THE HIGH PRIESTESS - Astrological Associations

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The attribution for The High Priestess is the Moon, ruler of the zodiac sign Cancer (Water), a sign known for being sensitive, emotionally nurturing, protectiveness, moodiness, dependence, and a strong connection to the past.




One World Tarot by Crystal Love
The High Priestess is associated with the zodiac sign Virgo (Earth), a sign associated with efficient, precise, analytical, critical, introverted perfectionists.


A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
The High Priestess, Trump 2, is associated with the zodiac sign Taurus (Earth), the second sign of the zodiac, a sign associated with sound, art, faith, and richness.



The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
The High Priestess is linked to the Moon, ruler of the zodiac sign Cancer (Water). Clark writes: "The Moon records out inner biography informed by the shades and textures of our familial inheritance and emotional responses." Clark uses Selene, the original Greek goddess of the Moon, to represent The High Priestess.





The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
The High Priestess is associated with the Moon, along with the zodiac signs Cancer (which the Moon rules) and Taurus (in which the Moon is exalted).






The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The High Priestess with "the Moon; specifically, the waxing moon, from three days after new to three days before full."



Except for Love's One World Tarot, all of these decks indicate an attribution for The High Priestess related in some way to the Moon (Thierens chooses the sign Taurus, in which the Moon is exalted).

Personally I get a much more "Watery" feeling from The High Priestess than an "Earthy" feeling. The High Priestess seems to operate at a subconscious or highly spiritual level that can often seem as mysterious as the Moon.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

THE MAGICIAN - Astrological Associations

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The attribution for The Magician card is the planet Mercury, ruler of the zodiac signs Virgo (Earth) and Gemini (Air).





One World Tarot by Crystal Love
The Magician is associated with the planet Mercury, ruler of the zodiac signs Virgo (Earth) and Gemini (Air).





A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
The Magician is associated with the zodiac sign Aries (Fire), the first sign of the zodiac.

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
The Magician is linked to the planet Mercury, ruler of the zodiac signs Virgo (Earth) and Gemini (Air). Clark's astrological keywords for this card are "Communication, Learning, Agility." To me, these apply more to Gemini than Virgo.


The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
The Magician is associated with the planet Mercury and the zodiac signs Gemini and Virgo. Mann explains that Mercury is "the planet of instinctive mind which may either be discriminating in Virgo or adaptable and versatile in Gemini."



The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The Magician with the planet Mercury, ruler of the zodiac signs Virgo (Earth) and Gemini (Air). Hazel also points out that Mercury is exalted in Virgo.



Here we see a consistent connection between The Magician and the planet Mercury. Thierens is the only source in this set who departs from that association by making The Magician an Aries card, a card of Fire. As we will see in future installments of this discussion, Thierens goes right down the line of signs in order, linking Trump I (The Magician) with Aries, the first sign of the zodiac; Trump 2 (The High Priestess) with Taurus, the second sign; and so on.

When pushed to give The Magician an elemental attribution, I tend to go with Air (Mercury/Gemini) rather than Earth (Mercury/Virgo). I can't explain why. It just *feels* right to me!

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

Astrology and Tarot Series

I thought it might be fun to do a weekly card from the Major Arcana, exploring the astrological associations from various systems. This is not something that has to be "memorized" or anything like that. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

I have listed credits for the decks and books referenced in this series HERE.

THE FOOL

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The attribution for The Fool card is not a particular sign or planet but simply the element Air.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
The Fool is associated with Earth.

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
The Fool is associated with "Our Earth." The Fool represents "the average state of man in the present stage of Earth-evolution."

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
The Fool is linked to the planet Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius, an Air sign. Uranus is known as the planet of change and upheaval.

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
The Fool is assigned to the element Air, the planet Uranus, and the zodiac signs Aquarius and Scorpio.

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The Fool with the element Air and the planet Uranus.

To summarize, we see a variety of astrological associations and attributions for The Fool, the most common in this set being the element Air, Earth (the element and/or the planet), and the planet Uranus.

In my view, it makes the most sense to use the astrological associations provided by a deck's creator, if there are any. If there are none, I would either refrain from using astrological associations or use them with care, knowing that I am operating entirely on my own. It is probably *fairly* safe to say that decks known to be based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck can be considered in terms of the OGD's associations. The Thoth deck primarily uses OGD associations, although there are exceptions.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna