The Journey of the Tarot Fool

The Journey of the Tarot Fool Around the Zodiac By Anthony Louis

Text copyright © 2013 Anthony Louis All Rights Reserved Edition 1.1 21 February 2014 Other Books by the Author Horary Astrology Tarot Plain and Simple The Art of Forecasting with Solar Returns A Geomantic Tarot Spread (Kindle ebook) The Annotated Raphael’s Mundane Astrology (Kindle e-book) Primary Directions in Astrology: A Primer (Kindle e-book) Tarot Beyond the Basics (Llewellyn,

April 2014) The author’s blog about astrology and tarot is at http://tonylouis.wordpress.com/

Table of Contents Preface The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah The Tree of Life Tarot Associations to the Tree of Life Tarot Cards and the Decans of the Zodiac Pip Cards 2 through 10 Court Cards and Decans Summary of Golden Dawn Associations of the Court Cards The Major Arcana around the Zodiac Wheel The Planets and the Major Arcana Case Example: Interpreting a Birth Chart A Golden Dawn Journey through the Thirty-Six Decans of the Zodiac

SPRINGTIME: MARCH 21 – JUNE 20; ARIES – TAURUS – GEMINI The Fool Visits the Cardinal Fire Sign ARIES First decan of Aries, ruled by Mars: Two of Wands - Dominion Second decan of Aries, ruled by the Sun: Three of Wands – Established Strength Third decan of Aries, ruled by Venus: Four of Wands – Perfected Work The Fool Visits the Fixed Earth Sign TAURUS First decan of Taurus, ruled by Mercury: Five of Pentacles – Material Trouble Second decan of Taurus, ruled by the Moon: Six of Pentacles – Material Success Third decan of Taurus, ruled by Saturn: Seven of Pentacles – Success

Unfulfilled The Fool Visits the Mutable Air Sign GEMINI First decan of Gemini, ruled by Jupiter: Eight of Swords – Shortened Force Second decan of Gemini, ruled by Mars: Nine of Swords – Despair and Cruelty Third decan of Gemini, ruled by the Sun: Ten of Swords - Ruin SUMMER: JUNE 21 – SEPTEMBER 22; CANCER – LEO - VIRGO The Fool Visits the Cardinal Water Sign CANCER First decan of Cancer, ruled by Venus: Two of Cups - Love Second decan of Cancer, ruled by Mercury: Three of Cups - Abundance Third decan of Cancer, ruled by the Moon: Four of Cups – Blended

Pleasure The Fool Visits the Fixed Fire Sign LEO First decan of Leo, ruled by Saturn: Five of Wands - Strife Second decan of Leo, ruled by Jupiter: Six of Wands - Victory Third decan of Leo, ruled by Mars: Seven of Wands– Valor The Fool Visits the Mutable Earth Sign VIRGO First decan of Virgo, ruled by the Sun: Eight of Pentacles - Prudence Second decan of Virgo, ruled by Venus: Nine of Pentacles – Material Gain Third decan of Virgo, ruled by Mercury: Ten of Pentacles - Wealth FALL: SEPTEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21; LIBRA – SCORPIO - SAGITTARIUS

The Fool Visits the Cardinal Air Sign LIBRA First decan of Libra, ruled by the Moon: Two of Swords – Peace Restored Second decan of Libra, ruled by Saturn: Three of Swords - Sorrow Third decan of Libra, ruled by Jupiter: Four of Swords – Rest from Strife The Fool Visits the Fixed Water Sign SCORPIO First decan of Scorpio, ruled by Mars: Five of Cups – Loss in Pleasure Second decan of Scorpio, ruled by the Sun: Six of Cups - Pleasure Third decan of Scorpio, ruled by Venus: Seven of Cups – Illusionary Success The Fool Visits the Mutable Fire Sign

SAGITTARIUS First decan of Sagittarius, ruled by Mercury: Eight of Wands– Swiftness Second decan of Sagittarius, ruled by the Moon: Nine of Wands – Great Strength Third decan of Sagittarius, ruled by Saturn: Ten of Wands - Oppression WINTER: DECEMBER 22 – MARCH 20; CAPRICORN – AQUARIUS – PISCES The Fool Visits the Cardinal Earth Sign CAPRICORN First decan of Capricorn, ruled by Jupiter: Two of Pentacles – Harmonious Change Second decan of Capricorn, ruled by Mars: Three of Pentacles – Material Works Third decan of Capricorn, ruled by the Sun: Four of Pentacles – Earthly

power The Fool Visits the Fixed Air Sign AQUARIUS First decan of Aquarius, ruled by Venus: Five of Swords - Defeat Second decan of Aquarius, ruled by Mercury: Six of Swords – Earned Success Third decan of Aquarius, ruled by the Moon: Seven of Swords – Unstable Effort The Fool Visits the Mutable Water Sign PISCES First decan of Pisces, ruled by Saturn: Eight of Cups – Abandoned Success Second decan of Pisces, ruled by Jupiter: Nine of Cups – Material Happiness Third decan of Pisces, ruled by Mars: Ten of Cups – Perfected Success

Preface The longest journey is the journey inward, for he who has chosen his destiny has started upon his quest for the source of his being. [1] Dag Hammarskjöld Tarot authors often speak of the Fool’s journey through the Major Arcana on his travel toward enlightenment. In this scenario the trump cards represent archetypal forces, or spiritual principles, that the Fool must confront and master during his sojourn on earth. My own experience has been that the Minor Arcana are no less profound than the Majors and that the Minors also include important lessons to be learned. By the same token, the Major Arcana often relate to mundane matters. For example, it is not

uncommon for the Chariot to appear in a reading about the family car, for Justice to show up when a legal issue is at hand, or for the World card to pop up when a trip abroad is in the offing. This e-book focuses on the Fool’s journey through the twelve signs of the zodiac. The text was originally intended to be included in my book Tarot Beyond the Basics, but the editors at Llewellyn felt it was far too long to be included as a book chapter so I decided to publish it as a separate e-book. We will begin with the Fool’s journey through Aries at the eastern horizon, corresponding to the onset of spring and work our way through each of the twelve astrological signs. During our trip we will pass through the four quadrants of the horoscope and their corresponding seasons. On this voyage we will visit the thirty-six decans and

their associated pip cards. We’ll also meet many court cards and tarot trumps along the way. The map for this voyage was given to us by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Figure 1: The Natural Zodiac with 0o Aries rising and Decan Rulers in Chaldean order (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon). Tracing the Fool’s journey will deepen your understanding of the Golden Dawn tarot delineations, which are the basis of many modern tarot decks. In addition, the Golden Dawn attributions can be applied directly to your birth chart to give a deeper understanding of the placements in your natal horoscope. Each planet in the birth chart resides in a region of the zodiac associated with a particular court card which can act as the planet’s mentor or guide. The location of each planet is also connected with one of the pip cards between 2 and 10 and with one of the Major Arcana. The major cards can be

used to reveal which spiritual lessons the individual needs to confront, using the energy of that planet. The pip cards usually relate to mundane matters and the events or ordinary life. Readers should be forewarned that the Golden Dawn attempted to force the tarot into the mold of its astrological and Kabbalistic correspondences, with varying degrees of success. Sometimes the astrological symbolism closely matches the meaning of the card, like a hand fitting a custom-made glove. Other times, making sense of the astrological symbolism in light of the Golden Dawn assignations is like asking O.J. Simpson to put on a shrunken leather glove. Many modern tarot decks are strongly influenced by the teachings of the Golden Dawn. Decks that are highly compatible with the approach outlined here include the Crowley-Harris Thoth

Tarot deck and Godfrey Dowson’s Hermetic Tarot deck. Lee Bursten’s Zodiac Tarot deck also follows the approach taken here, with some minor modifications. The Golden Dawn assigned the element Fire to its Knights and the element Air to its Princes/Kings. Some modern decks reverse this assignment, attributing Fire to the Kings and Air to the Knights.

The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah The Golden Dawn view of the tarot is strongly influenced by the Kabbalah, a Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible. The Kabbalah speaks of four “worlds,” consisting of ten “sephirot” each. The sephirot are “emanations” through which the deity reveals itself and creates the universe, including all its physical and metaphysical realms. The energy flows from the deity into the universe via a pattern called the Tree of Life. The Golden Dawn paired the forty sephirot (4 worlds times 10 sephirot = 40) with the tarot’s forty pip cards, that is, with the Ace through Ten of each suit. Each of the four worlds is paired with one of the Hebrew letters in the name of the deity: Yod – Heh – Vau –

Heh. The Golden Dawn used the Kabbalistic associations to form links between the tarot cards and specific elements, suits, classes of court cards, and family relationships: Yod: Fire (spiritual, life-giving, inspiring); Atziluth, the World of Emanation (divine intent); the suit of Wands; tarot Knights; the father. First Heh: Water (emotional, instinctive, nurturing); Briyah, the World of Creation (wisdom, understanding); the suit of Cups; tarot Queens; the mother. Vau: Air (analyzing, arguing, making connections); Yetzirah, the World of Formation (angelic); the suit of Swords; the tarot Princes/Kings; the son. Heh (final): Earth (material, bodily, tangible); Assiah, the World of Action (physical reality); the suit of

Disks/Pentacles; tarot Princesses/Pages; the daughter.

The Tree of Life The divine spark originates with the deity and flows through the ten emanations (sephirot) of the Tree of Life, as depicted in the following diagram.

Figure 2: Kabbalistic Tree of Life with the names of the Sephirot and paths in Hebrew.[2]

Tarot Associations to the Tree of Life ONE (1): Kether, Crown, the Primum Mobile (the divine spark), the Tarot Aces. TWO (2): Chokmah, Wisdom (the Zodiac), Tarot Knights and the cardinal Pips numbered “2” (initiation, fertilization, gestation, fruitfulness). THREE (3): Binah, Understanding (the planet Saturn), Tarot Queens and cardinal Pips numbered “3” (putting into action). FOUR (4): Chesed, Mercy

(the planet Jupiter), the Tarot cardinal Pips numbered “4” (realization, manifestation, completion, the rule of law). FIVE (5): Geburah, Severity, Strength (the planet Mars), the Tarot fixed Pips numbered “5” (conflict, struggle, strife, upset, disruption, stress). SIX (6): Tiphareth, Beauty, Balance (the Sun), the Tarot Princes/Kings and the fixed Pips numbered “6” (achieving, accomplishing, carrying out). SEVEN (7): Netzach, Victory (the planet Venus), the Tarot fixed Pips numbered “7” (a transcendent force, a potential result; like a powerful crown in need of a

capable ruler). EIGHT (8): Hod, Glory, Splendor (the planet Mercury), the Tarot mutable Pips numbered “8” (isolated success, not integrated with an overarching goal). NINE (9): Yesod, Foundation (the Moon), the Tarot mutable Pips numbered “9” (firmly established power; crystallization of energy; illusion; giver of form). TEN (10): Malkuth, Kingdom, Material Reality (the Four Elements), the Tarot Princesses/Pages and the mutable Pips numbered “10” (stability, the end result).

Tarot Cards and the Decans of the Zodiac Aces and Pages have no zodiacal attribution: The only cards which the Fool will not encounter on this journey are the Aces and Princesses/Pages of each suit. The four Aces are related to Kether (divine intent) on the Tree of Life. The Aces represent pure potential. As Crowley puts it, Aces symbolize the “roots” of the four elements. The Golden Dawn does not assign the Aces to decans because decans represent the concrete manifestations of the elements in each of the signs of the zodiac. The four Aces “form a link between the small cards [Pips] and the Princesses [Pages], who rule the Heavens around the North Pole.”[3] Like the Aces, the Princesses or Pages have no zodiacal attribution.

Instead, the Aces and Princesses are linked to the element Earth and to the Kabbalistic World “Assiah” of material reality.[4]

Pip Cards 2 through 10 In an analogy with the three decans in each zodiac sign, the Golden Dawn divided the tarot’s pip cards numbered 2 through 10 into three groups: (2, 3, 4), (5, 6, 7) and (8, 9, 10). Cardinal Pips: The pip cards numbered 2, 3 and 4 of each suit are considered “cardinal” because they begin their suits, just as the cardinal signs initiate the seasons. Being “cardinal” suggests a desire to lead, to begin new ventures and to create something new, “whether it’s exploring uncharted geography, staring a family, beginning a partnership, or founding a business.”[5] Thus, the cards numbered 2, 3 and 4 represent the initial stages of action of the energy of the suit, just as the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)

initiate their respective seasons of the year. Fixed Pips: The pip cards numbered 5, 6 and 7 of each suit are considered “fixed” because they fall in the middle of their suits, just as the fixed signs comprise the middle of each season. Symbolically, fixed signs and fixed tarot cards consolidate and organize the new enterprises begun by the cardinal initiators. “Fixed” implies seeking stability, order and endurance and resisting change. Thus, the cards numbered 5, 6 and 7 represent the stabilizing middle stages of action of the energy of the suit, just as the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) stabilize and bring to a peak their respective seasons of the year. Mutable Pips: The pip cards numbered 8, 9 and 10 of each suit

are considered “mutable” because they bring the numbered cards of their suits to an end, just as the mutable signs end each season and make way for the next. Mutability suggests flexibility, transition, change and adaptation as it closes out the old and ushers in the new. Thus, the cards numbered 8, 9 and 10 represent the transitional ending stages of action of the energy of the suit, just as the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) wind down and bring to a close their respective seasons of the year.

Figure 3: Golden Dawn Attributions of Pip Cards to Decans (0o Leo rising). Note that the above diagram differs from the standard ‘Aries rising’ horoscope used in modern astrology. The Golden Dawn began their system at mid-summer with the first decan of Leo, the location of the royal star Cor Leonis (the Heart of the Lion), in Hellenistic times. According to Israel Regardie, “the beginning of the decanates is from the Royal King Star of the Heart of the Lion, the great star Cor Leonis, and therefore is the first decanate that of Saturn in Leo.”[6] In the Chaldean order of visible planets, Saturn comes first because it is the first visible planet one encounters upon entering our solar system from the realm of the fixed stars.

Also note in this diagram that Mars rules two consecutive decans at the passage from Pisces into Aries, which is the transition from winter into spring in the northern hemisphere. Referring to the seven visible planets of antiquity and the fiery planet Mars, Israel Regardie explains: “There being 36 Decanates and only seven Planets, it follows that one of the latter must rule over one more decanate than the others. This is the Planet Mars which is allotted the last decan of Pisces and first of Aries, because the long cold of the winter requires a great energy to overcome it and initiate spring.”[7]

Court Cards and Decans The court cards follow a pattern similar to that of the pips, with a slight phase shift. The Kings (Princes), Queens, and Knights are each allotted thirty degrees – the width of one zodiac sign. The Queens, Princes and Knights are placed around the zodiac according to the seasons of the year in the northern hemisphere. In your birth chart each planet or point will reside in a region governed by one of these court cards.

Figure 4: Court Cards and Quarters of the Year, 20o Pisces rising. The Queens give birth to the four seasons. The Watery Queens: The four Queens, being “watery” motherly cards, give birth to the four seasons signaled by the four cardinal signs of the zodiac. All births require a period of gestation, which occurs during the last decan (the final 10 degrees) of the preceding mutable sign. The Queens’ “waters break” at the cardinal points of the year and thus they govern the first two decans (the first twenty degrees) of each cardinal sign. Fiery Wands: The Queen of Wands gives birth to spring on March 21st of each year in the tropical zodiac, after having gestated the unborn season of spring during the

transitional final decan of mutable Pisces (March 11 - 21), the end of winter. Watery Cups: The Queen of Cups gives birth to summer on June 22nd and governs the last decan of mutable Gemini and the first two decans of cardinal Cancer. Airy Swords: The Queen of Swords gives birth to autumn on September 23rd and governs the last decan of mutable Virgo and the first two decans of cardinal Libra. Earthy Pentacles: The Queen of Pentacles gives birth to winter on December 22nd and governs the last decan of mutable Sagittarius and the first two decans of cardinal Capricorn. The Airy Kings/Princes: Having given birth to the four seasons at the cardinal points of the year and having

nurtured the seasons through their early stages of growth, the watery Queens turn over the care of their seasonal offspring to the four Kings. The Princes/Kings are charged with the ordering and consolidation of the four seasons at the peak of their development. The airy Kings (Crowley’s Princes) begin their task during the final decan of the cardinal signs and continue their work during the first two decans of the fixed signs of each quadrant. According to the British astrologer C.E.O. Carter, “all fixed signs have a power-seeking propensity.”[8] Pentacles: Thus, The Prince/King of practical earthy Pentacles governs the last decan of cardinal Aries and the first two decans of the fixed Earth sign Taurus. Wands: The Prince/King of creative fiery Wands governs the

last decan of cardinal Cancer and the first two decans of the fixed Fire sign Leo. Cups: The Prince/King of compassionate watery Cups governs the last decan of cardinal Libra and the first two decans of the fixed Water sign Scorpio. Swords: The Prince/King of analytical airy Swords governs the last decan of cardinal Capricorn and the first two decans of the fixed Air sign Aquarius. The Fiery Knights: Having administrated the four seasons at the peak of their development, the Kings turn their care over to the fiery, impetuous Knights whose are charged with the transition from one season to the next. Thus, the Knights rule the last decan of a fixed sign and the first two decans of the subsequent mutable sign.

According to Carter, “the mutable factor introduces flexibility and a power of adaptation.”[9] Swords: The Knight of airy Swords, who is in charge of the movement from spring toward summer, governs the last decan of fixed Taurus and the first two decans of the mutable Air sign Gemini. Summertime will not truly begin until the Queen of Cups gives birth to summer at the very end of Gemini, which occurs at the summer solstice. Pentacles: The Knight of earthy Pentacles, who is charged with the transition from summer to autumn, governs the last decan of fixed Leo and the first two decans of the mutable Earth sign Virgo. Autumn will not truly begin until the Queen of Swords gives birth for the Fall at the very end of Virgo, which occurs

at the autumnal equinox. Wands: The Knight of fiery Wands, who oversees the movement from autumn to winter, governs the last decan of fixed Scorpio and the first two decans of the mutable Fire sign Sagittarius. Wintertime will not truly begin until the Queen of Pentacles gives birth to winter at the very end of Sagittarius, which occurs at the winter solstice. Cups: Finally, the Knight of watery Cups, who is in charge of the transition from winter to spring, governs the final decan of fixed Aquarius and the first two decans of the mutable Water sign Pisces. Springtime will not truly begin until the Queen of Wands gives birth to spring at the very end of Pisces, which occurs at the vernal equinox.

Summary of Golden Dawn Associations of the Court Cards Princes (Kings) are assigned to the element Air and to the final decan of the Cardinal Signs and first two decans of the Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). Thus, Kings preside over the consolidation and peak of each season. Queens are assigned to the element Water and to the final decan of the Mutable Signs and first two decans of the Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). Thus, Queens preside over the gestation and birth of each season. Knights are assigned to the element Fire and to the final decan of the Fixed Signs and first two decans of the Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces). Thus, Knight

preside over the ending of each season and its transition to the next one. The Golden Dawn did not assign Aces and Pages (Princesses) to the zodiac. Instead, the Princesses were attributed to the element Earth and to four quadrants of the heavens around the North Pole. Thus, the assignment of Pages is related to the earth’s typography rather than the zodiac circle.

Figure 5: A sixteenth century woodcut. The first column shows the three Air signs; the second column,

the three Water signs; the third column, the three Fire signs; and the fourth column, the three Earth signs. The Golden Dawn paired Kings/Princes with Air, Queens with Water, Knights with Fire, and Princesses/Pages with Earth.

The Major Arcana around the Zodiac Wheel Just as each King, Queen and Knight governs three consecutive decans of the zodiac, so too are the Major Arcana cards associated with three consecutive decans. Because each zodiac sign is paired with one of the Major Arcana, the three decans in question all belong to the same sign. The following diagram illustrates these correlations.

Figure 6: Major Arcana and the Signs of the Zodiac (As = 0o Aries rising).

The Planets and the Major Arcana Classical astrology makes use of the seven visible planets of antiquity. Each of these planets is associated directly with one of the Major Arcana and is linked indirectly, through sign rulerships, with additional Major Arcana cards. The following section outlines these connections in a ‘mindmap’ format.

The Sun (ruler of Leo) → the Sun card (XIX).

Leo → Strength (VIII or XI).



The Moon (ruler of Cancer) → the High Priestess (II). Cancer → The Chariot (VII).



Mercury (ruler of Gemini and Virgo) → the Magician (I). Gemini → The Lovers (VI). Virgo → The Hermit (IX).



Venus (ruler of Taurus and Libra) → the Empress (III). Taurus → The Hierophant (V). Libra → Justice (XI or VIII).



Mars (ruler of Aries and Scorpio) → the Tower (XVI). Aries → The Emperor (IV). Scorpio → Death (XIII).



Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius and Pisces) → the Wheel of Fortune (X). Sagittarius → Temperance (XIV). Pisces → The Moon card (XVIII).



Saturn (ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius) → the World card (XXI). Capricorn → The Devil (XV). Aquarius → The Star (XVII).



Three Major Arcana have no planetary assignments: The Fool (0) → the element Air. Modern astrologers often assign the Fool to Uranus. The Hanged Man (XII) → the element Water. Modern astrologers often assign the Hanged Man to Neptune. Judgment (XX) → the element Fire. Modern astrologers often assign Judgment to Pluto.

Case Example: Interpreting a Birth Chart To illustrate how to use tarot to illuminate factors in a birth chart, I chose an example of a celebrity familiar to most Americans. The talk show host Bill O’Reilly is known for his aggressive interview style. O’Reilly even described himself as a “thug” in an interview on 60 Minutes: Interviewer: “The neighbors keep saying, ‘We thought he’d be in prison,’” O’Reilly: “Ain’t America great. I was a little thug, and now I’m being paid millions of dollars for being a big thug. … sometimes I have to be mean. It’s like a parent or a teacher.

Sometimes for the good of everybody you have to be a little bit strong, a little bit confrontational.”[10] Bill O’Reilly was born on September 10, 1949 in New York City. His time of birth is not publicly available, so I cast a chart for sunrise on the day and at the location of his birth. Here is his astrological chart with solar sign houses.

Figure 7: Bill O'Reilly, 10 September 1949, sunrise, NYC. We are interested in what Mr. O’Reilly’s chart can tell us about his communication style. The planet Mercury, messenger of the gods, governs our way of thinking and communicating. The 3rd House of the natal horoscope has to do with how we express our ideas. In his birth chart Mr. O’Reilly’s Mercury lies in the middle decan of Libra, the Scales of Justice. With his Mercury in Libra, we might expect his way of communicating to be “fair and balanced.” With Mercury in the Saturn decan of Libra we might expect him to be conservative in his thinking and willing to study topics in depth. Each planet in the birth chart lies in a region of the zodiac to which are

assigned a Major Arcanum, a Court card, and a Pip card. The major cards show which ideals and lessons the planet must deal with. The court cards reveal the type of approach the planet will take. The pip cards suggest the areas of life or types of situations that will be experienced in the process. Residing in Libra, Mercury strives for Justice. This is not to say that Mr. O’Reilly achieves his goal, merely that Justice is an ideal toward which he aspires in his thought and speech. Lying in the middle decan of Libra, his Mercury comes under the influence of the Queen of Swords. Like the Queen of Swords, Bill O’Reilly cuts to the quick and does not tolerate fools gladly. The pip card linked to the middle decan of Libra is the Three of Swords, a card of sorrow, disruption, separation, quarrel, discord and

mischief making. According to the Golden Dawn, a negative side of this card is the temptation to be “deceitful in words.” Having considered the placement of Mercury in his chart, let’s now turn our attention to his 3rd house of communication. In his sunrise solar house chart, the 3rd house has Scorpio on the cusp and no planets contained therein. Scorpio is associated with the major card Death. Mr. O’Reilly’s interest in communicating about death is apparent in the many books he is publishing about the killing of historical personages. Even though the 3rd house has no planetary occupants, it is ruled by Mars (traditional ruler of Scorpio) and Pluto (modern ruler of Scorpio). Hence, these two planets influence his thinking and communication style. Mars is associated with the Tower and

Pluto with Judgment of the tarot. Furthermore, Mars and Pluto both lie in Leo (associated with Strength). Mars and Pluto lying in the first two decans of Leo bring the charismatic, assertive King of Wands into play. Mars in the first decan of Leo is linked to the Five of Wands, and Pluto in the second decan of Leo is linked to the Six of Wands. If we wanted, we could lay out the cards indicated as a tarot spread that tells us about Mr. O’Reilly’s communication style. It would look like this: Justice – Queen of Swords – Three of Swords Death The Tower – Judgment Strength – King of Wands – Five of Wands – Six of Wands If you were told that these cards reveal

how an unknown person thinks and communicates his ideas, how would you interpret the spread? As an exercise, try setting up a similar spread with your own birth chart. To do so, lay out the cards related to the following factors in your natal chart: The placement of Mercury. The sign on the cusp of the 3rd house. The planetary ruler(s) of the 3rd house. The placements of the rulers of the 3rd house. A similar process can be carried out for the other planets and houses of the horoscope. If you don’t have a copy of your birth chart, several online sites will calculate one at no cost. Two such sites are http://alabe.com/freechart/ and http://www.astro.com/.

A Golden Dawn Journey through the Thirty-Six Decans of the Zodiac The dates given below are for both the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. The tropical zodiac is commonly used in the English-speaking West, and the sidereal zodiac is used by Vedic astrologers in India. The Golden Dawn used the sidereal zodiac, so I thought it important to include it here. The astrological New Year begins at zero degrees of Aries, which occurs on March 21st in the West but currently on April 14th in India. Our journey begins on the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Aries is just rising in the natural zodiac. Possible keyword delineations

are included for the pip cards. These delineations are merely suggestions based on my own assemblage of key words associated with the cards. In delineating the pip cards, the Golden Dawn paid particular attention to the zodiac sign, the planet ruling the decan and the numerological correspondence with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. The reader should put together his or her own delineations, for these will be more personal and thus more useful. Now let us look at each sign and its individual decans.

SPRINGTIME: MARCH 21 – JUNE 20; ARIES – TAURUS – GEMINI

The Fool Visits the Cardinal Fire Sign ARIES

Dates: March 21 – April 20 (tropical); April 14 – May 14 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Mars. Major Arcanum: The Emperor (IV). Exalted: the Sun. Debilitated: Venus (in detriment), Saturn (in fall).

Court Cards: Queen of Wands (decans 1 & 2); King of Pentacles (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 2 of Wands. Mars/Aries. Second Decan: 3 of Wands. Sun/Aries. Third Decan: 4 of Wands. Venus/Aries.

First Stop: ARIES (cardinal pips 2, 3, 4). Zodiac Sign: Aries is a cardinal Fire sign related to self-interest, initiative, enterprise and dominion. Aries is a

warrior who likes to accept challenges, pioneer, start new projects and look after his own best interests, usually with great energy and enthusiasm. When Aries cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you are caring for yourself, pursuing your goals and facing the challenges of life. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Aries is ruled by fiery Mars – the assertive, self-oriented, masculine, sexy, impassioned, commanding, active, impatient and enterprising god of war. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Aries to the Emperor and Mars to the Lightningstruck Tower. Hence, issues of authority, leadership, command, dominion, organization, insight, pride, upheaval and sudden revelation form a backdrop for understanding the pip

cards of this sign. Because the Sun is exalted in Aries, the Sun trump lies in the background, reinforcing themes of dominion, good health, prominence, admiration, leadership, vitality, radiance and success.

First decan of Aries, ruled by Mars: Two of Wands Dominion On the Tree of Life the number “2” corresponds to Chokmah (Wisdom) and has at its disposal the potential of the entire zodiac, so that it can “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). Thus, “2” symbolizes initiation, fertilization, gestation and fecundity. The first decan of all cardinal signs represents the period immediately after the cardinal Queen gives birth to the new season. Aries is the sign of beginnings. Spring has sprung, and the Fire energy depicted in the suit of Wands is starting to grow and develop. If the suit of Wands were a plant, the Ace of Wands would be its roots. In this first decan these early fiery shoots would be pushing up through the ground, seeking a new enterprise to

begin or a new challenge to pursue. The double dose of Mars in this decan, together with the exalted Sun, suggests a self-confident and intrepid individual who feels able to face any challenge and emerge victorious. Mars also means that the Lightning-struck Tower is lurking in the background; but fortunately the exalted Sun and Aries, as the Emperor, have the skills to keep the potential disruption of the Tower under control. In the Waite-Smith deck the male figure on the card is looking toward the ocean of the last decan of Pisces, also ruled by the lively Queen of Wands. Possible Keyword Delineation: Assert yourself (Queen of Wands) and use your personal initiative (Mars) to renew (Aries) aspects of your life in need of refreshing.

Second decan of Aries, ruled by the Sun: Three of Wands – Established Strength On the Tree of Life the number “3” corresponds to Binah (Understanding; awareness of the necessity of endings and death; putting the matters of the “2” into action) and the planet Saturn (establishing structure; security, boundaries, systems, organization, time, discipline, setbacks, heaviness, hardship, loss, death, lessons to be learned). Crowley calls this card “Virtue.” The golden Sun is exalted in Aries and is able to express its nature in an unencumbered way. In this decan the Sun-king of the solar system joins forces with the Emperor of the tarot, two bastions of established strength. Add the war-god Mars to the mix and the strength indicated by this

combination is undisputed. These three powerful masculine leaders (Sun, Mars, Emperor) are brimming with strength and confidence. They know how to initiate a project, take the lead, exercise authority, win the battle and make a goal a reality. The fiery Queen of Wands, who resides here, gets turned on by their masculine prowess. In the Waite-Smith deck the male figure on the card looks toward the ocean of the last decan of Pisces, which the Queen of Wands also rules. Possible Keyword Delineation: Take the initiative (Aries) and the time you need to establish structures (Saturn) that will enable you to express your individuality (Sun) and bring your creative ideas to fruition (Binah).

Third decan of Aries, ruled by Venus: Four of Wands – Perfected Work On the Tree of Life the number “4” corresponds to Chesed (Mercy; completion, realization, establishment, settling, or coming to terms with the actions taken in the “3” of the suit) and the planet Jupiter (good fortune, benevolence, protection, wealth, expansion, excess, growth, adventure, risk-taking, the future). Mars rules the entire sign Aries and Venus rules the third decan of the sign of the Ram. Whenever sensual Venus and virile Mars get together, sexual excitement is in the air. Venus is at a disadvantage here because she is in the sign of her detriment, which gives Mars the upper hand. Nonetheless, Aries is the sign of springtime, so love is in the air and Mars is likely to ask

Venus to bed with him and begin a life together. After all, they are traversing the realm of The Prince/King of Pentacles who values tangible results, hard work, stability, material security and solid foundations. In addition, the number “4” urges tangible manifestation of the energies of the suit. The exaltation of the radiant Sun in Aries suggests that Mars and Venus will stage a public ceremony to display their shared happiness to the world. Crowley calls this card “Completion.” Possible Keyword Delineation: Having taken the initiative (Aries) to pursue your heart’s desire (Venus), you can now to realize your wishes (Chesed) in a happy manner (Jupiter), especially with regard to establishing a solid foundation for material security (Chesed, King of Pentacles).

The Fool Visits the Fixed Earth Sign TAURUS

Dates: April 21 – May 21 (tropical); May 15 – June 14 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Venus. Major Arcanum: The Hierophant (V). Exalted: the Moon. Debilitated: Mars (in detriment).

Court Cards: King of Pentacles (decans 1 & 2); Knight of Swords (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 5 of Pentacles. Mercury/Taurus. Second Decan: 6 of Pentacles. Moon/Taurus. Third Decan: 7 of Pentacles. Saturn/Taurus.

Second Stop: TAURUS (fixed pips 5, 6, 7). Zodiac Sign: Taurus is a fixed Earth sign related to our resources, values,

money, possessions, financial stability, tangible goods and our ability to secure the finer things in life. Taurus loves physical pleasures such as good food, drink, sex, massage and other luxuries. When Taurus cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have established a secure and stable life structure in which your physical and material needs can be met. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Taurus is ruled by Venus, the ultrafeminine goddess of sensual pleasure, material comfort, beauty, relationships and love. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Taurus to the Hierophant who presided over the Eleusinian mysteries and Venus to the Empress. Hence, issues of tradition, conservatism, wise counsel, spiritual guidance, organized religion, fertility,

fecundity, mothering, child rearing, as well as the tribulations of Demeter form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign. Because the silvery Moon is exalted in Taurus, the High Priestess adds her secret knowledge and intuitive awareness to the mix. Venus also rules the sign Libra, associated with the Justice trump, so that issues of balance, fairness, equilibrium and justice form part of the background of the related pip cards.

First decan of Taurus, ruled by Mercury: Five of Pentacles – Material Trouble On the Tree of Life the number “5” corresponds to Geburah (Severity; conflict, struggle; the disruption of the realization of the actions in the “4”) and the planet Mars (initiative, war, strife, discord, combat, bloodshed, energetic activity and unadulterated self-interest). Most likely the Renaissance artists who created the tarot also had in mind the five wounds of Christ. Crowley calls this card “Worry.” The Five of Pentacles is sometimes called the “poverty” card, but at first glance it not obvious how the Mercury decan of luxuriant Taurus gets associated with material trouble. Taurus, after all, is known for its love of luxury, bodily comforts and the good

things in life. Venus, the ruler of Taurus, has a penchant for jewelry, adornments and sensual pleasure. The Golden Dawn appears to have used primarily the Tree of Life in interpreting this card, but let’s see if there is also an astrological explanation. Youthful Mercury is considered a “neutral” planet because, like a chameleon, he takes on the nature of any celestial influence he makes contact with. Without any astrological dignity of his own in Taurus, Mercury takes on the sign’s penchant for selfindulgence. Venus, the ruler of Taurus, doesn’t help matters any because, as the tarot’s Empress, she wants to nurture and pamper her wonderful male child. Mercury grows up expecting to be taken care of and to never have to work for anything. Along comes The Prince/King of

Pentacles, who esteems the work ethic and the Hierophant whose function is to pass along traditional, conservative spiritual wisdom. These two sober gentlemen combine forces to teach Mercury a lesson: unless he learns to work for what he values, he will end up materially impoverished and spiritually bankrupt. This lesson is consistent with the number “5” and Geburah on the Tree of Life, especially in Taurus where Mars is in detriment. Compare the controversial stance of politician Newt Gingrich, a modern conservative King of Pentacles, who urges putting ghetto children to work as janitors in their schools: “The kids would actually do work; they'd have cash; they'd have pride in the schools. They'd begin the process of rising."[11] Possible Keyword Delineation: Your concrete mind (Mercury) focuses on

material comforts (Taurus) in conflict (Mars) with higher spiritual values (the Hierophant). As a result, you experience struggle and material hardship (Geburah).

Second decan of Taurus, ruled by the Moon: Six of Pentacles – Material Success On the Tree of Life the number “6” corresponds to Tiphareth (Beauty; harmony, accomplishment and achievements spurred by the disruption of the “5”) and the Sun (selfhood, power, majesty, honor, vitality, fun, creativity, self-expression, pride, confidence, exuberance, generosity, achievement). Crowley calls this card “Success.” The pragmatic, wealth-oriented King of Pentacles governs this decan of Taurus, a sign ruled by Venus, the Lesser Benefic. Being exalted in Taurus, the Moon is at her best. Taurus itself is a sign of luxury, growth, physical comfort, placidity and practical accomplishment. As the Hierophant of the tarot, Taurus

espouses the spiritual value of sustained effort aimed at producing tangible results. As the High Priestess of the tarot, the Moon shares with us the secret to achieving material success. Possible Keyword Delineation: Your sense of self (Sun) includes a desire to care for (Moon) and provide for the material comfort (Taurus) of others in a calm and patient manner.

Third decan of Taurus, ruled by Saturn: Seven of Pentacles – Success Unfulfilled On the Tree of Life the number “7” corresponds to Netzach (Victory; a potential result; a transcendent force; a powerful crown in need of a capable and worthy monarch) and the planet Venus (love, affection, harmony, conciliation, beauty, pleasure, selfindulgence, material benefits, good fortune). Crowley calls this card “Failure.” Saturn, a traditionally malefic planet, is known as the Great Taskmaster – the great heavy of the zodiac. Saturn’s metal is dull and weighty lead. Wherever Saturn appears, he usually indicates delays, abandonment, deprivation, dissatisfaction, burdens, setbacks, austerity, frustration, confrontation with harsh reality,

lessons to be learned, a sense of loss and just plain hard work. There is no free lunch: “as ye sow, so shall ye reap.” Saturn tends to feel out of place in Taurus, the land of Venus, because he values austerity, discipline, frugality, seriousness and keeping one’s nose to the grindstone. Venus, on the other hand, likes to party, feel good, go shopping, look nice, enjoy sensual pleasures, and make love. Perhaps in this decan, Saturn in his role of Great Teacher and Taurus, as the Hierophant, are giving Venus a bit of wise counsel that life is not just a bowl of cherries. If Venus wants to mature into an Empress, she must put in the necessary toil to reach her goal. The impatient Knight of Swords, who resides here, is uncomfortable with the slowness of Saturn and needs to learn a similar lesson. Venus, for her part, is not quite ready to take her eye off the

cute guy she met in the workplace. Possible Keyword Delineation: If you pursue long-term goals with sufficient self-discipline (Saturn) while avoiding sloth and self-indulgence (Venus), you can emerge victorious (Netzach) in securing material comfort (Taurus).

The Fool Visits the Mutable Air Sign GEMINI

Dates: May 22 – June 21 (tropical); June 15 – July 15 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Mercury. Major Arcanum: The Lovers (VI). Exalted: n/a Debilitated: Jupiter (in detriment). Court Cards: Knight of Swords (decans 1 & 2); Queen of Cups

(decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 8 of Swords. Jupiter/Gemini. Second Decan: 9 of Swords. Mars/Gemini. Third Decan: 10 of Swords. Sun/Gemini.

Third Stop: GEMINI (mutable pips 8, 9, 10). Zodiac Sign: Gemini is a mutable Air sign related to communication, curiosity, learning, teaching, writing,

transit, movement, agility, versatility, diversity, variety, ideas, thoughts and mental pursuits. When Gemini cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you communicate and focus your thinking rather than scattering your energies and getting bogged down in nagging worries or pointless distractions. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Gemini is ruled by clever Mercury, the trickster messenger of the gods and the patron of merchants and thieves. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Gemini to the Lovers trump and Mercury to the Magician. Hence, issues of choice, making decisions, falling in love and skillfully using of one’s talents and intelligence form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this mutable Air sign.

First decan of Gemini, ruled by Jupiter: Eight of Swords – Shortened Force On the Tree of Life the number “8” corresponds to Hod (Glory; isolated success not integrated with an overarching goal) and the planet Mercury (concrete mind, travel, communication, expression, curiosity, learning, logic, analysis, thinking, worry, restlessness, agility, speed, variety and diversity). Crowley calls this card “Interference.” Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is noted for wanting to move in several directions at once, thus scattering its energies. Many of the traditional images of the Lovers card depict a young man struggling to decide which way to go. The trigger-happy Knight of Swords, who resides in the decan, is often abrupt, impatient and insensitive

as he rushes off, half-cocked, on some crusade. Jupiter is normally futureoriented, but a Jupiter in detriment tends to focus on what could possibly go wrong. An afflicted Jupiter acts immoderately to amplify the Sword Knight’s impetuous propensity and also Gemini’s penchant for scattered thinking. As a result, the Knight gets trapped in a multitude of thoughts; and, instead of heading one-pointedly toward a goal, he experiences the effects of shortened force. Possible Keyword Delineation: You feel hindered by an expansion (Jupiter in detriment) of a variety (Gemini) of worrisome thoughts (Mercury) that are not integrated into a clear life-goal (Hod).

Second decan of Gemini, ruled by Mars: Nine of Swords – Despair and Cruelty On the Tree of Life the number “9” corresponds to Yesod (the Foundation; firmly established power; illusion; giver of form) and the Moon (maternal instincts, habit patterns, emotions, gut feelings, nurturing, inconstancy, dependency, home, family, tribe, inheritance, the past). Crowley simply calls this card “Cruelty.” Many of the comments about the first decan of Gemini also apply to this decan. Instead of Jupiter augmenting the scattered thinking of Gemini and the impetuous behavior of the Knight of Swords, in this decan the self-assured war god Mars adds a combative tinge. The impulsive Knight still wants to rush off in pursuit of some crusading ambition, but now hostility and

aggression are in the air. Mars manifests here as the disruptive Tower of the tarot and the thoughts that flood the Knight’s mind act like cruel weapons that give him no peace. Possible Keyword Delineation: Aggressive or hurtful thoughts (Mars) afflict the mind (Gemini) and take an emotional toll (Moon); but your worries are largely based on illusion (Yesod).

Third decan of Gemini, ruled by the Sun: Ten of Swords Ruin On the Tree of Life the number “10” corresponds to Malkuth (The Kingdom with its four elements) and represents stability and the end result of the progression of the suit. The Golden Dawn called the Ten of Swords the “Lord of Ruin” and gave it a strongly negative connotation (e.g., complete disruption, failure, ruin of all plans, disdain, insolence, impertinence, etc.). In contrast, people born with the Sun in Gemini are generally curious, versatile, talkative, sociable and fond of making connections and being on-the-go. Mercury, although cold and dry when in isolation, is considered “neutral,” meaning that it takes on the nature of other planets that it meets. In Gemini’s

third decan, ruled by the hot dry Sun, dryness predominates and produces an inhospitable environment for the watery Queen of Cups who dwells there. The sensitive Queen of Cups can’t survive for long here; she gets desiccated by the powerful Sun and eventually shrivels up. The image of the shriveled Queen of Cups reminds us of the myth of Icarus who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death because the melting wax could no longer hold together his manmade wings. In Gemini is slowing down and comes to a full stop as the decan ends at the summer solstice. At the boundary between Gemini and Cancer the Sun will be at its closest and hottest with respect to the earth’s northern hemisphere and thus at its most destructive. Crowley noted that the “ten” cards represent the energy of the suit taken to

an extreme. In this case the cutting, embattled nature of Swords is revealed in the disruptive nature of thinking (the element Air) gone wild. Picatrix views this decan as one of inattention, distraction, gaming, empty chatter and idleness – all negative traits of Gemini. The French occultist Etteilla, who wrote well before the Golden Dawn, viewed the Ten of Swords as a card of tears, sadness, lamentation and desolation. Possible Keyword Delineation: You may have been feeling the heat of the approaching summer solstice when the blazing Sun will come to a standstill. The destructive thinking (Gemini) of the previous two cards (the 8 and 9 of Swords) now reaches a powerful and parching (Sun) climax (Malkuth).

SUMMER: JUNE 21 – SEPTEMBER 22; CANCER – LEO VIRGO

The Fool Visits the Cardinal Water Sign CANCER

Dates: June 22 – July 22 (tropical); July 16 – August 16 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: the Moon. Major Arcanum: The Chariot (VII). Exalted: Jupiter. Debilitated: Saturn (in detriment), Mars (in fall). Court Cards: Queen of Cups

(decans 1 & 2); King of Wands (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 2 of Cups. Venus/Cancer. Second Decan: 3 of Cups. Mercury/Cancer. Third Decan: 4 of Cups. Moon/Cancer.

Fourth Stop: CANCER (cardinal pips 2, 3, 4). Zodiac Sign: Cancer is a cardinal Water sign related to home, family, the tribe, mothering, dependency, nurturing, protection, tenacity, sensitivity, early emotional experiences and taking care of those you love. When Cancer cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have connected emotionally and met the needs of those in your care without fostering excessive dependency. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Cancer is ruled by the Moon, the virgin-mother-crone goddess of emotions, nurturing, family, home and intuition. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Cancer to the Chariot trump and the Moon to the

High Priestess. Hence, issues of prudently directing our inner life and attending to our intuitions form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign. Because Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, the Wheel of Fortune also plays a role, bringing up issues of chance, luck, fate and good fortune.

First decan of Cancer, ruled by Venus: Two of Cups - Love On the Tree of Life the number “2” corresponds to Chokmah (Wisdom) and has at its disposal the potential of the entire zodiac, so that it can “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). Thus, “2” symbolizes initiation, fertilization, gestation and fecundity. The first decan of the cardinal signs represents the period immediately after the cardinal Queen gives birth to the new season. Summer has just begun and the Water energy depicted in the suit of Cups is starting to grow and develop. If the suit of Cups were a plant, the Ace of Cups would be its roots. In this first decan these early watery shoots would be pushing up through the ground, wondering where they can find love and emotional security. Venus, the goddess of love

and the Moon, ruler of Cancer, are the two quintessential feminine planets of the zodiac. Venus values close intimate relationships and the Moon esteems motherhood, compassion and nurturing. When Venus and the Moon join forces, their primary motivation is to love and be loved, to start a family and to nurture those whom they love. Possible Keyword Delineation: You have the opportunity to initiate a fruitful (Chokmah) love relationship (Venus) that will provide emotional security (Cancer).

Second decan of Cancer, ruled by Mercury: Three of Cups Abundance On the Tree of Life the number “3” corresponds to Binah (Understanding; awareness of the necessity of endings and death; putting the matters of the “2” into action) and the planet Saturn (establishing structure; security, boundaries, systems, organization, time, discipline, setbacks, heaviness, hardship, loss, death, lessons to be learned). The emotionally responsive Queen of Cups resides in this decan. She gets along famously with Cancer’s ruling planet, the Moon, because they both focus on nurturing, mothering, feeding, caring, enjoying human relationships and sharing good times. Mercury, of course, takes on the characteristics of whomever he meets and doesn’t mind

playing the role of the carefree child who gets all the attention he could ever want from these two doting women. Thus, Mercury finds himself presiding over a decan where life is truly a bowl of cherries. The overall image here is one of abundant pleasure, joy, kindness, hospitality, food, drink, affection and general merriment: “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow …” Possible Keyword Delineation: You want to tell others (Mercury) about your good fortune (Jupiter exalted) in structuring (Binah) an emotionally secure (Cancer) and loving environment (Queen of Cups).

Third decan of Cancer, ruled by the Moon: Four of Cups – Blended Pleasure On the Tree of Life the number “4” corresponds to Chesed (Mercy; completion, realization, establishment, settling, or coming to terms with the actions taken in the “3” of the suit) and the planet Jupiter (good fortune, benevolence, protection, wealth, expansion, excess, growth, adventure, risk-taking, orientation toward the future). The Moon rules the entire sign Cancer and also governs its third decan, which makes Luna extremely powerful in this realm where The Prince/King of Wands resides. The nurturing Moon wants to take care of the fiery king’s every need. The Prince/King of Wands, of course, is a surrogate for the Sun, chief of the solar system and ruler of

the next sign, Leo. To sweeten the pie, Jupiter is exalted in Cancer and more than willing to confer good fortune. Crowley calls this decan one of “Luxury.” The Golden Dawn acknowledges the success and pleasure associated with this decan but notes that they are approaching their limit. The pleasure of this decan is thus “blended” because the next stop after this pleasant final ten degrees of Cancer is in Leo, whose first decan is governed by austere Saturn, reminding us that all good things must come to an end. Possible Keyword Delineation: Being overly (Jupiter) protected, nurtured and pampered (Cancer) can foster dependency (Moon) that limits your self-sufficiency, freedom to seek adventure and creative selfexpression (King of Wands).

The Fool Visits the Fixed Fire Sign LEO

Dates: July 23 – August 23 (tropical); August 17 – September 16 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: the Sun. Major Arcanum: Strength (VIII). Exalted: n/a Debilitated: Saturn (in detriment). Court Cards: King of Wands (decans 1 & 2); Knight of

Pentacles (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 5 of Wands. Saturn/Leo. Second Decan: 6 of Wands. Jupiter/Leo. Third Decan: 7 of Wands. Mars/Leo.

Fifth Stop: LEO (fixed pips 5, 6, 7). Zodiac Sign: Leo is a fixed Fire sign related to courage, leadership, generosity, honor, prominence, fun, drama, creativity, vitality, selfexpression, exhibitionism, daring, risk-

taking, generativity, offspring, confidence, pride and selfhood. When Leo cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have displayed leadership and creatively generated something that expresses your true self, without becoming excessively proud or arrogant. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Leo is ruled by the fiery Sun, the fatherly life-giver Sun-king of the solar system. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Leo to the Strength card and the Sun to the Sun trump. Hence, issues of strength, fortitude, authority, creativity, prominence, radiance and leadership form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign.

First decan of Leo, ruled by Saturn: Five of Wands - Strife On the Tree of Life the number “5” corresponds to Geburah (Severity; conflict, struggle; the disruption of the realization of the actions in the “4”) and the planet Mars (initiative, war, strife, discord, combat, bloodshed, energetic activity and unadulterated self-interest). Saturn is a traditionally malefic planet known as the Great Taskmaster, Father Time, or the Grim Reaper – the great heavy of the zodiac. Saturn’s metal is dull weighty lead. Wherever Saturn appears, he usually indicates delays, abandonment, deprivation, dissatisfaction, burdens, setbacks, austerity, frustration, confrontation with harsh reality, lessons to be learned, a sense of loss and just plain hard work. There is no free lunch; as

you sow, so shall you reap. In this decan, cold Saturn tends to feel out of place in the realm of the fiery Sun because Saturn (cold and dry) wants to contract, freeze, congeal, darken and extinguish vitality whereas the Sun (hot and dry) wants to expand, heat, thaw, illuminate and promote life. Clearly these two planets are at odds but because Saturn is in his detriment in Leo, the Sun has the upper hand. The Sun and Saturn, however, share the quality of dryness, which corresponds to the tense interaction depicted in the Waite-Smith Five of Wands. Individuals with Saturn in Leo often experience a fear that they will not be sufficiently loved or admired and they feel inhibited about giving free rein to their creative self-expression. They may hide such inhibitions under the mask of competitiveness as suggested by mock battle in the Waite-Smith Five

of Wands. The Prince/King of Wands, whose realm this is, may feel blocked by Saturn and thus need to struggle to express his natural enterprise, daring, creativity, enthusiasm and ambition. Possible Keyword Delineation: You may be engaged in a struggle (Geburah) to assert yourself (Mars) and you may feel inhibited (Saturn) about creatively expressing your inner self (Leo).

Second decan of Leo, ruled by Jupiter: Six of Wands - Victory On the Tree of Life the number “6” corresponds to Tiphareth (Beauty; harmony, accomplishment and achievements spurred by the disruption of the “5”) and the Sun (selfhood, power, majesty, honor, vitality, fun, creativity, self-expression, pride, confidence, exuberance, generosity, success). Jupiter, the philandering king of the Olympian gods, expands whatever he touches; and he especially likes to touch beautiful women who catch his meandering eye. In this decan Jupiter comes in contact with Leo, the Great Lion of the zodiac, King of the Jungle and Strength trump of the tarot. As the Wheel of Fortune, Jupiter offers success, honor and rewards to regal Leo. The Prince/King of Wands, who

resides here, epitomizes the traits of enterprise, daring, virility, enthusiasm, charisma, creativity and ambition. No wonder the Golden Dawn regarded this as a card of victory. Possible Keyword Delineation: Good fortune (Jupiter), honor and success (Tiphareth) abound when you express yourself creatively and generously toward others (Leo).

Third decan of Leo, ruled by Mars: Seven of Wands– Valor On the Tree of Life the number “7” corresponds to Netzach (Victory; a potential result; a transcendent force; a powerful crown in need of a capable and worthy monarch) and the planet Venus (love, affection, harmony, conciliation, beauty, pleasure, selfindulgence, material benefits, good fortune). The English word “valor” derives from the Latin verb “valere,” meaning “to be strong.” The sign Leo refers to the Strength trump and to the cardinal virtue of fortitude. Valor is the quality of a hero who displays boldness and determination in facing great danger. The Knight of Pentacles, who resides in this decan, is noted for persistence and determination in pursuing his goals. This earthy Knight is the most

plodding, levelheaded, studious, painstaking and cautious of all the Knights. When he makes a plan, he works doggedly toward its accomplishment. In contrast, Mars, who rules this decan, is known for his impatience, independence and assertiveness. The Knight of Pentacles tempers the impetuous nature of Mars and allows the war-god to display true valor as he battles for what he believes in. For his part, Mars in the dramatic sign Leo can give the methodical Knight of Pentacles the self-confidence to strike out on his own and express himself creatively. Possible Keyword Delineation: You will emerge victorious (Netzach) if you valiantly fight (Mars) for that which is essential to your sense of identity (Leo).

The Fool Visits the Mutable Earth Sign VIRGO

Dates: August 24 – September 22 (tropical); September 17 – October 16 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Mercury. Major Arcanum: The Hermit (IX). Exalted: Mercury.

Debilitated: Jupiter (in detriment), Venus (in fall). Court Cards: Knight of Pentacles (decans 1 & 2); Queen of Swords (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 8 of Pentacles. Sun/Virgo. Second Decan: 9 of Pentacles. Venus/Virgo. Third Decan: 10 of Pentacles. Mercury/Virgo.

Sixth Stop: VIRGO (mutable pips 8, 9, 10). Zodiac Sign: Virgo is a mutable Earth sign related to analysis, criticism, refinement, prevention of difficulties, discriminating thought, methodical

effort, organization of information, tangible results, attention to detail, health concerns, body-consciousness, desire for perfection and service to others. When Virgo cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider whether you have been sufficiently cautious in attending to the details necessary to accomplish your material ambitions without becoming overly fussy or hypercritical. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Virgo is ruled by clever Mercury, the trickster messenger of the gods and the patron of merchants and thieves. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Virgo to the Hermit trump and Mercury to the Magician. Hence, issues of prudence, reflection, solitude, patient planning, the pursuit of wisdom, the benefits of ageing and the skillful use of one’s talents and intelligence form a

backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign. Because Mercury is exalted in Virgo, the Magician trump is doubly represented, emphasizing the need to utilize our skills, knowledge and self-confidence to make things happen in our lives.

First decan of Virgo, ruled by the Sun: Eight of Pentacles Prudence On the Tree of Life the number “8” corresponds to Hod (Glory; isolated success not integrated with an overarching goal) and the planet Mercury (concrete mind, travel, communication, expression, curiosity, learning, logic, analysis, thinking, worry, restlessness, agility, speed, variety and diversity). This Knight of Pentacles, who resides here, is the most hard-working, levelheaded, methodical, cautious and sensible of all the Knights. He thinks carefully about what he wants, outlines a detailed plan and pursues his goals with painstaking determination. Prudence is his middle name. The Knight of Pentacles gets along superbly with Virgo, the tarot Hermit who has

spent many disciplined years accumulating spiritual wisdom. The Sun, which rules this decan, shines brightly on the Hermit and the Pentacle Knight, fostering their foresight and discretion. Only the most prudent of practitioners of ancient alchemy could develop the power to transmute the base metal lead into the sun’s metal, gold. Prudence is truly a virtue. Possible Keyword Delineation: Your sense of identify (Sun) is linked to learning new skills (Mercury/Hod) and reliably performing methodical tasks (Knight of Pentacles), which enable you to shine (Sun) and be of service to others (Virgo).

Second decan of Virgo, ruled by Venus: Nine of Pentacles – Material Gain On the Tree of Life the number “9” corresponds to Yesod (the Foundation; firmly established power; illusion; giver of form) and the Moon (maternal instincts, habit patterns, emotions, gut feelings, nurturing, inconstancy, dependency, home, family, tribe, inheritance, the past). Crowley simply calls this card “Gain.” The industrious Knight of Pentacles also resides in the second decan of Virgo, a decan governed by the usually fun-loving Venus. Virgo as the Hermit suggests that Venus need to spend some alone to reflect on what she is doing. Virgo is also the sign of fall of Venus, so she is not able to be much of a party girl here. The Pentacles Knight and Venus form a complementary pair. The

Knight works hard to accumulate wealth, which Venus likes to spend on beautiful surroundings. Because we are in the realm of Virgo and the prudent Hermit, Venus wisely restricts her spending to items of refinement and good taste. The Knight doesn’t mind because he gets to live quite well and enjoys the finer things in life. Clearly, his money is being used wisely for material gain. Possible Keyword Delineation: Your desire for luxury, enjoyment and creature comforts (Venus) becomes a solitary pursuit (Venus in fall) performed in a discriminating, reflective and self-sufficient manner (Virgo).

Third decan of Virgo, ruled by Mercury: Ten of Pentacles Wealth On the Tree of Life the number “10” corresponds to Malkuth (The Kingdom with its four elements) and represents stability and the end result of the progression of the suit. Mercury is strong and happy here because the winged messenger of the gods rules and is exalted in earthy Virgo, whose third decan is also governed by Mercury. In his role as the Magician of the tarot, Mercury in down-to-earth Virgo utilizes his talents to assure family security, prosperity and financial stability. Mercury was the ancient god of trade, and the modern word “merchandise” is named after him. An exalted Mercury can indicate a skillful merchant; and individuals born with Mercury in

Virgo often possess a critical, utilitarian intelligence that spells success in business, commerce, information management and scientific fields. The no-nonsense Queen of Swords, who resides here, sees to it that the methodical, precise and detailoriented approach of Virgo is put to practical use. The sign Virgo, as the old Hermit or Father Time, possesses the wisdom to have amassed a legacy that will be available to the next generation. Virgo’s desire to be of service is reflected in the presence of the loyal dogs on the Waite-Smith Ten of Pentacles. Possible Keyword Delineation: The end result (“10”) of your practical intelligence (Mercury in Virgo) meticulously applied to material resources (Virgo) is a situation of family security and financial stability (Malkuth).

FALL: SEPTEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21; LIBRA – SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS

The Fool Visits the Cardinal Air Sign LIBRA

Dates: September 23 – October 23 (tropical); October 17 – November 15 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Venus. Major Arcanum: Justice (XI). Exalted: Saturn. Debilitated: Sun (in fall), Mars (in detriment). Court Cards: Queen of Swords

(decans 1 & 2); King of Cups (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 2 of Swords. Moon/Libra. Second Decan: 3 of Swords. Saturn/Libra. Third Decan: 4 of Swords. Jupiter/Libra.

Seventh Stop: LIBRA (cardinal pips 2, 3, 4). Zodiac Sign: Libra is a cardinal Air sign related to balance, harmony, equality, fairness, justice, equipoise,

relationships, partnerships, marriage, negotiation, diplomacy, tact, compromise, careful decision-making, a love of peace, and the lawfulness of society. When Libra cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have examined your feelings to come to a fair and rational decision about a matter without becoming overly conciliatory or indecisive. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Libra is ruled by Venus, the ultrafeminine goddess of sensual pleasure, beauty, relationships and love. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Libra to the Justice trump and Venus to the Empress. Hence, issues of fairness, balance, justice, the law, relationships, fertility, fecundity, mothering, pregnancy and child rearing form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign.

First decan of Libra, ruled by the Moon: Two of Swords – Peace Restored On the Tree of Life the number “2” corresponds to Chokmah (Wisdom) and has at its disposal the potential of the entire zodiac, so that it can “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). Thus, “2” symbolizes initiation, fertilization, gestation and fecundity. Crowley simply calls this card “Peace.” The first decan of the cardinal signs represents the period immediately after the cardinal Queen gives birth to the new season. Autumn has just begun and the Air energy depicted in the suit of Swords is starting to grow and develop. If the suit of Swords were a plant, the Ace of Swords would be its roots. In this first decan these early airy shoots would be pushing up

through the ground, wondering what decisions they had to take and where their analytical reasoning might lead them. This decan belongs to the Queen of Swords, a woman who has been wounded emotionally in a close relationship and therefore relies for guidance on her intellect rather than her emotions. This card thus depicts the conflict between mind and heart. Venus, the ruler of Libra and the Moon, the ruler of this decan, are touchy-feely feminine planets but they find themselves in Libra, a masculine Air sign, noted for its logic, rationality, impartiality, equilibrium and sense of justice. Head and heart are equally balanced in Libra, the sign of the scales, so that making a decision becomes decidedly hard to do. Possible Keyword Delineation: You are attempting to make a wise and productive decision (Chokmah) by

seeking to harmonize (Libra) your innermost feelings (Moon) with careful reasoning and logical analysis (Queen of Swords).

Second decan of Libra, ruled by Saturn: Three of Swords Sorrow On the Tree of Life the number “3” corresponds to Binah (Understanding; awareness of the necessity of endings and death; putting the matters of the “2” into action) and the planet Saturn (establishing structure; security, boundaries, systems, organization, time, discipline, setbacks, heaviness, hardship, loss, death, lessons to be learned). In the Three of Swords we have a double dose of Saturn, that is, from the Tree of Life and from the rulership of the decan. Somber Saturn is a traditionally malefic planet known as the Great Taskmaster, Father Time, or the Grim Reaper – the great heavy of the zodiac. Saturn’s traditional metal is dull and weighty lead. Wherever Saturn

appears, he tends to bring delays, loss, sorrow, frustration, abandonment, dissatisfaction, burdens, seriousness and just plain hard work. With Saturn, there is no free lunch: “as ye sow, so shall ye reap.” Saturn feels somewhat out of place in Libra, the land of Venus, because he values austerity, discipline, frugality, seriousness and keeping one’s nose to the grindstone whereas Venus prefers to party, feel good, go shopping, look nice, enjoy sensual pleasures and make love. On the other hand, Saturn is at an advantage in Libra because he is exalted here and is thus able to bring disciple to the love goddess, teach her the lessons of harsh reality and appeal to her sense of fairness, balance and justice. As much as Venus values being in love, Saturn in this card brings her down to earth and teaches her that close relationships can also involve

sorrow, loss, injustice, separation and tears. One of the lessons of Binah on the Tree of Life is that all things must come to an end. The Queen of Swords, a woman who has been widowed or who has suffered loss or separation in a close relationship, is quite at home here. Possible Keyword Delineation: A sense of loss, heaviness, deprivation, or the passage of time (Saturn) in the realm of close partnerships (Libra) is an inevitable part of life (Binah).

Third decan of Libra, ruled by Jupiter: Four of Swords – Rest from Strife On the Tree of Life the number “4” corresponds to Chesed (Mercy; completion, realization, establishment, settling, or coming to terms with the actions taken in the “3” of the suit) and the planet Jupiter (good fortune, benevolence, protection, wealth, expansion, excess, growth, adventure, risk-taking, orientation toward the future). Crowley calls this card “Truce.” The kindly King of Cups resides in this third decan of Libra. He is a faithful husband and responsible family man who relates well to Libra’s emphasis on justice and equality in close relationships. His family life serves as a refuge from the duties of kingship and in his home he finds rest from strife.

Jupiter, on the other hand, roams the world looking for his next amorous adventure. In his mind if one lover is good, two is even better. Not satisfied by his scorned wife Hera/Juno, the goddess of the Libran ideal of monogamy and legitimate marriage, Jupiter seeks sexual pleasure wherever he can find it. Righteous Juno becomes enraged at her husband’s philandering and strikes out vengefully against his many lovers and illegitimate offspring. In this third decan of the marriage sign Libra, Jupiter has difficulty finding rest from his marital strife. The situation is akin to encountering Hilary, Bill and Monica in the same room at the White House. Perhaps the compassionate King of Cups can help the leader of the Olympian gods to secure a quiet place in which to recuperate. The sarcophagus on the Waite-Smith version of this card may be a reference

to the fact that this decan ends at the beginning of Scorpio – the zodiacal sign of death, purgation and regeneration. Possible Keyword Delineation: In order to take care of yourself in a compassionate manner (King of Cups), you need to adopt a broad view (Jupiter) and re-establish your equilibrium (Libra).

The Fool Visits the Fixed Water Sign SCORPIO

Dates: October 24 – November 22 (tropical); November 16 – December 15 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Mars; Pluto (modern). Major Arcanum: Death (XIII). Exalted: n/a Debilitated: the Moon (in fall). Court Cards: King of Cups

(decans 1 & 2); Knight of Wands (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 5 of Cups. Mars/Scorpio. Second Decan: 6 of Cups. Venus/Scorpio. Third Decan: 7 of Cups. Mercury/Scorpio.

Eighth Stop: SCORPIO (fixed pips 5, 6, 7). Zodiac Sign: Scorpio is a fixed Water sign related to intense emotions, strong desires, resoluteness, investigation, analysis, dissection, penetrating

insight, depth of understanding, transformation, revealing what has been hidden, death, destruction, envy, revenge, elimination, reproduction, rebirth and occult interests. When Scorpio cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have dealt with deep emotional undercurrents that may have caused a certain amount of personal upheaval without giving in to feelings of vengeance. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Scorpio is ruled by fiery Mars – the assertive, masculine, sexy, impassioned and enterprising god of war. Modern astrologers assign Scorpio to powerful and controlling Pluto/Hades, the god of the underworld who abducted and violated Persephone. Like the Hierophant in the opposite sign Taurus, Pluto/Hades plays a key role in the Eleusinian

mysteries. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Scorpio to the Death trump and Mars to the Lightningstruck Tower. Modern astrologers link Pluto to the Judgment card, although some assign Pluto to the Fool. Hence, issues of tradition, spiritual guidance, endings, closure, letting go, transformation, reckoning and awakenings form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign.

First decan of Scorpio, ruled by Mars: Five of Cups – Loss in Pleasure On the Tree of Life the number “5” corresponds to Geburah (Severity; conflict, struggle; the disruption of the realization of the actions in the “4”) and the planet Mars (initiative, war, strife, discord, combat, bloodshed, energetic activity and unadulterated self-interest). Mars has three connections to the Five of Cups: as ruler of Scorpio, as ruler of the first decan of Scorpio and as the planet corresponding to “5” on the Tree of Life. Crowley calls this card “Disappointment.” This triple influence of warlike Mars brings the disruptive Lightning-struck Tower into this picture. Unlike the first decan of Aries, the accompanying Major Arcana cards here are Death

and Judgement. Because we are in the realm of the watery King of Cups, the Tower’s upheaval is likely to be felt in our emotional life, as in the loss of a relationship that previously brought us pleasure. Mars generally feels out of place in the world of tender feelings and it may require the Tower card to catch his attention. The ending of a previously cherished relationship could be his wake-up call. The “Mars” tendency to put oneself first may have gotten in the way of intimacy. Mars wants what he wants when he wants it. The other person’s feelings come second, if at all. In this decan, Mars may need to let go of something that is no longer viable in his life. If he allows himself to be transformed in the process, he will be able to move on. Individuals born with Mars in Scorpio typically have intense feelings and a strong drive for power.

They must learn to use their power constructively rather than for vengeance. Possible Keyword Delineation: You experience profound emotions (Scorpio) related to wounding and disruption (Mars) and may be left feeling betrayed and vengeful (Scorpio).

Second decan of Scorpio, ruled by the Sun: Six of Cups Pleasure On the Tree of Life the number “6” corresponds to Tiphareth (Beauty; harmony, accomplishment and achievements spurred by the disruption of the “5”) and the Sun (selfhood, power, majesty, honor, vitality, fun, creativity, self-expression, pride, confidence, exuberance, generosity, success). The Sun symbolizes vitality, fun, creative self-expression, the joy of living, pregnancy and the production offspring. Scorpio, which rules the sex organs, is the sign of death, elimination and regeneration. Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, is happiest when winning a battle, slaying the enemy, engaging in athletic competition, or conquering a beautiful woman. The Prince/King of

Cups, who resides in this decan, draws our attention to emotions and personal relationships. Crowley and the Golden Dawn emphasized the sexual nature of this decan’s symbolism. Crowley, no doubt, had in mind the French idiom “la petit mort” (the little death) as a Scorpionic metaphor for sexual orgasm. The more prudish Waite-Smith deck focused on nostalgia for joyful childhood pleasures. The Golden Dawn tradition largely ignored the negative connotations found in Agrippa and Picatrix, which regarded the second decan of Scorpio as one of ill repute, shame, deceit, false dealing, provocation, mischief and strife – akin to two dogs biting one another. Possible Keyword Delineation: You experience the joyful exuberance (Sun) of old memories and deep emotional connections (Scorpio), which fill you with a sense of beauty,

harmony (Tiphareth) and compassion (King of Cups).

Third decan of Scorpio, ruled by Venus: Seven of Cups – Illusionary Success On the Tree of Life the number “7” corresponds to Netzach (Victory; a potential result; a transcendent force; a powerful crown in need of a capable and worthy monarch) and the planet Venus (love, affection, harmony, conciliation, beauty, pleasure, selfindulgence, material benefits, good fortune). Crowley calls this card “Debauch.” Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto and Venus rules the third decan of this sign. Whenever Venus and Mars get together, sexual excitement comes to the fore. Venus is at a disadvantage here because in Scorpio she is in her detriment, which gives Mars and Pluto the upper hand. Scorpio, being a fixed sign, means that Pluto is not willing to

compromise. Pluto wants what he wants, which is his dream-lover Persephone and Mars wants her now. To Crowley the debilitated Venus in Scorpio suggested “sinking into the mire of false pleasure.”[12] Venus in this decan becomes Persephone abducted and violated by Pluto/Hades, an action that led directly to the onset of icy winter. At the end of this decan Persephone begins her annual fourmonth sojourn in Hades’ underworld. She returns to earth at the end of Pisces, the beginning of spring. Although Persephone became Queen of the Underworld, her success was illusory. From her disadvantaged position in the domain of Hades, all Persephone could do was to fantasize about how to escape and what life would be like if she were free. If only she hadn’t eaten Hades’ pomegranate seeds! Given the abduction and rape

of Persephone, Agrippa associated this decan with “drunkenness, fornication, wrath, violence and strife,” and Picatrix saw here “a bad marriage due to subjugation, plunder, or rape.” Given lack of virtue suggested by the decan, Crowley labeled the Seven of Cups “Debauch.” Possible Keyword Delineation: Victory is possible (Netzach) in your enthusiastic pursuit of personal ambitions (Knight of Wands) if you can avoid the temptations of seductive desires and perverse pleasures (Venus in detriment in Scorpio).

The Fool Visits the Mutable Fire Sign SAGITTARIUS

Dates: November 23 – December 21 (tropical); December 16 January 15 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Jupiter. Major Arcanum: Temperance (XIV). Exalted: n/a

Debilitated: Mercury (in detriment). Court Cards: Knight of Wands (decans 1 & 2); Queen of Pentacles (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 8 of Wands. Mercury/Sagittarius. Second Decan: 9 of Wands. Moon/Sagittarius. Third Decan: 10 of Wands. Saturn/Sagittarius.

Ninth Stop: SAGITTARIUS (mutable pips 8, 9, 10). Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius is a mutable Fire sign related to freedom, adventure, enthusiasm, exploration,

travel, expansion, lofty ambitions, new vistas, grand ideas, higher learning, philosophy, religion, preaching, the legal system, the search for truth and broad-based communication. When Sagittarius cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have expanded your horizons and taken on challenges that open your mind to things you never dreamed were possible. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Sagittarius is ruled by benefic Jupiter, the fiery adventurous god of expansion, exploration, broadmindedness and higher learning. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Sagittarius to the Temperance trump and Jupiter to the Wheel of Fortune. Hence, issues of moderation, skillful blending, luck and changes of fortune form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this

sign.

First decan of Sagittarius, ruled by Mercury: Eight of Wands– Swiftness On the Tree of Life the number “8” corresponds to Hod (Glory; isolated success not integrated with an overarching goal) and the planet Mercury (concrete mind, travel, communication, expression, curiosity, learning, logic, analysis, thinking, worry, restlessness, agility, speed, variety and diversity). Mercury, the messenger of the gods, is known for being fleet, clever and agile. The archetypal trickster, Mercury is the god of travelers, merchants and thieves. Sagittarius is the centaurarcher, half man and half horse, who can run “like a horse” and shoot his arrow over great stretches of the countryside with tremendous velocity and accuracy. Mercury is in his

detriment in Sagittarius and tends to display some of his negative traits. Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, expands whatever he contacts and here he can turn Mercury’s speed into haste or, in the words of the Golden Dawn, “too much force applied too suddenly.” The high-spirited Knight of Wands resides here, making matters move very quickly when the Eight of Wands is in the picture. The speedy trajectories of Mercury and the centaur’s arrows link this card to air travel. Possible Keyword Delineation: Everything seems to be moving almost too fast (Mercury in detriment) and you are filled with a sense of exuberance, expansion and excitement (Sagittarius) as you seek to fulfill a creative ambition (Knight of Wands).

Second decan of Sagittarius, ruled by the Moon: Nine of Wands – Great Strength On the Tree of Life the number “9” corresponds to Yesod (the Foundation; firmly established power; illusion; giver of form) and the Moon (maternal instincts, habit patterns, emotions, gut feelings, nurturing, inconstancy, dependency, home, family, tribe, inheritance, the past). Crowley simply calls this card “Strength.” The energetic, valiant Knight of Wands dwells in the second decan of Sagittarius, the centaur-archer. Unlike the first decan, which is ruled by fleetfooted Mercury, this second decan of Sagittarius belongs to the Moon whose issues of nurturing, caring and protecting her loved ones come to the fore. Luna calls upon the powerful centaur and the fiery Knight of Wands

to use their great strength to defend what they hold most dear, which is usually a matter of high emotional significance. In Sagittarius, the sign of the centaurarcher, the Moon may refer to Diana of Roman mythology, the virgin Moon goddess of the hunt, woodlands, wild animals and birthing. Diana too was an archer and she used her skills to protect vulnerable maidens, for which she needed great strength. Her favorite companions were a deer and a hunting dog. Possible Keyword Delineation: Your gut reaction is to protect what is emotionally most dear (Moon) as you venture forth into uncharted territory (Sagittarius) and face challenges anew (Knight of Wands).

Third decan of Sagittarius, ruled by Saturn: Ten of Wands - Oppression On the Tree of Life the number “10” corresponds to Malkuth (The Kingdom with its four elements) and represents stability and the end result of the progression of the suit. Somber Saturn is a traditionally malefic planet known as the Great Taskmaster, Father Time, or the Grim Reaper – the great heavy of the zodiac. Saturn’s traditional metal is dull and weighty lead. Wherever Saturn appears, he usually indicates delays, abandonment, deprivation, dissatisfaction, burdens, setbacks, austerity, frustration, confrontation with harsh reality, lessons to be learned, a sense of loss and just plain hard work. With Saturn, there is no free lunch: “as ye sow, so shall ye

reap.” Saturn tends to feel out of place in Sagittarius, the traditional land of expansive and adventurous Jupiter. Saturn wants to chill, conserve and contract whereas Jupiter wants to warm, enlarge and initiate even more ventures. As the great teacher of the zodiac, Saturn warns Jupiter that he needs to practice the virtue of temperance associated with his sign, Sagittarius. Otherwise, Jupiter will burn himself out by biting off far more than he can chew. Having too many irons in the fire can make even Jupiter feel oppressed and overburdened. Possible Keyword Delineation: As a result (Malkuth) of your inspired enthusiasm (Sagittarius), you may have bitten off more than you can chew (Saturn). You must learn to delegate tasks and manage your responsibilities with greater efficiency (Queen of Pentacles).

WINTER: DECEMBER 22 – MARCH 20; CAPRICORN – AQUARIUS – PISCES

The Fool Visits the Cardinal Earth Sign CAPRICORN

Dates: December 22 – January 20 (tropical); January 16 – February 12 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Saturn. Major Arcanum: The Devil (XV). Exalted: Mars. Debilitated: Jupiter (in fall), Moon (in detriment).

Court Cards: Queen of Pentacles (decans 1 & 2); King of Swords (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 2 of Pentacles. Jupiter/Capricorn. Second Decan: 3 of Pentacles. Mars/Capricorn. Third Decan: 4 of Pentacles. Sun/Capricorn.

Tenth Stop: CAPRICORN (cardinal pips 2, 3, 4). Zodiac Sign: Capricorn is a cardinal Earth sign related to ambition, hard work, structure, order, discipline, rules, lawfulness, practicality, career, earthly power, worldly success and

material security. When Capricorn cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have managed your talents and material resources to provide a secure emotional and financial foundation from which you can make your mark on the world. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Capricorn is ruled by restrictive Saturn, the cold dry god of boundaries, limits, structure and lessons to be learned. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Capricorn to the Devil trump and the planet Saturn to the World card. Hence, issues of temptation, greed, desire, ambition, self-imposed bondage, completion and fulfillment form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign. Because Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the Lightning-struck Tower also plays a role in this sign, adding an

element of surprise and upheaval but also warning against overconfidence and excessive pride. Capricorn being an Earth sign suggests that “the Devil is in the details.”

First decan of Capricorn, ruled by Jupiter: Two of Pentacles – Harmonious Change On the Tree of Life the number “2” corresponds to Chokmah (Wisdom) and has at its disposal the potential of the entire zodiac, so that it can “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). Thus, “2” symbolizes initiation, fertilization, gestation and fecundity. Crowley simply calls this card “Change.” The first decan of the cardinal signs represents the period immediately after the cardinal Queen gives birth to the new season. Winter has just begun and the Earth energy depicted in the suit of Pentacles is starting to grow and develop. If the suit of Pentacles were a plant, the Ace of Pentacles would be its roots. In this first decan these early

earthy shoots would be pushing up through the ground, wondering how and where they might find material security. There is an inherent push-pull in this decan. Jupiter wants to expand but Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, wants to contract. The net effect is a state of flux, accompanied by a need to juggle competing demands and balance the cycles of increase and decrease in a way that fosters harmonious change. Because Jupiter is in his fall in Capricorn, Saturn has the upper hand and the number of responsibilities tends to outweigh the means to manage them all. Fortunately, the pragmatic Queen of Pentacles, who resides here, is a skillful manager who can keep things organized and find agreeable solutions to life’s ups and downs. Possible Keyword Delineation: You must act wisely to bear the fruit

(Chokmah) of opportunities to expand your life (Jupiter), all the while taking into account inevitable boundaries and limitations (Saturn).

Second decan of Capricorn, ruled by Mars: Three of Pentacles – Material Works On the Tree of Life the number “3” corresponds to Binah (Understanding; awareness of the necessity of endings and death; putting the matters of the “2” into action) and the planet Saturn (establishing structure; security, boundaries, systems, organization, time, discipline, setbacks, heaviness, hardship, loss, death, lessons to be learned). Crowley calls this card “Work.” Mars is exalted in Capricorn where the discipline of Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, helps to steady his impetuous phallic energy and put it to constructive use. Channeled wisely, the assertive drive of Mars can accomplish great things. Capricorn is an enterprising cardinal Earth sign whose persistence,

pragmatism, ambition and fondness for tangible results can accomplish great works in the material world. The pragmatic Queen of Pentacles, who resides here, works well with the exalted Mars by attending to detail and managing the practical aspects of whatever project needs to be done. Possible Keyword Delineation: To achieve your material ambitions (Capricorn) you must work energetically (Mars) and methodically (Queen of Pentacles) over time (Saturn) to put your good ideas into action (Binah).

Third decan of Capricorn, ruled by the Sun: Four of Pentacles – Earthly power On the Tree of Life the number “4” corresponds to Chesed (Mercy; completion, realization, establishment, settling, or coming to terms with the actions taken in the “3” of the suit) and the planet Jupiter (good fortune, benevolence, protection, wealth, expansion, excess, growth, adventure, risk-taking, orientation toward the future). Crowley simply calls this card “Power.” The Sun’s metal is precious glittering gold and aspiring Capricorn often sets material security and wealth as its primary goals. As the Devil card, Capricorn can represent greed, vanity, pride, addiction and excessive preoccupation with worldly gain. Such slavish bondage to material goods

comes at a cost to our spiritual life. The no-nonsense King of Swords, who resides in this decan, does his best to assist the Sun in achieving its worldly ambitions. Capricorn is an Earth sign, the Sun is of Fire and The Prince/King of Swords is of Air. Absent from the mix is the element Water with its focus on emotions, caring, nurturing and human relationships. This imbalance of elements is reflected in the miserly character on the Waite-Smith Four of Pentacles who, like King Midas, has amassed a fortune but remains isolated and alone. The Golden Dawn name for this card reminds us of President Andrew Jackson’s comment that money is power. Possible Keyword Delineation: The power (Sun) to achieve one’s worldly ambitions (Capricorn) follows from the establishment of material security

(Chesed), which in turn depends on luck (Jupiter) as well as carefully formulated plans (King of Swords).

The Fool Visits the Fixed Air Sign AQUARIUS

Dates: January 21 – February 18 (tropical); February 13 – March 14 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Saturn; Uranus (modern). Major Arcanum: The Star (XVII). Exalted: n/a Debilitated: the Sun (in detriment). Court Cards: King of Swords

(decans 1 & 2); Knight of Cups (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 5 of Swords. Venus/Aquarius. Second Decan: 6 of Swords. Mercury/Aquarius. Third Decan: 7 of Swords. Moon/Aquarius.

Eleventh Stop: AQUARIUS (fixed pips 5, 6, 7). Zodiac Sign: Aquarius is a fixed Air sign related to detachment, objectivity, freedom, altruism, humanitarian values, friendship, brotherhood,

sisterhood and the sense of community. When Aquarius cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have respected the rights and feelings of others in your pursuit of individualistic aims and personal independence. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, the austere god of boundaries, limits, structure and lessons to be learned. Aquarius is a masculine air sign, noted for its detachment, objectivity, theoretical orientation and fondness for abstraction– the “nerd” energy of the zodiac. Modern astrologers assign Aquarius to unpredictable Uranus, the god of sudden disruptions, technology, eccentricity, rebellion, individual freedom, freestyle activities and willful independence. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Aquarius to the

hopeful Star trump and links the planet Saturn to the World card. Modern astrologers have assigned Uranus to the Fool card, although some align Uranus with the Judgment trump. Hence, issues of hope, guidance, fulfillment and completions form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign.

First decan of Aquarius, ruled by Venus: Five of Swords Defeat On the Tree of Life the number “5” corresponds to Geburah (Severity; conflict, struggle; the disruption of the realization of the actions in the “4”) and the planet Mars (initiative, war, strife, discord, combat, bloodshed, energetic activity and unadulterated self-interest). Like King Solomon of the Bible, The Prince/King of Swords – a person of clarity of thought, decisiveness and impartiality – feels at home in the first two decans of objective Aquarius. The cold dry planet Saturn, traditional ruler of Aquarius, has little use for pesky human emotions. Love can’t pay the rent, or so Saturn has been heard to say. The highly feminine planets, like Venus and the Moon, are decidedly

uncomfortable here. Venus wants a close, meaningful, personal, touchyfeely relationship; but nerdy Aquarius is happiest when watching football on TV with the guys or texting on his cell phone about the latest video game that he plays online with anonymous characters from around the globe. Ambitious Saturn just wants to get the job done as efficiently as possible and he doesn’t understand what all this female emotive stuff is all about. Saturn is the kind of guy who might take his leave because the job is done, without seeing any need to say goodbye. No-nonsense Saturn simply focuses on the work he needs to do to achieve his goals. As a result, Venus feels defeated in her efforts to have a warm, fuzzy, close personal relationship with him. Possible Keyword Delineation: You may be looking for love (Venus) in all

the wrong places (Aquarius, Saturn), perhaps with a cool detached partner (Aquarius, Kings of Swords) and you may be left feeling wounded (Mars) by the consequent disruption and strife (Geburah).

Second decan of Aquarius, ruled by Mercury: Six of Swords – Earned Success On the Tree of Life the number “6” corresponds to Tiphareth (Beauty; harmony, accomplishment and achievements spurred by the disruption of the “5”) and the Sun (selfhood, power, majesty, honor, vitality, fun, creativity, self-expression, pride, confidence, exuberance, generosity, success). As mentioned above, the no-nonsense King of Swords feels quite at home in the first two decans of the emotionally detached Aquarius. Mentally agile Mercury is more than happy to take on the traits of airy, intellectual Aquarius. It’s a match made in heaven. Mercury is clever with words and ideas. Nonemotional Aquarius loves reason, science, logic, technology, abstractions

and theoretical ideas. Mercury, as the Magician of the tarot, can earn enormous success with his technological know-how. Aleister Crowley, in reflecting on Mercury and Aquarius, renamed the card of this decan “Science” for obvious reasons. Waite-Smith depicted a journey over water away from troubles, perhaps because Mercury is the god of travelers and Aquarius, the hopeful Star card, suggests locations where land and water meet. Possible Keyword Delineation: Spurred on by disruptive circumstances (Tiphareth) where you were not able truly to be yourself (Sun in detriment), you have analyzed the issues (King of Swords) and decided to move on (Mercury) to a more hopeful situation (Aquarius).

Third decan of Aquarius, ruled by the Moon: Seven of Swords – Unstable Effort On the Tree of Life the number “7” corresponds to Netzach (Victory; a potential result; a transcendent force; a powerful crown in need of a capable and worthy monarch) and the planet Venus (love, affection, harmony, conciliation, beauty, pleasure, selfindulgence, material benefits, good fortune). Crowley calls this card “Futility.” The third decan of Aquarius belongs to the watery Knight of Cups whose exploits are emotionally driven and who gallops through the countryside in search of love and emotional fulfillment. The sensitive Knight of Cups feels uncomfortable in emotionally cool Aquarius, as do Venus and the Moon, who happens to

rule this lunar decan. The Moon is the most emotive of planets and mental Aquarius is the most non-emotional sign of the zodiac. The Knight of Cups finds himself in a classic “mind versus heart” dilemma. His gut, prompted by the Moon, tells him if it feels right, do it; but his Aquarian mind advises him to follow reason and not be swayed by emotion. The Knight of Cups wants a close personal union with another person, but Aquarius preaches universal brotherhood and emotional detachment. We saw a similar dilemma in the Two of Swords; it’s déjà vu all over again. Because Knights by their nature must always set off on a quest, the net result of this heart-mind conflict is unstable effort. Possible Keyword Delineation: Your gut feelings (Moon) urge you to march to the beat of your own

drummer (Aquarius/Uranus) if you wish to achieve success (Netzach), especially in matters that are dear to your heart (Knight of Cups).

The Fool Visits the Mutable Water Sign PISCES

Dates: February 19 – March 20 (tropical); March 15 – April 13 (sidereal). Sign Ruler: Jupiter; Neptune (modern). Major Arcanum: The Moon (XVIII).

Exalted: Venus. Debilitated: Mercury (in its fall and detriment). Court Cards: Knight of Cups (decans 1 & 2); Queen of Wands (decan 3). Pip Cards: First Decan: 8 of Cups. Saturn/Pisces. Second Decan: 9 of Cups. Jupiter/Pisces. Third Decan: 10 of Cups. Mars/Pisces.

Twelfth Stop: PISCES (mutable pips 8, 9, 10). Zodiac Sign: Pisces, the Fishes, is a mutable Water sign related to emotions, intuition, poetic imagination, sensitivity, compassion, forgiveness,

renunciation, deeper realities and higher spiritual values. When Pisces cards appear in a reading, it is wise to consider how well you have lived up to your spiritual principles, especially those ideals that have to do with selfsacrifice and caring for the less fortunate. Planetary Sign Ruler: The entire sign Pisces is ruled by benefic Jupiter, the fiery adventurous god of expansion, tolerance, joviality, broad horizons and higher learning. Modern astrologers assign Pisces to illusory Neptune – the god of the oceans, poetry, fog, illusion, imagination and mysticism. Major Arcana Associations: The Golden Dawn assigns Pisces to the Moon trump and Jupiter to the Wheel of Fortune. Modern astrologers have assigned watery Neptune to the Hanged Man. Hence, issues of intuition, lack of clarity, luck, changes of fortune,

suspension and sacrifice form a backdrop for understanding the pip cards of this sign. Because Venus is exalted in Pisces, the Empress trump also plays a role in this sign, bringing up issues of mothering, nurturing, fertility, fecundity, pregnancy, child rearing and female authority.

First decan of Pisces, ruled by Saturn: Eight of Cups – Abandoned Success On the Tree of Life the number “8” corresponds to Hod (Glory; isolated success not integrated with an overarching goal) and the planet Mercury (concrete mind, travel, communication, expression, curiosity, learning, logic, analysis, thinking, worry, restlessness, agility, speed, variety and diversity). Crowley calls this card “Indolence.” Saturn is a traditionally malefic planet known as the Great Taskmaster – the great heavy of the zodiac. Saturn’s traditional metal is dull and weighty lead. Wherever Saturn appears, he usually indicates delays, abandonment, deprivation, dissatisfaction, burdens, setbacks, austerity, frustration, confrontation with harsh reality,

lessons to be learned, a sense of loss and just plain hard work. With Saturn, there is no free lunch: “as ye sow, so shall ye reap.” Saturn tends to feel out of place in this land of Jupiter, the traditional ruler of sensitive, idealistic Pisces. Saturn wants to freeze and contract, whereas Jupiter wants to warm and expand. No wonder the figure on the Waite-Smith card has decided to look elsewhere to pursue his dream. Like the watery Knight of Cups who governs this decan, the Waite-Smith figure sets off on a quest for emotional fulfillment. Possible Keyword Delineation: Although you have experienced success in the past (Hod), you now feel a sense of loss (Saturn) regarding an idealized expectation (Pisces), perhaps in the area of romance or artistic expression (Knight of Cups) and so you wish to move on to

experience greater diversity (Mercury/Hod).

Second decan of Pisces, ruled by Jupiter: Nine of Cups – Material Happiness On the Tree of Life the number “9” corresponds to Yesod (the Foundation; firmly established power; illusion; giver of form) and the Moon (maternal instincts, habit patterns, emotions, gut feelings, nurturing, inconstancy, dependency, home, family, tribe, inheritance, the past). Crowley simply calls this card “Happiness.” As the traditional ruler of Pisces, Jupiter is quite at home in the sign of the fishes and can be at his benefic best. Pisces is the sign of daydreams, fantasies, illusions, mysticism and forgiveness. As the Wheel of Fortune, Jupiter can make our dreams come true. He might even help the Knight of Cups, who governs here, find the love and emotional fulfillment he so

cherishes. Possible Keyword Delineation: Good fortune (Jupiter), material benefits (Venus) and perhaps a romantic offer (Knight of Cups) now flow your way, fulfilling some of your idealized fantasies (Pisces) and making you feel like the universe (Pisces) is looking out for you (Moon/Yesod).

Third decan of Pisces, ruled by Mars: Ten of Cups – Perfected Success On the Tree of Life the number “10” corresponds to Malkuth (The Kingdom with its four elements) and represents stability and the end result of the progression of the suit. Crowley calls this card “Satiety.” Mars always has sex on his mind and seizes every opportunity to spend time with a beautiful woman. In this case, his love interest happens to be the fiery Queen of Wands – the hottest woman in the deck. Fortunately, Venus is exalted in Pisces, which gives the Wands Queen, with the aid of Venus, an advantage over Mars. Her fiery royal highness is able to rein Mars in and establish a happy home and the family life she always desired, including beautiful children as the fruit of their

passionate lovemaking. Under the spell of Venus, warlike Mars feels that all is right with the world. The cold winter is ending and the verdant spring – the product of their coital encounter – is about to be born. Be mindful, though, that malefic Mars never completely loses his sting and this card carries with it a warning that bliss cannot last forever. Possible Keyword Delineation: Through your own assertive efforts (Mars) you have finally achieved the stability (Malkuth) of idealized emotional connectedness with something greater than yourself (Pisces). The Fool’s journey is now complete. He began on the first day of spring and ended on the last day of winter in the following year. May the lessons the Fool learned during his travels speed you on your own journey toward

enlightenment.

[1] Dag Hammarskjöld quoted at http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dag_Hammarskj%C3%B6

[2] This image is in the public domain at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tree_of_life_bahir_he [3] Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth, Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1974, p. 218 [4] Crowley and the Golden Dawn drew a straight line (meridian) from the North Pole due south through the Great Pyramid of Egypt and believed that this meridian governs Asia and is ruled by Fire and the suit of Wands. The meridian 90 degrees due east of the Great Pyramid passes through the area of the Pacific Ocean and is ruled by Water and the suit of Cups. The following meridian, 90 degrees due east of the Pacific meridian, passes through the Americas and is ruled by Air and the suit of Swords. Finally, the meridian that lies 90 degrees due east of the American meridian passes through Europe and is supposedly ruled by Earth and the suit of Pentacles. [5] April Elliot Kent, The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology, Alpha Publishers, 2011, p.40 [6] Israel Regardie, The Golden Dawn, Llewellyn: St. Paul, MN, 1989, p.550. [7] Israel Regardie, ibid., p. 550. [8] C.E.O. Carter, Essays on the Foundations of Astrology, Theosophical Publishing House, London, 1947, p.114

[9] C.E.O. Carter, ibid., p.116 [10] O’Reilly quoted at http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/30/top-5moments-from-bill-oreillys-killing-jesus-interviewwith-60-minutes/.

[11] Newt Gingrich speaking at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in November 2011, quoted at http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/19/gingrichlaws-preventing-child-labor-are-truly-stupid/ [12] Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth, op. cit. p. 182