Tarot Basics - The Major Arcana Part 2

The second part of an ongoing series that gives a basic introduction to the Major Arcana. These few posts are an open invitation to learn more about Tarot reading and to give my readers a very basic introduction to the Tarot Cards themselves.

In case you missed other ports are here:
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti

THE EMPRESS

A mature woman rests at her ease surrounded by abundance. She wears a crown of stars and a robe decorated with pomegranates reflecting her bounty. By her side is propped a shield to protect, displaying the symbol of her femininity and from within the woods behind the Empress flows a stream.

Headline: Mother will Care for You.
Card Number: 3 (III)
Element: Earth
Colour: Green
Symbols - A heart, pomegranates, a shield, stars & a waterfall.

Natural Meaning

A businesswoman, a multi-tasker.
A motherly figure, mothering, nurturing, your mother, love.
Abundance, fertility, extravagance, bounty.
Beauty, enjoyment, pleasure (both giving and receiving).
Compassion.
Creativity, solving problems creatively.
Fulfilling your potential, a successful business or opportunity.
The personification of fertility (both in body and mind), mother earth, pregnancy & birth.
Things related to nature.

Reverse Meaning

Creative stagnation, wasting resources.
Lack of co-ordination.
Financial difficulties.
Problems at home.
Disinterest, laziness.
Possessiveness, jealousy.

THE EMPEROR

A distinguished older man sits upon a throne decorated with Ram head symbols. The man wears an imperial crown and bears a staff topped by an Ankh.

Headline: Discipline Is the Key to Life.
Card Number: 4 (IV)
Element: Fire
Colour: Red
Symbols - Globe, mountains, rams & a staff.

Natural Meaning

Ambition.
Authority, your boss, leadership, a father figure, paternal care.
Control, law and order.
Following the plan.
Guidance.
Order, structure, the establishment, regulations.
Promotion to a senior role, asserting yourself.
Taking a stand, firmness with others & yourself.

Reverse Meaning

A cruel man.
A weak man, an underachiever, laziness, lack of discipline.
An autocratic leader, control freak, abuse of power.
Gullibility.
Immaturity.
Lawlessness.

THE HEIROPHANT

A man sits upon a throne between two great pillars, he wears a papal crown, religious robes and holds a staff topped with a cross. In front of the man are two monks listening to his wisdom and on the carpet between them is the symbol of the crossed keys.

Headline: I Shall Teach You the Way.
Card Number: 5 (V)
Element: Earth
Colour: Red-Orange
Symbols - Keys & pillars

Natural Meaning

Education, teaching, learning.
Group identity, large institutions, orthodoxy, tradition.
Occult or mystical groups.
Religion, a guru or spiritual teacher, spiritual guidance, divine laws.
Seeking counsel and advice.
The status quo.

Reverse Meaning

Abuse of position and/or power.
Breakdown of crisis talks.
Cults, false gods/gurus, extremism.
Foolish over-generosity.
Lack of education.
Openness to new ideas.
Rejection of religion.
Vulnerability.

IF you are interested in Tarot reading, you may find this post interesting: Your First Tarot Deck

This is a link to my beginners guide to Tarot reading: The Aincient Oracle. Available in both paperback and ebook versions, it is a book written so as to be understandable and keep the jargon and language to a minimum. It is a complete guide to starting tarot reading and intends to turn the newcomer into a competent reader at that person's own pace.