Tag: Major Arcana

direct your will to bring forth

The Magician has goals to bring forth and the power to make them a reality by working in unison with cosmic energy. What is in us is being called out, and we realize that we have the tools needed to manifest our desires. Smith-Waite decks often depict The Magician with one arm pointing up and the other down, signifying “as above, so below.” A catalyst, it’s the quick mental force that initiates where we direct our will.

(-) In resistance, when we doubt our sense of purpose, we are aimless in our pursuits or we overcompensate, overdoing things in an attempt to hide our blocks or aimlessness from ourselves.

(+) In excess, we become too active, and as our aims disappear, we find ourselves engaging in activity for activity’s sake. We become restless and blame others for our lack of success. We’re scattered, starting many projects but not completing them.

We may overestimate our power, or use it irresponsibly (such as those drawn to the dark arts) or deceitfully (like the charlatan). Traditionally, Le Bateleur was a trickster, a street-wise con man with his table of tricks

Questions we may be prompted to ask when this card comes up include

• Is your energy scattered and unfocused? What is one thing you can do to harness and direct it?
• What do you feel called to bring out? Are you stifling the inspiration? Why?
• How could you trick your fears?
• Where have you overused your power, or used it irresponsibly?

What else? The archetypes of the majors are complex and you may have other insights. How has this card come up for you?

follow the heart of your true Self

The Fool is the unnumbered trump linking the first and last cards of the major arcana. Zero is the potential in the void; it’s both nothing and everything.

The Fool may be considered to represent the Self and the process of individuation; your pure potential. Often portrayed walking along a mountain path, the Fool is following the guidance of the inner voice. We are implored to “jump and the net will appear,” but that demands trust. Might we have some trust issues?

(-) In resistance, self-doubt prevents us from trusting that inner voice of the soul. Risk-averse, we take ourselves or the situation too seriously and deny our inner kid its expression. Where The Fool should be creative energy, it becomes instead the avoidance of those experiences which may further growth, resulting in rash, impetuous behaviors or clowning around to avoid taking direct action. Perhaps we have a resistance to starting a new cycle of development.

(+) In excess, we leap impetuously without regarding the consequences, maybe believing that everything we encounter is “meant to be.” While spontaneity shouldn’t be suppressed, our actions become irresponsible, reckless, thrill-seeking.

Questions we may be prompted to ask when this card comes up include

• Do you trust your own judgement?
• What’s stopping you from living your best life?
• What leap would you take if you knew you couldn’t fail? What prevents you?
• Where have others taken advantage of you?
• Where have others discouraged your interests or pursuits?
• What is the worst that can happen if you fail?
• Do you tend to take yourself too seriously, or not seriously enough?
• What is the most important thing you’ve never done?

What else? The archetypes of the majors are complex and you may have other insights. How has this card come up for you?