Astrologica - tarot lessons

TAROT LESSONS

INTRODUCTION

My Tarot Lessons using Elemental Dignities are for beginners and advanced students. The lessons will give you a full grounding in using Tarot and Elemental Dignities in very little time. Elemental Dignities greatly increases the grammar of Tarot, and develops understanding of the relationships between the cards.

The use of Elemental Dignities have become increasingly valued within the Tarot groups a means of improving the reading standards. Put simply, Elemental Dignities can increase your earning power with clients, and respect among other Tarot readers.

MEANINGS OF THE TAROT CARDS

BASIC TAROT MEANINGS FOR BEGINNERS

Tarot is great fun and much easier to learn when students realise that they do not have to memorises loads of 'facts' about each card. Supertarot Lessons make it even easier — all you have to know is the element each card is associated with — the good news is that there are only four!

If you can only remember one or two things about each card, you will do even better than someone who has memorised a lot about each card. I have been reading the tarot for years, and I can only ever remember the basics of each card. Believe me this is the best way to be. Supertarot combines the simple rules of the elements with basic tarot meanings to create powerful, insightful, intelligent, articulate and meaningful readings that will inspire you as well as the people you read for.

Learning the Tarot using Elemental Dignities means that we do not have to memorise loads of 'facts' about each card.

Lesson One gives the basic minimum information needed.

Print this page for use as a crib sheet.

Site conventions

The four elements are generally shown thus:

GENERAL MEANING OF THE TAROT

The tables below summarise the basic characteristics of the 78 Tarot Cards. These tables can be used to build up your own knowledge and understanding of the Tarot. Most decent Tarot decks will have this information on the cards themselves.

Most modern Tarot decks are based upon the Golden Dawn attributions. Keywords and phrases that can be developed as your own experience grows in learning tarot card meanings. The meanings of the Tarot cards are as follows.

MAJOR CARDS

The Fool — Air or Uranus
     Idea, thought, spirituality, that which endeavours to rise above the material.
The Magician — Mercury
     Divinatory meaning: Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity. Sometimes occult wisdom.
The High Priestess — Moon
     Divinatory meaning: Change, alternation, increase and decrease. Fluctuation.
The Empress — Venus
     Divinatory meaning: Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.
The Emperor — Mars
     Divinatory meaning: War, conquest, victory, strife, ambition.
The Hierophant — Taurus
     Divinatory meaning: Divine Wisdom. Manifestation. Explanation. Teaching.
The Lovers — Gemini
     Divinatory meaning: Inspiration (passive, mediumistic). Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.
The Chariot — Cancer
     Divinatory meaning: Triumph, victory, health. Success though sometimes not stable and enduring.
Strength/Lust — Leo
     Divinatory meaning: Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.
The Hermit — Virgo
     Divinatory meaning: Wisdom sought for and obtained from above. Divine inspiration (but active as opposed to the Lovers).
The Wheel of Fortune — Jupiter
     Divinatory meaning: Good fortune and happiness (within bounds), but sometimes a species of intoxication with success. Karma.
Justice — Libra
     Divinatory meaning: Eternal Justice and Balance. Strength and Force, but arrested as in the act of judgement. Legal proceedings, a court of law, a trial at law.
The Hanged Man – Water or Neptune
     Divinatory meaning: Enforced sacrifice. Punishment. Loss. Fatal and not voluntary. Suffering generally.
Death — Scorpio
     Divinatory meaning: Time. Ages. Transformation. Involuntary change. Sometimes death and destruction.
Art/Temperance — Sagittarius
     Divinatory meaning: Combination of forces. Realization. Action (material). Effect either for good or evil.
The Devil — Capricorn
     Divinatory meaning: Materiality. Material Force. Material temptation; sometimes obsession.
The Tower — Mars
     Divinatory meaning: Ambition, fighting, war, courage. Destruction, danger, fall, ruin.
The Star — Aquarius
     Divinatory meaning: Hope, faith, unexpected help. Sometimes dreaminess, deceived hope.
The Moon — Pisces
     Divinatory meaning: Dissatisfaction, voluntary change. Error, lying, falsity, deception.
The Sun — Sun
     Divinatory meaning: Glory, gain, riches. Arrogance, display, vanity.
The Aeon/Judgment — Fire or Pluto
     Divinatory meaning: Final decision. Judgement. Sentence. Determination of a matter without appeal on its plane.
The Universe/World — Saturn or Earth
     Divinatory meaning: The matter itself. Synthesis. World. Kingdom. The subject of the question.

Major Cards represent events that are out of the control of the individual.

FIRE MINOR CARDS

1. Ace — Root of Fire
     Divinatory meaning: Natural force, strength, and energy are available for use.
2. Lord of Dominion
     Divinatory meaning: Influence; individual will focused in such a way as to bring change upon another for good.
3. Lord of Established Strength
     Divinatory meaning: Power, strength, magnetism, all generally, though not necessarily — of a sexual nature.
4. Lord of Perfected Work
     Divinatory meaning: Union of opposites, which may express itself as a marriage; the quiet before the storm; the unexpected (as in fire and water giving rise to air); shifting emotions; unexpected shifts, safe haven constructed with much labour.
5. Lord of Strife
     Divinatory meaning: Pain, especially physical; an aching questioning of one's actions leading to despair. War. Strife, internal or external. Actions against life and death must lead to regret. (Constructive use of a potentially destructive force. The ability to still question things and ideas to which one has given much.)
6. Lord of Victory
     Divinatory meaning: Victory; obstacles swept aside, the first necessary victories of the Pure Fool. A newly initiated elder flexes his or her first powers.
7. Lord of Valour
     Divinatory meaning: Forceful and decisive action in the matter at hand, bringing to bear the full force of emotional involvement in the situation; swift emotional ordeals leading to a refinement of personality or spiritual essence; persons united by anger.
8. Lord of Swiftness
     Divinatory meaning: Short-lived perfection; an uncovering of hidden motives or aspects of the affair at hand; secrecy with a tendency toward stubbornness; plots. Rapid thought and action.
9. Lord of Strength
     Divinatory meaning: Strong emotion bubbles under a calm surface. Hidden passion; rapid, unpredictable change; strength through balance.
10. Lord of Oppression
     Divinatory meaning: Oppression, cruelty. Hope based upon the ability to imagine a better situation.

WATER MINOR CARDS

1. Ace — Root of Water
     Divinatory meaning: Pleasure and happiness. The influence of the Great Mother, who creates freely through the subtle pressure of the waters.
2. Lord of Love
     Divinatory meaning: Harmony born of a deep and abiding wisdom. A marriage in the Visible or Invisible World as an expression of harmony, plenty.
3. Lord of Abundance
     Divinatory meaning: Correct judgement; full measure of all good things upon proper understanding of the situation at hand; a verdict of law that offers benefit, pleasure and prosperity; the understanding of death gives one access to the pleasures of life.
4. Lord of Blended Pleasure
     Divinatory meaning: The gentle care of the mother; a desire to return to safe haven; a desire to nurture; over-protectiveness imposing unnecessary limits.
5. Lord of Loss in Pleasure
     Divinatory meaning: Trouble, worry, loss, possible onset of disease. (Recourse to or ability to act as a Healer.
6. Lord of Pleasure
     Divinatory meaning: The joy of will manifest, the questioner's Work in its fullness.
7. Lord of Illusory Pleasure
     Divinatory meaning: In affairs of the emotions there is to be a bridging or a joining of elements. A marriage is the most obvious manifestation whether the elements of the marriage are two people or a bringing together of ways in which the world is being perceived. The "siren song" of deception, causing one to forget his or her will.
8. Lord of Abandoned Success
     Divinatory meaning: Correct impulse leading to equivocal action; a sense of the matter at hand which cannot be put into words; a breakdown of communication; falsehood thought confusion, not malice. The sense of a confusing situation mishandled through lack of interpretative effort.
9. Lord of Material Happiness
     Divinatory meaning: Cyclic change, a return to beginnings after a cycle is complete, orderly change. Enchantment, happiness.
10. Lord of Perfected Success
     Divinatory meaning: Favourable outcome when the last words are said and the last things done.

AIR MINOR CARDS

1. Ace — Root of Air
     Divinatory meaning: Great energy called to do good. Stationary forces are roused and called into action.
2. Lord of Peace Restored
     Divinatory meaning: Mutual benefit based upon the experience of and devotion to the Grand Mother.
3. Lord of Sorrow
     Divinatory meaning: Sorrow of a deep and brooding nature; the joy and gaiety that attends the release from this sorrow.
4. Lord of Rest from Strife
     Divinatory meaning: Quiet in the presence of real or implied threat; trust that matters will turn out for the best.
5. Lord of Defeat
     Divinatory meaning: Loss, defeat, unfavourable outcome. (Bravery in the face of certain loss).
6. Lord of Earned Success
     Divinatory meaning: A task that may be accomplished through words. The door opens; obstacles are removed.
7. Lord of Futility
     Divinatory meaning: Imaginings beyond possibility, the jolt of shattered dreams.
8. Lord of Shortened Force
     Divinatory meaning: Magick used. Possible overapplication of force for, in contrast, a petty end. Complex means used when more simple would suffice. Unstable result (effects gained through magick tend to lack temporal persistence).
9. Lord of Despair and Cruelty
     Divinatory meaning: A move, such as a change of residence, or the intercession of a courier. An expected gift arrives, for good.
10. Lord of Ruin
     Divinatory meaning: Succumbing before the onslaught of inevitable forces, perseverance against great odds. Success at great price.

EARTH MINOR CARDS

1. Ace — Root of Earth
     Divinatory meaning: The root sense of materiality. The presence of all material possibilities; from soaring wealth to crushing poverty.
2. Lord of Harmonious Change
     Divinatory meaning: Change, especially that change that brings stability to a situation or relationship.
3. Lord of Material World
     Divinatory meaning: An abrupt change in a situation; gain in the marketplace; turn for the better in matters of business.
4. Lord of Earthly Power
     Divinatory meaning: Wisdom displayed in the matter at hand; fair judgement; correct assessment of a situation; mastery of a situation through calm, deliberate action; presents given as tokens of respect.
5. Lord of Material Trouble
     Divinatory meaning: Containment of great internal or external pressures; stress; strain; worry that arises as a result of this constant pressure. (The strength to stand solidly before threat or adversity.)
6. Lord of Material Success
     Divinatory meaning: Proper care in the matter at hand ensures favourable outcome; the influence of a child or childlike person.
7. Lord of Success Unfulfilled
     Divinatory meaning: Emotions manifest in concrete fashion; a sacrament can be defined as an outward sign of an invisible or interior state. The creation of a sacrament which will bring to fruition some emotional involvement. For example, the purchase of a house can be viewed as an outward sign of emotional involvement in a social or biological family. Possible disappointment in the solid form love takes.
8. Lord of Prudence
     Divinatory meaning: Family obligations fulfilled bring bounty to all; family obligations ignored bring destruction; wise rule; control of a situation used or misused. Excellent skill.
9. Lord of Material Gain
     Divinatory meaning: Pregnant with idea or child; abundance; gain; a bequest of parental bounty.
10. Lord of Wealth
     Divinatory meaning: Accumulation; that which was gathered spoils if not put to use.

Minor Cards represent events within the control of the individual.

COURT CARDS

King/Knight Wands
     Divinatory meaning: Aries, older, aggressive man. Active, generous, fierce.
Queen Wands
     Divinatory meaning: Sagittarius, fiery woman. Adaptability, steadiness, command, kind, generous.
Prince/Knight Wands
     Divinatory meaning: Leo, passionate idealistic young man. Swift, hasty, violent, just, generous, noble.
Princess/Page Wands
     Divinatory meaning: Earth of Fire, passionate young woman. Brilliance, beauty, courage, quick to anger.

King/Knight Cups
     Divinatory meaning: Cancer, secretive emotional man. Graceful, poetic.
Queen Cups
     Divinatory meaning: Pisces, placid reflective woman. Imaginative, poetic, kind, flirt.
Prince/Knight Cups
     Divinatory meaning: Scorpio, secretive, passionate, scheming young man. Subtle, violent.
Princess/Page Cups
     Divinatory meaning: Earth of Water, imaginative, emotional young woman. Sweet, poetic, gentle, kind.

King/Knight Swords
     Divinatory meaning: Libra, professional, legal, articulate man. Active, clever, subtle, fierce.
Queen Swords
     Divinatory meaning: Gemini, artistic, graceful, vengeful woman. Perceptive, subtle, quick, confident.
Prince/Knight Swords
     Divinatory meaning: Aquarius, analytical thoughtful young man. Creative, distrustful, careful, slow.
Princess/Page Swords
     Divinatory meaning: Earth of Air, scheming young woman. Wisdom, strength, acuteness, subtleness.

King/Knight Disks
     Divinatory meaning: Capricorn, business man. Heavy, material, domestic, grounded.
Queen Disks
     Divinatory meaning: Virgo, practical homely woman. Impetuous, kind, timid, truthful, moody.
Prince/Knight Disks
     Divinatory meaning: Taurus, hard working young man. Practically applies things, steady.
Princess/Page Disks
     Divinatory meaning: Earth of Earth, young woman on the brink of transformation. Kind, generous, benevolent, careful.

The Tarot Court cards are either another person, the Querent, or a message. The inability to distinguish between these modes cause Tarot readers more problems than any other type of card. The King/Knight and Queen can be considered to be older people, and the Prince/Knight and Page/Princess are younger people.

Concerning correspondences between different Tarot decks (translators note):

THOTH — RIDER WAITE
Knight — King
Queen — Queen
Prince — Prince
Princess — Page

However, according to Joan Cole's comparison of the two Tarot decks Thoth and Rider White, most writers are wrong in correlating Knights with Princes. According to her, the correct correspondence is:

THOTH — RIDER WAITE — GOLDEN DAWN
Prince — King — Prince
Queen — Queen — Queen
Knight — Knight — King
Princess — Page — Princess

LESSON ONE

ELEMENTAL DIGNITY RULES

The Four Elements interact with each other using rigid rules:

1. Fire and Water are enemies; they weaken each other
2. Air and Earth are enemies; they weaken each other
3. All other combinations are friendly; they strengthen each other
4. Fire and Air are active
5. Water and Earth are passive

That is all there is to the rules.

The rules seem rather crude, but the detail is in the interpretation, and in my experience infinite subtlety and fascination beckons in the elemental realms that open up sooner or later.

Working within this system, a shift happens: one's awareness is suddenly free to see images and insights that no Tarot book can ever hint at. The validation of these visions can only happen with intimate knowledge of the Four Elements. With time, the Observer is no longer separate - the Witness is no longer a bystander, the Tarot Reader is no longer saying "this will happen... that will happen". The Tarot Reader, the Observer becomes involved in changing the outcome, influencing events. The advice becomes, 'going in this direction, or doing this action will change the outcome for the better'. The rigid rules of the Elemental Dignities become tools for liberation, such that the individual interpretation of the Tarot cards become an irrelevance - in my own experience (and I have been reading Tarot on a daily basis for years), I remember less and less about the individual interpretation of the Tarot cards. All I need is those simple elemental rules, and I can work out the rest.

LESSON TWO

TAROT PERMUTATIONS

Using Elemental Dignities, the interpretation of individual cards is not as important as the fundamental attributes of the Tarot cards, which can be reduced to a combination of just two factors -- the four elements and the structure of Major, Minor and Court cards.

None of these categories should be considered "better" or "worse", "stronger" or "weaker". Try to avoid value judgements based on the description given in most Tarot books. This leaves us with the difficulty of how to assign prominence in a reading to a particular card. Most Tarot spreads are exclusive, the antithesis of the spirit of Tarot which is essentially inclusive, harmonious and whole. Most Tarot spreads work by pre-defining a certain number of positions and placing a Tarot card on each position. Thus we have a position for Past, Present, Future, Love, Work, Health etc. Since each position is defined simply in terms of language, the interpretation depends on trying to shoehorn the 'meaning' of a card to a category. In these circumstances, it is easy to simply use the groupings of Major, Minor and Court cards, which usually means that the Major cards have greater prominence than the others do.

However, there are sets of rules that govern the four elements when they react between themselves. Understanding and applying these rules result in a far deeper appreciation and understanding of the dynamics of the cards that underlie a reading.

These rules are:

Friendly paired combinations:

Enemy combinations:

and

The Rules of Elemental Dignities are:

* Friendly elements strengthen each other
* Enemy elements weaken each other

The elemental energies interact with each other like so:

Excessively active

Neutral, weak

Very active, possibly unstable

Friendly, neutral, stable, strong

Passive, still

Neutral, unstable

Passive, stable

Very active, unstable

Neutral, weak

Very passive, solid

It is useful to compare this list with the previous list. For instance, Fire and Water are enemies whose energies cancel each other out into a stalemate, whereas the combination of Water and Earth is friendly and creates a situation that is strongly inertial.

Note that in Tarot, individual Court cards represent the interaction of two elements, but in the context of the watery part OF Air, or fiery part OF Fire. In general, Elemental Dignities only considers the dominant element, not the part, but more advanced readers may consider the subtleties of the combinations (and they are very subtle).

If we speak in terms of Major, Minor and Court cards we are in a situation similar to that of a hierarchy where the Upper classes do not mix with the Lower classes. In contrast, with the elements there is a very strong level of interactivity. By combining the three tables we can begin to see the complexity of the various combinations, and we are even able to make some
judgements about the dynamics of the energies within Tarot
without even considering the "meaning" of each card.

LESSON THREE

DEVELOPING PERMUTATIONS

All 78 Tarot cards can be classified as either being Fire, Water, Air or Earth. In itself, this does not tell us much, but we can combine the four elements to create new energy forms. The rules for doing this are very simple and easily remembered, and can be summarised thus:

* Fire and Water are enemies and weaken each other
* Air and Earth are enemies and weaken each other
* Fire and Air are Active
* Water and Earth are Passive

Single Card Interpretation

The interpretation of an individual card is whatever the meaning you desire it to have - usually in conformance with accepted meanings found in the many books on Tarot available. A single card does not influence another card, nor is it influenced by other cards.

Two Card Combinations

If we analyse the combinations, it turns out that there are ten fixed permutations:

Friendly active

Friendly passive

Friendly neutral

Friendly excess activity

Friendly excess passivity

Enemy weak neutral

Note that we are not combining the "meanings" of the two cards, only the energies. Throughout this essay we will maintain this outlook - feel free to insert your own cards in the elemental combinations I describe and see how you would interpret them using Elemental Dignities.

As you can see, despite the rules of Elemental Dignities being defined mainly in terms of the enemy combinations, they are clearly in the minority. This is a very important point.

Reading Paired cards works best in a sequence, exemplified by the Golden Dawn method of Pairing.

Pairing

The technique the Golden Dawn used was to "Pair" the two outer cards of a sequence of cards, gradually working to the centre, "telling a story" that is developed at each stage. If there is an odd number of cards in the sequence we will be left with a solitary card at the centre, and it may have greater significance in the reading. When Pairing, the cards have equal strength, but with EDs we can add another level of nuance.

The next question is what is this quality active or passive to? Obviously it has to be another card, but this card will also be interacting elementally with the original two cards.

Three Card Combinations

Each of the three cards has equal status, but the elemental interaction between them reveals a subtler picture and a distinct change of emphasis that differs when we permute these cards. To make it easier for ourselves, we take the centre card to be the Principal, and the outer cards are Modifiers, but remember all three are interacting between themselves.

The Golden Rule in Elemental Dignities is to "analyse rigidly, but interpret flexibly". The analysis of the energy flows tends to free our imagination from the fairly fixed interpretation of the individual cards. With experience we find we begin to see visions that may or may not relate to the orthodox meanings of the individual cards.

The "Missing" Element

If you find yourself stuck in an interpretation, it is often worth considering what the missing element(s) would do if they were included.

Energy Blocks and Flows

Analysis of the three card combinations gives us the opportunity to see whether the energy is blocked, flows easily, is enhanced or diminished, or even transformed. We can see if the Subject (Principal) is supported by the Modifiers, or whether the Modifiers are working together or against themselves.

Reading Elemental Dignities in Elemental Positions

So far we have been reading Three cards in splendid isolation, but of course we know that life is not like that. We need a context or background, perhaps like the scenery we see when the curtain rises at the start of a play that establishes for the audience the time and place the actors are performing in. To do this, we place the three cards in an Elemental Position of Fire, Water, Air or Earth. As well as the circuit between the cards, they interact with the base element, which changes the emphasis. For example, a Fire card could be very strong in a three card spread, but it suddenly becomes very weak in a Water Position. By contrast, a weak Air card could be strengthened if it is in the Fire Position. Of course, the Elemental Position can provide the "missing" element influence. A card that can be reasonable and balanced suddenly becomes unbalanced and excessive by being placed upon its own Elemental Position. Actions that seemed a good idea can seem inappropriate, while any doubts can be erased if the Elemental Position is supportive. The possibilities are endless, but it is still difficult to develop the situation we are trying to describe over a period of time.

Since three cards can be interpreted three different ways, and there are four elemental positions, we have twelve potential interpretations as far as Elemental Dignities are concerned. This is before we include the actual Tarot card meanings! However, the power and flexibility of the Elemental Dignities have barely been scratched so far.

LESSON FOUR

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTAL DIGNITIES

Analysing three Tarot cards at a time is a basic skill in Elemental Dignities. This building block of three cards is used in many guises as we work through the system. We will start with a traditional reading of Three Cards. Please note that this method is intended as an example - it is not intended to represent a finished spread!

Deal out any 3 cards right way up, and interpret them. Consider the Central card to be the Principal, with the ones either side as 'Modifiers'. The three cards can be transposed three times in all:

Modifier: 1: 2: 3:
Principal: 2: 3: 1:
Modifer: 3: 2: 3:

As a general rule:

* Minor cards are within the control of the Queren
* Major cards are out of the querent's control
* Court cards personify an action or actually represent a person.

Next, transpose the cards as shown above, and see if you feel different about them. Repeat the process. Then reverse one of the cards, and reinterpret. There are far more combinations of Reversals than transpositions. You should experience slightly different feelings each time. It is usually easier to avoid Court cards to begin with, but persevere. This stage is essentially how most people would read the cards. Most people's experiences are that there is some difference with each transposition, but it is hard to quantify exactly what these differences are.

LESSON FIVE

THREE CARD TAROT EXERCISES

All of the Tarot cards can be categorized as either Fire, Water, Air or Earth. The rulership of the Major cards is determined by astrological rules, and these can easily be translated into the elemental rulers. See Jess Karlin's "Elemental Dignities" for more details.

Interpretation then becomes a fairly mechanical exercise in much the order I suggest here:

* Which element is strongest?
* which element is weakest?
* Excess of an element
* Influence of a "missing element
* Is the Principal card active or passive?
* Is the Principal card Major, Minor or Court?
* Reversed cards
* Individual meanings of the cards modified and combined according to the analysis

Once you have done this, apply and combine the meanings of each card with appropriate weighting. This is such an important point - the meaning of the individual cards is the last thing you look at! If this sounds strange advice, in some respects we deal with situations in our daily life in similar ways. When we walk into a room full of strangers, we instinctively know how to act simply by observing the position, actions and attitudes of the people. We know when to be deferential, arrogant, polite, friendly, stand-offish, cold, good humoured, intimidating, etc. These attitudes can be maintained, or they change as we work our way across groups of people, meeting friends, strangers, enemies, colleagues and family members.

If you are wondering exactly what the qualities of an element is within a Tarot card, then it is simply the meaning commonly given to a card! The author or designer of the Tarot deck you use should have taken into consideration the elemental qualities. If your Tarot deck follows the Golden Dawn, Rider- Waite, or Book of Thoth system, you should not have too much of a problem. Familiarity and practice with the simple rules of the Elements brings these qualities to life in a reading, particularly when trying to analyse complex situations that involve the Court Cards.

I suggest you follow the order of Exercises given here, but do experiment. As you will see I have only interpreted each combination up to rule 5. Please come up with your own interpretations and insights. The comments below are not, and could never be, exhaustive.

Exercise 1: Fire, Air and Water

We will interpret the 3 Card Spread purely on elemental principles. It may help to make up some Flash Cards with only the elemental symbols or colours on them.

As an example, we will deal out three cards, one Fire, one Water, and one Air. We can transpose the cards three times to subtly change the interpretation. In each case there are two active elements (Fire and Air) and one passive element (Water). At each stage note how the dynamics change, even though the cards are exactly the same.

In ideal situations, all four elements should be present, in varying proportions. If there are only three cards being considered, we have an imbalance. Extra information can be gleaned in each situation by looking at what is missing, namely the Earth element in Exercise 1.

Missing Element

Earth provides stability and support to Fire and Water, but is an enemy of Air. In each of the three situations below, we should expect a lack of practicality, or situations that cannot last.

The centre card Air is friendly with Fire and Water, so it is strengthened. It is active, therefore whatever it represents is likely to happen. Note that Fire and Water are enemies, so that Air is even stronger, and can rise over any problems caused by the modifiers. Fire actively supports Air, while Water provides a passive, more emotional role. We could be looking at a thought or idea that is trying to reconcile conflicting actions and feelings.

Missing Element

The lack of Earth suggests abstract thought, or theoretical ideas that would not work in a practical situation.

Fire is friendly with Air but weakened by Water. Air is the strongest card. However, the Modifiers are friendly to each other and are therefore stronger. As Fire is active, and Air supports, the event is likely to happen, but not without either emotional turmoil or a complete disregard for feelings. This could be an action that attempts to be rational and logical, but founders for lack of emotional support.

Missing Element

The absence of Earth prevents any action from having a solid, long-lasting basis.

The Principal is passive, while the modifiers are active. Fire is inimical to the Principal and weakens it, while Air strengthens. The Modifiers are friendly. The conclusion is that we have an unsatisfactory situation that is unlikely to change quickly. The Principal is likely to be pulled in different directions. This combination is the weakest we have seen so far. Water is extremely uncomfortable - it is being stirred up or channelled in directions that it does not want to go. The Water could be imagined as steam or a cloud in the air.

Missing Element

The lack of Earth increases a volatile situation, and highlights the lack of support for Water.

Exercise 2: Fire, Water and Earth

Here is the same exercise as number 1, but this time we have replaced Air with the Earth element. In each case, Air is missing, so there will be a lack of intellect, discrimination, and thought. The potential for conflict is lessened, particularly as there are now two passive elements and one active. Since Fire and Water are enemies, we would expect Earth to be stronger in any position.

Water is the Principal card, it is supported by Earth, but weakened by Fire. We have a basically settled situation that gets concentrated with time - the Earth thickens the Water, while the Fire turns the heat up. The modifiers are friendly to each other, and they could be seen to gang up on Water, which is under great pressure.

Missing Element

Since Air is missing, perhaps a better method would be to apply persuasion and reasoned thought.

Earth is the strongest since it is between the fighting elements of Fire and Water. It is as though it is dividing and ruling simply by being there. Earth wins by endurance - it soaks up the Water, and the Fire heats up the Water to steam, unless of course the Water does not douse the flames. I see an image of a lit candle.

Missing Element

Air is the natural enemy of Earth, so any lack of finesse and intelligence is doubly felt.

Once again Earth wins. Fire is the Principal, but it is weakened by Water, and since Earth and Water are friends, the heat could be extinguished. If the situation is more benign, we see the Earth and Water combining as a fuel, supporting the actions of Fire. There is no finesse, only brute force without the influence of Air, but on the other hand, Fire does need oxygen to continue burning.

Missing Element

Fire needs Air to continue burning. Again the lack of Air indicates little finesse and sophistication.

Exercise 3: Fire, Air and Earth

Obviously Water is missing, so we know that this combination will be predominantly active, Earth will be weakest since it is an enemy of Air, and Fire will in general be strongest as it is friendly with Air. The lack of Water will indicate absence of compassion, comfort, and any emotional content.

The modifiers are friendly to each other, providing a solid base for the thoughts represented by Air. Unfortunately Earth acts like a dead weight, while Fire urges action on Air. The thinking process will be utilitarian and functional, possibly brutal, and any actions contemplated will be done without consideration of the feelings and needs of others.

Missing Element

Water is desperately needed as a lubricant.

Earth is very weak - it is being urged into action by Fire and Air, which is a quality alien to it. In fact, one could see the Earth as literally "putting a lid" on any action. When Earth gives way, the backpressure released could be explosive. Thinking laterally, Earth as the basis shows it being left behind by the rapid ascent of Fire and Air. Such an action would probably not last for long.

Missing Element

Water is necessary to act as a lubricant in the first case, or possibly as fuel in the second.

Fire is very strong: it has material basis (Earth), and intelligent control (Air). The only problem is that I hope the actions contemplated show any kind of compassion and consideration. Without Water I very much doubt it. These are qualities of Establishment and Action, quite possibly of the police or military. Processes started that are difficult to stop.

Missing Element

Water would cool the situation down, or provide emotional and compassionate content.

Exercise 4: Water, Air and Earth

Two passive elements; Air and Earth are enemies. The simple conclusion is that Air will be the weakest element. We have a kind of daydreaming scenario - certainly without fire there will be little action.

The intellect and analytical skills are the focus, but there is little to inspire. If the imagination is fertile (Earth and Water are fecund), we could expect inspiration, but the mind here is feeble and unable to cope - nothing can be done without Fire. We have an image of bubbles rising up through a swamp.

Missing Element

Fire would be the catalysis, converting the chemical processes into heat. Certainly the introduction of a spark into the fetid gases would be explosive.

Another mixed situation. The modifiers are friendly to each other, but Air and Earth are enemies. One could see this situation as fog over the ground.

Missing Element

Without the energy of Fire, little will happen to clear the atmosphere.

Bubbles and detritus suspended in the water. One could also see fishes and plant life in a pond or lake, perhaps by the seashore. There is the fertility of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Water is very comfortable here, surrounded by friends.

Missing Element

No fire to warm up the situation.

SUMMARY

This has been an exercise about reading three cards not an actual spread. I have avoided mention of any individual card or meaning deliberately. Anyone using a standard Tarot deck of 78 cards should be able to follow this system. There is another advantage in that one's own interpretation of each card does not have to change, however idiosyncratic they may be.

I have deliberately kept the vocabulary of the four elements to a minimum - I could have written the above scenarios more in terms of 'hot', 'cold', 'moist', 'heavy', 'light' etc, so much beloved of Agrippa.

Interpretation of the Court Cards also becomes much easier, as all one has to do is see what the two Modifiers are hinting at, using the rules delineated above.

LESSON SIX

TWO ELEMENT COMBINATIONS

So far, we have looked at three elements on three positions of a Tarot spread. Now we will look at two element combinations. Mathematically, with two elements there are six basic combinations, but we only need to consider four of the permutations. The Principal Card at the centre is the Synthesis card, while the Modifiers are Thesis and Antithesis.

As we shall see, the absence of elements can tell us as much about a situation as the elements that are present.

Combinations of Fire and Water are antagonistic, as are Air and Earth. We will look at these first, and then go onto the more 'friendly' combinations of:

Both active and friendly to each other

Both Passive and friendly to each other

Both friendly and neutral to each other

However, as we shall see, the situations they represent are not entirely satisfactory due to the lack of the other elements. Once we have gone through these combinations we are ready to tackle situations with three elements.

Fire and Water

The first two examples show Synthesis being utterly destroyed, while the last two show the Synthesis card strengthening due to Thesis and Antithesis fighting each other. A classic example of divide and rule.

Fire and Water are enemies. Fire is active and hot, while Water is passive and cold. In this combination Water is devastated, dried up, desiccated. Super heated steam with no mass (Earth) or intelligence (Air). Thesis and Antithesis act together blindly (no Air), and without durability (Earth) to destroy Synthesis.

Now the situation is reversed. The Fire is extinguished by Water. Any activity is swamped. The emotions overcome any actions to create stagnation since there is no Air, but the lack of Earth provides no basis to the feelings so there is an expansion but without any kind of structure.

The Principal has support from one of the Moderators. There is still no intelligent control, or a strong basis from either Air or Earth. We could have a flammable liquid. Looked at from another perspective, since the Moderators are enemies, they actually have a neutral effect on the situation, so the action goes ahead with nothing to enhance or retard it, but does not last long (no endurance from Earth), and lacks any kind of direction (Air).

Now we have the Principal supported by one of the Moderators. Since the Moderators cannot work together, the two Water aspects will gang up to prevent any action taking place - or, to put it another way, since the Moderators have an overall neutral effect, the natural tendency of water to inertia will suggest that nothing will actually happen, since there is no mental stimulation, but the effect will gradually spread as it is not contained (No Earth).

Air and Earth

Air and Earth are mutual enemies, like the action of Fire and Water, but the effect is very different. As before, Synthesis is destroyed in the first two examples, but triumphs when it divides and rules.

Intelligence destroyed in ignorance. The absence of Fire and Water indicates no change, energy, or any kind of emotion. In fact there could be a leeching of any kind of energy as the Earth elements work together to drain away the Air element, perhaps by passive resistance.

This situation is analogous to a cretin amongst a company of intellectuals. The simpleton has no comprehension of the ideas or communications around him. Since Earth types look for security, there would be great fear, as Air is the most unstable of the three elements. One image could be a ping pong ball hovering and bouncing around in a jet of air.

In the next two examples, Synthesis triumphs as Thesis and Antithesis go to war. The Air cards triumph and are smug about their intellectual achievements, but there is doubt about the usefulness of the victory. A Lawyer arguing and winning an obscure point of law that is lost on the jury.

An intellectual railing, and failing to educate or stir up the complacent security of Earth. There is no point of contact, no emotive feeling of togetherness that Water might bring, nor is there any kind of movement or change. A thinker who is trapped in a hopeless situation. Brain power will not achieve anything, and there is no energy (Fire), nor is there any point in trying to engage the emotions or use some kind of seductive strategy.

Fire and Air

These two elements are both active and friendly to each other, so the problems arise from the lack of basis (Earth) or feeling (Water), so there will be little comfort or security in the experience. While the Air aspect will provide intelligence to actions, there will be over-exuberance at the least, and obsessive behaviour at worst; the results will either be burn- out or some kind of confrontation. Since Air is such an antagonistic and divisive element, the differences between Thesis and Antithesis are heightened, even when they are friendly or the same element. In some of the examples below, we see an unholy alliance developing.

This is an interesting combination. Thesis and Antithesis combine to create some kind of intelligence, but it will have a low kind of cunning, and is destined to continual action, rather than the periods of introspection that thinking needs from time to time. We could also consider someone coerced to reveal thought processes due to violent pressure, perhaps under torture.

Two opposing thought processes result in spontaneous action. A train of events are set in action, but there is no possibility of considered change as a result of new circumstances. A mediation process that breaks down, resulting in war, either physical or verbal. Another alternative is to actively blame or attack a third party in order to cover up ideological differences - the rise of Fascism; blaming weak ethnic groups for problems arising in society as a whole and using them as an excuse for totalitarian behaviour.

Action inspired by a combination of thought and action without lust for the result. A wavering intellectual forced or inspired to action. This example and the next are far more desirable than the previous two, but there are still problems due to the lack of Water and Earth.

Fire trying (and probably failing ultimately) to inspire Air to action. If Air does act, it will be inherently unstable or vacillating as soon as the pressure is removed. There is no respite in this relentless combination.

Water and Earth

Like Fire and Air, these elements are compatible and friendly, but they are also completely passive, so sloth and turpitude are more of a problem. Moist Earth is fertile, but the spark of life is required. As before there are four basic versions. Since Earth is involved, we can introduce some topography to the descriptions. Without Fire, these events could be considered to be happening at night. In the first two examples, Thesis and Antithesis fail to find any difference between themselves, but nevertheless they conspire to swamp the result.

An island amidst cold icy seas, bleak and uninhabitable under a full moon. There is no wind, of course, so no waves. A ship stationary upon calm waters. Water vapour condensing to snow or ice. Vegetation under the water. The solidification of emotions and feelings, but there is still a lack of activity. Sinking into depression.

A lake, or slow moving river, possibly iced over. Some slight fluidity to a solidly packed situation. An underground river or seam. A stagnant spring that fails to fertilise the land around it. A pocket of crude oil hidden underground. An aquifer. The leaching away of any kind of emotional experience under the dead weight of insensitivity. Earth mopping up Water. The emotional identification and eventual subsuming with the Earth.

In this and the next example Thesis and Antithesis are different, but change comes about through inertia or a kind of osmosis due to pressure difference. We could see this one as straining, leaving the Water, while below the lees remain. High tide at the seaside.

Drying out, or mopping up, but not due to aeration or heat. Solidification of a viscous liquid. A heavy weight or situation squeezes out any feelings. Numbness.

Fire and Earth

Fire and Earth are friendly to each other, but while Fire is all action, Earth is totally passive. Consequently, the impression is either of arrival or departure.

Purification or tempering of a substance through fire. The result would be ash, clinker, or a refined material. Usually, heated substances liquidise or vaporise into the air, but we cannot determine this. Alternatively, opposing actions result in karmic consequences. Forces overwhelmingly imposed upon a stationary object. An object projected upwards.

This situation is precisely the opposite of the example above. The stationary pressures of Earth around Fire instantly suggests a volcano, or hot gases venting from the ground. Since Thesis and Antithesis are represented by Earth, we could conclude that perhaps there is a chemical or nuclear reaction resulting from a critical mass being reached and releasing heat energy.

In the next two versions, Thesis and Antithesis are definitely opposites.

Movement plus inertia results in movement or action. A conflagration that destroys Earth, but continues to burn as it uses up fuel.

Movement plus inertia results in a substance that is warm, suggesting some chemical reactions. Maybe critical mass is not reached, as we arrive at a basically stable situation that has some life.

Air and Water

These elements are friendly to each other, but both are unstable, lacking structure. Air is active, while Water is passive.

A cloud or water droplets in the air. The lack of earth suggests that the cloud is hovering. There would be no heat, so maybe we are looking at snow or hail. The absence of Earth shows that there would be no structure, form or stability. The action of two different gases creates another gas that has greater weight. Arguments and contrary ideas somehow create an emotional response.

An air bubble suspended in Water. An intellectual impulse arising out of conflicting emotional experience - it has some definition, maybe due to the pressure of the water, but it probably is not going anywhere. The desire to rise out of an overwhelming emotional situation, perhaps by removing the emotions and replacing them with logic.

Thesis and Antithesis are at work to remove feeling from emotions to arrive at mental clarity.

Water and the emotions win out on the thought processes. Dreams, fantasies. A total lack of reality.

LESSON SEVEN

THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRIPLICITY

Thus far, we have ignored the Tarot cards as far as meaning is concerned. Rather, we have concentrated on the messages the elements themselves are transmitting using very simple rules that seemed rather limiting, but showed great potentiality and flexibility.

For real balance we need to have the capability of reading all four elements in a situation. Assigning positions on the basis of Past, Future, or Work, for example, without giving them an elemental attribution is flawed, as I hope you understand by now. The simplest method is to reinterpret the combinations of Three Cards contained within Lessons 1-3 but with an elemental basis that the cards 'rest on'. Since the number of permutations increase geometrically, we shall do an example of each type.

Before we start, we can formulate some ideas as to how things progress.

Using just three cards we have an inherently unstable situation since we do not have a basis. Adding an elemental backcloth we have a context. Now we have a Beginning, Middle and End:

* Source - Course - Goal
* Thesis - Antithesis - Synthesis
* Beginning - Middle - End

We can remodel the attributions thus:

-----------------
|  The Dialectic  |
-----------------
|        S        |
|   A1       A2   |
|        T        |
-----------------

This arrangement is reminiscent of the Golden Dawn analysis of the Enochian Watchtower squares using the four Elements, where:

* S = Watchtower
* T = Subquadrant
* A1 = Column
* A2 = Rank

A1 and A2 are understood in terms of 'Fire of Water' etc, which give them an astrological basis, and thence to a Major card attribution (Cancer and Chariot in this example).

This structure can be used in all the spreads discussed on this website:

The 3 Card Exercise

With the 3 Card Exercise, the Background or Thesis position does not have a Tarot card associated with it, but there will be an interaction between the base Element and the elements of the Cards. The fourth position is imagined. Clearly there is going to be change in the Elemental strengths and weaknesses from the examples we previously worked out, and it is fascinating to see these subtle shifts of power at work.

The 4 Card Spread

With four cards, it is easy to relate the cards to the sides of the Watchtower squares. The YHVH system used in the 4 Card Spread is analogous here.

Counting Technique

The Counting Technique analyses each card in terms of the cards either side of it before going to the next card. The movement to the next card is the fourth position relating to the Heh final or Daughter position.

Opening of the Key Spread

Once the Tarot deck has been cut into four and turned over, the top cards can be analysed in the same manner.

Now that there can be a temporal aspect to the calculations, we could see A1 and A2 as catalysts for the transformation of T into S. A1 and A2 still act following the elemental rules, of course. There are also alchemical overtones in this kind of analysis.

One Element on an Elemental base

The model we shall use is the new variant which minimises A1 and A2, but introduces an aspect of time or transformation, which could be useful in any alchemical work. Of course, T is not a card, but a position. Make no mistake, we have powerful techniques for Tarot readings if we wish to understand how a situation can change in a particular time frame, simply by using a combination of the astrological dates associated with the Tarot.

Fire/Fire/Fire on Fire

We will start by considering one element - Fire. The next four examples can be considered to represent the Egyptian God Horus.

Three Cards only: "Extremely violent activity. An explosion. Supernova!. The lack of the other elements prevent any kind of moderation. All three cards feed off each other in a frenzy of action that has no direction (Air), feeling or compassion (Water), or any basis. The qualities of Aries could also apply."

This is total overkill! Violent action in the extreme. Note, though, that the final result will not be much different from the starting point. This could be a catalyst.

Fire/Fire/Fire on Water

Water and Fire are enemies, but the fire cards are excessive. A recipe for the total transformation or annihilation of whatever we started with. Water transformed into Fire through the action of Fire. Volatile liquid ignited by an external agent.

Fire/Fire/Fire on Air

Air and Fire are friendly and active. An idea or concept is launched enthusiastically without resistance or interference. There would be no trace of compassion or feeling for others, but it is quite possible that the deed is short lived since there is no Earth for a basis. An air explosion.

Fire/Fire/Fire on Earth

A volcano that has exploded. A fire or conflagration burning away on the ground, lighting up the sky. Sunrise. Earth is a good strong basis for continued action. An action that has stamina and endurance. The Earth is warmed up.

Exercises

I will leave you to create your own interpretations for the three other single element cards on an elemental base, but to help you, here are suggested interpretations without the bases.

Total passivity. Reflective. Inert, wallowing in emotions. There is no thought (Air), there is no objectivity or nothing to contain it (Earth), and no activity (Fire). There may be some characteristics of Pisces.

Obsessive mental activity that has no direction (Fire), feeling (Water), or basis (Earth). Aquarius.

Extreme dullness, solidity, no change. No intellectual processes (Air), no feeling or emotion (Water), or any kind of activity (Fire). A leaden situation, very depressing. An obsession with money or security.

Where's the Balance?

In all the above cases, Thesis and Antithesis totally support the Principal since the qualities are exactly the same, but there is no change or movement in any direction, except for Fire where there is total destruction. None of the combinations are particularly desirable. In a Tarot reading we would find the Principal card qualities carried to excess.

LESSON EIGHT

ELEMENTAL POSITIONS

There are problems associated with the Three Card Exercise: although an action is defined, there is no context, no background, it appears to be happening in a vacuum. The cards are not interacting with the environment, and as we are trying to interpret Tarot in terms of the Querent, who is part and parcel of the environment, after all, we have to do something about it.

We have to place the 3 cards in an environment. We need a backdrop, such as when the curtain rises at the start of a play. Following our theme of the four elements we will put the Triplets in an elemental position, rather than naming them as 'Love', 'Past', 'Work' etc.

We then use the same rules to reinterpret the cards. As an example, we will follow the First Example in Exercise 1, interpreting it beginning with the Fire position, then Water, Air and finally Earth. Note how the 'pecking order' and internal dynamics changes dramatically with each change of elemental basis.

Fire - Air - Water on Fire

With these 3 cards in the Fire position, we see immediately that the original interpretation will stand, but we have more detail. Water is now very weak. The emotional content is all but eliminated. The Querent will definitely act on an idea, with little compassion, possibly brutally. There is no financial incentive, nothing to ground the situation, as there is no balancing, passive Earth.

Possible interpretation

Sudden actions, a situation that does not last.

Fire - Air - Water on Water

Water is now the strongest card, excessive in fact. Fire, is very weak. Air is friendly to both cards and the Water Position, however Water is passive. Since Water is excessive, and Fire is very weak, the conclusion is that Air is the strongest element. The Querent is dreaming about a situation: it may never happen. The lack of Earth indicates little practicality.

Possible interpretation

An effeminate or ineffectual man. A woman who is able to put her ideas into practice, but she may lack confidence in her abilities, depending of course on what the actual cards are.

Fire - Air - Water on Air

The Principal card is in its own place, very strong, and the Modifiers are both friendly to Air. So far, so good. The problem comes from the Modifiers being enemies to each other, weakening themselves.

Possible interpretation

We may have a situation where the Querent is trying to rise above conflicting emotional experiences that is paralyzing him/her. Of course s/he may just be intellectualizing about the situation, avoiding the conflict around, hoping it will go away. Lack of Earth indicates the impracticability of the situation. This is a good example of how even when an element is in its own position, it may not have a good prognosis.

Fire - Air - Water on Earth

At last we have the opportunity to see what Earth can do, even though it does not appear in the cards.

The Principal, Air, is very, very weak; in the enemy camp, so to speak. Fire and Water are friends of Earth as well as Air, so they could be seen as brokers. The Querent is within a maelstrom of conflicting actions and emotions, possibly at work. Office politics is rampant. The Modifiers support the environment, rather than the Principal, or at least, they are not in a position to aid Air.

Possible interpretation

There may be a total lack of forethought in any action. Actions may be motivated by power and greed. This may also indicate a situation where someone is not being as practical about their career or work choice.

SUMMARY

This is a simple method that can be applied to many situations. The amount of information that can be gleaned just using elemental principles is remarkable. Any omitted elements can give clues to the Reader as to what is missing. An ideal situation would be where all four elements are present; actions involving the missing elements may be used to create balance.

The meaning of individual Tarot cards can get in the way, so an inability to remember the established meanings of the cards can be a distinct advantage. Note how the combinations of the elements suggest the situation the Reader is looking at - there is no need for labels such as 'Work', 'Health', 'Love' etc. The problems of time - Past, Present and Future, are also resolved since time is measured by change, a flexible commodity as anyone who has waited for a kettle to boil or sat through an interminable committee meeting.

Things to do

Try working through two element combinations.

Use actual Tarot cards in Three Card combinations. Start with the Minor cards, then introduce Major cards, and finally add one Court card. For the brave, have a go at three Court cards at once.

The Next Stage

We now have the basic building blocks to develop more sophisticated methods of reading Tarot cards: Detailed memory of the individual cards is not necessary: we know how to interpret three card combinations, and we have used our imagination to read those combinations in an elemental position.

LESSON NINE

THREE CARD TAROT EXERCISES

The Golden Dawn supply examples of three tarot card permutations using elemental dignities (pages 52, 53, Volume 9 Falcon version), which we shall analyse. The interpretation of Frater S.R.M.D is shown in bold, and then I add my own comments.

Very strong and potent in action. Very evil.

An excess of Swords, indicating sorrow, instability, moody thinking. Absence of Fire - lack of action possibly indicating things are "all in the mind". Absence of Water shows lack of feelings, while the lack of Earth shows no basis or practicality. The individual interpretation of cards supports the analysis of EDs.

Not quite so strong. Ruin checked and perhaps overcome.

The imposition of Fire upon Air causing sorrow and upset. Note how 'friendly' elements do not necessarily indicate a positive situation. The actions contemplated lack emotion and substance, and are thus unlikely to last long. Violent thoughts that have not considered the consequences of an action.

Rather good than otherwise. It is bounty overcoming loss, like a piquant sauce which adds to pleasure.

Air and Water are friendly, but the passivity of Water is causing Air to be very uncomfortable. An Intellectual outraged at a placid, comfortable, unthinking lifestyle. Someone thinking of disrupting a satisfactory status quo.

Medium strong. Evil. Sorrow arising from pleasure and through one's own pleasures.

Water and Air are friendly but have contrary natures. The Nine and Five are unable to make the Ten unhappy - someone who sees the good things in life despite the misery around him. Alternatively, we could take the Principal card being happy at dividing and ruling others.

Death accompanied by much pain and misery.

Either a death, or the transformation of a difficult, sorrowful situation. A death that is contributed to or triggered by, sorrow or depression. Note that the absence of Fire suggests that a lack of effort may be to blame, or that if there had been some stability from Earth things could have been different.

Recovery from sickness.

This is an interesting triplet. All three cards are ruled by the Moon, suggesting fluctuation and change; a diagnosis confirmed by the lack of Earth. It is quite possible that we are seeing the healing influence of the Priestess and Nine Wands on a mental condition, since they are friendly to the principal. Alternatively, we see the sorrow of the Nine Swords being caused by conflicting demands from Fire and Water.

An active woman, courageous and reliable with dark chestnut hair, and open fearless expression.

Court cards are tricky, so it is easier to start with EDs. Fire and Earth are friendly, but opposites. Although the Queen is the principal, since it gains energy from the Six Wands, it is quite possible the Fiery energies combine to squeeze the King. Perhaps we have a hyperactive woman who needs the calming influence of the King. The problem is the lack of any kind of empathy (Water), while no Air suggests that either the King does not have the intellectual capacity to deal with it, or is not sufficiently aware of the needs of the woman.

A rather fair man but very deceitful and malicious.

A weak individual who has no sense of direction, possibly depressed, a loser. The lack of Earth (practicality, grounding) and Fire (action) are telling.

LESSON TEN

FOUR CARD TAROT SPREADS

We can now analyse three card exercises using elemental dignities in a logical progression. A relationship between three cards is established, and interpreted using two very simple rules. We can even add information from the missing element(s). The Three Card Spread shows a situation. The next stage was to include the 'missing' element. Unfortunately this situation has no context, no backdrop, so we put the three cards onto an elemental position, and added to the interpretation. The problem is that it is difficult to see how the situation will develop. The next stage is to read cards in groups of four.

The Golden Rule in using EDs is:

* Apply the rules rigidly; interpret the results flexibly and liberally

For good reason, we are going to look at a single card in each position. You may be wondering why I am contradicting the basic of tenet of EDs — that cards are never read in isolation. Well, the system of EDs becomes complicated very quickly. The intention is that the basic techniques in this and the previous lesson are integrated into a complete system, but it is better to walk before running. With practice you will see how the separate positions are in fact intimately linked, and we have to look at the whole rather than individual cards.

The positions of the four card spread are elemental, and are in this order:

Students of Qabala will instantly recognise this order as being YHVH or Tetragrammaton, and so we read the spread from right to left, starting at Fire. Volumes have been written on YHVH, but let us see what we can find out using EDs.

From the viewpoint of EDs, we see that the Elemental enemies are sited next to each other. We also see that the basic attributes of the elements alternate: Active, Passive, Active, Passive. Note that we have added no other definition to the positions, something that is unique in using EDs and Tarot.

Although the laws and application of EDs are very simple, the results become complex alarmingly quickly, so we will start to read this Four Card Spread using one element at a time to see how it changes in each position. Fire is an obvious place to start.

To begin, let us analyse according to the rules.

Horus

Fire - Fire
     Friendly: excess fire, very active
Water - Fire
     Enemies: neutral, very weak
Air - Fire
     Friendly: active
Earth - Fire
     Friendly: neutral

Fire is about deeds and actions. Fire in Fire is an explosive combination. Excess of Fire has to go somewhere, and the only place is Water, its enemy. Events happen rapidly, but without long-lasting effects despite there being nothing to prevent or modify the action. The energy is dispersed and becomes quiescent (Water). It is as if we have a gestation period. Eventually there are some stirrings, some signs of consciousness and direction or thought (Air), that results in a positive, long lasting result (Earth). In a reading we could say "An event happened out of the blue that stunned everyone. After some thought, the results took time to happen, but were eventually long-lasting.

Now we will try with Water.

Isis

Fire - Water
     Enemies: Neutral - fire is extinguished
Water-Water
     Friendly: Excessively passive
Air - Water
     Friendly: Neutral
Earth - Water
     Friendly: Passive

Despite there being two active positions, we do not see any action at all. The start is inauspicious, and not much happens in the end.

Water is a placid, passive element, and so is not well placed to start something. In the position of Fire, the Water gets heated up. Water likes safe, secure surroundings and is very uncomfortable. The next stage, in its own position, we get even less action. If anything there is a cooling down! Moving onto the Air stage, consciousness stirs, but the emotions over-rule everything. Water is very happy in the Earth position, but earth acts like a sponge, it looks as if we have a super- saturated solution.

Aroueris

Fire - Air
     Friendly: Active
Water - Air
     Friendly: Neutral
Air - Air
     Friendly: Excessive activity
Earth - Air
     Enemies: Neutral

Air starts off very positive and enthusiastic — there is no resistance or proving ground to thoughts — instant gratification. The next stage, Water is friendly, but very neutral. Air wants results, but Water prevents this happening, so frustration could set in. Alternatively, the Water provides creative imagination that almost loses Air in a reverie. On its own element, there is an excess. It is as if Air is stir crazy, with wild thoughts all over the place. The final stage, Earth naturally tries to ground Air, but they are so inimical to each other that the final result is flimsy.

Nepthys

Fire - Earth
     Friendly: Neutral
Water - Earth
     Friendly: Passive
Air - Earth
     Enemies: Neutral
Earth - Earth
     Friendly: Excess passivity

The action of Earth is to consolidate its position. The final result is extreme heaviness. We may see an analogy in heavy isotopes such as plutonium that explode when in sufficient quantity.

As you can see, each element has a unique signature in each position, but it is not necessary to memorise this information since it can be easily created from first principles. This is important since mathematically there are many, many combinations of using four elements in four places, let alone actually using Tarot cards.

Let us look at a few more examples of the Osiris class

The elements in their own places creates an excess in all positions. It is the most extreme form of YHVH, particularly violent, and one only has to read the Bible to see how dangerous this is.

Transposing Fire and Water renders this combination weak and dangerous, since Air and Earth are still excessive. The tail is wagging the dog.

All positions are weak. The worst possible start, and it gets worse. Here are some positive combinations:

All positions are friendly, and the actions are harmonious. An original directed action (Air) that has a strong emotional basis (Earth), has the drive and energy to carry out the actions (Fire), and the result is emotionally satisfying (Water).

The positions are friendly, but the actions neutralise each other! There is a circularity to the situation. A strong, consolidated start that probably results in a similar, but more concentrated state. This is an excellent indication that a desired situation will be maintained.

Here is an Apis combination that has the worst of both worlds — the elements are simultaneously excessive and weak. Things are very unstable here. Fire over-acts and under-acts while Earth is insecure. As well as being omitted, Air and Water are actually further weakened by the actions of the Fire and Earth. Actions performed without compassion or intelligence coupled with instability of purpose or shifting goal posts. What happens when we transpose Earth and Fire?

Here we have an apparently strong situation that disintegrates with time. Note that despite all positions being friendly there is a subtle jockeying for position. Fire in the Air position is particularly interesting. As Air is an enemy of Earth it is supplying the oxygen needed to inflame the situation and destroy Earth, while the Water position is passively cooling down the Earth. Who wins? For my money, it would be Fire since it appears in the final position.

Which Element is weakest here?

* Is it Earth since it is excessive?
* Fire in the place of its enemy Water?
* Passive Water being agitated both by Fire in its natural position and by its place in Air?

I would suggest Earth is particularly strong even though it is unbalanced. Water and Air are in friendly positions but Air is the strongest since it is an active element in an active position and Fire is so weak.

This is a situation where one would have to look at the actual Tarot cards and the circumstances of the reading to make a decision.

As one studies ED's, the subtle transformation and transmission of energy becomes apparent. We begin to perceive the ebb and flow of energy, the blocks placed in the way, or even dissipation of purpose. It is as if the elements try to take on the qualities or aspects that are weak, excessive or missing, even if they are contrary to their natural condition. Checks and balances abound. After a time, the eye naturally falls upon the stronger or missing aspect that is the lynchpin of the reading, that an image or feeling is the sum total of the combination of Tarot cards. With ED's, we have a method of validating that impression above and beyond asking the Querent for combination. The static cards become alive.

The problems with ED's and the Four Card Spread are clear — we can see how a situation will develop, but we do not have the analysis that we had in the Three Card exercise. The next stage is to amalgamate the techniques into a coherent system so that we have the best of both worlds.

LESSON ELEVEN

FOUR POSITION SPREADS

The order of the elemental positions is Fire, Water, Air and Earth, recognisable to students of Qabalah as being exactly the same as YHVH. (Note that we read from right to left in accordance with Hebrew). In Elemental Dignities, we can consider all the Fire Tarot cards to have a home in the Fire Position, all the Water Tarot cards reside in the Water Position, and so on for Air and Earth.

This is the key to understanding how the Positions can influence each other. Astrologers should have no problems with this concept, since they have been using similar techniques and ideas for centuries. Since we are looking at how the Elemental Positions influence each other, we will keep things simple by only considering only one card or element on each position.

Lets start with an element card on its 'home' position. By the rules of Elemental Dignities, we will know that we have an excess of each element, and its characteristics will be exaggerated. Excesses have to go somewhere, but we have a 'locked' situation, which is clearly not satisfactory. In a reading this is a clear sign that we are dealing with a situation that will not change for some time. Mathematically, any four cards have sixteen combinations. It would be tedious to write a description for all sixteen versions, let alone for the reader to plough through, but it is a good practical exercise to try, particularly in a group, where each person takes turns to describe and work out the next combination.

Advanced Four Position Spreads

In this version, we have three cards in each position, and things start to get seriously complicated. What we are looking at is how a situation as described by Three Cards changes over a period of time, starting at Fire and working towards Earth. If we work logically through the levels, we would have something like this:

* 1 Card analysis
* 2 Card analysis
* 3 Card analysis
* 3 Card analysis in Elemental Position
* Elemental Position Interactions

There is a major objection to this process in that the actual Tarot cards will be different in each elemental position. This is true, and I do not intend to spend a lot of time describing this spread. Elementally, what I describe is valid, and the insights gained can be very powerful. Perhaps the best way of approaching this Spread is to make the Principal cards the focus, imagining them as solo cards on each Elemental Position.

How much weight to apply to actions 3, 4 and 5 depends on the clarity of information gained. Fortunately, with experience the Tarot Reader 'knows' exactly which card is stronger or weaker without doing all this analysis, and it is only a matter of corroborating any conclusion by working through the Elemental Dignities. Another way of understanding the change of interpretation of the number of cards is to relate them to the qabalistic levels of creation:

1. Y - Atziluth - Aces
2. YH - Briah - Knight or Queen
3. YHV - Yetzirah - Prince
4. YHVH - Assiah - Princess

Many insights can be gained looking at this table using EDs, in particular the Formula of the Tetragrammaton, discussed by Crowley in his Book of Thoth.

LESSON TWELVE

ELEMENTAL DIGNITY SUMMARY

Here are examples of all the ED techniques described thus far.

Single Card

The meaning of a single card will depend on what the reading is about - use the general definition of the card. I cannot help you on this one, otherwise.

Two Cards

Two cards have a relationship between each other dependent on their elemental nature. Analysing Pairs rely on similarity. This measure is quite crude, as you can see - in this example we do not know which card is stronger, so the description is short.

Enemies, both weakened, Neutral.

Paired cards need to have a product, a third card, to define their relationship:

Three Cards: Two elements

Each card is defined in terms of the other two, so a hierarchy can be established in terms of strength, weakness, activity or passivity. With Three cards, the Centre card assumes greater importance, and is known as the Principal card. Where there are only two elements, the situation is still not satisfactory, so my description is only slightly longer than for two cards:

Excess Water, passive, the Principal Fire is extinguished.

Three Cards: Three elements

Greater subtlety is now possible, since two elements will always be inimical to each other, with the third card friends of both, creating a tension and dynamism that mirrors life to a greater extent.

Fire strengthened by the energy of Air, but attenuated by Water. Water and Air are friendly but neutralise each other. We have a neutral situation represented by Air/Water, with the Principal, Fire, attempting to get some energy going, probably without much success.

Three Cards on an Elemental Position

Having an Elemental Position gives the individual cards the opportunity to interact with the environment as well as themselves, which is a more realistic representation of life. In the example below, the influence of the 'missing' element Earth can be judged.

Fire and Water are strengthened because they are friendly with Earth, so Air is the weakest element, even though it is next to strengthening fire. Water is probably the strongest, but the Principal holds sway, even if it is oscillating between Air and Water. A final decision would depend on the nature and character of the actual Tarot cards in a spread.

Four Cards

The dynamics of a four card spread are complex since the Tarot Reader can introduce several Kabbalistic models to aid interpretation, but here I will expand the Three Card method to give two Principal cards.

Two Principals, Fire and Water, surrounded by Air. Air is friendly to both, so we can safely assume it is strongest, especially as Fire/Water are inimical to each other. Since Air is the realm of thought and division (Swords cards), we could intimate that we have a person vacillating over whether to act or not, but would rather do something (there are 3 active elements: only Water is passive).

Four Cards on Elemental Positions

Just as with Three Card spreads, putting four cards on an elemental position enables them to interact with their environment as well as between themselves. Below I give examples of the same cards in four elemental positions to show how excesses, weaknesses and strengths change dramatically.

Water is weak - friendly but neutral to Air, while an enemy to Fire. The Air cards are strengthened, but since Fire and Water are still enemies, we would expect some coercion or pressure to act in a certain way. Odds are that action takes place, but with some misgiving. The absence of Earth suggests impracticality, or that whatever action is taken, it does not last, or the results do not happen.

The Air cards are still very strong, so there is a lot of thought going on, probably exploring emotional issues. The likelihood of action is diminished. Someone thinking about doing something, but unlikely to do so. A man and woman arguing over nothing.

Excessive Air. Conflicts arising on whether to act or not. A committee meeting where nothing is resolved.

Enemies abound. Air on Earth is weakening. Earth shows solidity, certainty, security, while Air is literally making cracks. Even though Fire and Water are friendly with Earth, they are surrounded by weakened Air, so Fire has no confidence in what to do, while Water is very unhappy. Everybody runs for cover and nothing happens.

Time and Tarot

By now you may be impressed with how much can be said about the same cards depending on the circumstances. Now is a good point to bring in the concept of time. The above examples of 4 cards in 4 positions can be read sequentially - there is a beginning, middle and end. What happens if we reverse the sequence of elemental bases using exactly the same cards? Now we know the rules of EDs, a commentary should suffice on what is happening:

Vague thoughts are arising making the person want to change his life, but nothing is done about it.

Thinking about thinking. The absence of earth shows a desire to escape, but no goal can be formulated.

"Maybe I am better staying as I am?"

"Nope. Gotta change my life - anything is better than this." "Where am I going? Dunno - but I am gonna do it!"

Easy isn't it? And all from a couple of 'crude' rules! Feel free to come up with alternative interpretations using real Tarot cards.

Five Card Readings

Five Card Readings gives the opportunity to extend the concept of reading in groups of three. Since we know AFWA so well, let us insert an Earth card in the centre of the sequence.

There are now 3 Principals that can be interpreted: Fire, Earth and Water.

Previously we had a problem with determining if Fire or Water was dominant, but with the addition of one card, we have a Centre card in the sequence since there is an odd number of cards. Whether or not the Centre Card is strong or weak, active or passive, it will have prominence in the reading. In this example, Earth strengthens the reading, since Fire and Water are separated - they no longer fight, and Earth is friendly with both of them. Not only that, but Fire and Water separate the inimical Earth and Air elements. The Golden Dawn system of Tarot Reading exploited this peculiarity: the reader is required to pair the cards, working in from the extremities to the centre, interpreting them on the way. Odd numbers of cards will always produce a Singleton card, or resolution of the matter, which is more satisfactory than even numbers of cards.

In the context of the examples above, the addition of Earth, an element that is an enemy to the dominant element Air, creates greater stability! It is paradoxes like these that make reading Tarot using EDs such a fascinating exercise.

Five Card Spread on Elemental Positions

I will leave you to work out possible interpretations for AFEWA on the four elements...

Telling Tales

One problem solved, and another arises. Now that we have three 'Principal' cards we have the problem of knowing which one to interpret first; which direction do we go, and where do we end? The Golden Dawn comes to the rescue on this problem too: Card Counting. The possibilities are endless with this system, and it does not matter how many cards we have to read. Not only does the system tell the reader where to start the reading but in which direction, which card is next, and when to change direction, and so on; it even tells the reader when to stop! The cards that are 'ignored' have significance too, since they can represent sub-plots (or areas that the querent may be unaware of) within the story that is unfolding.Here is the concept of story-telling within Tarot, the combination of EDs and Card Counting are sophisticated and powerful tools for the Tarot Reader. When I lay out a sequence of cards, I start by looking at what sort of cards are there: excess of an element, groups of Court cards, absence of major cards, etc, etc, and then I start counting from whatever significator card to see how long the sequence is - whether it meanders, or bounces back and forth between court cards, maybe the sequence "misses" cards representing issues important in the querent's life, and so on. For example, if the question is "Will I go out with this man?", and there is only one male court card, but the card counting misses him, I would examine why it is being avoided, and I can suggest actions that might bring about success. Alternatively he might be there but he is unobtainable, and I can give reasons as to why this might be so too.Now that I have presented a full overview of how to read Tarot cards using Elemental Dignities, feel free (if you have not already done so) to explore in detail the system in detail.

LESSON THIRTEEN

TAROT COURT CARDS

Court cards are such tricky beasts. Generally they represent one of these three aspects:

* A person
* Aspects of a personality
* Aspects of a situation

All of these can be either yourself or somebody else, just to make things a bit more complicated.

Positional Spreads such as the Celtic Cross are no help at all in determining the meaning or circumstance of a Court Card since the cards are generally seen in splendid isolation. Like humans, the cards enjoy being touched, in contact with each other; the best example of such a spread is The Opening Of The Key spread (TOOTK).

Having spent years learning the attributions of the cards, they can be a something of a millstone, I now view each Court card in an entirely simplistic manner, e.g. Older Man, Younger Woman, and take note of the element. Next, I look at the cards on either side of the Court card and use them to build up a picture of what that Person represents or is doing, using Elemental Dignities to determine relative strengths and weaknesses in relationship to what else is going on with the other cards. Looking at things another way, it is very difficult to determine the status of a strange naked person standing in front of you in a bare room! This is analogous to seeing a court card in isolation. We make decisions about an individual according to the time, place, actions of others, dress style, the action of an individual, and who is standing close by, their attitude to the person, etc. Sociologists and anthropologists have spent thousands of hours happily observing humans in various environments.

Will He Come Back?

Here are two versions of a hypothetical reading using the same cards. The Querent wants to know if she will meet the man of her dreams.

Celtic Cross

Using the Celtic Cross spread, there are a few problems to do with various areas of the Querent's life, principally the past and to do with relationships, but the Future position has the King of Cups, the man of her dreams. Good news! The other positions do not assist in interpretation.

Opening of the Key Spread and Eds

Using a sequential spread (Opening of the Key), the King of Cups is the only Court card in the sequence of cards dealing with the future. The King is surrounded by the Tower reversed and the Eight of Swords:

Interpretation

Oh dear. It looks like this could be a man from her past (Tower), who could have been violent (Tower again), possibly capable of mental cruelty, or at least represented constriction of some form. Looked at another way, the woman is fearful of just such a person appearing in her life, despite her desperation to find a partner. Using Elemental Dignities, we can find out a few more things. Fire (Tower) and Water (King) are inimical, weakening each other. Maybe this man has very low self-esteem, which is why he lashes out. Air (8 Swords) is friendly to both Fire and Water, but since this card represents constriction we hardly have a virtuous circle developing. Since Fire and Air support each other, we could be looking at a situation where the man feels trapped and impotent in the face of problems, perhaps due to past actions and experiences. The missing element, Earth, shows that he lacks a solid reliable basis to his life. He may also be impractical or something of a dreamer. Possibly he finds it difficult to leave the past.

Scanning across from these cards, we see the Queen of Wands only four cards away from the King surrounded by the 8 Disks and 7 Cups. Hmm. These people have some kind of relationship, being four from each other using the Counting technique. The 7 cups obviously represents Debauch, perhaps a drink/drug problem? The woman is hard working (8 Disks) and ambitious (Wands - Fire). Looking at the Elements, Fire and Water clash, so the 7 cups has greater debilitation than normal. Earth supports both Fire and Water, so she is practical, able to cope, and needs a structured environment. Air is missing, so either the woman is not intellectually strong, but she may be looking for someone with intelligence to make up the lack. So far I have not painted a pretty picture, but flawed characters are usually far more interesting - actors love to play the Bad Guy. To balance things up, here comes a more positive spin on things. Comparing the two people, it is obvious that the Fire/Water combination clashes, but they would have a mutual need fulfilled since they can supply the missing element for each other. The woman could learn to develop her nurturing and emotional makeup giving support to the man, while he could develop his self confidence in the face of her fiery nature.

Thus far we have not established who these people are, but it quite possible that the Querent recognizes either herself or she knows people who fit the bill. Looking four cards from the King in the opposite direction is the 2 Swords - Reconciliation, and we have found the Air necessary to bring balance to the woman. This woman does want to get back with this man, which is quite possibly reciprocated, and if she does not represent the Queen of Wands, it is quite possible that we are in the realms of a love triangle. The nature of the 2 Swords is somewhat ambiguous at the best of times, so the King Cups and Queen Wands are not as honest as maybe they should be.

The actual advice/prognostication for a situation like this obviously depends on the circumstances of the reading...

For whatever reason, this woman is still keen for some kind of relationship, and she wants to know when it will happen. Lets assume this reading took place in early September . Personally, I find most readings cover a six month period, but we can narrow down the window of opportunity to probably the last week of September (2 Swords represents the first decan of Libra, 21st Sept to 30th Sept approximately). Funnily enough, the other Minor cards support the previous week for things to start in perhaps a work context (8 Disks) or in November (7 Cups) for a full blown affair.

LESSON FOURTEEN

TAROT COUNTING TECHNIQUE

Counting makes Elemental Dignities come alive. Each Triplet is linked or threaded together, and the Tarot Reader creates a "story". Sometimes the thread is very straightforward, but other times the thread can become convoluted as it moves back and forward. The nature of the threading can be an indication of the complexity of a situation. The Tarot Reader is advised to silently "follow through" the length of the thread before starting to speak to the Querent.

The aim of Sequential Spreads is to create a story that can be either in the past, the present, or the future according to circumstances. Working within this system is fascinating, sophisticated, and a revelation not only to the Reader but to the Querent. In some cases it is as if the Reader was reading from a book or commenting on a scene from life. There are many advantages to EDs, most of which do not come apparent until one works with them in a reading. For example, using EDs and the GD spread offers the Reader a multitude of choices of where to begin in a reading. Court cards, never easy to read, are seen in their context and relationship between each other and the other cards - it is easy to see which Court card is doing what to another Court card, and how the Court cards (and therefore people in the Querent's life) respond to situations or trample over everyone.

By its nature, the Counting Technique is selective. Vital information can be gleaned by those cards that are missed. For example, a perennial question in Tarot Readings is "will this person come into my life?". Once the Reader has located the Significator for the Reader, and the pile of cards is spread out, it is apparent that there is only one other Court Card of the right gender and age group. Counting starts, and surprise, surprise, the target card is missed. Counting from the other Court Card, the Significator is hit. Interpretation? The Querent need do nothing special - that special person will turn up, and we can even suggest the manner of the event according to EDs. Alternatively, neither card links up, which suggests that the desired event will not happen. Does the intrepid ED Reader give up? No. Plan B comes into play, and the Reader searches for a card in the spread that will connect with both Significators, suggesting a different course of action to achieve the desired result. Obviously, this is not always possible nor desirable. Another scenario is where there is a choice of suitor, so the possibilities surrounding each other can be explored.

The pattern of the counting is suggestive. The Reader may find the counting goes round in circles, which is exactly the experience the Querent has been going through. Since we are dealing with the energy flows within a reading, we can also see the Sphere of Influence of a card: by definition, any card will influence the cards either side, and the cards that are hit by the counting technique. Each card is influenced by the cards at intervals 4, 5, 7, 9, and 12 either side of it, depending of course on the type. It is entirely possible that a card has no influence upon it, which is analogous to a singleton in Astrology which acts in a rogue manner. Sometimes in even a long sequence of cards, only a few cards are significant. Sometimes the Count meanders along, changing direction at random. My experience is that the fewer the moves, the more direct, the more likely something is to happen; conversely, a long sequence indicates many things that can go wrong. Sometimes the sequence goes through many Court cards, showing that events are in the hands of others, not a good sign. We may also find "pockets" of cards that do not appear to be part of the situation - sometimes there are two or more 'pockets' indicating areas of the Querent's life that is off-limits, or unknown at the present, that need to be investigated, or that the Querent is not addressing more important concerns. Looking at the elemental aspects, we may find that one or two elements dominate, or that the Count oscillates between opposing or enemy elements, showing a stop-start pattern, lack of confidence, confusion, or lack of direction.

Card Counting Technique

Card Counting is a technique that is fundamental to the GD Spread. Card Counting enables the Reader to create a 'story', a situation that develops over a period of time. Card Counting enables the Reader to select the next card in a formulaic sequence. It is a fascinating process that reveals layer after layer of subtlety.

5 or 11
     Aces
7
     Princess or Knave
4
     Knight or Queen
Face Value
     Minor cards 2-10
3
     Fool, Hanged Man, Aeon
9
     Planetary Major Cards
12
     Zodiacal Major Cards

Obviously, there are differences between various Tarot decks that have to be taken into account. Remember that there were very few Tarot decks when the original documents were written. If your favourite Tarot deck does not contain these attributes, you will have problems, and I suggest you choose a more traditional deck.

There is another alternative method of counting in the Book of Thoth where the Aces count 11 rather than 5. Eleven is a significant number in that system, and it is very dynamic - the number of change and magic. Since I have a synthetic approach to techniques, I usually count five, but if a situation appears "locked", I will resort to using eleven. Be warned, this is very powerful, and can result in life changing experiences for the Querent; this may be exactly what the Querent wants. Since choice is a vital aspect to readings, and gently steers the Querent away from a fatalistic point of view, the Reader may find it worthwhile offering alternative actions and their outcomes.

Facing and Direction of the Court Cards

A peculiarity of the Court cards is the direction the counting starts with. The original instructions state that the direction to count depends on which way the face of the figure is facing. A moment's thought should make one realise how inadequate this advice is - it depends on the Tarot Deck used. A far more practical method is to look at where the Court Cards are placed upon the Tree of Life. The Queen resides in Binah on the left, while the Kings are placed upon Chokmah on the right. Between them is the centre column of balance. Therefore, the Queens and Princess should move to the right, while the Kings and Knights should move to the left. The Golden Dawn Spread allows reversed cards, so the direction would change if a court card is reversed.

The Court cards control the direction counting takes place, and if several Court cards are 'hit' in the process, the direction may change several times. Card counting finishes when a card is 'hit' twice.

What happens when a card is hit twice but from the opposite direction? In my experience I have found it is better to continue counting until a card is hit from the same direction.

LESSON FIFTEEN

QUESTIONS & ELEMENT

Understanding the nature of the question can aid in determining which elemental position to look at in a reading. This process can be taken further into sub-divisions of an element.

Specific ideas that are manifested in the Earth Element. Theory, logic, abstract thoughts, expression of art, studies, writing, publishing, travel, sickness, death, problems, dissension, arguments.

Powers of the unconscious mind. Attunements with life. The water may be calm on the surface, but below there may be undercurrents. The emotions in relationships, love, healing, protection. Spiritual groups, psychic phenomena.

The concrete manifestation of events that started in the Fire element. Earth is passive and persistent, so it represents matters concerning building structures, the land, agriculture, the physical body, material matters. Also reproduction, stability, recreation, possessions, wealth, poverty and greed.

Fire is the initiator of actions, the beginning of the matter. Fire gives heat and energy – anything that requires action, sports, war, arguments, sex, self-motivation, enthusiasm, inspiration. Fire shows power struggles, strength, expression of freedom, meeting challenges. Fire is related to Atziluth, a high spiritual level.

Exercises

Try a One Card Spread...

LESSON SIXTEEN

ELEMENTAL DIGNITY SPREAD

We now have several Tarot reading methods that give us insight into the situations that might be going on. Of course, actual practice and experimentation is the key to understanding. I can only give hints. It is worth summarising what we have covered:

* In EDs, two rules that govern the interaction of the four elements
The rules work at all levels of the reading, from individual cards to spread positions.

* The elemental interactions link the Tarot
A profound method that enables the Reader to give subtler, richer, sophisticated readings even if the remembered meanings of the individual cards are somewhat hazy.

* Cards are read in groups of three as a minimum
Since there are four elements, we take the missing element(s) into consideration. Three cards give us an indication of a situation, but not necessarily how it will develop. Including an elemental position gives us a backdrop or background to the action.

* Elemental position interacts with elemental aspect of the Tarot cards
Strengthen or weaken the interpretation.

The next stage is to create a spread that has the best of both worlds. A simple version is one that has three cards in each of the four positions. Of course, in a real spread there will be different Tarot cards in all the positions, but we can still analyse the situation on several levels.

--------------------------------
|           ED Spread            |
--------------------------------
|       Position        | Level  |
--------------------------------
|   M   |   P   |   M   |        |
--------------------------------
|   3   |   2   |   1   | Fire   |
--------------------------------
|   6   |   5   |   4   | Water  |
--------------------------------
|   9   |   8   |   7   | Air    |
--------------------------------
|  12   |  11   |  10   | Earth  |
--------------------------------

I am not going to give any qualities for the four positions as they will depend on the actual cards - this is a complete reversal from almost every other tarot spread where each position has a title and description. However, the central cards 2,5,8,11 are Principals, and the cards either side act as Modifiers, so it should be fairly easy to break down the reading into constituent parts and then relate the results to the final picture. The fact that none of the positions have titles gives the mind free rein to create associations and links between the cards. Having said that, we can reasonably assume that the Fire position relates to actions and the past, the Water position is connected to emotions, the Air position relates to problems, while the Earth position indicates manifestation and the future. That is the logical model, but humans do not act in logical ways.

Starting a reading

Once the cards have been laid out, it is worth spending a few minutes looking at patterns: the types of cards represented - Major, Minor, Court - in general and at each level. Mentally note how many cards signify the various elements to see excess or absence. Do we find Major cards at the end or at the beginning? etc, etc. It is also worth looking at particular combinations - 3 Aces, 4 Kings etc and incorporating them in the reading. Look at the EDs of each position to see if there is a particular card that is very strong or very weak. You may find that a weak element is balanced or strengthened at another level. Sometimes it is possible to find that out of all 12 cards, 9 or 10 are neutral in effect, so you can focus on the strong or weak combinations. For example, if the reading is about love, you may find the only love card in a very weak position surrounded by strong or excessive cards that are blocking it. The Central Modifier cards should indicate the course of action from Fire to Earth, but ED analysis may show another picture, which a skilful reader can use to suggest alternative means or methods for changing the situation.

Significators

It is quite possible to allow the tarot cards to choose a Significator rather than opting for the limited Court cards. The understanding and use of EDs allows me to see which card(s) are significant because of their relative strengths or weaknesses, which creates a flexible and dynamic method of analysis. In general,