Making the Most of These Meanings
In This Chapter
- What are traditional meanings?
- Why bother with tradition when you have intuition?
- Where do traditional meanings come from?
- How should the meanings in this book be used?
About Traditional Meanings
Many Tarot readers work intuitively: as they look at an illustration, they get an impression of what that card means to them at that point in time.
On one day, the Ace of Wands is a good omen. On the next, it could be a warning. Neither interpretation is right or wrong, because all meanings assigned to the cards are strictly a matter of context.
But Tarot cards also have traditional meanings—meanings other people have assigned to the cards over time. Some of these meanings are derived from complicated astrological or numerological computations. Some are based on obscure texts. Others are based on the insights of experienced readers, who have learned to associate certain cards with certain situations.
Passionate intuitive readers may refer to traditional meanings as “canned meanings,” implying they are prefabricated, stale, or inferior. But traditional meanings have their place. In short, they can:
- help beginners approach the cards with confidence
- suggest new and valuable associations for each card
- introduce readers to new ways of thinking about specific cards or groups of cards
- serve as “jumping off points” for brainstorming sessions
- offer a second opinion on what a given card might mean
- lend weight to an intuitive reader’s first impressions, and
- suggest insights a purely intuitive reader might overlook.
A single glance at a well-designed Tarot card illustration may tell you all you need to know. But when you're uncertain of your skills, too tired to be at your best, or worried that your personal agenda is coloring your interpretations, a guide to traditional meanings (like the one found in this book) can be a valuable resource.
Sources for Traditional Meanings
Over the years, hundreds of authors and thousands of readers have mapped millions of meanings to every card in the deck. This expands and refreshes the Tarot’s vocabulary, but it is also the reason why no two books on Tarot completely agree on the meaning of any particular card.
Rather than fret about the lack of consistency, give an unfamiliar traditional meaning a chance. If it offers valuable insight, add it to the growing bank of information that feeds your intuition. If it doesn't, set it aside. There are thousands more where that one came from!
In the end, the meanings suggested in most Tarot books (including this one) have been inspired by one or more of these sources:
The Occultists. Say what you will about those kooky French occultists, but the divinatory meanings (upright and reversed) Ettellia published for the cards back in 1785 are the fountainhead for many meanings still in use today.
The Golden Dawn. This secret society forged associations between Tarot and just about every conceivable mythological and mystical system.
Other Divinatory Systems. In addition to other works on Tarot, the meanings in this book are influenced by other systems of insight, including astrology, numerology, and the I Ching.
Amazing Books and Decks. A long list of great authors, books, and decks have influenced Tarot readers over the last three hundred years. In this book, you’ll see references to two very influential decks: the RWS (a deck conceived by Arthur Edward Waite, illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith, and published in 1904 by Rider Publishing) and the Marseilles (which is not just one deck, but a family of decks illustrated in the Marseilles tradition or style).
Practical Experience. I've been reading cards for other people for more than a decade. During that time, my experience as a reader, my spirituality, and my personal insights have given rise to a very personal Range of Meanings for each and every card. As you continue your work with the cards, you'll also develop a set of associations all your own.
How to Apply These Entries
The divinatory meanings found in this guide are formatted to help you quickly and easily apply them to almost any kind of question. For every card, you'll find:
Keywords. Keywords boil down complex meanings into single words. You'll find at least three for every card; you can pick the ones you like best.
Range of Meaning. No card is all good or all bad. These phrases suggest a broad range of interpretations for each card, from light and happy to shadowy and brooding.
Correspondences. For the Major Arcana, you'll see correspondences with universal archetypes, the Hebrew alphabet, numerology, astrology, the classical elements and planets, myths and spiritual traditions, and the elements of storytelling. For the Minor Arcana, you'll find correspondences to numerology, astrology, daily affirmations, and storytelling.
Advice. Advisory passages explore how the energy of a card could be applied to matters of romance and relationships, work, spirituality, and personal growth. If you're feeling “fate-alistic,” there are fortune telling and timing applications, too.
Symbols and Insights. These notes share stories you can use to enhance your appreciation for Tarot’s depth and beauty. They also suggest additional ways a card might apply to your situation.
Questions to Ask. These three questions can help you launch a personal exploration of what each card means to you.
To get the most out of this guide, skim the entire entry for a card, allowing intuition to be your guide. Take your time; look around. While your question may be about a relationship, a turn of phrase elsewhere in the entry may prompt exactly the insight you need.
Take what works. Use what helps you. Leave the rest for another time.
In a Nutshell
Traditional meanings—divinatory meanings assigned by others—help beginners approach the cards with confidence. They can also enhance the intuitive reading process by suggesting alternative applications of familiar cards.
Traditional meanings come from a variety of sources, including divinatory meanings published hundreds of years ago, the work of dozens of scholars and authors, and a reader’s personal experience. As a result, the traditional meaning assigned to any one card may differ from book to book.
Meanings suggested by this book have been designed to make it easier for beginners to apply them to a wide variety of questions and challenges. As always, take what works; ignore the rest.