Tarot meanings for health

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

bibi	04 May 2005
Hi folks ! :D I wonder if anyone would like to contribute their knowledge to this thread. I heard that the suit of cups is related to the kidneys (the symbolism being fluids), now does anyone know any other meanings, specific or general? Bibi x

mike gorth	05 May 2005
I've never heard about tarot and health incorporated with it. Huh, I'm interested to see other replies.

wellspring	05 May 2005
Hi Bibi Haven't heard of health correspondences for Tarot before, but really interesting question, and got me thinking .... maybe cups are associated with kidneys because of the association with fluids, but when I'm thinking of the other suits, I'm not sure how that'd pan out. Would bones be the pentacles .. the earth element ..... but not sure where muscles and organs would fit in with wands and swords, unless muscles/fire link for wands, but then swords doesn't seem to fit in with organs, except maybe surgically! Just some thoughts. Interested to see other replies too. Cat x

cybercat	05 May 2005
I know 3 of swords is heart and heart surgery. Empress is pregnancy. I think 10 of wand or swords is back problems. Cat

Inana	05 May 2005
I would be interested too in hearing more about this. Usually I don’t make health readings, and of course I don’t use tarot as a tool for medical diagnosis, but I find this subject interesting. And having some meanings related to health can be very useful sometimes. Bibi, here are some associations that work for me. Some of them are very common, some others maybe just only make sense to me… Starting with the suits, as you guys were associating them with health, I can think of these: Swords – Related to stress, nerves, anxiety. Surgery. Cups – Medication, blood circulation, glands. Depressions, addictions. (Never thought about kidneys before, but seems to fit) Pentacles – General health. Muscles. Pills. Hospital recovery time. Wands – Energy and activity levels, like exhaustion, hyperactivity (Ace)… Specific meanings (mostly RWS oriented): 3S – Heart problems. 9S- Insomnia. 10S – Back issues. 5P – Legs, muscular and mobility issues. 6P- Weight related stuff. Diets. QC- Menstrual related problems. Major Arcana: Fool – Psychiatric issues. Strength- Stomach, mouth, digestive system, alimentation. Death (Marseilles) – Bones, spinal dorse. Temperance – Blood or fluids circulation. Following medication or therapy. Moon – Menstrual or gynaecologic related. Tower- Penis, impotence or erection problems issues. Magician- Larynx, voiceless. Well… this is all I can remember now. I would like a lot to know about the meanings the other aeclecticians use or have seen in readings…

dadsnook2000	05 May 2005
Mary Greer's book, Tarot Reversals, provides many specific statements about health indications for each reversed card. Dave

tarotbear	06 May 2005
When I was putting my book together, my editor asked why I didn't have a 'health' question for each card (my card definations cover Love, Money Job, and the Future). I told her I thought it was a 'bad idea' because most inexperienced people would try to then use tarot cards to diagnose their particular illness, and I did not want to be a party to that. Most 'health connections' I have found in books tend to be superficial and trite {"The HP signifies 'female problems"}, and it becomes a game of 'what illness does this card suggest to you?' Since there are enough threads on this forum wanting to know 'what cards signify a person's sexuality' (which I feel is none of anyone's business to try to decipher with a Tarot deck),what cards signify this,that, or another thing that is being intrusive into the Querent's life, I am not going to contibute to this thread in any way. If you (or your querent) have a health concern, see a physician, not a psychic.

psychic sue	06 May 2005
I'm afraid I agree with TB. Someone asked me about their health only the other day and I had to say "sorry I don't do that". I don't want to tell people they have health problems, or worry them about anything. I agree, a doctor is the best person to see about health worries. Sue x

Inana	06 May 2005
Hi there! Tarotbear, I guess everyone who has a minimum of common sense will agree that when someone has health problems should go to the doctor, or address the querent to do so. I will not make a general reading, see a 3 of swords and say: “Oh, you will need heart surgery soon!” but is for the same reason if I have Death on the table I will not say: “Friend, you are going to die…” Reading cards is a matter of common sense too. My question here is if someone is asking you about how his/her health is, what do you do? Just don’t do the reading? From my point of view, the logical is first to ask the person if he/she has a special concern, has been to the doctor lately, etc... Then proceed with the reading. I’m not a professional reader, so I mainly read for myself and my family. But when someone is following a medical processing or feels ill, usually wants to know how it will evolve or what they can do to get better. Whether if we like it or not, people ask for their health. So, how do you handle those readings? Sorry for this long post in bad English, but I’m interested in both health and in the ethics of reading.

Inana	06 May 2005
psychic sue wrote: I'm afraid I agree with TB. Someone asked me about their health only the other day and I had to say "sorry I don't do that". I don't want to tell people they have health problems, or worry them about anything. I was writing while you posted... This is a difficult subject, and I guess it is still more if you don't know the people you are reading for. What i'm wondering now is, there are other questions very delicate too, for example if someone asks about infidelity. How one can handle those questions? Ok, ok, I know. This doesn't belongs to this thread. My brain is just thinking... ;)

Sulis	06 May 2005
I agree with Tarotbear and Psychic Sue too. I think it's a dangerous business when people with no medical training start telling folk what they think is wrong with them. I'm a reflexologist (complimentary therapist) so I deal with people with health problems all the time. You have to be aware of how impressionable some people are.......as a health professional I have to be very careful what I say: People ask me to 'diagnose' all the time but I'm not allowed to. If I find a place that's imbalanced and say what part of the body it is, you'd be amazed how many people then go off saying things like 'oh the reflexologist says I've got trouble with my bowels, my liver' etc when I said no such thing Stay away from health is my advice - you'll open yourself a can of worms if you don't. Sulis xx

peridot	06 May 2005
I agree that the best thing to do is go to a doctor and not a tarot reader to DIAGNOSE problems but I’ve got to share an interesting reading I had once from a woman who indicated that my mom might have medical problem that needed attention. By the way, I did not ask a question, it was just a general reading. I don’t remember now what the spread was (and I didn’t know much about Tarot then) but I remember she laid out a lot of cards. Part of the reading revealed that someone very close to me (and the figure on the card was a woman I do remember that) had a problem in the area of the stomach which needed to be watched and if not taken care of could become serious. She also told me that this person will be careless about it and so it would be wise to take notice and take action. Now, I know this sounds sort of vague and could very well imply someone has GAS and will later need to take an immodium! :) But, at this particular time my mother was complaining about some awful pains in her stomach, and after a lot of coaxing from her family she finally allowed her stubborn self to get to a physician and had some tests done. Turns out that she has a condition related to her intestines which from what I understand (from what the doctor tells her) can become a very serious thing (for some it means a colostomy bag) if one does not follow a certain diet and take meds etc. etc. She’s not supposed to eat certain foods because if she does her intestines get violently irritated. Now, it’s true even after she found out about it she still was a bit lax about following the diet because her diet was considerably limited and a lot of the foods she used to love, she couldn’t eat anymore… change in life etc. etc. But now she’s doing fine. Quite interesting how absolutely right the reader ended up being in that regard. I was thankful to know. And I was thankful (and still am from time to time) to point out to my mom, “See, you need to take this seriously even the tarot reader said so!!” :) So, I guess if one is able to discern certain medical anomalies and this knowledge is used to help someone care for themselves (by at least dragging their own butt to the Dr’s office) or another I say why not share it?

cybercat	06 May 2005
There is a book out that I believe addresses this and gives some help in readings. You might have readings come up that are not health related but you pick up a health issue or somthing. The book Tarot for the Healing Heart by Christine Jette. It is worth reading for a few reasons. I have yet to buy it but am planning too. Cat

tarotbear	06 May 2005
This is the disclaimer printed inside the cover of my book. I believe it says it well and expresses my Tarot Ethics Philosophy. ****** Disclaimer: In various places in this book, cards are discussed that may indicate mental or physical illness or other conditions, such as pregnancy, or even abuse. This is for your information alone. You are not a physician and are not qualified to make a medical diagnosis or dispense medical advice. DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE! In the course of your readings you will get many Querents who will disallow the expert medical advice available to them and request that you tell them “what is wrong” with them. In their minds you have some occult connection. They are falling into the centuries-old practice of searching for a soothsayer, and you are opening yourself up to a lawsuit. Where is that fine line? As soon as you tell people they are pregnant, mentally unstable, should spend a sum of money, or give recommendations on how to influence or beat the system, you have crossed that line. ***** excerpt from 'It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy' ISBN 1-4027-0986-2

psychic sue	07 May 2005
With regard to other "delicate" questions, eg: fidelity, I wouldn't shy away from them. I would say to the querant "Tarot is a pack of cards. If you have serious concerns about your relationship, talk to your partner", but I would read the cards if they insisted. Health is a separate issue IMHO. People can actually make themselves ill by believing they have some dreaded disease, or worrying about someone else's illness. I wouldn't want that on my conscience. sue x

Sulis	07 May 2005
Pyschic Sue wrote: People can actually make themselves ill by believing they have some dreaded disease, or worrying about someone else's illness. I wouldn't want that on my conscience. Yes, this is exactly what I was trying to say in my post. Mention something wrong with someones head and they could go off thinking they have a brain tumour....... I've seen similar things happen with therapists. There are enough doctors out there to go around. In my opinion if someone mentions that they think they may be ill, advise them to go to a doctor - you could cause more harm trying to help than you realise. Sulis xx

Inana	08 May 2005
Hi everyone and thanks for your advice! Never had thought seriously about this issue before this post, since when I've done a health reading, always has been for a closer one who I can see everyday. And they don't take my tarot readings too seriously anyway! ;) I mean, is not the same to read for your brother than for someone you don’t know nothing at all. It makes a difference when you know how the person will understand the reading and react to it. Where I see the real danger is in the importance people can actually give to a reading and in their autosuggestion. Guess it’s the seeds theory working... So, I understand your position and the need to be careful when someone asks for its health. Tarotbear, good points to think about in your disclaimer. That line continually changes with each querent and question… About the fidelity and other “delicate” questions, I see the same problem. Maybe the difference is that with health what one can be risking is mental stability or life itself. But I wouldn’t like a broken marriage because of a reading!! Sue, thanks for giving your opinion about this one. Guess I’m still in the need to see how to handle some stuff with tarot…

Kahlie	08 May 2005
I see the difference between three things: 1) You have a general reading, and you hit on health(due to some card or feeling), and you talk to the querent about it. 2) You have a general reading or one with a question like: "How do I improve my Health". You can always ask for advice. I don't see how this is wrong. Often you will get cards explaining that you would need better routine (The Emperor for example) or better sleeping habits (9 of Swords). (These are examples, please consider all the Cards in a Spread) 3) I want to know if I have a ? or What is wrong with me? These type of questions are over the line for me. I believe responsiblity lies with people themselves, not with the Cards. I would always tell a person asking any of these 3 things to see a doctor. I would never do Readings with the third type of question. These type of questions put responsiblity or the search of information with the Reader and the Cards, not with the querent. The Querent should always investigate and find information at the appropriate place. A doctor. It's a Readers responsibility to say all what they see in the Cards. And to make sure Questions are correct and ethical for them. It's the Querents responsibility to seek help when given advice.

tarotbear	08 May 2005
You all must take a good look at what you have posted, though. We are all talking like intelligent, rational adults here. We are in a minority as far as the charlatans of the world go. How often do you read in the papers about someone being arrested for bilking $1000s of dollars out of people claiming this, that, or the other thing. What really gets me is that people actually believe it when someone says something so stupid such as 'YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED! GIVE ME $10,000 AND I WILL LIFT THE CURSE!" - Can intelligent, rational adults fall for such a corny line? They do, or as P. T. Barnum said 'There's a sucker born every minute.' The ethics in what you say in print comes from being able to say to the querent - "I'm sorry, you are looking for me to give you a diagnosis or reinforce one, and I am not a doctor." This is far different from saying "I can see that you are upset by this issue; have you thought about seeing a counselor?" - which is an ethical thing to do, and saying 'WOW! That Nine of Swords means you are losing sleep because you are are worried! Better get some Prozac! Have you ever been on Welbutrin?"

bibi	17 May 2005
Thanx to all for the interesting replies. Bit worried that the subject has turned a bit towards the negative aspects of doing a reading for others! But if someone asks you to do one specifically for health (and you were really in the know, although I've never seen any books on the subject), I guess you could always ask them if they have any issues with a certain area or that they might want to get it checked out esp if it ties in with their astrological chart.. Personally I have never done a health reading. Last year the 9 of wands kept cropping up with ace of swords.. turned out my best friend got a knock on the head 5in the rider waite deck the 9 of swords has someone with a bandaged head - now in general I think of this card as 'your head not being screwed on properly' lol but anyway my friend ended up in hospital (!) getting stitches, bandage and all. That's what got me interested in health/accident combinations! In terms of health, I wouldn't want it on my conscience if I saw something and DIDN'T mention it and then their disease became past treating. But often we wouldn't even know, as I imagine some people only come for one reading :( Bibi x

psychic sue	18 May 2005
But how would you know what the issue was? Did your 9 of batons interpretation come with hindsight? Or, if you saw it in the cards, you weren't able to stop it. So what is the point? I don't look for health issues so I don't see them. I prefer it that way. Sue

Fudugazi	18 May 2005
I've not made a systematic study of this but I have made a couple of observations on the basis of past readings (mine and other people's): - when I had my thrombosis recently, it was signalled by too many cups - 10 of cups - surfeit, blocked circulation. As it started to go better, balance out, the 8 of cups showed up. The Ace showed me I was healed and my blood flowing normally. - I have had staffs (rods, batons, wands) show up for bones - for instance one aunt, who has brittle bones, has staffs show up in readings for her about her health. - I have seen coins (or pentacles) show up as a tumour in various parts of the body. With another suit it might show where. A reading I did recently showed a stabilised and balanced tumour (8 of coins) - in the brain (swords).

bibi	18 May 2005
psychic sue wrote: But how would you know what the issue was? Did your 9 of batons interpretation come with hindsight? Or, if you saw it in the cards, you weren't able to stop it. So what is the point? I don't look for health issues so I don't see them. I prefer it that way. Sue Ah the 9 of wands/Ace of swords combo I see as an 'accident' reading and that would certainly be difficult for a person to avoid even with foresight, but I meant that that's what got me interested in the area along with a past illness of my own and I didn't heed the reading someone did for me!! If the onset of an illness could be prevented by suggesting someone has a check-up in a certain area (to rule it out) or by telling them no, they shouldn't go back to that university after the year out because they will pick up something nasty (as in my case, although thankfully it's now over but still it took years and was a blow to self-confidence) but I wanted to get my degree (which to this day is in a domain I haven't used! lol) Health just seems so clear cut in Astrology, I was just wondering if it was the same in tarot. The impression I have now is that people are a bit scared of doing readings in case they misinterpret and/or introduce hypochondria. Perhaps it is because there is not much material on the subject. The way I see it is that given that good health is what keeps us on the earth perhaps we should look into it more (no offence to the afterlife ;) ) Bibi x

bibi	18 May 2005
Thx for the clear categories Helvetica. I want to add that I heard that 'The Hermit' in combination with '10 of cups' is a disease that runs in the family/genetic.

Adjustment	18 May 2005
I have read for some people with health issue for example i read for a woman on a hot phone line job that i had, she was worring about a medical exam to find out whether she had HIV and the 5 of pentacles came up in the up right position i told her no to worry so much and to wait for the result of her test. within a week she call me back and told me that the exam came back negative, but i had the 5 of pentacles reversed showing up on people with HIV and others STD. The 10 of pentacles about back problems due to heavy lifting, ace of swords for dental work, surgery and heart problems, the 8 of swords for someone that was blind, judgement for hearing impeared and eye problems, the magician reversed for mental illness, the moon for depression and menstrual problems. the Moon with the 7 of cups or page of cups drug and alcohol adiction, page of swords reversed for Autism. I have to go now buti f i happen to remmeber some more i will post it here.:smoker:

lili	22 May 2005
Thanks everyone for sharing youe personal inside about health an tarot, very interesting.

The Tarot meanings for health thread was originally posted on 04 May 2005 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.