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Tarot Card Meanings: The Emperor
Ah, The Emperor... The Emperor is the fourth card of the Major Arcana, representing structure, leadership, responsibility, and the power to create order from chaos. In this post, I explore the meaning of the Emperor Tarot card - from traditional symbolism to modern deck interpretations, and how we can make peace with this often divisive figure. I have to admit I have some natural resistance to this card - which is probably quite understandable for someone who has 'ftp' [fuck the patriarchy] tattooed on their wrist! Both visually and symbolically the card has a lot of “masculine” energy, and strong connections to the laws of society and the powers that…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Empress
The Empress is the third card of the Major Arcana, representing creation, nurture, abundance, and the pleasures of the natural world. In this post, we explore her Tarot meanings - light (upright), shadow (reversed), and her symbolic heritage - as well as the many ways she shows up in ideas of motherhood and everyday magic. Here she is, the constant gardener, mother of the world, with the universe as her jewellery. Telling us all to live in our wild, natural bodies and listen to what they’re telling us. Be sensual, be bold, be passionate. But remember, sometimes a new venture cannot begin without destruction to fertilise the ground. If things…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Star
In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who singsSometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven…And as we wind on down the roadOur shadows taller than our soulThere walks a lady we all knowWho shines white light and wants to showHow everything still turns to goldAnd if you listen very hardThe tune will come to you at lastWhen all are one and one is all, yeahTo be a rock and not to roll ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin (Page/Plant) Welcome to my Circle of Stars! The Star is the seventeenth card of the Major Arcana, and represents hope, healing, faith, and the long path back to wholeness. In…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Tower
The summer sunIt blows my mindIt’s falling down on all that I’ve ever knownTime to kiss the world goodbyeFalling down on all that I’ve ever knownIs all that I’ve ever known A dying screamIt makes no soundCalling out to all that I’ve ever knownHere am I, lost and foundCalling out to all ‘Falling Down’ (Chemical Brothers Remix) by Oasis (N. Gallagher) Welcome to my circle of destruction! The Tower is the sixteenth card of the Major Arcana, and represents sudden upheaval, destruction, revelation, and necessary truth. In this post, I explore the Tower Tarot meaning, through symbolism, psychology, history, mythology, and lived experience – to uncover what happens when illusions…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The High Priestess
“She is like a cat in the darkAnd then she is the darkness She rules her life like a fine skylarkAnd when the sky is starless All your life you’ve never seenWoman taken by the windWould you stay if she promised you heaven?Will you ever win?” ‘Rhiannon’ by Fleetwood Mac (Nicks) Welcome to the inner circle! The High Priestess is the second card of the Major Arcana, and she represents intuition, mystery, and the power of the unknown. In Tarot readings, she often shows up when we need to pause, go inward, and trust our inner voice. This post explores her symbolism, appearance in different decks, and the deeper meaning…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Magician
‘One dream, one soul One prize, one goal One golden glance of what should be (It’s a kind of magic) One shaft of light that shows the way No mortal man can win this day (It’s a kind of magic) The bell that rings inside your mind Is challenging the doors of time (It’s a kind of magic) The waiting seems eternity The day will dawn of sanity (Is this a kind of magic? It’s a kind of magic) There can be only one This rage that lasts a thousand years Will soon be done This flame that burns inside of me I’m hearing secret harmonies (It’s a kind of…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Devil
‘It’s unfortunate that when we feel a stoneWe can roll ourselves over ’cause we’re uncomfortableOh well, the devil makes us sinBut we like it when we’re spinning in his grin. Love is like a sin, my loveFor the ones that feel it the mostLook at her with her eyes like a flameShe will love you like a fly will never love you again’ ‘Paradise Circus’ by Massive Attack (Del Naja / Marshall / Sandoval / Brown / Jackson) Welcome to my Devil’s chains! The Devil is the fifteenth card of the Major Arcana, representing bondage, desire, addiction, temptation, and shadow work. In this post, I explore what the Devil Tarot…
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Tarot Card Meanings: The Fool
“Fools rush in, where wise men never goBut wise men never fall in loveSo how are they to know?When we met, I felt my life beingSo open up your heart and letThis fool rush in” ‘Fools Rush In’ by Bow Wow Wow (Mercer / Bloom) Welcome to my chain of fools! The Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana (zeroth card?), representing new beginnings, openness, and the courage to take a leap of faith. In this post, I explore the Fool Tarot meaning: including classic symbolism, modern interpretations, and the personal risks we take when we say yes to something unknown. I had a soft spot for The…
