Lesson 2 – The Major Arcana from The Fool (0) to The Wheel of Fortune (10) - Part II

Lesson 2 - Part II


What I would like you to do now is extract the cards numbered 0 (The Fool) to 10 (The Wheel of Fortune) and keep the remaining cards of your deck wrapped in your black cloth.

Have these 11 cards in order, with The Fool as the first card and the other 10 cards neatly behind it, so you are just looking at The Fool on its own.

Each card in the Tarot deck, both Major and Minor Arcana, has a positive meaning and a reversed or negative meaning. The following definitions for each of the 11 cards include key words associated with that card and the positive and reversed (negative) meanings.

Read the definition for The Fool and practice trying to remember as much as you can about the card before moving on to the next one. In your notebook take notes of any words, images or descriptions that come to your mind when studying each card.

Remember, you do not have to do this whole lesson in one go. Take your time. You may take a week or more to concentrate on a lesson before starting on the next. Work at your own pace.

FOOL

number : 0

element: air

planet: Uranus

positive associations with this card: new beginnings, optimism, spontaneity, fearlessness, excitement, visionary, joy, inventiveness

negative associations with this card: naïveté, thoughtlessness, immaturity, lack of responsibility, impulsiveness, lawlessness

expect the unexpected when The Fool turns up in a reading, influences that could have a dramatic affect on the decisions and choices you make

when The Fool appears it is a time for new beginnings, a journey perhaps into the unknown that will be exciting and fun. Any trials along the way will make you a more experienced and perhaps wiser person

if The Fool falls in the first position of a reading exercise caution - it could indicate fool hardiness or perhaps the question you are asking is the wrong one or you are asking it for the wrong reasons

The Fool can also represent a person in a reading, if so be prepared to meet a real maverick, an eccentric with lust for life

The Fool represents the untapped potential in all of us

'fools rush in where angels fear to tread' however sometimes it can be wise 'to look before you leap'


MAGICIAN

number : 1

planet: Mercury

positive associations with this card: action, power, originality, confidence, individuality, willpower, new beginnings, potential

negative associations with this card: trickery, deception, lack of self-confidence, indecision, abuse of power

The Magician is an excellent omen symbolizing new opportunities, the importance of new enterprise and that you will have the willpower and initiative to succeed in whatever you do

the mercurial nature of The Magician means that you will be able to think on your feet and bluff your way through any difficulties

negatively this card represents trickery or deception and is a warning to be careful of whom you place your trust in

another negative aspect of The Magician is that it may suggest that you are lacking in self-confidence and being indecisive


HIGH PRIESTESS

number : 2

Planet: Moon

positive associations with this card: intuitiveness, understanding, wisdom, mystery, psychic ability, the divine feminine

negative associations with this card: lack of intuitiveness, emotional insecurity, secretiveness, hidden obstacles or opponents

the High Priestess is the guardian of secrets so when she appears in a reading it can mean a secret is to be revealed or there is a secret you wish to be revealed

symbolizing our intuitiveness and the realms of our unconscious, the High Priestess is our guide to our inner self and potential

when the High Priestess appears it suggests you should trust your instincts, let your intuition be your guide. she may even represent a person who will provide wise counsel and advice

in a man's reading the High Priestess can represent the most important woman in his life

negatively the High Priestess can represent emotional insecurity and the danger of being tempted to use emotional blackmail

another negative aspect is that a secret is being kept from you, perhaps unknown obstacles or opponents

in a man's reading the negative aspect of this card could represent a woman who is a bad influence on him


EMPRESS

number: 3

planet: Venus

season: spring

positive associations with this card: fertility, birth, motherhood, harmony, nature, prosperity, joy, love, artistic ambition

negative associations with this card: domestic upheaval, emotional blackmail, over-protectiveness, poverty, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, surpressed artistic expression

The Empress symbolizes love, reassurance, prosperity and birth so when she appears in a reading in a favourable position she is a very welcome card

she can represent pregnancy or actual birth of a child however she can also represent the creation or birth of a creative project or involvement with nature

negatively The Empress can signal that you, or a woman in your life, is being too protective for comfort and may even resort to emotional blackmail to get what she wants

she may indicate money worries and a need to handle your finances carefully

another negative aspect of The Empress is that she can symbolize infertility or unwanted pregnancy


EMPEROR

number: 4

astrological sign: aries

positive associations with this card: achievement, authority, protection, support, trustworthy, discipline, provider, consolidation, reason, willpower

negative associations with this card: weakness, immaturity, failed ambition, status driven, tyrannical, untrustworthy

the Emperor is a sign of achievement and honour and in many cases can represent a stong male influence such as a father, husband/partner or man of significance in your life, or person of authority such as a boss

when he appears in a reading he can suggest that a man of authority or significance as outlined above will stand by you and support you, in personal as well as business matters

when The Emperor falls in position in a reading that refers to you he suggests that you will be able to influence people and have a great sense of your own authority

negatively The Emperor can mean that either you or a man of influence in your life is using bullying tactics and being overbearing, an abuse of power

another negative aspect of this card is failed ambitions, a craving for status and insecurity around a man of authority


HIEROPHANT

number: 5

astrological sign: taurus

positive associations with this card: advice, wise counsel, spiritual consolation, knowledge, identification, faith, conformity, tradition

negative associations with this card: misinformation, lack of faith, deviousness, bad advice, confusion, disorderly conduct

The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law, a wise and capable advisor, a practical instructor and spiritual guide

he also represents the more conventional, tried and tested traditional values, therefore advising on more conventional thinking rather than novel approaches

The Hierophant may actually represent a teacher, priest or advisor but is more likely to symbolise moral lessons to be learned from events

this card can be an indicator of marriage or a desire for marriage, as well as point to legal resonsibilities and official documents

negatively The Hierophant can symbolize feeling stifled by others wanting you to conform to their expectations rather than being yourself, and not wanting to take more traditional options. however there is an upside to this negative aspect of the card that can mean making your own rules

another negative aspect of this card is that he can represent confusion, a crisis of faith or self belief that results in disorderly conduct


LOVERS

number: 6

astrological sign: gemini

positive associations with this card: desire, new lover, relationships, physical attraction, love, sex, commitment

negative associations witht his card: lust, moral lapse, temptation, indecision, seperation, failed love affair, emotional loss

The Lovers can symbolize that a new love is going to enter your life even if you can't see where from - you're in for a surprise

this is a card that symbolizes an importance choice that could affect the rest of your life

The Lovers symbolizes a choice between duty versus your heart's desire, take a risk and it could lead to greater happiness and emotional fulfillment, stay dutiful and life will remain the same

this card means that your heart rules your head and a dramatic change of attitude will lead to happier times

negatively the Lovers can represent an unhappy love affair or relationship yet you are unsure what decision or choice to make

another negative aspect of this card is that it can represent intense temptation and warns of being unfaithful to your own morals


CHARIOT

number: 7

astrological sign: cancer

positive associations with this card: triumph, movement, change, self-belief, assertiveness, good news

negative associations with this card: rage, tyranny, overinflated ego, selfishness, arrogance, delays, frustration

The Chariot symbolizes conflicts ending in victory, so advises sustained efforts if in a current struggle or facing one, as you will win in the end

this card also heralds unexpected good news and represents self reliance and belief in your own abilities

travel and change is indicated by The Chariot as well as representing a vehicle - if in a favourable position it could mean you'll get that car you've been wanting!

negatively The Chariot can mean that either you or someone of influence around you is being a bully, arrogant and selfish

another negative aspect is that it can represent frustrations and delays or travel plans that don't go well


JUSTICE

number: 8

astrological sign: libra

positive associations with this card: justice, truth, integrity, balance, arbitration, responsibility, fairness

negative associations with this card: prejudice, injustice, bad judgement, bias, bad advice

when The Justice card appears in a reading it can represent justice, fairness and equilibrium in all dealings with people, so it's a good omen concerning partnerships, business deals and legal issues

this card can also signify the righting of a wrong that has been done to you in the past, or you seeking justice for another

a karmic card that heralds good fortune and reward for past efforts even if you are unsure why you are being favoured

negatively The Justice card represents injustice, business deals that flounder, legal decions that won't go your way even if you are morally right

another negative aspect is that it can symbolize bad judgement and receiving bad advice


HERMIT

number: 9

astrological sign: virgo

positive associations with this card: introspection, solitude, guidance, advice, patience

negative associations with this card: obstinacy, suspiciousness, fear, impatience, folly, arrogance

when The Hermit appears in a reading he symbolizes a need for careful consideration of issues and possibly a desire for peace and quiet and solitude

he warns against making hasty decisions and recommends taking advice from someone you trust before making any decisions

concerning health, The Hermit indicates a time of convalescence and rest

negatively The Hermit can imply arrogance and obstinacy, suspiciousness and a refusal to accept advice when help would be beneficial

other negative aspects of this card are impatience leading to bad decisions and loneliness


WHEEL OF FORTUNE

number: 10

planet: Jupiter

positive associations with this card: destiny, movement, vision, good luck, new cycle, synchronicity

negative associations with this card: obstacles, temporary bad luck, unpleasant surprises

when The Wheel of Fortune appears it heralds a new cycle in life, good luck and fortune. it is fate that has brought this into your life rather than your own doing

this card heralds an end to current problems and rewards for past efforts

negatively The Wheel of Fortune is obviously turning in the opposite direction and heralds a time of misfortune and unpleasant surprises, however this is temporary - as the wheel turns downwards, in time it will turn up


You may have started to get an idea of how much there is to learn!! Try to relax and don’t allow yourself to get frustrated if you are finding it a little difficult to retain all the information. The more you practice these simple exercises, one card at a time, the more familiar you will become with your Tarot deck.

As I mentioned earlier, take as long as you need before starting the next lesson.