Major Arcana Study Group

[Amethyst Rose]

I know that a lot of people have problems with the major arcana, so I'm putting this thread up for discussion and study of the major arcana. If you want to talk about a card, or join in a discussion about your card, describe the card to everyone first, so they know where you and your ideas are coming form.
Either you can start from the beginning of the deck and take it card by card, or just jump in with a card that you have troubles with. I'm gonna leave this up to you. :)

[CanisFirebrand]

I actually think this is a good idea.

I guess I'll start it off, as so far this thread hasn't been utilized. :)

I'd like to start with the Card XIV, Temperance.

In my LWB, it reads Divinatory Meaning: patience and moderation, a frugal nature, justice balanced with mercy, action taken after contemplation.
Reversed: religious fervor, actions based on emotion, competing interests.

From the thread on the Major Arcana meanings as posted by Amethyst Rose:

XIV Temperance

Description: In many decks temperance is represented as an angelic type of figure, giving off a feeling of serenity and calmness, comforting, even. In readings, temperance represents the need for moderation, balance and cooperation. The calmnes of the card tells us to be calm in high stress situations, because often that is what is needed to regain control. Temperence is also a card of good physical, mental and emotional health and promises well being and vitality.

Meaning: temperate, compromise, moderation, balance, harmony, equilibrium, cooperation, health, energy, vigor, healing, well being, consolidating, synthesis

Reversed: disagreement, discord, ill-health, imbalance

I've looked at this card a fair bit, and I do not really get those ideas from the card.

http://tarotkorea.new21.net/deck/Thegothictarot/Major14.jpg

To me, the card instills a sense of transformation. The female in the card is in the midst of a powerfull spell. She has wings showing on her back that are still mist-like and possibly in the midst of becoming solid.

If this card were to come up in a reading, I'd view it with the surrounding cards, and would view it as a sign that change is coming to the querent. Either something in the physical world or perhaps undergoing a mental/psychological change in regards to the way the world is viewed or personal beliefs.

I know that card meanings are tied to the reader as it is a lot of personal interpretation. But I guess I am left wondering if I am way off in my thinking of this card since my perceived meaning doesn't come close to matching what my LWB says or the usual meanings for this card.

Thanks for the time in reading this.

[Kaylara]

Actually, we already have that going in the Tarot Portal. Feel free to jump in at any time.

[Amethyst Rose]

I know that card meanings are tied to the reader as it is a lot of personal interpretation. But I guess I am left wondering if I am way off in my thinking of this card since my perceived meaning doesn't come close to matching what my LWB says or the usual meanings for this card.

Thanks for the time in reading this.

I've had similar problems with some of my cards...the picture just doesn't suit the traditional meaning for it, so I have a hard time with it. I definately agree with you that that card doesn't seem to match temperance at all.
I find that in situations like that, you go with your instinct first and read the card how you think it should be read. Don't forget the standard meaning of the card, however, because if it comes up in a reading and is confusing you, the standard reading may make more sense. Take the cue from the cards around it.
Here's a picture of my temperance card... I think it fits the standard meaning of temperance really well.

[Amethyst Rose]

Oh, and despite Kaylara's invitation, I would prefer that people keep discussion over here so we can do it as a class. :)

[Aleigh]

I have that problem with my deck too for this card. I just don't get that meaning from this card. I do from my Universal Waite and Robin Wood Temperance cards though. This one very much reminds me of the 3 of Swords card from this deck, only without the swords. I get a kind of "family" feeling from it, more than the traditional meaning of the card.

[CanisFirebrand]

Amethyst: That one is a beautiful card, and I definetly can see the traditional meaning in the card there.

Aleigh: I've seen the cards in that deck as well and they are striking. I am getting from your card, and seeing it more in mine now, the term balance.
In your card, the 3 dragons are perfectly balanced with each other. each does not form a complete circle, and alone would be unbalanced. But together, the three form a solid looking structure.

In my card, I can see more of the phrase balance in that the two chalices she is holding, transferring power between them. The uppermost chalice held the bulk of the power, but now, in the midst of her spell, she is transferring some of that power to the lower chalice to balance out the forces.

Interesting how sometimes you can gain different insight from viewing other peoples cards.

This is a good start to the thread. :) Hopefully more will join in and/or post their own cards they might be having problems with or need clarification on.

[faerieridingdragons]

CanisFireBrand,I realy liked your card and the meaning you came up for it.But I didn't totaly understand what AmethystRose said about two people looking at the same card and coming up with different meanings till I saw your card.The way she is holding the goblets immediatly made me think of the way you temper a hot drink,as if maybe a cooling off period was or is needed.And the way the smoke is going off to one side rather than enveloping her made me think that her answer perhaps lies elsewhere and not within her.However I can also see where you got your meaning,and would like to thank you for helping me to become more aware of my own meanings of cards.

[CanisFirebrand]

Farieridingdragons: I totally agree. Its interesting that people can get different meanings out of the same image. Your own post is helping me to see more in my card. I never paid much attention to the way the smoke is moving. And that certainly is another way to look at the two chalices..

*is giddy now because of different views of the same image*

Okay.. I think I'll be looking at the card closer tonight and making it a meditation focus.

[Aleigh]

Aleigh: I am getting from your card, and seeing it more in mine now, the term balance.
In your card, the 3 dragons are perfectly balanced with each other. each does not form a complete circle, and alone would be unbalanced. But together, the three form a solid looking structure.

I didn't think of it like that. The problem I have is that this card looks so much like the 3 of swords for this deck (which perfectly depicts the meaning of that card) that I get hung up on that. I didn't think of the circle aspect. I always just look at it, think "Hmmm...3 of swords without the swords...must be a family" and then remind myself that it's supposed to be Temperance. Then I picture the card from my UW deck and go with the traditional meaning. LOL

[MoonDragn]

As usual, remember the cards SHOULD mean different things to different people because ultimately they are symbols your subconcious uses to associate with a system.

That said, I always thought of the card as patience, waiting for opportunities, and balancing priorities.

I always seem the high priestess card as fertility when others see it as intuition etc, like I said people should see different things.

[Amethyst Rose]

Hmm yes, but, there are standard associations for each card. While decks vary and can give you different impressions of the card, you have to remember that there are standard meanings for them that are important to.

Otherwise, it would make no sense to have the same cards in each deck. It would make no sense to have a tarot deck at all, really, if you could give your own individual meanings to every card.

The cards provide the guidance you need for your interpretation, so their meaning is important to consider in a reading.

[MoonDragn]

Yes I agree, sometimes... but for example, the 8 of cups for me always refered to the victim's er I mean the subject's father for me. It has held true for many times in many readings yet it doesn't say anywhere in the traditional meaning of the card thats what it means.

[Amethyst Rose]

But that's the minor arcana. The minor arcana is much more open to interpretation that the major arcana is. The major arcana, historically, had pictures to help people read the meaning of the card, while the minor was left with simple symbols and more could be read into them.
The major arcana has traditional meanings that should always be considered in a reading, always trusting your instinct first, of course.

[Jackiedanielz]

it is funny we are doing this card because it was the first i pulled when i started doing my exercises. I saw the balance in it from the way she is looking at the chalice. Her expression to me looks as if she is listening to what it has to say and she will take it into consideration but she will decide for herself. The combinations of red & blue showed me her passion for life & her honest emotions. Its like she already knows the truth in her heart about what she will decide. She will not be swayed from that.

But the true balance comes in with the water flowing from the gold chalice to the silver. I didn't notice the colors until I read my companion book. They just didn't stand out.
Plus neither cup is overflowing and its a continuous flow.

http://www.ciromarchetti.com/gilded_tarot/TEMPERENCE_p.jpg