This page is a big project that is currently under construction.
It is my aim to provide a page, which both the experienced practitioner and initiate will want to use...... so please be patient and return again soon!!!
Using the Tarot Magically
The Tarot with its intricate pictures, can be used very effectively in magic. Although it is a vast subject that demands much study to use in its own right, with simplistic guidance Tarot can enhance your magical work and help you to visualise your goal.
The first chart is a simple guide to magical work that offers advice about the right Tarot cards to choose for your purpose. This is a quick 'ready-reckoner' and is designed for ease of use.
The following chart, however, broadens the explanation of each card chosen in my spell-search chart and will help you to understand the logic behind the choices I have made.
A little about Tarot...
Tarot decks have 22 Major Arcana (or greater secrets) cards, which have been used magically for years, after all divination itself is magical... Each card holds mystery and secrets within its pictures, the symbols and colours holding a key. After all Tarot has been around since the times when most people could not read or write so the picture was considered very important.
You can use any Tarot deck for this purpose, but choose one that has detailed pictures and good symbolism. The Rider Waite, Thoth, Morgan-Greer & Hanson-Roberts are excellent for magical work, as are some of the more modern decks like The Druid Craft Tarot. Just look around, the right deck will leap out at you when the time is right! Once you have bought your "magical" cards it is best to keep them purely for this type of work and not to allow other people to touch them.
Consecrating your chosen cards...
I feel it is always a good idea to buy new and unused cards, personally I would never buy second-hand ones as you would not know the vibrations that have been placed into them. However, new cards also can pick up negativity so even after choosing a deck where the pack is sealed it is best to bless these and dedicate them to your specific purpose.
To do this open the pack and spread them upon a clean surface face up.
Then take a little essential oil of lavender or frankincense and rub this into your palms so that there is no 'grease' left on your hands. While doing this say something along the lines of:-
"May the power of
the Universal Good bless this essential oil
Bringing me purity of intent, thought, word and deed"
Now, with the hand you write with (projective) pick up the cards one by one (yes I know there are 78 but doing things properly ensures good results!) and pass them to your other (receptive) hand making sure that the scent of the oil transfers itself to the cards without making them sticky. While you are doing this repeat the following as many times as needed to complete the whole set, or something that you yourself have written:-
"May the power of
the Universal Good bless each and every card
And grant me wisdom and integrity and from harm safeguard
Empower these cards with love and pure spiritual might
And guide me as I use them within a circle of power and light
May I always honour the Rede in every magical act
As I pledge this oath and swear this pact"
A basic guide to using the elements with the Tarot...
The Minor Arcana consist of 56 cards, which are divided into 4 suits of 14 each and are attribution to one of the ancient elemental symbols of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. There is mystery surrounding the elements of Fire and Air and after much study I have accepted that (for me) the Sword is a tool of Fire, while the Wand is one of Air. The majority, I know, consider this to be the other way around, but here are my reasons.......... I'll leave you to make sense of your own!
Someone wielding a Sword means business - to me that symbolises Fire, which is the more destructive of the two elements in question and is the one associated within the four powers of the Magus "TO WILL", which again is attributed to the element of Fire.
Someone wielding a wand however may be just thinking about taking control - to me that symbolises Air, a more thoughtful and intellectual tool and ones that makes the connection in the four powers of the Magus "TO KNOW".
Also my research into this subject led me to read the books of the Golden Dawn and there I found evidence to back up my own intuition... ... ...
Arthur Edward Waite published one of the first known Tarot decks, the "Rider-Waite" in 1910 and created influences that are still seen in a vast number of decks today. He was a Kabbalist and a member of the Golden Dawn Magical Lodge and so interwove connections from the Kabbalah with the Tarot. So what you say? What has this to do with the elements?
Waite's membership to the Golden Dawn included an oath of secrecy, which gave him a problem when writing about the mysteries and secrets of the Tarot. In order to uphold his oath he decided to switch two of the elemental correspondences, the elements of Fire and Air. The association between Cups and Water is so obvious that this would have been difficult to change, likewise the link between the Pentacles and money, which is definitely an Earth energy, but Swords and Wands are relatively abstract, especially in more modern times when most of us don't use these items in our daily (and practical - Earthy - lives). The Golden Dawn clearly associates Air with Wands and Fire with Swords so Waite reversed these two and drew lots of Fiery Wands and Airy Swords in his pictorial and beautiful Tarot deck!
I use...
Swords - Fire
Pentacles - Earth
Wands - Air
Cups - Water
So it is entirely up to you to choose, but what a choice to make!!! It took me MONTHS of mediation and deliberation to come to my own reasoning........... and STILL in reading Tarot, sometimes the Wands will be Fiery and the Swords Airy and at others the reverse is true!!! So it is that the rich tapestry of the secrets of the cards continue to weave their web for me... ... ...
Laying out your altar...
If you use a pentacle (the symbol below):-
then set it in the middle of your altar and lay representations of the elements around to your satisfaction.
There are many thoughts on how this should be done, here are two of them:-
It is important for you to make this meaningful to you and to meditate upon the 'right' way. I choose the first option, mainly because my altar faces North (Spirit at the top) and because I know Water to represent the West and Air the East.
Here is a chart that you can refer to for your magical work...
In the following chart I use both the major and minor arcana and give you a simplistic way of using them. Meditate and read, letting your intuition guide you to create your own meaningful rituals that bring about the positive changes you want in your life.
To have greater success in your magical work take time to focus on what it is you really want to achieve and visualise it clearly. To explain this in a little more detail let me tell you about the Tarot card of the Moon...
The Moon is one of the most magical cards in the whole deck, but it is also one of the most mysterious holding deep secrets to our dreams and subconscious mind. It can cast illusion and therefore create elusive situations, which is why you must be clear about your goal.
In the chart below I have chosen several cards for each purpose, you may feel only drawn to one or two....... as with all magic, the choices are entirely yours to make and explore!!!
NB: The nine of Cups is known as the 'wish card' so use it freely in your magical work!
Another idea for you to think over...!
Consider laying (or crossing) the card(s) of your choice with an amulet/rune/symbol or oracle card during your magical work. An amulet can be anything really, either something that you carry or wear or exchange following the spell... ie: a crystal or a piece of jewellery. For example cross relationship cards with a ring!
And just before you begin...
A guide to using the court cards in representing yourself or others in magical work...
Court cards from the Morgan Greer Tarot Deck
You can represent yourself with the appropriate court card a Page, Knight, Queen or King eg:-
Fire Signs of
Aries, Leo & Sagittarius - Swords
(or wands as the dedication of this
varies according to tradition)
Earth Signs of Taurus, Virgo & Capricorn - Pentacles
Air Signs of
Gemini, Libra & Aquarius - Wands
(or Swords as the dedication of this varies
according to tradition)
Water Signs of Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces - Cups
My "ready reckoner" below deals mainly with the 22 Major Arcana - as a general guide to using the Minor Arcana consider laying the following cards alongside those listed below:-
Aces for positive energy
2's for choices
8's for good luck & hope
10's to represent a conclusion
| Your purpose...
|
The cards I would choose to represent this... |
Any Other information Moon Phase/Astrological Position |
The position on the altar... & Colours |
| Abundance |
The Empress Wheel of Fortune The Star The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles 9 of Cups
|
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full | |
|
Acceptance (of circumstances) |
The Lovers (flexibility) Wheel of Fortune
Death |
||
| Achievement |
The Chariot (self-control) The Hermit The Star The Sun The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
| Action | The Emperor | ||
|
Adjustment (to difficult or traumatic situations) |
The Fool The Magician Strength The Hermit Wheel of Fortune Justice Death
Temperance The Sun The Star |
Moon Phase - any Moon in Astrological Sign of Gemini or Libra |
yellow pink white |
|
Addictions (to end) |
Death The Star |
Moon Phase > Waning | |
| Authority | The Emperor | ||
| Bad Luck to Reverse |
The Wheel of Fortune Death The Star The Sun |
Moon Phase > Waning | black |
| Balance & Harmony |
The Empress The Emperor The Hierophant Justice Temperance The Star The Sun
Judgment |
Moon Phase
> New or
Waxing
Moon in Astrological Sign of Libra |
pink |
| Bindings | Death | Moon Phase > Waning | black |
| Blessings |
The Fool The Star
The Sun |
Moon Phase > Full
|
white |
| Business Success
|
The Empress The Emperor The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles Nine of Pentacles Two of Wands Seven of Cups |
Moon Phase
> New
- Full Moon in Astrological Sign of Aries, Taurus & Capricorn
|
gold Red green brown black |
| Beauty |
The Empress
The Sun |
Moon Phase > Full | |
|
Change (to create positive) |
The Fool (new path) The Magician Wheel of Fortune The Hanged Man Death The Tower The Star Judgment The Moon The Sun The World Ace of Wands Eight of Cups |
Moon Phase
> New
& Full Moon in Astrological Sign of Gemini (change & adaptability) or Scorpio (transformation)
|
yellow (change) white (new path) red (8 cups) brown black (removing negative energy)
|
| Choice |
The Fool (the future) The Lovers The Chariot |
||
| Communication | The Magician |
Moon Phase > Full
|
yellow |
|
Conclusion (to bring about a successful end of a tiresome situation) |
Strength The Hermit Death The Sun Judgment The World |
||
| Confidence |
The Magician Strength
The Star |
||
| Control |
The Magician The
Chariot (of self & finer/baser instincts - direction in life.) |
||
| Courage |
Strength The Star Judgment Ace of Swords |
Moon Phase
> Waxing - Full Moon in Astrological Sign of Aries, Leo & Aquarius
|
orange blue gold white |
| Creativity
|
The High Priestess The Empress The Hermit The Star The Moon The Sun The World Eight of Pentacles Seven of Cups |
Moon Phase
> New
-
Full Moon in Astrological Sign of Taurus, Libra & Pisces |
white green pink blue |
| Decision Making/Clarity |
The Magician The High Priestess Strength Temperance The Tower The Star The Sun Judgment |
Moon Phase
> Full Moon in Astrological Sign of Leo & Aquarius |
orange white blue |
| Deep Thinking |
The Magician The High Priestess The Hanged Man Temperance The Star |
||
| Deserved Rewards |
The Sun The World |
||
| Diplomacy |
The Empress Temperance |
||
| Discovery | The High Priestess | ||
| Disputes - to settle
|
The Empress Strength Justice Temperance The Sun Ace of Cups Three of Cups |
Moon Phase
> Waning Moon in Astrological Sign of Libra |
pink pale green white |
| Divination |
The High Priestess The
Hermit The Moon |
||
| Divine Energy |
The Magician
The Hermit
Temperance |
||
| Dreams |
The Hanged Man (prophetic) The Star The Moon
Seven of Cups |
Moon Phase
> Full &
(for the adept practitioner) The Dark of the Moon
|
|
| Energy |
Strength The Sun
Judgment |
||
| Evaluation | The Hermit | ||
| Faith |
The Hanged Man Death The Tower The Star
Temperance |
||
|
Fate, Chance & Destiny |
Wheel of Fortune | ||
|
Fear (to overcome) |
Strength Judgment |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
|
Female Power (intuition) |
The High Priestess The Empress Strength The Moon |
||
| Fertility |
The Empress (female) The Emperor (male) The Moon Ace of Cups Two of Cups
Three of Cups |
Moon Phase > New - Full | |
|
Financial
|
The Empress The Emperor The Sun Ace of Pentacles Three of Pentacles Nine of Pentacles |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full | |
|
Focus & Concentration |
The Magician The Emperor The Chariot |
||
| Forgiveness | The Star |
Moon Phase > New
|
|
| Friendship
|
The Empress The Lovers The Sun Ace of Cups Three of Cups |
Moon Phase > New - Full | |
| Fulfilment |
Judgment The World |
||
| Future | The Fool | ||
|
Garden (planting) |
Moon Phase > New - Waxing
|
||
|
Goals (to achieve) |
The Chariot Strength The Hermit
The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
| Good Fortune/Luck |
The Empress Wheel of Fortune The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles Nine of Pentacles Seven of Cups Nine of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Growth (of any kind) |
The Tower The Star The Sun The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
| Guardian Angel (working with) |
The Magician (male guide) Temperance |
||
| Guidance |
The Fool (spiritual) The Hermit The Star Judgment The World |
||
| Happiness
|
The Empress The Sun The World Ace of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
| Harmony & Balance |
The Empress The Hierophant Justice Temperance The Star Judgment Three of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waxing |
|
|
Health
|
The High Priestess Strength The Hermit Temperance The Star The Sun Judgment The World Ace of Cups
Nine of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Health
|
The High Priestess Strength The Hermit Death (lay this over a representation of the sickness) The Star The Sun The World |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
|
Hexes
|
Death The Sun
|
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
|
Higher
|
The High Priestess The Chariot
Death |
||
| Hope
|
The Fool The Tower
The Star |
||
| House Blessings
|
The Hierophant The Sun
Ace of Cups |
Moon Phase > New & Full
|
|
| House Buying
|
The Hierophant Justice The Sun
|
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
|
House Sale
|
The Hierophant Justice The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles Nine of Pentacles |
Moon Phase > Waning | |
|
Humility
|
The Hermit | ||
|
Independence
|
The Lovers
The Tower |
||
|
Initiation
|
The Tower The Sun Judgment |
||
|
Initiating Endings
|
Strength Death Judgment The World
|
||
|
Inner Harmony
|
The High Priestess
The Lovers |
||
|
Insight,
|
The Magician The High Priestess Strength (feminine) The Hermit The Hanged Man Temperance The Tower The Star The Moon
The World |
Moon Phase > Full | |
| Inspiration |
The Hierophant (spiritual) The Tower The Star The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Intellect
|
The Magician | ||
|
Invention
|
The Fool | ||
|
Isolation (to ease)
|
Judgment
The World (cosmic connection) |
||
| Justice | Justice |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Karma (cause & effect) |
Wheel of Fortune The Tower
Judgment |
||
| Knowledge
|
The Magician The High Priestess The Emperor (experience) Temperance The Tower The Star The Moon The Knight of Swords Eight of Pentacles |
||
|
Knowing the Unknown |
The Star The Moon |
||
| Leadership | The Emperor | ||
| Legal Matters |
The Emperor Justice |
||
| Liberty (to achieve) |
Judgment The World |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
| Love (to attract)
|
The Lovers The Sun Ace of Cups Two of Cups |
Moon Phase > New, Waxing & Full |
|
| Love (to reverse)
|
The Lovers The Chariot Death |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
| Meditation |
The Magician The High Priestess The Chariot |
||
|
Money (to increase wealth) |
The Empress Wheel of Fortune The Sun
|
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
|
Motherhood (nurturing) |
The High Priestess The
Empress |
||
| Mystery | The High Priestess | ||
|
Negative Influences - (clearing/overcoming obstacles)
|
The Magician Strength Death The Tower The Sun Judgment The World Eight of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waning |
|
| New Job
|
The Fool The Empress The Emperor Ace of Wands Eight of Pentacles |
||
| New Opportunities
|
The Fool The Emperor The Hanged Man Death The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles |
||
|
Nightmares (to banish) |
The Moon (crossed with the Death card) |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
| Nurturing |
The High Priestess The Empress |
||
| Obtaining Skills |
The Magician The High Priestess The Sun The World Eight of Pentacles
|
||
|
Omens/Visions (to seek) |
The Moon |
Moon Phase > Full
|
|
| "Open-Mindedness" | The Hermit | ||
| Optimism |
The Fool Strength The Star The Sun The World |
||
| Originality | The Fool | ||
|
Overcoming Obstacles |
The Fool The Magician Strength The Hermit The Sun The Star Judgment The World Eight of Cups |
Moon Phase > Waning |
|
| Passing Driving Test
|
The Emperor The Sun The World |
||
| Passing Exams
|
The Emperor The Sun The World |
||
| Patience |
The Hierophant (persistence)
Temperance |
||
|
Peace (to build) |
The Hanged Man (inner peace) Temperance |
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
|
Peace (to cease arguments/hostility) |
Temperance |
Moon Phase > Waning
|
|
| Planning | The Magician | ||
| Potential | Strength | ||
| Power (to obtain) |
The Magician (Divine) The Empress The Emperor Strength
The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
| Practicality |
The Hierophant The
Hermit |
||
| Promotion |
The Empress Wheel of Fortune The Sun The World Ace of Pentacles |
||
|
Protection
|
The High Priestess The Empress The Chariot
The Sun |
Moon Phase > Waxing |
|
|
Protection (against gossip/personal sabotage) |
The High Priestess Strength The
Sun |
||
| Psychic Development |
The Magician The High Priestess The Chariot (higher consciousness) The Hanged Man Death Temperance The Moon Judgment (collective
unconscious) |
Moon Phase > Waxing |
|
|
Psychic Powers (to strengthen) |
The Magician The High Priestess The Empress The Chariot The Moon Judgment
(collective unconscious) |
Moon Phase > Full
|
|
| Psychic Protection |
The Fool (spiritual) The Chariot |
||
| Purification | Temperance | ||
|
Quarrels (to heal) |
Ace of Cups Three of Cups |
||
| Resolve |
The Magician The Emperor The Lovers |
||
| Release |
Death The Tower Judgment |
||
| Religious Beliefs |
The Magician The Hierophant |
||
| Secrets - to uncover (Truth)
|
The High Priestess Justice (own truth) The Hanged Man Death The Tower The Star The Moon The Sun
|
||
| Security |
The Empress
(financial/material) The Hierophant |
||
| Self Empowerment
|
The High Priestess The Emperor Strength The Star The Sun The World Eight of Pentacles
Eight of Cups |
Use a dynamic colour such as red for your altar cloth Dedicate and use a red candle, which you can inscribe if you wish Moon Phase - Any
|
|
| Self Improvement |
The Chariot The Hanged Man The Star The World
|
||
| Shapeshifting | The Moon |
Moon Phase > Full
|
|
| Solving Mysteries |
The High Priestess Death The Tower The Star The Moon The Sun |
||
| Soul-Searching |
The High Priestess The Chariot The Hermit |
||
| Spiritual Development
|
The Magician The High Priestess The Hierophant The Chariot Strength The Hermit The Hanged Man Temperance The Tower The Star |
||
| Stability |
The Hierophant The Hermit
Ten of Pentacles |
Moon Phase > Waxing |
|
|
Strength (to increase) |
Strength The Sun
|
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
|
Stress
|
Temperance Ace of Cups
Eight of Cups |
||
| Success & Victory
|
The Empress The Emperor The Chariot Strength Wheel of Fortune The Sun The World Nine of Pentacles Six of Wands Nine of Cups |
|
|
| Teaching |
The Hermit (Spiritual) The Sun Judgment |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Transformation (regeneration & renewal) |
Death The Tower The Star The Sun Judgment |
Moon Phase > Full
|
|
| Travel |
The Chariot (short distance) The World Eight of
Wands |
Moon Phase > Waxing
|
|
| Understanding |
The Hermit (Spiritual) The Hanged Man (Spiritual) Temperance The Tower The Star |
||
| Unions (business/marriage) |
The Fool The Magician (with Divinity) The Lovers
Judgment |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
|
Victory & Triumph
|
The Chariot Strength The Sun The World |
||
|
Wisdom (to increase) |
The Magician (occult) The High Priestess The Lovers The Hermit The Hanged Man (2nd sight) Temperance The Tower The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing - Full
|
|
| Wish Magic |
Wheel of Fortune The Sun The World |
Moon Phase > Waxing & Full
|
Making magical sense of each card...
As both the card's divinatory and astrological meanings hold a key that will help you unlock the secrets of using the Tarot magically I have made a guide to try to help you build a relationship with each of the Major Arcana by defining it a little for the use in positive magic.
It is quite acceptable, and indeed desirable, that you meditate upon your own chosen pack of cards and use them intuitively, changing these ideas as you progress and grow, which is also a healthy and entirely natural development.
NB: To see the planet signs you will need the font Star*Lite on your computer!
| The number, key & name of the Tarot Card
|
Its divinatory & application to magical work |
Astrological influences (with the relevant gifs for you to inscribe on candles, talismans etc.)
+ key words that describe the
characteristics of each planet or sign of the zodiac |
| No 0: "before the beginning" The Fool
|
The future - a new path ahead, hope Choice Flexibility Waiting Spiritual guidance & blessings Trust in spiritual protection Help in overcoming obstacles Unity with nature & all things Vision questing Originality & invention |
Uranus
k impulsive, shocking,
sudden, unpredictable Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury |
| No 1: "singularity or oneness of the human condition" The Magician
|
Power from heaven brought to earth Oneness with the elements Celebrating the 'Divine Spark' from God, which I interpret as the power of intellectual reason and study Skill, self-confidence, will, occult wisdom Planning with discretion Transformation of one's life & change To overcome an obstacle & master the self Readiness to act Seeking the answers of life, meditation Eternal life Working & connecting with a male guide Perfection & purity of motives Desire for knowledge, concentration |
Mercury
d
communicative |
| No 2: "the meeting of opposing forces" The High Priestess
|
Psychic ability, intuition, instinct, meditation Inner illumination & an ability to 'see' clearly Mystery, secrets & the unknown Discovery, revealing the future & wisdom The balance & union of positive & negative, light & dark, conscious & sub-conscious Imagination & creativity Feminine Power Cyclic Phases (such as the Moon, feminine mystery) |
Moon s
feeling |
| No 3: "creation" The Empress
|
The lif |