Short introduction

Kabbalah (Qabalah) is an esoteric method, discipline, and school of thought that originated in Judaism.
Kabbalah's definition varies according to the tradition and aims of those following it from its religious origin
as an integral part of Judaism, to its later Christian, New Age, and Occultist/western esoteric syncretic
adaptations.
Kabbalah is a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an unchanging, eternal,
and mysterious Ein Sof (infinity) and the mortal and finite universe (God's creation). It forms the foundations
of mystical religious interpretation.
Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of
existence, and various other ontological questions. It also presents methods to aid understanding of the
concepts and thereby attain spiritual realization.
Hermetic Qabalah is a Western esoteric tradition involving mysticism, Gnosticism, and the occult. It is the
underlying philosophy and framework for magical societies such as the Golden Dawn, Thelemic orders,
mystical-religious societies such as the Builders of the Adytum and the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and is
a precursor to the Neopagan, Wiccan and New Age movements.
Occult Hermetic Qabalah arose alongside and united with the Christian Cabalistic involvement in the
European Renaissance, becoming variously Esoteric Christian, non-Christian, or anti-Christian across its
different schools in the modern era. It draws on a great many influences, most notably: Jewish Kabbalah,
Western astrology, Alchemy, pagan religions, especially Egyptian and Greco-Roman (it is from the latter that
the term "Hermetic" is derived), neoplatonism, gnosticism, the Enochian system of angelic magic of John Dee
and Edward Kelley, hermeticism, tantra and the symbolism of the tarot.
Hermetic Qabalah differs from the Jewish form in being a more admittedly syncretic system, however it
shares many concepts with Jewish Kabbalah.
The Tree of Life is a Qabalistic symbol of the complete Universe, it is composed from ten spheres called the
Sephiroth (numbers) and 22 connecting paths.
Hermetic Qabalists see the cards of the Tarot as keys to the Tree of Life. The 22 cards including the twenty-
one Trumps plus the Fool or Zero card are often called the "Major Arcana" or "Greater Mysteries" and are
seen as corresponding to the twenty-two Hebrew letters and the twenty-two paths of the Tree; the ace to ten
in each suit correspond to the ten Sephiroth in the four Qabalistic worlds; and the sixteen court cards relate
to the classical elements in the four worlds. While the sephiroth describe the nature of divinity, the paths
between them describe ways of knowing the Divine.
Each Sephirah has its own story, its own essence and character which will harmoniously color the Tarot
card it is connected to. Using the Tree of Life in Tarot, the Sephiroth are connected to the numbered cards
of the Minor Arcana while the paths are represented by a Trump of the Major Arcana.

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 Tarot and the Tree of Life

1. KETHER - Aces
The Crown: the first and highest sephira of the Tree of Life: the primum mobile. In tarot, Kether is the home
of the small-card aces.
2. CHOKMAH – Twos and Knights
Wisdom: The second sephira of the Tree of Life: the sphere of the zodiac. Chokmah is also the sephirotic
home to the All-Father, the Beast, and Hadit. In tarot, Chokmah is the home of the four court-cards Knights
and the small-card twos.
Knight: In the Thoth Tarot, the Knight is the primary male figure of the court cards. He is the Yod of the
Tetragrammaton and represents aspects of God the Father. He is husband of the Queen and father of the
Prince and Princess. (In most traditional decks he is called the King.) He is the fiery aspect of his suit and is
shown seated on a horse.
3. BINAH – Threes and Queens
Understanding: The third sephira of the Tree of Life: the sphere of Saturn. Binah is also the sephirotic home
to the great mother, Babalon, and Nuit. In tarot, it is the home of the four court-card Queens, and the small-
card threes.
Queen: In the Thoth Tarot, the Queen is the primary female figure of the court cards. She is the first Hé of
the Tetragrammaton and represents aspects of God the Mother. She is the wife of the Knight and mother of
the Prince and Princess. She is the watery aspect of her suit and is shown enthroned.
4. CHESED - Fours
Mercy: The fourth sephira on the Tree of Life, the sphere of Jupiter. As the first sephira below the Abyss,
Chesed is the highest manifestation of the universe in actuality (the supernal triad above it being the
inscrutable and unmanifest ideal). Consequently, Chesed is the perfect environment for the Demiurge
(Demiourgos), the creator god who, because it seemingly created the universe, mistakenly thinks and acts as
if it were the supreme being. Because it is not really the supreme being, the Demiurge has a real blind spot
concerning its omnipotence, and, like a spoiled child, is constantly trying to prove its divinity. This leaves us
with a creator who is violently insecure and paranoid. The jealous and psychotic behaviour of the
mythological composite gods associated with Chesed — Zeus/Jupiter/Jove/Jehovah — are frightfully
consistent with this syndrome. In tarot, Chesed is the home of the small-card fours.
5. GEBURAH - Fives
Severity: The fifth sephira of the Tree of Life: the sphere of Mars. In tarot, Geburah is home to the small-card
fives.

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6. TIPHARETH – Sixes and Princes (Kings)
Beauty: The sixth sephira on the Tree of Life: the sphere of the Sun. In tarot, Tiphareth is the home of the
court-card Princes and the small-card sixes.
Prince: In the Thoth Tarot. The Prince is the secondary male figure of the court cards. He is the Vau of the
Tetragrammaton and represents aspects of God the Son and the Holy Guardian Angel of each human being.
He is the son of the Knight and Queen and brother/lover (and in certain ways, the father) of the Princess. In
some traditional decks, he is called the Knight. He is the airy aspect of his suit and is shown standing in a
chariot.
7. NETZACH – Sevens
Victory: The seventh sephira on the Tree of Life; the sphere of Venus. In tarot, Netzach is home to the small-
card sevens.
8. HOD – Eights
Splendor: The eighth sephira of the Tree of Life; the sphere of Mercury. In tarot, Hod is home to the small-
card eights.
9. YESOD – Nines
Foundation: The ninth sephira on the Tree of Life; the sphere of the Moon. In tarot, Yesod is the home of the
small-card nines.
10. MALKUTH – Tens and Princesses (Pages)
Kingdom: The tenth and lowest sephira of the Tree of Life; the sphere of the Earth and material existence. In
tarot the home of the court-card Princesses, and the small-card tens.
Princess: In the Thoth Tarot, the Princess is the secondary female figure of the court cards. In some traditional
decks, she is called the Page. She is the final Hé of the Tetragrammaton and represents aspects of the
unredeemed soul of each of us. She is the daughter of the Knight and Queen and sister/lover of the Prince.
(In certain ways she is also viewed as the daughter of the Prince.) She is the earthy aspect of her suit and is
shown standing. In the Western Mysteries, the quest for spiritual liberation is characterized in the story of a
sleeping Princess (each of us) who is awakened by a Prince (our Holy Guardian Angel), who marries the
Princess and makes her Queen (God the Mother), which at the same time makes him the King (God the
Father). Unlike the Knight, Queen, and Prince, the Princess does not rule a 30 degree period of the year.
Instead, she is considered the throne of the aces and rules, with her ace, one quarter of the surface of the
Earth.

The Tree of Life spread and the Tree of Life & Sephiras meaning see on pages 37-40.

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 The Tarot Meanings

The Fool - curiosity, spontanity, madness.

Number: 0 as nothing and begin of it all.
The Fool is the symbol of true innocence, a perfect state of joy and freedom, the sure feeling to be one with
the spirit of life, at any time.
The Fool has the number 0, for someone ready to go in any direction, open to all possibilities. He belongs
nowhere, has no past, but an infinite future. Every moment is a new beginning. In arabic letters the 0 has the
shape of an egg, the symbol for the origin of life. The Fool is change, motion and the readiness to jump into
life, with no cares ever. The Fool knows no difference between possibility and reality, the Fool suspects and
plans nothing. He reacts directly to the current situation.
The Fool is courage, optimism and the belief in life and himself. When times are hard, and we suffer the
pressure of 'being reasonable' or denying our instincts, the Fool reminds us that our inner person knows best
what to do. 'Always trust your instincts'...
In its negative aspect, the card can say that its qualities are blocked or reversed. Irresponsibilty, mad projects,
recklessness - the careless human who covers himself with some artifical madness, for distrusting his instincts
and fearing standstill and silence.
Drive: Changes, movement, the innocence of a child
Light: The positive break up of structures and limitations, selfless idealism, endless fantasy, optimism, trust to
instincts
Shadow: The negative loss of structures, responsivelessness, useless daydreaming, infantility.

The Magician - power and charisma, agility and dexterity.

Number: I as symbol for unity (male)
The Magician represents consciousness, action and creation. He's the symbol for the idea of manifestation -
the possibility of making an idea come true.
He gives meaning and direction to life, and he reminds us that the emotional and creative powers of our souls
must have a physical basis to be of real use. Powers unused are powers non-existent, we have to set them free
in order to use them, and to gain and renew. The Magician is related to the Mercurius of alchemy.
The Magician shows that we're aware of the power in life, he can be a symbol for all the creative skills and
ideas inside. Most people don't really act, they just react, being driven from one situation to the next. The
Magician tells that a power is ready to use as soon as it is recognized, to see and go the own way.
The negative side of the card could mean that the free run of energy is blocked, that we can feel the energy
but can't use it. This could mean fear and restlessness, even the fear to go insane. Energy tends to explode
when not finding a venture.

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Finally, there's a negative aspect in the abuse of energy.
Drive: Self-realization, a strong will, the energy to have one's way
Light: Activity, power of life, impulse, energy
Shadow: Aggressively, egoism, the abuse of power.

The High Priestess - the mystery.

Number: II as the symbol of duality (female).
The High Priestess represents the deeper, more subtitle aspect of the female archetype - the darkness, the
mystery, psychic power, the might of the moon to enlighten the subconscious.
The High Priestess is silence, passivity, containing a power of her own. Only when retiring from the world,
can we allow our subconscious to rise, listen to our inner voice and recognize our spiritual power.
The High Priestess is inner wisdom at its deepest, a wisdom that cannot be expressed in rational terms. Trying
so, we would already falsify and restrict it.
As a symbol for deeper knowledge, the card can express a feeling of darkness, which might also be a feeling
of fear, but also a feeling of beauty. We know there is more inside than we can see.
In a negative aspect, the High Priestess could stand for passivity at the wrong time, leading to weakness and
a fear of life. It could mean that a person is very sensitive but unable to touch their feelings or just live with
their feelings.
Drive: The desire to find the inner sources, the own springs
Light: Being one with the beginning of all, aware of the wisdom from the subconscious, intuitive knowledge,
patience
Shadow: Dreaming, changing moods, doubts, ignoring of reality.

The Empress - fertility and growth.

Number: III as the combination of the contrasts to a unity (synthesis, harmony).
The Empress is the friendlier, more approachable aspect of the female archetype. She stands for maternity,
love and mercy; at the same time, she's a symbol for sexuality and emotion. She is pure feeling, absolutely
unintellectual, but basically life. The Empress is the Great Mother, representing the beginning of all life. She
is the power of nature, causing change, renewal, major plans.
The Empress also stands for passion, a phase in which we cope life on an emotional and joyful basis, rather
than on the thoughtful. This could mean great satisfaction, but in a improper context, when actually more
analysis is needed. The Empress can also stand for a reflective, emotional attitude, refusing to accept reality.
It also could stand for a person who is greedy for joy and abundance when actually just more self-control is
needed.
Drive: Devotion and maternity, Mother Nature, creating something new in connection of both inside and
outside

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Light: Maternity, love, trust, fulfilness, the joy of great abundance
Shadow: Greed, envy, jealousy, laziness.

The Emperor - responsibility, order, security, continuity.

Number: IV as physical reality, basic structure, orientation
Trumps III and IV represent Parents in their archetypical way. Just as the Empress stands for Mother Nature,
the Emperor is the social word, the structure of civilization, a symbol for its law and order, may they be good
or bad, but the power behind them. He is the abstraction of establishment, its stability and security.
In its negative aspects the card can represent the force of bad law in a society where stability is rated higher
than morals or ethic. Once law and order are established as an institution, a bad emperor can turn out to be
a disaster. And even at his best the Emperor is limited - he puts restrictions and borders to the spontaneity of
spirit and nature.
In a more personal view the Emperor might stand for a time of stability and structure, linear thinking and
discipline. Yet we can't live without it, too many of those attributes will only lead to rational despotism and
mental poverty.
Drive: Mastery of the will over nature, a sense for law and order, plan and structure
Light: Creation, recognition, stability, realism, responsiveness
Shadow: Despotism, self-complacency, poorness of feelings, lack of fantasy; rationalism as a prison.

The Hierophant - the teacher of inner values, the vision of eternity.

Number: V as quintessence, the power that exceeds the four elements.
The Hierophant is a symbol for a world of belief and confession, may it be a church, a sect or an occult society.
He's the pope, the druid or the High Priest in a system of creeds and dogmas. He represents the religious and
intellectual tradition of a person and may be the one the person is born to it or possibly the one who has
chosen it by himself.
In the positive aspect, the Hierophant represents the search for knowledge and illumination, the desire to
study creed and dogma instead of simply accepting them, to research and achieve further development. It
also stands for the deep fulfillment someone can find when really trusting their own beliefs.
In a negative view, the Hierophant can stand for bigotry, the blind faith in dogma, intolerance towards
everything different from the own confession. It can also mean gullibility, running to any kind of new belief
just because the traditional one is suddenly considered boring or unsatisfying.
Drive: Search for hidden truths, trust in inner instincts.
Light: Wisdom and knowledge as an experience independent from dogmatism and science.
Shadow: Intolerance, esoteric nonsense.

The Lovers - the combination of the contrasts

Number: VI as combination of contrasts and their mutual penetration.

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The Lovers are one of the most complex cards in the Major Arcana, standing for the love in common and the
alchemy of the universe. The trump represents the power of life, the creative love, which can be quite
impressive, but also destructive when one happens to disregard the fire of instinct, burning down rationalism.
The card also represents a decision, the farewell to a former way of life and the full acceptance of love
uncompromising. It doesn't necessarily mean that the 'love' is a person that you tie your knots to with fancy
tungsten wedding bands - it can be a passion, a desire, or even a profession, like going to sea or working with
horses. Many people who lead an adapted, settled life actually have deep desires and hidden wishes, that they
don't dare show, that they constantly fight back, suppressing their own happiness.
The Lovers can mean that someone should be honest, make a clear decision for this love, the fulfilling of a
wish, of a desire, and stand by it.
Apart from this, the Lovers can say that a peaceful combination of existing contrasts or contradictions is a
better solution than any confrontation - diplomacy instead of war.
Drive: Devotion, melting into one another, being one with it, love
Light: Full-hearted confession, trust, optimism
Shadow: Displacement, repression, giving up on one's self.

The Chariot - the symbol of the way

Number: VII as the number of earthly and divine harmony (3+4), destiny, motion.
The Chariot stands for combined powers, ready to move forward. It represents the dynamic principle and the
human will to proceed, the ability to use the powers of life and keep the outer and inner balance.
The Chariot shows a strong will, a strong personality, and at its best, victory and success. But it also is a symbol
for controversial power, for contradictions that are not solved, but just controlled. In this, the trump also
warns of overestimation and recklessness. With every new venture or beginning one should check carefully
whether the desired goal is compatible with one's life and inner self.
Additionally, the Chariot is a symbol for the armor we build up when moving forward in the process of self-
assertion. It also alludes to the danger that we might mix this armor with our actual personality.
So, a negative aspect of the Chariot might involve understanding that the way of armed power isn't always
the right one, that the controversial power inside may to be reconciled with one other, and not just controlled
and suppressed.
Drive: The will to conquer, courage, victory
Light: The awakening of powers, the way ahead, searching and finding one's place in life.
Shadow: Megalomania, insensitivity, running against walls.

Strength (Adjustment) - fairness and justice

Number: VIII as the number of justice and adjustment (2 x 4, 2 x 2 etc.).
The Strength is a symbol for the balance of contrasts, complementing one another and also building up room
and time.
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She combines the High Priestess and the Magician. Both are connected - true, conscious action results from
realization, wisdom is based on action. The principle of activity completes itself with the passivity of inner
reflection, the adjustment being the balance in between.
Another common name of this trump is 'Justice' - the card tells one to be righteous in all aspects of our life,
to ignore, suppress or prefer none if need be. Only when we have an objective view of all and accept them,
can we can find inner balance and silence.
Therefore, the Strength stands for uncompromising honesty and objectivity, the realization of cause and
effect, background and consequence.
Oh, by the way - it wasn't Crowley who reversed Trumps VIII and XI (Justice and Strength). If you look at old
historical decks, the Justice has been the 8 ever since.
Drive: Will for knowledge, harmony between reality and instinct, objectivity
Light: Balance, justice, fairness, always looking at both sides
Shadow: Self-righteousness.

The Hermit - the search of wisdom and the keeping of independence

Number: IX as the number going back into itself (3 x 3).
The Hermit represents retirement from the outside world, introversion into the inner self, listening to the
inner voice and caring for the inner self. He requires retreat from any 'high life' and loud company and stands
for a time of self-reflection and self-realization.
For most people, the silent loneliness of the Hermit appears unattractive, but behind the Hermit is the wisdom
of the High Priestess. You cannot listen to your inner voices while having a party.
In its negative aspect, the Hermit could mean being afraid of others or of life. When the retreat turns out to
be a runaway, the loneliness can turn into a jail.
Drive: Retiring from life, retreat from the masses, looking into one's self, introversion
Light: Wisdom, realization, mental maturity, the inner light
Shadow: Numbness, loneliness, bitterness.
The Wheel of Fortune - the masters of Karma
Number: X as symbol for perfection, the cross sum is 1 (the Magician).

The Wheel of Fortune is a symbol of destiny and destination, of good luck and bad luck, of the ups and
downs of life and fate. Everything is in motion, turning and floating, constantly changing, accidental and
uncontrollable.
The trump also represents the need to be careful, to realize and recognize the vagaries of life, to accept the
fact that fate is nothing what we could have done, but the result of what we already did. Today is the result
of the past, future will be the sum of past and today, and no matter how accurately we plan, the Wheel of
Fortune will mix up light and shadow.

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Whether the Wheel of Fortune is positive or negative is not a matter of happenstance or events in the first
place; but rather of the way we will deal with the results, arrange our lives with the unchangeable and work
on what we might be able to change - and of course of our ability to realize facts.
Drive: Eternal motion, changing, restarting, accepting of fate
Light: Unexpected changings, fortune, realization of luck
Shadow: Fatalism, a changing to the worse.

The Passion (Lust) - the creative development of passion leads to enjoyment and fulfillness
Number: XI as perfect combination of 1 and 2 (the cross sum of 11 is 2).
The Passion is the step into the second decade of the Major Arcana, the point where the journey into the inner
depth begins. In other decks, this trump is called 'The Power', a symbol for the mastery of our own animal
side. Crowley named the card 'Lust' - and most people don't really think of mastering their inner animal, but
enjoy it full tilt...
In a combination of both, the animal side shouldn't be 'mastered' in the meaning of 'suppressed', nor should
it be let out to 'romp around'. It should not be ignored but accepted as a natural part of oneself. In that manner,
one will not only be able to profit from its instinctive natural power, but also to save the power needed to
'master' it.
The Passion implies vitality, energy and power. The card tells us to use these riches. In most aspects of life, an
endeavor will have much more success when passion is put into it.
Drive: Energy, passion, charisma, joy of life
Light: Power, vitality, unconditional devotion
Shadow: Weakness, dissatisfaction, depression.

The Hanged Man - neutralization and inversion, symbol for metamorphosis through isolation and
knowledge
Number: XII - the perfect number, symbol of the zodiac, 3 x 4.
The Hanged Man is a symbol for the turning points in life, showing up a need to stop and assess a situation.
We're hanging in the air until we find a new view of the things around us, a proper way to rearrange or
restart.
But the Hanged Man is a 'silent' card - there's no pressing need for change. No big change is waltzing towards
us - we can peacefully keep on hanging and complaining. The Hanged Man just shows that we're just
'hanging', he requires a new viewpoint, and sometimes a lot of patience.
In its positive aspect, the card shows the need for a time of consideration, the forced relaxation gives the
opportunity to relax and reflect, to sort thoughts and ideas and find a new way to cope with a situation.
Drive: Devotion, acceptance of fate, maturity
Light: Overcoming the ego, changing life, a new sight of the world

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Shadow: standstill, rejection, loss of perspective

The Death - the separation and the farewell in the House of 'Death and Rebirth'
Number: XIII as the number destroying the perfection of the XII.
There hardly is a card provoking so many 'oops' in a reading - never forget that the Death is meant as an
archetype, a symbol.
The Death represents the never-ending circle of death and rebirth as the precondition for new life and
creation, for life is permanently changing, hello and good-bye, leaving and arriving.
The Death will show that something has ended and something will begin and doesn't care if the end is painful
and the new beginning welcomed or vice versa. The card implies the need to let something go and requires
the understanding of the circles of life.
The negative aspect of the card could plainly mean that we want to keep what we have to give up, that no
change is welcomed. In most cases it is just a refusal to understand and accept. It can mean we are scared of
loss and also afraid to restart.
Drive: Death and Rebirth, end and begin, transformation and metamorphosis, inner wisdom, consequence
Light: Make place for something new, get rid of old loads and achieve new spaces
Shadow: Fear, loss

The Temperance (Art) - balance and harmony in motion

Number: XIV as two times the 7, adjustment of destiny
The Temperance represents the art of alchemy, the ability to solve and combine, to turn something plain into
something precious.
The Temperance is the symbol for the right mixture, the perfect balance, standing for harmony, beauty and
peace. But the trump can also show that sides that were previously ignored should be lived out and that
contrasts should be put together to enrich the inner spectrum with new perspectives.
From a personal view the 'solve et coagula' can mean that there is a need to leave a fixed position, to retire,
watch and then go back again to combine on a new basis.
Drive: 'Solve et coagula' - dissolve and combine
Light: Balance and harmony, fulfillness, creation, peace
Shadow: Getting into extremes, splitting up and tearing apart.

The Devil - dark side

Number: XV as the number of the full moon, the cross sum of 15 is 6 (!)
Reducing the long story of the Devil to its roots, there was an archangel called Lucifer (light bringer) who
said 'I'm born to be free - I don't serve!' Later on, there was a despotic religion that annihilated everything
else, destroyed age old cultures and beliefs, and suppressed natural wisdom and science.

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In the Tree of Life, the Devil goes from consciousness and harmony to intellect and logic - against all dogma,
never caring for rules, freely uncompromising and independent. There are no restrictions, no limitations,
nothing is forbidden. The Devil is aware of the darkness, he knows all the shadows and will go on researching
even at a high price.
In a positive aspect, the Devil tells us to go ahead with whatever we want, even when the results won't be
comfortable. Never forget that half of the great scientists in history ended up on a scaffold or were accused
of 'heresy'. Therefore, the negative aspect of the card can mean loneliness, misunderstanding, or that someone
is outcast and damned.
Drive: The freedom of spirit, independence of mind, anarchy of science
Light: Independence, willfulness, never accepting dogma, never bowing the head - 'Non-serve': I don't serve!
Shadow: Darkness, loneliness, being misunderstood and an outcast.

The Tower - the sudden breakout of realization, destruction of old values

Number: XVI as 4 x 4: induration. But the cross sum is 7.
The Tower is a symbol of endurance and its destruction, an allusion to sudden, maybe shocking realizations
that crushes old views and persuasions, maybe the view of the whole world.
The area of relative security starts wavering, our tower then falls and with it the walls around us that have
become too narrow. It is rarely the evil, but rather the necessary development we meet when there is a change
in the armor of destruction.
So, in the positive aspect, this most violent trump will mean that we proceed to learn that losing the old secure
fortress of our beliefs will reward us with a major step forward.
And a good step forward sometimes requires a kick in the ....
Drive: Breaking up structures, destroying the old, getting rid of obsolete loads
Light: Sudden realization of the truth, the will to change old ways, to recreate life and start something new
Shadow: Blind destruction

The Star - symbol for long-sightedness and confidence

Number: XVII as the number of hope, expansion of the 7, cross sum is 8
The Star is the trump of hope and trust, for the sensitive understanding of cosmic coherence, the intuition
that everything is in balance and harmony. It is related to the Adjustment (the cross sum of 17 is 8), but while
the Adjustment keeps the balance deliberately, the Star keeps it with feeling.
The Star is also called the 'Guiding Light' and is taken as a symbol of the deep realization that the chosen way
is the right one, that the end of this way will be a good one, and that there is perfect harmony between the
psychical feeling and the physical doing.
In a negative position the Star can tell when there is a mistake in the code, some error in our feeling, that the
way we feel so sure about isn't quite right. This is what makes this trump so kind - even in its most negative
aspect it just gives us a gentle warning.
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Drive: The guiding light, living the moment, confidence in nature and life
Light: Creative hopes, optimism, trust
Shadow: Destructive hopes, illusions

The Moon - the dark knowledge of the depths of soul

Number: XVIII as the return of the animal (turns of sun- and moon eclipse) cross sum is the 9.
The Moon will lead us into the blackest depths of our soul, into the world of the subconscious, where there
are no more words, just images and notions. It represents a journey into the darkest night, a look behind our
own face.
The Moon isn't the most comfortable trump - though everybody likes to equate it with the mysteries, rarely
someone really enjoys the look into their own abyss, where sometimes the unvarnished truth is not too
pleasant. Embarrassingly enough, the Moon tends to show up what we generally ignore, refuse to see, or even
deny all the time.
But the step has to be taken, for without facing up to darkness, we will never see the light.
Unlike most trumps, the Moon has no real negative aspect, but it implies a serious danger. The journey into
night could be too much when we're not prepared and we might get lost in our own shadow.
Drive: Entering the underworld, exploring the depths of soul, confrontation with the dark side
Light: Intuitivity, wisdom, maturity, deepest self-realization
Shadow: Illusion, hysteria, fear, rejection of reality.

The Sun - the joy of life, creativity and persuasive power

Number: XIV as a higher level of 9, the cross sum is 10 (> Wheel of Fortune > The Magician).
The Sun is the symbol of life and light, for the power that always is generously given without reducing itself.
The Sun will shine and give light to the earth to make all life possible. So, the Sun stands for vitality and
optimism, the blossoming of our nature, and is a sign that we have overcome the time of darkness and are
ready to enjoy the light.
But the Sun also has its negative aspects. Never forget that without the depth of water, the sun will create a
desert.
Drive: Aiming at the light, living for generous, unconditional principles
Light: Vitality, generosity, warmth, self-confidence
Shadow: Self-complacency, dazzling, promising much and doing nothing.

The Judgement (Aeon) - symbol of liberation and redemption

Number: XX as 10 x 2 with the cross sum 2, the revelation of destiny.
The Aeon is the trump of time and the changes dictated by the times, it addresses finality and destruction as
well as liberation, hope and redemption.

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The Aeon is the symbol for the Rise of Phoenix, it stands for a time of insight, the true understanding of the
circle of life, of growing and fading. The card tells us that we should leave our 'frog perspective' and watch
the things from a higher level, that the time has come to face the new, that we need a good overview to build
our 'Utopia'.
In older decks the Aeon is called 'Judgment', dealing with resurrection and redemption. The limitation of this
view is the involuntary association to a 'court of law', to the Christian concept of a 'Resurrection' where the
pious may rise and the rest must burn.
Although trump XX indeed does imply a judgement, it wouldn't be appropriate to restrict this meaning with
such a superstitious simplification.
Drive: Birth, renewal, transformation, the realization of Utopia
Light: Knowledge of coherences, widened perception and the liberation of hidden abilities
Shadow: wrong identification, self-deception.

The World (Universe) - the cosmic omniscience and power of creation.

Number: XXI as the symbol of the whole, 3 x 7, the cross sum is the 3.
The Universe as the end and completion of the Major Arcana is the symbol for the zenith of development -
the achieved goal. The work is done or will soon be and we have found our place in life or will soon do so.
Seeing the second decade of the Major Arcana as a way of self-realization, the Universe becomes the crown
and the end. The Death was the rebirth, the Art the beginning of the alchemic work, the Devil the overcoming
of restrictions, the Tower the breakdown of the jail. We followed the Star, explored the Moon, found the Sun
and watched the Phoenix rise from the ashes. Finally, we touched the Universe.
On a more practical level the Universe implies the good news that a goal has been achieved, or a success sure
to come, and that a venture will flourish.
In its negative aspect the trump can tell us that we are running after false ideas, that our way leads nowhere,
that it is far too early to reach out for the Universe for there's substantial work that has yet to be done.
Drive: Entirety and competition, harmony between spirit and body
Light: Being home in one's self, inner independence, the 'mental paradise'
Shadow: False visions, being on a street to nowhere.

The Suit of Wands – The element of Fire

The Wands represent the element of Fire, the world of Atziluth and Chiah of the soul.
Atziluth is the world of pure emanation, the world which flows directly out of the infinite, and so the Wands
stand for the human soul in general, the spirituality which lives within us. This fire - the living light -
motivates us to strive for consciousness and action. In the positive aspect, Fire manifests as will, inspiration,
the wish and power to achieve honor and victory. Negatively, these last qualities become pride, egoism,
despotism, and tyranny. In a literal sense, Fire is the provider of warmth and light, but uncontrolled is the
most destructive of the elements.
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Chiah is the 'general living spark', the vitality itself, connected with all life and being held for the level closest
to the 'Divine' itself. Chiah is best described as the general instinct to live, but on a much higher level than
just the instinct to exist as represented by the animal soul of Nefesh.
From an elemental aspect Wands don't go very well with Cups since Fire and Water weaken each other. They
go along quite fine with Swords since both are active and can harmonize well with Pentacles.

Two of Wands - Chokmah through Fire.

The power of energy that is born in the Ace is given direction and a goal in the Two of Wands. Chokmah as
the power of creation and energy is the best possible surrounding for the flaming forces, the first
manifestation following the pure idea, the beginning of transformation. Yet the card is not talking of
consideration, let alone any cares. It comes up strong and recklessly, a wonderful thing when guiding at one
good goal or project. Nevertheless, one should take at least a bit care that those wonderful powers won't crush
anything around to pieces...
Drive: Courage, determination, the will to conquer
Light: Power, creativity
Shadow: Destruction, shamelessness, revenge, restlessness

Three of Wands - Binah though Fire.

The Threes are connected to Binah - the understanding. The untouched energies of the Two's have met the 3,
the number of synthesis and harmony. They're no longer solitudes, they face up their meanings and
surroundings. The Three of Wands is called 'Virtue' - the powerful fire understands its responsibility. The
Three of Wands shows the powers of the element guided by understanding and awareness, the perfect
precondition to begin a work or a project, to go ahead with a plan.
Drive: Creativity, the will to begin, striving towards a goal
Light: Accomplishment, confidence, harmony of powers, pride, nobility
Shadow: Moodiness, overestimation of one's self, conceit, rudeness, insolence, obstinacy, treachery pride,
nobility.

Four of Wands - Chesed through Fire.

The Four of Wands represents Chased - the power of condensation, growth and stability, standing in the
structural discipline of the 4 - the work is done, the plan was successful, the Fire has settled and reigns over
its realms.
Fire is the element that stands for Atziluth, the world closest to divinity, and though the card might talk of
every possible endeavor - a job, a relationship, an intellectual research, it is most likely aiming at something
more spiritual. This explains the upcoming of the card in such seemingly inappropriate situations like big
family troubles or failed business projects - hereby the card shows us that we've learned a lesson and that the
failure in the 'profane' world was just what we needed to achieve more spiritual maturity.
Drive: Perfection, rest after labor, completion after effort and trouble, structure, control
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Light: Competition, well-earned rewards, rest after labor
Shadow: Overestimation, torpidity, loss of tranquility.

Five of Wands - Geburah through Fire.

Like all Fives, the Five of Wands stands for Geburah - motion and changing and the powers of destruction -
and 5 is the number that breaks the stability and structure of the Four.
Fire isn't meant for settling and resting, and the flames burn high to break out of their own realm of the Four.
This means revolutionary movements and aggressive renewals, and sometimes this isn't the most pleasant
way to go. Especially not when we felt good and comfortable in the secure structure of the Four.
In the shadowy aspect, the violent disruption of the struggling flames can mean that we're just aggressive and
restless, making trouble for no better reason than being bored.
Drive: Challenge, the will to break out, contest, struggle, conflict, rashness
Light: Refreshment, renewal, boldness
Shadow: Struggle, conflict, destruction, spiritual crisis, prodigality, trickery.

Six of Wands – Tiphareth.

The crisis of the Five of Wands is overcome, the lesson was learned and has turned into a victory. In the middle
of the Tree of Life, right in the beauty and harmony of Tiphareth, the flames of the fire appear like pure
floating gold.
The Six of Wands shows that all the past troubles and disruptions have been necessary to grow and develop,
and the victory we have now is more than just a gain by lucky chance. We have deserved it.
Drive: Happiness, victory, glory, pride of riches
Light: Creative fluffiness, satisfaction, triumph, success through energy and industry
Shadow: Vanity, reckless egoism, insolence.

Seven of Wands - Netzach through Fire.

The Seven of Wands is entering Netzach - the depths of creativity and anarchy standing under the number
of destiny. And like for all the Seven's, the leaving of the beautiful Tiphareth comes like the fall from paradise.
But Fire is a fighter, and though the element seems to be burning down, it will struggle to survive.
So the Seven of Wands talks of a situation where we have to face up forces stronger than our self, situations
that at first sight seem hopeless, yet we'll have to use all that we've learned and fight.
Drive: Courage, fighting spirit, overcoming opposition
Light: Initiation, rebirth
Shadow: Getting attacked, facing hardships.

Eight of Wands - Hod through Fire.

With the Eight of Wands the element of Fire enters Hod, the realm of intellect and logic, ruled by Mercur -
thus an area much to its delight. Swiftness is what is demanded in here, decisive action in high speed modus.
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The card can stand for sudden realizations, quick brainwaves, it can tell that the solution for a problem is
already there or soon to come. It also reminds us that the spirit needs freedom to fly for otherwise it won't
work at its best.
The shadow side of the card can mean that we waste too much time with disputing and all kinds of tidbits,
instead of moving quick and decisively. In another aspect of course, it the size of the dose that makes the
poison effective - if we rush it too much we'll end up with a mass of particles that won't do us any good.
Drive: Excessive force applied to suddenly, very rapid rush, violent but not lasting
Light: Progression, ideas, creativity, motion, changes, development
Shadow: Rashness, thoughtlessness, rapacious, insolent, jealousy.

Nine of Wands - Yesod through Fire.

Now the fiery Wands have reached the happy Nine, the number that reflects on itself, entering the fields of
Yesod - imagination and reflection back in the middle of the Tree of Life.
Thus, the Nine of Wands remembers the own qualities, showing the full powers of the fiery element rising
again. So, the card shows strength, determination and discipline, preparing itself for the final step to
completion.
The shadow site of the card implies a warning - that we should use our spiritual consciousness to concentrate
on our inner strength and master our will, and make it effective in the world we live in.
Drive: Spiritual truth, realization
Light: Combination of the consciousness with the unconsciousness, great success but with strife and energy,
victory preceded by apprehension and fear
Shadow: Conflicts, Contradictions

Ten of Wands - Malkuth through Fire.

The Ten of Wands are standing for suppression and restriction, showing the Fire on the grounds of the Earth,
where they cause an uncontrolled, destructive burning.
Fire is not made to rest on the grounds, having lost the contact to the higher levels of spirit, it mutates to a
blind and cruel force, not understanding the own self anymore. Fire is a power that has to be handled with
imagination and reflection, not with stubbornness and hardened standards.
To understand the card, you have to understand the qualities of the Wands which stand for Chiah, the general
living spark, the vitality of soul. You cannot force it down; a free bird cannot survive in a cage.
Drive: Cruel and overbearing force, thirst for might
Light: The chance to think about it, learning
Shadow: Cruelty, excessive pressure, selfish and material ends, dogmatism, aggression

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Page of Wands - Princess of the shining flame.
The Page or Princess of Wands represents the Earth in the element of Fire, far from the Queen's depth and the
Prince's Air. She's the Fire's daughter, with all the flaming energy of the Knight, unaffected from deeper
emotions. The only heritage from her mother is the good memory for insulting and the thirst for revenge.
Though, while dancing in the flames, the Page or Princess of Wands has her own beauty with her insatiable
hunger for life and her endless, powerful energies. Her passion is hot, explosive and fast, burning down the
object of desire and forgetting about it as soon as a new one comes in sight. Almost like Bizet's Carmen, she's
irresistible in her seductive carelessness, in all her lust and anima.
At the shadow side, the Page or Princess of Wands can lack all true warmth of the heart, faithless and self-
indulgent, theatric and unable to feel real compassion and understanding. At the worst, she can sink down in
pure greed and cruelty, too cold and numbed to recognize the own emotional poverty and emptiness.
Drive: Passion, joy of life
Light: Enthusiasm, courage, beauty
Shadow: Greed, arrogance, poverty of true feelings, superficial, theatrical, cruelty, instability, domineering, a
gossip.

Knight of Wands - Lord of Flame and Lightning.

Being fire in fire, the Knight of Wands is the purest manifestation of his element - burning, flaming,
enthusiastic and thrilling. He is the born leader, full of ideas and idealism, proud and commanding, at his best
noble, honest, conscientious and intelligent.
For Atziluth is the highest of the worlds and Fire the highest of the elements, the Knight of Wands can stand
for highest inspirations, spiritual realization and purest creativity.
But with fire in fire, the Knight of the Wands lacks the depths of waters, the stability of earth and the analyzing
logic of air. His strength might degenerate to pure tyranny, his convictions stiffen to dogmatism, he might get
cruel, bigot and brutal at his worst.
Further the fires within fire lack the sources of reserved potentials, so once the explosion is over, there is
nothing more left for the Knight to provide.
Drive: Expansion of spiritual individuality
Light: Inspiration, spiritual activity, a strong will
Shadow: Despotism, egoism, intolerance.

Queen of Wands - Queen of the thrones of flame.

Personifying the waters in the element of Fire, the Queen of Wands has a similar basic as the Knight of Cups,
combining opposing elements when neither of the contrasts can overcome the other, thus having an unstable
balance between them.
As a queen, she is the mother of her element, the emotion and the sensitivity, thus having her attributes of
love, understanding and sympathy, her abilities to form and create, spending trust and warmth. The fiery
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character provides pride, passion, inspiration and powerful independence, her charisma, strength and
expansiveness.
Due to the imbalance in her character, the Queen of Wands can easily shift to her dark side, becoming a hot-
tempered, revengeful fury, over dominant and possessive, taking the tiniest bit as a reason to bear an grudge
for years. She never forgets and never forgives, and as easily her fiery temper makes her forget own mistakes,
so deeply her watery depths can cause her to ponder long and broad about the mistakes of others.
Missing the stability of earth and the logic of air, tolerance and self-control never were her best disciplines.
Drive: Motion and transformation
Light: Independence, honor, spiritual visons, passion, adaptability.
Shadow: Intolerance, despotism, jealousy, reckless passion.

King of Wands - Prince of the chariot of fire.

The King or Prince of Wands represents the Air within the Fire, intellect and storm within the spiritual
flaming. As the son of the Queen, he bears a certain heritage of the waters inside of him, expressing in
romantical beliefs and a most generous nature.
Though, the attributes of fire are excessively strong, combined with the flying airs the first impression is that
of a hot storm, filled with action and willful, impulsive energies. Lacking the patience of the earth, the Prince
of Wands wants it all and he wants it now, refusement or delays might provoke explosive outbursts. He has
endless courage and tenacity, he can fight far superior forces until he has won.
With the airs whirled up by the hot breath of fire, he can be a juggler and trickster, wanton and frolic,
recklessly abusing the powers of his mind to fool and ridicule the slow and harmless. He doesn't mean bad
but usually storms forward too fast to recognize the ruins left behind.
At the shadowy side, all his attributes can exaggerate to their worst, resulting in reckless destruction and even
in cruelty and sadism. His impatience can mount into instability, always seeking for novelty without getting
anything done, with all his powers burning out unused.
Drive: Activity, energy, impulsiveness
Light: Energy, creativity, passion, swift, strong, rather violent
Shadow: Restlessness, dissatisfaction, impatience, destructive powers, cruel, intolerant, prejudiced.

Ace of Wands - The roots of the power of fire.

Like all Aces, the Ace of Wands symbolizes the roots and the entity of its element, here it is the root of Fire,
the first spark to create the flaming powers of Atziluth, the world of the all-encompassing spiritual substance.
Being the essence of Fire, the Ace itself goes nowhere, but stands for the strong feeling that soon might turn
into a strong will or plan. There is a spiritual power that has the ability to grow, it is completely up to us
whether we use it or not.
The Ace of Wands might turn out to be bad when we cannot control or use its power that starts burning all
out of a sudden, and all its riches get burned down before we can use them for good.
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Drive: The wish to create
Light: sudden illumination, enthusiasm, inspiration, creativity, spiritual hunger, vigor, energy
Shadow: Destruction through exaggeration, false start, vexation, cancellation.

The Suit of Cups – The element of Water

The Cups represent the element of Water, the world of Briah, Neshamah of the soul.
Briah translates as "creation", and like Neshamah, Briah is the stage where the human soul creates individual
personality and identity, to define a specific form and function from the amorphous energies of Atziluth. The
creation done in Briah is not the creation of a conscious thought like in Yetzirah, let alone any physical
creation like in Assiah, it's rather the first creation of a precondition that is needed to create anything at all.
The Cups like the Water also represent the qualities of passivity, dependency and receptivity, typical for
emotion, passion and desire, because those feelings are always dependent on outside influences, they need a
goal or an impulse to come alive.
In the field of the Elemental Dignities Cups don't go all too well with Wands since Water and Fire weaken
each other. They do go well with Pentacles and Swords where the Pentacles are a bit more familiar to the
Cups due to their earthy passivity.
In common Tarot, the Cups are mostly taken for the emotions or definitions regarding human relations, and
this is somewhat understandable when our human emotions most often aim at someone else. Nevertheless, a
Cup card should not be viewed with any restriction such as this, because sometimes we really might miss the
point when wondering all the time 'What the hell has Keith got to do with it?

Two of Cups (Love) - Chokmah through water.

The Two of Cups is the polarization of the freely floating streams of the Ace of Cups. Where the Ace was all-
embracing in its feelings, the Two of Cups has a particular focus. The Ace was unity, the Two of Cups is
differentiation, feelings are focused on a specific object.
Remembering that 2 as a number is the symbol of duality, it implies the Two of Cups needs a counterpart, a
source or a goal outside itself.
Drive: Love, unity in difference
Light: Harmony, pleasure, mirth, love, friendship, passion
Shadow: Dissipation, waste, silliness, subtlety.

Three of Cups (Abundance) - Binah through water.

The Three of Cups will combine the qualities of both the Ace and the Two of Cups. The undirected love has
found its goal, it will grow and blossom. The 3 (triad) as the number of synthesis and harmony will pour its
riches into the seas of Binah, the understanding and realization.
Therefore, the Three of Cups shows that we have found joy and fulfillment in love and devotion, we are aware
of the worth and understand its meaning.

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Drive: Pleasure, healing, sensuality, conception, fulfillness
Light: Good luck, joy, satisfaction, passive success
Shadow: Greed, raw lust, excessive pleasure, over-abundance.

Four of Cups (Luxury) - Chesed through water.

In the Four of Cups the emotions are stabilized. A relationship might be comfortable, but it is fixed, the zenith
is already crossed and the worth is taken as granted. When there is no more risk, freedom and excitement are
lost.
The 4 as the number of structure and reality implies a certain authority, it provides security and order. This
might be useful when it comes to Pentacles, but emotions can't breathe with too much control, waters will
foul when kept from floating.
Therefore, the Four of Cups is not quite the best choice ever, and it shows. Behind the bright glamour of the
four golden cups the grey tristesse of emptiness is already lurking.
Drive: Emotional rich, stability of feelings, love without risk
Light: Maternity, protection
Shadow: Possessive 'love', restriction of others in order to satisfy one's self, or just for wrong intentions.

Five of Cups (Disappointment)- Geburah through water.

The Five of Cups stands for an emotional crisis. It might be that unconscious fears come true, it could tell that
feelings are disrupted or wasting away, the soul is empty and unfulfilled.
In the sequence of the cups, the Five is the logical consequence of the Four. The grey tristesse that was lurking
behind the luxury's glamour is now exposed, the 'truth is out'.
The Five of Cups implies the loss of illusion, the realization of a deception. It hurts but is necessary when we
don't want to spend the rest of our life with our heads in the sand. The 5 is the quintessence, the power that
exceeds the 4 - Geburah is motion and changing, the power of destruction.
To put it plain: we have to learn how to crawl before we can learn to walk.
Drive: Disillusion, pain, loss, sadness
Light: Sobering, realization, separation as a consequence
Shadow: Bitterness, emptiness, treachery, deceit, detraction

Six of Cups (Pleasure) - Tiphareth through water.

The Six of Cups has overcome the crisis of the Five, it has learned and accepted its lesson.
Tiphareth is the center, standing for beauty and harmony, the realization of consciousness. The 6 as the
number of completion solves the imbalance of the 5, it combines the contrasts and reconciles the opposites.
The 6 is open to all directions.
So, the Six of Cups will tell of deep emotions, that have passed the depths of pain and fear and therefore will
enjoy the pleasures of harmony and devotion more than ever before.

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Drive: close, deep emotions,
Light: Balance and harmony through the return to the inner sources
Shadow: Mental standstill, being afraid to move to not lose the current values.

Seven of Cups (Debauch) - Netzach through water.

The Seven of Cups are standing for the waters of delusion, the clouds of intoxication, the emotional waters
are rotting in the depths of destiny, they have fallen from the grace of Tiphareth.
The Seven of Cups also talks of the human desire to experience the unknown, the subconscious, the wish to
escape the plain old reality and find a better world somewhere in fantasy. But it shows clearly the dangers of
such mind games, when the dreaming turns into a hapless runaway from life. The success is illusionary, just
a deception or wishful thinking
In its best aspects, the Seven of cups is a warning to recognize the delusion, the disguises, to get rid of the
intoxicating feelings and face up the facts. Netzach is not only anarchy, but creativity - so the realization of
the bad can lead to something good when used with care.
Drive: Delusion, desire, ecstasy, neutralized victory, illusionary success, lying error, promises unfilled,
drunkenness, violence, selfish dissipation, deception in love and friendship, success often gained but not
followed up.
Light: Realization of false promises and hapless hopes, sobering
Shadow: Drunkenness of mind, getting lost in illusions, wrath, vanity.

Eight of Cups (Indolence) - Hod through water.

The Eight of Cups has driven the debauch of the Seven to absolute excess, the delusions have lost all attraction
and all that's left is frustration. The sequence of the numbers has reached Hod, calling for structure and logic,
but the emotional waters of Briah cannot be happy with this call and remain in dumb resignation.
Nevertheless, happy or not, the call must be heard to leave the bogs of numbness, and the Eight of Cups tells
us to abandon the past, leave the current situation, make up our minds most honestly and open our eyes to
upcoming changes.
Drive: Temporary success, but without further result, things thrown aside as soon as gained, nothing of lasting
value, journey from place to place, searching for riches
Light: Transformation
Shadow: Depression, suicide, whining, instability.
Nine of Cups (Happiness) - Yesod through water.
With Yesod - reflection and imagination - inside of the perfect harmony of the Nine, the Nine of Cups has
returned to the middle column of the Tree of Life, enlightened by the beauty of Tiphareth that resides above
and just one step from Malkuth as its root and origin, the competition of the journey.

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Nothing serves the waters of Briah better than the seas of Yesod, so the card shows perfect harmony and
fulfilment in any emotional matter.
On its shadow site, the card shows the risk of self-indulgence and complaisance, the temptation to just enjoy
the happiness but forget the reflection that keeps the light upon the waters alive.
Drive: Love, optimism, trust
Light: Luck, compassion
Shadow: Self-complacency, self-indulgence, vanity.

Ten of Cups (Satiety) - Malkuth through water.

With the Ten of Cups, the suit has completed the journey from the seeds of the Ace to the final goal of Malkuth,
root and origin of the element. All energies are ending, the have found their fixed forms. The waters are
resting now in their final grounds.
Yet the Ten is not the end of a line, but the end of a circle - the cross sum of 10 is 1 and there we are at the
Ace again. After all the ups and downs of the journey, we find our self at its beginning, and it is up to us
whether we use our experiences or not.
Drive: Seeking for inner completion and fulfilment, kindness, generosity
Light: Optimism, self-consciousness, love combining all the elements of spirit and body
Shadow: Sentimentality, inner emptiness, debauchery, wantonness, waste

Page of Cups - Princess of the palace of the floods.

The Page or Princess of Cups represents the earth in the waters of Briah, an island floating in the groundless
seas. She is far from her father's flames and her mother's depth, and she lacks the researching spirit of her
brother. She is of endless tenderness, kindness and lovingness, living on her isle of romance and joy.
Therefore, an unaffected spectator might take her as childish or selfish, but the island of the princess can be
so fertile and rich. Artistically inclined talents can be detected and supported, medial abilities can rise and
deeper insights can be gained.
On the dark side, the island can turn out to be a castle made of sand, sinking in the seas of irrationality and
daydreaming. The Page or Princess of Cups, unwilling to leave her realm outside the 'common' world, may
sink with it and at its worst might seduce others to follow her.
Drive: The exploring of the inner worlds
Light: Intuition, sensibility, tenderness, fantasy, dreamy imagination
Shadow: Faking, abuse of feelings, selfish, luxurious, deviation, a flatterer.

Knight of Cups - Lord of waves and waters.

The Knight of Cups represents the Fire in the element of water, trying to bring the contrasts in balance, using
the flaming fires to advocate the passive waters. Therefore, there is a certain instability within this Knights'
character, that can shift from one side to the other.

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Briah is the world of emotions and sensitivity, and the Knight of Cups might have good senses for art, poetry
and lyric, his compassion can make him a good healer. If he manages to reach real depth and inner conviction,
he will be able to provide rich tenderness and emotional warmth.
On the shadow side, his quickly rising emotions could be overwhelming, but without depth and reliability,
when the fires of spontaneity won't be able to harmonize with the depth of the waters. He is friendly but
passive, easy to enflame but his interest can fade as quick as it flamed up, at its worst even appear as fakery
and falseness. So, the Knight of Cups may also appear as an unsteady character, full of unripe ideas and failed
attempts.
Drive: Self-sacrifice, self-redemption, grace, poetry
Light: Compassion, solicitousness, sensibility
Shadow: Seducability, vanity, unsteadiness, sentimental obtrusiveness, artificial, untruthfulness.

Queen of Cups - Queen of the thrones of water.

The Queen of Cups represents water in water, she is the purest manifestation of the soul of the waters. Thus,
she represents pure emotion, passion, feeling, never influenced by judgement or purpose. She is loving and
affectionate, a warm-hearted mother and a tender friend, looking into the depths of the heart.
On the darker side, the Queen of Cups lacks the stability of the Earth, the will of Air and Fire. Water in water
is all passivity and has no powers of its own but makes a perfect transformer of any other power coming
along. So, she is susceptible to all kinds of influences, her instability might let her appear unreliable and
inconstant.
At its worst, the precious qualities of imagination and flowing fantasy might turn out to weakness and
thoughtlessness, turning in any direction that any wind may blow, getting lost in a dream world of irreal
fantasies.
Drive: Floating across the borders, drifting between reality and dream
Light: Imagination, poetry, kindness, sensitivity, emotional depth
Shadow: Diffusion, spinning around in irrational folly.

King of Cups - Prince of the chariot of waters.

The King or Prince of Cups represents the Air above the waters, as the son of the Knight and the Queen - Fire
and Water - he combines both the fiery flames and the watery depths of his parents, bringing them up in the
heights of the Air, storming towards Yetzirah.
So, the King or Prince of Cups has all the emotional depths of the water, but also the intellectual values of the
Air. He is clever and open minded, and his emotional soul can make him a sensitive artist or philosopher. Due
to the heritage of Briah, he appears introverted and reversed, and indeed he tends to keep his secrets to
himself. Like both his parents, he seems to be easy susceptible, but the sharp minded air makes him choose
fairly what to accept in the end.

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On the shadowy side, the King or Prince of Cups can be reckless and selfish, always striving to improve his
own goals and studies, carelessly sacrificing relations in order to perfectionate his art or passion, and he can
be quite shifty in dealings.
Drive: The combination of Spirit and Soul
Light: Compassion, warmth, love, artistic intentions
Shadow: Selfishness, unscrupulousness, cruelty.

Ace of Cups - The root of the powers of water.

The Ace of Cups shows the way deep into our soul, to detect beauty and trust. It stands for the sources of love,
for growing feelings, the desire for a relationship or the readiness to have a friend.
Referring to the Kaballah, the Ace of Cups is attached to Briah - the world of pure feeling and sensitive
intention. It is the female counterpart of the Ace of Wands, representing the female element water as a sign
for devotion and care.
The card also tells that the beauty and the ugly are two poles belonging together. Without shadow, there's no
light - and mud is needed to make Lilith blossom.
Drive: The desire to melt in one another, sympathy, devotion, the beginning of a friendship or passion
Light: Emotional capacity, fertility, productiveness
Shadow: Alteration, diffusion, irrational thinking, hysteria, loneliness.

The Suit of Swords - The element of Air

The Swords represent the element of Air, the world of Yetzirah, Ruach in soul.
Yetzirah is the world of formation, of synthesis and analysis, where the amorphous flames of Atzliuth and the
subconscious emotions of Briah are analyzed, separated and formulated. It refers to Ruach, the spirit of human
intellect and consciousness of mind.
So, the Swords represent the qualities of intellect and rationality, but also to every considerate achievement
like culture, science, philosophy or any ongoing process that later ends up as 'history'. This almost explains
by itself why the Swords can be blessing and malediction the same time.
From their elemental dignities, Swords do not harmonize too well with Pentacles when the airy spirits have
not much patience with the passive stillness of the Earth. The get along well with both Wands and Cups.

Two of Swords (Peace) - Chokmah through Air.

The Two of Swords are representing the beginning of analysis, putting the pure, undirected ideas of the Ace
underneath separation and differentiation, to bring them towards a specific form and end.
Chokmah is creation and manifestation, showing the element in its best light, and so the mind gets its best
chance to indicate its powers without showing its shadows. For the Swords, this means peace, since the mind
is on its finest level when just administering its potentials.
Drive: Peace, arrangement of differences, a good compromise between soul and mind

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Light: Beginning of analysis, balanced force, contradictory characteristics in the same nature
Shadow: Difference, disagreement, opposites calmed down by cold logic only, unsolved tensions.
Three of Swords (Sorrow) - Binah through Air.
With the Three, the Swords are entering Binah, the fields of understanding, of perception and realization, and
they reveal the dark side of understanding - or the truth behind the common saying that idiots are the happier
people.
It is the curse of the Swords to be so clear and honest, to analyze what others prefer to ignore, to put in plain
light what others hide in the dark. They are not like the Cups who are lucky when they understand themselves,
the Swords are the Mind and when understanding what they see, they dive into melancholy. So, the Three of
Swords can talk of a painful realization, a hard decision that has to be made, the melancholy of Saturn when
recognizing the unveiled truth. They also can stand for a disappointment, the loss of an illusion, or the
detection of a treachery, a lie, a deceit.
Drive: Melancholy, facing up a painful truth
Light: Understanding, sobering, losing beautiful but false illusions
Shadow: Disappointment, pain, sadness, separation, sorrows.

Four of Swords (Truce) - Chesed through Air.

The Four of Swords has reached the fields of Chesed, manifestation and condensation, the winds of mind have
settled and the powers of the element are well-balanced in them self.
The mind has solved a problem, found a solution, completed a process, or has come to a good, satisfying
compromise. Jupiter keeps the scales of the libra in harmonious balance, and the truce can be enjoyed full-
hearted.
Though, for the Air stability means stagnate, therefore the restful truce should be used for reflection and
reconsideration, the idea that has become full circle in the calm realms of Chesed needs to proceed to further
levels.
Drive: Manifestation, balance of powers
Light: A chance to reflect, a rest from fighting, tolerance, generosity
Shadow: Cold truce which means no peace at all, isolation, forced restriction

Five of Swords (Defeat) - Geburah through Air.

The Five of Swords have reached Geburah, the realm of motion and changing, of destruction and
disintegration. The truce of the Four couldn't last, the airy Swords had to recognize that they never were
meant for structure and stabilization, that they needed to stick to their unsteady nature, no matter how high
the price might be.
The deep crisis the Swords are going through in here also result in the influence of Venus, the planet of
emotion, harmony and sensitivity. For the logical Swords who are forced to see everything absolutely clear
and unveiled, too much sensitivity can mean a sharp pain that no reasonable argument might soften.
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Intelligent as they are, they clearly analyze the trap they're in and start struggling against fate, thus
recognizing that they cannot win.
Drive: Intellectual crisis, struggling against fate
Light: Realization of limitations and restrictions, philosophy born in pain
Shadow: Loss, defeat, failure, poverty, fear

Six of Swords (Science) - Tiphareth through Air.

In the beautiful harmony of Tiphareth, the Six of Swords have overcome the crisis of the Five, the emotional
wounds are healed and the element concentrates on its origin potentials, its very own powers and qualities.
In science i.e. any fields of deeper thinking, the mind can unfold all its energies, and the restless Swords have
the chance to combine the mind with the mental spirit from which it was born, to achieve a perfect harmony
of it all.
Drive: All-embracing thinking, science, research
Light: Success after anxiety and trouble, search for truth
Shadow: Too much rationalism, distrust, misanthropist.

Seven of Swords (Futility) - Netzach through Air.

The Seven of Swords show the element with its reigns lose, storming into the realms of anarchy and destiny,
fighting against 'nobody knows what', getting entangled in many conflicting tendencies.
Now none of the Suits is lucky within the Seven - the Wands burn down; the Cups nearly drown and the
Pentacles are out cold - yet the Swords are least willing to accept their fate and activate every trick and list
they can figure to get along. And considering that the Swords are pure intellect, they are embarrassingly good
in figuring out tricks.
Therefore, the Seven of Swords can talk of trickery, cheating, sudden affronts, juggling and intentional
confusing with unrestrained Mercurian amorality. Though, all the lists are bound to fail, even the clever
Swords cannot escape the hand of fate.
Drive: List, trickery, cleverness
Light: Unmasking of illusions and disguises
Shadow: Treachery, deceit, illusion, amorality, evil tricks, self-pity.

Eight of Swords (Interference) - Hod through Air

With the Eight of Swords, the suit enters Hod, the realm of intellect and logic, and one should think how
happy the Swords must be now that they are 'amongst fellows'. But Hod is more the structure of mind, while
the Swords are the freedom of mind - conflicts are pre-programmed.
Further, the Eight of Swords reveal the nature of the suit regarding its tendency of analyzing and considering
everything, digging out a counter-argument for any argument there is, quickly recognizing any limitation

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and conclusion that in the end means the interference in the own reasoning. Only blessing stupidity can be
self-secure enough to believe that the own thought is the only truth - the Swords cannot.
In another aspect, the Eight of Swords can talk of the restlessness of mind, of thoughts bursting out
uncontrolled and unproductive, of nervous brooding and confused rumination.
Drive: Restlessness of mind, endless analyzing
Light: Realization of causality, accept of limitation and relativity
Shadow: Confusion, aimless pondering, compulsive brooding.

Nine of Swords (Cruelty) - Yesod through Air.

The Nine of Swords are entering Yesod, the fields of reflection and imagination, and while all other Suits
made them self-comfortable in blessing happiness, the Swords seem to be the outcast, called 'Cruelty'.
With the airy nature of the mind, the Swords cannot rest, they cannot stop thinking and analyzing - and in
the end, cannot ignore the fact that nothing really leads anywhere, that in the end there is nothing.
(Take the technology of our century as one little example: The Wands praise the spirit of mankind, the Cups
dream of all the goods that could be done, the Pentacles enjoy the riches it produces - the Swords analyze the
effects and come to the conclusion that our planet gets destroyed.)
Therefore, it is a bit unfair to call the Nine of Swords a bad card or criticize it for cruelty or 'over-analyzing'.
After all, we cannot expect the suit of the mind to tell us that we're better off with our heads in the sand, just
to not see the cruel truth that is out there.
Drive: Going into the depths of a subject, with all consequences
Light: Facing up facts, realizing truth
Shadow: Cruelty, pain, despair, lack of pity.

Ten of Swords (Ruin) - Malkuth through Air.

With the Ten of Swords, the development of human intellect has consequently reached its last step - from the
birth of intellect within the Ace to complete ruin within the grounds of the Ten.
The card teaches the lesson that endless fighting ends with destruction, endless analysis with the complete
loss of hope and belief. It forces the lesson of the Nine of Swords to its inevitable conclusion. But with the Sun
above it, it does not lack every hope. It will silently return to its origin again, to the first spark of mind in the
Ace, to start all over again. The big hope in here is that the lessons from the journey absolved won't get
forgotten.
By the way, every Ten in the Minor Arcana stands for the end of a process, for the need to restart or at least
variate, only the Ten of Swords have an amazingly crude way to put it into words - that's just the way they
are.
Drive: Transformation
Light: Rebirth, realization, the end of a cycle, wisdom through pain and loss

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Shadow: Ruin, loss, destruction, separation, pain, catastrophe.

Page of Swords - Princess of the rushing winds.

The Page or Princess of Swords is the earthy child of her element, the wind over the grounds of Assiah. Her
logic can be destructive, she is perceptive, serious and rigorous, yet she can show the characteristic of a child
that lacks morality and nobility.
Therefore, the Page or Princess of Swords can get stubborn and cruel, and while beginning to think
independently about something, she can turn very discriminating and egoistic, showing aggressively
whenever the result is not to her delight. In the Earth, all the free qualities of Air get surprised and restricted.
At her best, the Page or Princess of Swords can be very practical and clever, showing fine skills when dealing
with material matters or conflicting opinions, she can be generous and kind once she lost the inner fear and
insecurity that results from the natural incapability between Earth and Air.
Drive: Impulsive, curious,
Light: Careful, courageous, serious
Shadow: Malicious, cruel, spiteful, wasteful, failure to recognize facts, aggression, destruction.

Knight of Swords - Lord of the Winds and Breezes.

The Knight of Swords represents the Fire in the Air, he is the storm of the mind flaming up high. He is sharp-
minded, analytical, clever, dexterous and courageous, always ready for and fond of argumentations and
verbal wars. His passion for intellectual mind games can make him an excellent warrior in logical excursions,
enjoying both picky subtleties and bizarre contradictions.
At his best, the Knight of Swords stands for intelligent judgement and mental realizations, he is a skillful
trickster and a keen observer. Though, lacking the depths of the water and the stability of earth, his mind
games could turn into cloud-cuckoo-lands without inner reflections, he gets unable to decide simply for
getting lost in too many theoretical variations.
At the worst, the Knight of Swords tends to put logic and mind ahead of all other values, turning into an cold
analytic judging and rating by logic only, without warmth or humanity; or even degenerates to a deceitful,
sardonic tyrant of the mind.
Drive: Intellect, science, enlightenment
Light: Sharpness of mind, logic, intellect
Shadow: Coldness, cynicism, ambiguity.

Queen of Swords - Queen of the thrones of Air.

The Queen of Swords represents the Water in the Air, thus supplying the qualities of emotion and sensitivity
to the airy element, the ability to transfer and reflect, to form and create. As the mother of the Air, she will
have a strong dominance of intellect.

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The Queen of Swords can be very sensitive, perceptive, sharp-witted and intelligent. On the dark side, she
can turn cruel, malicious, narrow-minded, bigoted or even deceitful, dangerous, too, because of her charm
and beauty.
Being water in air, the Queen of Swords lacks the stability of the Earth as well as the will of Fire. So she can
lack practicality, steadiness, running the risk to live in an idealistic land of her own outside of reality. Further,
she is sensible to interferences and disturbance from the outside, unable to protect herself against it.
Drive: Independence, freedom of mind and soul
Light: Wisdom, imagination, self-confidence, perceptive, graceful
Shadow: Coldness, inaccessibility, cruel, deceitful.

King of Swords - Prince of the chariot of the winds.

Being Air in Air, the King or Prince of Swords is the pure manifestation of mind and intellect, full of plans
and ideas which on the worst side may disturb and confuse each other, on the best create an inexhaustible
spring of creative thoughts.
The King or Prince of Swords is intelligent, idealistic, full of creativity and fluidity, a real Mercurian spirit
who often will argue just for the fondness of arguing - and not so much for the arguments themselves. The
King or Prince of Swords can throw himself head over heels into a scientific research, reaching highest levels
within a short time and then throw everything away without further notice because something else appears
more interesting at the moment.
On the dark side, the King or Prince of Swords lacks both the qualities of Water and Earth, he can easily
become unstable, unreliable and extremely moody, using his amount of intelligence to trick himself through
life, becoming a master of disguise and cheat.
Drive: Idealism, intellectual agility
Light: Creativity, rich of ideas, intelligence, mastery of words
Shadow: Harsh, malicious, unreliable, cheating, crude.

Ace of Swords - The roots of the powers of Air.

The Ace of Swords is the seed of the intellectual power, the origin and beginning of the airy world of Yetzirah,
which implies thinking, analyzing, realizing through logic and mind.
Like every Ace, it represents the unstructured primary matter of its suit, the undifferentiated unity, therefore
the Ace of Swords is the beginning of thinking, a first idea, a first thought or impulse from the mind and the
essence of the element of Air.
So, the card can stand for a first idea or realization, a new view of things, or simply tell us that we should let
our mind work rather than following our emotions only. It also reminds us that the Ace is only the seed, that
it needs growing and experience to proceed.
Drive: Invoked powers. whirling force of mind, realization, logic
Light: Realization, clearness, objectivity, intellectual aspiration
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Shadow: Intellectual debacle, coldness, cruelty through logic, intellectual dissatisfaction.

The Suit of Pentacles (Disks) - The element of Earth

The Pentacles represent the element of the Earth, the world of Assiah, Nefesh in soul.
Assiah is the world of making, literally translated as 'action', the actual material area in which all things live
and grow physically. It is the final ground that all the preceding worlds need to become real. Assiah is stable
and predictable, though it would be dead without the warmth of the Fires of Atziluth, without the Waters of
Briah and the Air of Yetzirah.
So, the Pentacles stand for the material world, the human body, the 'animal soul' that rules a far bigger part
of our being than we usually like to admit. It often can be watched that the Pentacles are disregarded, looked
upon as 'material only', with Assiah taken as profane and Nefesh as 'primitive'. But where would be the beauty
of a lily without the earth in which it grows? What is a lily, anyway?
On the elemental plane Pentacles go well with Cups and Wands but don't harmonize with Swords.

Two of Pentacles (Change) - Chokmah through Earth.

The Two of Pentacles represents the Earth in Chokmah, the realm of creation and energy, directing the pure
material resources of the Ace towards a specific goal, in order to change from the raw material to the actual
creation process.
Further, the card is called Harmonious Change, it stands for the alternation and natural balance of gain and
loss, weakness and strength, growing and fading, ever varying occupation and wandering. In nature,
everything is in constant change, well balanced with and in each other, building the principle of natural
growing and proceeding.
The Two of Pentacles reminds us that we are still part of that nature, that we have to accept the natural flow
of changes and handle it with care and consideration.
Drive: Growing, proceeding. the begin of a project
Light: Flexibility, enthusiasm that a project proceeds
Shadow: Imbalance, the inability to accept a change, clinging to a status quo that is about to fade or change.

Three of Pentacles (Works) - Binah through Earth.

The Three of Pentacles enters Binah, the fields of understanding and perception, initiating the process where
the project that began in the Two of Pentacles is viewed and understood against its surrounding i.e. in its
completion.
The card also talks of the alchemical wedding, in which the alchemical mercury combines sulphur with salt,
thus building the living gold (the philosopher's stone). It implies the basic idea of Earth, the crystallization of
its powers and qualities, the commencement of matter to be established.
The name of the card is Works, saying that work was done to get that far, thus it implies a first taste of victory,
an admission that a progress was made, a big step forward on the way. Though, further work will be needed
to keep the achieved status and to proceed in it.
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Drive: Manifestation, understanding
Light: Progress, crystallization, increase of substance,
Shadow: Sloppiness or neglect after a first gain was won, stop in the middle of work.

Four of Pentacles (Power) - Chesed through Earth.

The Four of Pentacles has reached the realm of Chesed, the fields of condensation, growth and stability,
standing in the structural discipline of the Four. The work of the Three has paid off, the fruits are rich and
manifold.
Therefore, the Four of Pentacles represent success, establishment, proficiency, comfort and security not only
in material values, but in familiar relations and profession either. Thus, the power it supplies is grown from
peace and security, the well-deserved reward for good work and concentrated effort. It has nothing to do
with any ruling force, and it won't ask for it.
One the dark side, the four of Pentacles admonishes that any overrated attachment to comfort or possession
results in fear of loss and failure, avarice, greed, hoarding, the comfortable power of peace turns into an ugly
force that is directed against oneself.
Drive: Stability, security, gain
Light: Assured material gain, rank, success, wealth, productivity
Shadow: Fear of loss, avarice, greed for more, over-estimation of material wealth.

Five of Pentacles (Worry) - Geburah through Earth.

The Five of Pentacles finds itself in the changing movements of Geburah, but this is not the well-balanced
change of the Two of Pentacles, but an imbalanced, disruptive change, the effect of the 5 breaking up the
stability of the 4, destroying its structure and balance.
So, the Five of Pentacles represents a material crisis, which can also be a crisis in home and profession, an
illness or injury, anything that disturbs or destroys the material, peaceful security of the Four.
There is not much to find when looking for the bright sight of the card, nevertheless it is a fact that every
burning of a forest results in many little sprouts that appear afterwards, having the most fertile ground in the
ashes. But of course, the old forest doesn't need to burn down completely - the card can also talk of the worry
that it might do so just because it burns somewhere in the near.
Drive: Material crisis, worry about material things or health
Light: Reconsidering of values, managing to get along in hard times
Shadow: Fear, loss, failure, destruction, hindering, unpredictable changes to the bad, worsening
circumstances.
Six of Pentacles (Success) - Tiphareth through Earth.
With the Six of Pentacles the Suit enters the harmonious realm of Tiphareth, back to the well-balanced middle
of the Tree, leaving behind the crisis of the Five, regaining success and wealth.

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Having experienced both the bad and good sides, gain and loss, the Six of Pentacles has achieved a wiser
attitude towards material concerns. Nothing is taken for granted so easily anymore, and losses won't be taken
for the end of the world. The material wealth is viewed in its actual value, not higher than it is, and not lower
when we actually had expected more.
Drive: Overcome of crisis, success
Light: Wealth, generosity, nobility
Shadow: False pride, taken everything for granted, prodigal.

Seven of Pentacles (Failure) - Netzach through Earth.

The Seven of Pentacles are falling into Netzach, the fields of anarchy and destiny, and losing the harmonious
peace of Tiphareth, this is a radical fall from paradise into the abysses of fate.
Failure is the name of the card and program for its downfall, and so the Seven of Pentacles talk of hopes
deceived and crushed, of unfilled promises, loss of fortune, dealings that first sounded good but later revealed
as short-living or cheating, false successes with no lasting benefit, that in the end had cost much more than
they had gained.
The hope within the card is the hand of Saturn, the father of time, who reminds us to wait for a chance instead
of quickly jumping after any vague promise, to silently watch and reflect and get deeper insights into the
coherences, until the time will come when a real chance shows up.
Drive: Resignation, impatience
Light: The ability to wait
Shadow: Failure, disappointment, uneasiness, overhasty, stupid actions, unwise investments.

Eight of Pentacles (Prudence) - Hod through Earth.

For the Eight of Pentacles, the entering of Hod means a new beginning. The Pentacles have learned the lesson
that Saturn has reached in the disastrous Seven, that everything needs time and consideration. Now here
within Hod, the area of logic, the Eight of Pentacles develop prudence and patience.
So the Eight of Pentacles have learned to be careful, take their time to overthink their steps, considerate all
facts and patiently wait for their chances. They absolve an apprenticeship in their own field, trying to do it
better and avoid the mistakes from earlier stages.
On the dark side, the Eight of Pentacles can be over-careful, or careful just in small things while foolish in
the big, over-anxious in front of risks, unable to come to any conclusion or decision, considering with no end
but finally doing nothing.
Drive: Consideration, prudence
Light: Realization of coherences, ability to wait for the right moment
Shadow: Penny-wise and pound-foolish, hoarding, stagnate, immovableness.

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Nine of Pentacles (Gain) - Yesod through Earth.
The Nine of Pentacles have reached Yesod, the fields of imagination and reflection, but also of foundation,
and in the latter the Pentacles meet their happiest realms.
Fully satisfied with themselves, they settle down comfortably and gather in the crops, the well-earned rewards
for good accomplishment, while enjoying the shining charm of Venus putting everything in sweet light. The
card can also stand for health, or successful convalescence after illness or injury.
On the darker side, the Nine of Pentacles can get so self-satisfied with material gain and success, that they
forget about anything else.
Drive: Wealth, well-being
Light: Material happiness, gain, riches
Shadow: Greed for more, materialistic thinking, dissipation, abuse, exploitation.

Ten of Pentacles (Wealth) - Malkuth through Earth.

With the Ten of Pentacles the element of Earth has reached Malkuth, the final place of active manifestation -
Assiah meets Assiah - and the Pentacles are in their very own home world.
Therefore, the Ten of Pentacles are at the point where their richest potentials unfold, getting settled and staid,
realizing the complete amount of material gain. Also, the Ten of Pentacles is the very last of the numbered
cards, representing the completion of work, the full circle of Earth.
On the dark side, the Ten of Pentacles become fat, lazy, blinded by wealth and even greedy for more, then
being busy with grabbing together more riches. When rich get big, it needs a ventile to not become dull, a
concentration on science or emotion to not get buried in nothing but earth.
Drive: Wealth, security
Light: Completion of success, material security, well-being
Shadow: Greed, laziness, poverty of feelings, dullness of mind.

Page of Pentacles - Princess of the echoing hills.

The Page or Princess of Pentacles represents the Earth in the Earth, thus she is the pure manifestation of the
qualities of Assiah, the physical world of making and growing. She is the last of the court cards and therefore
implies a new begin of the circle, which could mean the beginning of a new project or a new physical creation.
The Page or Princess of Pentacles is warm-hearted, sensual and generous, an unwavering and concentrated
person with all the reliable stability of the Earth. Yet she lacks Fire and Air, as well as the conforming qualities
of Water, she can easily be a little too dependent from outside influences but nevertheless being unable to
really adapt to others.
On the dark side the Page or Princess of Pentacles can get illogical, prodigal and wasteful, dissipating her
ideas and lacking the ability to recognize facts. When in bad mood, she's as adaptable as a stubborn, nasty
child.

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Drive: Creation, growth, birth, making
Light: Generosity, kindness, love, faith, sensitivity and concentration
Shadow: Wasteful, prodigal, illogical, stubborn, all too dependent and changeable in her opinions.

Knight of Pentacles - Lord of the wild and fertile land.

The Knight of Pentacles represents the Fire in the element of Earth, and with Earth surprising Fire, the
materialism is the dominant aspect in this card, showing the Knight as a complex person of amazing strength,
representing Earth in its function as provider of life. The Knight of Pentacles is industrious and patient, steady
and reliable, clever in material matters. He is the one working without asking much, concentrating on his
tasks without getting distracted by mind games or high-flying ideas. With more Earth than Fire and lacking
the qualities of Air, the King of Pentacles is more dedicated to making but to thinking, his success results from
instinct and pragmatism rather than from intellect or knowledge.
Further, the King of Pentacles lacks the emotional depth of Water, therefore he can have difficulties to
understand or relate to others, he can be self-centered and sullen, intolerant and unable to put any interest
in anything outside his own deeds and doings.
At the darkest side, the Knight of Pentacles can turn stubborn and even stupid, clumsy and jealous on anyone
that seems higher than himself, arousing over tidbits and butting in everything, yet cowardice and unwilling
to change himself.
Drive: Strife for material success and wealth
Light: Clever in material matters, patient, industrious, reliable, strong and enduring.
Shadow: Stubbornness, dullness, jealousy, grasping, stagnant.

Queen of Pentacles - Queen of the thrones of Earth.

The Queen of Pentacles is the mother of her element, the water in the earth, which makes her the perfect
mother, conforming and emotional as for the water and stable and reliable as for the Earth.
The Queen of Pentacles is kind and tender, friendly and good-hearted, she has fine instincts and intuitions.
She is strong and sensitive, protects her house and family and cares as well for emotional and material well-
being. She is calm and practicable and can be a good, industrious worker.
Beneath the calm surface, the Queen of Pentacles can tend to lust and debauchery, fond of intoxicating
stimulants, but she keeps it hidden. At the best, she will know that the dose makes the poison - at the bad, she
won't.
On the dark side, the Queen of Pentacles lacks both the qualities of Air and Water, therefore she can get
foolish and rather unintelligent, without pride and spirit, easily getting in needless dependence and being too
weak to free herself - or even worse: not even trying to get free and independent.
Drive: Fertility, womanliness, security for family, home and materials
Light: Kind, charming, great-hearted, truthful, stable, sensual
Shadow: Moody, foolish, undecided, weak, dependent.
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King of Pentacles - Prince of the chariot of the Earth.
The King or Prince of Pentacles represents the Air in the element of Earth, he is stable and industrious and
also thoughtful and inventive when it comes to improve matters.
Nevertheless, the Earth puts the brakes on the Air, therefore the King or Prince of Pentacles is slow in following
and developing his plans and ideas, yet he is steady and unwavering - once on his path, he is going forward
towards his goal.
The King or Prince of Pentacles can seem a bit cold in his emotions sometimes, yet he values his comfort and
beauty. He is patient and tolerant, but once in rage, he hardly forgives.
On the shadow site, the King or Prince of Pentacles can get stubborn and ignorant, overly piqued on anything
not belonging to his related surrounding, and phlegmatic up to total stagnation.
Drive: Solidity, increased material, growth
Light: Unwavering, industrious, enduring, reliable, practical, reasonable, careful
Shadow: Stubbornness, corruption, avarice, phlegm, dullness, coldness.

Ace of Pentacles - The root of the powers of Earth.

The Ace of Pentacles represents the entity of the element Earth, the beginning of Assiah, the material world of
making. It stands for the pureness of the element, and also for its seed, the first little sprout that later becomes
a tree.
So, the Ace of Pentacles can stand for the beginning of a material subject, this can be a physical project or a
material value, which could mean the urge to material creation or the chance for material gain.
But, the Pentacles not only represent plain materials, but the entire world of Assiah, the actual, physical earth
of daily life, and the actual, physical body of the human being. This implies home and profession, daily works,
health and well-being in common. And in this context, the Ace of Pentacles tells us that something will be
created, something will begin.
Drive: The beginning of creation
Light: A creation, a begin, a chance
Shadow: Avarice, dissatisfaction with material circumstances, something was born but is not allowed to grow.

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 The Tree of Life spread

This spread draws inspiration from the Sephirot of the Kabbalistic tree of life. This is an
introspective card. The tree of life is used as a tool to understand the relationships between all
things and how they relate to us. This particular spread represents you and your worldly
goals. Start with a clear mind and shuffle the deck. Draw ten cards and place them face down
in front of you in the order of the diagram.

Cards:
1. This will be your highest ideal, goal and ideal attainment
2. This will be your driving force, sometimes an event or person.
3. This card represents what will aid you in life.
4. This card represents all which you hold dear and sacred.
5. This represents the impact you will have on others while journeying to
attain your goal.
6. This represents your physical state in regards to health and how you
affect others.
7. This represents influential people you will meet, lovers and great
friends.
8. This represents a good a career or pursuit for you which you will find
fulfilling.
9. This represents the you that you do not know; hidden desires and
currently locked potential.
10. This card represents your physical self and the world around you.

The Tree of Life Meaning

The Kabbalistic (also Qabalistic) Tree of Life is the mystical symbol used in esoteric Judaism to represent the
creation of all things including man. It is a diagram that demonstrates the process of creation from the
moment the Universe began. It traces each emanation from God or the Source through a series of stages that
must be completed or gone through in order for manifestation to occur. The Tree of Life also traces the
pathway back to God for like all of God’s creations we return to the source once our cycle or journey has

37
completed to await re-birth once more. This mystical and symbolic diagram helps us to understand the
evolution of man and all creation from the ‘Big Bang’ to physical incarnation and the material world.
The Tree of Life shows us the stages of evolution through its Ten Sephiroth or Spheres. Each Sephira has its
own unique qualities and energy which must be integrated and understood by all so that successful
manifestation or evolution can complete.
The Tree of Life can be applied to any area of life but especially the inner world of Man, from the subconscious
all the way to the Higher Self.
The first Three Sephira: Kether, Chokmah and Binah are known as the Supernal Sephiroth and refer to the
primordial energies of the Universe. The Supernal Sephiroth exists on a plane of Divine Energy where creation
is abstract and as yet unformed. It is where everything begins and is in its rawest form. After Binah creation
occurs. Energy begins to take form and proceeds to build upon itself as it is transformed bit by bit through
each of the remaining 7 Sephiroth until it is so dense that it can successfully fulfill its evolution in the Earth
Realm of Malkuth, the 10th Sephira. Manifestation then occurs.
The Sephiroth on The Tree of Life are numbered from 1 – 10. Numbers are very important in Kabbalistic
teachings as they are each believed to carry powerful energy and qualities that are expressed through their
corresponding Sephira. Kabbalistic teaching also places a numerical value on the letters of their Alphabet.
The Tree of Life is therefore numbered meaningfully and emanates the qualities of its Sephira.

Individual Sephira Meaning

The Sephiroth
The Four Different Realms of Creation are linked to the Chakra System. The Ten Sephiroth also carry a
planetary association, once more adding depth and meaning to each stage of the Journey.
The First Three Sephiroth represent, Atziluth – The World of The Supernals – Crown and Brow Chakra.
The Second Three Sephiroth represent, Bria – The World of Creation – Throat and Heart Chakra.
The Third Three Sephiroth represent, Jetzirah – The World of Formation – Solar Plexus and Sacral Chakras.
The last Sephira represents, Assia – The World of Action – Root Chakra.
The 10 Sephira are linked by 22 connecting paths that chart and guide the progress of each emanation from
God/Source. Each pathway contains lessons that must be understood before progressing on and through the
next Sephira.
Each of the 22 connecting pathways corresponds with one of the 22 Major Arcana. Each of these Major
Arcana Cards contain the lessons that The Fool must understand or endure before he can confidently move
forward. The Fool must not get stuck on his journey for his mission is to complete it and then return home.

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Each of the Ten Sephiroth corresponds with a particular number in The Minor Arcana through which their
numerical qualities and energy are individually expressed within their own Suit.
The 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 10th Sephira also corresponded with the Court Cards again reinforcing their meaning
through the qualities of their Sephira and its number.
The 10 Sephiroth are further broken down into Four Different Realms of Creation from the Supernal World
in Sephira 1, 2 and 3 followed by The World of Creation in Sephira 4, 5, and 6, followed by The World of
Formation in Sephira 7, 8 and 9 to The World of Action in Sephira 10.

1st Sephira – Kether (Crown)

is the highest and purest. It is closest to God and is the source of all creation. The Four Aces of The Minor
Arcana also reside in Kether. It is a fitting and appropriate place for the Aces as we see Spirit, in the form of
a hand extending from a cloud, offer the gift of the potential of each element to its corresponding Suit.
Astrologically – Corresponds to the ‘Big Bang’
2nd Sephira – Chokmah (Wisdom/Supernal Father)
Primal Masculine energy. The raw force that brings the change to initiate creation. The Four Kings of the
Court Cards and the Four Two’s of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds to the whole Zodiac
3rd Sephirah – Binah (Supernal Mother/Womb/Understanding)
Primal Feminine energy. Binah is receptive and gives shape and form to the creation of energy released as it
manifests. The Four Queens of the Court Cards and the Four Threes of The Minor Arcana also reside in the
third Sephirah Binah. This is a fitting residence as the Queens being feminine and the number three related
to creation and growth provide the necessary energy to facilitate manifestation. However, this energy is still
abstract at this stage but the first stirrings of creation have been initiated.
Astrologically – Corresponds to Saturn
4th Sephira – Chesed (Mercy/Kindness/love).
Energy is less abstract now as Chesed is the first Sephira of Action. The previous three are connected to the
Intellect; Conscious and Subconscious. Chesed provides the nurturing stability for God’s emanation as it
comes into being. The Four Fours of The Minor Arcana reside here.
Astrologically – corresponds with Jupiter
5th Sephira – Geburah (Stength/Judgement/Power).
This Sephira brings with it restrictions, chaos and upheaval. Restrictive and eliminating it can cause energy
to die. The Four Fives of The Minor Arcana also reside here. As we know the Four Fives brings difficulties
and challenges that must be overcome.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Mars

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6th – Sephira Tipareth (Beauty/ Balance/Son of God)
lies half way between The Divine Source in Kether and the physical or purely world focus of Malkuth
(Kingdom/Physical World). Tipareth’s role is that of the converter and harmonizer. All spiritual energy from
the source must pass through Tipareth to become physical and all returning physical energy must pass
through likewise to become spiritual. The pure energy of each Sephira on its own is not possible. Tipareth on
The Tree of Life, is unique in the fact that it is connected to all the other Sephiroth except Malkuth
(Kingdom/Physical World). Tipareth acts to balance and integrate all of the other Sephiroth’s energies in
order to create harmony. Tipareth (Beauty/Balance/Son of God) bridges the divide between The Divine God
and the Physical world.
The Four Knights of the Court Cards and the Four 6’s of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Sun
7th Sephira – Netzach (Victory/Endurance)
provides the fortitude and determination to succeed in one’s endeavors and overcome obstructions or
challenges. It deals with the emotions and feelings and the focused concentration or control over same. The
Four Sevens of The Minor Arcana also reside here. All the Sevens in the Tarot carry the message of victory
as a result of grim determination and stamina.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Venus
8th Sephira – Hod (Splendor)
brings the force that breaks down energy into different, distinguishable forms and is associated with mental
energy, communication, reasoning, action, movement. Hod allows the diversity and expression of energy in
its many forms. It provides structure. The Four Eights of The Minor Arcana reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Mercury
9th Sephira – Yesod (Foundation)
Translates spiritual concepts into actions. It is linked to the imagination and the Moon with the energies of
reflection and illumination. Also connected to the sex organs. The Four Nines of The Minor Arcana also
reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Moon
10th Sephira – Malkuth (Kingdom/Physical World).
Manifestation of all creation; life, ideas, form. Malkuth gives tangible form and density to all God’s
Emanations. This is the furthest Sephira from the Kether (Source) but this does not mean that it is un-spiritual.
The Four Pages of The Court Cards and The Four Tens of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Earth.

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