Summing Up Our Findings
Better late than never.
Looking back on the results of these polls, several thoughts come to mind. Given these results, and the historical evidence, and if we choose to use elemental associations with the tarot (which I personally do, as it adds a level of detail and depth far beyond any of the alternatives), the best choices for correlation seem quite obvious.
The poll showed the suit of
Batons as the popular choice for
Fire (Choleric). As Jmd pointed out,
jmd said:
Anyone that already presumes the most written correlations derived from the GD of fire and batons will very likely vote accordingly, as commonly described 'fire' like characteristics are used as descriptors.
...and I would suggest that
Swords would be the a more appropriate emblem for
Elemental Fire as generally shown in emblem books. Here, again Fire, Sword, Lion forming a Choleric trio:
Likewise, among the
Earthy qualities of the
Melancholic like introspection, sensitivity, seriousness, logic, criticalness, depression, and withdrawal, also can be found a saturnine predisposition to studiousness, hard work, and a connection to nature which is expressed perfectly in the
Baton being an instrument of husbandry and agriculture.
The traditional associations of the
Phlegmatic temperament (frugal, cautious) with the merchant give us a clear connection to
Coin. This can be seen in many of the common expressions describing money as a 'liquid'. Beyond this the total reliance of the sea trade for commerce and wealth in pre-modern times re-enforces the connection between wealth and water.
The
Cup, being emblematic of sociability, pleasures, bonds and allegiances (marriage, the Eucharist, etc) also fits perfectly with the pleasure loving, sociable
Sanguine. Furthermore the direct connection from Cup to Wine, Wine into Blood, Blood to Air is obvious.
So, as odd as it may seem, we have a set of four emblems which have a congruence, and historically provable relationship with the classical meanings of the four temperaments/elements, which
Aeclectic members seemed to be at least partially in agreement about. This 'perfect match' also just happens to be identical with the earliest known written connection between card suits and the four elements,
La Signification de l’ancien jeu des chartes pythagorique (1582) by
Jean Gosselin.
Ah! Harmonia...
M