Medieval Scapini Tarot — Средневековое Таро Скапини

МБК значения: Medieval Scapini Tarot — Средневековое Таро Скапини

Скачать перевод МБК от Анны (Anetta): Средневековое таро Скапини (от Анны)

Оригинальные значения МБК (англ):
INTRODUCTION TO THE TAROT
The complete tarot deck of seventy-eight cards is divided into two sections, twenty-two Major Arcana and fifty-six Minor Arcana cards. The Major Arcana cards comprise twenty-one allegorical cards numbered from I to XXI, plus an unnumbered card known as The Fool. The titles of the Major Arcana cards of the Medieval Scapini Tarot are as follows.
0 The Fool

XI Force

I The Magician

XII The Hanged Man

II The Popess

XIII Death

III The Empress

Xllll Temperance

IIII The Emperor

XV The Devil

V The Pope

XVI The Falling Tower

VI The Lovers

XVII The Star

VII The Chariot

XVIII The Moon

VIII Justice

XVIIII The Sun

VIII The Hermit

XX Judgment

X Wheel of Fortune

XXI The World

Generally, the Major Arcana cards represent the physical and spiritual forces affecting humanity- illness, death, storms, strength, power, love and religion.
The Minor Arcana of the Medieval Scapini deck are divided into four suits: swords corresponding to spades, wands to clubs, cups to hearts and coins to diamonds. Each suit of the Minor Arcana has four court cards-king, queen, knightand page. The Minor Arcana generally represent occupations, social position and status.

THE 22 MAJOR ARCANA
0 THE POOL
The Fool, dressed in ragged clothes, stands dangerously near the edge of an abyss. On his head are four feathers: white for the suit of swords, red for wands, aqua for cups and gold for coins. He carries a rough stick over his left shoulder. On the end of the stick is a pig’s bladder symbolizing Saint Roch, a victim of the plague who wandered in the wilderness as an outcast. In the Fool’s right hand is a stick. A small lion leaps fiercely on his leg and a wilted flower with thorny petals is at his feet. A crocodile lurks in the abyss among pieces of a broken obelisk.

Divinatory meanings: 
A new adventure. Enthusiasm. Initiative. Unlimited possibilities. Pleasure. Passion. Frenzy. Obsession. Mania. Folly. Thoughtlessness. Lack of discipline. Immaturity. Irrationality. Frivolity. Inconsiderateness. Delirium. Spontaneity. Levity. Exhibitionism. Unrestrained excess. Carelessness in promises. Infatuation. Indiscretion. Tendency to start a project without carefully considering all the details. Reluctance to listen to advice from other people.

Reversed meanings: 
Faulty choice or bad decision. Indecision. Apathy. Hesitation. Failure to diligently proceed. Ignoring opportunities.

I THE MAGICIAN
A young man dressed in red stands at a three-legged table. His hat is luxurious and wide-brimmed, symbolizing the triumph of thought and intellect. On the table are symbols of three tarot suits: sword, cup and coins, and in his hand is a wand. The wilted flower that was at the feet of the Fool is now revived and the stony ground resembles the skin of the crocodile which the Magician has conquered through will.

Divinatory meanings: 
Originality. Creativity. Free will. Imagination. Self-reliance. Skill. Willpower. Self-confidence. Dexterity. Ingenuity. Flexibility. Craft. Guile. Masterfulness. Self-control. Trickery. Deception. Sleight of hand. Unity of thought and emotion. Determination to see a task through to completion. Ability to influence other people. 

Reversed meanings: Weakness of will. Ineptitude. Insecurity. Disquiet. Delay. Lack of imagination. The use of one’s skills for destructive ends. Willpower applied to evil ends.

II THE POPESS
The slender, young Popess gazes from her throne with serenity and wisdom. Her robes are dark blue, symbolizing feminine intuition, and a crescent moon crowns her tiara. In her right hand is the Book of Life, its cover inscribed with the kabbalistic Tree of Life, and in her left hand are a gold key and a silver key. At her breast is a Maltese cross joined with a child’s head, referring to the legend of Pope Joan, the female pope. Behind her shoulders is a veil supported by the sun and the moon, with rainbows streaming down on each side. The arch’s column to her left is supported by a black sphinx and symbolizes the feminine side of life, incorporating a mermaid who is offered an apple by a demonic serpent. The fiery column on her right is masculine, and in it are little flames, water drops, a salamander and a bat. The Popess’s foot rests on a grass-green cushion. The checkered floor gives way to life and nature.

Divinatory meanings: 
Wisdom. Sound judgment. Common sense. Learning. Serenity. Objectivity. Penetration. Education. Foresight. Intuition. Perception. Self-reliance. Hidden emotion. Purity. Virtue. Severity. Platonic relationships. Avoidance of emotional entanglements. Volubility. Teacher.

Reversed meanings: 
Ignorance. Shortsightedness. Lack of understanding. Selfishness. Acceptance of superficial knowledge. Improper judgment. Shallow-ness. Conceit.

III THE EMPRESS
The Empress sits majestically on a throne whose back forms a gothic arch with wings and a clear blue sky. On her head is a crown with nine stars forthe nine muses of music, poetry and science, and twelve stars for the twelve houses of the zodiac. Her gown is red for passion, tempered by cool blue which flows around her like fertile waters. She holds a shield emblazoned with the imperial eagle, and in her left hand is a scepter topped with an orb. The platform on which she is seated is supported by the Tarocchi of Mantegna cards showing the seven liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, music and poetry, along with philosophy, astrology and theology. At her feet is a crescent moon, and a lily at the side of her throne denotes purity.

Divinatory meanings: 
Feminine progress. Action. Natural energy. Development. Fertility. Accomplishment. Interest in details of daily life. Mother. Sister. Wife. Feminine influence. Evolution. Ability to motivate others. A leader. Decisions founded on all the facts at hand. Businesswoman. Level-headedness. Practicality. Decisiveness. Intuitiveness.

Reversed meanings: 
Vacillation. Inaction. Lack of interest. Lack of concentration. Delay in accomplishment or progress. Anxiety. Frittering away of resources. Loss of material possessions. Seduction. Infertility. Infidelity. Fickle love. Vanity.

IIII THE EMPEROR
Many details point to The Emperor’s rank as supreme ruler of the elements. The awesome and potentially destructive powers of the four elements are represented by pictures of apocalyptic landscapes, showing winds forair, volcanic land for earth, burning buildings for fire, and ships sinking for water. Bracing the platform are four creatures: a he-goat, a lion, a dog and the creation of Frankenstein. The platform and its symbols represent the elemental chaos which the Emperor rules and puts to order. The yellow cube on which the ruler sits is draped with a fiery red robe; the colors are of power and activity. The Emperor himself is dressed inarmor designed after that depicted on the sepulcher of Emperor Rudolf of Hapsburg (1218-1291), and he wears a large hat lined in ermine, topped at the crown with pyramids and decorated with the imperial eagle. On his breast are the sun and the moon. A golden braid, a token from the Empress, is draped at his neck. The tulip that appeared with the Fool and the Magician appears at the back of his throne. He holds a lily-headed scepter with a crescent moon at its handle. The facial features of the Emperor are those of Stuart R. Kaplan, president of U. S. Games Systems, whom the artist wished to honor as patron of the deck.

Divinatory meanings: 
Worldly power. Confidence. Wealth. Stability. Authority. Indomitable spirit. Leadership. Maturity. War-making tendencies. Paternity. Father. Brother. Husband. Male influence. Direct pressure. Domination of intelligence and reason over emotion and passion. Patriarchal figure. Desire to increase domination in every direction. Masculinity. Worthiness to exercise authority. A capable and knowledgeable person. Willingness to listen to counsel. 

Reversed meanings: 
Immaturity. Ineffectiveness. Lack of strength. Indecision. Inability to make progress. Weak character. Feebleness. Failure to control petty emotions.

V THE POPE
A jovial face augments the benevolence of the Pope. Yet his hair is white and his face lined with experience. He raises his right hand in blessing. In his left hand isa staff, with the symbols of the planets Mercury, the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiterand Saturn atthe top, and the thunderbolt of Jupiter at the bottom. The three rings of his tiara show, at the bottom, the natural world, in the middle, the crown of thorns of Christ’s passion, representing worldly life and free will, and at the top, the spiritual realm, represented by simple triangles and circles, with a cross surmounting the whole. The two pillars behind him are from the ciborium of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. At the foot of the throne, the seven vices are depicted: from left to right, pride, wrath, lust, gluttony, envy, sloth and avarice. The Pope triumphs over the sins of the world.
Two monks kneel, one on each side of the platform. The angle of the throne, which seems to be leaning forward, symbolizes mercy and receptiveness to the needs of others.

Divinatory meanings: 
Ritualism. Ceremony. Mercy. Humility. Kindness. Goodness. Forgiveness. Inspiration. Alliance. Compassion. Servitude. Overt reserve. Captivity to one’s own ideas. Tendency to cling to ideas and principles even if outdated. A person to whom one has recourse. Conformity. A religious or spiritual leader. Inability to adapt to new circumstances and changing conditions. A person with a sense of the importance of history.

Reversed meanings: 
Foolish exercise of generosity. Overkindness. Repeated errors. Susceptibility. Impotence. Vulnerability. Frailty. Unorthodoxy. Renunciation.

VI THE LOVERS
The Lovers is modeled on the same card from the fifteenth-century Visconti-Sforza Tarot. A man and a woman clasp hands, the woman gazing at the man and the man looking upward. They willingly pledge their love and their desire to stay with one another, as they stand on a forking path near an abyss. On the left is a rugged and hard land, the choice of virtue. On the right is a pleasant and sunny land, the choice of vice. Above the two Lovers is the centaur Chiron, who was renowned for his beneficence and wisdom. After his death he was exalted to become the constellation Sagittarius, the zodiacal sign that rules free choice. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Love. Beauty. Perfection. Harmony. Unanimity. Trials overcome. Trust. Honor. Possibly the beginning of a romance. Infatuation. Deep feeling. Optimism. Being oblivious to possible consequences. Letting oneself go. Freedom of emotion. The necessity of tests or trials. Struggle between sacred and profane love. Examining. Yearning. Temptation. A person deeply involved in the emotions and problems of a friend or relative. A meaningful affair. 

Reversed meanings: 
Failure to meet the test. Unreliability. Separation. Frustration in love and marriage. Interference by others. Fickleness. Untrustworthiness. Unwise plans.

VII THE CHARIOT
The charioteer rides over a landscape that recalls Northern Italy, near Verona at the foot of the Alps. The square chariot is sheltered by a canopy lined with gold stars on a deep blue background. The charioteer has the qualities of the zodiacal sign of Aries. He holds a scepter corn posed of a rod with a sphere and an arrow, and he controls the horses’ reins with a golden ring. A blue crescent and a red crescent on his shoulders represent knowledge of the past and the future. The white horse pulls upward, while the black horse pulls earthward, indicating the two impulses of human nature toward spirituality and sensuality. The charioteer must learn to control the horses so that they can function in harmony. The horses’ tails together form an image of a winged seed, denoting the potential embodied by the Chariot.

Divinatory meanings: 
Major effort. Possible voyage or journey. Escape. Rushing to decision. Riding the crest of success or popularity. Perplexity. Trouble. Adversity, possibly already overcome. Conflicting influences. Turmoil. Vengeance. Need for supervision. Need for attention to details. Urgency to gain control of one’s emotions. Greatness can be achieved when physical and mental powers are kept in balance.

Reversed meanings: 
Defeat. Failure. To lose something, at the last minute, otherwise within grasp. Sudden collapse of plans. To be conquered or overwhelmed. Failure to face reality.

VIII JUSTICE
The woman signifying Justice has a sophisticated face, for she must be discriminating and knowledgeable. Her dress is red and blue with a gold lining. Her headdress is composed of three towers with three doors, like the temple of the great fertility goddess, Diana of Ephesus. She wears a golden braid at her elongated neck, and the neckline of her dress is anchor-shaped. In her right hand, Justice holds a sword, and in her left hand, a scale. She is surrounded by a curious arch, the pillars of which are breasts, again referring to the goddess, Diana of Ephesus, whose holy image depicts a woman with a multitude of breasts. An Amazon, one of the legendary female warriors of ancient times, is in the lunette above her. Two suns provide illumination. On the sides, scenes of the four seasons are shown. The fertility symbols of the design indicate that, although Justice may seem severe to wrongdoers, the world is best when Justice prevails.

Divinatory meanings: 
Fairness. Justice. Harmony. Balanced conduct. Equity. Righteousness. Virtue. Honor. Virginity. Just reward. Good intentions. Well-meaning actions. Firmness of character. Advice. Self-satisfaction. The eventual outcome, whetherfavorable or unfavorable, will truly be fair. Equilibrium. Poise. Impartiality. Ability to perceive temptation and avoid evil. A person who responds favorably to the good nature of others. A considerate person.

Reversed meanings: 
Bias. False accusations. Bigotry. Severity in judgment. Intolerance. Unfairness. Abuse.

VIIII THE HERMIT
An old man holds up a lamp shaped like an hourglass. He supports himself with a staff on which are seven roses and a snake. The roses on his staff symbolize the seven stages of growth, from a bud to the fully open flower. The twisted snake bites its own tail, symbolizing eternity. The Hermit’s hat is like those worn by the monks of Mount Athos of Greece, as is his gown, which was originally black but has been faded by the sun. His underdress is made of woven straw. In the background is Mount Athos and at his feet is the sea. The boats and the whale in the foreground refer to the Old Testament prophet Jonah, who was miraculously saved from drowning when he was swallowed by a whale. Later his preaching saved the city of Nineveh from destruction by God.

Divinatory meanings: 
Counsel. Knowledge. Solicitude. Inner strength. Self-illumination. Prudence. Discretion. Vigilance. Patience. Circumspection. Self-denial. Withdrawal. Sometimes represents recession and regression. Desertion. Annulment. Insincerity. Coldness. A loner or a person incapable of interaction with another person. Fear of discovery. Failure to face facts. Possessor of secrets. Unutilized knowledge. 

Reversed meanings: 
Imprudence. Hastiness. Prematurity. Foolish acts. Incorrect advice. Failure resulting from inactivity. Overprudence resulting in unnecessary delay. Immaturity. Excessive isolation.

X WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The Wheel of Fortune is gold, and on it are the symbolsof the zodiac. Behind theWheel, blind Fortune stands. Her wings, hands and head touch the Wheel in seven places, symbolizing the seven planets of the ancients. Her wings are red, and behind her, a blue circle represents individual life. Two boats, with figureheads like twisting snakes, support the Wheel, and also bind Fortune’s feet. Below are the green waters of life. The ruler of the Wheel, fixed at the top,  holdsasphinxandasword. On the right, a blue figure ascends, chasing a golden crown. On the left an older man is afire while he hurls downward, grasping for his golden crown which will soon be enveloped by the waves. Below, an old man flails helplessly in the water. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Destiny. Fortune. Fate. Outcome. Felicity. Godsend. Special gain or unusual loss. Culmination. Approaching the end of a problem. Inevitability. Unexpected events may occur. The course of things from beginning toend. Advancement for better or worse. Progress. Good or bad luck depending upon nearby cards.

Reversed meanings: 
Failure. Ill luck. Broken sequence. Unexpected bad fate. Interruption or inconsistency due to unexpected events. Outside influences not contemplated.

XI FORCE
A tall, strong woman calmly grasps the jaws of a lion with one hand. She is modeled on a painting by the Renaissance master Piero della Francesca. Her hat has the lemniscate, traditional for this figure of the tarot. A golden braid at her neck links her with the Emperor and Justice. The landscape is stony and dry. In the background is Hermes with the head of the Sun. Hermes was the Greek god of alchemy, and his image here is from a medal which commemorated a successful alchemical operation.

Divinatory meanings: 
Control over a situation. Strength. Courage. Fortitude. Energy. Resolution. Defiance. Action. Awareness of temptations and the ability to overcome them. Confidence. Innate ability. Zeal. Fervor. Mind over matter. Accomplishment. Attainment at considerable peril. Conquest. Hidden forces at work are challenged. Heroism. Virility. Strength to endure in spite of all obstacles.

Reversed meanings: 
Weakness. Pettiness. Impotence. Sickness. Tyranny. Lack of faith. Abuse of power. Succumbing to temptation. Indifference. Physical circumstances overwhelm the will.

XII THE HANGED MAN
The imagery of The Hanged Man runs with the blood of sacrifice. The scaffold is twined with grapes that ooze red juice. At the foot of the right pillar is a pelican, the bird which, according to legend, feeds her children with her own blood, and which was frequently shown in allegorical art at the top of Christ’s crucifix. Nearby is a sacrificial lamb, its throat cut. On the left a dragon bites its tail, illustrating the occult law, «That which is above is the same as that which is below.» The hammer, nails and pincers are traditional symbols of Christ’s passion. The Hanged Man himself seems complacent as he dangles above whirling waters. The buttons of his shirt and trousers number twenty-two, the number of the Major Arcana of the tarot. Coins drop from the crescents formed by his pockets and splash in the water.

Divinatory meanings: 
Sacrifice. Life in suspension. Transition. Change. Reversal of the mind and one’s way of life. Apathy and dullness. Boredom. Abandonment. Renunciation. Events with an uncertain outcome. The period of respite between significant events. Repentance. Readjustment. Efforts may have to be made to reach a goal, which still may not be attained. The approach of new life forces. This is the time to condition oneself for new experiences. Surrender. Lack of progress. An unappreciated person. 
Reversed meanings: 
Lack of sacrifice. Unwillingness to make the necessary effort. Failure to give of one’s self. Preoccupation with the ego. False prophecy. Useless sacrifice.

XIII DEATH
A skeleton dances on blue ground, holding a scythe whose handle used to be a human spine. The pose of Death resembles that of Shiva, Hindu god of destruction. A raven, symbol of decomposition, glides nearby. The landscape is strewn with human hands and feet, but the hands indicate that new energy is coming forth, as emphasized by the green plants below. Three heads are in the foreground. On the right is a woman’s head and in the middle, a child’s. The artist admits that he, too, is subject to the great power of Death and his portrait appears, with palette, in the bottom left corner. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Transformation. Clearing away the old to make way for the new. Risk for renewal. Unexpected change. Alteration. Abrupt change of the old self, though not necessarily physical death. The ending of a familiar situation or friendship. Loss of income or financial security. Illness, possibly even death. Streak of bad luck. A loan that will not be repaid. 

Reversed meanings: 
Stagnation. Immobility. Slow changes. Partial change. Inertia. Narrow avoidance of a serious accident.

XIIII TEMPERANCE
An angel pours liquid from one vessel to another. The golden urn is solar, embodied by a lion, and the silver vessel is lunar, embodied by a crescent. Together they symbolize the harmonious mix of masculine and feminine. The mysteriously androgynous features of the angel resemble those of John the Baptist in the painting by Leonardo da Vinci. On the forehead is a solar disk. The angel’s swan wings denote alchemical ablution. On the left is a wilted flower, and on the right is a scene of Christ’s baptism as the dove of the Holy Spirit descends. The baptism scene is taken from a fresco by the artist in the church of Santa Croce in Verona, Italy.

Divinatory meanings: 
Moderation. Temperance. Patience. Accomplishments through self-control and frugality. Accommodation. Harmony. The mixing or bringing together into perfect union. Management. Compatibility. Fusion. Adjustment. Good influence. Consolidation. Ability to utilize the material and intellectual manifestations available to oneself. Possibly a person without excessive tendencies. A well-liked, highly regarded person. Confidence and placidity. Possibly being too temperate and moderate to achieve a goal presently out of reach.

Reversed meanings: 
Discord. Disunion. Conflict of interest. Hostility. Inability to work with others. Difficulty in understanding others. Impatience. Frustration.

XV THE DEVIL
The body of the Devil embraces the four elements: his wings symbolize air, his red face symbolizes fire, the scales on his legs symbolize water and the goat legs, earth. A mouth on his belly mockingly protrudes a red tongue. His wings and the star on his forehead indicate that once the Devil was one of the angels of heaven, known as Lucifer, «bringer of light.» In his left hand the Devil holds a sword without a hilt as a symbol of unleashed sexuality, and his fiery right hand makes the occult sign of greeting. Two horns and animal ears add to the bestial quality of the creature. Female breasts indicate that the Devil is not really a «he» but rather has the qualities of both sexes. A gold male demon and a green female demon at his feet also emphasize that both sexes can take on the qualities of the Devil. They dance the tango, a dance of sensu-ousness, and they are tethered to the Devil’s pedestal with golden ropes. Three steps, on which the demons’ feet are placed, symbolize hierarchy and diabolic initiation. Flames leap through fissures on the stony floor.

Divinatory meanings: 
Subordination. Ravage. Bondage. Malevolence. Subservience. Downfall. Weird experience. Bad outside influence or advice. Black magic. Unexpected failure. Seeming inability to realize one’s goals. Dependence upon another person that leads to unhappiness. Violence. Shock. Fatality. Self-punishment. Temptation to evil. Self-destruction. Disaster. Astral influence. The tearing apart of self-expression to such an extent that one becomes ineffectual. An ill-tempered person. Lack of humor except at another’s expense. Lack of principles.

Reversed meanings: 
Release from bondage. Throwing off shackles. Respite. Divorce. Recognition of one’s needs by another person. Overcoming handicaps. The beginning of spiritual understanding. The first steps toward enlightenment.

XVI THE FALLING TOWER
With foundations set in sand, the Tower is made of seven cubical stories, like the Tower of Babel. There are three doors, the Gothic door at the top representing faith and the square door on the lower left representing experience. The tip of an obelisk emerges from the top of the tower. A stroke of solar lightning demolishes the top of the tower, and the mushroom cloud that expands evokes nuclear catastrophe. Satellites, bombs, stars and debris fall through the sky. A king falls on the left; he is shaped like the Hebrew letter ayin. Another figure, motionless on the ground, is struck on the neck with a brick.

Divinatory meanings: 
Complete and sudden change. Breakdown of old beliefs. Abandonment of past relationships. Severing of a friendship. Calamity. Misery. Disillusionment. Bankruptcy. Termination. Downfall. Undoing. Disruption. Loss of stability. A sudden event that destroys trust. Loss of security. Loss of love and affection. Setback. Terrible change.

Reversed meanings: 
Continued oppression. Following old ways. Living in a rut. Inability to effect any worthwhile change. Entrapment in an unhappy situation. Imprisonment.

XVII THE STAR
A young woman kneels on the edge of a pond. Her long blond hair flows around her naked body to meet the ground perfectly. In her left hand is a Doric protogeometric vase, indicating Doric rusticness and simplicity. In her right hand is an Attic vase, reflecting elegance and fine intelligence. Above her are two stars, one with eight points and the other with five points, and symbols of the seven planets of the ancients. Near her is a Rosicrucian rose, which is reflected on the water. A raven perches on the rose as a personal sigil of the artist, who was inspired by The Star. Two hills are behind the woman, and an acacia bush on one of the hills is a symbol of grace and love. 
Divinatory meanings: 
Hope. Faith. Inspiration. Bright prospects. Mixing of the past and present. Promising opportunity. Optimism. Good omen. Spiritual love. Ascending star. Astrological influence. Accumulation of past knowledge for use in the present. Results will soon come from energies expended. Fulfillment. Satisfaction. The proper balancing of desire and work, hope and effort, love and expression. A favorable card suggesting that desire and energy are essential to happiness.

Reversed meanings: 
Unfulfilled hopes. Disappointment. Pessimism. Bad luck. Lack of opportunity. Stubbornness. Imbalance. Conclusion of an unsatisfactory business experience or friendship.

XVIII THE MOON
Shadows play over a scene lit only by the moon. Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, sits in the form of an elegant, violet dog at the foot of a tower. Across from him a wolf howls. On one tower is an astrologer from ancient times, and on the other tower is Galileo’s telescope. Drops of moisture fall from clouds lit by a crescent moon with masculine features. A huge crayfish emerges from a murky pond in the foreground. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Deception. Twilight. Obscurity. Trickery. Danger. Error. A warning. Bad influence. Ulterior motives. Insincerity. False friends. Double dealing. False pretenses. Disgrace. Slander. Super-
ficiality. Unknown enemies. The meeting of many divergent influences. Falling into a trap. Failure to avoid dangers. Unforeseen changes in plans. 

Reversed meanings: 
A minor deception recognized before damage is done. Trifling mistakes. Overcoming bad temptations. Gain without paying the price. Taking advantage of someone.

XVIIII THE SUN
A white horse bears a young boy and girl. The boy is Hercules, and he carries the Sun over his head, while the girl holds a distaff. The white horse is a symbol of that which serves love, and it dances in a circle of paradisiacal flowers. A lyre, symbol of the Greek Sun god Apollo, leans on the wall, and on the other side is an egg, recalling the virtue and love of the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, who were born from an egg. A sturdy wall encloses the scene.

Divinatory meanings: 
Satisfaction. Contentment. Success. Favorable social relationships. Love. Joy. Devotion. Unselfish sentiment. Engagement. A happy marriage. Pleasure in daily existence. Earthly happiness. The contentment derived from extending oneself to another person. A good friend. High spirits. Warmth. Sincerity. The rewards of a new friendship. Pleasure from simple things. Achievement in the arts. Acceptance of life.

Reversed meanings: 
Unhappiness. Loneliness. Possibly a broken engagement or marriage. Canceled plans. Triumph delayed although not necessarily lost. Clouded future. Lack of friendship.

XX JUDGMENT
A city of tombs is awakened by the trumpet blast of an angel. A woman and two men, one very old, emerge from three of the tombs, while hands groping from other tombs recall the imagery of the Death card. The hair of the angel spirals and whirls, while its billowing clothes and the clouds surrounding it are like the Swan constellation of the Milky Way galaxy.

Divinatory meanings: 
Atonement. Judgment. The need to repent and forgive. The moment to account for the manner in which we have used our opportunities. The possibility that present conduct toward other people is unfair and unkind. Rejuvenation. Rebirth. Effort that ends in just reward. The desire for immortality. The possibility exists that someone is taking unfair advantage, which they will come to regret. A lawsuit or personal conflict is concluded. 

Reversed meanings: 
Delay. Disappointment. Failure to face facts. Procrastination. Theft. Alienation of affection. Deep worry.

XXI THE WORLD
A young girl, almost a child, stands nude in the middle of a wreath. She holds two wands, one black and one white. The wreath around her is composed of flowers and fruit and is twined with the alchemical snake. At the corners are the symbols of the elements and of the planets. Stars are above, near an angel and an eagle, and clouds billow fire below, near a lion and a bull. Medieval symbolism matches the lion with the element fire and the evangelist St. Mark, the bull with earth and St. Luke, the angel or man with air and St. Matthew, and the eagle with water and St. John.

Divinatory meanings: 
Attachment. Completion. Perfection. Recognition. Honors. Ultimate change. The end result of all efforts. Success. Assurance. Synthesis. Fulfillment. Triumph in undertakings. The rewards that come from hard work. The path of liberation. Eternal life. Admiration of others. Inheritance. The outcome of events in spite of other signs. This is a very favorable card, especially if surrounded by other favorable cards.

Reversed meanings: 
Imperfection. Failure to complete the task one starts. Lack of vision. Failure.

THE 56 MINOR ARCANA
The Minor Arcana or Lesser Arcana are divided into four suits of swords, wands, cups and coins.

The Suit of Swords
KING OF SWORDS
A young, blond man, clad completely in armor, sits on a hexagonal throne. He holds a sword with a hilt shaped as the ancient swastika, and its pommel wrought as the head of an eagle. On his shoulders are Urim and Thummim, the oracle of the Old Testament. The king’s spurs are arrows. Under his feet are the tablets of law. His throne floats among whirling blue clouds, and the limbs of peach trees announce the coming of spring.

Divinatory meanings: 
An active and determined person. Experience. Authority. Control. Commanding personality. A professional. Someone proficient in his field. Highly analytical person. Justice. Force. Superiority. A person with many ideas, thoughts and designs. 

Reversed meanings: 
A person who may pursue a matter to ruin. Cruelty. Conflict. Selfishness. Sadism. A dangerous or wicked person. One who causes unnecessary disturbance and sadness. Perversity.

QUEEN OF SWORDS
An elegant woman sits on a high Gothic column. Her throne houses a raven, at her left leg. Below her are sinister images: two witches on broomsticks, a bier drawn by black horses and a march of Ku Klux Klan members. The queen herself is in a twisted position. Her right arm with wiry fingers crosses her body to support a large sword, and on her sword arm is a snake bracelet. She wears a cuirass under her blue and white robes. On the hilt of the sword are a swan, three coats of arms, and a crown with the symbols of the world. Her face is aristocratic, refined and haughty. A black net covers her head and hands, and she is crowned with two crescent moons.

Divinatory meanings: 
Sharp, quick-witted and keen person. Intensely perceptive. A subtle person. May signify a widow or woman of sadness. Mourning. Privation. One who has savored great happiness, but who presently knows the anxiety of misfortune and reversal.

Reversed meanings: 
Narrow-mindedness. Maliciousness. Bigotry. Deceitfulness. Vengefulness. Prudish-ness. A treacherous enemy. An ill-tempered person.

KNIGHT OF SWORDS
A horse and rider, in full armor, gallop wildly in a desolate landscape. Peacock feathers are at the knight’s helmet, and on the horse’s head is a red dragon. Another oriental symbol, the yin-yang sign, is at the horse’s flank. On the front of the horse is a fierce face. The knight’s foot is bare, although he wears a dangerously pointed spur on it. The spiked collar of a watchdog clatters on the horse’s leg. On the ground is a broken arrow and three flowers, one of which grows through a skulll.

Divinatory meanings: 
Bravery. Skill. Capacity. The strength and dash of a young man. Heroic action. Opposition and war. Impetuous rush into the unknown without fear. The surrounding cards indicate the influences around the knight in his gallant pursuit. 

Reversed meanings: 
Incapacity. Imprudence. Dispute orruin due toa woman. Impulsive mistakes. Conceited fool. Simplicity. Disunion.

PAGE OF SWORDS
The decadent character of the commedia dell’ arte, Brighella, stands in a setting like that used in the play. Brighella was a sly villain who would do anything for money. He wears white robes trimmed in green and lined in yellow, and a peacock feather decorates his floppy hat. Armor glints under his robes. His ears are pointed and decorated with golden rings and a snake is draped at his neck. He slyly covers one eye with one hand, while his other hand holds a sword with a fox head handle. A black cat slinks in front of him and the moon is waning among the clouds.

Divinatory meanings: 
A person adept at perceiving and uncovering the unknown or that which is less than obvious. Insight. Vigilance. Agility. Spying. A discreet person. An active youth. A lithe figure, alert and awake to unknown dangers.

Reversed meanings: 
An imposter revealed. The unforeseen. Illness is possible. Powerlessness in the face of stronger forces. Lack of preparation.

TEN OF SWORDS
Ten swords are intricately intertwined. On their hilts the betrayers of Caesar clutch bloody daggers. Near the sword points are graveyard flowers, chrysanthemums, while in the center is the Lord of the Flies, another name for Satan, who lays its eggs on corpses. Three women dressed in black wail and scratch their cheeks; they are hired mourners at a funeral. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Ruin. Pain. Affliction. Sadness. Mental anguish. Desolation. Tears. Misfortune. Trouble. Disappointment.

Reversed meanings: 
Benefit. Profit. Temporary gain. Improvement. Passing success. Temporary favor. Momentary advantage.

NINE OF SWORDS
Nine swords are neatly crossed in a grid. Veiled figures are seen on the hilts of the swords. The tomb of a holy and pure hermit monk is seen in the foreground. On the monk is a lily and his arms are crossed at his chest. The sarcophagus is made of the same material, red sandstone, that the queen of swords is perched on. On the sides are scenes of decay: a strong man oppressing a weak man and people stricken with the plague. On the right of the tomb, a fetal figure crouches, and to the left the page of swords, now aged and demented, huddles in a knot.

Divinatory meanings: 
Misery. Concern. Quarrel. Un-happiness. Miscarriage. Anxiety over a loved one. Worry. Despair. Suffering.

Reversed meanings: 
Doubt. Suspicion. Slanderous gossip. Shame. Scruple. Timidity. Shady character. Reasonable fear.

EIGHT OF SWORDS
A conspirator is being judged by a wigged and robed magistrate. The defendant, pale and fevered, wears black tights and a white shirt, and is caged in by swords, the hilts of which are postilion horns. The judge holds a gavel. Nearby is a table containing surgical instruments and under the table is a syringe filled with blood. Two nightbirds, one male and one female, gaze ominously out of the card. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Crisis. Calamity. Conflict. Domination. Imprisonment. Turmoil. Bad news. Censure. Criticism. Sickness. Calumny. 

Reversed meanings: 
Treachery in the past. Difficulty. Hard work. Depression. Disquiet. Accident. Fatality.

SEVEN OF SWORDS
An alchemist, who has already found immortality, performs the operation in which the seven colors of the rainbow can be seen, as symbolized by the rainbow and the raven. The man is so old that he has lost all of his hair, and his features appear as those of an ancient child. The raven flies away with his gold ring, and the harpies at the hilts of the sword turn the seven colors into poisonous vapors.

Divinatory meanings: 
New plans. Wishes. Fortitude. Perseverance. Attempt. Endeavor. Hope. Confidence. Fantasy. Design.

Reversed meanings: 
Arguments. Quarrels. Uncertain counsel or advice. Circumspection. Slander. Babbling.

SIX OF SWORDS
Six swords form a mandala with an illuminated center, indicating sudden enlightenment by divine grace. The hilts of the swords are messages sealed with black ribbon and blazing with light. The rider, Saint Paul, falls from his horse on the road to Damascus when God makes his presence known to him. The horse rears in fear and Paul is blinded by the divine presence.

Divinatory meanings: 
A trip or journey. Travel. Voyage. Route. Headstrong attempt to overcome difficulties. Expedient manner. Success after anxiety. 

Reversed meanings: 
Stalemate. Unwanted proposal. No immediate solution to present difficulties. Confession. Declaration.

FIVE OF SWORDS
A man sprawls on the floor of a tumbling shack. He smokes opium with a hookah, and his slippers are like those of a decadent rajah. Behind him are prayer books and tomes on black magic. The hilts of the five swords are like vampires, creatures that prey on the life force of others.

Divinatory meanings: 
Conquest. Defeat Destruction of others. Degradation. Adversaries may arise. Revocation. Infamy. Dishonor.

Reversed meanings: 
Uncertain outlook. Chance of loss or defeat. Weakness. Possible misfortune befalling a friend. Seduction. Burial.

FOUR OF SWORDS
A warrior who has renounced the world seeks refuge in a hermit’s hut that he has made for himself, using burlap and four swords. He wears a simple white robe fastened with a rope knotted four times for four vows: poverty, chastity and obedience, plus a fourth, secret vow. The stigmata are on his hands. His posture, with his hands open and his face to the sky, is ecstatic, like that of St. Francis, who kneels by a small hut in the background. In front of the hermit are a bowl of water and a mandrake root, his subsistence.

Divinatory meanings: 
Respite. Rest after illness. Repose. Replenishment. Solitude. Exile. Retreat. Temporary seclusion. Abandonment. 

Reversed meanings: 
Activity. Circumspection. Precaution. Economy. Guarded advancement. Desire to recover what is lost.

THREE OF SWORDS
A young man is being sent away by his family. The child and baby have eyes like the father, symbolizing the I Ching trigram: cenn, kann, kenn — the first, second and third son, respectively. The young man has eyes like his mother. He is like the Biblical prodigal son, as symbolized by the pig and the three acorns. In one of his bags are coins, and in the other is a prostitute. The feather in his hat is shaped as a question mark. The imagery of the card relates to the Fool, as emphasized by the Tarot of Marseilles Fool, the Visconti-Sforza Tarot Fool, and the Tarot of Mantegna Fool, all found on the three hilts of the swords. Under the Tarot of Mantegna Fool, which is on the sword crossed sideways, is the symbol of the antiwar movement.

Divinatory meanings: 
Disappointment. Strife. Removal. Dispersion. Diversion. Opposition. Sorrow. Absence.

Reversed meanings: 
Distraction. Confusion. Disorder. Error. Incompatibility. Mental anxieties. Loss. Alienation.

TWO OF SWORDS
Two strong warriors, meeting under a cloudy sky, shake hands in token friendship. They could destroy each other, but their solution is to have a formal friendship. The pale warrior on the left represents yin, the feminine nature. A snake is on his helmet and a dragon is on the hilt of his sword. On the right is a yang, or masculine type. His face is sanguine and foxes are on his helmet and on the handle of his sword. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Balanced force. Harmony. Firmness. Concord. Offsetting factors. Stalemate. Affection.

Reversed meanings: 
Duplicity. Falsehood. Misrepresentation. Disloyalty. Dishonor. Treachery. False friends. Lies.

ACE OF SWORDS
A great sword stands impressively against the sky. It is crowned at its tip with a golden fillet set with the suit symbols of spades, with yellow lightning interspersed. Two wings are beside the tip of the blade. The palms of secret martyrdom droop from the crown and red and blue flames shower from the palms. A snake with two horns and a forked tongue is wrapped around the blade of the sword. At the hilt is the symbol of yin-yang; below is a statue of Victory encircled with a laurel wreath. Abel kneels on the right, holding a lamb in his arms and gazing upward, and Cain kneels on the left, holding the produce of the earth and gazing downward.

Divinatory meanings: 
Great determination. Initiative. Strength. Force. Activity. Excessiveness. Triumph. Power. Success. Deep emotional feeling. Love. Championship. Conquest.

Reversed meanings: 
Debacle. Tyranny. Disaster. Self-destruction. Violent temper. Embarrassment. Obstacle. Infertility. Hindrance.

The Suit of Wands
KING OF WANDS
A barbaric king, primitive, strong and bold, sits on a rustic throne made of pickaxes, spades and rough boards. At the top are two horns and sheaves of rushes, with a candle burning in the center. His crown is made of copper wrought in the shape of acorns. His beard and hair are red and wiry. The armor he wears is of copper, decorated with flames and a goat’s head which is partly hidden behind the club he holds. A tankard of beer is at his feet. An ancient Japanese oil lamp and a brazier roasting three chestnuts lie on a carpet of dry leaves. In the background is an autumnal wood in golden light.

Divinatory meanings: 
An honest and conscientious person. Maturity. Wisdom. Devotion. Friendliness. Sympathetic person. An educated gentleman. Generally a married person. Fatherly person. 

Reversed meanings: 
Severity. Austerity. Somewhat excessive and exaggerated ideas. Dogmaticness. Deliberateness.

QUEEN OF WANDS
The queen of wands gazes amiably from her country armchair. Her bosom is full and motherly, her arms sturdy and well-shaped. Like the king, she is red-haired, and her copper crown is wrought as flames. A tabby cat is curled in her lap, and she holds a branch of red flowers. A crescent moon is at the left post of her chair, and a lion’s fur is under her feet. To the left and right two babies, one black and one white, sleep peacefully. Sunflowers grow in the background.

Divinatory meanings: 
A sympathetic and understanding person. Friendliness. Lovingness. Honor. Chaste-ness. Practicality. Feminine charm and grace. Ability for meaningful expression and love. Gracious hostess. Sincere interest in others.

Reversed meanings: 
Jealousy. Deceit. Possible infidelity. Unstable emotions. Fickleness. Resistance. Obstacles. Opposition.

KNIGHT OF WANDS
A Hun riding a horse on the top of a wall observes a migration of people as they depart from a town in central Asia. The town, once built of masonry and then rebuilt in wood, is now aflame, turning the sky violet. An ancient orthodox cathedral can be seen beneath the guard tower. The people carry their goods in wagons and lead the cattle with them. The Hun wears hides and his armor is made of leather. He carries a large club and his horse bears a drum. The horse is harnessed in dragon leather and a rampant lion ornaments its head.

Divinatory meanings: 
Departure. A journey. Advancement into the unknown. Alteration. Flight. Absence. Change of residence.

Reversed meanings: 
Discord. Interruption. Unexpected change. Quarreling. Breakup of personal relationships. Rupture. Discontinuance.

PAGE OF WANDS
A black torchbearer has just been freed — a green metal shackle is still at his ankle. He wears solar colors and a lion’s skin is draped over him. He rests the tip of a large club in a bed of ashes, in which the tail of the lion and the ends of his socks trail. An orchid grows from the club and another red flower is on the page’s hat. In the background a jungle of lush flowers and rich fruit is threatened by fire.

Divinatory meanings: 
A faithful and loyal person. An envoy. Emissary. Entrusted friend. A stranger with good intentions. A consistent person. A bearer of important hews.

Reversed meanings: 
Indecision in proceeding. Reluctance. Instability. Inability to make decisions. A gossip. Bearer of bad tidings. A person who may break one’s heart. Displeasure.

TEN OF WANDS
Two merchants lead mules, overburdened with gold and other wares, down a road. The bushes and trees at the roadside conceal ten bandits armed with clubs strengthened by iron rings. The colors of the foliage indicate that autumn is approaching.

Divinatory meanings: 
Overburdened feeling. Excessive pressures. Problems soon to be resolved. Striving to meet a goal or to maintain a certain level or position. Possibly using power for selfish ends.

Reversed meanings: 
Intrigues. Duplicity. Treachery. A traitor. Deceiver. Subterfuge. Some losses will occur.

NINE OF WANDS
A group of bandits, like Robin Hood’s band of merrymen, doze in a forest after a bout of drinking. Their clothes follow the progression of the rainbow. Meanwhile, at the top of the card, Saracens approach in galleys. Despite the calmness of the scene, the merrymen may soon sense the approach of danger. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Expectation of difficulties and changes. Awaiting tribulation. Anticipation. Hidden enemies. Discipline. Order. A pause in a current struggle.

Reversed meanings: 
Obstacles. Problems. Delays. Displeasure. Calamity. Disaster. Barriers to overcome. Ill health.

EIGHT OF WANDS
Eight stakes support vines bearing ripe grapes. Soon wine will be made in the village. Among the vines, in the foreground, a youth declares his love to a coy woman. In the middle, the same couple is seen fighting, kicking, slapping and biting. At the top, a boy andagirl play, running and weaving inandoutamong the vines. The children wear blue and red, like the couple.

Divinatory meanings: 
Swift activity. Sudden progress or movement. Speed. Hastily made decisions. Too rapid advancement.

Reversed meanings: 
Thorns of dispute. Jealousy. Harassment. Discord. Delay. Stagnation. Domestic quarrels.

SEVEN OF WANDS
A flushed, fanatic speaker uses seven clubs as his podium. He waggles one finger at his listeners, while making the sign of victory with his other hand. The listener in yellow expresses doubt, while the man dressed in black rags shows despair. A strong young sportsman dressed in white listens attentively. Meanwhile, a man in the violet costume of Pantalon de’Bisognosi, a Venetian mask character, receives gold coins from the bodice of the woman in blue. The artist was inspired by a scene in Hyde Park, London, but scenes like this have taken place in cities all over the world for centuries.

Divinatory meanings: 
Success. Gain. Overcoming obstacles and challenges. Surmounting overwhelming
odds. Advantage. Victory.

Reversed meanings: 
Consternation. Embarrassment. Hesitancy causing losses. Uncertainty. Perplexity. Doubt.

SIX OF WANDS
This is the card of servants. They wear the livery of the house of the suit of wands, the same worn by the page of wands. In the top row is a coachman, next a jester wearing motley. He holds a club on which a tambourine, which also functions as a candelabrum, is fastened with ribbons. On the right is a black mace-bearer wearing a white wig. At the bottom left is a gardener with a hoe. A horn for water hangs from his belt. A cook is shown, his club hung with four small baskets containing figs, plums, fish, lemons, and a silver pail of wine. Finally comes the skullery maid, her hair in a kerchief and a broom in her hand.

Divinatory meanings: 
Conquest. Triumph. Good news. Gain. Advancement. Expectation. Desires realized. The results of efforts.

Reversed meanings: 
Indefinite delay. Fear. Apprehension. Disloyalty. Superficial benefit. Inconclusive gain.

FIVE OF WANDS
Five men engage in a furious struggle, using clubs as weapons. Two of the clubs are oak, two birch, and one poplar. A sixth character rubs his hands together gleefully, for he will exploit the struggle to his advantage, and although not directly participating, he will emerge the winner. He has a solar symbol on his sleeves, a bag of golden coins at his waist, a coin at his neck, and emerald rings.

Divinatory meanings: 
Unsatisfied desires. Struggle. Labor. Endeavors. Violent strife. Conflict. 

Reversed meanings: 
Trickery. Contradictions. Complexity. Involvement. Caution against indecision.

FOUR OF WANDS
Four men clasp hands in a pact of friendship and the first foundation of a secret society is made. The man in blue represents the medieval inhabitants of towns near the sea. The dark man in red is a gypsy from a warm climate, while the freckled man in yellow is from northern countries. The man in white represents the meeting of all colors and, alchemically, the passage to a new triad. All four wear earrings. The garland of leaves, tied by red ribbons to four stakes, is formed of the produce of their lands: wheat, palm, acorn, shamrock and laurel.

Divinatory meanings: 
Romance. Society. Harmony. Newly acquired prosperity. Peace. Tranquility. The fruits of labor. Rest after strife.

Reversed meanings: 
Loss of full tranquility. Unfulfilled romance. Insecurity. Tarnished beauty. Incomplete happiness.

THREE OF WANDS
Three Alpine climbers, one Tyrolean, one Italian and one French, courageously climb a rockfa,ce. Their attitudes correspond to kabbalistic symbolism. The Tyrolean is reaching the top; the Italian rests with one foot on the rope to ensure the safety of the others, the Frenchman, having taken a rest, is catching up with the others.

Divinatory meanings: 
Practical knowledge. Business acumen. Enterprise. Negotiations. Trade. Commerce. 

Reversed meanings: 
Assistance with an ulterior motive. Treachery. Diminishing adversity. Beware of help offered.

TWO OF WANDS
What appears to be two clubs is really a single club broken in half, its broken ends aflame. Perched among the halves of the club is Mephistopheles, the devil in the legend of Doctor Faustus. Below, Doctor Faustus weeps. He traded his soul in return for unlimited, magical knowledge, but now he realizes the destruction that awaits him. His eyeglasses hang on a twig in front of him, referring to the symbolism of the number two.

Divinatory meanings: 
Mature individual. Ruler. Attainment of goals and needs. Boldness. Courage in undertakings. A dominant personality. 

Reversed meanings: 
Sadness. Trouble. Restraint caused by others. Loss of faith. Surprise.

ACE OF WANDS
A large club burns with fire, the element represented by the suit of wands. In a nest, young Hercules strangles a snake that spits fire in its rage. Two gnomes dressed in red are at the bottom of the club. In folk tradition gnomes are a symbol of strength, hard work and enterprise. One toils with a saw while the other sings a ballad. The hammer beneath the saw refers to the working class, the people of the suit of wands. Autumnal colors on some of the leaves of the clubs show the season of the suit. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Creation. Beginning. Invention. Start of an undertaking. Fortune. Enterprise. Gain. Inheritance. Birth of a child. Beginning of a meaningful experience. An adventure. Escapade. 

Reversed meanings: 
False start. Cloudy outlook. Unrealized goal. Decadence. Empty existence. Vexation. Cancellation of plans.

The Suit of Cups
KING OF CUPS
The king, dressed in red and yellow, sits on a papal throne. He has the features of Pope Leo X, the great nepotist pope of the Renaissance. He wears red and green hose with garters embroidered with hearts. His hands are clad in pink gloves. In his right hand he holds a large cup shaped like the papal tiara and with his left hand he clasps the hand of a fair, blond angel who holds a Chinese sunshade that shelters the king. The angel, who is like an altar boy, wears a pale blue robe covered by a white surplice embroidered with seashells. Under the king’s feet are renderings of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. In the background is the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral of Rome, and the bust of Venus de Milo is on the right.

Divinatory meanings: 
Responsibility and creativity. Learned person. Professional. Religious person. Scientist. A considerate person. Kindliness. Reliability. Liberal manner. Artistic person. Interest in the arts and sciences. Generosity.

Reversed meanings: 
Artistic temperament. Double-dealing. Dishonesty. Scandal. Loss. Ruin. Injustice. A crafty person without virtue. Shiftiness.

QUEEN OF CUPS
Three vessels float on the sea: a galleon, a shell and a small paper boat with the artist’s name. On the shell, in the same position as Botticelli’s Venus, a nun stands. She wears gauzy pink veils around her body, and the blue veil around her head is crowned with hearts and a gold band. In her left hand she holds a large green cup composed of wings and the head of a cherub. Some of her long blond hair has come loose and ruffles in the wind.

Divinatory meanings: 
A warm-hearted and fair person. Poeticalness. Beloved, adored person. Good friend and mother. Devoted wife. Honesty. Loving intelligence. Gift of vision.

Reversed meanings: 
Inconsistency of honor. Possible immorality. Dishonesty. Unreliability. Vice.

KNIGHT OF CUPS
The infamous Rasputin, advisor to the last czarina of Russia, rides a sneering mule over dry, stony ground. He wears the habit of the monks of Mount Athos, but his heavy boots and the fastenings of his coat indicate lawlessness and wealth. With his left hand he holds the reins of the mule and points outward toward the cardreader. A large silver chaiice, decorated with Cupid bending his bow, is in his right hand. A crowd of peasants advances in the background.

Divinatory meanings: 
An invitation or opportunity may soon arise. Arrival. Approach. Advancement. Attraction. Inducement. Appeal. Challenge. Preposition.

Reversed meanings: 
Subtlety. Artifice. Trickery. Fraud. A sly and cunning person. A person capable of swindling.

PAGE OF CUPS
A young drummer, dressed in the costume of the Swiss guards of the Vatican, stands in a green field. In the background is the monastery of Mount Athos. His face is meek and submissive, but in his hand is a yellow and red cup with an erotic scene of two winged lovers kissing. A drum hangs from his shoulder and in his right hand is a blue copybook and a quill pen.

Divinatory meanings: 
A studious and intent person. Reflectiveness. Meditativeness. Loyalty. Willingness to offer services and efforts toward a specific goal. A helpful person. A trustworthy worker. 

Reversed meanings: 
Inclination. Deviation. Susceptibility. Temporary distraction. Seduction. A flatterer.

TEN OF CUPS
Nine cups form golden towers in a town, with the tenth cup forming the entrance from the moat. In the center is the dome of the main temple with a fountain at its summit. On the gate cup, at the bottom center, a couple stands, happily joined in the sacred bond of marriage. They are like the couple on the ten of cups in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The town is prospering and various stages of construction can be seen in several places.

Divinatory meanings: 
Home. Happiness. Joy. Pleasure. Peace. Contentment. Good family life. Esteem. Virtue. Reputation.

Reversed meanings: 
Loss of friendship. Unhappiness. Family quarrel. Pettiness. Rage. Combat. Differences of opinion.

NINE OF CUPS
The card is ruled by the ancient figure of Victory, who blows a trumpet and holds a laurel wreath. The prow of the ship below is guarded by St. Lucy, the patron of illumination and wisdom who is symbolized by an eye. Nine cups are decorated with the figures of pregnant women.

Divinatory meanings: 
Material attainment. Well-being. Abundance. Good health. Victory. Difficulties surmounted.

Reversed meanings: 
Mistakes. Material loss. Imperfections. Misplaced truth. False freedom. Opposition. Differences. Dispute.

EIGHT OF CUPS
A crusader in armor and a blue cape embraces a woman in pink. Around them, eight cups show various themes of life: a youth confessing to a friar, a puppet theater showing Pulcinella, with the sun and moon below a mask in the pediment, a procession in which young girls strew the streets with flower petals, an eagle clutching a frog, a veiled figure, a woman frightened by a giant spider, a remorseful prisoner, and a possessed person casting out a demon. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Discontinuance of effort. Disappointment. Abandonment of previous plans. Shyness. Modesty. Abandoned success. 

Reversed meanings: 
Happiness. Effort continued until full success is attained. Festivity. Gaiety. Feasting.

SEVEN OF CUPS
A woman sits sleeping in a Savonarola chair and around her, dreams take shape. One bottle, imperfectly sealed with wax, is full of exhilarating liquor. A china cup shows her and a lover happy in their old age. A hookah, melting at the base, fumes. A silver cup is composed of all the passive ghosts of the dreamer herself. A golden cup is shaped like a lotus, and a cup of clouds is at the bottom right. The cup at the bottom left, a clay Etruscan-type cup, has the dreamer’s features, and it is the only cup that retains its contents. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Fantasy. Unrealistic attitudes. Imagination. Daydreams. Foolish whims. Wishful thinking. Illusionary success.

Reversed meanings: 
Desire. Determination. Strong willpower. A goal nearly attained. Intelligent choice. Will. Resolution.

SIX OF CUPS
Six cups describe different ways to face old age. On the black cup that holds dried up flowers, a widow tells the beads of her rosary. Next to her, a gaily colored, lidded cup is for pleasure, hedonism and sensuality. From it spills froth, which a fool dressed in red avidly licks up. A wizard tends a jade cup shaped as a bird and full of the symbols of the magic and occult arts. On the belly of the cup is Solomon’s Seal. On the foot of the Colossus of Rhodes, a befana sits, knitting a sock. The befana is a good witch in Italy and in hercup are the toys and gifts she brings to children. A golden cup, which is the only one that has water in it, contains a lotus with two leaves, and under it an ascetic sits in meditation, holding a red flower in one hand. A monk of Mount Athos sits on the rim of a clay cup that was baked in the fire of divine love. In the cup are prayer books, and the laurel wreath around the cup is dried up.

Divinatory meanings: 
Memories. Past influences. Thingsthat have vanished. Childhood past. Nostalgia. Faded images. Longing.

Reversed meanings: 
The future. Opportunities ahead. Coming events. New vistas. Plans that may fail.

FIVE OF CUPS
A dying patriarch dictates his will, while five of his relatives gather around. At the foot of the bed, a notary records the information with a quill pen. The back of his chair diagrams the kabbalistic Tree of Life. Hebrew letters on the cups are also kabbalistic clues to the meanings of the card, as are the colors of the figures’ clothes. The seahorses relate to aquatic and marine symbology. Two candles at the head of the bed indicate the symbolism of the number two. The cups are filled with green liquid, and one man, whose grief is sincere, cries into his cup.

Divinatory meanings: 
Partial loss. Regret. Friendship without meaning. Marriage without love. Imperfection. Flaw. Delayed inheritance. Incomplete union or partnership.

Reversed meanings: 
Hopeful outlook. Favorable expectations. New alliances. Affinity. Return of an old friend. Reunion.

FOUR OF CUPS
A mermaid weeps on the back of an old sea serpent whose color suggests a grown cicada. A youth holding a ribbon of gold rides joyfully behind her on a serpent the color of a newly emerged cicada; he is the new deus ex machine. The top left transparent amphora contains the legs of a woman frightened by a snake, a spider and a mouse, symbols of the primitive and instinctive part of the psyche that is usually repressed. The others show a blindfolded Eros, the god of erotic love, with his bow; Silenus, the perpetually drunk son of Pan; and a dying man in a desert, crawling with his last strength toward a mirage. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Weariness. Aversion. Disgust. Unhappiness. Bitter experience. Stationary period in one’s life.

Reversed meanings: 
New possibilities. New relationships. New approaches to old problems. New acquaintance. New knowledge.

THREE OF CUPS
Baroque details and ornamentation are in harmony with the overabundance symbolized by the three of cups. The bases of the cups are made of shells and dolphins. Two cups are full of ripe fruit and they ooze juice; the black cup contains spaghetti. The colors of the cups have alchemical symbolism. The black cup shows a woman removing her bandages since she has recovered. The sun shines behind her. The white cup shows a mason placing the keystone in an arch. On the right of the arch is the branch of an acacia, which Italian masons traditionally put on houses when the roof is ready to be built. On the golden cup is the divine hermaphrodite, crowned and holding a caduceus in each hand. He is the symbol of a successful alchemical transmutation.

Divinatory meanings: 
Resolution of a problem. Conclusion. Solace. Healing. Satisfactory result. Partial fulfillment. Compromise.

Reversed meanings: 
Excessive pleasures. Overabundance. Superfluity. Loss of prestige. Delays.

TWO OF CUPS
Two lovers, dressed in the colors of the page of cups, gaze tenderly at one another. Towering behind them are two goblets. The silver cup has a base and stem formed of two twined snakes. On the cup two lovers part; the woman weeps as the man stalks away, his love letters in his hand. The golden cup contains amber liquid. Its stem and base is formed of a lion, and on the cup a nymph and a satyr dance lasciviously. In Western symbolism, gold symbolizes masculinity and silver femininity.

Divinatory meanings: 
Love. Friendship beginning or renewed. Passion. Union. Engagement. Understanding. Cooperation. Partnership. Marriage. 

Reversed meanings: 
Unsatisfactory love. False friendship. Troubled relationship. Divorce. Separation. Crossed desires. Opposition. Misunderstanding.

ACE OF CUPS
A fountain represents the suit of cups. Its base is made up of broken ice and shells, with a pearl in the center. In spite of the ice, a mother tabby cat contentedly nurses her three kittens, black, white and red, at the base. The stem of the fountain is made of sinuous dragon tail, tortoiseshell and a heart. The underside of the basin is made of swan feathers and luscious fruit. A woman sits in the basin, nursing two infants. She tramples a snake, and two horned dolphins guard her. At the sides a sad face and a happy face spout water into the hexagonal basin. The fountain is topped with the dove of the Holy Spirit. From its beak, blood-colored drops fall first into the lotus flower beneath it, then through the fruits of the fountain basin and down the stem.

Divinatory meanings: 
Great abundance. Fulfillment. Perfection. Joy. Fertility. Opulence. Fullness. Happiness. Productiveness. Beauty and pleasure. Goodness overflowing. Favorable outlook. 

Reversed meanings: 
Change. Alteration. Erosion. Instability. Sterility. Unrequited love. Clouded joy. False heart. Inconsistency.

The Suit of Coins
KING OF COINS
The king of coins has the features of one of the last doges of Venice, Francesco Morosini. He is old and white-haired, and his rich cloak is embroidered with thorny branches, illustrating the impossibility of maintaining even the best of worldly institutions. In his left hand is a compass and in his right is the phoenix of hope and resurrection. In his lap is a red sack of gold coins. Seven open sacks around the throne reveal diamonds, gold rings, crowns, quartz crystals, pearls, gold coins and gold ingots. In the background are the well-tended fields of the kingdom. 

Divinatory meanings: 
An experienced and successful leader. A person of character and intelligence. Business acumen. Mathematical ability. Loyal friend. Reliable marriage partner. Ability to acquire money and valuable possessions.

Reversed meanings: 
Corruption. Using any means to achieve the desired end. Vice. Avarice. Unfaithfulness. An old and vicious man. Peril. Thriftlessness.

QUEEN OF COINS
An exotic woman is dressed in billowing blue, gold and pink robes, the colors for the suit of coins. She is like the allegory of Venice by Paolo Veronese. She tosses up a coin showing a mother nursing two babies, and from the golden bowl in her lap she lets fall an abundance of gold coins. She wears a Venetian crown, like the king, for Venice was the Renaissance republic with an aristocracy of rich merchants. The ground is green,and inthe background isacornfield in July,full of cornflowers and poppies. A rich dish of boiled oxhead with a lemon in its mouth and carrots to the side is on the ground along with a glass adorned with sapphires and filled with precious liqueur. To the right is a dish of pills and medicine. The queen rests her foot on a red cushion embroidered with an effigy of the kabbalistic demon Lucifuge Rosocale.

Divinatory meanings: 
Prosperity and well-being. Wealth. Abundance. Luxury. Opulence. Extreme comfort. Generosity. Security. Liberty. Magnificence. Grace. Dignity. A rich person who is generous and charitable. A noble soul.

Reversed meanings: 
False prosperity. Suspense. Suspicion. Responsibilities neglected. Vicious person. Untrusting person. Fear of failure.

KNIGHT OF COINS
The great explorer Marco Polo rides a sturdy horse with a strong bit. He gazes out over the fabulous empire of Katai, beyond the Great Wall of China. Under his right arm he holds a coin emblazoned with a tortoise.

Divinatory meanings: 
A mature and responsible person. Methodicalness. Patience. Reliability. Persistence. Ability to conclude a task. Laboriousness. Organized person.

Reversed meanings: 
Stagnation. Carelessness. Inertia. Lack of determination or direction. Narrow-mindedness. Limits imposed by dogmatic views. Idleness.

PAGE OF COINS
The page stands on a plaza littered after the great feast of carnival. The architecture of Venice can be seen in the background, and some merrymakers, dressed in the costumes of commedia dell’arte, still dance. The page’s outfit has military detailing, and his hat with flapping brims is decorated with coins. Over his shoulders is slung a bag of books along with a postilion horn. He holds a coin emblazoned with an image of the god Mercury.

Divinatory meanings: 
Deep concentration and application. Study. Scholarship. Reflection. Respect for knowledge. Desire for learning and new ideas. A do-gooder. Bearer of news.

Reversed meanings: 
An unrealistic person. Failure to recognize obvious facts. Dissipation of ideas. Illogical thinking. Rebelliousness. Wastefulness. Unfavorable news.

TEN OF COINS
The turrets of an elegant and noble castle aspire upward. Superimposed is an oak tree whose roots are at the steps and the basement of the castle. A family tree is shown on golden coins. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Prosperity. Riches. Security. Safety. Family Ancestry. Inheritance. Home.

Reversed meanings: 
Bad odds. Possible loss. Hazard. Robbery. Loss of inheritance. Dissipation. Gambling.

NINE OF COINS
A goat skull is on each of the nine coins. Between the coins weaves a flowering path. At the beginning of the path is a lost golden ring, and further along, Brighella, who was already introduced as the page of swords, looks behind. A woman holding a falcon is like the protagonist of the nine of coins in the Rider-Waite Tarot. A figure wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella is ready for the storms that lie ahead. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Accomplishment. Discernment. Discretion. Foresight. Safety. Prudence. Material well-being. Love of nature.

Reversed meanings: 
Threat to safety. Roguery. Danger. Storms. Bad faith. Possible loss of a valued friendship or a treasured possession.

EIGHT OF COINS
The artist of the Medieval Scapini Tarot chose this card to illustrate his own life, while remaining faithful to the traditional symbolism of the card. His wife and eldest daughter appear in the center, and their cat is on the floor. The artist climbs a stepladder to paint a coin showing the Magician. The next coin down shows the Popess, with the sign of the Moon below, then the Empress with Venus, the Emperor with Jupiter, and on the bottom left, Strength with Mars, then The Star with Mercury, Judgment with Saturn and The World with the Sun. The artist paints in the fashion he uses to make frescoes, using a wand tipped with a ball to steady his left hand.

Divinatory meanings: 
Apprenticeship. Craftsmanship. One who is fast to learn. Candor. Frankness. Modesty. Handiwork. Personal effort.

Reversed meanings: 
Lack of ambition. Vanity. Conceit. Usury. Hypocrisy. Flattery. Intrigue.

SEVEN OF COINS
Five gamblers are seated at a table. The winner at the head of the table rejoices in his good fortune and on the sides are figures resembling the pages of the various suits of the tarot. The page of swords, on the lower left, is desperate; his bag is empty and he throws his cards wildly on the table. The page of cups across thetable has confidencein his hand, keeping his cards hidden except for three on the table. He bets one gold coin. The page of coins stares at the money that the winner drops like rain. He displays his losing card. The black page of wands lays down his cards cursing, but he is a good player and will probably not suffer badly in his defeat. The seven coins show, from the right clockwise, a sleeping child, a chest of gold, a soul in Purgatory praying for release, the chariot of Saturn, a full moon, a lily and a tree bearing fruit. At the bottom the artist’s signature appears in a stone tablet along with the date, in the tradition of medieval fresco painters.

Divinatory meanings: 
Ingenuity. Growth. Hard work. Progress. Successful dealings. Money. Wealth. Treasure. Gain.

Reversed meanings: 
Anxiety. Impatience. Uneasiness. Imprudentactions. Lossof money. Unwise investment.

SIX OF COINS
A sentinel with a stout lance guards six coins. The coins illustrate the meanings of the card with different scenes: a miser, the chariot of Jupiter, a fool who has lost everything and a fool happy for a sudden win, a mandala rose and a rich man giving a poor man money from a scale.

Divinatory meanings: 
Generosity. Philanthropy. Charity. Kindness. Gratification. Gifts. Material gain. 

Reversed meanings: 
Avarice. Selfishness. Envy. Jealousy. Bad debts. Unpaid loans.

FIVE OF COINS
A youth mischievously kisses a lady’s hand; theirs is an illicit relationship. In the center is a coin showing the chariot of Mars. The other coins represent disorder caused by violence and desire corresponding to the four elements: fire and earth at the top and air and water at the bottom.

Divinatory meanings: 
Material trouble. Destitution. Loss. Failure. Error. Mistress. Lover. Disaffection. 

Reversed meanings: 
Reversal of bad trend. New interests. Overcoming disharmony in marriage or love.

FOUR OF COINS
A nun smiles as she unwraps a secret gift. On the left a glass vase exhales a precious essence, and on the right is a closed asphodel flower. The roots of the coins spiral. In the top coins are the chariot of the Moon and a swan swimming in the moonlight. At the bottom are the boundary wall of a castle and a mysterious cat in a cage.

Divinatory meanings: 
Love of material wealth. Hoarder. Usurer. Skinflint. Miser. Ungenerous person. Inability to share.

Reversed meanings: 
Setbacks in material holdings. Obstacles. Opposition to further gain. Suspense and delay. Spendthrift.

THREE OF COINS
Three coins show the chariot of Venus, the ruler Caesar, and a dancing figure with a tambourine. The roots of the coins hold crystals. On the right is a monument to a great man who resembles Leonardo da Vinci, but is really symbolic of a person versed in the arts, the occult, science and other pursuits. 

Divinatory meanings: 
Great skill in trade or work. Mastery. Artistic ability. Dignity. Renown. Rank. Power.

Reversed meanings: 
Sloppiness. Mediocrity. Commonplace ideas. Lack of skill. Preoccupation.

TWO OF COINS
The story of Suzanna and the elders, from the Old Testament, is illustrated around the coins. Suzanna dresses after her bath, gazing at herself in a precious mirror. In the coin above is the triumph of Mercury, and below is a library with an inkpot and quill.

Divinatory meanings: 
Difficulty in launching new projects. Difficult situations arising. New troubles. Embarrassment. Worry. Concern.

Reversed meanings: 
Literary ability. Agility in handling matters. Simulated enjoyment. Forced gaiety. Letter. Message. Missive.

ACE OF COINS
The great coin has earthy roots in which rocks and crystals dangle. The coin is held by a blue-winged boy who is blindfolded with a red banner that twines around his body. Two sprouts are at the bottom of the card. The coin illustrates the age of gold. In the foreground of the coin is a treasure. A king and queen lie nude, eating a bunch of grapes. On the left and right are the fruit trees of the garden of Hesperides. Nearby are an ox and a lamb, a young man playing a panpipe, a dancing child with a tambourine, and another child playing happily. Under a golden calf wearing the headdress of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, a couple dances. At the top, an arch of flowers opens to a road that leads to a sacred mountain.

Divinatory meanings: 
Perfection. Attainment. Prosperity. Felicity. Great wealth. Bliss. Ecstasy. Gold. Valuable coins or artifacts. Treasures. The combination of material prosperity and spirituality. 

Reversed meanings: 
Prosperity without happiness. Misused wealth. Wasted money. Corruption by money. Miserliness. Greed. Fool’s gold.

THE TEN-CARD SPREAD
The ten-card spread is one of the most popular and effective methods of using the tarot for divination. It is a slightly altered version of the Ancient Celtic Method described by Arthur Edward Waite in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.
The person seeking an answer to a question is known as the questioner or querent. The questioner sits at a table opposite the diviner and both persons maintain a serious mental attitude. The questioner should concentrate on the specific question to be answered. This question is stated aloud to the diviner while the questioner simultaneously shuffles the face down deck. The person who handles the cards impregnates them with personal magnetism and thereby creates a rapport between the subconscious and the cards. The cards may be shuffled either hand over hand or by riffling (separating the deck into two parts and riffling with the thumb so the cards intermix). The shuffling must be done by the person seeking an interpretation or prediction — not by the diviner. When the questioner is satisfied with the shuffling, the deck is placed face down in front of the diviner. The cards are always viewed from the diviner’s position. Beginning with the top card as number one, the second card as number two, and so on, the diviner turns over the first six cards, one at a time, placing them face up on the table in the sequence shown in the diagram.
The diviner should turn the cards over from left to right, thereby assuring that the cards continue to point in the same direction as when placed on the table by the questioner. The cards facing the questioner are said to be upside down or inverted and therefore the reversed meaningsapplytothem. Intheeventthefirst card turned over by the diviner is upside down, the diviner should reverse the first card so that it is displayed upright. The remaining nine cards should then be turned over from bottom to top in such a manner as to reverse the direction of each of these cards, since the questioner may have mistakenly handed the deck upside down to the diviner. Generally, if more than half the cards are reversed, the diviner may find a more consistent reading is obtained by returning the reversed cards to their upright position.
The sequence of laying out the cards is as follows:
Card 1: Present position. Atmosphere in which the questioner is presently working and living. Influences on the questioner. This card represents the questioner. 
Card 2: Immediate influence. The nature of the influences or the obstacles that lie just ahead. This card crosses the questioner.
Card 3: Goal or destiny. The ultimate goal or destiny of the questioner. The best that can be accomplished by the questioner based on existing circumstances. This card may also represent the questioner’s aim or ideal within the present frame of reference. This card crowns the questioner.
Card 4: Distant past foundation. The broad and basic events and influences which existed in the past and upon which the present events are based. This card is behind the questioner.
Card 5: Recent past events. The most recent sphere of influencethat is coming into being inthenearfuturein a broad sense. This card is beneath the questioner. 
Card 6: Future influence. In a broad sense, the sphere of influence that is coming into being in the near future. This card is in front of the questioner.
After reading the preceding six cards, the diviner proceeds to turn over the next four cards from the deck, placing them one above the other in a line to the right of the previous six cards, as shown in the diagram.
Card 7: The questioner. The questioner’s present position or attitude within the circumstances. This card is used to place the questioner in proper perspective.
Card 8: Environmental factors. The questioner’s influence on other people and his or her position in life. Tendencies and factors that exist with respect to other persons who may have an effect on the questioner. 
Card 9: Inner emotions. Shows the inner hopes, hidden emotions and secret desires, fears and anxieties of the questioner. Includes those thoughts which will come to the mind of the questioner in the future. 
Card 10: Final results. The culmination and results of all the influences revealed by the other cards in the divination, provided events and influences continue as indicated.