Me and the Majors

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Alex	23 Apr 2003
I must confess, I don't "get" the majors. I'm fine with the minors. When it comes to majors in a reading, I usually don't know what to do. Below I reproduce some of my views of the majors. Some are very personal, some are very traditional. I thought it would be fun to share it with you guys. The Fool:An inconsequent human being. Having trouble tying up the lose ends of cause and effect. Having the road, not the destination, as one's goal. The Magician :Some of my students. Young, smart, full with energy, but not much into hard work. Trying to get points from the professor without doing much. The High Priestess: That is a hard one. A woman sitting between two pillars. May she should choose one of them and go about real business. (I have no idea what it means when it shows up in a reading). I see it as connected with endings and deaths, for some reason. The Empress: Mother, fertility, earth. Family. Trusting "The Goodness of the Earth". Downside, doesn't accept change very well. The Emperor:A boss. "The Boss". The father, the president, the chair. That guy that only needs to look at a child to put it on track. The Heirophant: Bless and acceptance from a traditional system. Someone who will tell you "you're doing a good job" and you actually feel like you've got permission to keep doing things that way. The Lovers: The power sex hormones have over human beings. From since they kick in late adolescence to who-knows-when we keep making stupid choices mediated by these hormones. The Chariot: Making work those stupid choices mentioned above, drive a car that, after a while, feels like "someone else" got started, but then, cannot be stopped. Strength: Strength. The Hermit: When we remember we're gonna die. That's usually after the hormones start wearing out, the kids are grown and no one needs us anymore. Finding a reason to keep alive when it does not look like there is one anymore. The Wheel of Fortune: Chance and necessity. Those things that hit us from above and that make no sense, but which usually we'd been cooking for quite a while, without knowing it. Justice: "What you gonna do when they come for you?". The only way to guarantee you're not gonna have regrets is to do the right thing. They still may come for you, but at least… The Hanged Man: Jesus Christ. The Christianity ideal of sin purification (that's sounds like lab language) through suffering and sacrifice. Death: Death Temperance : Moving things back and forth but never really doing anything concrete. From one pot to another and from another into one again. Like people who profit from the stock market. The Devil: Co-dependent relationships and unrestrained attachment to anything, including one's life. After one dies, The Devil is the stage between dying and accepting one has died. The Tower: Life falling apart. Whether you're gonna sit on the sidewalk and laugh or go into despair is basically your choice but the fact is that your life is falling apart. The Star: Direction. Finding direction. "There". The Moon: Light onto darkness. The night behaves weird under full moon. That's because the creatures of the darkness cannot function well when there is light. The Sun: Everything is all right, as long as the sun is shinning. No fear, no doubt. Judgment: Time to get the monthly check. Gathering rewards, or punishments. The World: You've gone a long way to get back to the same place.

NeXoRiouS	23 Apr 2003
I'm interested in minor arcana and since you've started on the major, could you explain them too? Should not be a problem. :)

Dark Inquisitor	23 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Alex The Hermit: When we remember we're gonna die. That's usually after the hormones start wearing out, the kids are grown and no one needs us anymore. Finding a reason to keep alive when it does not look like there is one anymore. [/b] Yikes Alex ! I don't know - maybe you are having trouble with the majors because you need to expand their meanings a bit in your mind. (?) I choose the Hermit as just one example. So much more to being a Hermit than what you wrote. (I suppose maybe you know that already though.) Your description sounds a bit like society's view of life as an older woman- a shadow projection. I don't see it as being all worn out & negative- I see it as positive inner growth & searching - uncovering mysteries & not being bothered by anyone unless you want to be ! Something exciting hidden within about to emerge , etc. A wise person who has integrated their life lessons. Walking the path of self development & spirituality in the traditions of the great masters of the past maybe. ? Tarotphelia

Dark Inquisitor	23 Apr 2003
I forgot to ask-- What exactly do you mean when you say you don't know what to do when the majors come up in a reading ??? ? Tarotphelia

lawguy51	23 Apr 2003
I would seriously try forgetting everything you just wrote and just let the story of the spread unfold, let the interplay of the cards give you their meaning at that moment, although I suspect your tongue was firmly in cheek for much of what you described :). Are you having a bad card day? :( Lawguy51

Hedera	23 Apr 2003
Hey Alex! You do 'get' the majors! You just wrote the definitive concise guide to reading the major arcana, IMHO. :D :D It's great!

Macavity	23 Apr 2003
Me Too! I think part of my problem, coming new to Tarot, has been in FULLY understanding the concept of Archetypes? I still don't(?), but suspect I might not be as alone in that. ;) I initially glossed over the Trumps and, being considerably daunted by the number and scope of the Minors, concentrated on them. I am now "quite good" at the latter, but realise there are large gaps in my understanding of the Trumps. I am slowly trying to rectify this... Though difficult to describe, I suspect my problem with Trumps seems to be that I can now give REASONABLE descriptions of cards, including as much detailed symbolism as... I can remember! :D But, the quantum leap (therin lies the skill?) seems to be in translating archetypes into a character to which REAL folk relate? To go that step beyond, I have enthusiastically followed various "Fool's Journey"-s by Thirteen et al. - Indeed most useful! Another method which succeeds for me is suggested by Banzhaf & Theler's "Keywords for the Crowley Thoth"? The authors include keyword categories: "Consciousness" and "Partnership" but, more INTERESTINGLY (it's been noted before here?) "Encourages" and "Warns Against". There is just something about these "Action" words and phrases that seems to trigger a more useful way of thinking? Joan Bunning used a similar concept? Still NOT easy (for me), but I sense it's a start! :) Macavity

Belladonna	23 Apr 2003
Hey Alex, I have to admit, when I read your view of the Majors I kind of went "Ack!" Why don't you see if these definitions make any sense to you. The Fool: Somebody with an enormous creative potenial, but needing to make a giant leap of faith, despite logic and reason, in order to access the possibility. The Magician: A person with the ability to manifest change in his/her life or in the lives of others through his involvement and skill at relating to people. The High Priestess: A well balanced, experienced and wise person who trusts their own intuition and who looks to themself for answers. sometimes function as a counselor to others. The Empress: The ability to be receptive of love offered to us and likewise to freely express love to others. Often to do with motherhood issues and points to our own capacity to nurture ourselves as well. The Emperor: Facing a time in which to move foreward into unfamiliar territory, but in a responsible and stable way. The Heirophant: Tradition, conformity, faith in religion or family values we were brought up with, often indicates a situation in which the querent is learning to LIVE his faith while teaching others how to do it as well. The Lovers: A relationship in which it is time to decide whether or not you wish to further your commitement to it or break off the commitement entirely. Usually a relationship in which you see aspects of yourself in the other person involved that you wish not to see, but need to work on. The Chariot: Denotes change at home. Initiative, drive to make changes involving the home, or carry you away from home. Implicated is a period of growth and desire to understand how you fit into a larger "family." Strenght: The strenght to overcome an inflated or offended ego thus accessing a truer sense of self. The Hermit: A period of your life that is now drawing to a close. The need for solitude and reflection on the passage of years, and a time to attend to all the practical details of closer before going further. The Wheel of Fortune: Actually, I agree with you there. Justice: I like to think of this card as Karma ripening, but with the idea that you will be forced to make adjustements to your life because of it. The Hanged Man: The need to recognize a deeply ingrained pattern or habit you are stuck in and sacrifice it. It feels like a sacrifice because of how much you identify it. This frees you up to progress once again. Death: The ending of a way of life so total it feels like death. Not purely an internal ending, but actually. (residence, career, relationship) The need to let go of the old in order for a transition to occur. Temperance: Two people or situations that work together harmoniously. Smooth transitions, smooth communication. Devil: Guilt-free enjoyment of pleasure. Tower: Your life is falling apart for a reason. The identity you've painstakingly built for yourself no longer serves who you are becoming. The old structure needs to fall before rebuilding can begin. Star: Finding direction and hope. Moon: Lighting up the inner darkness. Exploring the unexplored and having done that reflecting to the world more genuinely, more authenticlly who you are. Sun: Extreme creativity, and productivity. Partnerships and teams that are better than the sum of their parts. Judgement: Understanding, even enlightenment about your past. The part you played in the outcome. The abilty to move into the future with wisdom and experience under your belt. The World: Successful completion. Now you can begin something else. I'm sure some of you will agree and many more will disagree with the above interpretations, but all the same, it is meant as further food for thought on the subject, Alex. Love and Light, Belladonna

Hedera	23 Apr 2003
Belladonna, I think your list is great, too! :) Two books I have found really useful in getting to grips with 'difficult cards' are Janina Renee's 'Tarot, your everyday guide' and 'Tarot for all seasons' by Christine Jette. Renee has well-written, clear entries about all the cards, that I find very useful to pin down a meaning, especially in a reading, even if the card concerned isn't in the 'advice' position. The book by Jette not only has some great spreads and *extremely* good sample throws + explanation, there is also a very concise list of meanings in the back. Even if some of her meanings seem 'wrong' (she tends to see virtually all cards in a very positive light), seeing how it feels 'wrong' helps me to define what is 'right' according to me. Usually, that just means incorporating some of her reversed meanings into the upright meanings.

Alex	23 Apr 2003
but I'll answer this one here. I first learned the majors as steps in an internal journey, or a journey throuth life, or even, "mental states" or "qualities". On the other hand, consistently, and I see people doing it all the time, some majors are interpreted as people. I have a hell of a hard time when majors come up in a reading, in quantity. I know for some they are the easiest to read, but often I feel I'm overflowing platidudes when I start repeating what I have learned about them. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Tarotphelia I forgot to ask-- What exactly do you mean when you say you don't know what to do when the majors come up in a reading ??? ? Tarotphelia

Diana	23 Apr 2003
Alex: Why don't you give a couple of examples of some short readings (with the question asked), invented on purpose for this thread, and we'll give you shots at interpreting them. Perhaps single card spreads, or a cross/cover.

Alex	23 Apr 2003
Diana, I'll give a few examples from my journal. Because I may even know "the answer" by now. · Last summer, I was about to meet with my supervisor, a colleague and another researcher to work out a project together. I asked the cards how the meeting was going to go and I got: The issue: Death Advice: The Emperor Outcome: The High Priestess I still don't know that these cards were trying to say to me. We had a smooth meeting where most had been previously agreed between my advisor and the researcher in question. The project has been a success and we are nearly finished by now. · Last year, my boyfriend and I came back early from a trip because he wanted to go to his son's birthday. As we were coming back, in the car, I got a card for him and the boy's birthday. "The Fool" I had no idea what that was supposed to mean, until I got to know, days latter, that his ex- had run the birthday party earlier without saying anything to the boy's father. He was inconsolable. Today I see "The Fool" here as a literal warning that my boyfriend was going to "play the fool" again with his ex-. · A few months ago I was considering sending my son to Brazil such as I could finish my dissertation before I reached financial bottom. I got two cards for that: Death The Hierophant What happened? My boyfriend lend me needed money and I kept my boy here. However, a month latter, my parents had a major financial loss; my father had to go see a neurologist for psychological problems related with a previous stroke; and my mom has started out a business that is not going ahead. Result: it was a bad idea to send the boy when everyone was having problems, and I'm glad I didn't send him... but I saw nothing like that in the cards… I often get deeply entangled when I see majors together. Very much… lost. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Diana Alex: Why don't you give a couple of examples of some short readings (with the question asked), invented on purpose for this thread, and we'll give you shots at interpreting them. Perhaps single card spreads, or a cross/cover.

Diana	24 Apr 2003
Alex: when you do these spreads, do you give specific meanings to each card, or do you just pull them without giving them a meaning. (I mean, like Past, Present, Future; or Advice, Outcome; etc...) In retrospect these cards are easy. Although they point to a bigger issues than what really went on. For instance the project. How important was it for you? Was it something that you really wanted to prove to your supervisor that you were capable of doing, or was it something secondary? I mean, just looking at the cards, they're pretty easy to interpret, but it so much depends on the surrounding circumstances. And if they're Majors, they should mean something very important. Like Death would be the old passing, and the new emerging. The Emperor would mean that things are really solid and stable. And the High Priestess would mean to apply all the wisdom you can to the project. (When I say "would" I could also say "could".) Of course, this is an extremely (far too) brief interpretation I'm doing here. It's just to give you an idea of how I would have seen these cards. As to the Fool. Well, firstly I would say that one card readings are hell to read, particularly because they are very difficult to know whether they are supposed to be read reversed or not. (Or perhaps you do reversals and then what I've just said is not valid.) But the Fool reversed here would have pointed to the disillusion. Also I think it could refer to some kind of irresponsible behaviour (previous) in the relationship between your ex boyfriend and his son which has led to the situation. Oh, Death and the Hierophant. These cards together were talking about your Dad. The Hierophant is the medical doctor he saw. Now like I said, this is really really brief, but I just wanted to give you some idea as to how I would have read them. You know what I would do if I were you? To understand the Majors better? I would separate the minors from the majors and for a few weeks, I would use only the Majors. (All Tarot readings can be done with just the Majors.) They will then become so familiar to you, especially as you keep a journal. I really think this would help you. And also, do assign a position to the cards in the spread, at least until you feel more comfortable with these Majors. I very often do reading with only the Majors. They speak louder.

Alex	24 Apr 2003
Diana, I have indicated the positions for the spreads in my original post. Only the "one card" did not have a "position". And I agree, one cannot know whether it's reversed, or ill dignified or whatever name you wanna give to it. Quote: Originally posted by Diana Alex: when you do these spreads, do you give specific meanings to each card, or do you just pull them without giving them a meaning. (I mean, like Past, Present, Future; or Advice, Outcome; etc...) In retrospect, looks easier. I needed the experience very badly, because it is an emergent field in my profession. When I entered the Ph.D. programm, a few people were doing it. Now, one cannot find a job without knowing how to perform DNA analysis. Any project that involves DNA analysis is very expensive. I had no funding left to learn it, but again, my supervisor and I agreeded that I needed it very badly. So he arranged for me to do it, and he shared the costs with this other researcher. It worked very nicely. Death could indicate my previous training, in a "dying" field. The Emperor, taking initiative and charge. But still, the "High Priestess" as outcome goes so astray from meanings that I see applied to that card... Quote: Originally posted by Diana For instance the project. How important was it for you? Was it something that you really wanted to prove to your supervisor that you were capable of doing, or was it something secondary? I mean, just looking at the cards, they're pretty easy to interpret, but it so much depends on the surrounding circumstances. And if they're Majors, they should mean something very important. Like Death would be the old passing, and the new emerging. The Emperor would mean that things are really solid and stable. And the High Priestess would mean to apply all the wisdom you can to the project. (When I say "would" I could also say "could".) Of course, this is an extremely (far too) brief interpretation I'm doing here. It's just to give you an idea of how I would have seen these cards. [/b] That is a good idea. I will do it and certaily get very irritated with it for a few weeks but it might help. Quote: Originally posted by Diana You know what I would do if I were you? To understand the Majors better? I would separate the minors from the majors and for a few weeks, I would use only the Majors. (All Tarot readings can be done with just the Majors.) They will then become so familiar to you, especially as you keep a journal. I really think this would help you. And also, do assign a position to the cards in the spread, at least until you feel more comfortable with these Majors.. [/b] I guess I would be a happy camper reading with playing cards instead!!!!!!!! The minors talk about the things that happen in life. The minors... who knows what they talk about. But I'll try. Thanks for the help. Quote: Originally posted by Diana I very often do reading with only the Majors. They speak louder. [/b] I still have to read Holmes inversed fool journey, which he kindly pointed out to me. Alex.

Diana	25 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Alex I have indicated the positions for the spreads in my original post. Alex. Darn, I'm sorry! That'll teach me to post after midnight.

The Me and the Majors thread was originally posted on 23 Apr 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.