Ace of Cups - Astrological Associations (by Zanna)

Astrological associations for the Minor Arcana cards typically involve both a planet and a zodiac sign. The attributions established by the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD) are by far the most commonly used. However, some Tarot decks use a different set of associations. As a professional astrologer, I find it interesting to compare and contrast these associations from deck to deck. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.


Credits for the decks and books mentioned in this post can be found HERE. 

ACE OF CUPS

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley and the OGD, the Ace of Cups is The Root of the Powers of Water. It is not assigned to any particular planet or sign. It can be said to incorporate the energy of the three Water signs of the zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "emotional depth (Cancer), emotional strength (Scorpio), devotion and empathy (Pisces)."

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love writes: "The Ace of Cups represents the passive, feminine element of Water and expresses the powers attributable to all the water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces." As a group, the water signs represent introversion, repressiveness, intuitiveness, and psychic sensitivity. Their realm is the sphere of emotions and emotional relationships (including love, home, family, and motherhood).


A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
As usual, Thierens departs from the associations used by Crowley and the OGD. While Thierens does retain the association of Cups with the element Water, he also writes that "The Cups. . . start their cycle on the Ninth house, the house of Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, the lawgiver." The qualities of mutation or transmutation are linked with Sagittarius (a mutable Fire sign), along with "a tendency to teach, to translate, guide, interpret." Sagittarius and Jupiter also bring a possibility of extravagance or over-indulgence, as well as inspiration and idealism. (Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Cups with the element Water and the zodiac signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Mann chooses the colors of the outer rings of the central image from the King Scale of Color (yellow-orange for Cancer, blue-green for Scorpio, and red-violet for Pisces). He titles the Cup Ace "Power in Rains of Water." Mann describes the water signs as being "subjective, personal and receptive to outer influences. . . value systems or feelings which are often unexpressed or expressed as emotional, sensitive, mediumistic, impressionable, imaginative, psychic, secretive and visionary." 

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
Liz Hazel's suit of Cups is the suit of the Water element, embodying "emotions, feelings, relationships, love, as well as the nature and consequences of emotional attachments." The Ace of Cups is not linked with any particular zodiac sign or planet in this deck. Hazel notes that the cups or chalices in this suit "may contain liquids, potions, dreams and wishes."


From an astrological standpoint, the water signs -- Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces -- have their watery nature in common. However, they are also different from each other in many ways. For example, Cancer is a cardinal sign (action, initiative, leadership, outgoing activity), Scorpio is a fixed sign (persistence, single-mindedness, determination, resourcefulness), and Pisces is a mutable sign (adaptability, versatility, openness to change, flexibility). Cancer is ruled by the Moon; Scorpio is ruled by Mars (and/or Pluto); and Pisces is ruled by Jupiter (and/or Neptune). These heavenly bodies have their own unique attributes and influences which can be taken into account.


I welcome your comments!  


Zanna

A Journey through My Decks: SEVEN OF WANDS (by Zanna)

In this series of posts, I plan to discuss all of the Tarot cards in order, using a different deck for each card. Today I'm exploring the Seven of Wands from The Mythic Tarot by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene, with illustrations by Tricia Newell (published by Fireside/Simon & Schuster, Inc.)

Like all of the Wands cards in this deck, the Seven offers us another encounter with the celebrated hero Jason. Here we see Jason's battle with King Aeetes of Colchis, who is dressed in a flame-colored robe and wields a flaming Wand. In fact, all six participants bear flaming Wands. Jason has two, bringing the total to Seven.

The suit of Wands (Fire) is often associated with creativity. Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene tap into this symbolism by describing the Seven of Wands as auguring "a struggle with other people's creative ideas." The competition is keen, and we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. We must be willing not only to fight for what we want, but to continue fighting in order to keep it.

DMs provided by Sharman-Burke: "Stiff competition must now be faced. Renewed determination and courage are necessary."

Sharman-Burke encourages us to "notice how the Seven follows the Six and determine, from your own experience, how success affects you."

About the deck: The Mythic Tarot is based on Greek mythology and its relationship to "essential human experiences and essential human patterns of development" or "archetypal experiences" (Sharman-Burke/Greene).

Planetary Placement Spread (by Zanna Starr)

With a full moon in Taurus tonight, I was prompted to create a Tarot spread related to the position of the Moon in Taurus in my birth chart. This spread can be used in many different ways, not just to explore planetary or luminary placement in your birth chart. However, I am focusing on that area for my Purpose and Question in this post. I am using the Sharman-Caselli deck by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Giovanni Caselli (St. Martin's Griffin).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this spread is to explore how I can make the best use of a particular placement in my astrological birth chart.

MY QUESTION: How can I make the best use of this astrological placement in my birth chart?

LAYOUT and POSITIONAL DEFINITIONS

..........1..................2........

3..................4.................5

6..................7.................8

(1) Planet or Luminary
(2) Zodiac Sign
(3) I need to analyze this
(4) I need to explore my feelings about this
(5) I need to "get physical" about this
(6) I need to meditate on this
(7) I need to be cautious about this
(8) I need to avoid this

THE READING

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(1) Planet or Luminary: MOON (Tarot card = The High Priestess)
(2) Zodiac Sign: TAURUS (Tarot card = The Hierophant)

Before I continue with the reading, let's take a look at these two cards, side by side. The figures on the card are dressed similarly in white or cream-colored garments. Both cards feature two pillars, one on either side of the central figure. These two people face away from each other and are focused on in their own activities, seemingly unaware of each other -- she with her pomegranates and he with his keys. The High Priestess speaks to me of inner life and the internal Higher Self, whereas I usually view The Hierophant as a representative of the traditions, religions, or social structures that play a role in the outer or physical world.

Together, they have several messages for me.

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(3) I need to analyze this: TEN OF SWORDS
I need to analyze an attitude, perspective, or perception that is ending or needs to end in order to clear the ground for something new and improved. With my Moon in Taurus, this is likely to be an attitude, perspective, or perception to which I stubbornly cling, perhaps because of my strong need for love and security.

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(4) I need to explore how I feel about this: THE HERMIT
I need to explore how I feel about solitude and introspection, as well as how I feel about sharing what I have learned (my "lantern") with others. What are my feelings about my inner journey as it relates to the outside world? With my Moon in Taurus, I tend to dislike large, noisy gatherings. I would rather be with a few close friends in a quiet setting. Do I feel drawn to develop a public persona so that I can show others the way, or will I choose to withdraw?

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(5) I need to "get physical" about this: ACE OF WANDS
I need to "get physical" about a new project or path. My first thought is that this might be some sort of exercise or physical activity that I can get enthusiastic about. That's the trick, you see. I have yet to discover a physical activity that I enjoy (and I have tried them all at one time or another). That good old Taurus endurance and determination has helped me stick with unpleasant physical activities for weeks before I finally give it up out of boredom or genuine dislike.

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(6) I need to meditate on this: FOUR OF CUPS
I need to meditate on how I can spend more time enjoying and appreciating what I have and less time in a funk over what I don't have. Having the Moon in Taurus lends me emotional stability but also a sensitivity that tends to call my attention to what I lack. The Moon, after all, is the Moon.

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(7) I need to be cautious about this: SIX OF PENTACLES
Taurus is an inherently cautious sign, and the suit of Pentacles (Earth) in this position seems quite appropriate. In fact, in the OGD system, the Six of Pentacles is associated with the Moon and Taurus!  My first reaction to this card in this position is that I need to be cautious about what I give and what I take in a material or financial sense. Taurus is the astrological sign of earthly possessions. The Moon often represents deception, illusions, or cloudy vision. Being cautious in the area of giving and receiving at a material level is not a bad idea for someone with the Moon in Taurus.

Sharman-Caselli Tarot

(8) I need to avoid this: THE FOOL
The Fool's sense of adventure and potentially reckless nature are pretty much at odds with a Moon in Taurus placement. The thought of abandoning old (current) ways in favor of the unknown makes Taurus frown with disapproval. I think this card is simply saying that the placement of the Moon in Taurus can help me avoid being too impulsive or "devil may care." My desire for adventure (courtesy of my Sagittarius Sun) needs to be tempered and advised (at least some of the time) by practical, reliable, sensible Moon-in-Taurus.

I welcome any comments you care to make on this spread. Please let me know if you try it and how it worked for you!

Blessings,
Zanna

Ten of Wands - Astrological Associations (by Zanna)

TEN OF WANDS

Astrological associations for the Minor Arcana cards typically involve both a planet and a zodiac sign. The attributions established by the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD) are by far the most commonly used. However, some Tarot decks use a different set of associations. As a professional astrologer, I find it interesting to compare and contrast these associations from deck to deck. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun. 


Credits for the decks and books mentioned in this post can be found HERE. 

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley

For Crowley (and the OGD), the Ten of Wands represents the energy of the planet Saturn (lessons, limitations) and the zodiac sign Sagittarius (a mutable Fire sign). Crowley titles the card "Oppression." He writes: "This is what happens when one uses force, force, and nothing else but force all the time. Here looms the dull and heavy planet Saturn weighing down the fiery, ethereal side of Sagittarius; it brings out all the worst in Sagittarius."  

Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "blockage, inhibition, suppression (Saturn) of enthusiasm, power of conviction, life philosophy, expansion (Sagittarius)." In a birth chart, having Saturn in Sagittarius can delay success until lessons are learned, specifically the lessons of patience and perseverance. This combination can also create inner conflict as the native finds himself struggling to maintain order and security while at the same time he longs to seek adventure or challenge.


On the Thoth Ten of Wands, two larger, heavier rods seem to literally weigh down or "oppress" the other eight rods. Flames burn beneath the rods, a sign that the fire of Sagittarius has not been completely stamped out.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love


Crystal Love associates the Ten of Batons with the third subdivision of the sign Sagittarius, with Jupiter as the natural ruler and Saturn as the subruler. This provides a configuration similar to that used by Crowley and the OGD. Love writes: "The naturally expansive and jovial nature of Sagittarius is made more cautious, serious, and sober by the influence of Saturn." On the whole, this carries more of a positive connotation (to my ear anyway) than Crowley's "force, force, and nothing else but force all the time." Love includes the possibility of delays or setbacks in her interpretation of the Ten of Wands, but also emphasizes the potential benefits of combining Saturn's determination and the optimistic style of Sagittarius.


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


Thierens describes the Ten of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the house of Capricorn: the Tenth." This makes sense in that the Ten of Wands is the tenth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Tenth house (House of Career and Public Standing) is associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn, an Earth sign ruled by Saturn. Once again we see an association of Saturn with the Ten of Wands.


Thierens notes that the Ten of Wands is traditionally associated with such keywords as "treachery, disguise, obstacle, surprise, difficulties, oppression." The keywords Thierens himself assigns include: "Karma, obedience, executive ability, production and reproduction, necessity; officials and official position.". . . duplicity, falsehood, unreliability, disguise, double-dealing, false appearance, lies and false diplomacy, etc. Oppression and overestimating the importance of things." This last key phrase seems, in some ways, to come out of the blue. We're talking about lies and deception and oppression -- and suddenly we have "overestimating the importance of things." This is very much in keeping with Saturn's nature (sober, serious, cautious), but it is interesting to see a reference to the potential for making something out to be more significant than it is. 


(Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann


Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Wands with the element Fire. Mann describes Wands Eight, Nine, and Ten as "The Rainbows of Sagittarius." Wand Ten is assigned to the Third Decan of Sagittarius -- Sun in Sagittarius. On the King Scale of Color, the Sun is linked with the orange and gold and Sagittarius is linked with blue. Mann's keywords for the Sun are "Spirit, consciousness, individuality, masculine principle, dignity, honour." For the sign Sagittarius, his keywords are "hibernation; advent; the inner life; meditation; expansion; realization; aspiration; higher mind; religion and philosophy; sport; freedom; rebirth." Thus we end up with quite a different "feeling" to Wand Ten than what we have in the decks that give this card a Saturn-Sagittarius association. Mann's Divinatory Meanings for the card include: "goals may be achieved through the power of positive thinking, visualization and affirmation. A dual nature requires both religious and material objectives to be complete." Reversed meanings are: "Jumping to irrational conclusions. Making unrealistic decisions which are oppressive, but contain the seeds for change."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel


Liz Hazel's suit of Wands is the suit of the Fire element, embodying "ambition, vigor, creativity, travel, high spirits, and energy." Her use of the colors red, yellow, and orange is a lot more subtle than what we see in the other cards in this set. Like most of the others in this discussion, Hazel associates the Ten of Wands with Saturn/Sagittarius. In her excellent book Tarot Decoded, Hazel notes: "Saturn is the planet that rules form and containment. It demands a stark view of reality, relentless determination, and a commitment to long-term results." She notes that the shadow side of Saturn includes "underlying self-defeating patterns conditioned in infancy and early childhood by parents, family, and the ambient culture." 


In the Ten of Wands, the Saturn/Sagittarius connection can represent "oppression, being defeated by circumstances. . .exhaustion, despair. . . overcompensating. . . taking oneself too seriously. . . obsessed with details." Ill-Dignified characteristics include "severe illness. . . serious injury. . . the wages of sin. . .the joy of life beaten out of a person by harsh circumstances." The card depicts a man crushed beneath a tree. The roots are consuming his body. The leaves are orange and brown, signifying the end of growth.


Of all of these, the Mandala Astrological Tarot alone deviates from the Saturn connection to the Ten of Wands. By offering the Sun instead of Saturn, Mann gives the card a more hopeful tone. 


Arthur Waite writes that the Ten of Wands represents "oppression simply" but "also fortune, gain, any kind of success, and then it is the oppression of these things." It's one thing to be oppressed without really understanding any other way of life, and quite another to become oppressed after experiencing a better life.


I welcome your comments!  

Zanna