Tarot for Writers

by Corrine Kenner

  Generally speaking, the World card symbolizes completion and success. In a story reading, the World card may refer to a dancer, a champion, a nudist, a baby, or a reincarnated soul.

  Key Symbols

  Circle of Life. With the World card, all of the cards in the Major Arcana have come full circle. A circle is a symbol of eternity, because it has no beginning and no end.

  Symbols of Infinity. The dancer's wreath is held together by ribbons in the shape of a lemniscate, the figure-eight symbol of infinity. Wreaths themselves are intertwined with concepts of death, resurrection, and immortality. We hang evergreen wreaths at Christmastime, as a symbol of everlasting life. We send floral wreaths to funerals. Historically, people even crowned their heroes with laurel wreaths, whenever they defeated an opponent in battle or in an athletic event-both of which represented victory over death.

  Dance Costume. The dancer's scarf is another powerful symbol of beginnings and ends. Historically, newborn infants were wrapped in swaddling clothes, while the dead were wrapped in shrouds. Both were naked underneath. Look closely, and you'll notice that the shape of the scarf also resembles a lemniscate.

  Magic Wands. The dancer holds a wand in each hand, like her counterpart in the first card of the Major Arcana, the Magician.

  Talk to the Animals. The four winged creatures in the corners of the card are the four living creatures the prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision-an angel, an eagle, a lion, and a bull. They are the four fixed creatures of the zodiac: Aquarius the Water Bearer, Scorpio the Eagle, Leo the Lion, and Taurus the Bull-the four beasts of the Apocalypse. The four creatures also symbolize the four dimensions: width, length, height, and time. They represent the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. They are reminders of the four seasons, the four winds, the four phases of the moon, and the four ages of man: infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age. In addition, the four creatures symbolize the four elements and the four suits of the Minor Arcana.

  Begin Again. The World card is the last card in the Major Arcana, but it's also a starting point for a whole new cycle of adventures and experience in the everyday cards of the Minor Arcana.

  Keywords

  Upright: Completion, conclusion, perfection, success, celebration, reward, unity, universality, oneness, wholeness, synthesis, coming full circle, center stage, endings and beginnings

  Reversed: Delays, hesitations, false starts

  Myth and Legend

  While she doesn't look particularly masculine in most renditions of the card, the dancer in the World card is often said to be a hermaphrodite-a person who is neither male nor female, but who exhibits characteristics of both sexes.

  According to Greek myth, Hermaphroditos was the son of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. A young fountain nymph named Salmacis fell in love with Hermaphroditos, but he ignored her. She turned to the gods for help, and prayed that she would be united with him forever. Her prayers were answered: when Hermaphroditos took a bath, they became one person.

  Given that background, you might even think of the dancer as the embodiment of Jung's syzegy archetype-the divine couple, literally united as one.

  Astrological Associations

  The World card is assigned to Saturn, a ringed planet with clearly defined boundaries. While some see boundaries as limitations, they're more than an obstacle or a dead end. That's because borders do more than confine us: they define us.

  Saturn rules the tenth house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about career and social standing. Saturn also rules Capricorn, the sign associated with work, achievement, responsibility, and drive.

  On a related note, Capricorn corresponds to the Devil card.

  Capricorn is an earth sign.

  Literary Archetypes

  The World card can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the Amazon, the anima, the animus, the artist, the creator, the destroyer, the divine child, the Fates, the self, the shaman, and the visionary.

  The World and Your Writing Practice

  The World card is the final stop on the Fool's journey-and perhaps, the writer's journey, too. It's a card of accomplishment and success. It clearly delineates a world of endings and conclusions, as events come full circle, and crises and conflicts are resolved.

  In most cases, the World card concludes one chapter, and lays the groundwork for a whole new cycle of adventures and experience. The World card might even conclude a story-but it also lays the groundwork for a sequel.

  When the World card appears in your writing practice, take time to assess your progress-and to plan for a book tour.

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a celebration

  • a graduation

  • a baby blanket

  • a baptismal gown

  • a bridal veil

  • a burial shroud

  • a traffic circle

  • a last call

  • a last dance

  • a journey to the four corners of the world

  THE ACE OF WANDS is the first card in the suit of wands, the suit that corresponds to the ancient element of fire. It's the card of creative inspiration, and it's the spark that starts the fire.

  Key Symbols

  Fresh Start. All of the aces represent new beginnings. Because the suit of wands corresponds to spiritual life, the Ace of Wands symbolizes a new beginning on a spiritual level. The aces also symbolize gifts. In this case, spiritual growth is yours for the taking.

  Signs of Life. The Ace of Wands is a single, massive branch, with budding leaves sprouting in a promising sign of life.

  Creative Drive. It's no coincidence that the Ace of Wands is phallic in nature. It reflects the powerful drive for creation (and subsequent recreation) inherent in the human species. In fact, the Ace of Wands embodies the power to generate-and regenerate-countless generations. It represents potential in its purest form: raw, unbridled possibility, ready, willing, and able to be unleashed.

  Higher Thought. The wand is emerging from a swirling silver cloud, a symbol of higher thought, as well as the separation between the worlds.

  Hand of God. Most people think the hand in the card is the hand of God-or the hand of the Magician picking up one of the tools from his table.

  Magic Wand. The Ace of Wands looks like a primitive magic wand.

  Speak Softly. The clublike wand could double as a weapon, either for defensive or aggressive use. It may be a reminder to speak softly and carry a big stick.

  Safe Haven. The castle in the distance symbolizes refuge, watchfulness, royal sovereignty, and divine guidance.

  Astrological Symbolism. Astrologically, the Ace of Wands is associated with all of the powers of fire-the element associated with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

  Historical significance. A century ago, the Ace of Wands was said to herald money, fortune, and inheritance.

  Keywords

  Upright: Primal fire, energy, spark, creativity, virility, vitality, potency, desire, invention, enterprise, excitement, enthusiasm, force, strength, vigor, ignition, confidence, willpower, drive

  Reversed: Impotence, delays, frustration, dissatisfaction, violence, cruelty, tyranny, decadence, destruction

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a tree branch

  • a wooden club

  • a torch

  • a match

  • a magic wand

  Two of Wands

  THE Two of WANDS is a card of influence, authority, control, and dominion. It depicts a man with the will-and the power-to move beyond the initial stages of creation.

  Key Symbols

  Dominion. Traditionally, the Two of Wands is known as the card of dominion. The well-dressed man in the card has the power to master all that he surveys. Look at the card: he literally holds the whole world in his hands.

  Boundaries. In most versions of the card, a regal-looking figure-presumably a nobleman
or a businessman-stands behind a battlement. The low wall represents a protective boundary.

  St. Andrew's Cross. The battlement is embossed with a banner of the red rose of passion and the white lily of purity. The two crossed staffs, in the shape of a St. Andrew's Cross, symbolize the harmony of rule and justice.

  Geographic Features. The man stands above a protected bay or inlet rimmed by cliffs and mountains in the distance. The site's geography makes it easier to defend. It's also a convenient base of operations; he's in a position to trade.

  The Sadness of Alexander. While the figure is apparently well off, Arthur Edward Waite suggested that it also hints at the "sadness of Alexander amidst the grandeur of this world's wealth." In antiquity, Alexander the Great reportedly was at a loss once he had no more worlds to conquer.

  Keywords

  Upright: Dominion and domination, strength, stronghold, ambition, resolution, courage, pride, vision

  Reversed: Tyranny, weakness, revenge, restlessness, obstinacy, shamelessness, pride, subjugation, hesitation

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a merchant marine

  • a globe

  • a long wait

  • a low wall

  • a vision of the future

  Three of Wands

  THE THREE OF WANDS is a card of strong leadership ability, wealth, and power. It depicts a nobleman waiting and watching for his ships to come in. In a reading, the card symbolizes the strength of a well-run, well-funded business organization dedicated to enterprise, trade, and commerce.

  Key Symbols

  Established Strength. Traditionally, the Three of Wands is the card of established strength. The figure in the card has clearly established his stronghold.

  Walled In. The man in the card is looking out over a low stone wall-a symbol of protection and boundaries.

  Hidden Emotions. This is one of the few cards in the deck that doesn't reveal the character's face; it's impossible to know what he's thinking or feeling.

  A Rock on a Sandy Shore. He's standing on a sandy surface with one foot resting on a small boulder. It's a position of strength.

  Sailing Ships. Three ships sail across a bay, which suggest that he is involved in trade and exploration. Those pursuits suggest a sense of adventure and discovery-not only of markets and customers, but also of new lands, new sources of goods and services, and new opportunities for partnerships and alliances.

  Growth Venture. The three saplings would suggest that the seeds of a promising partnership have not only been planted, but have also sprouted and taken root.

  A Calculated Investment. The trader puts something of value out into the worldat some risk-in the hope that it will generate profit and wealth. He's willing to take a risk.

  Color Symbolism. The businessman in the card wears yellow, red, and blue-the three primary colors, which also represent air, fire, and water.

  Keywords

  Upright: Established strength, business leadership and acumen, trade, commerce, cooperation, discovery

  Reversed: Adversity, toil, disappointment

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a risky investment

  • a surprising business partnership

  • a fleet of ships with unexpected cargo

  • a storm at sea

  • body language

  Four of Wands

  THE FOUR OF WANDS is a card of family life and domestic tranquility, as a young couple prepares to celebrate their marriage in the courtyard of a medieval castle.

  Key Symbols

  Throw Rice. In many tarot decks, the card depicts a wedding couple. They're outdoors, which symbolizes a connection to nature and fertility.

  Castle Architecture. They're pictured in a courtyard, with the walls and turrets of a medieval citadel behind them. The buildings symbolize civilization; the walls represent boundaries and protection, and the turrets symbolize a heightened outlook.

  Divine Design. The couple is putting together a garland for a chuppa, a Jewish wedding canopy. It's a simple structure designed to represent a couple's first home together. The four wands that support the canopy symbolize the structure and stability of a house with four corners. The canopy itself represents protection from the elements as well as blessings from heaven.

  Color Symbolism. The two people are dressed in complimentary colors of blue and red-one water, one fire. Their marriage is a partnership.

  Good Fortune. Historically, the Four of Wands was said to symbolize unexpected good fortune-both upright and in its reversed position. It also symbolized the haven of country life.

  Practice Makes Perfect. In The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Arthur Edward Waite called this card "Perfected Work."

  Keywords

  Upright: Perfection, completion, stability, prosperity, peace, good fortune, harmony, success, happiness, marriage, union

  Reversed: Instability, shakeups, conflict

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a wedding

  • a celebration

  • a marriage

  • your first home

  • your parents

  Five of Wands

  THE FIVE OF WANDS is a card of strife, struggle, competition, and chaos. Five young men are trying to work together, to coordinate their efforts. They're either on the verge of creating a five-pointed star design, or they're on the brink of anarchy.

  Key Symbols

  Sense and Sensibility. The five figures in the Five of Wands represent the five senses-sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell-which must work together to make sense of the outside world.

  Organized Chaos. Each member of the group is struggling to find his place with the others. They're just a few steps away from forming a star-shaped design with their wands-a pentagram, a symbol of perfection and wholeness.

  Spirit of Cooperation. The card has a disjointed quality. Part of the problem is the sheer number of participants in the card. Four young men with four pieces of timber would have no problem joining forces to devise a square. The introduction of that fifth element, however, offers a challenge to builders.

  Invisible Glue. That fifth element may be a metaphor for the fifth element of the ancient philosophers. In addition to fire, water, air, and earth, many believed in an ether or spirit that would bind all four elements.

  Color Symbolism. The figures are dressed in tunics of red, blue, yellow, green, and purple-the elemental colors of fire, water, air, earth, and spirit.

  Higher Guidance. Clearly, the young men in the card could use the guidance and direction of an outside observer-someone who could see the big picture and help them work together to construct a form of beauty and symmetry.

  Day Trading. Historically, the Five of Wands was said to be a good sign for anyone who wanted to engage in financial speculation.

  Keywords

  Upright: Group efforts, teamwork, conversations, games, sporting events, participation

  Reversed: Quarrels, fights, clashes, strife, power struggles, disputes, litigation, legal proceedings, issues stalled in committee

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • an argument or a misunderstanding

  • chaos and confusion

  • committee work

  • a construction project

  • a political rally

  Six of Wands

  THE Six OF WANDS is a card of victory, in which we see a conquering hero riding through a cheering crowd. He's probably leading a triumphal parade, returning from battle with the spoils of war.

  Key Symbols

  Soldier of Fortune. The hero has saved the day. His success in battle has made it possible for the rest of his community to live in peace and prosperity-at least for the time being.

  Laurel Wreath. One of his rewards is the laurel wreath of victory. The wreath indicates that he has won the support of the people, along with their respect, recognition, and honor. Will he rest on
his laurels? That remains to be seen.

  Crowd Scene. The crowd is happy for his success-and their good fortune. It's not an outmoded concept: even now, we celebrate winning Super Bowl and World Series teams with ticker-tape parades.

  High Horse. The rider's elevated mount separates him from the ordinary people on the street.

  Riding partners. The horse is a long-standing symbol of freedom, power, independence, and movement. Throughout much of history, horses were also a sign of honor and nobility; they elevated their riders not only physically, but socially.

  Dressed for Success. The hero and his horse are dressed in royal robes, a sign of their power, status, and prestige.

  Keywords

  Upright: Victory, triumph, success, acclaim, validation, vindication, messages and messengers, parades

  Reversed: Defeat, infidelity, treachery, disloyalty, disrespect, apprehension, fear, an enemy at the gate

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  a victory parade

  • the movement of a crowd

  • the pounding of horses' hooves

  • a hero's return

  • a street scene

  Seven of Wands

  THE SEVEN OF WANDS is a card of valor, bravery, and strength, even in the face of strong opposition At first glance, it seems like a simple battle scene-but every element is a metaphor for conflict.

  Key Symbols

  King of the Hill. At the edge of a steep cliff-a risky, dangerous setting-a young man stands his ground.

  Defensive Posture. The embattled warrior is protecting his turf.

  Strategic Advantage. Even though he's outnumbered, he's fighting from a position of power.

  Solid Footing. Both of his feet are firmly on the ground.

  Uphill Battle. His adversaries are fighting an uphill battle. We can't see the opponents, so we're left to imagine who they are and what they're fighting for.

  Primitive Weapons. The warriors in this card are fighting with primitive clubs, rather than the more sophisticated swords of the tarot deck. This is not a high-tech battle; instead, it's a primitive struggle for land, dominance, and position. It's a spiritual battle, too-if swords were the weapon of choice here, they would imply a more intellectual, logic-driven battle.