Figured tarot cards. Tarot. Description of the meanings of Figure cards. Decks "Liber T" and "Tarot Thoth"
The Knights symbolize the powers of the letter Yod in the Name. They are the most sublime, primordial, active part of the Energies of the Elements; for this reason they are depicted as horsemen in full armor. Their action is quick and violent, but transitory. In the Element of Fire, for example, the Knight corresponds to the flash of Lightning; in the Element of Water - Rain and Springs; in the Element of Air - Wind; in the Element of Earth - Mountains. It is very important, as a spiritual exercise, to understand for ourselves these correspondences between the Symbols and those Forces of Nature which they represent; For magical work it is necessary to fully assimilate this knowledge.
The Queens represent the first letter X E in the Name. They complement the Knights: they accept, excite and transmit further their original Energy. They accept this Energy quickly and are well adapted to their function, but they are not yet the final product. Queens are the second stage of the creation process, the fourth and last stage of which is material realization. They are depicted sitting on thrones. This emphasizes the fact that Queens are appointed to perform certain functions.
The Princes symbolize the Powers of the letter Vau in the Name. The Prince is the son of the Queen (daughter of the old King) and the Knight who conquered her; therefore he is depicted in a chariot, carrying the combined Energy of his parents. He is the active product of their union, its external manifestation, its intellectual image. Therefore, the action of the Prince is longer than the actions of his predecessors. In a sense, it even gains relative eternity by being a “public testimony” of what was done in secret. He is also the "Dying God" who releases his Bride at the hour of his death (and at her cost).
The Princesses represent the final X E in the Name, the final result of the primordial Energy in its completion, crystallization, materialization. They also represent the balancing and self-absorption of this Energy, the Silence into which everything returns. Thus, they are both eternal and non-existent. The result of the equation is 0 = 2.
Princesses do not have zodiac correspondences. But it is obvious that they represent four types of people. These are those numerous "elemental" people whom we recognize by their lack of sense of responsibility, whose moral qualities lacks clarity. They are divided according to the dominant planets. Such types are described many times in fiction. Eliphas Levi wrote: “The Magician’s love for such creatures is insensitive and can destroy him.”
The relationships between the four elements of the Name are too complex to be covered in one book; for each shade of meaning they are special.
For example, the Princess does not appear until the Prince has won her in marriage and she has ascended to the throne of her Mother. So she awakens the Antiquity of the first, old King, who then becomes a young Knight, restarting the cycle. Princess is not only perfect Virgo, but, due to the death of the Prince, also a lonely, wailing Widow. All this can be found in the myths characteristic of the Aeon of Osiris. These complexities are unlikely to be completely unraveled, but for the student it is quite enough to deal with one legend at a time.
For the Aeon of Osiris, when Air, struggle, and intellect reigned, such confusion is quite natural; its symbols and formulas were supposed to overlap and contradict each other. All these numerous fables and parables cannot be brought into a state of harmony, because each of them had to emphasize a special formula necessary to achieve some local or temporary goal.
General description of the sixteen face cards
Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands represents the fiery part of Fire; he rules from the 21st degree of Scorpio to the 20th degree of Sagittarius. This is a warrior in full armor. His helmet is decorated with a black horse's head. He has a flaming torch in his hand; his cloak is also on fire; he rides along the flames on a black horse.
This figure corresponds to such moral qualities as activity, generosity, ferocity, swiftness, pride, impulsiveness, speed and unpredictability. With the wrong energy supply, he is angry, cruel, ignorant and rude. In any case, he is poorly adapted to perform his activities and cannot modify them according to circumstances. If the first attempt fails, he no longer has any resources.
In the I Ching, the fiery part of Fire is represented by the 51st hexagram, Zhen. Its meanings are entirely consistent with the doctrine of the Tarot, but special emphasis is placed on the startling, dangerous and revolutionary nature of the events associated with it. The querent is advised to be cautious, but calm, decisive and cheerful; be wary of untimely actions, but continue to move forward with confidence in your abilities.
All correspondences from the I Ching should be studied directly from this book; we will refer to this text when important passages are too long to quote.
Queen of Wands
So, this card has great power; Libra moving into Scorpio has extremely active, critical energy and weight. To succeed, such people need good will, sincerity and the right partnership; What is dangerous for them is arrogant ambition.
Princess of Cups
The Princess of Cups symbolizes the earthly part of Water - in particular, the property of crystallization, the ability to materialize an idea, support life and serve as the basis for chemical combinations. She is depicted as a dancing female figure wearing a flowing robe with a crystal pattern around the edges.
Her head is crowned with a swan with spread wings. This reminds us of the swan, which in Eastern philosophy represents the word A U M or AUMGN, a symbol of the entire process of creation.
The princess holds a covered bowl, from which a turtle protrudes. She is also from Hindu philosophy: the same turtle supporting the elephant, on whose back the Universe rests. The princess dances on the foamy surface of the sea, in which a dolphin frolics, the king of fish, symbolizing the power of Creation.
By nature, this Princess is infinitely merciful. She is all attractiveness, sensuality, softness, kindness and tenderness. She lives in the world of Romance, in an eternal ecstatic dream. A superficial glance may see selfishness and laziness in her, but this is a false impression; silently and effortlessly, she still does her job.
In the I Ching, the earthly part of Water is represented by hexagram 41, Sun, which means “diminishment,” the dissolution of everything dense. People designated by this card are very dependent on others, but at the same time they are useful to them. By themselves, they are, at best, rarely important, but their assistants are unsurpassed.
Knight of Swords
He is dressed in very finely woven chain mail, with decorations, and in his chariot various geometric shapes are easily distinguishable. The chariot is pulled by winged children, jumping randomly in all directions where their eyes fall; they do not know the reins and are extremely capricious. Therefore, the chariot is quite mobile, but is unable to move in any specific direction except randomly. This is a perfect picture of the Mind.
Carrying out this logical mental process has reduced Air, the element of this card, into many different geometric patterns, but there is no design behind it; they simply demonstrate the powers of the Mind without any specific purpose. In the Prince's right hand is a raised sword, with which he creates, and in his left is a sickle, with which he immediately destroys everything created.
The person this symbol refers to is purely intellectual. It is full of ideas and plans colliding with each other. He has many subtle ideals that find no practical outlet. His Thinking apparatus works flawlessly, he is very smart, remarkably rational, but his goals are unstable; in fact, he is indifferent even to his own ideas, knowing that any of them is no better or worse than any other. He will bring any thing to unreality, removing its substance and methodically transforming it into an ideal - purely formal and not even connected with the facts on which it is based.
In the I Ching, the aerial part of Air is represented by hexagram 57, Xun.
This is one of the most difficult figures in the entire book because it is ambivalent: it means both flexibility and penetration. Extremely strong because of their complete freedom from established principles, always ready to resort to any conceivable argument, immune to regret and repentance, smartly and cleverly "quoting Scripture" in support of any thesis, indifferent to the fate of the opposing argument put forward by themselves two minutes earlier, invincible because any position for them is no worse or better than others, capable of entering into an alliance with anyone who is at hand, these slippery and flexible people can be useful only when they are firmly subjugated by a creative will, supported by a stronger one, than theirs, in mind. In practice, this is rarely possible: you can’t trick them with anything, even by indulging their appetites. But they can also be stormy, even uncontrollable. Eccentrics, fans of drink, drugs, humanism, music or religion, often belong to this class; but even in this case there is no stability. They wander from one cult or vice to another, always fanatically and brilliantly supporting what is, in fact, only a passing fashion.
It is easy to be deceived by such people, because the outer manifestation has enormous power: it is the same as if an imbecile reads Plato's dialogues to you. In this way they can acquire a reputation for deep and broad intelligence.
Princess of Swords
The Princess of Swords represents the earthly part of Air, the fixation of the volatile, the materialization of Ideas, the influence of Heaven on Earth. She shares the characteristics of Minerva and Artemis, even with a hint of Valkyrie. To some extent, she symbolizes the wrath of the Gods and is depicted wearing a helmet decorated with the snake-headed Medusa. She stands in front of the empty altar, as if about to take revenge for his neglect, and points down with her sword. Her home, the skies and clouds, seem angry.
The character of this Princess is tough and vindictive. Her logic is destructive. She is adamant and aggressive, in material matters she has practical wisdom and subtlety, and manages them intelligently and deftly, especially when they are contradictory. Resolves contradictions very skillfully.
In a bad environment these qualities dissipate; The princess acts incoherently and all her talents add up to an example of low cunning, not understanding the means.
In the I Ching, the earthly part of Air is represented by hexagram 18, Gu. It means "trouble" and is truly the most unlucky symbol in the entire book. All subtle qualities of Air are suppressed, oppressed, strangled.
People designated by this hexagram are slow-witted, constantly worried, and cannot bear any responsibility, especially in family matters. One or both parents usually had the same problems.
It is difficult to understand the commentary on feature 6, which “shows us one who does not serve either the king or the prince, but, exalted in spirit, prefers to follow his inclinations.” It is explained this way: the Princess as such, being the “throne of the Spirit,” is always free to throw everything overboard, “to blow it to the skies.” Such an action could be attributed to the above characteristics in a good environment. Such people are extremely rare; and, quite naturally, they often appear as “children of failure.” However, they made the right choice and will receive their reward in due course.
Knight of Disks
This Queen sits on the throne of plant life. Her gaze is turned back, to where the calm river meanders along sandy desert, bringing with it fertility. Among the wastelands, oases begin to appear. There is a goat on the ball in front of the Queen. This is an allusion to the dogma of the Great Work as fertilization. The Queen's armor consists of small coin scales, and her helmet is decorated with huge helical horns of markhor. In her right hand she has a scepter topped with a cube, inside of which a three-dimensional Hexagram is visible, and in her left hand her “disk” bends - a sphere of intertwined loops and circles. This is how the Queen depicts the desire of matter to take part in great work Creations.
The persons designated by this card have the quality of the finest calm. They are active, but only in a useful direction. They have huge reserves of love, kindness, generosity. They are not intellectuals or even particularly smart, but instinct and intuition are more than enough for their needs. These people are calm, hardworking, practical, prudent, love the comfort of home, often (in a discreet and unpretentious manner) lustful and even depraved, prone to alcohol and drug abuse. It is as if they can realize their essential happiness only by going beyond themselves.
In a bad environment they are stupid, servile, stupid - more like farm laborers than workers. Life for them is a purely mechanical process, and they cannot rise, or even try to rise, above the lot prepared for them.
In the I Ching, the watery part of the Earth is represented by hexagram 31, Xian. Its meaning is Impact. The commentary describes the effects of movement of various parts of the body, from the big toes to the teeth and tongue. This is an extension of the above rather than an indication of exact correspondences; but there is no disagreement here either. The general advice is to move forward calmly, without intruding too much into current situations.
Prince of Disks
The appearance of this Prince is thoughtful. This is the element of the Earth, which has already become intelligible. He's dressed in light armor, and his helmet is decorated with the head of a bull; the bull is also harnessed to his chariot - this animal is especially sacred to the Earth element. In his left hand he holds his “disk” - a globe-like ball, marked with mathematical symbols and as if hinting at planning, without which agriculture is impossible. In his right hand he holds a scepter, crowned with an orb and a cross, a symbol of the Great Work accomplished, for the function of this Prince is to extract from the material of his element the vegetation on which the Spirit itself feeds.
This card denotes enormous energy applied to the most "dense" practical matters. Such a person is strong and resilient; He is a capable manager, a stable and persistent worker. He is a good specialist: inventive, thoughtful, careful, reliable, calm, constantly looking for new uses for known things and little by little, thoughtfully, systematically remaking his circumstances “to suit himself.”
He is almost completely devoid of emotion, somewhat emotionless and may seem boring, but he is not; he simply does not try to understand ideas that he does not need. He may also look stupid and tend to be offended by more spiritual types of people. He rarely gets angry, but if he gets worked up, he becomes unforgiving. Distinguishing between good and bad elemental virtues for this card is not very practical; we can only say that in a bad environment its characteristics both quantitatively and qualitatively deteriorate somewhat. The reaction of others to the Prince will depend almost entirely on their own temperament.
In the I Ching, the airy part of the Earth is represented by the 53rd hexagram, Jian. The commentary speaks of the flight of wild geese "approaching the shore", then to "large rocks", then to "dry plains", "trees", " high hills" and finally to "greater heights." This symbolizes the slow, gradual release of everything that represses.
This interpretation is even happier than the Kabbalistic one, although it is completely consistent with it. Chinese thinking - even the most abstract and metaphysical - has never shied away from practical considerations. The main heresy of the Black Lodge is contempt for “the world, the flesh and the devil,” which are very important for the design of the Universe; For the Great Work, the Adept absolutely needs to arrange his affairs in such a way that “even the evil microbes of Matter also become useful and good.”
The error of the Christian mystics in this matter was the cause of cruelty, suffering and collective madness to a greater extent than all other factors combined; its poisonous traces can be recognized even in the teachings of Freud, who considered the Unconscious to be the “devil,” while in fact it is an instinct that veiledly expresses internal Point The vision of each and, correctly understood, is the key to Initiation and an indication of that seed that can blossom and bear the fruit of the “Knowledge and Communication of the Holy Guardian Angel.” For "Every man and every woman is a star."
But doubtless the judgment of the Exclusive Adepts (for it is they, under the direction of the Lords of the Temple, who determine such details of doctrine) in the case of this card was influenced by its position—transitional from Aries to Taurus. Too often it is forgotten that Taurus is the house of Venus, and the Moon is exalted in it. The new doctrine asserts that the main color of the Earth is not black, but green; she insists that each Disc is a living and rotating symbol. The central thesis of The Book of the Law is the Perfection of the Universe. In her pantheistic concept, all possibilities are equally valuable; any and every Point Event is a “game of N u i t ,” as it is said in the “Book of Wisdom or Folly.” “Do not bind! Let there be no difference for you between one thing and any other; for this will cause harm. Whoever contributes to this, let him be the leader over all.” Or, even clearer and simpler: “Every number is infinite; there is no difference.”
Princess of Discs
The Princess of Disks, the last of the Figure Cards, represents the terrestrial part of the Earth. Consequently, she is on the verge of transformation. She is strong and beautiful, expresses deep thoughtfulness - as if she is about to experience a secret miracle.
Her headdress is adorned with the head of a ram, and her scepter is lowered to the earth, where its tip becomes a diamond, the gem of Kether, thus symbolizing the birth of the highest and purest light in the deepest and darkest of the Elements. She stands in a grove of sacred trees in front of an altar resembling a sheaf of wheat, for she is a priestess of Demeter. Her body contains the secret of the future. The greatness of the Princess is emphasized by her disk, in the center of which is a Chinese ideogram showing the double spiral force of Creation in perfect balance; from it is born the rose of Isis, the great fertile Mother.
The characteristics of the person represented by this card are too varied to list. Let us generalize them by saying that she is Femininity in its extreme manifestation. She contains all the feminine qualities, and which of them to manifest depends entirely on the influences to which she is exposed. But in any case, its attributes will be the most clean water and are not necessarily related to any other attributes that are usually considered symbolic. In a sense, it can be interpreted as "bewildering inconsistency." It is like a wheel: whatever number is drawn does not in any way promise or affect the next numbers. Each turn of the wheel is equally probable and in a certain sense is a reward. For every Event is a “game of N u i t .”
In the I Ching, the terrestrial part of the Earth is represented by the hexagram “Mountain”. How subtle is the significance of this Chinese doctrine of Balance to the doctrine of the Holy Kabbalah!
The Mountain is the most sacred of all earthly symbols: unshakable in its aspiration to the Highest, as if drawn out by the titanic energy of the Hidden Fire. This is as much a moment of the Hidden Divinity as the Phallus itself - like Capricorn, the sign of the New Year, exalted in the Zodiac.
It is very important that the Student trace this symbolism for himself: Air is pliable and flexible, but all-permeating, and Water is fluid, but incompressible, the most neutral and connecting the components of living matter; Fire is so close to the Spirit, a substance, but only a phenomenon, and at the same time so integral that it can be considered the heart and essence of every thing.
The characteristic of Gen in the I Ching is peace; in the first line it describes the rest in the various members of the body - fingers, back and jaws - and its consequences.
In this sense, the hexagram G en is related to the 31st hectogram of which the second part of the I Ching begins.
Figured Arcana are a reflection of the archetypes of the unconscious on the qualities of a person’s character. In order to best understand the influence of the Figure Arcana, you can divide the deck into three parts: Major, Figure and Minor Arcana, and draw one card from each pile. Then the Major Arcana will symbolize the general situation, the fundamental Archetype that acts on a person, the Figure Card will depict what traits will be inherent in a person in this situation, and the Minor Card will depict where this will lead him.
Sometimes Figure cards express the psychological type of the Querent or the people around him. But the type, as such, is as dynamic as the changes taking place around it.
Even if a person initially has a certain stable type, he is nevertheless influenced by external environment, and its type changes depending on the situation, while possessing some stable characteristics. For some layouts where a significator card is needed, the tarot reader determines the Querent’s psychological type “by eye” and looks for the corresponding card in the deck.
If a figure card appears in a reading, it can symbolize some person in the Querent's life, and if you know his surroundings, then you can even guess who it is. If the environment is unknown, you can describe the character of this figure so that the Querent can guess for himself.
Figured arcana can show what new acquaintances he will make, who will influence his future life. But more often than not, a figured card should be considered as character traits that a person exhibits in a given situation. The meaning of Tarot cards is described through a set of several correspondences. Here we have two elements that make up the sub-element, two zodiac signs, a piece of the sky of which it rules, and the I-Ching Hexagram. To explain the meaning of the element, we will use the “777” tables, for the zodiac - astrology, and we will interpret the hexagrams according to the “I-Ching” in M. Shutsky’s translation and in Crowley’s translation, and we will see what is common in these concepts, supporting our guesses with Crowley’s guesses from the Book of Thoth. On the cards themselves we see several hints - figure, clothing, body position, objects and living beings surrounding her. In order to understand these images, it is enough to know the stereotypes associated with these images.
Figured Arcana is a guide to various characters. Where these characters come from is a difficult question. Surely, the Major Arcana in the Querent’s personal layout, which directly show the Father and Mother - the first people in this person’s life, can clarify the situation a little. For example, the Great Mother, represented by the Empress, will create a very different personality from the Moon, and it will be more likely to be the Princess of Disks than the Princess of Swords. However, the influence of the Major Arcana on the Figure Cards requires careful study, which does not fit into the scope of this study.
Matches
And yet, the theories that try to explain the Tarot remain theories, because it is an applied tool that consists of a set of correspondences. The correspondences are tabulated. The “Stars of Eternity” deck is a product of meditation, according to one version - a member of the Order of A...A..., about the people of which we know little, except that their work on themselves is in full swing. The author of Liber T. tried to convey general impression from meditation, sometimes missing details that are so useful for analysis. In other cases, on the contrary, his thinking seems consistent and gives better understanding characters.
Book of Changes
Separately, it should be said about the book “I Ching”, which Crowley widely uses in the “Book of Thoth” to interpret the Figure Cards. The fact is that in the Western occult tradition there is no culture of interpretation of subelements. We can find a lot of materials on the planets and the Zodiac, for each individual element, according to the conjunctions of the element with the planets, but we have no sources for interpreting the overlap of one element with another. Only in China, two thousand years before the beginning of our era, was the treatise “I Ching” created, consisting of so-called hexagrams, which had a name and numerical value. It is believed that the most ancient source consisted of eight trigrams, including all possible combinations of alternating an intermittent yin line with a continuous yang line. Later they were combined into 64 hexagrams. Thus, if four trigrams correspond to four elements, then their combinations in hexagrams will provide us with material for studying such a phenomenon as a subelement. Each of the eight trigrams had proper name and several matches. Their meaning and magical use have not yet been fully explored.
Even while writing the book “777,” Crowley assigned precisely these correspondences to the trigrams. As can be seen, they do not coincide with the ancient Chinese correspondences, where the Coupling trigram means fire and the Immersion trigram water, although in his comments on 777 he states that all these correspondences are traditional. In his life, his acquaintance with the I Ching did not end there.
Later he translates, or rather, writes commentaries on two monuments of Chinese culture: “Tao De Ching” and “I Ching”, which are included in his work “Magical Tao”. One of the Holy Books of Thelema, Liber Trigrammaton describes the course of creation in symbols of the interaction of three symbols: the dot, the line, and the dashed line. As we can see, the Liber Trigrammaton does not clarify the situation very much. However, if you dig around, you can find an explanation why one or another element corresponds to each specific trigram. The only inexplicable thing is why, when it comes to the interpretation of hexagrams, Crowley reads the upper trigram first, and then the lower one, while in all commentaries to the Book of Changes it is indicated that the lower trigram comes first. It turns out that, for example, the airy part of the earth (Earth Air) is designated by hexagram No. 53 (“Current”), where the lower trigram corresponds to the Earth, and the upper one to Air.
If he were reading the hexagrams from below, then the Prince of Disks would correspond to hexagram No. 18, which is called “Correction (corruption),” and in Crowley it refers to the Princess of Swords. One way or another, the correspondences that Crowley offers work: indeed, the Air of the Earth is a more harmonious sub-element than the Earth of Air, since the first means the reserves of a vital element on Earth, and the second means the difficulty of materializing and retaining the volatile element itself. In addition, this study relates to the “Deck of Thoth” and “Liber T”, which express the ideas of hexagrams precisely in Crowley’s interpretation. In any case, working with correspondences are mind games that have a specific goal - to get to the depths of the unconscious through guided meditation and release the resources locked there.
Knights
A distinctive feature of Knights: masculinity and belligerence. They have a horse with them, they are dressed in armor. All these factors are united by the idea of Fire. The horse is a symbol of speed and determination. The horse is part of the knight himself, his best friend and his mirror image. Against the background of a knight galloping on a horse, a symbol of one of the four elements is presented, on which Fire is superimposed, creating a sub-element.
Knight of Wands
Fire of Fire
Double will. The Knight's horse is black, and due to its blackness it looks even more purposeful. The knight's hair, beard and cape, developing, turn into a rapid flame. The knight is completely dressed in armor, which indicates invulnerability. The Knight is purposeful and strong, and these are the qualities of Fire, which are fully given to man here. At some point in life, each of us feels how the inner fire bursts out, giving us strength. This is exactly how the Querent appears before us. Sometimes this Fire is colored by anger and hatred, and then its purpose is destructive. Whether the Knight destroys will be shown by the Minor Arcana around him. Fire-Fire is lightning, an electrical discharge. Crowley refers it to the 51st Hexagram of the I Ching, which is called “Fire”.
Another name for it is “Excitement”. The Book of the I Ching is not limited to one static image, but describes a whole situation. The comments to this hexagram give advice for the battle of conquest.
Fire is opposed to Earth and Water: “Fight fire with fire, and you will not get stuck in dirt and laziness,” says Crowley’s translation of “The Magical Tao.” The last degrees of Scorpio, which are ruled by the Knight, are Scorpio in its highest form, represented by the Eagle. From him the Knight of Wands inherited pride and courage. Sagittarius, last sign Fire, corresponds to the continuous pressure of Fire applied in all directions. Crowley claims that such a Knight has no ability to influence the world, he rushes like heavy artillery, and in Peaceful time It's better to use other methods. However, such a person knows how to get his way. He lacks flexibility, but he excels in speed, like an arrow shot from a Sagittarius bow. However, negative Minor cards, essentially circumstances, can harden his will, and then he will destroy everything in his path.
When appearing in a reading, this card means that a person will be purposeful and fast, he will take from life what he needs, but may be too assertive and unscrupulous in his means. The person will captivate others with his enthusiasm.
As a significator, this is a strong and strong-willed person, sometimes to the point of stubbornness. However, stubbornness is rather an earthly quality, and for the fiery Knight it goes away when his goal changes. And they change very often for him.
Knight of Cups
Fire Bodes
Fire gives Water strength and pressure, but the strength of Water increases due to convenient circumstances: a steep slope, flowing down from which, the strength of water increases. Another example of such “useful circumstances” is pressure drops in different parts seas that cause waves. Hexagram “I Ching”, representing Fire of Water – 54th hexagram – “Bride”. This is a very deep image, hinting at the marriage of Fire and Water at best, but here the image of the bride is more reminiscent of her defenselessness, emptiness (due to whiteness and purity) and putting herself on display like a beautiful doll.
Water falling on stones with great force gradually breaks them into smaller ones, splits off the top layer and dissolves them. And although the pebbles are smooth and beautiful, they have no useful application. Only a great human mind can materialize the power of Water in a hydroelectric power station. But the Knight of Cups does not have the element of Air, which is responsible for the mind, so he is basically useless, although he is as majestic as a thunderstorm. The knight is not susceptible to positive effects. He sees no one but himself, like a peacock spreading its tail. His white horse carries him to further dissolution in the foam of the waves. He has wings and is about to transmute, but in his cup is not the blood of God, but only the oblivion of his lover Selene, who symbolizes the Moon ruling Cancer, which sits on the Knight's cup. In addition, the chemical property of this card is dissolution, which is why Crowley talks about the danger of drug addiction. The beauty of Fire goes out under the onslaught of Water, and, transferring this to a person’s life, we can assume that his beauty becomes only external. The Fire of Water in the narrow sense is only the flickering of its surface.
The artistry of Pisces is only a disguise for the superficiality of Aquarius. The Knight is certainly an extrovert, and in his case, this manifests itself as a desire to demonstrate himself to others. The Knight of Cups in the reading suggests that a person will enjoy life and the attention of other people without thinking about the future. He will focus his energy on being liked, and this can propel him to greater endeavors. If there are negative arcana around such a Knight, then his desire to achieve attention will come from purely selfish motives and will be limited to them.
As a Significator, this Knight is artistic, charming, but a little deceitful and insincere, like both signs of the Zodiac he rules. He is handsome, but capricious and whiny. Rather, she is a girl of marriageable age or a gentle young man who is mired in hedonism.
Knight of Swords
Air Fire
A gust of wind causes the fire to flare up. When enough great strength The fire becomes uncontrollable. The swallows flying in front of the Knight's horse symbolize the speed of his Air - the wind. Gemini, ruled by the Knight, is a very flighty sign, but Taurus gives the Knight stubbornness. As indicated in the commentary to the 32nd Hexagram of the I Ching, the desire for constancy is main enemy such a person.
The Knight of Swords is the personification of activity, perseverance and determination, so stopping is unacceptable for him. The hexagram itself is called “Persistence,” but the very first line of the ancient text says: “Persistence. Action,” which is why Crowley interprets it as “constancy of effort” rather than constancy of rest.
Since there is no absolute peace in the world, constancy manifests itself in some rhythmically repeating action, such as the knocking of a clock. The knight is gifted with unprecedented perseverance and is capable of hard work in constantly changing conditions. Crowley points out that there is a hidden hint in this card about the nature of the Path for such a person: with the help of the persistence of the down-to-earth Taurus, the Knight can become the inspired and exalted Gemini. The Will, represented by Fire, helps him in this. The Knight's main strength is his ability to make the right decisions, although he is more of a strategist than a tactician, since his decisions are dictated by a far-reaching goal. Accordingly, the second danger for such a person will be the inability to decide on a goal, and here the duality of Gemini can fully manifest itself. In a reading, the meaning of this card greatly depends on the environment. If there are life-affirming minor arcana around, a person is on the right path and his persistent actions will be rewarded. In a bad environment, we can advise you to stop and look around, where are we actually flying so quickly? As a significator, the Knight of Wands means a purposeful person, an excellent manager, capable of looking far and deep and making global decisions. If his abilities resonate in the world, and he occupies a position where he has necessary resources to implement his strategies, then he will be happy.
Knight of Disks
Fire of the Earth
This time we see a Knight who has returned from the war and is engaged in food production. Even the duration of the signs he controls indicates the harvest period: the month of August. This knight is a typical representative of the tribal patriarch of ancient Slavic communities, the head of the family, who most often served as an agronomist and manager of a large farm. His ability to rule is the Fire of his subelement, and he controls the affairs of the Earth.
His horse is no longer a mad horse in the ranks of the cavalry, it is a heavy truck, whose main assistant to the peasant is harnessed to the plow and who carries hay for the livestock. Hexagram 62, Fire of the Earth, is called Overdevelopment of the Small. Food production itself is necessary, but not the most important thing in modern world Eona Horus. Therefore, agriculture can be called Small in comparison with the Great Work.
Ancient commentaries say that such a person can pass by his goal and be satisfied with something that almost replaces the object of his aspirations (“If you do not reach your sovereign, you will meet his servant”). Often the managerial potential of such people is wasted on material things, on the desire for wealth and abundance. It is better for such a person to pay attention to his “Leo” qualities and avoid excessive consumerism and overeating, which is characteristic of Virgo in its lowest manifestation. In a reading, this card may indicate that the Querent will prove himself to be an experienced and successful organizer and manager, but the matter itself, most likely, is of a purely material nature. At worst, the Knight of Disks depicts a person who is bogged down in satisfying the needs of his stomach. As a significator, he is a very solid person, standing firmly on his feet, a jack of all trades, but preferring to work not alone, but to organize everyone so that the labor is fairly divided. High matters and the concept of spiritual growth are alien to him. He is more concerned with the question “how to feed his family?” He can be successful in any business where he is required to “organize production,” especially in agriculture. In the city, this is, respectively, a foreman or production manager at a factory.
Queens
Cards corresponding to Queens carry a symbol of femininity, due to the perceptive structure of water. The watery part of the subelements is passive, which is represented by the throne on which the Queens sit. The background and other shapes on the card refer to the symbols of the elements that Water is superimposed on. This is a very strong element capable of volitional influence no worse than Fire, although it chooses other methods. Her methods and spheres of influence are not weapons and swiftness, but feelings and the ability to wait, so she will wage war through intrigue and acting, no worse than any court lady.
Queen of Wands
Water of Fire
The fire of this Queen manifests itself primarily as the fire of sensuality. The will of the Queen of Wands will be aimed at being or appearing kind and generous, making friends and loving. But her love always has a share of superiority, since the Queen of Wands is domineering. The rays directed downwards from her mantle symbolize patronage, and her Bacchae staff - high level sexuality. “In her face is the ecstasy of a woman who knows that below her navel” ... there is also a body, the Book of Thoth hints. Leopard is a symbol of the fastest animal, here is swift Fire. But the Queen, the Water, lays her hand on him, and he remains at her feet. Due to the watery nature, the pride that Fire gives becomes emotionally colored and turns into vanity. The I Ching calls the Water of Fire “Following,” and as a truly Confucian source, it advises following authority with joy.
In the New Aeon, consistency of thinking equals inertia, which is why Crowley writes that the tendency to think makes the Queen stupid, she does not realize what she is doing. So such people are unlikely to achieve success in philosophical reflection, but they are unsurpassed patrons and patrons of the arts for deeper thinkers. The influence of Pisces, which it controls, is here represented by the inertia and extreme passivity of Water, which is saved only by the dynamics of its second ruler - Aries. It turns out that the Queen is very active and energetic, but only under the influence of some stronger source. Its fluidity makes it similar to the lava of a volcano, which never appears without the accompaniment of the volcano itself. In a reading, this card says that a person occupies a position of power in a relationship. But this power is secret, not overwhelming, but passively dominant through acting and intrigue. The positive aspect of this character is the awareness of one's strength and the direction of it according to one's will. Such a person has a strong sexuality, due to which he influences others.
A significator with such a character is a powerful wife who controls her husband from the sofa or a philanthropist who is ready to promote the work of her lover. She is not stupid, but she is stubborn and vain. She is beautiful and virtuous, but she has her own mind. However, her mind may well be her mother's mind, which she picked up as a child. If this is a man, then he reaps his laurels social status, he is occupied with the question of what kind of people to surround himself with in order to stand out even more against their background and dominate them.
Queen of Cups
Water Water
The Queen is very harmonious, but only at first glance. Water of Water reflects, it has no impulse. A heron standing on one leg is invisible in the reeds. Cancer senses the duality of Gemini and defends itself against this awareness of this duality with a brilliant shell.
Water of Water is a pool in which the circles from the drowned woman falling into it very quickly calm down and thick black water covers the drowned woman’s head without a trace. The joy that the 58th hexagram promises is, in fact, the joy of ignorance. But it must also find a way out and be transferred to the environment, otherwise the water will stagnate and turn into a swamp. On the card, the queen's joy is symbolized by her fluorescent cape.
The lotus that the Queen holds in her hand emphasizes the idea of the Great Mother's passivity. The Queen is either superficial, which only “reflects the nature of the observer,” or, on the contrary, she is so deep that the observer lacks his own depth to see all her manifestations. In the layout, this card means that a person will reflect the situation and its participants, without showing the qualities of his personality. The querent will charm others. If there are negative minor Arcana in the environment, then most likely the person will become fixated on himself and his family, and will be perceived only as an annex to his partner. If the surrounding cards are harmonious, then he or she will bring joy and harmony to his or her surroundings.
As a Significator, the Queen of Cups portrays a very calm, flexible and harmonious person who will always have arguments to protect you, even if he does not believe in your perfection. Everyone loves them, but they quickly forget about their existence if they are not seen for a long time.
Queen of Swords
Air Water
Water of Air in its most superficial understanding means art. Therefore, Crowley mentions the art of dancing, and Frieda Harris portrays an actress resting after a performance. The masks are thrown away and her watery, feminine essence becomes obvious, although a minute ago she tried to hide under the face of a bearded man. This is femininity that hides behind the logic of Air, but cannot hide its Water essence.
Crowley calls the ability to free oneself from the mask a “freeing of the mind,” that is, cutting off habitual thought patterns. The commentary to the 28th Hexagram of the I Ching, corresponding to the Queen of Swords, speaks of the fragility of the foundation on which the Queen builds her throne. Her throne hangs in the Air and is itself a faint radiance. Like everyone creative person, The Queen builds castles in the air.
The Hexagram itself is called “Redevelopment of the Great” and the commentary hints that the creativity of such a person does not find a way out, there is nothing new in it. In a bad environment, he expresses himself by playing various roles that do not carry value. In a reading, this card may mean that a person will have to show his true colors. Sometimes the card says that a person urgently needs to change his role, that is, his attitude towards life. Perhaps this can be done with the help of a person from whom you do not expect help (according to the Book of Thoth).
As a significator, the Queen of Swords is the very concentration of wisdom, but this wisdom is presented by a person a little slyly and playfully. This is a man of art who is trying to convey some new idea to the world, but this idea is perceived by others as just a beautiful dance. It is very difficult to find the depth of such a person. He seems superficial and lazy, but he has the potential for development, which he can take advantage of when he realizes that he is playing and building castles in the air of his fantasies.
Queen of Discs
Water of the Earth
In the picture, the Queen is a symbol of fertile land. There are thickets around it, and on the horizon there is a riverbed that brings life to those who settle around it. An oasis in the desert, like the Nile.
The Great Mother Isis (Water) is the most life-giving here, since her power is applied to the Earth. Sagittarius, ruled by the Queen, gives some focus to her efforts, since her ultimate goal is realization (Earth). The nobility of her efforts comes from Jupiter, who rules Sagittarius. Capricorn makes her stubborn and materialistic. Her scepter is with the Hexagram of the Earth, her shield is made of Coins, as the suit of Disks was previously called.
That is why Crowley writes that matter here is going to take part in the Great Work of Creation. It has too many implementation tools. The I-Ching hexagram, “Interaction,” reflects the very realization and transformation that is possible due to the connection of two elements close to each other. Water is friendly to the Earth and together they are capable of giving birth to life, that is, creating something new. In the scenario, the Queen of Disks means the intervention of a rational maternal force, which is interested, first of all, in preserving the life of its child, so the goal may not be achieved, breaking off on the Queen’s horns.
On the other hand, it is a symbol of security and home comfort, which is sometimes so necessary. Such people are good at growing plants, they are low-intellectual, but they are not stupid. They have a very developed intuition, but it often does not find application if everyone around them is only interested in the final result. The twisted horns of the sacred goat, which the Queen wears on her helmet, speak of her extreme stubbornness. The ram in the foreground emphasizes this even more. However, the Ram is also a valuable fur, which the Princess of Disks will wear when she sits on her mother’s throne. The Queen of Disks has a talent for working with matter: everything is transformed in her hands.
Princes
Princes represent Air, its volatility and intelligence. They are courageous, but they are still young men, so their courage is not in strength, but in logic, since they, like all young people, put intelligence above other human qualities. They all ride on the chariot of their mind, whose thoughts carry them across the expanses of the Universe. Harnessed to the chariot Living being, symbolizing the element on which Air is superimposed. Their second element is the nature of the thoughts of the Princes and the sphere of application of their mind. They hold the reins in their hands, so they control the dominant thought, which allows them to choose the direction themselves to some extent. However, the possibility of choice is illusory - their totem animal has already determined the speed and nature of progress. The princes are clad in thin, invisible chain mail, reflecting their vulnerability to a more decisive force, but their vulnerability is compensated by the speed of the chariot, which carries them away from the missiles of cruel reality with the speed of the wind.
Prince of Wands
Air of Fire
“And there is Fire, rushing forward and spreading by the rushing air,” says the Opening Ritual of the Watchtower of Air. The Prince of Wands' chain mail does not even reach his chest, but his neck, where Vishuddha is located, is protected from bullets. Conversations are his strong point. He thinks quickly, speaks smartly and is constantly evolving. You can't argue with him.
The main feature of his character is a slightly detached frivolity. He is strong, but his strength is directed in all directions, like the rays of his crown. He knows a lot, but believes in nothing.
He thinks quickly, proves logically and can convince others, but he himself will adhere to several points of view at once. His chain mail is the shell of Cancer, which he controls together with Leo, who is harnessed to his chariot. The nature of the thoughts of the Prince of Wands is militant, but the war goes on at the level of ideas that the Air of the card gives, and the war is rather intellectual, and the question that the prince is trying to figure out is: who is smarter and better (vain Leo). His phoenix wand reveals the Solar nature in him - it is able to illuminate the hidden parts of the unconscious of other people. The I Ching states that the Air of Fire, the 42nd hexagram “I,” multiplies and creates, but resources tend to dry out if they are not constantly replenished. In a reading, this card means that the Querent will seriously think about his decisions and will do everything to achieve what he wants. But, in fact, he initially does not know what he wants, so he is unlikely to decide on anything as a result. He will have many ideas, sometimes absurd. With negative Minor Arcana, his actions will be destructive.
As a Significator, the Prince of Wands signifies a person who is intelligent, goal-oriented and willing to help others. This is a complete extrovert. His desires often do not coincide with reality, but his stubbornness does not allow him to retreat. The main thing in his case is not to direct his energy towards fighting windmills.
Prince of Cups
Air Water
The water of this Prince is stagnant, the only thing that prevents it from rotting is the rain that falls on it from the Air. His chariot is harnessed to an Eagle, and on his head is a helmet with an Eagle on it. The eagle symbolizes Scorpio, who has managed to transform into a higher spiritual being. The harmony of Libra adds even more energy to the transformed Scorpio, especially intellectual energy, if applied in the right direction.
But in Scorpio, even in its highest form, there is always a hint of decay and the poisonous bites of the “gray lizard”. Water creates fog, dissolving into Air. Intellect and ideas in this case dissolve all emotions, subordinating emotions to achieve a specific goal. Hexagram No. 61, represented in the Tarot by the Prince of Cups, is called “Inner Truth.” Such a person will always justify his actions with some inner truth, even if these actions are cruel to others (Scorpio and the snake). With such an attitude, any interaction with others only leads to a waste of energy and “exaltation of oneself”, because the person does not experience emotions towards people.
This person combines enormous energy and a completely disregardful attitude towards others. He already has his inner truth, and his own rain, which does not allow the water to rot, so he seems calm and never needs others, and others are afraid of him, because they cannot understand why he is so cruel and what his natural armor hides, grown directly on the body. Thus, a person will show himself indifferent and dishonest. He will deepen himself and achieve his goals.
As a significator, this is an energetically strong, very secretive person who is extremely unreliable, although very attractive.
Prince of Swords
Air of Air
There is a very important detail on the Prince of Swords card: the prince chases people, or rather, according to the Book of Thoth, winged children. This is a hint that Air is a purely human element. It serves as the primary food for civilization, and civilization itself is an “airy” structure. But in order to build a civilization, you need Will (Fire), environment (Water) and materialization (Earth).
Here only Air is present. In occultism, Air is interpreted as the element of logic and intellect, and therefore the Prince of Swords is an intellectual person, but without the influence of other elements, his ability to think turns into empty reasoning. The winged children carrying the Prince's chariot are “my thoughts, my steeds,” as the popular song goes.
Each of them, like a swan, a crayfish and a pike in Krylov’s fable, fly wherever they want, “and the cart is still there.” The sword and sickle with which the Prince creates and immediately destroys his logical chains takes us to the comments in the 57th Hexagram of the I-Ching, “Penetration”: “The beginning is not in your power, but the end is in your power.” But if goals change all the time, and the mind is used only to play on words as a tribute to fashion, then the Prince’s carriage will remain in place, and there will be no meaning in the figures that he draws. The Prince of Swords has inherited the extreme intelligence and charm of the Aquarius he rules, but at the same time carries within himself the traits of superficiality and inability to express or realize an idea. Crowley believes that such people must be subdued by a stronger will, but the Prince of Swords is very difficult to subdue, since he has no values.
In a reading, this card means that a person has played himself into being an intellectual so much that the fruits of his work on his own mind have ceased to bring him real benefit, but have turned into empty words. As a significator, this is a very smart person, but instead of getting down to business, he waffles his tongue or suffers from empty graphomania. Its main feature is extreme flexibility of thinking. He speaks and immediately retracts what he said because he doesn’t believe anything. Such a person cannot be trusted: he will be friendly with you only until he goes over to the side of your enemies.
Prince of Disks
Air of the Earth
If the Knight of Disks manages the production process, that is, he is involved in the work at the implementation stage, then the Prince of Disks is a planner who decides what, how and in what quantity will be produced. Since he is associated with Air, his work is in any case intellectual, even if applied in agriculture, with which he is associated, like all other Disks. This is the inventor who came up with tools that make the work of peasants easier.
The process in nature that corresponds to it is flowering, so the Prince has a lot of spring energy, joy and ecstasy. Aries and Taurus, ruled by the Prince, give him perseverance, impulse and the opportunity to practically apply his abilities. The main thing, as Crowley writes in the Book of Thoth, is “to extract from your element the vegetation on which the spirit feeds,” and not to get hung up on the material. Another danger that threatens him, on the contrary, is to get too bogged down in his endless projects without completing a single task, that is, to become too airy, which, however, is less likely, since the heavy bull pulling the Prince’s cart is too down-to-earth.
Hexagram No. 53, corresponding to the Prince, is called “Flow” and the comments indicate the extreme activity of such a person, his fluidity. The flow, surprisingly, is illustrated by the example of the flight of wild geese (swans according to Shutsky), which symbolize the Air subelement. Due to the fact that the Prince of Disks has no hint of the element of Water, he experiences almost no emotions and does not understand them, so it is difficult for him to communicate with “water” types of people. Again, the “fiery” Prince will seem too down to earth. In the scenario, the Prince of Disks means that a person has the strength and ability to realize his ideas. He will invent very skillful means to achieve his goal. His determination will be fully rewarded. This card has practically no negative features. Surrounded by the minor arcana, his inventions will not find their application.
As a Significator, this is an excellent inventor or entrepreneur. This is an earthly person, often a materialist, but quite smart and intellectual, unlike the Knight and Queen. It’s just that he is more interested in realization and the concrete result of his work than in the subtle worlds.
Princesses
Earth - the element that is represented by the Princesses in the deck - is passive, feminine, cold and dry. She is stable and stable. All the princesses are young girls who stand near the altar, at which they praise the god of the elements. Therefore, princesses are characterized by inertia. In princesses the effect of the second element is manifested much more strongly than in other figures. They seem to follow him, and therefore it is difficult for them to be independent and independent. Surrounded by positive Minor Arcana, the loss of the princess will mean that her second element has a merciful effect on her. Surrounded by the bad minor arcana, she is isolated and therefore the most secret qualities of the Earth are manifested in her, about which the opening ritual of the Watchtower of the Earth says: “a dark, luxurious world that constantly lies from the depths of its unbelief and a steep, windy hell, lying in darkness, delighting the imagination with non-existent visions, this gloomy black abyss that sucks in the body of light - formless and empty. This is the world of a terrible mother, the desire not to live and not to see the sunlight. The desire to return to the very first stages of evolution. In the part of the sky that the princesses rule there are no constellations of the Zodiac, so it remains to interpret them only by the direction of the light of the quadrant they control, always with a discount on the fact that we are talking about the sky in the North, and the North is another correspondence of the Earth .
Princess of Wands
Land of Fire
In Earth, Fire is represented in the form of fuel. But the fuel cannot burn until the Fire itself appears. For thousands of years, not a single ember caught fire in the earth until a person took it out into the air and lit it. The princess dances without clothes. She is free and ready for transmutation. But below her we see a tiger who is holding her neck with his tail, preventing her from flying up. The tiger, whose stripes resemble flames, refers us to the first tigers of the earth - saber-toothed, which were distinguished by extreme gluttony. The I-Ching hexagram, symbolizing the Fire of the Earth, is called “Nutrition”.
The saber-toothed tiger was a marsupial that carried its young on its body. Like any Earth Mother, the Princess cares for her offspring, so sometimes this gluttony can benefit subsequent generations. Perhaps she will accumulate wealth. Her altar of Fire is decorated with rams' heads, symbolizing Aries, into which the Sun enters on the day of the vernal equinox. Therefore, the Princess has a lot of spring playfulness and swiftness. However, this is the quality of Fire, which she serves, and her main nature is gluttony. She will do only what will bring her some benefit, she will strive for everything that can serve as her nutrition. The Princess of Wands rules the southern quadrant of the sky above North Pole, therefore it is extremely contradictory. On the one hand, she has a strong will that pulls her forward, and on the other, that same voracious tiger does not allow her to move forward. If this card appears in a reading, the Querent will very persistently achieve something, with all the passion and unbridledness of spring. But it seems like something is bothering him all the time. This obstacle is essentially the body’s refusal to overeat, so the Querent’s very goal is most likely the fruit of a delusion.
As a Significator, this is a passionate nature, setting certain goals for itself and having in its arsenal simply fantastic methods of achieving these goals. This is a stubborn person, but he is easy to influence if your energy background is strong enough. So before you have time to look back, she has already become your follower, because she has no inner core.
Princess of Cups
Land of Water
Crowley writes of her as an unrivaled helper. It is known that without a good assistant it is difficult to complete a major undertaking. Often the assistant is the direct executor of the leader’s ideas, that is, he materializes them. This ability is evidenced by the Earth element in its subelement and its chemical property: the ability of water to crystallize. From its second element, Water, one can extract a hint about the nature of the business in which it is involved. Her true calling is poetry, as a standard of crystallized emotions. This is a singer of the revolution like our Mayakovsky.
In her hand she holds a lotus, a symbol of the passivity of the great Isis, and a turtle, symbolizing her slowness and connection with Earth and Water at the same time. She is the mistress of two elements, and both of these elements are feminine. At first glance, the name of the I Ching hexagram, “Wane,” contradicts the idea of crystallization. But already reading the first advice that the book gives, it becomes clear that decline occurs only if the Princess is given too much freedom. In order to maintain her position, she needs to submit to order. The next verse gives direct instructions on how to avoid getting caught up in the chaos of your emotions: “And two bowls are enough for the sacrifice,” says the Oracle. The desire to fill everything with Water is as strong here as the Princess of Wands’ desire for Fire. And if you get too carried away, you can end up in dangerous world their emotionally charged fantasies. In a reading, this Princess of Cups may indicate that a person is mired in his fantasies, but the appearance of this card may indicate that he is in the process of creativity. It all depends on the minor arcana. Sometimes a card indicates that a person will be an assistant in some matter if there are Disks or Wands around. If there are many Cups, then the Querent will wallow in emotions and perceive the situation too romantically.
As a person, the Princess of Cups is sweet, feminine and romantic and has some kind of artistic talent. In the worst case, this princess can be found in large companies, where she works as the secretary of the most important leader, and is probably in love with him.
Princess of Swords
Land of Air
In the Book of Thoth this Princess is presented rather sinisterly. In his interpretation, Crowley is based primarily on the I Ching, since the 18th Hexagram, corresponding to the Princess, is called “Trouble” or, in another version, “Correction of Corruption.” In this context, the Princess of Swords is a man with problems, a slave to his parents' mistakes, which he often has to unravel throughout his life. She always has the opportunity to free herself, but for some reason she strives to go through suffering and empty struggle to the end. The Princess's problem is that the ideas of the mind represented in her sub-element Air are very difficult to materialize, as the Earth requires of her. A volatile element is difficult to fix. Under natural conditions, no gas appears in a solid state. Oxygen can be brought to a liquid state, but to a solid state is almost impossible. Therefore, the princess fights the winds, trying to catch at least one and fit it on her empty altar. But the winds of her soul do not at all strive for peace, and this is the contradiction of her nature. The life of the Chukchi and Eskimos living under the North-Eastern sky, which she rules, is very harsh - they constantly have to fight the forces of nature opposing them.
Other peoples have long migrated further south, but the inhabitants of the far north prefer the eternal struggle for survival. So the Princess struggles all her life with the circumstances that she herself subconsciously creates in her life. Perhaps her mission is to overcome difficulties, however, this does not bring her happiness. Surrounded by positive Minor Arcana, she is an ideologist who leads people, an excellent speaker, like Hitler, and her ideas are militant and often absurd. She preaches war against the elements. The Gorgon Medusa on her helmet symbolizes the dark side of the female mind, which is aimed at the destruction of everyone who comes into contact with her. According to legend, Medusa was undeservedly cursed by Athena because Poseidon raped Medusa in the temple of the goddess of wisdom. That is, the temple of this woman was desecrated by a man, and this is the great doctrine contained in this card: there are places in the psyche where Air should not penetrate with its rationalism. Some ideas should not be spoken out loud. And if this happens, then rationality will persistently fight with irrationality, leading a person to torment, which, however, if considered as a test, can be successfully overcome.
In a reading, this card indicates that a person will be powerless in the face of current circumstances. He will resist with all his might, but his efforts will only destroy, not create. Perhaps in this situation this is the best outcome, but at first it does not seem so. This is a situation of struggle from which the Querent will most likely emerge as a loser. Sometimes this card indicates that in the current situation the Querent will show the most dark sides of your soul.
As a Significator, the Princess of Swords is a scary person. She is nothing of herself as a person, however, she loves to argue and impose her point of view on others. Her altar is empty, and she experiences only the wrath of the gods and the correction of “damage,” but she does not at all agree with this state of affairs. This is an old maid or an abandoned wife who comes with anger, envy and vindictiveness from her own sexual dissatisfaction.
Princess of Discs
Earth Earth
Even though the Land of Earth is all about extreme materialism, we don't see these traits in the Disc Princess. Each Princess is, first of all, a Priestess before the altar of her deity, and therefore Fertility (which is pursued by all representatives of the suit of Disks) is represented here in a deeply spiritual form: in the form of the Altar of the goddess Demeter, and several correspondences that reveal the secrets of Birth. In Crowley's map, the Disc Princess is pregnant. Liber T, unfortunately, does not have this.
On the altar lies a ball in which the rose of the Great Mother gives rise to the androgyny of the Yin-Yang emblem from Chinese symbolism. All together, this is a symbol of the embryo of a new life, which is still sexless and resides in the Orphic Egg (this is especially emphasized by the author of “Stars of Eternity”) and here is a hint of her connection with the Fool - the cycle is completed and is about to begin again. Her spear has a tip made of diamond - the same stone that is considered a symbol of the purest spirituality of Kether. As is known, diamonds are mined from the Earth, which once again confirms the doctrine that “Malkuth is Kether, but in a different way.”
IN Ancient Greece in conditions of severe discrimination against women, they were allowed to gather together only once a year for the festival of the goddess Demeter. Thus, Demeter symbolized that necessary freedom from home, which is very difficult for a woman to obtain. And this freedom lies in the spiritual perception of the earthly events that happen to her, such as marriage or the birth of a child, which I already wrote about in the work “Faces of the Moon”. Unlike other Princesses, this is a more harmonious nature. She does not strive for one of the elements of her structure, since she has everything necessary to fulfill her mission. However, in real life conditions, she lacks the masculine logical principle, therefore such people are extremely inconsistent and dependent on the influence of others. But the influence of others materializes here, that is, she can be called a follower who has surpassed her teacher in practical achievements.
The I Ching speaks of the Land of the Earth in terms of Malkuth - each feature here corresponds to one of the parts of the human body. Sometimes the 52nd hexagram is translated as “Mountain” - and then this symbol refers us to the very idea of the Princess of Wands, which is represented in the form of her diamond tip. Another translation: “Concentration” and already in the first lines is a reference to the meditative concentration of Buddhists, to their passive acceptance of current events. In order to get closer to the spiritual, you need to learn to control your body and be able to remain completely still. In a reading, this card means that a person will take a completely passive role in the situation, but the situation will end with a completely material outcome for him. Perhaps the Querent will feel some coldness in the relationship.
This card also speaks of possible motherhood or that the person will be busy with household problems. The Princess of Disks reacts passively to the events that happen to her, shows stubbornness, but in this stubbornness, unbeknownst to herself, she accepts what she is stubborn against. This person is subject to external influence and goes with the flow. As a person, she is inconsistent, subject to the influence of others, but at the same time she grasps a lot new information, which develops into her own system, bringing her real benefits. In another version, this is a typical example of a housewife who is busy raising children and doing housework.
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Messenger, gossip, some news (on neighboring cards), help, support. Friend, foreigner.
Nice, enthusiastic, prone to getting carried away. Admirer, lover.
Make new acquaintances, implement new ideas.
Changes in family, work, etc. are possible.
Business is small.
Health is good, maybe VSD.
Reversed card
Treason, warning, instability. Leads to change. Keep your mouth shut.
Business is a failure.
Health is victory over minor illnesses.
Page of Cups
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Good news, new idea, work, work. Acquaintance. Possible birth of a child. Good outcome. Reflection, more determination. Possible changes in emotions. Directness, trust. Conflict resolution.
The business is small, the money is average.
Health – mental illness, underdevelopment, childhood diseases.
Reversed card
Flattery, cunning, deception, seduction, selfishness, inability to translate plans into reality. Love of luxury. A short truce.
Business doesn’t work because of laziness, it’s deception.
Health – childhood illnesses are difficult.
Page of Swords
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Spy, traitor, curiosity. Bad news, gossip, envy. The person will do harm. Showdown. You calculate everything. Cunning, vindictive.
Business is small business.
Health – hidden diseases, difficult to diagnose.
Reversed card
Cunning, quarrels, unpleasant news, surprise, any changes. Mutual insults until the relationship breaks down. Health problems. Sudden blow.
Business is dishonest.
Health – mumps, chickenpox, kleptomania, pathological lying.
Page of Pentacles
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Good news (from relatives). Luxury. Changes in material terms are possible. Kind, generous, caring. The beginning of ambitions, career. Training, work, impracticality.
The business is at an early stage, but stable.
Health – problems with joints or just needs to be strengthened.
Reversed card
Bad news, a slowdown in something. Unhealthy, narcissistic. Impudence, rudeness, robbery. Embezzlement. Impostor. Spendthrift. Bad luck. Don't borrow money.
Business is of low quality, requires repayment of debts.
Health – stretch marks, dislocations.
Knight of Wands
Aries, Taurus, Gemini
Departure, arrival soon, relocation. Change of any kind. Friend, relatives are ready to help. Unable to control the situation.
Business is risky.
Health is good, but does not protect.
Reversed card
Divorce, scandal, quarrels, breakup, jealousy, separation. Losing a friend. Troubles. There will be no wedding. Suspicion. The trip (change of place) will be forced.
Business is a complete adventure.
Health – dangerous injuries.
Knight of Cups
Fish
Arrival, guest, visiting, lover, beloved. Good friend, honest, smart, talented. Unexpected receipt of money. Loyal. Unable to control the situation. There was a change in emotions. Dreamer. New acquaintance.
The business is well established, the money is average.
Health – quick recovery.
Reversed card
Deception of trust, thief, laziness, deceit, vile acts. Tempter, seducer, suggestibility.
Business is not bad, empty promises.
Health – sexually transmitted diseases.
Knight of Swords
Twins
Acts only in his own interests. Cunning, jealous. Conflict. Military. Attack. Unable to control the situation. There was a significant change in plans and intentions. Unexpected turn (on neighboring cards). A clear and sober mind.
With the King, the Lady - a quarrel, a scandal.
Business is a booming business, sometimes leaving work.
Health is an acute process of illness.
Reversed card
Trouble of any kind. Impudence, enemy, cruelty, stupidity, theft.
Business is a loss.
Health – complications after surgery, sciatica, arthritis.
Knight of Pentacles
Virgo
Departure, arrival, impatient. Benefit, profitable business. Profit. A material change has occurred. Unable to control the situation. Luck.
Business - slowly but surely.
Health – physical strength, endurance.
Reversed card
Gossip, loss of money, work. Calm, stagnant. Loan. Scam. Slowdown. Ignorance.
Business – little or no money, poorly planned.
Health – something always hurts.
Queen of Wands
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Glamorous, love of money. Honest. It's time to. Start of the enterprise. Development. Realization, fidelity. Sensual woman with a very strong character. Success is likely. Doesn't lose control.
Business – business lady.
Love – faithful, loving.
Health is good.
Reversed card
Jealousy, greed, betrayal, lies. Will provide a service. The meeting will take place. Sacrifices too much for an illusory idea.
Business is the wrong direction, tyrant.
Love is not to trust, talkative.
With the Devil - envy, jealousy, revenge.
Health has gone wrong.
Queen of Cups
Honest, blonde, good friend, dreamy, mother, grandmother. Generous woman, gentle.
Business – profit, development.
Love is emotional love.
Health – tendency to edema, excess weight, sluggish diseases.
Reversed card
Divorce, end of relationship. Duplicity. Psychical deviations. Unstable psyche, insidious. Scandal, whims, jealousy, debauchery, mother cuckoo. Communication without feelings. Wishful thinking.
Business – no money, no development, chaos.
Love - Abuses alcohol or anything else, in any case - unstable
With a Magician - problems in intimate life.
Health – drug poisoning, substance abuse.
Queen of Swords
Scales
Business is on the rise.
Love - will not trust your feelings.
With 3 Swords and High Priestess- secret love.
Health is a successful operation, a tenacious struggle for life.
Reversed card
Cunning, deception, stubbornness, gossip, misfortune. Losses.
Business – incorrect calculations, waste.
Love is a gossip, a jealous woman, a lonely woman, with 9 Cups - depression.
Health – neuralgia, thyroid gland.
Queen of Pentacles
Brunette, trust, wealth. Achieves with prudence, knows how to manage. Home improvement, mother, housewife, charming, ambitious. The event is fun.
Business is established
Love - will be devoted all your life, does not accept any relationships except serious ones
Health is taking good care of the body.
Reversed card
Evil is inevitable, indecision, doubt. Cunning, gossip, fraudster. Failures, fear, illness, troubles. The events are sad.
Business is mismanagement.
Love is a marriage of convenience, obsessed with the thirst for profit, envious, full of ambition.
Health – cares little about the body.
King of Wands
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Kind, honest, modest, achieves everything through his hard work. A worthy opponent. Good news, success, career advancement. Iron will.
Business is expanding.
Love - meeting at work, with 3 of Swords - unable to return feelings.
Health – strong, quick recovery.
Reversed card
A tyrant, an egoist, a fighter, a harsh disposition, hard work will not help just like that. He abandons his family for the sake of work and business.
Business – problems with management.
Love - will not stop to conquer, and then immediately abandon, hero-lover.
Health – apathy, temporary disability.
King of Cups
Cancer, Scorpio
The beginning of the novel, blond, honest, friend. Impractical with money, sometimes greedy. Loves family, good lover. Amorous. Fickle. Educated, with developed intuition. With a sense of humor. He promises a lot, but quickly forgets. Father, patron, guardian, relatives.
With the Magician - success in everything.
With the Emperor - gigolo.
The business is stable with high earnings.
Love - you won’t be bored with him, relationships will improve.
Health – good, improved health.
Reversed card
Sex without love, family breakdown, drunkard, drug addict. High position. Thief. A shame. Extortion. Unfair, dishonest, cunning, vile. Deception, treason. With a bad past, a spendthrift.
Business – losses, damages.
Love is a deceiver, betrayal, decreased potency, inconstancy in love, relationships, an unsuccessful lover, uncertain relationships, intentions.
Health - exhaustion in drinking, partying, parties.
King of Swords
Aquarius
Official, competitor, jealous, dangerous, cunning, questionable situation, physical danger. Highly educated with a tendency to manage others. Doesn't take my word for it.
Business is government business.
Love needs to be smart.
Health – severe head injuries, meningitis.
Reversed card
Deceit, cruelty, evil person, rude, violence, complicated court case.
Business - dismissal.
Love is two-faced, a gossip, a liar.
Health is worse than in an upright position.
King of Pentacles
Taurus
Always gets things done. Brunette, businessman, father. Master, rich, educated, patron, faithful husband, sponsor, teacher. Prosperity. Reliability, talent. Ready to protect. Patient, practical.
The business is solid.
Love is hard to conquer, owner, good family man.
Health is salt (inclination).
Reversed card
Weakness, improper organization, disorder, danger. Dangerous person, competitor, narrow-minded, revenge.
Business is speculation.
Love is boring, petty, jealous, vindictive. With the Devil - relationships end due to jealousy.
Health – salt deposition.
Curly
As I wrote before, Minor Arcana Tarot contain figured cards that are also used in playing cards. A significant difference between Tarot cards is that each suit has one more face card than the familiar playing cards. Two cards in each suit are the same (king and queen), although their names are different, and it should be noted that the names differ even in different Tarot decks. But with the remaining cards the situation is more interesting. Two Tarot cards were combined into one playing card. The correspondence of cards can be summarized in a table
Because everything figured cards represent images of people occupying different positions on the steps of the social ladder and having different views on life, it is logical to assume that the meaning of these cards will largely correspond to the “human” characteristics of the processes. I put the word “human” in quotation marks intentionally because these characteristics do not necessarily apply to the actions of people.
It must be borne in mind that when fortune telling with Tarot cards, the main goal was to describe human interpersonal relationships, while I remain deeply convinced that this is only a narrow direction of application of the cards, and their meaning should be interpreted more broadly.
I will try to give an interpretation of the meanings of the figured cards, which would be broader than the definition of purely human characteristics, but, nevertheless, would be based on them. Obviously, a figurative representation of the meaning of cards greatly facilitates the memorization of an expanded interpretation of their meanings. When reviewing the cards, I will rely on the names adopted in the Rider-Waite deck, but the interpretation of the cards in Leo Tarot may differ, sometimes significantly, from the interpretations accepted in traditional Tarot decks. Therefore, for those who want to get acquainted with the traditional interpretation of the Tarot, I recommend turning to the available literature.
All photographs below can be enlarged by clicking the mouse.
King
A king, in the generally accepted understanding, is a leader who determines the laws in his kingdom and outlines the path for the development of society. This map and symbolizes a leading position, which is combined with responsibility for everything that happens. This is someone who is able to inspire others, but does not shy away from difficulties and embodies fair treatment. The king is characterized by an analytical and logical approach to solving problems, but with intuition developed on the basis of rich experience, and a willingness to take justifiable risks. The king has strong will and initiative, combined with deep realism and a thorough assessment of the situation.
Queen
Queen symbolizes feminine in the broad sense of the word. In addition to the generally accepted interpretation of the female role as the guardian of the family and home, one should also take into account the role of female individuals, recognized by scientists, as guardians of the genetic stability of the species. If males are characterized by faster variability, for which they pay big amount deviations from the norm and shorter life expectancy, then female individuals provide conservatism and stability of the species, having for this purpose greater endurance in extreme conditions and increased adaptability within existing limitations (physical and psychological). Thus, the Queen symbolizes some limitation in the search for new things, but ingenuity in using existing resources. The Queen needs stability and security. She is restrained and reasonable, has a critical view of her surroundings and can find a reasonable solution to a problem that does not involve going beyond the current situation. The Queen is ready to devote herself to someone or something and will persistently achieve her goal.
Knight
The knight is distinguished by some contradictory nature. On the one hand, he is brave, brave, strong. On the other hand, he does not always calculate the results of his activity. Although the knight is honest and diligent to the point of pedantry, his behavior reveals a desire to show off and please someone. The knight is capable of methodical, well-organized actions, which can be leisurely or hot-tempered, explosive, but always effective. At the same time, the initial premises that push the Knight to action can be ill-conceived, adventurous, dictated by immoderate ambitions and stubbornness. The knight is characterized by actions about which Kozma Prutkov said: “Sometimes zeal overcomes reason.” A knight is capable of honestly fulfilling his duty, but he is not able to formulate this; he needs external guidance.
Page
The Page personifies the use of potential opportunities; he is always actively looking for something new, but does not invent it, but uses what he comes across. The desire to take advantage of such an opportunity can lead the Page to a rather serious conflict. The Page strives to gain new experience, to try everything that is available to him. The Page has poorly developed restraining abilities; he is capable of adventures, which can sometimes be crowned with success, but can also fail miserably.
Comparison
As you can see, figure cards are very easy to apply to a family consisting of a father, mother, eldest son - a young man and a younger child, boy or girl (let me remind you that in Crowley's deck the Page corresponds to the Princess). At the same time, the meanings of the cards are easily interpreted in ordinary human sense. However, it is possible to use the interpretations of these cards in other areas of life. For example, if we consider the structure of the state, then the King means approximately the same as the legislative branch of government, the Queen means the executive branch, the Knight means the judicial and law enforcement branches, and the Page means us in the state, trying to adapt to the existing system and find some new opportunities.
As can be seen from what has been discussed, the meanings of the cards are closely interrelated, but do not intersect, but complement each other. At the same time, the group of figured cards describes, in contrast to the digital cards of the Minor Arcana, not abstract characteristics of processes, but more reasonable, one might say, “moral” properties of processes. When a problem arises, a search for a radical solution, taking into account accumulated experience (King) or a compromise solution in conditions of limited resources (Queen), can be used; forceful ways to solve the problem (Knight) or workaround new ways (Page) are also possible.
Thus, I repeat, Tarot cards cannot provide a ready-made solution, but they allow us to evaluate possible options for the development of events and ways to influence ongoing processes. So far I have not touched upon the topic of applying the interpretation of these cards to life, although this is, in fact, the purpose of my reflections, since it will first be necessary to consider the interpretation of the suits of the cards. The suits of Tarot cards indicate the scope of interpretation digital values kart. We will talk about this in the next article in this series.
Minor Arcana cards that depict people are called face or “palace” cards. There are 16 of them in total, four cards of each suit. The division into four serves a dual function here, because there are also four types of cards: kings, queens, knights, sometimes called horsemen, and pages (jacks). Each of them plays a special role, just like the other cards in this amazing deck.
A. Khshvanovskaya "Mystery of Tarot"
Yard maps. General characteristics
Video processing...
Court Cards
Thanks to the figured cards, you can first of all choose a significator card, since simplest method to do this, select a card according to the questioner’s zodiac sign. In addition, figured cards describe the character traits of people associated with a given layout, often suggesting their profession or inclinations in this direction.
Kings determine the main character traits of a given person, they are, as it were, carriers of the energy of a given element, this is very strong cards, in strength they are almost equivalent to the Major Arcana. They embody power, leadership, and the ability to control oneself. The King of Wands indicates a choleric person, the King of Cups indicates a phlegmatic person, the King of Swords indicates a sanguine person, and the King of Denarii indicates a melancholic person.
Queens correspond to astrological cardinal signs, and therefore speak of solid people with strong character, predisposed to leadership positions. They often point to people who will be happy to help the questioner. They are active and active, they not only have logical thinking, but also know how to show emotions and feelings.
Knights are associated with astrological fixed signs and, like them, symbolize people with unchanging convictions who consistently remain in their position and bring balance and tranquility to the life of the querent. Trips, travel.
The youngest of the figured cards, that is, the pages, correspond to the astrological mutable signs. They bring movement into the life of the questioner and symbolize, as a rule, young active people, lovers of change and travel, who can be useful to the questioner thanks to their new, fresh perspective on affairs and problems. Pages are also responsible for all matters related to children. These are children, teenagers, minors. Study, news, relaxation.
These cards are a graphical analysis of the powers of the four letters of the Name and the four Elements. They are also associated with the Zodiac, but not three decans of one sign correspond to one card: the influence of the card begins in the last decan of one sign and continues until the second decan of the next sign. The matter is complicated by the fact that, contrary to reasonable expectations, the elemental attributes of the cards are not brought into line with the zodiacal ones. The fact is that in the realm of the Elements everything is mixed and confused; or, to put it in a valid tone, interdependent and balanced. With this arrangement of the cards, albeit on a rough and purely practical level, they very well describe the different types of men and women. In short, any of these cards depict a person whose Sun or rising sign at birth falls within the range of zodiacal correspondences of this card.
Aleister Crowley "Tarot of Thoth"
Figure cards of Aleister Crowley
The Knights symbolize the powers of the letter Yod in the Name. They are the most sublime, primordial, active part of the Energies of the Elements; for this reason they are depicted as horsemen in full armor. Their action is swift and violent, but transitory. In the Element of Fire, for example, the Knight corresponds to a flash of Lightning; in the Element of Water - Rain and Springs; in the Element of Air - Wind; in the Element of Earth - Mountains.
The Queens represent the first letter He in the Name. They complement the Knights: they accept, excite and transmit further their original Energy. They receive this Energy, are quick and well adapted to their function, but they are not yet the final product. Queens are the second stage of the process of creation, the fourth and final stage of which is material realization. They are depicted sitting on thrones. This emphasizes the fact that Queens are appointed to perform certain functions.
The Princes symbolize the Powers of the letter Vau in the Name. The Prince is the son of the Queen (daughter of the old King) and the Knight who conquered her; therefore he is depicted in a chariot, carrying the combined Energy of his parents. He is the active product of their union, its external manifestation, its intellectual image. Therefore, the Prince's action lasts longer than the actions of his predecessors. In a sense, it even acquires relative eternity, being a “public testimony” of what was done in secret.
The Princesses represent the final He in the Name, the final result of the primordial Energy in its completion, crystallization, materialization. They also represent the balancing and self-absorption of this Energy, the silence into which everything returns. Thus, they are both eternal and non-existent. Princesses do not have zodiac correspondences. But it is obvious that they depict four types of people. These are those numerous "elemental" people whom we recognize by their lack of sense of responsibility, whose moral qualities lack clarity. They are divided according to the dominant planets.