My Year Of The Hanged Man

2012 is coming to a close, and here we are on the day of the Winter Solstice and the end of the Mayan calendar cycle.

There has been lots of global anticipation and speculation about the significance of today's date, but those people, who expected the world to end today, may realise with relief (or disappointment?) that the world is still spinning as usual.

We've come to a point, when a lot of us are reflecting on the year that has passed with a view on how we will progress next year (check out my Tarot Moon Journal, which contains useful journalling sheets for this).

On a personal note, 2012 has been my year of the Hanged Man.

Combined with the global year card of the Hierophant, it has taught me some lessons about reconsidering the structures and traditions that I have been accustomed to for so many years and finding a new perspective.

Keywords for the Hanged Man: stagnation, suspension, stasis, being stuck, putting your life on hold, self-sabotage, inaction, avoid making decisions, putting your head in the sand, letting things happen, relinquishing control, letting go, sacrifice, release, new perspective.

The keywords listed in the order above tell a story; nobody can stay in the Hanged Man position for ever.

Sooner or later changes will take place, which will lead to transformation.

No wonder that in the Major Arcana sequence the Hanged Man is followed by Death, which will be my year card next year.

The image I have chosen above for my Tarot of Quotes shows the perspective of the Hanged Man; he is looking up the tree while he is hanging from it upside down. His view is turned around.

The Hanged Man is looking up towards the light for mental and spiritual illumination.

When he finally lets go of something familiar, secure or even treasured, he is making a sacrifice to clear the path for new experiences and growth.

But "sacrifice" is his point of view; it is an emotional word stirring up feelings of self-pity, sadness, regret and fear.

New emotions are released rather than suppressed.

What is once regarded as a sacrifice, will make perfect sense later during the transitional process.

Questions to ask when the Hanged Man comes up in a reading:

• Where in your life do you feel stuck right now?
• What are you holding on to that you need to release?
• Where do you need to relinquish control and be more open, receptive and trusting?
• How can you deal with certain issues in different ways?
• What are you avoiding or trying to escape from?

✨Wishing you a peaceful and happy Winter Solstice✨

Christiane

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The Meaning of Death in the Tarot of Quotes

In the spirit of Halloween and the upcoming Day of the Dead, let's dive into the meaning of Death in the Tarot.

Death is one of the most feared and misunderstood cards in the Tarot, so I thought that creating a dramatic image of a skeleton trying to escape from its grave would give that reputation justice😄

But of course when this card comes up in a reading, it very rarely indicates physical death.

The skeleton and the Autumn leaves symbolise the shedding of old to allow for new growth in Spring.

Death is all about transformation - endings, conclusions, change, growth.

Astrologically, Death is linked to Scorpio, the zodiac sign of transformation.

At Halloween, Scorpio is the ruling sun sign.

We are celebrating endings, but new beginnings follow swiftly: on the 1st November it’s the beginning of the Celtic New Year and start of winter according to the Celtic tradition.

Transformation is happening gradually.

Endings, change and ultimately growth are no easy processes to go through.

At times there is discomfort, emotional upheaval and pain along the way. 

But the message of this card is that something new will emerge that is taking us into a new direction.

Death in a reading may remind us of our own mortality and therefore asks us to live more consciously.

It also advises us to embrace change as a means for growth, even if it hurts at times.

For your Halloween contemplation, you can explore what this card means to you right now in your life:

• What do you need to let go of that no longer serves you?

• Who or what have you lost recently you need to come to terms with?

• How can you best adapt to changes that you are facing? These changes can be external but also physically and emotionally.

• How can you transform anguish, loss and grief into a new sense of purpose and understanding?

Halloween is also a good time to get in touch with your dark side.

Whatever way you spend Halloween and the Day of the Dead – spooky fun or quiet reflection – have a good one!

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🎃

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The Meaning Of The Sun in the Tarot

“Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.”  - Pearl S. Buck

The Fool has grown from a seedling into a beautiful sunflower - he's come a long way!

The keyword for the Sun is happiness - being happy with what we have, even if it isn't much; looking beyond the imperfections - nothing is perfect, but that's okay.

Happiness is a way of being wise and enlightened.

Happiness is the key to success (not the other way round).

The Sun is also connected to the self, the ego, creativity, clarity and vitality.

When this card comes up in a reading, it's all about you, positive thinking, your creative potential, joy, gratitude and contentment.

In the Major Arcana, the Sun follows the Moon, so it can also indicate that a confusing situation is now becoming clear.

• What can you do today to brighten up your day? 
• What simple pleasures could you indulge in today that would make you feel happy? 

“We need much less than we think we need.” - Maya Angelou

⭐If you’d like to learn more about the Sun and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Moon Cards in the Tarot

Most of the cards in the Tarot (except Aces and Pages) are connected either directly or indirectly (via zodiac attributions) to the planets.

When you look closer at the images of those cards that share the same planetary attribution, you can see some visual similarities.

By identifying and studying these similarities, you can gain new insight and a deeper understanding of individual cards.

Here, we are looking at the moon cards in the (RWS) Tarot.

The example above shows the High Priestess and the Two of Swords.

The moon is assigned to the High Priestess, and the Two of Swords' astrological attribution is Moon in Libra.

Both women face us with their backs to the water. Whereas in the High Priestess image the view of the water is concealed by a curtain, the woman in the Two of Swords is blindfolded.

Both women are dressed in a white robe. The moon crescent can be found at the feet of the High Priestess, and in the sky on the Two of Swords.

The High Priestess is holding a book, the woman in the Two of Swords is holding the swords.

Both women are seeking knowledge through quiet contemplation, yet they do so in different ways.

Both cards are connected to feelings, emotions and the unconscious (lunar influences).

But there are more moon cards in the Tarot:

The Chariot - zodiac sign Cancer is ruled by the moon

Six of Pentacles - Moon in Taurus

Four of Cups - Moon in Cancer

Nine of Wands - Moon in Sagittarius

Seven of Swords - Moon in Aquarius

We can also add The Moon to this list, even though this Major Arcana card is linked to Pisces.

Take all these cards from your deck and explore how the energy of the moon is reflected in them.

What new insights are you gaining? 

Bear in mind that the moon also adds the element Water to each card.

Check out my Power of the Moon article for more information about the moon and how it might affect card meanings and interpretations.

And if you love this kind of tarot study, you might be interested in my Starlight Tarot Astrology course, which also includes more in-depth information about the moon and all the other planets.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 

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The Meaning of Temperance in the Tarot

Temperance is one of my favourite cards in the Tarot. It's a card of balance, harmony and healing.

In the Rider Waite Smith deck, the angel shown is Archangel Michael, but in my image it's the angel of the North, situated near Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK.

I took the photo on my recent summer holiday (see my original photo below), and I must say that the angel is quite a wonderful and impressive monument when you stand right in front of it.

Astrologically, Temperance in the Tarot is associated with Sagittarius, which symbolises the need to create the perfect mix of opposites to achieve harmonious balance and healing.

This skilful blending can be quite an art - intuitive, playful, experimenting, sometimes difficult to master. Hence Temperance is named Art in Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot.

By blending opposites such as yin/yang, wants/needs, less/more, work/life, strengths/weaknesses, excess/abstinence, virtues/vices, we can achieve moderation, tolerance and compromises without losing out.

Temperance in the tarot embodies a harmonious healing balance of mind, body and spirit; it is also a part of the transformational process.

What opposites in your life or within yourself do you need to blend in order to create harmony?

⭐For more insight on Temperance and all other tarot cards, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Aries in the Minor Arcana

✨Welcome to the official launch of my Starlight Tarot Astrology Course✨

To mark the occasion, I'd like to share with you a little snippet of what you'll be learning on this course.

My focus today is on astrological correspondences of the pip cards (numbered cards 2 - 10 in the Minor Arcana), specifically Aries in the Minor Arcana.

Each pip card is linked to an astrological correspondence:

• Two of Wands - Mars in Aries
• Three of Wands - Sun in Aries
• Four of Wands - Venus in Aries

We can see that a planet and a zodiac sign are connected to each card.

I won't be explaining today why and how these attributions have come about (but it's explained in the course).

Instead, I will show you how you can make sense of these attributions in a reading and apply them in a practical way.

First of all, you will have noticed that the above pip cards are assigned to the zodiac sign Aries.

Some characteristics of Aries are: pioneering, visionary, initiating and pro-active.

Aries people are enthusiastic about starting new projects and find it easy to take the lead. But they also need to keep focused on their vision in order to reach their goals.

Sometimes they find it hard to sustain the initial enthusiasm, but their ambitions and drive may help them along towards what they want to achieve.

Aries is also linked to the Emperor and the Queen of Wands.

(Note how you can make additional connections with corresponding Major Arcana and Court cards.)

Two of Wands - Mars in Aries

Aries is combined with the aggressive energies of Mars. 

The planet Mars is associated with both positive and negative aggression - competition, ambition, drive as well as anger, ruthlessness and violence.

The combined energies of Mars and Aries in the Two of Wands suggests someone, who is inspired to turn ideas into action, and has that inner urge and drive to succeed.

Both Mars and Aries indicate restlessness and inner energy that needs to be released in a creative and constructive way.

The figure in the image is holding the world in his hand, perhaps thinking of a global conquest, which would be a very Martian thing to do 😄

Mars is also linked to the Tower, and is the ruling planet of Aries (the Emperor).

Three of Wands - Sun in Aries

Here, Aries is combined with the Sun, which is associated with life force, the ego and the need for self-expression.

This combination suggests powerful energies initiating the move from a planning stage to action - new beginnings, the actual start of a journey.

The sun in Aries combination indicates specifically individuality, leadership, confidence and self-assertion.

It can also indicate a tendency to be self-centred or an abundance of energy that could lead to burnout.

Selfishness at this stage doesn't need to be a negative trait but could be a necessity to disregard naysayers and discouragement.

The sun is the ruling planet of Leo (Strength), and is also associated with The Sun in the Major Arcana.

Four of Wands - Venus in Aries

Venus is a grounding force in this combination. 

It is associated with the Empress, but also with the Hierophant and Justice as Venus is ruler of both Taurus and Libra.

Venus relates to love, beauty and indulgence. Together with Aries, there is certainly a party atmosphere, a reason to celebrate and take it easy for a change.

Good times may be connected to business progress, success but also to a house move or family occasion.

The Venus aspect may also indicate an engagement/wedding, or the couple have set up home together.

Because Venus can succumb to prolonged self-indulgence at times, there is a danger of stagnation and complacency, which needs to be overcome by the driving force of Aries.

Once you get more familiar with the planetary and zodiacal traits and characteristics, your interpretation of individual cards will evolve to a new level.

⭐Check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology Course⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Cosmic Spirit Tarot and Wellness

 

The Meaning of The Hierophant in The Tarot

The Hierophant in the Tarot is one of those cards I have “issues” with 😄

More specifically, it's the image in the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck depicting a pope-like figure, which reminds me of the Catholic Church, making it difficult for me to connect with this card and “warm” to it.

For me organised religion represents dogma, tradition and rules you have to comply with.

If you don't, then you will be in trouble.

Thankfully, nowadays you no longer will be burned at the stake, if you disagree and try to bring about changes and reform.

My Hierophant (Stonehenge) captures a more tolerant, open-minded interpretation.

For me this card symbolises guidance, education, ethics, philosophy, tradition, conformity and organised religion, but all these aspects of the Hierophant need to flow, move and change over time according to the needs of people.

Flexibility is a necessity to avoid being stuck in the past and fall into decay with a false sense of security. Nothing lasts forever.

Currently, organised religion is only reacting to change. It would be refreshing to see religious institutions take the lead in the process of change and come up with new and innovative, progressive ideas.

Astrologically, the Hierophant is connected to Taurus.

Whilst Taurus displays positive traits such as stability, determination and dependability, its vices include stubbornness, complacency and inertia - quite fitting for the Hierophant.

When the Hierophant comes up in a reading, this card may ask you to add something new to an established area in your life - home life, relationship, job/career - or make some adjustment to avoid staleness and feeling stifled.

Consider re-writing some rules, start a debate or gain new knowledge to broaden your horizon.

You can live according to rules and within boundaries set by society, but ensure this is in accordance with your individuality, values and integrity.

If you’d like to learn more about the Hierophant and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Meaning of Judgement In The Tarot

Judgement in the Tarot of Quotes depicts the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

Wherever you live in the world, you may already have some judgement going on in your head, perhaps relating to historical event.

The Brandenburg Gate has witnessed a lot of Judgement in its time.

We often judge nations by their history, people by their nationalities and past (past relationships, past work experience, past "record", childhood/upbringing, "baggage", behaviour, reputation...).

But what if instead we judge people and countries by their potential, by what they can offer in the present and in the future?

Of course the past can have a great impact on our present and future.

We can certainly learn our lessons from past actions and events, but let us not condemn the rest of our lives with any resulting bitterness, resentment and defeatism.

And when we are in a position to take stock and judge ourselves, let us not use our past as an obstacle but simply as something that once was but no longer is.

Regardless of our heritage and our past, let us not become its victims, but live the beautiful lives we aspire to and deserve.

The Meaning of Judgement in the Tarot

Keywords: review of past actions, taking stock, criticism, evaluation, appraisal, repentance, apology, forgiveness, atonement, guilt, at a crossroads; closure.

Questions to ask:

• How can I judge a situation or person (including myself) fairly and objectively?
• What is working for me right now and what isn't?
• What needs to be wrapped up and concluded?
• How can I do things or deal with a situation differently?

For more insight on Judgement and all other tarot cards, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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How To Calculate Your Personality and Soul Card

The most effective way to learn Tarot is by integrating the cards into your life experiences, allowing you to connect with them in both insightful and practical ways. 

Through this process, you can uncover new facets of your personality, character, strengths, and weaknesses. 

Additionally, the cards can guide you in exploring your true purpose in life.

Here, you'll learn how to determine your personality and soul cards:

• Personality Card: This card reveals what you need to learn in this lifetime
• Soul Card: This card represents your soul's purpose across all lifetimes

Both cards are found in the Major Arcana. 

You can calculate them as follows:

Your date of birth – e.g. 17-08-1932

17 + 8 + 1932 = 1957

1 + 9 + 5 + 7 = 22

In this case 22 represents The Fool (0), so the Fool is your personality card.

If your personality card is one of the two-digit trumps (10 – 22), you can add both together to determine your Soul card, e.g. 2 + 2 = 4

So in this example, The Fool is the personality card, and the Emperor (4) is the soul card.

If your birth date adds up to single digit number (2 - 9), then your personality card is also your soul card.

Self-Exploration

Now that you've identified your personality and soul cards, place them side by side and examine each one carefully. 

Describe each card and reflect on what it means to you and your life. Consider the messages they convey and what you can learn from them.

• Do these cards reflect your character? 
• What lessons do they teach you?

Remember, your personality card reflects your life lessons, and your soul card your soul purpose (inner wisdom, inner teacher, spiritual path).

My personality card is the Hermit. Discover the life lessons I gained when I worked out this card for the first time.

If you enjoy this kind of tarot self-exploration, check out my online tarot courses.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The Meaning of the Lovers in the Tarot

There are thousands of love quotes out there, but none of them sums up the true essence of love, because nobody really knows what it is.

Is it passion? Desire? Attraction? Lust? Devotion? Attachment? Madness?

When I chose the quote for the Lovers in the Tarot of Quotes, I wanted it to reflect the image rather than being a true or wise statement.

Doesn't the woolly couple look like soul mates? 😍

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

Shakespeare's quote perfectly reflects the Lovers' attribution to the element Air, which is associated with intellect, logic, reason and life's challenges.

Challenges...yes...We all have our own love stories to tell, which will have generated a multitude of feelings and emotions, from happiness and elation to tragedy and sadness.

Everyone experiences love in various and different ways, and my image of the Lovers reflects love as caring, nurturing, unconditional, protecting, trusting, comforting and enriching.

But we also know that there is a dark side to love, and we may see a hint of it in this cosy image - restricting, clingy, needy, possessive, co-dependent.

The astrological association of the Lovers with Gemini suggests the need for balance between the heart and the mind, freedom and commitment, trust and knowledge.

Two bodies sharing one soul suggests lack of individuality, conflict and choices to be made, when one of them wants to break out of the cosy union.

"To be wise and love exceeds man’s might." William Shakespeare

Love can be precarious, but let's not be cynical. Let's just enjoy the heart-warming image of two loving sheep in the Yorkshire Dales.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Grab the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guideook

Exploring Your Tarot Persona Cards

Sharman-Caselli Tarot © 2005 Connections Book Publishing Ltd

The court cards in the Tarot represent personality types, and in a reading they can relate to people, energies or personality traits that need either to be applied to a certain situation or avoided.

If you use the Tarot to deepen your self-knowledge, you can explore your personality (and that of others) by identifying your tarot persona card and its opposing shadow card.

First of all, find your persona card from the list below; this card relates to your sun sign:

Aries—Queen of Wands

Taurus—King of Pentacles

Gemini—Knight of Swords

Cancer—Queen of Cups

Leo—King of Wands

Virgo—Knight of Pentacles

Libra—Queen of Swords

Scorpio—King of Cups

Sagittarius—Knight of Wands

Capricorn—Queen of Pentacles

Aquarius—King of Swords

Pisces—Knight of Cups

The Pages are not included in this list. However, if you resonate more with the child-like energy of a Page rather than a Knight, Queen, or King, you can choose the Page of the suit that corresponds to your sun sign. 

For example, if you are a Gemini (Knight of Swords), you can opt for the Page of Swords instead.

Next, idntify your opposing card by taking the following two steps:

1. Select the opposite role of your persona card, e.g. if you are a King, select Page:

• King - Page
• Queen - Knight
• Knight - Queen
• Page - King

2. Select the opposite of your suit, e.g. if you are Cups, choose Wands:

• Wands - Cup
• Cups - Wands
• Swords - Pentacles
• Pentacles - Swords

So, for me with my sun sign in Pisces this means that my persona card is the Knight of Cups, and my opposing shadow card is the Queen of Wands.

Your persona card relating to your sun sign reflects your outer personality and your strengths; personality traits you openly express and feel comfortable with.

Your shadow card on the other hand indicates hidden elements of your personality, weaknesses, and character traits and behaviours you prefer to keep hidden, are unconsciously suppressed, or may need to be developed.

In my case, the Knight of Cups reflects my introvert, dreamy and intuitive personality, and the Queen of Wands indicates a need to be more social, take action and feel more confident about my abilities.

Try this exercise with family members, colleagues and friends. This way you can explore and identify people's strengths and weaknesses and develop good judgement of character over time.

And please do let me know, what you have learned from your persona and shadaow cards about yourself. I'd love to hear from you 😃

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

⭐Learn more about combining tarot with astrology in my Starlight Tarot Astrology self-study course⭐

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Combining Tarot with Astrology

Astrology is one of the oldest and most widely recognized divinatory systems.

Most people are familiar with their sun sign, and horoscopes are featured in thousands of newspapers and magazines globally.

But there is more to astrology, just as there is more to the Tarot once you begin to delve deeper.

Assigning astrological meanings to tarot cards offers a more nuanced understanding of both disciplines. 

With astrological attributions, it's even possible to determine the timing of specific events, adding another layer of depth to your readings.

The most common system used today is that of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

However, this system has recently been updated to include the discovery of three new planets - Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The original Golden Dawn members were only aware of the seven classical planets: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Now the connection of the ten planets and twelve zodiac signs with the 22 cards of the Major Arcana works out perfectly.

Astrological attributes are also assigned to the Minor Arcana cards.

Combining Tarot with astrology brings a fresh perspective and deeper insights into the astrological attributions within the Tarot, enriching the readings and interpretations.

⭐Want to learn more?⭐

Find more articles on this topic by clicking Tarot and Astrology, and check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology Course

Warmest wishes,

Christiane ✨

Tarot Card Meanings - Major Arcana

✨Welcome to your quick reference guide to the keywords and card meanings for Rider Waite Smith (RWS) Style Tarot Decks✨

Whether you're a seasoned tarot reader or just beginning your journey, this guide is designed to provide you with a handy overview of the essential meanings and keywords associated with each card. 

Dive into the rich symbolism and uncover the insights these cards offer, making your readings more intuitive and insightful:

0 The Fool - New beginnings; spontaneity; carefree; enthusiasm; optimism; folly; no worries or fears; restlessness.

1 The Magician - Awareness of choices; focusing on achieving a goal; potential; purpose; commitment; using personal skills (organising, communicating); cleverness; manipulative.

2 High Priestess - Inner wisdom; intuition; patience; mysteries; secrets to be unveiled; self-reliance; retreat; receptivity; thinking.

3 The Empress - Motherhood; nurturing; abundance; fruitfulness; nature; productive; creative; well-being; self-indulgence.

4 The Emperor - Fatherhood; authority; leadership; decision-making; confidence; vision; planning; ambition; stability.

5 The Hierophant - Teacher; advisor; ethics; morality; spirituality; tradition; loyalty; guidance; conformity.

6 The Lovers - Relationship; choices; combining elements of head and heart; partnership; responsibility; love and its consequences

7 The Chariot - Self-control; discipline; tension; struggle; sense of direction; breaking free; making progress; travel; victory.

8 Strength - Endurance; conquering fears and obstacles; gentle persuasion; courage; abundance of energy; love and passion; perseverance

9 The Hermit - Solitude; withdrawal; prudence; inner searching; patience; observance; silence; simplicity

10 The Wheel of Fortune - Cycles and turning points; karma; luck; shift of fortune; changes in circumstances.

11 Justice - Balance; harmony; decisions; fairness; objectivity; mediation; equality; legal situation.

12 The Hanged Man - Sacrifice; suspended action; stalemate; waiting;  stagnation; loneliness; new perspective

13 Death - Renewal; transformation; transition; discarding old patterns or restrictive habits; liberation; potential for new growth; rites of passage; initiation.

14 Temperance - Compromise; compatibility; moderation; creating harmony; blending your personal needs with your responsibilities; bringing together opposites; tolerance; healing

15 The Devil - Ignorance; bondage; trapped; gullibility; inner limitations; restrictions; apathy; self-importance; taking advantage of others; obsession; temptation.

16 The Tower - Radical changes; shock; break-up of habits and structures; humiliation; unexpected change or shock; mental breakdown; erupting emotions; damage.

17 The Star - Hope; healing; inspiration; regeneration; cleansing; serenity; insight and truth.

18 The Moon - Insecurities; doubts; illusion; fluctuation; mood; instability; confusion; disillusionment; depression; feeling alone; swamped with feelings and emotions; imagination; fantasies.

19 The Sun - Joy; happiness; clarity; enlightenment; creativity and personal growth; optimism; good health; confidence; full of energy; enthusiasm.

20 Judgement - A review of past actions; coming to a crossroads; self-evaluation; conscience; repentance; apology; atonement; guilt; forgiveness.

21 The World - Arrival; achievement; the end of a cycle; success; aware of your limitations; contentment; living comfortably; being established.

For a deeper understanding of each card, including the Minor Arcana and court cards, please check out my guidebook:

⭐Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook⭐

Discover Your Tarot Year Card

Tarot provides a variety of enjoyable and insightful methods for self-exploration.

One such method is calculating your year card. By determining your tarot year card - your annual growth symbol - you can gain personal insights into the lessons, tests, and experiences you will encounter throughout the year.

Your year card can provide clarity on your life's path and offer guidance for navigating challenges, ultimately aiding in your personal growth.

How to calculate your year card:

Add the month and day of your birth to the current year, e.g.:

18th July in 2006 = 18 + 7 + 2006 = 2031 = 6 (The Lovers)

Only the Major Arcana cards are used, so you need to keep the final number under 23 (22 = The Fool).

There are two options regarding the time period for the year card to be valid:

from birthday to birthday (in this case from 18th July 2006 until 17th July 2007)

Calendar year (1st Jan—31 Dec)

You can use either or combine both. 

When combining them, The Lovers and The Hierophant (from 18th July 2005 onwards) would be both valid from 1st January 2006 until 17th July 2006 and in that period would interact with each other.

If you are a Tarot student, an interesting exercise would be to calculate your year cards from your birth year onwards and note all key experiences you had in each year (as far as your memory allows).

The result may surprise you, especially when you find out about your personal rhythm.

For example, you may notice that some cards do not appear in your chart at all even though your age might be well above 22. Other cards will appear on a regular basis.

It is up to you to determine the relevance of the absent cards and those that turn up in regular intervals with regards to your life lessons.

Suggestions for the year lessons of each card:

The Magician - 1 

(numerically "1", we are all Magicians every year)

• Focus on options and opportunities
• Pursue a new direction with willpower and ambition
• Clarity of mind; all mental activity
• Communication
• Make things happen

The High Priestess - 2

• Develop your intuition
• Trust your instincts
• Self-nurturing
• Be patient; situations will be resolved at the right time

The Empress - 3

• Motherhood or maternal instincts
• Nurturing others
• Make use of and develop your creativity
• Fruitfulness, abundance
• Love of nature and beauty
• Settling down, security and stability

The Emperor - 4

• Important decisions need to be made, perhaps not easy
• Be assertive
• Leading the way
• Take charge
• Establish security
• Finish projects that you've started

The Hierophant - 5

• Teaching or studying
• Social interaction on a professional or ethical level
• Working within hierarchies
• Intellectual development
• spiritual guidance

The Lovers - 6

• Relationships (partner, family, friends, colleagues)
• Major choices regarding relationships
• Taking responsibility
• Following your heart without losing your head

The Chariot - 7

• Setting targets and goals
• Proving yourself
• Taking control with skill and determination
• Overcoming struggle and tension
• Persevering despite difficulties

Strength - 8

• Courage and endurance in times of adversity
• Controlling anger or jealousy
• Strong passions and desires
• Letting situations unfold without forcing them
• Being assertive and standing up for yourself

The Hermit - 9

• Solitude
• Introspection
• Contemplating
• Reviewing your options
• Prudence
• Taking time out
• Looking after your health

The Wheel of Fortune - 10

• Luck and fate
• Completion of one cycle and beginning of another
• Major change
• Dealing with unforeseen events

Justice - 11

• Balance and harmony
• Fairness
• Legal or financial issues
• Integrity
• Partnerships

The Hanged Man - 12

• Gaining a new perspective
• Making a sacrifice
• Giving something up
• Stagnation

Death - 13

• Letting go of something old to make way for something new
• Transformation
• Regeneration
• Dealing with emotional pain

Temperance - 14

• Making concessions, compromises
• Creating a healthy balance
• Relinquish excessive lifestyle
• Give and take

The Devil - 15

• Dependency
• Manipulation
• Reluctant to change; putting up with something negative
• Creating unrest
• Temptation
• Strong sexuality

The Tower - 16

• Sudden change
• Shock to the system; can be positive or negative
• Anger and pain
• Starting from scratch
• Revelation or epiphany completely altering your attitude or opinion of something

The Star - 17

• Period of hope and healing
• Optimism for the future
• Back to basics and nature
• Sustainability

The Moon - 18

• Dealing with changing moods
• Reflections and vivid dreams
• Acknowledge and work with your inner rhythm and cycles
• Being drawn by an unknown desire

The Sun - 19

• Achievement of major goal
• Birth or marriage
• Self-worth, confidence and contentment
• Strong creative and passionate phase

Judgement - 20

• Dealing with criticism
• Evaluation from yourself and others
• Worldview and understanding
• Transitions
• Taking stock; review; analysis

The World - 21

• Sense of endless potential
• Realising and accepting your limitations
• Finding your place within a structure or in society
• Being established
• Concluding an ongoing situation
• Settling down

The Fool - 22

• New beginnings and experiences
• Flexibility and openness to change
• Taking risks and trusting yourself
• Travel and adventure

Discovering your year card can provide valuable insights and guidance for the year ahead.

What is your year card this year? What guidance does it offer you? 

⭐Learn more about Tarot personality profiling in my Discovery Tarot Course⭐

The Four Elements in the Tarot

In the Western Mystery Traditions, the four primary elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—are fundamental components that have been integral to occult sciences such as Tarot, Astrology, Magick, and Alchemy for over two thousand years.

The Greek philosopher Empedocles of Acragas (495—435 B.C.) developed the theory that the four elements were the basis for all life on earth and everything in existence. 

This theory was later endorsed and supported by Aristotle.

Since then, scientists and philosophers have studied and investigated the meaning and attributes of the four elements, their influence on our world, and their interactions with each other. 

Gradually, the four elements were incorporated into the Tarot, enriching the practice with their symbolic meanings.

To gain a deeper understanding of the Tarot, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the four elements in the Tarot.

Click on the links to learn more:

FIRE - WATER - AIR - EARTH

Tarot and the Four Elements: Earth

Just like Water, Earth is a feminine (yin) element; stable, sustaining and supportive; energy at its most solid; substance; matter; the body of the Great Mother of ancient times.

Our bodies are partly made of the earth and we return to it when we die. Our ancestors buried their dead in caves and burial mounds, the womb of Mother Earth; they realised our intuitive bond with earth.

Much of the food we eat comes from the soil, and many things we can touch are made of earth in many ways or forms.

Positive: knowledge, ability, stability, endurance, dependability, solidity, self-worth, success, financial prudence; in touch with nature; well-being.

Negative: greed, financial loss, material obsessions, inability to change, stubbornness, possessiveness.

Tarot Cards

Major Arcana: The Empress, The Hierophant, The Hermit, The Devil, The World

Minor Arcana: The Suit of Pentacles; Pages

In Tarot, the element Earth is concerned with the material world, form and substance; putting ideas into practice, practical matters, money, career, home and family, business projects, skills and labour, education, security. 

They also represent what grounds and stabilises a person; traditions and inheritance.

Earth Correspondences
Astrological signs	Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Atmosphere	Cold and dry
Direction	North
Moon	Dark
Season	Winter
Time	Night, Midnight
Animals	Cow, bull, snakes (earth-dwelling), rabbits, mice, stag, dogs
Chakra	Root
Colour	Brown, green, black, white, yellow
Plants	Ivy, oats, corn, rice, comfrey, barley, rye, wheat, fruit, flowers
Places	Forest, garden, field, caves, mountains, standing stones, rocks
Jungian Function	Sensation
Stones/Gems/Crystals	Green agate, coal, salt, turquoise, rock crystal, emerald, Cat’s eye, green jasper, jet
Spirit	The tenacious, hard-working gnome; Faery folk
Tools	Coin, pentacle, stone, shield
Tree	Oak

How to get  in Touch with the Earth Element

Walk barefoot in the garden on grass and soil; take your time and try to be aware of the earth energies slowly penetrating your feet and rising slowly up your body.

This should make you feel refreshed and replenished. Slowly let the excess energy flow back into the soil by visualising it like trickling water. Don’t overdo this or you will drain your own life force. Trust yourself to know when to stop.

Sit against a tree trunk. Close your eyes and imagine you’re becoming part of the tree and your feet are roots growing into the soil and drawing up energy, circulating it around your body. 

Visualise this energy as a greenish-gold light. After a while, imagine drawing back your ‘roots’ into your feet and disconnecting from the earth and the tree.

Lie on the ground in your garden. Relax and feel the heartbeat of the earth like a pulse deep under the soil. Imagine the growth of plants, swelling of seeds and unfurling of grass and leaves.

Visit ancient sacred sites. Standing stones were placed in a way that they utilised and intensified the earth’s currents, which can still be felt today if you touch or being near them. Something similar, usually a special aura or atmosphere, can be felt at the great ceremonial mounds.

Bring fresh flowers and plants into your home. Tend plants in your garden and feel their life force as you enjoy their beauty.

Observe the seasonal changes around you. The cycle of growth and decay; see the first buds appear on bare branches. 

Follow the cycle through to autumn observing the changing colours of the foliage and falling of the leaves. Note how the foliage is not wasted but turned into mulch to nourish future growth.

Back to Elements