JUSTICE - Astrological Associations

I continue my astrological exploration of the Major Arcana with Trump 8 (Trump 11 in some decks), Justice. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley

Crowley calls this card Adjustment. Like the Order of the Golden Dawn, his attribution for Adjustment/Justice is the zodiac sign Libra (The Scales), a cardinal Air sign known for being peaceable, artistic, socially adept, and able to see both sides of a question. Libra is ruled by Venus, planet of love, affection, art, beauty, esthetics, and pleasure.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love

This deck associates Justice with the zodiac sign Capricorn, ruled by the planet Saturn. Love explains that the traditional Justice card symbolizes (among other things) "karma. . . the ambition and drive needed for material success. . . integrity. . . self-satisfaction." Capricorn is the sign associated with career, ambition, and reputation. Love's Justice card depicts the ouroboros (serpent eating its own tail), a universal symbol of the eternal circle of disintegration and reintegration. The planet Saturn is commonly associated with Time.

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)

Thierens associates Justice, Trump 8, with the eighth sign of the zodiac: Scorpio (a fixed Water sign known for being sensual, secretive, intensely emotional, imaginative, and psychic). In traditional astrology, Scorpio is ruled by Mars, planet of energy, force, sexual desire, and aggression. Thierens writes: "This stage is the taking-back, the first step on the way home, which explains the well-known feature of desire, thirst for experience in this sign, because it wishes to bring home something from the voyage 'westward.' So the card of justice means above all the faculty of desire, higher as well as lower. . . Sexual experience is one of the most important expressions of it, and we may safely say, that one of the principal significances of the card is sex."

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark

This deck links Justice with the zodiac sign Libra. Clark writes: "At the mid-point of the zodiac [Libra] represents the autumnal equinox of the Northern Hemisphere, when the day and night forces are evenly balanced. And it is the act of balancing, weighing, judging, and reflecting that the constellation represents. . . Just as Libra lies at the midpoint of the zodiac, Justice appears at the midpoint of the Major Arcana." [Note: Justice is Trump 11 in this deck.]

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann

Mann associates Justice (Trump 11 in this deck) with the zodiac sign Libra, sign of "balance and adjustment, thanksgiving, social persuasion, partnership, marriage, public relations, enemies, sublimation, yielding." Venus, ruler of Libra, is "Love, beauty, art, social life, harmony, integration, attraction." Mann tells us that Venus "rules the process of coming to a decision based on consideration of two relative points of view, which represent soul and personality."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel

This deck links Justice with the zodiac sign Libra, ruled by Venus. Hazel notes that the Justice card represents "logic and the process of rational thought, intellectual capacity, strategy, tactics, planning, coordinated efforts, decisions about partnership and marriage, or about business agreements and contracts, and the process of negotiations." As mentioned above by Mann, Libra represents "enemies" (actually, it represents "the other," which refers to all types of relationships, including adversarial ones). Hazel ties into this by noting that Justice can signify "the ability to calculate an adversary's next move, and to make counter-moves that will foil their plans."

The most common association seen in these examples is that between Justice and the zodiac sign Libra, ruled by the Venus. Love's association of the card with Capricorn is intriguing in that Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) is exalted in Libra. The Scorpio/Mars association presented by Thierens doesn't quite work for me.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

THE CHARIOT

I continue my astrological exploration of the Major Arcana with Trump 7, The Chariot. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.


Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
Like the Order of the Golden Dawn, Crowley's attribution for The Chariot is Cancer (The Crab), the fourth sign of the zodiac, a cardinal Water sign known for being imaginative, emotional, sensitive, and loyal, with a tendency to be moody. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, representing emotions, instincts, sensitivity, and the unconscious.





One World Tarot by Crystal Love
This deck associates The Chariot with the zodiac sign Sagittarius, ruled by the planet Jupiter. Love explains: "Sagittarius represents the higher spiritual nature of someone who makes wise choices based on knowledge and insight into the divine workings of the creative. . . Often The Chariot indicates a variety of choices, and judgment being made on higher values and principles, as indicated by this expansive and philosophical sign."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens associates The Chariot, Trump 7, with the zodiac sign Libra (an Air sign), the seventh sign of the zodiac. Libra is ruled by Venus. Thierens writes: "In the Seventh house of the evolutionary cycle the relation of the Self with the Not-self or outer world is contracted and completed. . .The Chariot [is] the Self embodied. This card consequently means marriage, contract, body and bodily existence, organisation, achievement, co-operation."



The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
This deck links The Chariot with the zodiac sign Cancer. Clark writes: "When the card of the Chariot appears, the unconscious is appealing to the inner hero to draw on will and strength to confront an emotional situation, which feels swamped or bogged down. On an oracular level, the card suggests that it is imperative to take rein of the emotional life and purposely direct it forward."




The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Mann associates The Chariot with the zodiac sign Cancer, sign of "mothering, fecundation, fertilization, feeling, emotions, mother, home and family, the unconscious, protective urge, possessiveness." The Moon, ruler of Cancer, is "Soul, unconscious, personality, instinct emotions, fertility, woman, mother, wife, the nation, the church."






The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The Chariot with the zodiac sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon. Hazel notes that The Chariot card represents "Journeys, movement, dynamic activity. A need to balance different levels of the self -- mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Attempting to maintain control in turbulent situations, or in situations where haste is required."




The most common association seen in these examples is that between The Chariot and the zodiac sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon. Love's association of the card with Sagittarius is intriguing. Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, is exalted in Cancer. The Libra/Venus association presented by Thierens is one that I would have to investigate further in order to use it properly.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

THE LOVERS - Astrological Associations

I continue my astrological exploration of the Major Arcana with Trump 6, The Lovers. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Given the fact that Arthur Waite didn't assign astrological signs or planets to his major arcana cards, I have decided to replace the Rider-Waite card with the Thoth card in my Weekly Card series. I will also be using Aleister Crowley's astrological attributions, most of which are identical with those of the Order of the Golden Dawn. I apologize if my previous approach caused any confusion.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley

Like the Order of the Golden Dawn, Crowley's attribution for The Lovers is Gemini (The Twins), the third sign of the zodiac, a mutable Air sign known for being mentally facile, versatile, clever, and gifted in the ability to communicate. Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury, planet of communication, intelligence, perception, and intellectual energy.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love

This deck associates The Lovers with the planet Venus, which traditionally rules the signs Libra and Taurus. Love explains: "Venus represents unity through sympathy and feeling. Venus balances, harmonizes, resolves, unifies. Venus is love, affection, and desire. Venus, above all, has a desire to unify opposites."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)

Thierens associates The Lovers, Trump 6, with the zodiac sign Virgo (Earth), the sixth sign of the zodiac. Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Thierens writes: "From the original meaning of the sign Virgo, the virgin matter of the cosmos or world-ether, to that principle which makes 'lovers' is rather a long step. . ." He proceeds to give what I would describe as a long, involved explanation that I do not wish to duplicate here. (Sorry, Dr. Thierens.)

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark

This deck links The Lovers with the zodiac sign Gemini, which Clark describes as: "the zodiacal sign representing our first encounter with another soul." He adds that the card "focuses on our balanced relationships, whether with a twin, soul mate, sibling, partner, or friend. The card reveals the need to be mindful of separateness and differing agendas within relationships."

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann

Mann associates the Lovers card with the zodiac sign Gemini, sign of "diversity,multiplication, vitality, adaptability, instinctive mind, imitation, communication, duality, versatility, mobility, intelligence." Mercury, ruler of Gemini, is "the choice of creative self-expression and duality between oneself and others, and of the mind, as mediator between the physical and emotional bodies."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel

This deck links The Lovers with the zodiac sign Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Hazel notes that The Lovers card represents "choices in love and decisions about partnership matters. Considering ideas, discriminating between the pros and consequences of choices. Artistic talents. . . coordination, grace, dance. . . Developing a more sophisticated criteria for relationships through a better understanding of human nature and personal wants and needs."

The most common association seen in these examples is that between The Lovers and the zodiac sign Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Love's association of the card with Venus also seems appropriate, at least on the surface. It is interesting that Thierens chooses the sign Virgo, which (like Gemini) is ruled by Mercury.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

THE HIEROPHANT (or The High Priest) - Astrological Associations

I continue my astrological exploration of the Major Arcana with Trump 5, The Hierophant (or High Priest). The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The OGD attribution for the Hierophant is Taurus (The Bull), the second sign of the zodiac, a fixed Earth sign known for being practical, determined, artistic, loving, stubborn, and resistant to change. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, planet of love, affection, art, beauty, esthetics, and pleasure.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
This deck associates the High Priest with the planet Jupiter, which traditionally rules the signs Sagittarius and Pisces. Love explains: "Jupiter is associated with the higher mind, higher education, spiritual expansion, and knowledge. It represents religion and philosophy and all religious and philosophical institutions."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens associates the Hierophant, Trump 5, with the zodiac sign Leo (Fire), the fifth sign of the zodiac. Leo is ruled by the Sun. Thierens writes: "Leo is the 'king,' it is said by astrologers. And in mundane evolution the king derived his power from the emperor, as in the zodiac. . . Self-centredness and some sort of natural authority are the chief characteristics of Leo and the Hierophant."

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
This deck links the Hierophant with the zodiac sign Taurus. Clark writes: "The great bull abducts us into the pleasures of the outer world, the desires of the body, and the rapture of our passions. Beyond the incarnate body is the spirit of the Hierophant whose essence centers our passions, secures our self-doubt, and distills the worldly experiences."

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Mann associates The High Priest with the zodiac sign Taurus -- "the physical foundation from which the spiritual quest arises." In the High Priest we see "an opportunity to transform material desire into loving generosity."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links the Hierophant with the zodiac sign Taurus, ruled by Venus. Hazel notes that "his position between heaven and earth suggests that he is a mediator between the gods and men, interpreting the laws of the universe and the wisdom of history." The Hierophant represents "universal law, the infinite and unchanging truth of the universe that outlasts the laws created by humanity."

In this grouping we are given a choice of three different attributions for this card: Taurus (the most common), Jupiter, and Leo. I understand the points made by the creators of each of these decks. Personally, I have always felt a connection between the Hierophant and Saturn (planet of lessons, limitations, and responsibility) and/or the sign Capricorn. All astrological attribution systems are largely subjective, of course. A case could probably be made for almost any system that uses a modicum of logic.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna