by Marcus Katz
What you say: “The Queen of Cups shows that we must connect to others in a truly affectionate manner.”
Reversed: Conceit
What you say: “Hmmmm …. Someone has too high an opinion of themselves!”
Theme/Framework: Sensitivity
Oracular Title: A Paper-Chain Cut Out in the Shape of Hearts.
Flip Title: A Carnival Show House of Mirrors.
King of Cups: Imagination Demonstrating
Upright: Recognition
What you say: “The King of Cups shows that this time is one where you must recognize yourself (or others) for their feelings.”
Reversed: Forgetfulness
What you say: “When flipped, the King of Cups counsels forgetting as the best approach in this situation, no matter how hard that may be.”
Theme/Framework: Memory
Oracular Title: A Father Showing His Son How to Swim.
Flip Title: Icicles Melting in a Spring Thaw.
WANDS
Key Theme for Wands: AMBITION
Ace of Wands: The Seed of Ambition
Upright: Advancement
What you say: “The powerful Ace of Wands brings growth, gain, and the promise of steady progress.”
Reversed: Interruption
What you say: “Reversed, this powerful card, the Ace of Wands, brings a break to your plans.”
Theme/Framework: Ambition
Oracular Title: A Green Flag Flying in a High Breeze.
Flip Title: A Broken Stick on a Pavement.
2 of Wands: The Organisation of Ambition
Upright: Planning
What you say: “The Two of Wands here shows that your aims need structure and thought for your goal before it is too late.”
Reversed: Ignoring
What you say: “Whilst you go forwards, it is never too late to look around and ensure you have everything you need.”
Theme/Framework: Organization
Oracular Title: An Empty Suitcase on a Bed Surrounded by Clothes.
Flip Title: A Person Turning Away From A Friend Calling Them.
3 of Wands: The Activation of Ambition
Upright: Building
What you say: “When this card appears, it signifies a time of building and growth in your plans.”
Reversed: Dismantling
What you say: “When this card appears reversed, it is time to take apart your work so far and look to start again.”
Theme/Framework: Creation
Oracular Title: An Artists Palette in an Empty Church.
Flip Title: Autumn Leaves in a Quiet Park.
4 of Wands: The Application of Ambition
Upright: Welcoming, appropriate response
What you say: “This card means you get an appropriate response”
Reversed: Loss, Exile
What you say: “This card (reversed) means you are pushed out”
Theme/Framework: Sympathy
Oracular Title: An Appropriate Greeting from a Group of People
Flip Title: An Inappropriate Greeting
5 of Wands: The Boundary of Ambition
Upright: Disconnection
What you say: “It is time to disconnect from those around you, or to take action with those who are hindering your plans. A big change is required.”
Reversed: Connection
What you say: “This card when flipped may indicate that you are ready to communicate and collaborate with another. This will further your plans.”
Theme/Framework: Society
Oracular Title: A Broken Telegraph Wire in a Time of War.
Flip Title: Architects Around a Table Discussing Their Drawing Whilst the Building Goes on Outside the Window.
6 of Wands: The Utilization of Ambition
Upright: Amusement
What you say: “This card, whilst appearing to denote celebration, offers advice that one should not be easily amused lest the joke be played on you.”
Reversed: Weariness
What you say: “It is time to take a well-earned rest from the effort you have already extended. It is deserved.”
Theme/Framework: Entertainment
Oracular Title: A Masqued Party Applauding.
Flip Title: A Child Riding on a Carousel.
7 of Wands: The Reorganization of Ambition
Upright: Exposure
What you say: “It is time to make your plans known!”
Reversed: Concealment
What you say: “It is time to hide what you are doing until you are fully ready to reveal it.”
Theme/Framework: Communication
Oracular Title: Soldiers Radio In Their Position.
Flip Title: An Innocent Prisoner Goes into Hiding.
8 of Wands: The Direction of Ambition
Upright: Management
What you say: “It is time to take a grip of everything involved in this situation.”
Reversed: Misdirection
What you say: “You may feel as if nothing is going your way, and there is some possibility of willful steering of you by another.”
Theme/Framework: Observation
Oracular Title: A Perfect Flight of Geese at the Right Time of Year.
Flip Title: A Magician Performing a Magical Trick.
9 of Wands: The Rest of Ambition
Upright: Care
What you say: “This card signifies that you must exercise caution in this matter.”
Reversed: Approachability
What you say: “You may allow others to get close to you in this matter, when this card is showing upside-down.”
Theme/Framework: Review
Oracular Title: A Warden Making the Prison Rounds.
Flip Title: A Woman Meeting a Good Friend at a Train Station.
10 of Wands: The Return of Ambition
Upright: Work
What you say: “In this card, the Ten of Wands, we see that you are being required to work to consolidate your vision.”
Reversed: Sloth
What you say: “When reversed, the Ten of Wands shows that you are letting things decay by laziness.”
Theme/Framework: Capability
Oracular Title: Bees Working in a Hive on a Sunny Day.
Flip Title: A Rusting Spade Abandoned in the Rain.
Page of Wands: Ambition Channelling
Upright: Entrance
What you say: “This card, the Page of Wands, clearly means that you are about to enter into a new phase of your lifestyle.”
Reversed: Retirement
What you say: “When flipped, the Page here suggests it is time to take an early retirement from whatever you are struggling with.”
Theme/Framework: Engagement
Oracular Title: A Ship is Launched by the Latest Celebrity.
Flip Title: Miners Leave the Coal Mine for the Last Time.
Knight of Wands: Ambition Responding
Upright: Advancement
What you say: “The Knight of Wands shows here that your advancement is reasonably assured.”
Reversed: Hesitation
What you say: “Caution is the watchword for when the Knight of Swords appears in a flipped position. He who hesitates is not always lost.”
Theme/Framework: Positioning.
Oracular Title: Knights Approach the Chapel of the Grail.
Flip Title: A Red Key Adorned with Petals Does Not Unlock the Gate.
Queen of Wands: Ambition Connecting
Upright: Independence
What you say: “When connected to your heart’s ambitions, this card carries the meaning of true independence and self-will.”
Reversed: Dependence
What you say: “This card is not happy reversed and tells us that you should not be so reliant on others for your own goals.”
Theme/Framework: Belonging
Oracular Title: A Movie Star Makes Her Entrance
Flip Title: A Servant Lights the Fire for His Master.
King of Wands: Ambition Demonstrating
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bsp; Upright: Authenticity
What you say: “The King of Wands is a powerful card which shows that true honesty leads to authenticity and power.”
Reversed: Falseness
What you say: “The King of Wands flipped gives the advice that you should ‘to your own self be true’.”
Theme/Framework: Identity
Oracular Title: The Sun Shines Down on a Clock Tower at Noon.
Flip Title: Wax Fruit in a Theatre Production.
Further Notes on the Minors
In the creation of these keywords, we noticed some incredible unconscious patterns in the ideas which were provided by many Tarot readers. You will notice that the central theme which we found in the majority of each suit was most evident in the Ace of the Suit.
The Ace of the Suit provides the seed concept which grows into the remaining cards of the suit. We have reflected this by giving the theme of the Ace of each Suit the identical theme of the Suit.
The Two of Pentacles reflected strongly the nature of the “Two” in all Suits, i.e. organization. This we take to indicate that the Pentacles manifest the processes of the other Suits. The Pentacles are the making real of the other ideas found throughout the deck. When a Pentacle is present, things will be happening in the noticeable world of events!
You’ll also notice the Twos are Organizers and the Sevens are Reorganizers. You may compare the Twos and Sevens of each Suit and see if this fits for your deck and appreciation of that deck.
Threes and Fours are activating and applying cards, they seem fairly close together but the Three is like the motor running after ignition and the Four the pedal going down in the vehicle to make it move!
The Fives represent the transition boundary of the theme of the Suit. They are difficult only when this transition is resisted. These Fives in each Suit are truly the “Calling Cards”.
We also found the Sixes reflecting the theme of their Suit. This is very appropriate in Kabbalah, where each Tree of Life in the “four worlds” grows out of the sixth Sephiroth of each Tree. When a Six is present, we see a “flip” in the energy of the situation – things are being taken to another level when these cards appear.
The Eights are directive cards, which can particularly be seen in the Suit of Wands, Ambition. The Nines represent the Resting of the theme, its final phase until the Ten shows it returning to the start of the Cycle.
Thus, Ambition when fulfilled (9 of Wands) is always incomplete until the Return to the original impulse of the activity (10 of Wands) leads to completion and frees a new beginning (Ace of Wands).
The Alchemical Stages and the Hero’s Journey might be better seen in the progression of the Ace to 10 of each Suit than the Majors.
You may discover other patterns and significance in the Oracular Titles of these cards, which might be considered a dream or racial-unconscious version of the visible cards themselves.
Making A Card Fit
No matter what card arrives in which position of a spread, or in answer to a general question, an experienced reader is able to interpret its meaning. However, when we start from basic keywords and concepts, this can often be difficult for those new to Tarot. How does one apply a card whose word is “trespass” to a question about one’s college exam?
In NLP, we use a method called “chunking” which describes levels of detail applied to thinking. A model of lateral thinking shows how people chunk in a particular “strategy” (which is unconscious) to solve problems in a creative way. We have applied this model to produce a KickStart version of “making a card fit” as follows.
Example: 3 of Wands in the “past” position of a spread where the question was about a relationship. This card has the keyword of building and the title ‘Activation of Ambition’. To make this fit, we map the context (or metaphor) in which building makes sense to the context of the question – the relationship. So “building” takes place in a context of ‘building a house’. We then compare building a house to a relationship. Obviously, the building comes early on in the process, as it would do in the relationship – the house is also about security. So we then apply this to a relationship, perhaps seeing that the relationship was “cemented” in the past, based on the persons high ideals for the union. Those “foundations” are now in the past denoting the relationship – like the building – has moved on.
Example: 6 of Wands in the “Advice” position of a particular spread. This card has the keyword of Weariness. This is part of the context of ‘entertainment’ so we would fit it into the reading by saying the Querent is advised not to treat the situation as a game, otherwise they will tire of it.
We believe that by using the “flip” method to derive these keywords they will prove fairly universal. However, insight always comes by working with the cards themselves in a range of questions – go practice!
MAJORS
The Keywords for the Majors are taken from the “Never” exercise in Tarosophy® where these concepts were generated from many hundreds of entries by Tarot readers. They are explored further in Tarosophy®. The Majors do not have Oracular Titles other than their own title and no themes as they are already images of archetypes.
A very simple reversal/flip is given here for the Majors which is suitable for your first practice readings – for more elegant reversal methods please consult Mary K. Greer’s Complete Tarot Reversals.
I: Magician
Upright: Success
What you say: “The Magician brings success and resource to your endeavors.”
Reversed: Failure
What you say: “The reversed Magician indicates you do not have the required resources for what you wish to perform.”
II: High Priestess
Upright: Revelation
What you say: “The High Priestess will reveal what is hidden.”
Reversed: Secrecy
What you say: “When reversed, the High Priestess tells us that something is being concealed.”
III: Empress
Upright: Cultivation
What you say: “The Empress brings gradual growth to your life.”
Reversed: Harm
What you say: “The reversed Empress warns that harm may come about in your intended actions.”
IV: Emperor
Upright: Endurance
What you say: “The Emperor signifies power and endurance to your situation.”
Reversed: Instability
What you say: “When reversed, the Emperor can show the instability of the situation is important.”
V: Hierophant
Upright: Teaching
What you say: “When the Hierophant appears, he says that we must teach.”
Reversed: Learning
What you say: “When the Hierophant is reversed, we are being told to learn.”
VI: Lovers
Upright: Union
What you say: “The Lovers brings all things together.”
Reversed: Separation
What you say: “The Lovers flipped brings separation.”
VII: Chariot
Upright: Momentum
What you say: “The Chariot brings great forward energy to the event.”
Reversed: Stop
What you say: “When reversed, the Chariot brings a full halt to your energies and projects.”
VIII: Strength
Upright: Action
What you say: “’Take action’ is the message that Strength brings in a reading.”
Reversed: Rest
What you say: “When reversed, the Strength card shows a rest is called for to establish a better relationship to your life.”
