W: Wands
C: Cups
P: Pentacles
S: Swords
An example of a key coded suit:
1C: Ace of Cups
2C: Two of Cups
3C: Three of Cups
and so on until the …
PC: Page of Cups
KnC: Knight of Cups
QC: Queen of Cups
KC: King of Cups
NB Only the suits are abbreviated; the Major Arcana card names appear in full.
Reading the Cards in Combination
While it is necessary for those who are new to tarot to first grasp the basic meanings of the cards, there will come a time when the beginner will hit a wall. Every tarot reader will reach this point, when they find that the simplistic style of reading the cards individually, without taking the relationship they have with any neighbouring cards into consideration, will no longer do. It is natural to want more depth and complexity from a tarot reading, for, after all, humans are complex creatures, made so by the dynamic tensions between the vital forces at play in their lives. This is where reading tarot cards in combination can become most useful and enlightening, by showing a fuller picture of all the influences, compulsions and impulses at work. Only by reading the cards in combination can we clearly see how the dynamic tensions and interplay between harmonious and inharmonious aspects of our psyche have a direct effect on our external reality and everyday life.
To really grasp the meaning of the cards in combination, it’s important to remember that every card in the deck has its own unique relationship to each and every other, in the same sense that our energy, drives and impulses can be either compatible or incompatible with those of another individual. For example, by looking at the modus operandi of the Sun card, representing light, visibility, publicity, expression and autonomy, together with the regulatory reclusiveness of the Hermit or the conformist restrictions of the Hierophant, we can see how diametrically opposed are the overall ‘game plans’ of these archetypes. Thus, their combined energy in a reading will denote some significant and dynamic tension in our life.
Some archetypes are natural friends, others natural enemies. For example, the Sun surrounded by friendly, supportive or motivationally aligned cards, such as the King of Wands or Queen of Wands, with their naturally compatible outlook, can constructively empower our life and fuel great and positive growth, change and transformation.
When two oppositely motivated cards land next to each other in a reading, such as the Sun (purity, innocence, transparency) and the Devil (impurity, transgression, collusion), we can see how the latter can corrupt the former, creating the sort of difficulties and challenges that impede our growth and success in life.
When the cards placed next to each other in a reading have little or no relationship, being neutral or indifferent to one another, such as the Hermit and the Hierophant, this denotes a mixture of often lesser benefits but no impedimental difficulties, challenges or obstructions.
The key to understanding the role each card has to play in a synthesized multiple-card reading is remembering that the archetypal Major Arcana cards act as agents of, or lend agency to, their neighbouring cards. Taking the example below, you could read the combination of the High Priestess, the Sun, the World, the Eight of Wands and the Ace of Swords as: taking a contemporary, new look (1S: Ace of Swords) at an ancient spiritual system (High Priestess) of how to live a joyful and abundant life via self-realization (Sun) has led to the successful international (World) publication of this book (Sun), with the help of a quickly effective PR and marketing campaign (8W: Eight of Wands).
However the cards are combined, as aspects of our own psyche, it is of vital importance, if we wish to move forward quickly and easily with our plans, questions and life purpose, that any oppositely inclined internal forces are properly integrated and reconciled. Herein lies the beauty and power of the tarot, in providing the opportunity to make peace with the warring aspects of ourselves. After that, everything external falls perfectly into place.
The Major Arcana cards can set the tone for an entire reading. As the driving forces behind our impulses, thoughts, actions and general behaviour, they are by far the more interesting and complex of the two types of card. They indicate the root causes of all other minor life events, or indeed non-events, and are the lynchpins around which all other events revolve. To understand these cards fully is to understand the general theme and schematics of our life. Most people look to the tarot when they want to make major changes or improvements to their lives, and to make such changes we must first address the underlying cause of the status quo, which is found only in the Major Arcana cards.
0 The Fool 0
‘The only thing I know is that I know nothing.’
THE SOCRATIC PARADOX
Personification – Psychology
The archetypal Fool is a carefree and fearless ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker (KS, QS, KnS) or activist (KW, QW, KnW), who exercises complete and total liberality in everything they do. Their ever-open mind and freedom of spirit make them interested in everyone and, usually, game for anything (World). They’re a flexible, spontaneous, go-with-the-flow type character, whose life can, outwardly, appear distinctly disorderly, detached and distanced.
Those who embody the Fool archetype are often inadvertently complacent, nonchalant, indifferent or apathetic (4C), distracted, unwitting, unsettled, scattered, thoughtless, mistaken or distracted in their behaviour. They often lose things such as keys, wallet, phone, passport, jewellery, people, pets, track of time, etc.
Essentially, they are a dreamer who lacks all forethought. Being blissfully (Sun) ignorant, oblivious, unaware of any potential risks or danger, they rarely look where they are going. Their complete lack of interest in what lies ahead and little or no concern for the future or the consequences of their actions (Judgement) are both their best and worst character traits.
The Fool’s ultra-presence of mind can be seen in their mental disposition towards the short term, which includes all forms of short-term arrangements and agreements or contracts (Justice). Happy in the now, they are unable to see what will bring satisfaction or emotional fulfilment in the long run (2S) – a long run off a short cliff.
They embody a wilful and impulsive ‘What have I got to lose?’ mentality. They are the quintessential young idealist, whose unshaken belief or untested faith in their ideas can seem both crazily naïve (Pages) to some and bravely innovative (Emperor) and creative (Empress) to others.
As a pure, untainted, innocent and unsuspecting spirit, the Fool can be youthful and playfully childlike (6C) or childishly (Pages) self-absorbed (4P, 4C, 4S). They are archetypically characterized by the Greek myth of Icarus, the son who precipitated his own death by ignoring his father’s wise instruction and flying too close to the Sun. Whether the wax in the Fool’s wings melts or not is much dependent on the surrounding and outcome cards.
The Fool’s ultra-present, happy-go-lucky state of mind paradoxically underpins their dangerous inability to see beyond their own nose. So weak are their personal boundaries (KC, QC, KnC, PC), they can temporarily host another person’s energy, be they a real, fictional or projected personality.
As a pure, clean, blank, absorbent surface upon which others can project their own wants, needs and desires (Moon), this archetype’s core self and personal preferences are often tucked