THE MAJOR ARCANA: THE FOOL'S JOURNEY

      The journey through the 22 major arcana cards is a passage through the archetypal experiences of humanity and the many states of being, as if culled from our collective unconscious. The number 22 is significant because in numerology 22 is one of the master numbers (as are 11 and 33). 22 is the number of the master builder, and the journey through the 22 major aracana cards is masterfully built on a structure of cycles. Tarot archetypes speak as freshly today as they did in medieval Spain, mythic Atlantis, or ancient Egypt for universal life experiences transcend boundaries of space and time.

0. FOOL

      Our tarot journey begins with the first major arcana card: The freedom-loving FOOL. He represents new beginnings as he starts his heroic quest for self knowledge. In his naive innocence, the FOOL is very creative for he does not yet know rules or limitations. He is the court jester, village idiot, clown, time traveler, speaker of truth, and prodigal son. Mythologist Joseph Campbell interpreted the FOOL as the hero with 1,000 faces. His number is 0, the empty vessel waiting to be filled. He is ruled by the planet Uranus, the planet of revolution and liberation.

      The Waite-Rider deck shows a youth about to step off a cliff. He could crash downward, or instead soar to the highest heavens because he took a creative risk and has faith. The Crowley deck shows the FOOL with all things there for the taking. The Hebrew letter at the bottom of the card is aleph, meaning ox.

      Divinatory meaning of the FOOL: Now is the time to take a risk or seek adventure because you are guided by faith, folly, or fancy. Be open to new opportunities. But those who are uncomfortable with change may dislike experiencing the FOOL card because they are not used to freedom and taking creative risks with an unknown outcome.

1. MAGICIAN and MAGUS

      Once the FOOL takes a risk, he finds his power in the next card, the mighty MAGICIAN. Under the MAGICIAN'S influence, all will-powered endeavors are manifested. This is a powerful man who can work magic and heal.

      In the Waite-Rider deck, the MAGICIAN holds a wand in his upraised hand. The wand is a conductor of energy from heaven to earth. On the MAGICIAN'S table are symbols of the four elements: the wand of fire, the cup of water, the sword of air, and the pentacle of earth. All four magical tools can be picked up and used as needed.

      The MAGICIAN is called the MAGUS in the Crowley deck. The plural form of the word magus is magi. The three wise men, or magi (magicians), visited the Christ child at his humble birth in a manger. They brought the gifts of frankincense which is sacred to the sun, myrrh which is sacred to the moon, and gold which is the alchemist's metal. The Crowley deck MAGUS is depicted having a breakthrough of power and perception. The wings on his feet and the caduceus on his head are symbols of Mercury (Greek Hermes), the messenger who connects humanity with the divine. The Hebrew letter on the bottom of the MAGUS card is beth, meaning house.

      Divinatory meaning of the MAGICIAN and MAGUS: You are completely in your power and can manifest your goals. You are experiencing magical strength and can actualize your desires through your own creativity and will.

NOTE: The smaller-sized Crowley Thoth Tarot deck includes one MAGICIAN and two MAGUS cards. Select only one MAGUS 1 card for your tarot readings. The two extra cards may be used as book marks or altar objects.

2. PRIESTESS

      The MAGICIAN cannot be fully realized without his anima (female half), the mystic PRIESTESS. The MAGICIAN has outer magical tools, but the PRIESTESS possesses inner magical tools. She is ruled by the Moon and represents the eternal feminine. She is the psychic healer who knows the great women's mysteries of birth, life, and death. She embodies wisdom, serene knowledge, intuitive judgement, and common sense.

      In the Waite-Rider deck, the PRIESTESS is enthroned with the moon and water at her feet. The moon and water are feminine symbols of the ever-changing lunar cycles linked to tides and menstrual fluid. She wears the crown of the goddesses Isis and Hathor. The PRIESTESS sits in the middle of the Kabbalistic pillars of female and male. On the black pillar to her right is the letter "B" for Binah, the Mother, the receptive principle. Black is the color of night and the womb, the deep mystery far within. The white pillar on the PRIESTESS' left is inscribed with the letter "J" for Jehovah, a male god. He represents the protective father and the masculine principle of expansion. Behind the PRIESTESS is a garden of pomegranates and palms, symbolic of female and male genitalia. In her lap is scroll which reads tora, which are the first five books of Moses, the "Old Testament" of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Tora is an anagram for taro (the cards) and rota, the ever-revolving wheel.

      The Crowley Thoth deck PRIESTESS is veiled and very cosmic looking. She weaves light energy that is magnified by crystals. She has the huntress' bow of the goddess Artemis (Roman Diana). Crystals are at her feet, as is the self-sustained camel who carries within the nurturing waters. The Hebrew letter on the bottom of the PRIESTESS card is gimel, meaning camel.

      Divinatory meaning of the PRIESTESS: This card indicates strong destiny, as if your affairs are in safely in the lap of the Goddess. You are empowered to open to your feminine receptive nature. Record your dreams and flow with the sensitivity and wisdom of your intuition. This is an opportunity to listen to and trust your inner voice. You are safe.

3. EMPRESS

      The feminine so exhaulted brings us to the EMPRESS enthroned. She represents the full cornucopia of an abundant harvest. She is the nurturing Earth Mother, the outer manifestation of the inner spirit of the PRIESTESS. The EMPRESS is pregnant, full of life, and symbolizes the fertile womb. Birth, the amazing act of creation, is in her realm. Both the EMPRESS and PRIESTESS are seated on thrones. Perhaps the first thrones were birthing stools.

      The EMPRESS is ruled by the planet Venus, the goddess of love and beauty (Greek Aphrodite). The EMPRESS is a harvest of all that has been planted: The creative energy of the EMPRESS satisfies the FOOL'S venturing, as the balance of the MAGICIAN'S masculine energy and the PRIESTESS' feminine energy combine to create the child/harvest of the EMPRESS.

      The Venus symbol is enclosed in a heart on the Waite-Rider image. The crowned EMPRESS sits before a background of lush vegetation and a gently curving river. The Venus symbol decorates her heart-shaped shield. In the Crowley deck, the enthroned EMPRESS is shown with the fertility symbols of the crescent moon and a swan with cygnets. The Hebrew letter on the bottom of the EMPRESS card is daleth, meaning door.

      Divinatory meaning of the EMPRESS: Your energies are balanced and harmonious. You will be fortunate and secure with material matters such as finding a job or a place to live. The EMPRESS is ruled by Venus so adorn yourself with jewelry and your finest clothing.

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SUSAN LEVITT, author of TAOIST FENG SHUI (Destiny Books) and TAOIST ASTROLOGY (Destiny Books), is a Feng Shui consultant and teaches Feng Shui at The California Institute of Integral Studies. Professor Levitt began college in Chicago in 1973 with an Asian Studies major specializing in Chinese and Japanese literature. She moved to San Francisco in 1983 to learn traditional Chinese medicine, and has studied Feng Shui under His Holiness Grand Master Lin Yun Rinpoche in Berkeley, California. Visit www.susanlevitt.com http://www.susanlevitt.com to learn more about Feng Shui, Taoist astrology, and traditional Chinese medicine. Her email is [email protected] or phone 415.642.8019 in San Francisco. Taoist Feng Shui Tarot - Palm - Astrology www.susanlevitt.com