Practical Tarot guide: Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2

Part 2 of this Practical Tarot guide starts with the Justice card and ends with the Temperance card.

VIII – Justice

As the name of this card indicates, it has to do with justice ad fairness.

Fairness in a wide range means “you shall sow what you plant (seed)”
Many times it has to do with legal papers, justice departments, lawyers and everything to do with legal matters. Contracts, paperwork, etc.

As an answer to an outcome or behaviour it means fairness.

Of course, when the neighbour cards are “negative” (there are no negative cards) than it can mean lack of justice, unfairness, lies (devil) or manipulation of the truth; not being able to see the truth.

Impartiality

Judging others, being judged

IX – The Hermit

This is for me a very controversial card; it needs a bit of carefulness to define its meaning.

Although it basically means “insight”, to get away from everything that distracts and disturbs in order to look inside of yourself and find your way and your truth (to follow the way of virtue), it may also not have such a happy meaning.

The hermit lives in a cave instead of trying to live in “virtue” among his fellow men ad women; he believes that in order to be “spiritually advanced and free” he has to stay away from them, either to escape from temptation or because he might feel he’s too good to be with normal people. He has good eyes but he needs a lamp to see because he’s in darkness; he can walk but he needs a cane.

When I see this card in contrast with the card of the Emperor I see sometimes a disturbed man (it can also be a woman), someone who stayed behind in some areas (economically, mentally, emotionally) and this causes him/her sorrow when conscious of this situation. It can also be someone who can’t really be aware of himself; he/she is in darkness. His/her behaviour may be harmful to others in a passive way because of his blindness or ignorance. Of course this occurs with “negative cards” (there are no negative cards)  as neighbours.

This troubled person may be in crisis and needs a “time out” in order to find himself again.

Patience, the pass of time without acting. The only movement allowed is in your spirit-mind.

I see our civilization reflected in this blind man at the moment. I perceive the desire to follow the light of hope that is spirituality, the following of our eternal Father’s will or the “energy”, etc (it doesn’t really matter how you want to conceive it).

X – The Wheel of Fortune

Fate, destiny

This card together with cards like “The Sun”, “The Star” or “The World” means luck and fortune.

There are things in life against which one cannot act, the inevitable, the uncontrollable.

When I see this card I try to keep my eyes open because this card might bring surprises. You can investigate what the whole thing is about by doing further readings in relation with this card; you can find out which event it refers to or at least which area in life will be affected, also whether things are conflictive in nature or harmonious.

It may call for acceptance of life “how it is” or “how it turns out to be”.
This attitude of acceptance can be resignation, but for a mature and experienced person, life’s ups and downs can be worked out to still achieve pre-set goals.

Life might require flexibility in the light of unexpected events.

A rock in your way can be walked around, climbed or hammered to pieces in order to get to the “other side”, but you can also just stand there and feel bad about your luck. Either way it is only “your choice”.

XI – Strength

This card I like very much, I like what it means:

The lion represents force and passion; all that in nature and in our nature which is very strong and which can force or control peoples lives.

In this case the lion allows his mouth to be opened or closed by this woman or being because he/she is in harmony with the force of nature and inner passions. He/she is mature and “knows” out of experience how to live in harmony with these forces. He/she is in peace with himself/herself and the surroundings, and can “play” knowingly with dangerous powers.

The hat is the sign of the infinite “8”

In contrast with “The Hermit”, there’s achievement of spiritual and mental harmony and no fear to be exposed to life. She doesn’t even see temptation. She is sovereign.

Her attitude is a healthy one, towards fate, passions, and forces. She knows the cycles of life, how things work; and she is perseverant in living life how she chooses to.

Resolution, perseverance.

How do I go about in life and temptation?

Am I sovereign in my deeds and actions?

XII – The Hanged Man

This card talks about being at a stop and seeing things backwards or acting like it’s not supposed to be.

The presence of the following attitudes: confusion, stubbornness, immaturity, but also being dumb.

Sometimes, this card talks about youth and the difficulty of this time. Not a grown up and not a child. Like an ostrich which its head in the sand.

It also sometimes indicates a time of not being conscious of things or events. It seems like having wasted time “hanging on a foot” with no purpose at all, and it is as if having observed the world from the wrong perspective.

Then is this card an invitation to stop, open your eyes, turn around and look at the world from a whole new perspective. A healthy and constructive perspective is needed in order to solve and advance in life.

XIII – Death

In films you usually see the great fear some of the characters live with this card. But this whole tragic and exaggerated drama is so far from the meaning of Death in Tarot.

Death of that which is old is birth of things new.

Death and re-birth.

Old chapters in life come to an end and clean the environment, preparing life for wholly new chapters.

This which decayed and doesn’t work anymore is pulled out from the roots, deeply extracted. And there, where stagnated energy is expulsed, starts new life and new energies that are constructive.

Of course, depending on your point of view and the situation, this card can provoke sorrow or joy. If your level of attachment with the “familiar” ways is high or if your secure position is at risk, then it doesn’t matter if the change is good for you or not in the future, this will be a negative card.
In these situations trying to recognize that the sign of the times indicate that things are coming to an end, and I don’t mean it in an apocalyptic way, is hard work. But these events are just part of the recurring cycles of life.

I have to admit, endings can be terrible. And although in the long run one is thankful that everything happened the way it did because a new life with its beauty and new opportunities now exists, in the very moment of these events drama can and may take over. It is important to adopt the position of the next Major Arcana: Temperance; we live in a dual world were extremes exist; it is healthy to try and find the middle road.

Whatever this card is about, it is always a promise of a new beginning; and most times it is something to be happy about.

XIV – Temperance

Moderation and balance

Knowing how to deal with the opposites in a dual world and not going to extremes each time.

The balance of duality is desired or achieved.

The person or situation being consulted shows strength of balance. Its middle point or core energy can be influenced but its essence remains untouched.

Stability, balance, flexibility

Health stability of a person or situation

Mature.

Temperance is a very positive energy. Sometimes situations, energies or personalities can go to extremes, but to find that middle point is an important goal in life.

This card shows that duality in the world is not something to avoid or fight against; instead one should try to be conscious about how it manifests and learn how to deal with nature and move ahead in life.

Correct use of resources, of what is available, it gives stability.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1

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