Tarot & Witchcraft

What is Tarot? The word “tarot” refers to both a type of card deck used in divination as well as the act of using those cards for divination. Modern forms of tarot were first seen in the 18th century, though there is evidence of practices of divination that used cards going back to the 15th century. The traditional tarot deck has 78 cards. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards numbered from 0-21. The Minor Arcana is made up of the other 56 cards. These are divided into four suits. Like many aspects of Witchcraft, the tarot has its basis in Western occultism. Tarot is useful to Witches because of the magickal and elemental symbolism. To give a reading a card or a number of cards are drawn and laid out in a pattern known as a spread. The cardʼs position in the spread determine how it will be interpreted.

There are a number of ways in which a Witch may incorporate tarot into their practice. Divina-tion is one of the skills that is considered essential to the practice of Witchcraft. By looking into the future and the past, and even by examining the secrets of our present, we come to a fuller understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

The tarot can help us uncover mysteries great and small, assist us in making ethically based decisions and show us what outcomes may arise if we take a certain path. This can be of great benefit in terms of deciding to cast a spell, because we can examine what will happen as a result of the spell. More than one witch has done a tarot reading prior to casting a spell and had the cards reveal strong reasons why they should not. Additionally, tarot can be used as a form of counseling or as a tool for self-help. The tarot cards tap into subcon-scious desires and feelings and give you a means of rec-ognizing them. Among Magickal Practitioners, there are differing view-points on giving readings to others. Some see it as a per-fectly logical extension of their craft. Others feel that divi-nation is a self-empowering tool, and that reading for someone else is an act of dominance and control. As with so many magickal concepts, there is no one right way here. Do what feels best and most right for you, whether that is reading only for yourself or reading for others as well. In addition to itʼs uses in divination, the tarot deck can also be effectively combined with spells, which we will discuss

a bit later.

The Major Arcana The 22 cards of the Major Arcana are the most important in a tarot deck. Unlike the Minor Arcana, which is based on numbers and suits, the Major Arcana cards usually show a person or powerful image in a scene. They contain numerous symbolic elements and there is often far more to the card than simply the title. The cards of the Major Arcana are seen as relating to greater issues in life; deeply significant

concerns that impact life as a whole. In each card of the tarot deck, there are differing meanings according to whether or not the card is presented upright or reversed (also referred to as “ill-dignified.” In general, the reversed card meaning is the opposite of its upright meaning. There are different schools of thought in terms of how much importance is placed on reversed cards and taking the reversed meaning.

0-The Fool The Fool is generally depicted wearing multicolored clothes. This vaga-bond is often shown with a stick that may carry his belongings and is sometimes shown to be somewhat ragged or wild. The Rider-Waite de-piction of the fool shows him carrying a rose and being bitten by an ani-mal. The Fool is a symbol of impulsivity. This is a card of the beginning of journeys and of the life cycle-full of happy energy and optimism. There is also a childlike curiosity in The Fool, as the spirit seeks out new expe-riences and touches at the ebb and flow of the divine. In itʼs ill card can indicate a hasty departure or voluntarily abandoning a person or task. It is a card of broken promises, bad judgment, and wandering.

1-The Magician The Magician is generally shown as a man standing near a table or alter with a number of ceremonial magick tools. In many deck he has all four symbols of the Minor Arcana on his table. The Rider-Waite deck shows a young man with a stick in one hand and a penny in the other. The Magician is a symbol of beginnings. The card can indicate your work, a creative project or a goal. It is a card of determination and will-ingness. The Magician is a card that indicates potential in the querent—their talents and what they are capable of. In its reversed position, The Magician can represent a manipulator or someone with the potential to manipulate the querent is in play.

2-The High Priestess The High Priestess is shown as a robed women holding a book, between a black and a white pillar. She is a religious figure of great esteem and rank—meditative, knowledgeable and just. In the Rider-Waite deck, there is a lunar crescent at her feet and she wears a horned headdress. The High Priestess is a card of knowledge and discovery. It is a card of the truth and wisdom. There is a mystery that is not yet revealed in The High Priestess card and the feeling that hidden influences are impacting life on more than one level. There is a distinctly feminine aspect to this

card. In itʼs reversed position it may indicate a lack of internal harmony and a suppression of the feminine side. 3-The Empress The Empress is usually depicted as a young woman, crowned and seated on a throne. In the Rider-Waite deck, The Empress wears a crown of twelve stars and she holds a scepter. Her throne is placed in a field of grain, signifying dominance over growth and nature The Empress is a card that deals with well-being and security. She is patient and soothing. The Empress is open and fertile. This a card of anticipation, purity, communication, love and motherhood. If the card is ill dignified, it may indicate domestic problems, creative blocks or financial difficulties.

4-The Emperor The Emperor card usually depicts a mature man, crowned, seated on a throne and carrying a scepter. The Emperor is a card of control. This king of all he sees wishes to rule over his surroundings, and the card may indicate an attempt to control the uncontrollable. This card is associated with authority, a forceful nature, ambition and self-control. The Emperor has the ability to shoulder the responsibility he is given. If the card is ill-dignified, it may indicate a dislike of authority and an immature state of mind.

5-The Hierophant The Hierophant, called The Pope in some decks, is represented by a priest with two people in front of him waiting to receive his blessing or benediction. He is sitting on a throne between two pillars. Some interpret these pillars as representing law and liberty and some interpret them as representing obedience and disobedience. In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, The Hierophant is pictured with a triple crown and the keys to heaven rest at his feet. The Hierophant is a card of religion. It represents things connected to faith, such as sacrament, marriage and ritual. It is a card that offers religious guidance and di-vine authority. The Hierophant is a seeker of knowledge and a giver of sound advice. If The Hierophant is reversed, it can indicate bad advice and the distortion of truth.

6-The Lovers The Lovers card usually depicts two or sometimes three people with a Cupid-like figure above them. In the Rider-Waite deck, The Lovers are shown in the moment of decision, at high noon. The tree behind the women bears fruit and the tree behind the man bears flame. The Lovers is a card of harmony and union. It is about duality and mak-ing choices based on intuition rather than reasoning. The Lovers repre-sent abstract thought, internal harmony and divining abilities. It can indi-cate a struggle to choose between two paths. If The Lovers are ill digni-fied, they represent contradictions and deceptions. They can indicate infidelity and romantic problems. It may suggest that this is not the time to make an important decision.

7-The Chariot The Chariot card usually shows a prince-like man in a chariot. In the Rider-Waite deck, the man is armored, but in other versions he may wear a crown or have wings. Two sphinxes usually draw the chariot, though there are other animals used in some decks. The Chariot is a card of triumph over adversity. It indicates that lifeʼs obstacles can and will be overcome. The Chariot moves quickly and decisively towards the achievement of goals and the flush of victory. It symbolized hard work, self-control and the capacity to adapt to lifeʼs changing circumstances. If The Chariot is ill dignified it can indicate dis-regard for others and envy. It may warn against uncontrolled ambition and an unbalanced mind.

8-Strength The Strength card, sometimes called Fortitude, often shows a person, male or female, calming a lion. Strength is a card of courage. It is also a card that counsels discipline and control and warns against temptations. Strength is a card that deals primarily with internal battles. It symbolizes determination, gen-erosity and controlled power. If Strength is reversed, it may refer to a misuse of power. It can indicate a pessimistic outlook and moral com-promises.

9-The Hermit The Hermit shows an old man wearing a long robe. In the Rider-Waite deck, he carries a staff and a lantern to light his way. The Hermit is a card that deals with the eternal. It is a card that warns us to be cautious and plan ahead. It also tells us to reflect upon the past when we act in the present. The card may indicate that the querent needs to look inward, or it may indicate that the querent needs to share the knowledge they have gained. If The Hermit is ill dignified, it may mean that bad habits or lifestyle choices are being allowed to florish. It can also indicate an inability to ask for help.

10-Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune card usually shows a wheel with six or eight spokes. Various creatures, such as sphinxes, winged people and serpents, sur-round the wheel. The Wheel of Fortune is a card of good fortune. It indicates success, coin-cidences and luck. It can be a card of upheaval, but it is a positive kind of upheaval. In its ill-dignified position, it indicates bad luck, difficulties and delays.

11-Justice In many tarot decks, the figure represented in the Justice card is Athena. In the Rider-Waite deck, she is shown with scales, to determine justice, and a sword, to enforce the judgment. Justice is a card of judgment. It is not in favor or opposed to anything, rather it is only on the side of justice. This card is one that relates to the law and trials and also to contracts of all types. It also deals with authority and the established rule of law. If ill digni-fied, it can mean injustice and unfair judgments.

12-The Hanged Man The Hanged Man card is also sometimes known as The Traitor. The card is usually depicted as a man who is hanging by one foot, suspended on a wooden beam or a cross. The Hanged Man dangles in mid-air, yet he is calm. He is willingly making a sacrifice in order to gain wisdom.

The Hanged Man is a card of devotion and sacrifice. It indicates flexibility and adaptability as well as re-birth. If The Hanged Man is reversed it hints at a lack of commitment and a failure in completing oneʼs goals. 13-Death The Death card usually shows a skeleton riding on a horse. In the back-ground are people of many different classes. In the Rider-Waite deck, Death is shown as trampling a king, indicating the mortality of all human life. In spite of its fearsome reputation, Death is a card that indicates new begin-nings. It suggests that one phase of life is over and another phase is begin-ning. While there is loss in the Death card, there is also regeneration and transformation. If Death is ill dignified, it refers to painful and negative change. It may also indicate a refusal to change that is having negative consequences.

14-Temperance The Temperance card shows an angelic figure with red wings. In its hands are two vessels, with liquid pouring from one into the other. Some believe that these vessels contain eternal life. Temperance is a card of moderation. It is a card that suggests negotia-tions will be fruitful. Temperance has a stabilizing effect, and offers ma-turity and a balanced temper to work through difficulties. If Temperance is ill dignified, it indicates imbalance and volatility.

15-The Devil The Devil card usually depicts a demonic being in a seat of power. In the Rider-Waite deck, The Devil is shown above a male and female demon who are chained to its seat. The Devil is a card that represents humankindʼs weaknesses. This card is often referring to money matters, lust, drug addiction, lies and material possessions. If The Devil is reversed, it can refer to true evil and the abuse of authority.

16-The Tower The Tower card shows a building that has been struck by lightning and is burning. The tower is falling and figures are falling from it. The Tower is a card of ill-omen. It indicates disruption, conflict and violent loss. This card suggests that “you reap what you sew” and the time has

come for reaping. It can have a positive interpretation as being a moment of revelation. If The Tower is reversed, it indicates less sever forms of the upright meaning.

17-The Star The Star card generally depicts a women kneeling by a body of water. Behind her, a star shines brightly. She holds two vases and pours water into the pond and onto the ground. The Star is a card of hope. This card can suggest that old wounds will be healed. It deals with love both spiritual and romantic. It is the fulfillment of a promise and inspiration realized. If The Star is ill dignified it may suggest self-doubt and an inability to adapt.

18-The Moon The Moon card shows the symbol of the moon between two large pillars. In the Rider-Waite deck, the moon has a displeased appearance. On the ground are a dog, a wolf and a crayfish. The Moon is a card of imagination. It speaks of dreams and psychic abil-ity. It signifies creative endeavors of all types as well as the unconscious mind. If The Moon is ill dignified, it suggests illusions and deceptions with nothing beneath. It can mean that help is needed, but the querent is un-willing to ask for it.

19-The Sun The Sun card depicts the sun in glory and a person or people. In the Rider-Waite deck, “the child of life” is shown riding a white horse and hold-ing a red flag underneath the glory of the sun. The Sun is a card of happiness. It indicates success, whether material or spiritual. It is a card of good health, energy and children. The Sun sym-bolizes the bright glow of achievement and the joy that follows. If ill dignified, The Sun hints at troubled rela-tionships, failures, poor health and poor mental condi-tion.

20-Judgment The Judgment shows an angelic figure blowing a large trumpet and deliver-ing humanityʼs “Last Judgment.” Judgment is a card of decisions, often those of other people. It can mean

changes and improvements as well as the joy of accomplishment. If the card is ill-dignified, it suggests stagnation and the feeling of guilt. 21-The World The World card, sometimes called The Universe, shows a figure, usually female, suspended or dancing above the world with a staff in each hand. She is watched by various figures who are often interpreted in terms of the zodiac. The World is a card of fulfillment. It represents an end to the cycle be-gun with The Fool. It can mean that a personal cycle in the querentʼs life has been completed and a new cycle will naturally begin. It is a peaceful card, and a moment of pausing before transition. If it is ill dignified it may mean that something will not be completed or that a satisfactory conclu-sion will not be reached.

The Minor Arcana The Minor Arcana are the 56 cards of the traditional tarot deck that are divided into four suits, much like modern playing cards. Each suit begins with an Ace, which is the numeric equivalent of the number one. It then goes forward with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and then the Page, the Knight, the Queen and the King. The last four are the court cards, and may have different titles depending on the deck. Each card of the different suits carries its own unique meanings and interpretations, however, there are certain elements that are consistent throughout the cards of a particular suit. These are very familiar to Witches, as they deal with elements that are essential to Witchcraft. The Suit of Wands The suit of Wands has a correspondence to South. It is related to the element of Fire and the season of summer. The Wands have a powerful masculine energy and a sense of humor Wand cards often deal with business matters and careers. They frequently deal with the beginning stages of an en-terprise.

The suit of Wands originally represented the peasant class of society. Today it may be seen as representing those who are impoverished and controlled. Wand cards burn with passion and dynamic force. They contain energy that is always moving forward, which may be either negative or positive. Just as enthusiasm, creativity and vitality are a part of Wands, so too are violence, pride and rest-lessness. The Suit of Cups The suit of Cups corresponds to the West. It is tied to the element of Water and the season of autumn. The Cups have a feminine energy and are related to lunar and tidal cycles. Cups are strongly related to feelings. Cup cards reflect emotions, much like water. These are cards that deal with psychic abilities and artistry. They hint at fantasies and illusions as well as grace and se-renity. The suit of Cups swims in emotion and feeling. These are waters that are filled with mystery, and can be either negative or positive. Going along with the deep spiritual-ity, love and compassion are self-pity, sadness and envy.

The Suit of Swords The suit of swords corresponds to the East. It is related to the element of Air and the spring season. It contains a masculine energy. Swords are often much related to the truth. Sword cards deal with intelligence and rationality. They address the mental aspects of living and how people communicate with one another, with themselves and with the universe. Sword cards are frequently about the search for truth, and as often as not, this truth-seeking has negative re-sults. When positive, Sword cards indicate strength, courage and desire. When negative, they indicate con-flict, pain and anger.

The Suit of Coins The suit of Coins corresponds to the North. It has a con-nection to the element of Earth and the winter season. The Coins have a feminine energy. They are often re-lated to the material aspects of life. Coins deal with finances and possessions. Our accom-plishments in business and trade are often referred to in Coin cards. Coin cards can also refer to our physical bodies and our connection to earth and nature. The Coin suit may be either positive or negative. In posi-tive ways, Coin cards tell us not to worry about life and simply take joy in our creations and the work we do. They are cards that point out the strength inside of us and show us the rewards we have earned. In negative ways, Coin cards deal with material loss and low self-esteem. They may show an unfavorable level of materi-alism or the compromising of values.

Using Tarot in Spells

Tarot is generally viewed as a tool for for-tune telling. For Witches, it is also seen as a tool for meditation and self-help. How-ever, you may also use the tarot in your magickal practice. Because tarot cards connect to deep, sub-conscious symbols, they are perfect for focusing the energy of a spell. There are a few ways of using tarot cards in a spell. The first is to use the tarot cards to form a statement that represents what you would like to achieve in the spell. To work this type of spell, you will arrange specific cards in a meaningful way. How they are arranged will depend on whether you are the subject the spell is focusing

on, whether the spell is focusing on you and another person or whether it is focusing on an-other person entirely. You will select a card (or in the case of more than one subject, several cards) that represents the subject. Tarot Spell to Spark Creativity This spell is an example of using the cards of the tarot deck to represent the desired outcome of a spell. For this spell, you will first lay out the subject card. Picture the subject, whether it is you or someone else. Focus your energy on the card and see it as a complete embodiment of the subject. Then, lay down The Moon card on the left side of the subject card. Let the creative energy of The Moon flow into you, cool and refreshing. Allow the imaginative forces of dreams open doors in the light of The Moon. Next, lay down The Star card, just above the subject card. Stretch your hands up to the sky as you envision The Star above you. From The Star, you feel the light of inspiration touching you. The Star brings with it joy and a peaceful mind that is ready to move in a positive, crea-tive direction. Finally, lay down The Magician, to the right of the subject card. Feel the power filling you as it enters your fingertips and spreads to every part of your being. This is the concentrated power that will spark your creative energy into life. Tarot Spell for Success at Work A slight variation on the above type of spell involves a more traditional spell ritual, but uses one or more tarot cards to represent a specific aspect or element to the spell. To perform this spell, you should have a tarot deck as well as a yellow candle, an inscribing instrument (like a pin) and oil of bergamot. Take the Ace of Coins card from the tarot deck and meditate on it. The Ace of Coins is a card that symbolized opportunities heading your way. It can suggest a promotion at work or a pay raise.

When you have the card very firmly in mind, take the candle and inscribe your desires and wishes for your work success onto the card. Then put the bergamot oil on the candle, charging it with your energy as you do so. Next you will light the candle. Keep the card near the candle (obviously not too close to the flame) and repeat the following: By the Ace of Coins, I call for the light of success. Send me the opportunities and pathways that will let me be my best. From the Earth and the North, I call the energy of success to me! Let the candle burn and continue to meditate on it, envisioning yourself being successful at work. Burn the candle and meditate on the card for at least five minutes for one full week.

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