsible for your own
universe, you are responsible for your own world. So, a lot of practitioners in the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn like to use the Circle Spread on a fairly regular
basis to get an idea of what kind of influences are around them and utilize the reading
to adjust the ritual work accordingly.
We will share with you the basic meanings (keep in mind that these do not have
to be memorized although it would be to your benefit) both right side up and reverse.
This is one of the few spreads in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn that uses
reverse keys. Most of the other spreads do not rely on reverse cards because they rely
more heavily on the cards and influences around them rather than on the reverse card
process. However, this spread only uses a certain number of cards and therefore in
order to be more specific we use reverse keys as well.
Tarot Divinatory Meanings of the Major Arcana
Fool
Generally refers to spirituality which is trying to rise above the material plane. If
the divination is of a material nature, this is not looked at as a positive card for it can
show folly, stupidity, foolishness and extravagance, even mania.
Fool - Reversed
When the card is reversed in the Circle Spread Divination, it generally can refer
to hesitation or carelessness, sometimes meaning that the person is ignoring his
material world. A special note on this card is that a lot of how you interpret this card is
going to depend on where it is in the reading and more importantly on the nature of the
question. If it is a purely spiritual question it tends to have a very airy nature and
therefore can be quite spiritual.
Magician
Wisdom, skill, adaptation. It can also mean craft and cunning, a very Mercurial
card. This card can also refer to occult wisdom.
Magician - Reversed
A misuse of power, egotism, conceit, lack of skills yet not believing so, imbalance
of the elements.
High Priestess
This is a card of fluctuation. It could mean change, increase, decrease,
alterations, altercations. This card is very lunar in nature and therefore a lot of the
nature of this card will depend on whether the moon is waxing or waning at the time of
the reading.
High Priestess - Reversed
This is superficial or egotistical knowledge, ignorance, stupidity, a lack of will.
Empress
One of the most postive cards in the deck. Happiness, pleasure and success. It
could also mean luxury, abundance and beauty. It can mean fruitation.
Empress - Reversed
This means vasolation, a loss of will power, inability to make decisions and
inaction and stagnation. Sometimes when the card is reversed it can also mean
dissapation in the areas where you are hoping new things will come into your life.
Emperor
Because of the Arian nature this is a good card for war, conquest, victory in a
matter.
Emperor - Reversed
Immature emotions, strife, arguments, anger, emotions out of control as well as
blind ambition.
Hierophant
Divine wisdom and manifestation, sexuality, teaching, explanation, sympathy,
occult wisdom, mercy and goodness.
Hierophant - Reversed
Weakness, lack of will, over kindness with the possibility of being too generous.
Lovers
Inspiration, sometimes love, mediumistic abilities. It also can refer to a test that
is coming your way that you will pass. New love.
Lovers - Reversed
A failed test or lost love.
Chariot
A very positive card meaning health, victory and triumph, success, although
sometimes fleeting. This will depend on where the card falls in the Circle Spread. If it
falls in Earth, it's usually long lasting; if it falls in Air, it is very quick.
Chariot - Reversed
It indicates that the obstacles that you are facing will more than likely overcome
you.
Strength
This is strength, fortitude, courage and power. Sometimes power is not always
under the will of good judgment. It can also mean obstinacy.
Strength - Reversed
Pure, animalistic, physical power.
Hermit
This is motion, movement in one's life, power and action, however, it can mean
caution arising from an impulse or an inspiration.
Hermit - Reversed
Overt cautiousness and possibly wrong decision making.
Wheel of Fortune
This is a positve karmic card that indicates good fortune and happiness, with
some boundries of course. It can also mean intoxication with success. This card along
with the Empress card, Chariot card, or Universe card is almost the ideal situation for
abundance.
Wheel of Fortune - Reversed
Bad luck and ill fortune.
Justice
This is a karmic card meaning justice and balance, strength and force, it can also
mean an act of judgment coming on you. Equilibrium.
Justice - Reversed
Imbalance, hatred, bigotry, biasness and a total lack of equilibrium in that
element.
Hanged Man
This indicates enforced sacrifice and punishment, also indicates loss. It can also
be a card that can indicate some fatality in an area. This is generally a card of
suffering. However, the person that usually goes through this suffering usually emerges
wiser. In the purely esoteric spiritual nature this can be a positive card but normally for
the kinds of reading that you will be doing, it is not considered positive.
Hanged Man - Reversed
Selfishness, conceit, trying to fit in with everybody, inability to give of one's self.
Death
Time, transformation, change, sometimes it means literal death or destruction,
but rarely. It can also mean some fluctuation or physical pain, spiritual or mental pain.
Death - Reversed
This can mean stagnation, not moving forward, staying in one place and
degression.
Temperance
This is a combination of energies, a realization of an action, unlikely things
coming together. It can also mean moderation.
Temperance - Reversed
A clashing of energies or interests.
Devil
This is materialism and material force. It can also can mean temptation in the
area of materiality. In some means it can represent that somebody is coveting your
possessions or that you are coveting theirs. It can also mean obsession.
Devil - Reversed
Something is going to happen, something is going to come up, but it will not be
for the good, it will be for evil.
Tower
Fighting, war, power, courage and ambition. This is similar to the Emperor in
nature, however a lot more destructive.
Tower - Reversed
Ruin, fall, danger, destruction.
Star
This generally means hope and a bright future, positive thoughts, giving and
abundance.
Star - Reversed
Disappointment, expectations are not being met, a lack of abundance and
barreness.
Moon
A very deceptive card, illusion, lying trickery, hidden enemies.
Moon - Reversed
Deception, but only slight.
Sun
Happiness, joy, good thoughts, contentment.
Sun - Reversed
Basically some happiness, joy, good thoughts and contentment, but to a lesser
degree.
Judgement
Renewal, rebirth, final decision, judgement, sentence, determination of a matter
without appeal on its plane.
Judgement - Reversed
A negative affect such as set backs and delays.
Universe
This is the matter itself, the synthesis, the world, the kingdom. It usually denotes
the actual subject of the question. It can also mean success and completion of a
matter.
Universe - Reversed
Failure, inertia, many times reward or new things coming into your life but of an
evil nature.
Again, these are only general outlines.
Divination. The reason that we give you this spread in the Neophyte grade is because
most of the people attracted to the Order have practiced some form of magical
operation. Whether they have come from Wicca or Low Magic, even some forms of
Ceremonial or High Magic, they need a system of divination that will tell them the
karmic consequences of any magical operation.
The Circle Spread Divination is designed to do exactly that. It is designed to give
you a basic idea of the probable outcome of any magical operation, but more
importantly, the influences around you and the situation. In this lesson we are not
going to teach you the Circle Spread Divination, for this is found in another part of the
book. However, we will emphasize again the need for learning and mastering this
divination. In future grades of the Order, you will learn extensively the esoteric
alchemical, and literal meanings of each card of the Tarot. It is all based on the
esoteric writings of great western minds as well as the Golden Dawn system of magic,
primarily Book T. This lesson is a supplemental lesson in that it gives you a basic
outline of the nature of these Tarot cards. It isn't even necessary that you memorize
the basic nature of these cards at this time for you will study them in depth in the higher
grades to come. But because many of you, as stated earlier, have had some
experience in practical magical application, we give you this as a way to understand
karmic consequence. So, the following list is a list of the twenty-two Major Arcana, and
we are only covering the Major Arcana because the Circle Spread Divination is a
spiritual divination in that it only talks about the spiritual nature of a particular action.
Don't underestimate that. Let's not forget the Emerald Tablet that states, "As above so
below," for the things that manifest in the higher planes of existence must eventually
filter down into the physical world. Therefore, if we have negative cards surrounding us
or the situation in the higher planes of existence, we will eventually find that these
influences work their way into our physical lives and can either bring reward or havoc.
Remember that the idea of self mastery is that you are responsible for your own
universe, you are responsible for your own world. So, a lot of practitioners in the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn like to use the Circle Spread on a fairly regular
basis to get an idea of what kind of influences are around them and utilize the reading
to adjust the ritual work accordingly.
We will share with you the basic meanings (keep in mind that these do not have
to be memorized although it would be to your benefit) both right side up and reverse.
This is one of the few spreads in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn that uses
reverse keys. Most of the other spreads do not rely on reverse cards because they rely
more heavily on the cards and influences around them rather than on the reverse card
process. However, this spread only uses a certain number of cards and therefore in
order to be more specific we use reverse keys as well.
Tarot Divinatory Meanings of the Major Arcana
Fool
Generally refers to spirituality which is trying to rise above the material plane. If
the divination is of a material nature, this is not looked at as a positive card for it can
show folly, stupidity, foolishness and extravagance, even mania.
Fool - Reversed
When the card is reversed in the Circle Spread Divination, it generally can refer
to hesitation or carelessness, sometimes meaning that the person is ignoring his
material world. A special note on this card is that a lot of how you interpret this card is
going to depend on where it is in the reading and more importantly on the nature of the
question. If it is a purely spiritual question it tends to have a very airy nature and
therefore can be quite spiritual.
Magician
Wisdom, skill, adaptation. It can also mean craft and cunning, a very Mercurial
card. This card can also refer to occult wisdom.
Magician - Reversed
A misuse of power, egotism, conceit, lack of skills yet not believing so, imbalance
of the elements.
High Priestess
This is a card of fluctuation. It could mean change, increase, decrease,
alterations, altercations. This card is very lunar in nature and therefore a lot of the
nature of this card will depend on whether the moon is waxing or waning at the time of
the reading.
High Priestess - Reversed
This is superficial or egotistical knowledge, ignorance, stupidity, a lack of will.
Empress
One of the most postive cards in the deck. Happiness, pleasure and success. It
could also mean luxury, abundance and beauty. It can mean fruitation.
Empress - Reversed
This means vasolation, a loss of will power, inability to make decisions and
inaction and stagnation. Sometimes when the card is reversed it can also mean
dissapation in the areas where you are hoping new things will come into your life.
Emperor
Because of the Arian nature this is a good card for war, conquest, victory in a
matter.
Emperor - Reversed
Immature emotions, strife, arguments, anger, emotions out of control as well as
blind ambition.
Hierophant
Divine wisdom and manifestation, sexuality, teaching, explanation, sympathy,
occult wisdom, mercy and goodness.
Hierophant - Reversed
Weakness, lack of will, over kindness with the possibility of being too generous.
Lovers
Inspiration, sometimes love, mediumistic abilities. It also can refer to a test that
is coming your way that you will pass. New love.
Lovers - Reversed
A failed test or lost love.
Chariot
A very positive card meaning health, victory and triumph, success, although
sometimes fleeting. This will depend on where the card falls in the Circle Spread. If it
falls in Earth, it's usually long lasting; if it falls in Air, it is very quick.
Chariot - Reversed
It indicates that the obstacles that you are facing will more than likely overcome
you.
Strength
This is strength, fortitude, courage and power. Sometimes power is not always
under the will of good judgment. It can also mean obstinacy.
Strength - Reversed
Pure, animalistic, physical power.
Hermit
This is motion, movement in one's life, power and action, however, it can mean
caution arising from an impulse or an inspiration.
Hermit - Reversed
Overt cautiousness and possibly wrong decision making.
Wheel of Fortune
This is a positve karmic card that indicates good fortune and happiness, with
some boundries of course. It can also mean intoxication with success. This card along
with the Empress card, Chariot card, or Universe card is almost the ideal situation for
abundance.
Wheel of Fortune - Reversed
Bad luck and ill fortune.
Justice
This is a karmic card meaning justice and balance, strength and force, it can also
mean an act of judgment coming on you. Equilibrium.
Justice - Reversed
Imbalance, hatred, bigotry, biasness and a total lack of equilibrium in that
element.
Hanged Man
This indicates enforced sacrifice and punishment, also indicates loss. It can also
be a card that can indicate some fatality in an area. This is generally a card of
suffering. However, the person that usually goes through this suffering usually emerges
wiser. In the purely esoteric spiritual nature this can be a positive card but normally for
the kinds of reading that you will be doing, it is not considered positive.
Hanged Man - Reversed
Selfishness, conceit, trying to fit in with everybody, inability to give of one's self.
Death
Time, transformation, change, sometimes it means literal death or destruction,
but rarely. It can also mean some fluctuation or physical pain, spiritual or mental pain.
Death - Reversed
This can mean stagnation, not moving forward, staying in one place and
degression.
Temperance
This is a combination of energies, a realization of an action, unlikely things
coming together. It can also mean moderation.
Temperance - Reversed
A clashing of energies or interests.
Devil
This is materialism and material force. It can also can mean temptation in the
area of materiality. In some means it can represent that somebody is coveting your
possessions or that you are coveting theirs. It can also mean obsession.
Devil - Reversed
Something is going to happen, something is going to come up, but it will not be
for the good, it will be for evil.
Tower
Fighting, war, power, courage and ambition. This is similar to the Emperor in
nature, however a lot more destructive.
Tower - Reversed
Ruin, fall, danger, destruction.
Star
This generally means hope and a bright future, positive thoughts, giving and
abundance.
Star - Reversed
Disappointment, expectations are not being met, a lack of abundance and
barreness.
Moon
A very deceptive card, illusion, lying trickery, hidden enemies.
Moon - Reversed
Deception, but only slight.
Sun
Happiness, joy, good thoughts, contentment.
Sun - Reversed
Basically some happiness, joy, good thoughts and contentment, but to a lesser
degree.
Judgement
Renewal, rebirth, final decision, judgement, sentence, determination of a matter
without appeal on its plane.
Judgement - Reversed
A negative affect such as set backs and delays.
Universe
This is the matter itself, the synthesis, the world, the kingdom. It usually denotes
the actual subject of the question. It can also mean success and completion of a
matter.
Universe - Reversed
Failure, inertia, many times reward or new things coming into your life but of an
evil nature.
Again, these are only general outlines.
Tamid |
Latest page update: made by Tamid
, Jul 12 2009, 8:06 PM EDT
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