Standing in utter despair, the person in this key ignores both the three overturned cups and the two remaining that hold hope and promise. The river before him represents his subconscious, or the flow of life's events and his choice to accept of reject them. Interestingly, the figure also ignores the bridge just a ways [...]
A young man sits in contemplation, or perhaps anger, arms folded. He refuses the cup offered to him, while three others stand before him, ignored. The suit of Cups represent emotion, and here we see the man refusing to accept, or even acknowledge an emotional gift, or a kindness. Perhaps he is in deep meditation [...]
Three of Cups depicts three maidens dancing together, cups held high in celebration. The numerology of this Key is wonderful, as it explores the trinity of mother-maiden-crone and mind-body-spirit connection. Notice the harvest of vegetables at their feet. This Key is also about gratitude for abundance in our lives. Finally, this Key is about finding [...]
The overt symbolism of this key is the union between a man and a woman, relating harmoniously to each other. However, this idea overlooks other important aspects of the key. Carl Jung, the noted Swiss psychologist, maintained that each of us carries within us a masculine and a feminine side. When we balance the energy [...]
Angel Gabriel emerges from the clouds of heaven, blowing seven notes from his trumpet, giving humanity the creative Word that connects us to the Divine. Attached to the trumpet is the equal-armed solar cross, reminding us to seek balance in all we do. In the foreground of the Key is the pool of Cosmic consciousness, [...]
Such pleasure there is in the light of the Sun! This key is one of celebration, joy, and accomplishment. The naked child rides the white horse of pure solar energy triumphantly from the walled garden cultivated human consciousness. The four sunflowers face the child, not the Sun behind them, indicating the elements of Fire, Air, [...]
In traditional Tarot, The Moon Key is fraught with wonderful Goddess symbols. The Key depicts Moon in three phases (Maiden, Mother, Crone). The Moon is surrounded by falling Yods (as we saw in The Tower Key), reminding us that the Life-force from above always falls on those who seek guidance. In the foreground of the [...]
Much of Tarot symbolism is connected to balance, and The Star carries through this theme. A beautiful woman is poised on the edge of a pool of water, one foot on land (the conscious) and one in water (the unconscious). She is Mother Nature pouring waters of life onto the Earth. The five rivulets from [...]
In the Harry Potter series Professor Trelawney repeatedly says, "No matter how I shuffle the cards.... the lightning-struck tower!" She is, of course, refering to Key 16, The Tower of Tarot, as a card of destruction and fear, thus predicting Harry's demise. Some readers interpret The Tower as a key of dramatic, unforeseen negative change. I, obviously, [...]
"Everything in moderation!" is the key to this Key! Archangel Michael, an angel of protection and fire-energy, pours the essence of life back and forth between the silver cup of the unconscious and the gold cup of conscious. This motion speaks to the ancient concept of "as above, so below." The symbol on Michael's breast [...]
