THE EMPEROR - Astrological Associations

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The attribution for The Emperor is Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, a cardinal Fire sign known for having strong leadership ability as well as for being impulsive, energetic, and quick-tempered. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, planet of energy, force, sexual desire, and aggression.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
The Emperor is associated with the zodiac sign Scorpio (a Water sign associated with sensuality, secretiveness, intense emotion, imagination, and psychic ability). Interestingly, Scorpio is traditionally ruled by the planet Mars, just like Aries (above). Crystal Love writes that The Emperor "represents hidden knowledge, the arcane, the profound and the mysteries."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
The Emperor, Trump 4, is associated with the zodiac sign Cancer (Water), the fourth sign of the zodiac. Thierens writes that the people are ruled by the sign Cancer, and emperors traditionally got their power from the people: "This chosen dignitary was nothing of a tyrant, originally, nor did he have anything to do with rulership or warfare; he was simply the highest and most pure expression of the soul of the people or nation."

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
The Emperor is linked to the zodiac sign Aries. Clark explains that Aries was not always the leading sign of the zodiac. He writes "When Hipparchus systematized the tropical zodiac in the 2nd Century B.C.E., he began the zodiacal year at the vernal equinox. . . The Vernal Equinox in the stars of Aries paralleled the gradual triumph of masculine values, which culminated during the Roman Empire."

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
The Emperor is associated with the zodiac sign Aries, manifesting "self-assertion, authority, and power over the instincts."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The Emperor with Aries (ruled by Mars). Hazel points out that the Sun -- commonly representing the ego, individuality, the power of self, and the conscious will -- is exalted in Aries.

As we can see, while The Emperor is often associated with the sign Aries, this is not true for every Tarot deck. Both Thierens and Love offer a Watery attribution -- interesting, given that the elements Fire and Water are viewed as unfriendly, weakening, incompatible, and antagonistic toward each other. Note the dominance of the color red in most of these cards, representing the association with the element Fire and with Mars, whose nickname is "The Red Planet."

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

The Empress - Astrological Associations

Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD)
The attribution for The Empress is Venus, planet of beauty, love, and harmony. Venus rules the zodiac signs Taurus (Earth) and Libra (Air).

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
The Empress is associated with the zodiac sign Libra (Air), a sign associated with equality, balance, judgment, creativity, fertility, and justice.

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
The Empress, Trump 3, is associated with the zodiac sign Gemini (Air), the third sign of the zodiac. Thierens writes that Gemini "is the macrocosmic 'relation between the two' which is potential vibration, symbolised by 'sound,' and this sign rules the hands of man, with which he grips this relation actually. It rules the 'Word'. . . and words, speech and correspondence in this world below, as above. . . It includes indecision, uncertainty, doubt, change, intercourse, reflection, appearance. . ."

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark
The Empress is linked to Venus, "goddess of love, sexuality, and beauty," ruler of Taurus ("the earthy, sensual, fertile, and resourceful sides of the goddess") and Libra ("the heavenly sides of culture and beauty"). Clark writes: "Venus, as the mother of Cupid, also represents motherhood."

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
The Empress is associated with the planet Venus, "showing essential fecundity, the ability to embrace and love all fruits of the natural world and to bear the joys and sorrows of life and death."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
This deck links The Empress with Venus ("rules Taurus and Libra, exalts in Pisces").

With the exception of A.E. Thierens, all of these sources associated The Empress with the planet Venus one way or another (Crystal Love associates it with the sign Libra, ruled by Venus). From an elemental standpoint, I tend to link The Empress with Earth (although technically, Air would be a viable alternative). I just get a much more "earthy" feeling from this card than "airy" feeling.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

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